A dress brand owned by musician Nick Cave’s wife and worn by the Princess of Wales and Hollywood stars is closing after an “upheaval in the wholesale market”.
The Vampire’s Wife, created by the former model Susie Cave, will hold a final physical sale at the end of the week after ceasing trading with immediate effect on Tuesday.
The news was broken by the 80s “It girl” on social media, who said it was with “great sadness” that it is “time for me to say goodbye” to her creation after 10 years.
A statement released by the company said: “Despite a period of positive growth and sales, the upheaval in the wholesale market has had dramatic implications for the brand.
“The Vampire’s Wife, therefore, announces that it has sadly made the decision to cease trading with immediate effect.”
The Princess of Wales famously posed in a green dress by the clothing brand for her first official portrait with Prince William in 2022, commissioned at the time of their 10th wedding anniversary.
The painting of the Princess wearing the vivid dress, by artist Jamie Coreth, was loaned to the National Portrait Gallery, her patronage, for the gallery’s reopening last year.
She previously wore the striking dress during a visit to Dublin and has also worn a pink floor-length design by Mrs Cave for a reception in Belize.
Prince of Darkness
The Vampire’s Wife, fittingly created by the wife of the self-styled “Prince of Darkness” musician, has been a go-to brand for weddings, Christmas parties and royal tours alike.
Among its famous clientele it also counts Princess Beatrice, Sienna Miller, Zooey Deschanel, Cate Blanchett and Alexa Chung.
The English actress Charlotte Riley, who is married to Tom Hardy, opted to wear a Vampire’s Wife dress at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in 2018.
In a statement about the closure released on Tuesday, all clients, partners and those who have worn the brand in the last decade received “heartfelt thanks” from the brand.