The Vintage World of Laura Ashley

When I look at old Laura Ashley ads or their catalog, it makes me imagine a beautiful soft, country, romantic world where all we wear are pretty powderpuff dresses and sit in our obnoxiously large yards doing absolutely nothing but enjoy this easy life, now there is absolutely no correlation between mine and this pretend world, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy pretending it. Nowadays, seeing new Laura Ashley items in store is a bit of a bittersweet feeling, I get excited seeing the name, but then I remember it isn't the same brand it once was. I've only seen Laura Ashley in a few stores, specifically at TJ Maxx and Ross, and the products just didn't live up to the name that Laura Ashley used to be. The Laura Ashley brand came to be in the 50's(way older than I expected!) but in the mid 80's, when I thought LA was at her peak, the designer passed away and ever since it seems the company has passed through many hands. Of course, the brand has had many successful years, but it is not just a name, the magic of it is pretty much gone. It is currently owned by Gordon Brothers Management who aren't entirely without credit, but I just haven't seen them do Laura Ashley justice. It could be because the romantic aesthetic of the 70's and 80's is long gone, or it could be that they only care about profits. Either way, all we can do is enjoy the vintage world of Laura Ashley that once was.

౨ৎ Jocelyne De Lioncourt