collage by me, images from the neon hive and style.com archive
There aren't that many designers who consistently blow my mind and make me drool all the way down to my socks. I admire the work of many people, but I don't want to wear a lot of the stuff I see around. I bumped into someone I know the other night and told him Luella went bust and that it was the worst news ever. He said he didn't like Luella because it wasn't "edgy" enough. Pointing at my outfit that day, my answer was just "I don't do edgy".
Thinking about it further, I wouldn't actually say Luella's designs aren't edgy. They certainly aren't avant-garde, or innovative, but they are edgy in their own way. They have an edgy take on girly-wirly, they have an edgy take on traditional, quintessentially British style.
Her very first catwalk show back in February 2000 was called "Daddy, who were The Clash?" and was all about updated Mod and punk... Her last show, this September reached heights of lovely frillyness. The Luella girl has been through a multitude of aspects from punk to preppy to frumpy to urban to rural, but always keeping her distance from a very serious fashion scene.
She showed in London, Milan and New-York, always bringing a dash of colours and a truck load of fun with her.
Her latest collection, shown during London Fashion Week in September was a real delight for me... but it won't go into production.
I hope the future will involve some new projects by Miss Bartley.
We are all Luella girls.
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I too am saddened by the news of Luella! If there is ever a designer I'd save my coins for it's her! I pray she gets more financial backing!
ReplyDeleteMy heart is broken.
ReplyDeleteIm gutted over this. Her designs are like the complete opposite to the boyish style thats fashion at the moment. Apparently shes also turning her back on the stress of the fashion industry but i really hope that at least is not true. It does mean one thing though. LUELLA STOCK SALE! xx
ReplyDeleteSo true! Luella is just edgy enough in my opinion...sad sad sad:(
ReplyDeleteGood post. If I ever meet that fellow that condemned Lu for not being edgy, I'll kick him in the shins! That's precisely why people love her. She's a girl's girl!
ReplyDeleteLuella is my favourite and I'm SURE someone will sort her out... I read something in the Evening Standard yesterday that said she's been scraping by for years on handouts... I always thought she was one of the most successful designers? Just goes to show how fragile the fashion industry is.
x
I heard this a couple of days ago and wasn't strong enough to write about it on my blog. I am about to cry now....
ReplyDeleteI am studying fashion design, started this year, and hearing that Luella, one of the designer I admire the most, will close is just so discouraging, I hope she'll find some investor though, I wanna hope so...
I don't see why is it so bad not to be edgy. Why do people have to be the way others expect people to be?? (I mean because edgy is so trendy right now) Why don't we all do whatever we want of feel like doing?? That's the kind of people that love Lady Gaga because they think she's so original but then end up thinking other original things are shit.
I didn't know about that and I'm so sad. I love Luella. I certainly can't afford to buy many of their items, but my Luella coat - the most expensive item of clothing I've ever bought, even if it was on sale - brings me joy every time I wear it.
ReplyDeletei had no idea about this! i am so sad. i love luella. luella has their own style; edgy in their own way, like you say. i can't believe this news. i'm so heartbroken.
ReplyDeleteI am deffinitely a Luella girl. And the brand's plenty 'edgy' enough for me. I love the ss09 collection so much. It's my favourite brand and I'm really sad at this recent news. :(
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested I'm collecting together pictures of bloggers and fashionistas in their Luella or something they've put together that is rather Luella inspired, and I just think you always dress so nicely. =] The details are here anyway: http://intrinsicallyflorrie.blogspot.com/2009/11/homage-to-luella.html
Florrie xx
I heard about this when we were all waiting for the new lula. I'm really afraid luella will soon just be a pleasent memeory. The world is just too dumb to see the true beauty behind such a dreamy designer. People seem to care so much about being yes, trendy and in the scene. The people forget that they are an average person and not a celebrity, and who wants to be a one of those fakes anyways. The beauty of luella is that her clothing is made for real girls. We all know that real girls are the only ones with depth and a sort of dreamy perfectness to them anyways. I also assume that most real girls don't have that much money. I guess will just have to keep on blogging.
ReplyDeleteI was sad to see what happened to her. But you know, I think a bigger house will hire her. She's already suffered through the worst news. She will be okay. So...save the rest of the designers who are still in business! We hope to stave off what she's experienced.
ReplyDeleteSoo sad! We also love Luella for her edgy yet girly designs. I am positive that they will find an alternative investor for one of the greatest brands in British fashion history!
ReplyDeletehttp://fashioncoup.com
"Edge" is subjective. One person's edge is another person's middle of the road and for me Luella was far from middle of the road. Besides- not everyone wants to wear avant guard uber high fashion, some people want fresh modern takes on classics with a twist and thats what Luella did well. I for one am sad to see the label fold and I really do hope she finds a new investor.
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