Dress Cheshire's founder goes all in on pre-loved luxury

Behind a pink door on New Road in Prestbury, a few yards from The Admiral Rodney, sits one of Cheshire's most talked-about wardrobes. Dress Cheshire, the pre-loved designer boutique founded by Christine Colbert, has spent the past seven years proving that second-hand can be a first-rate experience, and its founder is now giving it her undivided attention.

In July 2025, Christine stepped down as managing director of House Creative Agency to channel all of her energy into Dress Cheshire, the business she started as a side hustle in 2018. It is a fitting next chapter for a venture that has grown far beyond its village beginnings.

The idea came naturally. Christine had lived in Prestbury for more than 25 years and had long been an enthusiastic treasure hunter, scouring charity shops and dress agencies across the UK for luxury finds. She also knew that her well-heeled home village was full of wardrobes holding unwanted designer pieces, from Balmain and Christian Dior to Dolce & Gabbana, that deserved a second life.

Step inside and the boutique feels more like a dressing room than a resale shop, with statement walls, velvet-covered chaise longues and rails that might hold anything from a Chanel jacket to a Diane von Furstenberg dress. Alongside the clothing, the shop has built a strong following for pre-loved designer handbags, with names such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Celine and Bottega Veneta, as well as quality high street labels, all offered at a fraction of their original price.

Like many independents, Dress Cheshire adapted during lockdown, moving online and discovering a huge appetite for its edit beyond the village. Today the business runs both its flagship Prestbury boutique and a busy website, and it has been reported to work with around 1,800 sellers who consign their pieces through the shop.

The brand has also taken its message about circular fashion to a wider audience, appearing as an exhibitor at The Good Clothes Show, the event dedicated to more sustainable ways of shopping and dressing.

For Cheshire shoppers, the appeal is simple: the thrill of the hunt, without the legwork. Whether you are clearing out a wardrobe or searching for a designer bag that will last for decades, Dress Cheshire makes buying and selling pre-loved feel every bit as special as buying new.

Find Dress Cheshire behind the pink door on New Road, Prestbury, or shop online at dresscheshire.com.