Starburst Boutique: The Return of Pretty

Thursday 1 March 2012

The Return of Pretty

Saltwater SS12 - Dragonfly Embroidery

Saltwater has just arrived in-store and very pretty it is too. When buying it I was taken back to an era when fashion was going through a romantic phase which resulted in a succession of pretty summer and (even Autumn Winter) collections over a phase of about 3 years. It started around 1996 and carried on until 1998 / 9 when Stella McCartney took the reins at Chloe dishing up slim retro style tailoring all teamed with lace trim camisoles and sexy satin slips. Everything was fine, wispy, shimmering and beautiful. There was an abundance of Johnny loves Rosie hair clips, fine ribbon straps, chiffon and Tulle. Those where the days. Around this time I discovered Tocca who did a mean trade in embroidered cotton and silk shifts in the prettiest of colours. But not just any old colours this was a pure spectrum of sorbet. Pale pink, pistachio green, baby blue and lilac. I bought a Tocca rip off from Pink Soda and then bought the real deal in the Harvey Nics sale. A lovely friend even made the pilgrimage to the Tocca store and bought me the solid perfume. When she handed it over I could hardly breath. Not only was it Tocca but it was also in a Tocca bag. I still have a shoot from an old edition of Vogue ( July 1996) styled by Lucinda Chambers which captures Tocca`s moment in fashion and shows a style which still stands today...in my mind anyway