A Modern Laura Ashley
It didn’t take a sweet little article on fashion doyenne Laura Ashley to pique my interest in her life. I have loved the Laura Ashley “look” since I saw it first-hand in the 80’s at a Laura Ashley boutique in Boston. Then I needed only follow the scent of the beautiful perfumes that the shop sprayed outside its doors each morning. No. 1 was my favorite and I remember it still with its outspoken aura of hothouse flowers. I’ve never been able to find any other scent with its pure floral essence.
That small piece on Laura Ashley made me admire her. But not the big baroness of a multi-million dollar company that she became with her husband Bernard. This article was about Laura’s beginnings, silk screening tea towels in her small British home with a baby in a cradle by her feet. I enjoyed reading about her love of home and family and how she turned her vision as a young woman into a style that will always be English Heritage.
The Boston boutique I frequented was filled with large flowery print dresses and skirts as well as small-print baby bedding and pretty home accessories. I subscribed to the catalogs filled with rich photos of plump beds covered in crisp textiles as well as matching mother/daughter dresses which sometimes included pantaloons. At that time Laura Ashley was over the top and although inspiring to explore, I only bought No 1 and a charming fabric tissue box cover.
Later, during the minimalists 90’s, Laura Ashley style had changed. I found a slimming corduroy skirt in deep navy blue which soon became my favorite church skirt. Their velvets had become streamlined and delicately trimmed and were no longer voluminous. I loved their new fine-printed skirts and matching blouses to wear to the office and simple suede flats with discrete bows in colors to match. Before long, it seemed that everything Laura Ashley displayed was for me and anytime I visited the shop nearby, I came out with something beautiful and meticulously constructed. Most importantly, their garments spoke to all sides of me – the competent working mother with a feminine heart. Just stepping inside their store elevated me and more precisely defined who I was.
My love affair with Laura Ashley continued until a sad week in 2002 when I heard that the shops were closing. It was also the week I read that my beloved Victoria magazine (the first rendition) would be gone soon too. Talk about the end of graciousness…
I never found a line of clothing whose aesthetic spoke to me so completely. Of course, I love nearly every couture dress that comes out of the House of Valentino, but I am not prone to spending $20K on a party outfit. It was just that Laura Ashley’s later years had such a rare brew of quality, modernity, and femininity.
The storied British fashion brand lives on since it was bought by a large Malaysian conglomerate. But the quality is not there and the homewares and bedding are only sold in discount stores now. I even tried Laura Ashley No. 1 at a local TJ Maxx and I only ended up violating my nose, so unlike the true and earlier perfume I recall so well.
But all is not lost since England’s Fashion Museum in Bath held a charming Laura Ashley retrospective that has now come and gone. There seems to be a renewed interest in the Laura Ashley look and some of the spring collections reflected that with a few puffed sleeves and tiers on sundresses. I think I need only wait until the designs trickle down to my comfort range although I’m not buying many clothes these short days before retirement. I still like to look modern and feminine though. Perhaps everything old is about to be new again…
9 Comments
Marlene
Really lovely piece. Very nostalgic. I too, admired the Laura Ashley look. While it was popular, I was a young, stay at home mom and therefore I did not purchase any of these lovely pieces. Being somewhat of seamstress, I did sew a few floral dresses for myself that echoed the look. Please keep on writing this most wonderful blog. It is a piece of culture and stability in tumultuous times. I too, will be retiring at the end of this year. A big step. Victoria magazine has changed, but I still have a subscription that I receive and enjoy. Maybe some readers can look into this. It is still a good read and uplifting.
A Lovely Inconsequence
Thank you so much Marlene! How nice that you were able to sew some dresses in the Laura Ashley way. I do still read Victoria as it is all we have, isn’t it? Sometimes they do indeed scratch the itch. Thank you for your kind comment….I love hearing from my readers. They make me want to write!
Debbie
Your writing is so lovely… like a string of pearls… I think we are the same ‘vintage’ and I love that you turn back the pages in the Book of Time to when life was lovelier– in all respects. I have waves of nostalgia for an era that is now gone…maybe it’s because it was when I was young, but I also think it is the stark contrast to today’s world. The dress that leads this post is divine, and I can almost smell the fragrance of No. 1 : )
So hope your blog will continue after retirement… it is a portal to beauty and serenity, a place to linger and reflect…
A Lovely Inconsequence
What a beautiful thing to say Debbie! Oh thank you!
LA CONTESSA
IT ALL COMES BACK FULL CIRCLE!
I AGREE with you on VICTORIA MAGAZINE FIRST RENDITION!!!THAT was THE BEST!
It seems all the GOOD Things disappear sooner than later………….or are copied at cheaper degree!
Hope you are well……….XX
Christine
Oh does this speak to me. My first visit to a Laura Ashley store was Maine circa 1988. It was love at first sight. I purchased two dresses, a red velvet tea length and a lovely floral sundress. Both made every move with me over the next 30 years before finally being donated to the local high school drama department (they were thrilled to have them). I do still wear my summer Laura Ashley crochet cardigan, it was a splurge buy in 1996, the quality fantastic. Walking into those stores were a wonderful escape from everyday life. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, this post is a treasure, as are they all.
A Lovely Inconsequence
Giving to the high school is brilliant Christine!
Amy
You’re probably already aware of this, but a few places offer decants of the original #1 (I haven’t checked recently, but The Perfumed Court was one). I bought a decant a few years ago and sadly it did not age well.
Additionally, do you read “Southern Lady” magazine? Phyllis Hoffman is the editor and it reminds me of the original Victoria.
A Lovely Inconsequence
I picked up Southern Lady today! Thank you. I think I’m going to love it.