Background
The luxury German fashion house Escada was founded in 1976 by Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley. They became known for their bold, fabulous look that was worn by sophisticated women around the world. Princess Diana of Wales was often seen in Escada, Kim Basinger won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1998 wearing an Escada gown and Naomi Watts more recently wore an Escada dress to the Oscars - showing the brand is still very relevant today. Unfortunately, Margaretha Ley passed away in 1992 but the label still kept her name on the label until the late 90s.
Key looks
- Bold patterns - whether that be vibrantly coloured knitwear with images of animals or bright paisley printed silks.
- Blazers - Escada in the late 80s and 90s was almost synonymous with a sophisticated look worn by a working woman. They were particularly known for their tailored blazers - either in bold colours or patterned with statement buttons and shoulders.
- Tight dresses
- Velvet - Even more so than silks and wool bouclés, vintage Escada clothes are often made of velvet - fitting with their opulent aesthetic.
How to Wear
Vintage Escada clothes integrate really well into modern wardrobes but the highly stylised looks in the campaigns of the 80s and 90s might not be for everyone. Picking a statement Escada jumper, or jacket and dressing them down with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt can be a great way to create a bold but modern look.
A label from an example of the high-end Escada Couture line founded in 1995.
In 1995 the 'Escada Couture' line was created with a focus on even more expensive fabrication in sleeker silhouettes. We really recommend keeping an eye out for these rare pieces as they are of amazing quality and make a great option for the evening.
To check our our collection of vintage Escada clothing click here
Or feel free to check out our Pinterest board, containing some of our favourite Escada looks from throughout the brand's history below.