AIBU to think Orla Kiely is over?

[whataboutbob]

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.

[Corygal]

Ewww, it's the Bourgeois Burberry check.

[doyouwantfrieswiththat]

Poor Orla, condemned by mumsnet. Does anyone else think that print clashing as favoured by Grazia (like the DM's liitle sister) makes anyone over 25 look like a bag lady?

[Corygal]

I've never seen clashing prints IRL on a woman, but I have seen it on teens. They'd have looked better in something else.

Some people go for the geek mismatch look - where this trend originated - which is less ouchy, but you still have to be brilliant at clothes - and the colour, texture, cut and pattern of each piece - to make it work.

As with all things fashion, a look is never what it seems - not least 'thrown together' chic. And given most of us barely get time to grab a clean Tshirt in the mornings...

[CiderwithBuda]

I agree it's everywhere now but I like some of it. I have an OK wallet that I bought about five years ago. It's still going strong. Bought a handbag this year - lovely raspberry red colour.

I hate Cath Kidston though. Lovely on five year old girls but not on adults.

And I have to admit to having the Sanderson Clocks pattern on a blind in my ensuite bathroom!

[polyhymnia]

Totally agree on the clashing prints - but do think Grazia (though I'm much too old for it) is generally more socially liberal/enlightened and less woman-hating than the Daily Mail.
Not saying much admittedly (though I did look at the DM site to see David Mitchell's and Victoria Coren's wedding pics).

[doyouwantfrieswiththat]

Grazia can't be misogynistic because it's market is female but it runs many identical articles to DM online. Don't think its just a sweep of internet articles by DM because it runs some of them first. I wonder how their publishers/contributing writers are related. Particularly noticeable with the whole Samantha Brick thing but DM recently aired some provocative stuff about why high earning middle classes (IIRC one of them on £7K/mth) desperately needed their child benefits...am watching Grazia for that to appear

[whataboutbob]

OK so we're more or less agreed she's overdone it. I also like her bags (I have two), but somehow they would be more desirable if there wasn't all the high street spin offs too. When mine are too tatty to use, I don't think I'll be replacing them with another Orla.
Interesting to think about how brands position themselves and then keep going, keep making us want them, or else lose it. I've read that about 80% of middle class Chinese women own a Louis Vuitton bag. Now there's a brand that knows how to create desire, be ubiquitous and yet exclusive .

[dexter73]

I would never buy a LV bag - whenever I see one I assume it is a fake!

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

I just got fecked off because I have a DD named Orla and people assumed it was because of patterned crap.

[EIizaDay]

Oh Bob, I think Louis Vuitton are much more unattractive than Orla Kiely - all that horrible LV and plastic looking handbags. Awful, awful.

[polyhymnia]

Agree LV are horrible too.

[Plumpcious]

For those who still like Orla, details of the next sample sale:

www.trumanbrewery.com/cgi-bin/comingup.pl

Orla Kiely Autumn/ Winter Sample Sale
Shop 14, 15 Hanbury Street

Thursday 29th November - Sunday 2nd of December 2012
Thurs & Fri 11am - 7pm | Sat 11am - 6pm | Sun 11am - 4pm

Orla Kiely are holding an exclusive sample sale from AW11 season including dresses, coats, knitwear, leather and laminated handbags. Stock is replenished daily.
Admission: £1 for charity

[DonaAna]

I know someone who wears a lot of Orla Kiely and it looks just so dated on her. Retro prints were fresh and in-your-face-outrageous in a good way in the early 2000s, that is, 10 years ago.

Now they just look tired and sad and a bit middle-aged.

[dexter73]

Bit like Boden, DonaAna! (I will get lynched for saying that!)

[squoosh]

Even Next are jumping on the clashing prints bandwagon.

When Next is doing it, you know it's over.

[chipstick10]

I liked her range for uniqglo and purchased several of the dresses in the summer and autumn range. I also still occasionally use my lv bags and have been known to use them whilst wearing Orla. So there

[doyouwantfrieswiththat]

Retro? Can't say I've seen much that doesn't have a historical reference...but then I'm so old...
When future designers are referencing this decade I wonder wnat they'll choose?

[FunnysInLaJardin]

I agree YANBU! I was just thinking the other day that her type of prints are everywhere, mostly on changing bags so it would seem and pushchairs

[FunnysInLaJardin]

and I had the same thought as I walked past the Cath Kidson shop today. Wondered just how much longer it would be open

[polyhymnia]

Just googled the OK Uniqlo scarves online out of curiosity and can honestly say I think they are all hideous. And so 'same old thing'. A

[whataboutbob]

Oh dear I've given the impression I'm into Louis Vuitton- I'm not! But I was just observing they know how to be ubiquitous and still desirable to many. Their biggest market is probably the Far East.

[Djembe]

Grazia's articles are pretty anti-feminist at the least, in every one (I subscribe but for the fashion!) there is at least one article slagging off women who 'try to have it all' and their political woman Gaby Hinsliff is just a horrible Tory.

I do have a Uniqlo Orla scarf though

[chipstick10]

Is she horrible because she's a Tory or she's horrible and just happens to be a Tory.?
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