My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

Style & Beauty

AIBU to think Orla Kiely is over?

66 replies

whataboutbob · 17/11/2012 14:31

You can't move for bold graphic prints, and retro apples and pears. I used to covet her stuff but now it's everywhere- in Sainsbury's, Uniqlo, Paperchase, Tescos and soon no doubt Specsavers and Boots. Half the high street seems to be wearing an Orla Kiely Uniqlo autumn collection scarf. Is she cheapening the brand? Is she the new Boden? And will she lose her appeal as a result? I think she has for me.

OP posts:
Report
MrsRogerSterling · 17/11/2012 14:50

I agree with you. My mum adores Orla though and has numerous bags, purses, bed linen, mugs and kitchenwares. I keep teasing her about getting the Orla car (I think it was a Citroen she designed and it has an Orla print roof and interior)

I have sold the oilcloth bags I had on ebay, I have kept a red leather one but for me, like Boden it is just too recognisable now.

Report
polyhymnia · 17/11/2012 15:18

I'm certainly bored with her stuff - has become a bit theme-parky, like Cath Kidston IMO. Over-extended.

Report
doyouwantfrieswiththat · 17/11/2012 15:22

saw some of her wallpaper print as background on an ebay thing today & thought..that's one of those strong graphic prints which I'm too lazy to buy into because I am unwilling to redecorate my house every time I get bored ...it's magnolia all the way for me. (I worship at the shrine of Beeny)

Report
FlibberdeGibbet · 17/11/2012 15:24

I agree, and also that Cath Kitson is soooo noughties!

Soon to go the way of cupcakes and retro bunting.

Report
ggirl · 17/11/2012 15:27

I don't like the Orla style and agree it's all over the place.

Report
BRANdishingMistletoe · 17/11/2012 15:27

I was bored with her stuff at least three years ago, I only found it moderately appealing even at the start.

I think she's probably doing the best thing that she can for her. It's pretty clear that she can't move her style forward so she's making as much money as she can from it now before it loses its market.

Report
Glossynotflossy · 17/11/2012 16:53

I had a bag she designed for the Designers at Debenhams range. Wish I had kept it as it was so far removed from the pattern stuff as you could think.

I have a couple of her notebooks. Maybe OP its where you are based as in my areas its still relitivly unique in that you don't spot it that often on people and its usually bags that you see rather than scarves etc.

Report
buttercrumble · 17/11/2012 16:57

Well i love her stuff......

Report
Meggles76 · 17/11/2012 22:11

I used to love her stuff but less so these days. I just sold my last bag on ebay.
This season I'm not keen on the prints she's done. I also feel that the bags are not as good quality as they used to be. Some unlined. Some lined in cheap plain fabric. The prices have not gone down though.
I do think that all these collaborations have contributed to overkill of the brand. However, having just sold a £10 uniqulo scarf on ebay for almost £30, clearly others disagree!

Report
fridgepants · 17/11/2012 22:26

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request.

AKissIsNotAContract · 17/11/2012 22:29

I've never heard of her.

Report
CanYouHearMe · 17/11/2012 22:30

I love it, but sadly can't afford it. Would love a bag.

Report
Tenderisthenight · 17/11/2012 22:30

Totally over. It is everywhere! My mum bought us a set of mugs and I do use them but the amount of people who've said 'oh, you've got these too'...

Report
CanYouHearMe · 17/11/2012 22:31

Fridgepants, do you know when the next sale of samples is on?

Report
fridgepants · 18/11/2012 00:29

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request.

fridgepants · 18/11/2012 00:31

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request.

mignonette · 18/11/2012 00:35

Let's hope for her sake that she is not over because her new furniture range launches this week....

Don't really like her designs nor Cath Kidston, Lisa Stickley et al....

Report
squoosh · 18/11/2012 00:36

I never liked her, always found her leaf design really derivative, a rip off of countless 60's prints.

Report
JudeFawley · 18/11/2012 00:44

I agree.

I have never liked it, and now it's everywhere I like it even less.

I also have an irrational dislike of the Sanderson dandelion clocks design, which is absolutely everywhere too.

Report
AThingInYourLife · 18/11/2012 00:49

I always thought her stuff was OK for something cheap you bought in a flea market, but naff for expensive "designer" stuff that every woman I know had an item of.

How it got to be so ubiquitous I will never understand.

Still, it made me seem like a fashion guru because my handbag didn't have loads of pictures of pears on.

Report
anniewoo · 18/11/2012 01:29

Can't stand Orla Kiely prints. Too 60's for me. Prefer Cath Kidston

Report
mumblechum1 · 18/11/2012 01:30

God I hope so it's bloody hideous, reminds me of primary school in the late sixties.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

mumblechum1 · 18/11/2012 01:30

Also hate the Sanderson dandelions too

Report
LittlePandaBear · 18/11/2012 12:48

Fridge - your sample sale info is 2 years old :)

Report
PoppyAmex · 18/11/2012 12:51

It's now on a Tesco reusable bag. Says it all Grin

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.