Laura Ashley Brides

Back in 1988 I went to work at Laura Ashley.  For someone who loved old fashioned clothes, it was heaven on earth.  The shop girls were required to wear Laura clothes, and so there was a clothing allowance based on a point system.  As I was a full time employee, I earned three points a month.  Part time girls received two points a month.  You could get a dress or skirt for two points, maybe a top for a point, etc.  Sometimes you'd bank your points to get something really wonderful like a coat.  We also had the "company closet," a rail of clothes belonging to the store that we could borrow from, which included some of the more iconic white blouses and petticoats.

At one time, I had nearly 70 pieces of Laura Ashley in my wardrobe from espadrilles to gloves to ballgowns to the iconic 80/80 cotton lawn dresses with a square neck and puffed sleeves.  I've still got a baker's dozen or so in my closet, although I could now kick myself for donating so many of those pretty floral dresses with lace collars to Goodwill every time I see them pop up on eBay or on some vintage Etsy store.

Word to you vintage sellers out there.  I know I'm not alone in feeling nostalgia for the clothes I used to own.  There are a lot of women like me who would like to buy their old Laura dresses back (or something that looks a lot like a print we used to love), but we are not about to buy a dress that got chopped off halfway down the skirt by some sweet young thing.  Yes, there were some Laura party dresses in mini lengths in the 80s, but those were few and far between.  The classic Laura dress was below the knee.  You'll have a better chance of selling the dress if it's in it's original condition.

I got engaged when I was working at the South Coast Plaza store.  Nothing delighted me (or my manager) more than trying on the Bridal dresses on my lunch break.  Trivia:  Laura Ashley had operated a telex for British Intelligence during her stint as a WREN in WWII.  The American branches selling the bridal gowns all had telexes linked to the Laura Ashley factory in Carno, Wales, placing the orders directly in the manufacturing queue.  I still remember the tags on the gowns - "Made with love in Carno."

After I ended my stint at Laura-land, I ended up buying my gown at Jessica McClintock after seeing a dress in the window that reminded me of the second act of the ballet "Giselle."  However, I never stopped dreaming of a Laura wedding dress of my own.  I've purchased a few on eBay, and they're in the closet with my own wedding dresses (second time lucky).  I've got some of the bridal catalogs from the 80s and 90s.  At one time, I had all of them, but lost some along the path of life.  I could also kick myself for throwing out the Laura Ashley by Post catalogs that I'd amassed over the years in order to clear up space in our last home.  Now those are going for a chunk of change on eBay as well.

I've scanned the last Bridal Collection brochure produced by Laura Ashley USA in 1995.  It was only a little post card sized brochure as compared to the lovely full sized catalogs that the company used to print.  I will post some of the other catalogs I still have in the coming weeks.  Takes a bit of time to scan, ya know?  I love these dresses because the fabrics and silhouettes are what is important - not embellishment.  Good quality cotton and silks.  English net lace.  These dresses are also all perfectly appropriate for church weddings with covered shoulders and no deep necklines.

Sadly, there are no longer Laura Ashley shops in the U.S. or Canada.  Laura passed away in 1985, and her husband Bernard (later Sir Bernard) started expanding the chain with the help of a public stock offering, probably more than he should have.  The North American chain essentially imploded from oversaturation.  In 1998 the Ashley family sold their interest to a Malaysian holding company which closed the North American shops shortly after that.  Although the Laura Ashley brand still exists, the product that is now sold in North America is only a shadow of it's former self.  Real Laura garments were of the highest quality materials and were based on the romance of the past and Laura's love for Victorian prints and silhouettes.  Current Laura doesn't look like old school Laura, rather their clothes now look like anything that you could buy at any high street chain store.  The company is emphasizing their home furnishings business, which are still supposed to be meeting the same high standards.  However, we Americans can't get that great home furnishings fabric here easily anymore.  I miss the romance of walking into one of the shops with the polished brass rails, pine floors and cupboards, sections filled with floral prints for every season and the pristine white blouses of spotted muslin and Irish lace.  

Hello...

I've been looking for inspiration and am wasting way too much time, but having fun checking out images that make me ooh and ahh.  So in the spirit of sharing...

Beautiful paste tiaras from an old shop in London, Jewels by Alexander.  Count Alexander, of Hungarian/Austrian descent used to make copies of famous jewels worn by various royal families, as well as delicacies like the fairy tale coronet in the first photo.  Sadly, he passed away in early 2010 and the remainder of his stock was auctioned off last year.

The real deal.  These jewels used to belong to the Russian Imperial family.  The first crown was the nuptial crown worn by all Imperial brides, last worn by the Czarina Alexandra.  The second is an amazing piece of the jewelsmith's art that appears to be from the late 18th/early 19th century when antiquity was the rage in fashion.  All the jewels were auctioned off by the Bolsheviks in 1927.

Tiara purchased from Garrad's for the wedding of Sarah Ferguson to HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York.

Tiara originally commissioned by Napoleon I for the Empress Josephine.  The colored stones were originally emeralds, which were sold and replaced by turquoise.

Eagle crown commissioned by the Emperor Napoleon III for Empress Eugenie of France.  Mid 19th century.

Princess Mary of Denmark in a spectacular parure (set of matching jewels) in rubies and diamonds.

And just for fun, Leslie Caron as Gigi, in her Cecil Beaton designed evening gown (worn at Maxim's), featuring a little crescent moon diamante hair ornament.

The Swarovski crystal reproduction of the George III fringe tiara made for the film "The Young Victoria."  This was at the FIDM exhibition of Academy Award nominated film costumes in early 2010.

The old crown worn by Rose Queens until Mikomodo got a licensing deal.  That crown has been replaced as well.  It's a bit gaudy, but at least the floral shape was in there...

A variation on the Star Princess headpiece worn by "Christine Daee" in The Phantom of the Opera.  Seems each theater comes up with their own interpretation of Maria Bjornson's design.

ETA:    Because more is never enough when it comes to jewels, I'm adding these rings...

I am a bit of a royalist, even if I am American.  Don't think much of the Duchess of York and her continual talent for finding trouble.  However, I love her engagement ring.  I suppose the props should go to Prince Andrew, Duke of York.  He designed it.  Back in 1986 it was said that the ring cost $35,000.  I am partial to rubies, as they're my birthstone.  Love this look of the Burmese ruby surrounded by diamonds.

Antique diamond and ruby engagement ring purchased in London by Charles, Earl Spencer for his first wife Victoria Lockwood.  Fittingly, it was a Victorian style, when crowns over stones were the trend.

Enjoy...