Bruce Oldfield

British fashion designer Bruce Oldfield is an internationally recognised British fashion designer. He has designed clothes for Hollywood stars, celebrities and international royalty. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Noor of Jordan, Diana Princess of Wales and Dianna Ross have worn dresses designed by Bruce Oldfield. He was born in London on 14th July 1950. He never got to know his Jamaican father and was with his Irish mother for a few months. Aged six months he was taken in care by the children’s charity Barnardo’s in the North East of England, he lived with a foster family. From an early age Bruce showed an interest fashion. His foster carer made a living through making clothes. Bruce liked to copy her and by the age of eight he was making clothes for his foster sister’s dolls. Bruce went to school in Sheffield and later attended St Martin’s School of Art in London. St Martin’s has an international reputation and has produced some of the most important designers in the world of fashion. His graduation show in 1973 attracted a lot of positive attention. His first job on leaving St Martin’s was as a designer with Henry Bendel, an up-market women’s fashion store.

In 1975 Bruce Oldfield launched his own label selling high fashion ready-to- wear clothes in American, European and international fashion stores. In 1978 he began making clothes for individual clients. In 1984 he opened his own shop selling ready-to-wear and individually made clothing in Beauchamp Place, London, one of the most prestigious fashion streets in the city. Bruce Oldfield has lectured on fashion in universities in the United States and in the UK. He published his autobiography in 2004. Bruce Oldfield has also designed accessories, has created interior designs and designed the McDonald’s staff uniform. He was awarded an OBE in 1990 for services to fashion and industry. Questions You will need to look up further information to answer these questions. 1. Which children’s charity took Bruce into care at an early age? 2. Can you name any other famous people who were in care with that charity? 3. Can you name any other leading designers who studied at St Martin’s (now known as Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design) ? 4. Can you name any other famous people who have been clients of Bruce Oldfield? 5. Bruce Oldfield work is described as couture, what does this term mean, how is it different to high street fashion? 6. Which other leading designers have shops on or around Beauchamp Place where Bruce opened his first shop? 7. Is Bruce Oldfield’s talent limited to designing clothes? Can you find examples of other design work by Bruce Oldfield? 8. What is an OBE and who awards it? 9. Can you name any other designers who have been awarded OBEs.

Possible sources of information to answer questions above. http://www.bruceoldfield.com/ http://www.answers.com/topic/bruce-oldfield http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Oldfield http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/4145665.stm

Images used by kind permission of Bruce Oldfield