Ode to Luella

We thought she rather deserved a mention after being credited by The British Fashion Awards with the Designer of the Year Award 2008.

So why did she win?

Central Saint Martin graduate Luella Bartley first came onto the scene in 2000 with her London Fashion Week debut show entitled, ‘Daddy, Who Were the Clash?’. She then went on to launch her own signature label and has gone from strength to strength showing at New York Fashion Week ever since.

Last September Bartley made a welcome return to LFW, she initially came to publicise the opening of her boutique in Mayfair but then decided to stay in the capital, and aren’t we glad she did, because since then she’s given us some stellar catwalk shows. Her collections were an overnight sensation and the Luella label acquired quite a following, especially amongst the ‘It-Brit’ celebrities such as; Alexa Chung, Lily Allen and Kelly Osbourne.

The Luella Look

Amidst all the quirkiness of her catwalk shows, the Luella label specialises in; cute, feminine pieces that are fun but also very wearable at the same time. The high street seems to think so too, as shops such as Urban Outfitters and Topshop, often replicate the ‘Luella look’, (remember the batman t-shirts?). Therefore proving that Luella has mass-market appeal, and after famously saying herself that her clothes are the kind you can, ‘get drunk and fall down in’, I can see why!

Here’s a look at the top 5 trademark pieces from Luella’s collections throughout the years:

1.)    The Giselle Bag

Model Giselle Bundchen opened Luella’s first New York show carrying this aptly named bag which became a must have item.

2.)    Prom Dresses

A celeb fave this gorgeous girly dress has been worn throughout 2007/8.

3.) The Floral Skirt

The floral skirt became a big hit in high street stores such as Urban Outfitters, along with the geek chic jam-jar style glasses.

4.) The Tea Dress

The tea dress remains a firm favourite from Luella as it reigns throughout her catwalks, last Spring it was floral ones, this Autumn its checks.

5.) That Batman Print

Luella predicted Batman fever way before the premier of new Batman film, ‘The Dark Knight’.

Making such a big influence on the British fashion scene in such a short space of time, I’m sure there’s a lot more to come from this influential designer and I can’t wait to see what she’ll come up with next year.

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