Wednesday 6 October 2010

LULU & CO.


It is hard to believe that it is ten years since Lulu Kennedy launched Fashion East, a scheme to discover young British designers, mentoring them and providing a catwalk platform at London Fashion Week. Over the past ten years Lulu has become known as fashion’s fairy godmother, launching talent from Marios Schwab to Emma Cook. To celebrate a decade of Fashion East, Lulu has allowed us a slice of her enviable wardrobe, creating a capsule collection of dresses designed by the ‘graduates’ she brought to the forefront of British fashion. Lulu claims the collection consists of both ‘easy fun pieces and full on show stoppers.’ With pieces designed by a range of her discoveries including Gareth Pugh, Jonathan Saunders, Richard Nicoll and Roksanda Ilincic, Lulu has certainly created a collection of investment pieces. After showing the collection to a handful of editors at Couture in July, a preview of a few of the covetable pieces emerged today before they go in store this month. With prices starting at £395 and the collection only being stocked at Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge, Colette and Opening Ceremony New York, there is sure to be a fashion scrum.

Collection highlights include a black bodycon Gareth Pugh dress, which is quite literally head turning and a crystal covered Holly Fulton maxi - here’s a sneak preview of a few of the others.


Jonathan Saunders Wyler gown, A/W ’07 (£995)

Worn by Lulu to Jonathan Saunders show at the Hayward Gallery. This floor length dress in sunset hues is reminiscent of an old movie goddess.


Louise Gray Trapeze Dress, A/W 08 (£850)

Louise Gray appears to be a favourite of Lulu’s amongst her graduates, she was the designer she chose to wear for the Fashion East tenth anniversary show. The Trapeze dress (of which only four were previously made) is a standout piece which would look stylish for both day and evening.



Roksanda Ilincic Rasberry gown, S/S 08 (£495)

A typically romantic piece from the queen of feminine, cocktail dresses Roskanda Ilincic. The draped silk and raspberry shade, topped off with a beautiful bow creates the most elegant dress of Lulu’s collective.


These are only a few highlights of the incredible collection Lulu has put together and it is exciting to discover she is already planning her Spring/Summer 2011 collective (consisting of newer designers including Simone Rocha and Michael van der Ham). One can only imagine the treats Lulu has in store from her very enviable archive.


On an unrelated but exciting note, Lulu is currently Vogue’s girl of the month on ‘Today I’m Wearing’ and has already showcased some incredible neon yellow Michael van der Ham for Pollini shoes and shearling Louise Gray accessories. http://www.vogue.co.uk/photo-blogs/lulu-kennedy/100929-lulu-kennedy-day-5.aspx


Harriet Tisdall

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