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LITTLE WOMEN 2018
THE SPRING SUMMER ‘18 COLLECTION IS INSPIRED BY THE NOVEL ‘LITTLE WOMEN’ AND LOOKS AT AMERICAN FOLK ART AND ANTIQUITIES FROM THE CIVIL WAR. THE UNIQUE PRINTS ARE CREATED FROM A MIXTURE OF ALL THE SYMBOLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PERIOD; NIGHTS AROUND THE FIRE HAND EMBROIDERING AND CROSS-STITCHING HANDMADE DRESSES, WRITING POEMS AND LOVE PUZZLES; WITH LITTLE PRINTED CROSS STITCHES HOLDING EACH PRINT TOGETHER IN THE HEARTFELT SHAKER DRESS.
NOMAD 2018
THE AUTUMN WINTER ‘18 COLLECTION LOOKS AT NOMADISM WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LAYERING UP GARMENTS FOR WARM. THE COLOURS ARE TAKEN FROM AUTUMNAL FORESTS FOR CAMOUFLAGE. THESE ARE COMPLIMENTED BY UNIQUE PRINTS WHICH ARE INSPIRED BY GATHERING DIFFERENT TEXTILES TOGETHER TO MAKE GARMENTS FROM OLD BITS OF PRINTED FABRICS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOUND ON A JOURNEY TO CREATE AN ECLECTIC COLLAGE OF FLORAL, STITCHED, BLOCK PRINTED IMAGERY.
WITCHING HOUR 2019
THE AUTUMN WINTER ‘19 COLLECTION TAKES INSPIRATION FROM JOHN KEATS’ POEM OF THE SAME NAME. LOOKING INTO LOCAL FOLKLORE AND SUPERSTITION; PRINTS ARE MADE FROM HAND-DRAWN ILLUSTRATIONS OF GATHERINGS, DEEP WITHIN THE TANGLED WILLOWS, OF SUPERNATURAL BEINGS COMBINED WITH CELESTIAL SYMBOLISM TO CREATE OUR OWN TOILE DE JOUY. BELL SLEEVES AND LACE TRIMMED COLLARS TAKEN FROM PILGRIM CLOTHES ARE RE-IMAGINED FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ‘WITCH’ IN MINI DRESSES WITH SILVER EYELET TRIMS AND CROPPED VELVET JACKETS.
BLOOMSBURY 2020
THE BLOOMSBURY COLLECTION TAKES INSPIRATION FROM THE BODY OF MODERNIST ENGLISH WRITERS, PHILOSOPHERS AND ARTISTS WHO BECAME NOTORIOUS FOR THEIR COLOURFUL GATHERINGS AT CHARLESTON HOUSE. NESTLED IN THE SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE, CHARLESTON HOUSE ALLOWED THE VISIONARIES TO ESCAPE THE INCREASINGLY FAST-PACED, MODERN ENVIRONMENT OF THE CITY THAT WAS EXPANDING AROUND THEM. THIS COLLECTION SEEKS TO CAPTURE SOME OF THIS REBELLIOUSLY ESCAPIST SENSIBILITY, BUSTLING WITH ULTRA FEMININE EFFLORESCENT PRINTS THAT ECHO THE BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AT CHARLESTON AND DUNCAN GRANT AND VANESSA BELL’S ARTWORK AROUND THE HOUSE. THE COLOUR SCHEME IS ALSO REMINISCENT OF NATURE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON GREEN AND PASTEL FLORAL SHADES THAT REFLECT THE GROUP’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE. FLOATY, WHIMSICAL SHAPES FROM THE ERA ARE EVIDENT BUT ARE CONTRASTED WITH A MASCULINE VELVET SMOKING JACKET, THE COMBINATION OF WHICH ENCAPSULATES THE BOHEMIAN AND FORWARD-THINKING LIFESTYLE OF THE MEMBERS.
