As we head into 2020, many of us are thinking about refreshing our wardrobes for the new year. It’s a time of out with the old, and in with the new – and the perfect excuse to splurge on some beautiful designer pieces to see you through the remainder of the winter season.
But whilst dressing your best can undoubtedly create the sophisticated and put-together image you crave, clothing isn’t the only way to polish off your look. Sometimes, it’s the littlest things that make the biggest difference, and 2020 is the year to accessorise, accessorise, accessorise.
From the latest Balenciaga handbag to those classic Louboutins, it’s the year to embrace minimalism when it comes to your outfits and let the added touches do the talking. This year though, accessorising is set to take on a life of its own; it’s no longer just about dressing yourself, but about dressing your belongings, too. The starting point? Your mobile phone.
One brand that has got it nailed for the year ahead is Greenwich England, a luxury name that has recently added its first line of beautifully designed leather mobile phone cases aimed specifically at women to its wider Greenwich Collection. Sure, this sort of item may not exactly be new to the party – but with the chic and sophisticated look that comes only with quality materials and enviable design, a piece from the highly sought-after Portland Collection is the must-have accessory for 2020.
Understated style
Greenwich England offers an understated elegance that speaks for itself. Never bling or showy, Greenwich cases are available in a contemporary colour palette that takes in neutral beiges in Shortbread and Linen, a warm, autumnal red in Fireglow and the classic inky black of Beluga. But it’s the recently launched Portland Collection – a selection of sophisticated cases aimed specifically at the female market – that has really got the fashion world talking, and will guarantee that your iPhone is as well-dressed as you are as we head into the new year.
Crafted from genuine leather and topped off with a chevron stitch, these fine leather cases will keep your iPhone safe, sound and stylish to boot. The interior housing shell boasts an electroplated finish, while the case’s carbon fibre lining is shotgun-tested to provide failsafe protection, without adding weight or bulk. An interior card pocket has been included for a payment or travel card, and each case is finished with a subtle, metallic branding plate.
Heritage meets sophistication
Born on a sunny afternoon in an English pub without the distraction of laptops, spreadsheets or accountants, the brand didn’t get to where it is today overnight.
In fact, it draws on over 20 years’ experience in the accessories market, having long had a particular focus on the realm of leather goods, Greenwich aims to offer carefully considered design without the pressure of bricks and mortar price points. Its established team of designers and product engineers have collectively come together to bring customers the best technical accessories on the market, all using the finest leathers that can be found in Europe.
Granted, it may not be the biggest or best idea ever to have been born in the pub – and we’ll bet you a pint of lager that it wasn’t the first – but it is the product of the brand’s knowledge, genuine enthusiasm and a commitment to offering a better class of product, and the result is something that is impressive despite being relatively understated.
A brand on a mission
The brand’s mission is simple; to create a better class of products – and at Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, we think they’ve succeeded. Uncompromising on quality, the pride taken in its work is evident in every stitch and with designers hand-inspecting every hide purchased, the finest quality is guaranteed.
“We’ve carefully curated the Greenwich collection of accessories to bring the consumer products which deliver on quality, style and practicality, whilst seamlessly integrating with their everyday essentials. Greenwich accessories are each meticulously hand-crafted from the finest quality leather in Europe; form-fitting design meets seamless finishing to give you a product which will last a lifetime,” says Iain Murphy, production director at Greenwich England.
“Our Portland Collection is perhaps our most exciting yet, exploring a new avenue for the brand in terms of targeting the female market. But the response to it so far has been overwhelming, and we’re starting to see influencers and celebrities alike sporting it of their own choice, setting a key trend for the year to come.”
It’s fair to say that the creation of the brand’s latest line of products wasn’t taken lightly, with the team searching determinedly, travelling to every corner of the continent and testing out a variety of leathers before settling on just the right one. Discovered, finally in rural South Germany, it’s the very same material that can be found upholstering the iconic Bentley motors. Suffice it to say, it truly is the finest quality leather that can be found in Europe.
Iain added: “After twenty years making cases for famous fashion, lifestyle, tech and automotive brands, we’ve seen a lot of leather – British, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, you name it. But there was no argument about the leather that we would use for our collection. The leather our designers finally fell for is produced from a soft bull hide renowned for its impeccable aesthetic, combined with the durability which we know from experience a phone case needs.
“Carbon fibre, precision engineered housings, RFID protection for your payment cards and device wake/sleep all go to ensure that Greenwich products work seamlessly with your tablet or smartphone – protecting and enhancing but never intruding.”
Never ostentatious
The new Portland collection offers an understated elegance that speaks for itself. Always sophisticated and never ostentatious, its cases are available in a contemporary colour palette that includes neutral beiges in Shortbread and Linen, a warm, and the classic inky black of Beluga.
Our pick here at LLM? The Shortbread. Subtly feminine yet undeniably stylish, it’s the case we’ll be dressing our own iPhones in this year. Luxurious, glamorous and utterly sophisticated, it really is those little things that count.
