Vintage Laura Ashley catalogues are providing a lot more than a trip down memory lane...
So 90s fashion is clearly enjoying a revival from those chunky Fila trainers to spaghetti strap crop tops. But it's not just the anarchic grunge that's returned, the counterpoint trend that coexisted in the 90s was a much more traditional, feminine softness -think Little Women.* Prairie dresses and floral tea dresses are everywhere right now and #cottagecore continues to be trending across social media platforms.
Left: Laura Ashley Catalogue USA
Right: The Guardian Oct 2020
The same is being seen in the world of interior design with big floral patterns on furniture, furnishings and walls. I thought I'd really put this to the test by comparing some Laura Ashley catalogues (1991, 1993, 1997) to World of Interiors (2020, 2021) and other current homeware brands and designers.
* Both the bare midriff and flowy florals of the 90s were themselves a throwback to the 70s. Similarly, we are seeing so much 70s influence in interiors- but that'll have to be a blog post for another day!
Laura Ashley Home Catalogue, 1993
Nathalie Farman-Farma's London house, House & Garden, Nov 2020
Laura Ashley Home Catalogue, 1993
Laura Ashley At Home 1988 World of Interiors Sept 2021 Laura Ashley At Home 1988
Colefax & Fowler, Jardine 2020 Laura Ashley At Home World of Interiors, Sept 2021
There is such a strong thread running through all of these, from the late 80s to now it is full on big floral in a big way!
It's super nostalgic, taking us back to a simpler time before social media and super fast fashion, and if this trend also brings the return of buying quality pieces made of natural, durable fabrics then that is worth getting on board with.
There is such a strong thread running through all of these, from the late 80s to now it is full- on big floral in a BIG way! Can't help but wonder if Laura Ashley had revisited their own archives of clothes and interiors they could be at the helm of their own revival... but instead I'll continue to scour Ebay for those original items!
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