You Can Now Shop H&M’s Collaboration With The Vampire’s Wife

When was it that everyone on the red carpet stopped looking sexy (or at least, predictably so)? When did they start eschewing suck-it-tuck-it second-skin dresses and perilous slits for a more modest kind of drama, in full-length, high-necked, long-sleeved dresses? A large part of that is down to Susie Cave. As founder of The Vampire’s Wife (the name comes from her husband Nick Cave's abandoned book project) she has made the ultra-glamorous prairie dress the dernier cri of after-dark dressing.

Since launching in 2014, The Vampire’s Wife has catapulted from cult indie label to fully-fledged global powerhouse. Cave's designs, which deftly balance the elegant and the edgy, the demure and dramatic, have charmed a clientele as diverse as Kate Moss, Kate Middleton (who wore an emerald green Falconetti style on tour in Ireland) and Cate Blanchett. Whether in jewel-toned lurex, sumptuous velvet or chintzy floral cotton, the dresses – mini, midi or maxi – have become a red carpet mainstay and helped to propel the luxe prairie dress to the apex of the fashion zeitgeist.

Now, Cave is following in the footsteps of Erdem, Versace and Moschino in launching a collaboration with H&M, meaning we can all get in on the action (and just in time for party season, whatever that actually looks like this year). There’s all the gothic, ethereal romance we’ve come to expect from The Vampire’s Wife, as well as the ultra-feminine design details: the softly-moulded shoulders, the nipped-in waists, the frill-trimmed hems and cuffs.

Made entirely from sustainably sourced materials, standouts include a velvet mini dress with pussy-bow, a black lace full-length dress and – for those who have really missed the drama of dressing up – a silver cape. For those of us not ready to be parted from our WFH wardrobes just yet, accessories – like whimsical jewellery embellished with twinkling eyes, hearts and teeth, a detachable pilgrim collar, fingerless lace gloves and pink-lens shades – will bring a swish of glamour to off-duty dressing.

The collection is available now at hm.com and selected stores, while stocks last.