Bruce Oldfield


Bruce Oldfield, OBE is a British fashion designer, best known for his couture occasionwear. Notable clients have included Sienna Miller, Barbra Streisand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Diana Ross, Emmanuelle Seigner, Rihanna, Kelly Brook, Taylor Swift, Elizabeth McGovern, Rosamund Pike, Anjelica Huston, Faye Dunaway, Jacqueline Jossa, Melanie Griffith, Charlotte Rampling, Jerry Hall, Joan Collins, Diana, Princess of Wales, Queen Noor of Jordan, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Queen Rania of Jordan.

Early life

Oldfield was brought up and educated in the care of children's charity, Barnardo's. Between the ages of 1 and 13, Oldfield was placed in foster care where he was brought up by a seamstress who sparked his love for designing and making clothes.
In 1963, age the age of 13, Oldfield moved to West Mount, a Dr Barnardo's Children's Home, in Ripon. Four years later, Oldfield moved out of West Mount and lodged with a couple in Harrogate.
In 1961, Oldfield passed the 11-plus and began to attend Spennymoor Grammar School. He was later educated at Ripon Grammar School, Sheffield City College of Education, and Ravensbourne College.
In 1973, he graduated from St. Martin's School of Art, London, to critical acclaim. That year he staged his first one-man show for Henri Bendel, later returning to London to show his first collection.

Career

In 1975 the Bruce Oldfield label was born with the launch of ready-to-wear collections for European and American stores. He began making couture clothes in 1978 for individual clients and from 1980 for Diana, Princess of Wales. In 1984 he opened his first shop selling ready-to-wear and couture to an international clientele. During the 1980s, he also designed shoes for couture house Rayne.
In 2009 he opened a second premises in Beauchamp Place dedicated to weddings, incorporating wedding dresses, veils, and a full range of bridal accessories.
In 1990, Oldfield was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to the fashion industry; and in 2004 his autobiography Rootless was published. He has Honorary Fellowships to the Royal College of Art and the Universities of Durham and Sheffield, was Governor of The London Institute and Trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts.
In December 2001, Oldfield received an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from the University of Northumbria in Newcastle upon Tyne and in 2005 an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Central England. He is also a Vice-President of Barnardo's.
Today, couture, bridal and custom made, together with complementing accessories, can be found at 27 & 34 Beauchamp Place, London SW3. He redesigned the McDonald's staff uniform for 2008. Sophie, Countess of Wessex wore Bruce Oldfield to the 2011 Royal Wedding. In April 2013, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall wore pale powder-blue Bruce Oldfield dress to the inauguration ceremony for King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
He is a supporter of the Conservative Party.