Loopy Luella Love

There's always been something really endearing about Luella.  In the way that when Marc Jacobs thinks up a new gimmicky theme each season he goes all out with it and does the whole shebang without really any consequence or care for continuity, and in a similar fashion Luella does that too... except it usually centres around some British oddity or quirk.  The word 'gimmick' seems to be tainted with a negative connontation but I see nothing wrong with a hook point that gets things noticed and straight into the conscious memory (my memory of catwalk collections has its own self-designated hierarchy in the depths of my brain).  Last summer, it was the ditzy floral and the geek glasses.  Loathsome as they became towards the end of the summer, they somehow got everyone all over them without that much explanation as to why. 

For the next summer, the hook point is posh candy princess gone berserk on colour and I just couldn't comprehend why I liked the collection so much, seeing as I was no Barbie fan (I was deprived I tells ya...) and the whole collection would in fact be perfect for some sort of Barbie costume special re-issue.  It might have something to do with the fact that my first contact with the collection was through Edmonds and Rodgers' beautiful backstage shots of the show (they shot all Dazed's London backstage stuff...).  Again, it all comes down to that OTT excess, that all or nothing kind of overload that Luella has gone for...the nets, the trinkets in the hair, the bows, the clash of pinks, purples and oranges, the brooches the mix of naive and luxury fabrics... it's just SO much.  Ergo...me likey muchy...

Predictable statement there but I couldn't resist it when the collection reminded me of the following, a list that is possibly unique to me...picking toys from the pink girly section of the Argos catalogue (the parents believed in educational toys like puzzles and didn't bestow me with Polly Pockets or Barbies), orange and pink candy floss (only the good fairgrounds have the orange floss...), Chupa Chups, Tim Walker sets, Woolworth's pick n' mix, cheap market stalls in the 90s that sold orange lace midriff baring tops, Spectacular nail polish, Barry M matt lipstick, pastel pens, alternating swigs of Irn Bru and Pimms, cheap sequin packs where the shapes of the sequins are all different, pipecleaners, Mean Girls gone posh, the defunct girl group Shampoo, Disney Princess collections, plastic that smells really really nice, fake strawberry flavoured things (Japan excels at this) and crappy haircombs that look pretty but don't stay in the hair...

Comments

[Samantha]

'Picking toys from the pink girly section of the Argos catalogue'

YESYESYES. Just got such a nostalgic rush from that sentence, and gosh looking over those Luella pics that is exactly the feeling I get. You have quite the way with words Miss Bubble!

[clare]

R.E.S.P.E.C.T i do now, and will do forever, remember ALL the words to Shampoo's hit 'trouble'. everyone should! x

[Big City Bumpkin]

LOVE IT!! And Samantha is so right - you do have a way with words!

[hiunna]

love the entire collection , looks so much fun though only japanese women ( yes women not girls) can pull off this look nicely .those pictures make my day and maybe i think i can spot a new glasses trend???

[Alicia/InstantVintage]

This collection looks oddly...edible. LOL.

I miss my childhood - these colors remind me of it.

[KD]

I loved the collection as well, especially the colors. It made me think of ladies-who-lunch gone crazy in a very, very good way.

[KD]

P.S. Almost everything reminds me of socialites in one way or another.

[jocelyne]

The girl with the purple bow is Simona, she is super duper sweet and pure. I have been following her blog here.......

http://blondeoverblue.wordpress.com/

And I love luella!!!!

[Leah]

oh my... those heart heels! i love luella.

[ondressingup]

These clothes make me so hungry - the colours, the textures. I am off to DIY me those bow/veil headbands. They'll cause a splash in the workplace.

[Jill]

I absolutely loved the detail that went into the dresses. They were all over the place and there were always more things to look at! Ruffles, pleating, patterns, twists and all the accessories. Fantastic!

[chelsea]

This is the only Designer Collection where I have been lusting after every piece since...well..ever maybee.

[Candice]

Oh!This season looks fun. I really enjoy Luella's collections! It's all pretty wearable yet there's an edge.

[enc]

When I see everything here all at once, it looks like a lot to take in. But I see things I really like, and will be interested to see how the bits and pieces or complete looks trickle down into streetwear.

[Katlin]

Besides the mish mash of colors and prints, I loved the play on lengths and proportions!

