Rebecca Thompson

Long before the Spice Girls wailed about Girlpower there were the Suffragettes. Armed with unbreakable spirits, an eye for justice and adorable names like Alice, Emmeline and Sylvia, they dramatically fought against the lad-dominated society of the early 1900s by standing in the path of galloping racehorses, going on hunger strikes and occasionally setting off bombs principally in order to achieve their ultimate goal of gaining the right to vote and earning equal pay while still looking fabulous in nipped-in waists and fishnets.

Rebecca Thompson's new winter range shows not much has changed.

Tipping her feather-trimmed toque to the smart, strong ladies who've gone before her, Rebecca Thompson's latest collection features collars, cuffs, covered buttons, high necks and capulets. She holds a banner for peacock blue, carbon black, mulberry and vintage green. And so will you, with waist-friendly frocks, sequined flip skirts and myriad other needful things embellished with delicate snowflakes, cabbage roses, French lace and shiny blue bugle beading.

As you prepare a special space in your wardrobe for winter must-haves from Rebecca Thompson, spare a thought for the amazing Suffragettes who shocked the world with their struggle to be recognized as useful, opinionated and powerful women. And maybe hum a bar or two from David Bowie's early 70s hit 'Suffragette City'... maybe the bit where he goes "oooooh wham bam thank you ma'am..."