Temperley takes the USA

Temperley’s award, presented by actress Alice Eve, followed honours for Arianne Philips (Costume Designer of the Year for W.E.) and Chloe Moretz (‘One to Watch’). Earlier in the weekend, Temperley travelled to Los Angeles for a book launch hosted by Emma Roberts.

Before heading west, Temperley stopped in New York to speak to students at Parsons The New School for Design, host a cocktail party and meet clients during a trunk show at Bergdorf Goodman. After just 24 hours at the luxury shopping destination, Temperley London's autumn 2011 collection already ranked as Bergdorf’s biggest seller of the week. So why does the designer think her brand is resonating with Americans to such a convincing degree?

‘We’ve gone back to our roots, where it’s very feminine, very sensual, very refined yet easy to wear pieces,’ Temperley told us during the New York party, also attended by Padma Lakshmi, Tinsley Mortimer and Hamish Bowles.

‘We understand now that the Temperley collection is much more luxurious, and we’ve got the Alice collection, so rather than trying to do everything in one collection, now there’s a real difference. We’ve matured.’

Her whirlwind trip left tiny windows for off-brand pursuits—namely shopping, with a highly specialised list.

‘We’re going to an amazing vintage fair o