[Princess Poochie]

I am loving all those shoes. It looks like it will be an expensive spring for me!

Luv
Poochie

[Brigadeiro]

These bubblegum colours look too cute! And as a girl who never dressed up terribly girly and 'bubblegummy', I still love looking at it! These pieces could easily be matched with others already in the wardrobe to inject a bit of fun & colour, great collection!

[monikapolitan]

Barbie inspired fashion is the best!

I've been a fan of your posts for some while now but i believe this is the first time i'm commenting. I love what you do with your blog, it's very fun!

I linked you on my blog:)

[kim]

I had a yellow lace bare-midriff top, I totally forgot about it until now. I hope I forget about it again soon, in retrospect it looked awful :)

I like this collection, very fun. The pink heart pumps are gorgeous.

[Danielle]

I've always loved Luella. I even loved the Luella for target range, although I had to love it from afar since Target will not ship to destinations outside of the U.S.

The veils are great in this collection but I'm not sure about the pink Jockey hat/helmet.

Pink and Grey striped blazer is my fav.

[Make Do Style]

I'm loving the pink and orange but I'm such an original YSL girl that I've always loved this combo. Luella is perfectly dizty and more charming than MR MJ, who despite my uber love for him has gone crazy of late!
I too still flick religiously through Argos catalougue - it is such funny and I was never allowed barbie!

[Carl Starling]

Her collection was so edible, and it's one of a handful of designers who I think will be ripped off by the high street next summer. Whether that's a good thing or not, I'm unsure - would Luella really want teeny boppers running around the country in her aesthetic?

[Carl Starling]

I loved this collection as soon as I saw it. Luella is one of a handful of designers who I think will be ripped off by the high street next summer. Whether this is a good thing or not i don't know - would YOU want trendywendys running around the country in your aesthetic, but you reaping no rewards?

PS - LOVING YOUR COLLAGE!

[Saskia]

mom, buy me those clothes! now!

oh wow im filled with a lovely nostalgic feeling. I almost feel like popping out to get the latest issue Argos and circling my most wanted Xmas presents!
you are absolutely right - altho pink and all things girly isn't really my thing, I still love the collection.
And orange and pink shouldn't really work either but i still love it.
Luella has the humour that only brits really get down to a T
x

[winnie]

Yeah I loved this collection too. What a great collage, definitely some great kiddie memories coming back to me after looking at this!

[The Clothes Horse]

Posh candy princess...I see it. Very colorful.

[Retro Chick]

What a cute collection, I can see that being huge for summer.

That orange colour makes me think of Calpol! Aw I'm all nostalgic now.

[Frankie - Swell Vintage]

LOVE Luella.

LOVE you!

x

[songy]

Pretty to look at but can't never quite work it with my laziness blakness.

[Naoko]

Wow, this is one of the best blogs I've seen in ages. Wonderful! I love the collage.

[liz blair]

Beautiful pictures, but I don't know where I would ever wear such a look. It reminds me of the pink flower girl dresses my sister and I wore as little children back in the early 50s. We even had a big bow on our head with netting like in these pictures!

[detour2mode]

pretty cool post!!

[Fajr]

LOve Love Luella.. she has a way of bringing out the little girl in all of us. The colors, the nets, the hearts and bows... divine

[Jenny]

I loved this show! The colours were incredible! (I even used a couple little paintings of two of the dresses for my very first post).

[SwanDiamondRose]

i don't know what is happening to me but i'm dippy for pink these days! like baby baby pink. and pink shoes! what? so i love this.

[Nicky]

Your interpretation of Luellas collection is so spot on!
Love the way you've described it. The collection is as thought they've jumped into a little girls treasurey box, its so georgous!
The fact that it's so OTT is what gives the collections its quirkiness, i love Luella, it's so girly but funked up!

Nicky X

[Sunset]

Luella is just nothing sort of amazing. High fashion but with overdosing sugar... really good. Nice picks!

[Lisa]

oh my god, Spectacular nail varnish! i think i was their biggest fan! I used to paint my nails alternating colours, purple, turquoise, purple, turquoise. and then paint glitter over the top. amazing.

[Rebecca]

does anybody know where I can find those heart pumps? they are sooo cute!! ♥