August 28, 2015 |
If Hillier Bartley were a TV law firm, it would be a Chicago law firm, one where two hotshot, headstrong lawyers had merged their firms to take over the city. “This is the start of something big,” they would say, looking across their new office, at the end of the pilot episode. This is (near enough) the same story as the real life Hillier Bartley, except that the two involved aren’t lawyers, or from Chicago, but fashion designers – Luella Bartley and Katie Hillier – who are combining forces to launch their own debut collection, coming off their shared stint at Marc by Marc Jacobs, a tenure cut too short by the label’s closure. This time, they don’t want a fanfare – “this is an intimate, quiet sort of label,” Hillier said. “Calm and modest — no excess and no fuss.” The collection itself, shown here in their lookbook, is kind of like the dress up box I had a child, one I played with past the point where it was probably acceptable. Because it was great. And so is the collection – eclectic in the very best way – there’s a top with carpet tassels on the shoulders and waist, a Victoriana blouse, a ribbed army jumper velvet epaulettes. A curtain tie is used around the waist of a coat. There’s fluffy angora, sheepskin, a tux jacket. A pussy bow for good measure. A bunny-shaped bag. “It’s dapper and rakish, but with a kind of rock-‘n’-roll femininity about it… it’s ultimate heroine lies somewhere between Ian McCulloch and Katherine Hepburn.” Bartley says. “It feels like it’s time for something authentic, with longevity.” So, as their fantasy lawyer counterparts would say, probably whilst slamming a file down on the table – case closed.
Hillier Bartley will be available for purchase on Matches.com, launching September 2nd
Lookbook images courtesy of Hillier Bartley
