While the classic collections of original Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell designed clothes are fetching thousands of pounds at auctions, the vintage chic is now so ‘in’ that top brands are itching to work with the octogenarian Prestwich style guru…
In the first decade of the 21st Century, having already designed a limited collection for American fashion retailer Express, an outdoor range for Millets and a collection for John Lewis, Celia followed up with four sell out clothes collections for Topshop which had Vogue raving… “If you don’t yet have plans after work, you soon will: Celia Birtwell’s next collection for Topshop drops in stores today and, full of the designer’s signature pussy bow blouses with billowing sleeves in delectable prints, is definitely worth a look.
“Once again Birtwell – along with the in-house Topshop design team – has raided her fashion archives to reinvent gorgeous floral prints on chiffons and silks in a sophisticated palette of nude, rose, grey, sky and midnight blue. Invest in a dress if you want to add a statement piece to your wardrobe…”
Celia sent the Bury New Road project a limited edition Topshop dress, which 18 year old Demi Wharmby, who works at Vinci on Bury New Road, enjoyed modelling…
“I’ve never heard of Celia Birtwell before” she says “But I really love this dress, it’s really, really nice. It’s not something I’d usually wear but I do like it, and I would wear it to go out…”
Now, Next has a new range of Celia Birtwell clothes…“Next is proud to present its exclusive new womenswear, designed in collaboration with British textile designer and style icon, Celia Birtwell” it stated, introducing its new range “From ’70s inspired jumpsuits and ruffle-collar blouses to midi-length wrap dresses, this must-see collection features twenty statement pieces for every occasion, showcasing Celia’s legendary prints in a spectrum of rich jewel colours.”
Celia is also doing a ‘Home’ collection for Next, which will feature prints that wouldn’t have been seen otherwise, and she’s pleased that her prints are reaching a wider audience and hitting a new generation, with her son George and daughter-in-law Bella now running the brand…“It’s a way of exposing all those prints that I spent hours doing that nobody’s really seen except for a few people in the shop…”
Celia Birtwell is still just the most…
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