Royal fashion favourite The Vampire’s Wife has announced it has ceased trading “with immediate effect” after a decade dressing the rich and famous.
The brand was set up by Nick Cave’s wife Susie and has been work on several occasions by Princess Kate, including during a trip to Belize during her and Prince William‘s Caribbean tour and at a reception hosted by the British Ambassador to Ireland.
Other celebrity fans include Princess Beatrice, Florence Welch, Cate Blanchett, Sienna Miller and Kylie Minogue, with three guests at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s wedding in 2018 also dressed in The Vampire’s Wife.
But on Tuesday, May 21, the label announced it had “sadly made the decision to cease trading with immediate effect” following an “upheaval in the wholesale market”.
For fans of the brand there will be one more opportunity to buy some of its trademark sparkling designs at a physical sale taking place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Music Room in London’s Mayfair.
The brand was founded in 2014, with creator Susie Cave breaking the news of its demise to her followers on social media. She explained that it was with “great sadness” that despite 10 years in business it is now “time for me to say goodbye”.
A statement posted on The Vampire’s Wife website read: “Despite a period of positive growth and sales, the upheaval in the wholesale market has had dramatic implications for the brand.
“There will be a final, physical sale, allowing fans of the brand one last opportunity to buy on the 24th, 25th and 26th of May at the Music Room, Mayfair, London, W1J 5KF.
“The Vampire’s Wife would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all clients, partners and those who have worn the brand these last ten years. Your support has been invaluable and we are deeply grateful.”
The news comes more than a year after the label revealed it was facing liquidation over an unpaid tax bill, which led to it being handed a “winding-up petition”. This document would allow the courts to close the brand down for failing to settle all of its outstanding debts.
Ms Cave kept the business going after the death of her son Arthur – one year after it was founded by her and friend Alex Adamson. But, it is understood the fashion company struggled following the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to The Vampire’s Wife, this petition came “without prior warning” and HMRC rejected a request to arrange a payment plan to settle the debt owed.
The Princess of Wales first wore The Vampire’s Wife in 2021 at an evening reception she attended with Prince William in the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.
For the event she donned an appropriately hued emerald green evening gown worth £1,595, a similar design to one which Princess Beatrice had worn at Ellie Goulding’s wedding the year before.
On that occasion at York Minster Cathedral Beatrice wore a £1,695 tiered silk-blend lamé dress called ‘The Veneration’, with metallics and sparkles a common theme of the brand.