HIGH SEAS 2020
THIS AUTUMN WINTER COLLECTION AIMS TO ENCAPSULATE THE WILD, UNPREDICTABLE, UNWAVERING FORCE OF THE SEA AND ALL OF ITS MYSTERIES. TALES OF SIRENS AND SEA BEASTS INFILTRATE THE SOFT FEMININE SILHOUETTES THROUGH HAND PAINTED PRINTS AND EMBROIDERIES. SHAPES ARE FORMED FROM SEA CAPTAIN’S UNIFORMS AND CONTRASTED WITH WILLOWY ETHEREAL SHAPES THAT DRIFT EERILY THROUGH THE OCEANS WAVES. PRINTS FEATURE PRECIOUS KEEPSAKES AND LUCKY CHARMS FOR SAFETY ON LONG VOYAGES, ALONGSIDE OMENS AND SIRENS LURING SAILORS TO THEIR FATE. “THUS ON LIFE’S LONELY SEA. HEARETH THE MARINERE, VOICES SAD, FROM FAR AND NEAR, EVER SINGING, FULL OF FEAR, EVER SINGING, DREARFULLY.” J.R.LOWELL
GLORIANA 2020
THIS CHRISTMAS COLLECTION IS INSPIRED BY MY FAVOURITE MONARCH ELIZABETH I, AND THE CELEBRATED “GOLDEN AGE” – A TIME WHEN ART AND LITERATURE FLOURISHED, AND NATIONAL PRIDE ROSE WITH THE GROWTH OF MARITIME STRENGTH. IT WAS ALSO A PERIOD OF OPULENCE AND EXTRAVAGANCE, EMBODIED BY THE QUEEN HERSELF, WHO WORE LAVISH OUTFITS AND JEWELLERY TO SHOWCASE HER WEALTH AND POWER. I LOVE THAT SHE IS AN INFLUENCE ON FASHION FOR US TODAY, AS SHE WAS FOR SOCIETY BACK IN THE 1500S. I NAMED THIS COLLECTION “GLORIANA” AS A NOD TO EDMUND SPENSER’S “THE FAERIE QUEENE”, AN EPIC POEM PUBLISHED IN HONOUR OF ELIZABETH IN 1590. THE PRINT IS FULL OF SYMBOLS THAT CAN BE SEEN IN PAINTINGS OF ELIZABETH’S OWN REGAL WARDROBE. THE EYES AND EARS SUGGEST HER ALL-SEEING, ALL-HEARING AUTHORITY, WHILE THE HEARTS REPRESENT HER LOVE OF GOD AND COUNTRY. YOU MAY ALSO BE ABLE TO SPOT THE TUDOR ROSE, WHICH ARTISTS OF THE TIME USED TO SYMBOLIZE THE RELATIVE UNITY THE TUDOR ERA BROUGHT TO THE LAND.
POSSESSION OF A GOOD FORTUNE CHAPTER I 2021
“IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED, THAT A SINGLE MAN IN POSSESSION OF A GOOD FORTUNE, MUST BE IN WANT OF A WIFE” COULD BE THE MOST FAMOUS LINE EVER WRITTEN IN ENGLISH LITERATURE AND IT’S LEGACY HAS INSPIRED THIS COLLECTION. OUR PRINTS REFLECT A ROSE-TINTED FROLIC THROUGH THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE INSPIRED BY REGENCY HIGH SOCIETY’S OUTDOOR PURSUITS OF THE DAY, IMBUED WITH A CELEBRATION OF NATURE IN LINE WITH OUR RENEWED APPRECIATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD. EXPLORE THE SCANDAL AND PLEASURE OF VAUXHALL GARDENS, TAKE A LEISURELY STROLL THROUGH THE MAZE GARDENS, MAYBE EVEN ADMIRE SOME OF THE COUNTY SEATS OF A CERTAIN DASHING ELIGIBLE BACHELOR. SHAPES ARE FORMED FROM OUR OWN INTERPRETATION OF GENTLEMAN’S RIDING COATS, TEA-DRESSES WORN WITH SPENCER JACKETS FOR PICNICS AT BOX HILL AND WHAT WE LIKE TO THINK OF AS A FEMALE DANDY OF THE TIME WITH “SUPERB SELF-CONFIDENCE.”
