I did a degree in Fashion Design and I’ve worked in the business for over 25 years bar time out for two babies and a 10 month around the world tour.
My day job is designing lingerie. I’ve designed for high end brands, major UK retailers, super markets and international global brands along the way. For the last however many years I’ve worked for a supplier – we design and produce for the more ‘value end’ of the market – but that doesn’t mean it’s any less creative at one level from those selling at higher price points – we have to be super inventive to create something fabulous, functional and wearable and commercial at a very competitive price.
As I’ve got older, and busier being busy I realise that my, and maybe yours too, field of view has narrowed – and in a year like no other (ha – had anyone else mentioned that?!) I/we may have found that where we might have wanted something previously and bought it, we perhaps didn’t always question ourselves as much to if we actually needed it. This year for me for sure has been a turning point* of considering what, and why I’m buying something. I’ve nowhere to go, I worked from home 90% of the time anyway before – do I need another jazzy (insert garment or shoe here) for a meeting I’m not going to have face to face with a customer? No.
Because life right now is a little smaller than in the past, it made me realise that my in my quest to find the perfect black jumper that is thick but not too thick, warm, but not so warm that I’m not going to boil, the neck high enough to be flattering but… YAWN… I’ve forgotten to think about sheer joy and creative bonkers-ness and artistry that fashion can be.
No, we’re probably not going to be going to many cocktail parties this festive time or have many swanky (substantial) dinners out-out so our need for fashion show stoppers (or something less dramatic) may be currently reduced, but….
This line of thought for this blog-post started with a newsletter earlier this week that H&M were kind enough to send me – showcasing a Conscious range of clothing made with fabrics made of recycled yarns – there were some purposefully draped fabric here, tulle ruffled there and explosions of ruffles and froth. I couldn’t stop thinking about them.
So as a diversion from the usual content of my blogposts here are some joyful, delicious, super creative, not for everyone, but odes to self expression and wonder fashion pieces… in some cases with price points to also wonder at… but as works of art? If you can, why wouldn’t you if you could, even if you’ve nowhere to go?
This was the image from H&M that made me open my eyes…
Is it beautiful? Yes.
Would I wear it? No.
Can I still admire it for what it is? Absolutely,
It was selling for £229 and has sold out already anyway – but fair play to H&M for pushing and creating such a fabulous and uplifting wearable piece of art.
And another from H&M’s Conscious range…
Not one necessarily for everyday – a cardigan with pre-attached tulle shawl.
Molly Goddard at Matches Joelle tulle-shawl wool cardigan £680
(Tiered tulle skirt £580)
Staying with tiers and ruffles…
Roksanda Marianna ruffled-hem cotton-poplin skirt £650
Isabel Marant Lavaliere tie-detailed lame blouse £835, and the skirt, £775
Glamour all the way.
More sparkle & sequins. Stunning photo.
Zara Limited Edition Flared Sequinned Leggings £49.99
As this… spoiler alert, having found this most glorious image demonstrating the most brilliant fashion photography on the Harrods website, I couldn’t then locate this most stunning of dresses… others from the same designer are available at…
Valentino at Harrods…
This is a one of a kind piece made from vintage silk scarves. Fabulous no?
Rianna + Nina Vintage shawl-lapel patchwork silk coat £3,180
Sleeves… oh the drama. This made with 100% recycled polyester and a new more sustainable way of dyeing the fabric.
H&M Patterned wrap dress £119.99
Or, to make Zoom calls a little more glamourous?
Self Portrait Ruched polka-dot flocked tulle top £250
Back view.
More polka dot tulle…
Zara Dotted Mesh Tulle Dress £59.99
Finally, this is available, and glorious and mad… and most importantly, it’s smile-inducing
H&M Puff-sleeved organza dress £29.99H&M Puff-sleeved organza dress £29.99
My quests for (often) sensible and necessary does continue, but now and then it’s good to be reminded there are other things out there and how very fabulous fashion can be… even if we’re mainly just going to be wearing things at home.
xx
*I reserve the right to be exceedingly fickle and potentially change my mind at any point & to my bit to get the economy moving by occasionally buying things I want, but don’t really need…
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