Semple Talks – Ruth Cooper-Dickson

I sat down with Ruth Cooper-Dickson to discover how a chance meeting at one of our hosting events became the start of her Semple journey, from a made to measure dress to becoming a brand ambassador…

How did you first find out about Semple?

I first heard about the brand when I was invited to come along to one of the Semple Hosting Events by Emma Cashmore in January of this year. I knew maybe one or two of the ladies attending the event as we all came from a similar diversity and inclusion network, so in terms of the people it felt like a networking event, but the evening was in fact a whole new experience. I found out all about the Semple brand and the Dress Collection and was even able to get measured on the night!

Why did you decide to purchase a made to measure Semple Dress?

My signature style when I used to work in the city was always a dress and suit jacket combination and it became a running joke in the office that if ever I had a big upcoming project or meeting that I would go out and buy a new dress!

If and when I do buy workwear I’ll go to mainstream shops such as Primark, Marks and Spencer and Zara and it would be very rare for me to go to more high end high street stores such as Reiss, Jigsaw and L.K. Bennett, because despite the price tag the quality is often not as good as what you would expect. I don’t actually spend a lot of money on clothes and I’ve always been quite thrifty yet I also believe in purchasing investment pieces that will last. So for me owning a made to measure Semple Dress was – from a corporate perspective – a timeless addition to my work wardrobe.

How would you describe your bespoke journey?

I found the whole experience very personal and unique. From being measured to my first fitting and finally collecting my dress, the whole process reminded me of purchasing my wedding dress. I feel like I made friends on my journey as I got to know Rosita, my own personal seamstress and liaised with Semple Fashion Director Jessica who was integral to the whole process. It’s as if the dress has its own story before it has even been worn and as someone that uses storytelling so much in my work life it’s something that means a lot to me and definitely has an influence on my purchases. When people ask about my dress I relish in telling the Semple story and sharing the process with others.

What is it about a made to measure dress that makes it so special for you?

I think it was, as I mentioned before, being a part of the whole process. I loved picking my own fabric as it’s imperative for me to feel comfortable in what I’m wearing; my work wardrobe is essentially a part of my armour.

My Semple Dress is now my sartorial go-to for any big work event as I know that as soon as I put it on that I will feel confident and look my best. For someone that has suffered from anxiety in the past, when I have to do big public speaking events how I look is crucial to my state of mind and how I’m perceived in certain situations. I now know in my mind that if I have an important event that my Semple Dress will never let me down.

Does knowing that your clothes are manufactured and created right here in London influence your purchase?

Yes I think it does. Since I started my own business here in London I’ve come to appreciate homegrown businesses so much more in terms of being a British brand and what that means and connecting with other likeminded companies. I also think Brexit and reestablishing what it means to be British has also had a big impact on local businesses. Being part of a community and supporting other UK brands is what it’s all about.

What made you want to become an ambassador of the Semple brand?

I think there’s an element of what Maggie does and what she stands for as a woman in business that drew me to the brand. We also come from similar backgrounds in terms of diversity and inclusiveness so from a brand perspective I am drawn to Semple as it’s about real fashion for real women, which is reflected in not only the ethos but also promotional advertising. It shows to others that it doesn’t matter what size you are or what you look like, Semple encourages and celebrates diversity and that is a truly great thing.

The Semple brand is also not just about the dress which is another really important aspect of the business. The culmination of the magazine, the blog and the inspirational events provides such an exciting platform to be a part of – a platform that I hope to be involved in for years to come.