fashionologie

Luella Bartley Is "Happy to Be Out" of Fashion, But May Bring the Luella Girl Back in Graphic Novel Form

fashionologie — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:01:50 PDT

>> Luella Bartley folded her Luella label last November - and while she says she doesn't know what's next, she's sure that the Luella girl isn't gone. “My lifestyle changed, but she stayed, which is nice,” Bartley - who has been living full-time in the Cornwall farmhouse she shares with her photographer boyfriend, David Sims, and their three children, since Luella shuttered - explains. She adds that her next step may not be about dressing the Luella girl - she's thinking of turning her into a graphic novel.

Bartley doesn't seem torn up about the end of the label, for which she had to commute daily into London. “It’s a difficult thing, being a woman, trying to have a successful business, be creative and do the best by your family. I sold it to myself that I could do it all,” she tells the Times UK. “You can, but not the way my business was set up. It was set up for the old me. Maybe I was moving away from that life without realising it.”

“To anybody urban and creative, it obviously sounds like a drop-out situation,” she continues. “Letting go has been the biggest lesson. I used to think that if someone wasn’t successful, it was because they were crap, but now I realise that if people aren’t successful, it’s probably because they aren’t that bothered . . . You think that everyone’s going to forget who you are. But I had a chat with Phoebe [Philo, the creative director of Céline], who I admire so much. She took three years out and made sure her kids were secure. Then, when she was ready, she got the deal she wanted. You’ve just got to know what you want. I know I’ve done the right thing. I don’t mourn anything. I loved what it was, but I’m happy to be out."

Alexa Chung Mourns Luella, Is Filming a Secret Project

fashionologie — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:07:39 PDT

>> While Karlie Kloss and Tavi Gevinson joined forces to sing "You're So Vain" on karaoke at Barneys uptown this evening during New York's Fashion's Night Out, downtown Madewell was flooded for the debut of Alexa Chung's collection. The television presenter, model, and Chanel beauty ambassador had an unlikely reason for starting the collection, she revealed. "Once Luella closed down, I'm telling you, I was gutted. There was absolutely nothing to wear. So I just had to start making my own clothes," she said, while perched in a Madewell dressing room.

Chung also mentioned that she's going back to London for Fashion Week, but not for good. "I have to stay in New York for a bit because I'm filming something. But I can't really talk about it yet."

fashionologie — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:32:22 PDT

>> Luella Bartley's Style Guide to Be Released Oct. 14 -After a year-long delay, Luella Bartley has finally finished her book, titled Luella's Guide to English Style - her main project while between design jobs. The style guide, which Bartley wrote completely by herself according to her publisher, includes the designer's take on English street style and British style icons such as Kate Moss and The Duchess of Devonshire. "My aim is simply to dig up the roots of and, more importantly, show my unerring appreciation and devotion to those contrived subtleties and that blatant contrariness that makes British women so staggeringly adept in the art of expression through style," Bartley writes in the introduction. The book, which comes complete with photographs, drawings, and even diagrams, is currently available for pre-order in the UK - and is out Oct. 14. We're waiting to hear back from the publishers regarding US availability. [Vogue UK]

Fashion in 50 Seconds 8/17/10 Miranda Kerr's Upcoming Vogue Italia Cover, WWD's Cheap Week

coutorture — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:16:38 PDT

Miranda Kerr has an upcoming Vogue Italia cover.

WWD's cheap week: Affordable fashions grace the red carpet.

Luella returns with a book.

Lincoln Center workers might picket Fashion Week.

It's all over for extreme shoes.

Source

Luella Bartley Spending Downtime Writing Book

fashionologie — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:44:02 PST

>> Is book curating the new way for designers to bide time between jobs? First Olivier Theyskens, whose work is due out next month, and and now Luella Bartley, who lost her investor and manufacturer in November, is working on a book.

Tentatively titled Luella's Guide to English Style, the book was originally supposed to be published last Fall, but was put on hold after Bartley's time commitments prevented deadlines from being made. Now, with her label in the balance and thus more time on her hands, Luella has taken up the project again and hopes to publish the work in September 2010, in time for Spring 2011 London Fashion Week.

According to her publishers, Fourth Estate: "Unfortunately she couldn't deliver on time before but now we've decided on September. She's doing all the writing herself. It's a style guide." The content will be divided between English street style and British style icons. "It's not going to be just a book about fashion. It's a work of social anthropology."

fashionologie — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:25:54 PST

>> What Are Luella Bartley and Martin Margiela Up To? -Olivier Theyskens has taken his time between labels to put together a book, but what about Martin Margiela, who has officially severed ties with his namesake label, and Luella Bartley, who lost her financing and is to ship her Spring 2010 collection? Margiela wanted to walk away from fashion and has instead been pouring his energies into painting; Bartley, meanwhile, has been acting as creative consultant to Liberty and retreated to Cornwall to look after her three children and decide what to do next. [WWD, Telegraph UK]

UPDATE: Apparently Margiela was in Los Angeles recently, looking for homes in West Hollywood. [@BinkleyOnStyle]

Fashion in 50 Seconds 11/10/09 Demi Does Spring 2010 Balmain

coutorture — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:55:03 PST

Demi Moore was photographed by Mert and Marcus in spring 2010 Balmain for the December cover of W magazine.

Solange Azagury-Partridge celebrates her new jewelry collection with a short film starring Thandie Newton.

Dana Thomas, author of Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster, predicts the end of the Versace family business.

The 6 best makeup brands you've never heard of. . . including one wine-themed lip treatment.

Prabal Gurung scores on Oprah.

London-based global licensee, Club 21, pulls out investments from Luella.

Madonna is confirmed as face of Dolce & Gabbana spring 2010 ad campaign.

Source: The Cut/NY Mag

London Fashion Week: Luella Spring 2010

coutorture — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:52:20 PDT

London 09/21/09. WireImage

View Slideshow ›

fashionologie — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:23:16 PDT

>> INSIDER WIRE -A number of companies are in a state of flux - Versace, Aquascutum, and Christian Lacroix among them - now add Luella to the list. Designer Luella Bartley is said to be restructuring her company, and may be parting with Club 21, which holds her brand's license for ready-to-wear and accessories. Sources tell WWD Luella may in fact be looking to take back control of her label. [WWD]

Luella Relaunches Website, Goes E-Commerce

coutorture — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:00:00 PDT

British label Luella unveiled a new website this weekend and it's fully e-commerce enabled. The site is simple and to the point--there is an online store stocked with the current collection as well as an about section and an opportunity to join the email list. So far, there is no lead-in to the Fall 2009 collection but we wouldn't be surprised if it were in the pipeline.