In May 2023 Kate and Wayne spent time exploring the legendary Wadi Rum desert in Jordan.

Like every explorer before them, the desert blew their minds. “Time passes differently in the desert – it is our past and our future. It appears empty but is brimming with life. It’s the setting for epic historical events and also the location of just about every space age movie ever made. It’s so majestic and breathtaking, it felt as if we’d been transported to another planet.”

An unforgettable experience and a treasure trove of references for Kate to weave into the creation of her finale collection, Into the Desert.

Kate built the silhouettes around an eclectic cast. Explorers Laurence of Arabia and Gertrude Bell provided utilitarian khakis and billowy white shirting. The beautiful film The English Patient, provided the army fatigues and Kristen Scott Thomas’s artfully draped blanket became the bias cut and knotted blanket tweed for chilly desert nights. The 40’s ensembles of Eve Mansour in tv series Rogue Heroes and a young Gaby Aghion, forging her distinctive style that would become her brand Chloe are inspiration for the feminine elements – liquid satins, lace trimmed silk georgette and immaculate pencil skirts.

Egyptian born Aghion reportedly said “Egypt is a colour for me, the sand is the most beautiful I have ever seen. A rose-tinted beige. It feels like silk in your hands.” This quote epitomises the luxe fabrications in the collection and the full gamut of colour palette from rose to beige, caramel, bronze and espresso, old gold and sand. The shifting shades of the desert sky provide blues from smokey to azure, navy to ink.

Kate cannot resist a splash of vivid colour and the intense orange of Matt Damon’s space suit in The Martian lifts the palette. Also referencing the futuristic desert, is the lurex mesh and asymmetric slits flickering and flashing in old gold textured satin.

Tiny hidden desert flowers are referenced in the snakeflower embroidery, the rippling sand dunes appear in the strata print and even utilitarian desert tents make an appearance in the desert stripe print.

All these eclectic elements are masterfully pulled together to create a quintessentialKate Sylvester collection. Sophisticated suiting alongside feminine party dresses and timeless separates. There is something for every Kate Sylvester fan to fall in love with and treasure.

Additionally, for this season, all styles have been produced in size 16, arriving in store from August 2024.

‘I didn’t design this as a finale collection.’ Kate says. ‘The decision to close was made after I had completed this collection but I couldn’t be more proud of it. It’s a beautiful, high note on which to say farewell.’