Lydia Millen was spotted at Hampton Court Palace rocking ‘The Clutch’ (Image: Instagram – @LydiaMillen)
When it comes to British fashion, few names carry quite the same authority as Fairfax & Favor. This autumn, the heritage brand joins forces with Lydia Millen, one of the UK’s most recognisable names in countryside chic.
Together, they unveil the Town & Country Collection – three unique designs that are polished and practical. Each new offering is crafted with such attention to detail that it feels destined to become an instant wardrobe mainstay.
Lydia exclusively told the Daily Express: “We looked at everything. We established what worked best for that Town and Country customer, which is what we were aiming for. I think we had quite a clear view from the word go.”
Lydia Millen has designed a new handbag collection with Fairfax and Favor (Image: Fairfax and Favor)
The Clutch is available in Tan Pebbled Leather and Burgundy Smooth Leather – RRP £325 (Image: Fairfax and Favor)
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Of course, Fairfax & Favor is no stranger to the spotlight. Long admired for its refined take on outdoorsy elegance, the brand has even become a Royal Family favourite.
Zara Tindall has been spotted rocking countless staples – from their iconic Regina boots to handbags, the kind of pieces that glide seamlessly from Cheltenham Racecourse straight into glamorous events.
Now, with Lydia at the helm, the collaboration between an iconic heritage brand and the influence of the digital era feels perfectly timed.
The collection, which has been two years in the making, is a masterclass in modern elegance: designed in England, and made to slip effortlessly into the wardrobe of women who might spend one moment striding through the countryside and the next dashing across the city.
The design process:
Lydia is candid about how close the final handbags are to her earliest ideas. “It actually hasn’t differed a huge amount,” she told us.
“From the beginning we had this big meeting looking at different eras of handbags and iconic styles. We knew what would work best for that Town & Country customer, and from there it was just refinement.”
That refinement became an obsession. Handle proportions, strap widths, hardware choices, even subtle shade variations – every detail was scrutinised.
The Micro Top Handle Bag is available in Tan Pebbled Leather with contrast ecru stitching, as well as Burgundy Pebbled Leather – RRP: £345 (Image: Fairfax and Favor)
Lydia Millen is renowned for her heritage and country chic dressing (Image: Fairfax and Favor)
“Think about when you hold a handbag and how it feels in your hand. I wanted that to be an experience in itself. The leather, the hardware, even last-minute colour changes – those are the details that make the difference,” she said.
For Millen, Town & Country became both a name and a guiding principle. “It was about capturing these incredible women who live multifaceted lives. One minute they need a beautiful clutch to slip under their arm with a wax jacket, the next they’re heading into London for meetings. That balance was the inspiration for everything.”
Was there a moment she knew the collection was complete? Lydia smiled. “When I got the final samples, they were simply the bags I reached for every single time. That’s how I know they work – when they naturally integrate into my wardrobe and I want to use them.”
Lydia Millen is well known for her country chic style online and has amassed over a million follower (Image: Fairfax and Favor)
The Top Handle Bag is available in Black Pebbled Leather and Burgundy Pebbled Leather – RRP: £375 (Image: Fairfax and Favor)
The collection:
Of the three styles, Lydia has a clear favourite. “The clutch has been the most versatile – it’s really two bags in one. The colours are perfect for the season, and it looks just as good with a dress at an event as it does tucked under my wax jacket for the pub. I think it’s one of those pieces that in 20 years will look battered and bruised but still gorgeous.”
The Clutch Bag retails at £325, comes in smooth burgundy or tan pebbled leather, with a detachable strap and microfiber lining – a design destined to become the collection’s cult hero.
The Micro Top Handle Bag worth £345 delivers structure in miniature, offered in tan with contrast stitching or burgundy pebbled leather, playful but with gravitas.
While the Top Handle Bag that is priced at £375 – the grand dame of the trio, offers a timeless silhouette in black or burgundy that Lydia herself reaches for on busy days in London.
Buy Lydia’s Fairfax and Favor Town and Country handbags here..
Lydia Millen and Marcus Fairfax posed at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials earlier this month (Image: Instagram – @LydiaMillen)
Lydia Millen showed off her clutch design that she claims is “versatile” (Image: Instagram – @LydiaMillen)
The Town and Country collection is more than just handbags…
For Lydia, this capsule speaks to more than just accessories. “I think we’re going to see a huge shift in British fashion,” she shared.
“We’ve always been focused on those workhorses in our wardrobes – the dog-walking coat you’ve had forever, the wax jacket that gets better with time. I hope my handbags will become part of that tradition.”
And that’s the heart of the Town & Country Collection: pieces designed not for one season but for decades to come.
Practical yet polished, playful yet enduring, they are handbags created to feel as natural in the Cotswolds as they do in Mayfair. True style, after all, isn’t loud – it lingers.