POSSESSION OF A GOOD FORTUNE CHAPTER II 2021
“IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED, THAT A SINGLE MAN IN POSSESSION OF A GOOD FORTUNE, MUST BE IN WANT OF A WIFE” COULD BE THE MOST FAMOUS LINE EVER WRITTEN IN ENGLISH LITERATURE AND IT’S LEGACY HAS INSPIRED THIS COLLECTION. OUR PRINTS REFLECT A ROSE-TINTED FROLIC THROUGH THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE INSPIRED BY REGENCY HIGH SOCIETY’S OUTDOOR PURSUITS OF THE DAY, IMBUED WITH A CELEBRATION OF NATURE IN LINE WITH OUR RENEWED APPRECIATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD. EXPLORE THE SCANDAL AND PLEASURE OF VAUXHALL GARDENS, TAKE A LEISURELY STROLL THROUGH THE MAZE GARDENS, MAYBE EVEN ADMIRE SOME OF THE COUNTY SEATS OF A CERTAIN DASHING ELIGIBLE BACHELOR. SHAPES ARE FORMED FROM OUR OWN INTERPRETATION OF GENTLEMAN’S RIDING COATS, TEA-DRESSES WORN WITH SPENCER JACKETS FOR PICNICS AT BOX HILL AND WHAT WE LIKE TO THINK OF AS A FEMALE DANDY OF THE TIME WITH “SUPERB SELF-CONFIDENCE.”
ISLE OF AVALON 2021
ENTER THE WORLD OF LEGENDS, DRAGONS, MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES AND MAGIC. INSPIRED BY THE LOCAL FOLKLORE OF ALDERLEY EDGE FOREST AND IT’S RESIDENT WIZARD, MY JEWEL TONED PRINTS THIS SEASON TAKE ON THE FORM OF ANCIENT STORIES, RETRIEVING SWORDS FROM MYSTERIOUS LAKES, WELSH TALES OF DRAGONS WITH ACTS OF CHIVALRY AND BRAVERY. PAIRED WITH CLASSIC TARTANS, REGAL ELEMENTS AND WILLIAM MORRIS INSPIRED SYMBOLISM TO EVOKE THIS MYSTICAL ERA BUT IN AN UPDATED AND WEARABLE STYLE. TO ENCAPSULATE THE ROMANCE OF THIS THEME I LOOKED TO THE PRE-RAPHAELITES, WHO REINVIGORATED INTERESTS IN CLASSIC BRITISH FOLKLORE IN BEAUTIFUL PAINTED FORM, WITH FLOWING FABRICS AND UNCONVENTIONALLY LOOSE WAISTLINES. I HAVE IMBUED A SENSE OF MEDIEVAL DRESS IN MY SHAPE DESIGN BY TAKING BODICE SHAPES AND PANELLING DETAILS FROM ARMOUR AND DOUBLETS, WITH GATHERED PUFF SLEEVES TO CREATE THIS ICONIC WHIMSICAL SILHOUETTE.
LADY OF SHALOTT 2021
INSPIRED BY THE 1833 LYRICAL BALLAD BY ENGLISH POET ALFRED TENNYSON, WHICH TELLS THE TRAGIC STORY OF ELAINE OF ASTOLAT TRAPPED IN A TOWER ABOVE CAMELOT. FOLLOWING ON FROM THE ISLE OF AVALON THEME, THIS TALE IS LOOSELY TIED TO ARTHURIAN LEGEND. IT'S VIVID MEDIEVAL ROMANTICISM AND ENIGMATIC SYMBOLISM INSPIRED THE PRE-RAPHAELITE BROTHERHOOD INCLUDING WILLIAM HOLMAN HUNT, WHERE I SOURCED MY JEWELLED COLOURED PALETTE AND EMBROIDERY IMAGERY.
