Abbey Clancy talks Strictly, her daughter's style and husband Peter Crouch's fashion expertise as she launches latest collection

Abbey has just launched her latest collection for high street retailer Matalan
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Charlie Teather5 November 2015

Following on from three impressively successful collections for Matalan, Abbey Clancy has just launched her fourth.

Drawing ideas from the party element of the season, the 13-piece collection has pieces suited for both work and play, with a number of cross-over styles perfectly suited to both.

We caught up with the 29-year-old designer on the morning of the launch.

Yui Mok/PA Wire

What's your favourite piece from the collection?

I keep changing my mind the more I look at it. It’s hard because I have certain favourites for certain occasions. So the disc cami dress is the ultimate Christmas party look. The black dress is perfect for a hot date.

[The black platform shoes] are so comfy, so are the snake-print ones. They all are actually. Imagine if they weren’t. I’d be like 'don’t buy these they’re so uncomfy' [laughs]. No, they genuinely are super comfy.

Your last collection had a bit of a Seventies vibe, what’s the general feel for the new one do you think?

I’m thinking more party. There’s still a slight hint of the Seventies with the bell-sleeve and the wide leg catsuit, because that’s an era that I absolutely adore and I’ve got a lot of that type of style in my wardrobe. The shaggy coat is quite Seventies too, it’s really cool.

Courtesy of Matalan

Does Pete help you with decision-making at all for the collection at all?

Oh no, he’s awful. I’ll walk in like ‘what do you think of this?’ and he doesn’t even look up. ‘Gorgeous’, he’s one of them. He’s too scared to say anything else.

You’ve got two daughters, 4-year-old Sophia and 5-month-old Liberty-Rose. Does Sophia get excited about clothes yet?

She is OBSESSED. I’ve never seen a child like it. She dresses herself, and I always get loads of stick in the press saying ‘Your child’s dressed like a scruff-bag’, but it’s literally World War 3 every day when I’m dressing her.

She wants to wear the most ridiculous combinations, but I quite like it. I’m not dressing her to see what other people think. She’s super happy and has got her one little style going on.

Courtesy of Matalan

Would you be keen to support her if she followed a career in fashion?

Well I love my career in fashion. I love clothes, I love photography and seeing new up-and-coming designers and photographers, that’s my passion. I’d like her to do whatever makes her happy… to an extent.

So just how much did you love dressing up for Strictly Come Dancing?

Oh my God, I loved it. The first day, when I went in to see Vicky the designer – who is incredible and makes everything by hand, by the way – I was like ‘so, I only want to wear nude and black on the show’ [laughs]. Which went down like a lead balloon. So the next day I was in literally a luminous green, yellow, orange, pink fringed thing. But no, I embraced the Strictly experience.

So, finally, if you could see anyone wearing your designs who would it be?

You know what? I am just so flattered when I go out at night or in the day and see a normal girl in my clothes.

I never thought in a million years that I’d have my own range out and girls enjoyed wearing my designs. I want it to be fun, I want it to make them feel good, and feel sexy or however they want to feel.

I think it’s good quality, and good value for money. It’s really wearable. Nowadays, people don’t really want to buy stuff to keep forever. They want a new dress every week and I think the price point’s great.

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