The Luella Bartley collection still retains the tongue-in-cheek attitude of former collections.
For Spring/Summer 10 the Luella girl has grown up… Gone are the ditsy prints and layers of tulle we’ve come to expect from the former Voguette-turned-designer. Instead, in their place, Luella Bartley presented us with a more formal collection of fun, flirty dresses and pretty skirt suits.
More moderate than Bartley’s usual style, the collection still retains the tongue-in-cheek attitude of former collections.
A spectrum of colours was on offer ranging from muted tones of beige, black and white to louder shades of lemon, pale blue and bright red.
Dresses with sweetheart necklines, and even one with a cutout heart on the front, stole the show and are sure to sell like hot-cakes.
>>See Luella Bartley catwalk images
Skirts and dresses had high waistlines, accentuated with narrow belts in some cases. Silhouettes came in tulip shapes, some with padded hips for added volume.
Whilst black tailored, knee-length shorts, and high-waisted polka dot trousers catered for those looking for a chic, less feminine look.
Well-made double-breasted wool coats worked as smart and elegant cover-ups, while skirt suits gave a pretty, grown-up style.
Bartley’s designs did not stop at the clothes as she also exhibited a collection of must-have boxy patent grab bags and shiny patent shoes, all topped off with cute girlish hair bows.
Luella’s spring collection may not be quite what we expected, but wearable, shapes in adorable, girly colours are sure to be a big hit for spring. — Kirsty Armstrong
>> See our complete runway coverage and fashion show photos
Postscript: November 10, 2009, Vogue.com reports that Luella label has ceased trading.
“This is a very disappointing situation for everyone involved with the brand,” Bartley said in a statement this morning. “I very much appreciate the support that [Club 21 subsidiary] VSQ has given me, but it is upsetting not to be able to protect jobs in this difficult economic climate. I love the Luella character and hope that after we have survived this challenging time the Luella girl can have an exciting future ahead of her, whichever incarnation she takes on next. We have a number of options open to us, and are considering these over the coming months.”