THE LADY VANISHES 2022
THE LADY VANISHES SPRING SUMMER COLLECTION TAKES INSPIRATION FROM 1930S MYSTERY NOVELS, WITH REFERENCES FROM THE 'QUEEN OF CRIME' HERSELF AGATHA CHRISTIE ALONGSIDE MOODY AND RESONANT DAPHNE DU MAURIER THEMES. VIBRANT AND FRESH COLOURS ARE TAKEN FROM THE 'ENGLISH RIVIERA' TO ENHANCE THE CHRISTIE SYMBOLISM IN THE PIECES SUCH AS IMAGERY ASSOCIATED WITH POIROT'S DISTINCTIVE STYLE LIKE THE POCKET WATCH, SMALL ROUND GLASSES AND ACCUSING FINGER, ALONGSIDE THE CRIMES THAT HE SOLVES SITS THE POISON BOTTLE AND THE GUN WITH THE SPIKED WINE. ALWAYS WATCHING OVER ANY SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOUR IS THE ART DECO EYE, A CONTINUING THEME THROUGHOUT THE PRINTS. THE DARKER ELEMENTS OF THE PRINTS ARE CONTRASTED BY THE SOFT ELEGANT SHAPES. USING LATE 1920S AND EARLY 1930S VINTAGE CLOTHING AS A BASE FOR THIS SEASON’S SILHOUETTE THE PIECES RANGE FROM THE CLASSIC BIAS DAY DRESS WORN EXPLORING QUIET ENGLISH VILLAGES, A SAFARI SUIT PERFECT FOR AN INVESTIGATION AT A LOCAL COUNTRY HOUSE, TO SHORT SETS AND NAUTICAL PIECES, IDEAL FOR SUNBATHING ON BURGH ISLAND…AT YOUR PERIL.
I AM A DREAMER 2022
THIS AUTUMN WINTER DELVE INTO THE WORLD OF THE ULTIMATE DANDY, OSCAR WILDE. AS WELL AS HIS LOVE FOR BEAUTY AND DISTASTE FOR WASTE, HE HAD A FLAIR FOR SELF PUBLICITY. HIS STYLE BLENDED REBEL WITH DANDY, THIS GENT CERTAINLY KNEW HOW TO PEACOCK. WILDE PREFERRED THE NATURAL FIBRES AND MUTED TONES SEEN IN THE AESTHETIC MOVEMENT. THIS COLLECTION TAKES INSPIRATION FROM ALL THE ABOVE, MIXING FLAMBOYANT DANDY STYLES, USING NATURAL WOOL AND COTTON FIBRES, WITH PRINTS AND EMBROIDERIES FEATURING SYMBOLISM FROM WILDE’S MOST WELL-KNOWN NOVEL ‘THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GREY.’ THE ULTRA-FASHIONABLE (AND DEADLY) ARSENIC WALLPAPER COLOURS AND DESIGNS FROM THE TIME INSPIRE THE MOODY COLOURS AND REFLECT THE IRONY OF WILDE’S VIEW THAT KEEPING UP WITH FASHION IS A FOLLY. DRESSES AND BLOUSES ARE BLENDED WITH MASCULINE SHAPES INSPIRED BY THE MALE DANDY FASHIONS OF THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, FRILLED CUFFS AND DRESS SHIRT DETAILS ARE ADDED FOR A MORE FLAMBOYANT BUT POLISHED LOOK.
PAVLOVA 2022
THE 'PAVLOVA' COLLECTION DRAWS ITS INSPIRATION FROM THE DELICATE BEAUTY AND GRACEFUL MOVEMENTS OF THE LEGENDARY RUSSIAN BALLERINA, ANNA PAVLOVA. KNOWN FOR HER ETHEREAL STAGE PRESENCE AND ENCHANTING PERFORMANCES, PAVLOVA CAPTIVATED AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE. HER ELEGANCE, POISE, AND DEDICATION TO HER ART HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE WORLD OF DANCE AND STYLE. SOFT PASTEL HUES, DELICATE FABRICS, AND ROMANTIC EMBROIDERIES COME TOGETHER TO CREATE GARMENTS THAT FEEL LIKE A DREAM, ALLOWING YOU TO EMBRACE YOUR INNER GODDESS. IT'S A COLLECTION THAT CELEBRATES THE BEAUTY OF MOVEMENT, THE ALLURE OF ELEGANCE, AND THE POWER OF PERSONAL EXPRESSION.
