Some people only dream of starting their own fashion brand, but for Karen Millen, persistence and hard work would help turn her dream into a reality. It was in 1981, when Karen Millen and Kevin Stanford would begin their clothing line. With a small loan of £100, they produced white shirts to sell to their friends. They soon gathered a following and within two years they would open up their first store in Kent, located near southeast England. With their first stores success, they would soon expand to Tunbridge, Wells, Brighton, Guildford and London.

Each season Karen Millen delivered timeless garments and lingerie for the modern, trend setting woman. Today, the Karen Millen brand is still best known for its expertise in tailoring for both evening wear and coats. Specifically, the brand produces 12 collections each season, which range from day to work and occasion to weekend wear. Another unique feature of Karen Millen is the fact that their collections are designed in-house. From detailed embellishments to their famed apparel, each look is cut and completed on site.

What once started as a small shirt company in the UK, is now a global brand with locations across Europe, Russia, Asia, Australia, and the United States. It's their attention to detail that has helped Karen Millen grow into the brand it is today. In 2008, Karen Millen also released a flagship store in New York City and after some time became a part of Aurora Fashions, which owns and manages some of the most popular women brands in the UK.