Catherine Walker (27 June 1945 – 23 September 2010) was a French-born fashion designer based in London. Born Catherine Marguerite Marie-Therese Baheux in Calais, France, Walker is known for having supplied over a thousand garments for Diana, Princess of Wales.

Life and career

Walker studied aesthetics and philosophy at the universities of Lille and Aix-en-Provence[1] and achieved a master's degree. While studying for a PhD she moved to London and lived in Earl's Court.[1] She became a permanent resident after marrying solicitor John Walker in 1970.[1] The couple had two daughters. In 1975 John Walker died while on holiday in France.[1] Her second husband was Said Cyrus from Iran, a lecturer at the Chelsea School of Art who also became her business partner.[1]

She began her life in fashion selling children’s clothes. She later moved into designing for women, specialising in high-end evening dresses, occasionwear and wedding gowns. In 1976 she set up her own company The Chelsea Design Company in Sydney Street, Chelsea.[1] In 1991, Walker was awarded Designer of the Year for Glamour and in 1990 Designer of the Year for Couture at the British Fashion Awards. Walker was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995. She became a founding sponsor of Breast Cancer Haven.[1]

Company

Catherine Walker opened her business in 1977 in Sydney Street, London. She was a successful couturiere for over 30 years. Walker designed two seasonal collections per year, as well as wedding gowns and created a range of skincare products. Following her death, her husband Said Cyrus took over the business as head designer. He continues to run it with the same philosophy, focusing on bespoke garments for clients and eschewing runway shows, large marketing campaigns, and the wholesale trade.[2]

Notable clients

Diana, Princess of Wales

Catherine Walker became one of the Princess of Wales' favourite designers. Her professional relationship with Diana began three months after Diana's marriage to Prince Charles in 1981, and lasted until Diana's death sixteen years later, during which time Walker provided the Princess with many of her most iconic garments.[3]

Prince William

Prince William had a few coats made by Catherine Walker as a child.[4]

Lady Helen Taylor

The Duke of Kent's daughter, Lady Helen Taylor (née Windsor), wore a Catherine Walker design for her 1992 wedding to Tim Taylor.[5]

Duchess of Kent

Katharine, Duchess of Kent has worn a Catherine Walker dress to William, Prince of Wales wedding in 2011[6]

Lady Gabriella Kingston

Lady Gabriella Kingston has been seen in the CW designs since her teenage years and has stayed loyal to the brand. She has been seen wearing the designer's coatdress to the memorial service for Catherine Walker in 2010.[7] She almost always wears the designer's pieces to the formal royal events, most recently the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey, London.

Lady Frederick Windsor

Sophie Winkleman formally Lady Frederick Windsor, the sister in law to Lady Gabriella Kingston is also a fan of the Catherine Walker fashion house. She has been seen in CW outfit for many formal royal events [8][9][10]

Middleton family

Walker's designs are also chosen by Diana's daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales. Catherine Walker has become one of the Princess of Wales favourite designers and she chooses to wear the designer’s creations for an important events such as royal tours abroad.[11]

Carole Middleton also has worn Catherine Walker for numerous public occasions.[12][13]

Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway

Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway has been seen wearing a classic Catherine Walker coatdress in red during a Nobel Peace price ceremony.[14]

Marie Chevallier

Marie Chevallier - wife of Louis Robert Paul Ducruet (son of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and Daniel Ducruet), has chosen a Catherine Walker coatdress to attend a mass at Monaco Cathedral during the celebrations marking Monaco's National Day in Monaco, on November 19, 2019.[15]

Dame Judith Olivia Dench

Judi Dench has worn a bespoke Catherine Walker piece for British Vogue -Ask a legend interview 2020.[16]

J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling has worn Paddington coatdress to receive a Companion of Honour in 2017.[17]


Death

Walker died on September 23, 2010, in a hospital after being found unconscious by a neighbour at her home Sussex, England.[18] She had suffered breast cancer and was a founding Sponsor of the charity called "Breast Cancer Haven".[19][20] Catherine Walker is survived by her second husband Said Ismael Cyrus and her two daughters, Naomi and Marianne, from her first marriage.[21][22]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Catherine Walker". London: telegraph.co.uk. September 26, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Kate Middleton's pretty blue suit has revived interest in a quiet fashion label favored by Princess Diana". 19 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Princess Diana's changing fashion style explored in exhibition". BBC News. 19 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Look back at the royal family's most stylish Easter fashion moments". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  5. ↑ "'Iconic royal wedding gowns". Harpers Bazaar.
  6. ↑ "It's Red Catherine Walker & Gina Foster for the Duchess of Cambridge as the Royal Tour Officially Begins UPDATED – What Kate Wore". whatkatewore.com. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  7. ↑ "Catherine Walker Memorial Service – What Kate Wore". whatkatewore.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  8. ↑ Holt, Bethan; Abraham, Tamara (2021-09-10). "The most elegant looks from Flora Ogilvy's royal wedding". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  9. ↑ "The Cambridges as a Family of Five at Trooping the Colour 2019 – What Kate Wore". whatkatewore.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  10. ↑ "The Wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston – What Kate Wore". whatkatewore.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  11. ↑ "Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal tour: day three as it happened". The Daily Telegraph. London. 2 July 2011.
  12. ↑ Adamiyatt, Roxanne (2022-07-05). "Carole Middleton Looks Lovely in a Floral Dress at Wimbledon". Town & Country. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  13. ↑ Uk, Elle (2011-04-29). "The Royal Wedding". ELLE. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  14. ↑ "Norwegian Royal Family attends 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony". UFO No More. 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  15. ↑ "Monaco's next generation royals step to the fore with high fashion display". independent. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  16. ↑ Judi Dench Answers Questions From 18 Of Her Most Famous Fans | Ask A Legend | British Vogue, retrieved 2023-02-04
  17. ↑ Gould, Amy (2017-12-13). "J.K. Rowling receives Companion of Honour". J.K. Rowling. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  18. ↑ "Questions remain over the death of Princess Diana's fashion designer - Rye and Battle Observer". www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-05-23.
  19. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/sep/26/catherine-walker-fashion-designer-dies%7CThe Guardian 26 Sept 2010
  20. ↑ "Breast Cancer Haven | Pages | Breast Cancer Haven service locations". Archived from the original on 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  21. ↑ "Catherine Walker".
  22. ↑ "Obituary: Catherine Walker, couturier to Princess Diana". 2 October 2010.
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