BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRO - BRITISH " BRUCE OLDFIELD " IS A BRITISH FASHION DESIGNER, AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGNER OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

                                     BLACK                SOCIAL           HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Bruce Oldfield, OBE  born 14 July 1950 is a British fashion designer, best known for his couture occasion wear. He dresses Hollywood actresses, British and International royalty and European aristocracy; famous clients have included Sienna Miller, Barbra Streisand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Diana Ross, Emmanuelle Seigner, Rihanna, Kelly Brook, Taylor Swift, Elizabeth McGovern, Rosamund Pike, Anjelica Huston, Faye Dunaway, Jacqueline Jossa, Melanie Griffith, Charlotte Rampling, Jerry Hall, Joan Collins, Queen Noor of Jordan and Queen Rania of Jordan and Diana, Princess of Wales.

Early life

Oldfield was brought up and educated in the care of children's charity, Barnardo's. He was educated at Ripon Grammar School, Sheffield College, and Ravens bourne College. He graduated from St. Martin's School of Art in London in 1973 to critical acclaim. That year he staged his first one-man show for Henri Bendel, later returning to London to show his first collection.

Career

In 1975 the Bruce Oldfield label was born with the launch of ready-to-wear collections for European and American stores. He began making couture clothes in 1978 for individual clients and from 1980 for Diana, Princess of Wales. In 1984 he opened his first shop selling ready-to-wear and couture to an international clientele.

In 2009 he opened a second premises in Beauchamp Place dedicated to weddings, incorporating wedding dresses, veils, and a full range of bridal accessories.

In 1990 Oldfield was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the fashion industry; and in 2004 he published his autobiography "Rootless." He has Honorary Fellowships to the Royal College of Art and the Universities of Durham and Sheffield, was Governor of The London Institute (1999-2001) and Trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts (2000-2002). In December 2001, Oldfield received an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law (Hon DCL) from the University of Northumbria at Newcastle and in 2005 an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Central England. He is also a Vice President of Barnardo's.

Today, couture, bridal and custom made, together with complementing accessories, can be found at 27 & 34 Beau champ Place, London SW3.

He redesigned McDonald's Staff uniform for 2008.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex wore Bruce Oldfield to the 2011 Royal Wedding.