Whistles CEO backs Cable on all-women shortlists for boards However, last week, Lord Davies, the Government’s boardroom diversity champion, said such a move would be a “mistake”. Last year, Lord Davies’ report set a target of 25pc female board representation in the FTSE 100 by 2015 but stopped short of suggesting compulsory measures. Plans for all-women shortlists for FTSE 100 boardroom positions is gaining government support. Mr Cable has asked the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to create guidance for headhunters on when and how women-only shortlists could be used. Mrs Shepherdson said she has personally encountered sexism in the workplace. Mrs Shepherdson left her job as brand director of Topshop in 2007 and took part in a buy-out of Whistles with Icelandic retail investor Baugur. Whistles now has 50 UK stores, plus concessions in Harrods, House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols and John Lewis and employs 615 staff. Whistles is looking to expand overseas, where it currently has no stand-alone stores.
Jane Shepherdson Whistles Interview | Red Magazine Interviews Shepherdson is not your average fashion CEO. Shane Watson meets a woman on a (very well-dressed) mission. Jane Shepherdson is sitting on the edge of the sofa, chin in hands, brow furrowed, pretending to look perplexed in an impression of men in a fashion boardroom. ‘How are we going to find out what women think?’ she says in a slow, ponderous voice. ‘Oh, I’ve had a lot of that. Shepherdson, CEO of the fashion chain Whistles, is usually described as ‘the woman who transformed high-street shopping’ (she turned Topshop into a fashion leader in the early Noughties). When she left Topshop eight years ago, she became ‘the most influential woman in fashion retail’ She’s the woman who always understands her customer. She knows that fashion can treat us like mugs. What it all boils down to is something a bit bigger than clothes: Shepherdson is a woman on a mission to do her best for women. You’d go into these meetings and they’d be shouting, “What the fuck do you call that?”’ She shakes her head.
How Whistles Reemerged as One of the Most Exciting Contemporary Brands in Fashion 2008 was not an easy year for many in the fashion industry -- least of all, perhaps, for Jane Shepherdson. The former Topshop brand director, once described as "the most powerful woman on the high street," had just become chief executive of (and a substantial investor in) a fading British brand called Whistles. Days before the brand was scheduled to unveil its relaunch, Lehman Brothers collapsed. "It was terrible," Shepherdson recalls. "The whole year was just really, really stressful -- I lost about a stone." It's clear that things are not so terrible for Shepherdson now. To say that it's a busy time at Whistles is an understatement. We asked Shepherdson about how Whistles survived -- and reinvented itself -- during those tough early years, its plans for international expansion and its hopes for a show at New York Fashion Week. You started at Whistles seemingly at the worst possible time -- right before the Lehman collapse. Yes, it was terrible. What was the turning point? No, it isn't.
#Grazia10 Birthday Exhibition: Watch Whistles CEO Jane Shepherdson On The Future Of High-Street Fashion | Industry Insider Can you believe we’re ten years old? To celebrate our big birthday we've just opened our doors to a two week #Grazia10 exhibition and series of TENTalks at London's esteemed Getty Images Gallery. Our exhibition is a celebration of a decade, giving guests (ie you!) the chance to walk through an interactive timeline of the last 10 years, as if you are walking through the very pages of Grazia itself. And that's not all. Press play below to hear Jane Shepherdson, CBE, CEO of Whistles on the future of high-street fashion Jane Shepherdson is the chief executive of Whistles. Please drop in to the free exhibition or book a place at a TenTalk. GALLERY >> Inside the preview of the #Grazia10 exhibition View Gallery Inside the preview of the #Grazia10 exhibition Touch Cara Delevingne's eyebrows Our wall of 'totes amaze' It Bags YOU can be a #Grazia10 coverstar, too! A wall of Grazia covers Grazia's Jane Bruton and Bauer Media's Abby Carvosso See the list of Tentalks and ticket links below.
Whistles Comes To The US - Interview With CEO Jane Shepherdson Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Photo: Whistles Here's a scenario that plays out frequently between fashion editors: "Ooh I love that skirt [or shirt or dress]. "It's from Whistles." "Damn." The former may feel a bit smug, the latter disappointed. See, UK brand Whistles, which you may have first heard about (as I did) after Kate Middleton wore a Whistles blouse for her official engagement photos, has undergone a transformation since former Topshop brand director Jane Shepherdson took over as CEO in 2008. Whistles now has its first brick-and-mortar stateside presence as a shop-in-shop at Bloomingdales on 59th St. Related: #ELLEloves: Cynthia Rowley's Flounce Blouse Whistles Though it might seem like it's taken Whistles a while to make it to the U.S., it's been in the works for quite some time. Which is not to say that Shepherdson couldn't recover from one. Related: Jason Wu Had Better Barbies Than You Related: Fab 5: The Pearls You Need Now
Jane Shepherdson | WHISTLES Chief Executive at Whistles, Jane Shepherdson is the figurehead of our brand. Originally from Bristol, she studied in London and worked as Brand Director at Topshop. With an uncanny ability to know what women want to wear, she has been working her magic at Whistles since 2008. Here, we find out a bit more about her world. Can you describe what you do at Whistles? What would you say the Whistles aesthetic is, then? Is that quite a modern way of dressing? They’re pieces women can slot into their wardrobe… Yes, that’s important – but we also want to provide solutions. Have you seen women wearing Whistles on the street? Is it inspiring when you see real women wearing it? How else do you keep up with what women want out of their clothes? So you could be in a Whistles store and be served by Jane Shepherdson? Is there anyone you have in mind when thinking about the Whistles woman? How do you feel about being a role model to younger women in fashion?
