Pearl Lowe for Peacocks

Another “famous” (hmm, maybe “notorious” is a better word) person is designing some stuff for a fashion retailer: this time it’s Pearl Lowe’s turn. She has collaborated with Peacocks to design a collection of party dresses for the Christmas season. Daughter Daisy is fronting the advertisements. The Pearl Lowe for Peacocks range is inspired by Bowie’s Hunky Dory album (?). I can see that the dresses have a sort of 70’s feeling, but I don’t really get the link with the Bowie album.

The happy Lowe family at the launch party

Lowe says, ‘Designing my collection for Peacocks has been a bit of a dream. I’ve taken inspiration from the things I love, classic vintage shapes, intricate detail, lace and wonderful textiles. I’m very proud of the designs and can’t wait to see them on the high street. It was important from the start that my designs were accessible and everything is under £40.’

Take a look at some dresses from the collection:  

 

Black/gold Lurex-lace prom dress, £40

Red lace mini-tea dress, £35

  

 

Angel-sleeve, black jersey dress with beaded waistband, £35

 

 Black sequinned wrap-dress, £40

I never been a fan of Pearl, but the dresses look great. Who cares about the tag when the dress is fabulous? And a big plus is that they’re affordable!

Pearl’s dresses will hit Peacocks stores on November 2 and will cost between £35 and £40. Available in UK sizes 8 to 16.

The online store is here: www.peacocks.co.uk, but no shipping to Europe……

Kinky or Cool: Over the Knee Boots

Once in every five years “over the knee boots” make a comeback. And every time I’m tempted to give it a try and buy them, but always have some excuses not to. The very small, sane part of my brain says: “You will look like a cheap tart, you can’t wear them to work (some of my clients are extremely conservative christian white males), and they will only last one season. But then I saw these pictures of the Dutch Royal Family: Princess Maxima is wearing them! Shocking! I mean, if she can wear them, so can I! So maybe I’m going to listen to the little devil in my head this time and wave my creditcard… 

 

 Royal Highness Princess Maxima wearing brown and grey suede over the knee boots. (And leopard……I suddenly feel very frumpy).

 Brigitte Bardot’s wearing hers with a leather and sequin mini dress.

Marc Jacobs, Fall 2009. 

Daisy Lowe showing her boots and her underwear. 

The Royal Highness of Cool: Debbie Harry.

Gucci, Fall 2009. 

Lindsay Lohan on the September 2009 cover of Elle UK.

Isabel Marant, Fall 2009.

Actress Barbara Parkins (Valley of the Dolls) from head to toe in leather.

I never thought I would like Roberto Cavalli, but I love the dress and the boots – from the Fall 2009 collection.

 Raquel Zimmermann as Debbie Harry with trademark boots in French Vogue, September 2009. 

And ofcourse: Kate. Shot by Mario Sorrenti for Vogue China, December 2008.

Classic Wardrobe Staple: Lace Dresses

I know lace dresses were on every runway for autumn 2008 / winter 2009, but to me it’s a classic that never goes out of style. I like the versatility of lace: easy to  dress up (heels) or down (boots), suitable for summer (bare legs) and winter (black opaque tights), and it can be worn with denim or leather jackets, blazers and cardigans. Throughout the years I’ve collected really great  lace dresses. I never get bored of them and wear them again and again and again…..   

What to wear with a lace dress? Maybe lace tights?

Karen Elson wearing Prada on the september 2008 cover of Vogue UK.

Frilled lace dress from the 60’s by fashion photographer John French.

White lace, black tights – always a perfect duo.

Daisy Lowe in bright red lace.

From the L.A.M.B. spring 2008 collection: lace, mini and transparent sounds all wrong, but can look this good. 

Model Amber Valetta in innocently white.

And not so innocent in a black lacey nun outfit for POP magazine.

Lace goes grunge.

Pearl, Flowers and Lace

These days Pearl Lowe is probably best known for being the mother of UK model Daisy Lowe or perhaps for being the wife of Supergrass drummer, Danny Goffey. Once upon a time she was the singer of relatively unkown 90’s Brit Pop band “Powder”. She led a wild lifestyle during those days, about which she wrote a book called “All that Glitters“. She’s been putting out  her signature range of lace curtains, cushions and hand-made dresses  for the past couple of years.

This post is about her style and aesthetic. All of the houses/cottages, she has lived in since she moved to the country with her family, have been a big source of inspiration for me. She is a well known vintage fashion collector and wearer and she’s been aplauded for her great taste. But also in her decorating style she manages to also really see what worked in the past and what you can combine to create this fabulous look  and vintage feel(read the quote on one of the posted pictures 1920’s Paris meets 1970’s Biba– can she please adopt me?) Combining lace from her company with blacks, florals, the occasional rock and roll touches(Bob Dylan photo, leopard prints, instruments around the house) atique mirrors and black and white wood furniture.

I collected pictures of all the rooms in the homes she has lived in in the English country side. Take a peek at all of her lovingly decorated spaces:

bedroom

great alternative closet idea!

most recent home

living room

with Daughter Daisy

bathroom

kitchen

details

perfect vanity table

all the lace..

mirrors and ostrich feathers

another Venetian mirror

a peacock chair!

source: pearllowe.co.uk