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From journalist to designer
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OF all the British fashion designers currently reworking 80s styles, probably none captures the ironic mood, teenaged fashion sense or has received as much acclaim as young British designer Luella Bartley.
Currently it looks like Bartley, whose lable goes by the moniker Luella, is going to be single handedly responsible for a revival of fluoro colours in our wardrobes.
The 27-year-old, blonde Londoner started her fashion career off by writing about the subject-she worked as a journalist for the Evening Standard after which she was employed at Vogue as a staff writer.
Upon going freelance she was encouraged by her boyfriend at the time, an artist, to start designing clothes rather than just writing aobut them.
Her first collection was held in 1999, away form the main shows at London Fashion Week and was snapped up by buyers from Whistles in London and Henri Bendel in New York. Several collections with names like "Daddy, Who Were The Clash?" and "I Want A Pony" later and she has Harvey Nichols and Barney's among her regular buyers.
She also has all the right connections, counting Chloe's designer Stella McCartney, stylist Katie Grand of The Face magazine and model Kate Moss among her fashionable friends.
Late last year Barley had another triump; she was named Young Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards. Two days later her collection was very well received at London Fashion Week.
Bartley features skintight pink leggings under white leather minidresses. Scribble print bikinis meet graffiti-scrawled denim jackets and oversized shirts. Fluorescent pop socks and plastic handbags, killer heels and clogs complete the look.
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