Jane Shepherdson at Whistles: peep-peep show BY Sally Williams | 13 September 2008 The fashion chain Whistles seemed to have run out of puff, but with Jane Shepherdson - the woman who breathed fresh life into Topshop as its brand director - it is dancing to a lively new tune, says Sally Williams. Fashion by Clare Richardson Last time I met Jane Shepherdson , 45, she was the queen bee of Topshop, sitting in an enormous office surrounded by assistants of daunting youth and beauty. Three years on, she is running the women's fashion chain Whistles, and we meet in a shabby building behind a scuffed and numberless door. Shepherdson's departure caused widespread speculation. What next? Set up by Lucille Lewin in 1976, Whistles was venerated in the 1980s for its stylish own-label collection, not to mention the next-big-fashion-things that it stocked (Lewin practically discovered Dries Van Noten). Topshop has 227 outlets in the Britain alone and is feted by fashionistas.
Whistles Launch First Unisex Collaboration After successfully adding a menswear range to their artillery for autumn/winter 2014, Whistles have revealed their first offering to please both sides of the fence. Teaming up with niche Scandi rainwear brand Stutterheim (fans include Kanye West and the ELLE fashion team) the result is two sleek yet simple raincoat designs. Buy the navy with orange and white stripes for yourself, and the grey with white and black stripes for your boyfriend to craftily acquire both. We’re all familiar with Whistles' dreamy, directional collections, but for those who don’t frequent the menswear section (or venture to Stockholm) too often, Stutterheim is a Swedish rainwear brand, founded in 2010 by Alexander Stutterheim. Inspired by his fisherman grandfather, the coats are simple, timeless and, oddly, sexy. ‘Whistles collaborations are about finding experts in the market and working with them to produce beautiful, functional, carefully crafted exclusive pieces,’ said Whistles CEO Jane Shepherdson.
Inside The Industry with Jane Shepherdson, Chief Executive of Whistles Professor Frances Corner OBE, Head of London College of Fashion, welcomed Jane Shepherdson, Chief Executive of Whistles to John Prince’s Street last night for an Inside The Industry conversation about transforming brands, global economics and venturing into menswear. Jane has been dubbed the ‘fairy godmother of the high street’ after transforming Topshop throughout the nineties, and Whistles after taking the helm in 2008. Frances began the evening by welcoming Jane onto the RHS stage before talking about the current Whistles campaign, and reflecting on the brand’s image in 2007. The pair discussed how Jane began her life in fashion following a degree in economics and marketing from University College London. Jane landed her first job as assistant buyer at Topshop aged 22, she explained that her yearly salary was £5k at the time, and she needed to take on a bar job just to pay her rent in London. But she was determined to stay in fashion, and made her way up the Topshop ladder.
Whistles x Trekstock Our exclusive Whistles x Trekstock collaboration comprises five must-have accessories created by our guest creatives graphic designer and illustrator Kate Moross, jewellery designers Kate Hillier, Maria Francesca Pepe, Bex Rox and fashion designer Holly Fulton. ‘I am delighted that Whistles is supporting Trekstock; the charity’s approach is refreshing and heartfelt and they are able to introduce and share a sensitive subject, cancer in young people, in a way that is accessible and sensitive to their audience. The pieces are beautifully designed and I hope we can help raise awareness and donations a result of this collaboration’. Katie Hillier British jewellery designer Katie Hillier is best known for fusing ironic, playful, design with luxe materials, such as black gold and red diamonds. What Whistles piece would you style your Trekstock x Whistles ring with? Where did the animal inspiration in your spring/summer 13 collection come from? What are you excited for this summer? Bex Rox
Jane Shepherdson's trend tips 09 July 2010 Ella Alexander JANE SHEPHERDSON, retail Queen and ceo of Whistles, has revealed her key tips and trends for autumn/winter 2010-11 - peg and harem style trousers, sheepskin fabrics and skater skirts. The store is set to launch its first ever capsule range of occasion wear this season. "Trousers are key for autumn/winter," she told us. "We have created our popular peg style in beautiful easy to wear silks but also a new wider, longer shape which is perfect for day to evening and incredibly flattering. Team it with a simple yet luxurious blouse - we've done them in a super sexy fit, making them feel effortless, a word that sums up Whistles." Its new collection delivers an array of gorgeous trousers in silks and leather - both peg and harem style. "There is a mood for autumn/winter 2010 that is new and refreshing - it's what we're all feeling at Whistles HQ and it's what we feel our customers are investing in," she said.
YCN Whistles Brief: Development | Lauren Hall Scented Product Collaboration: Whistles don’t currently offer any scented products but want to help change that. They’re looking for ideas of what the scent should be, how it would be packaged and how Whistles would bring the product to market via PR and marketing campaigns. This should communicate your concept in one or more campaign channels. The brief states that they are open to consider potential brand partners that we could work with to develop the scent and also how your concepts would be displayed in-store and online. I thought Jo Malone would be perfect for this as they share the same target market and have a sleek minimalistic aesthetic. About Jo Malone: An understated style. Campaign Michael Angove collaborated with Jo Malone and designed floral designs featuring wild mulberry branches. Calm & Collected is a creative studio of four young London artists, united in their passion for graphic prints and use of colour. Textures using Whistles products Collaborations