Fashion

Be Still My Heart: Celia Birtwell for Boots

By  | 
Pictured: Celia Birtwell cosmetics bag for Boots

It’s with a mix of sadness and joy that I write this post to let Recessionistas know that one of my fashion favorites Celia Birtwell has launched a new line of fashion accessories for Boots. While, I’m glad that there are new Celia designs being put back into the fashion world and into lower priced consumer channels, like Boots, I’m sad for me. That’s because Celia’s line is not currently sold in the US. This means I have to track down my UK Recessionista posse and ask them to go get me some of the beautiful Birtwell pieces while the US dollar is trading strong in the UK. Here’s a peak in pictures of why I’m lusting after Celia’s line.

Pictured: Black Rosette Mirror Compact perfect for quick make-up check. ( I need it of course!)

Pictured: Celia Birtwell cosmetic purses, foundation brushes, sunglasses and compact mirror for your handbag (will feel hopelessly deprived if I can’t acquire everyone of these)

In the UK, prices for Celia’s Boots collection range from £3.50 ($5.00 USD) to £20 (29.00 USD) , with some of the higher-end pieces costing up to £70 ($103 USD). The collection is in UK stores now.

I am a longtime Celia collector, so I am going to have to figure out a way to get this collection. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with her work, Celia is a fashion icon who first bought her beautiful prints to the world in the 1960s and early 1970s with her partner Ossie Clark. Today, those beautiful vintage creations sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars at vintage clothing shops around the globe and on eBay. Below is a picture of one of those dresses from 1971 (courtesy of the V&A Museum). It’s just as fresh looking today as it was over 30 years ago. Truly, her prints are timeless.

Pictured: Ossie Clark dress with Celia Birtwell print .

The skirt of this dress is pieced together from two different lengths of fabric and prints. It’s amazing how the first print, a small multi-color floral print is pieced together with the bolder red poppy print. This design was one of those resurrected by Top Shop for Celia’s 2006 sold-out Top Shop collection.

Below is another great example of an Ossie Clark/Celia Birtwell vintage dress from an eBay seller. The top of the dress feature’s Celia’s mystic Daisy print. This print was later used in both her Top Shop and Express collection for blouses and dresses.

Pictured: Vintage Ossie Clark Floating Daisies Maxi Dress from an eBay auction

Back in 2006, Ceila was one of the first designers to offer her collection at lower prices for all of us to enjoy. Then last year, she did it again with her collection for US retailer Express. Below is one of the beautiful blouses from her Express collection. (Yes, I own this one and the other five too 🙂

Pictured: One of Celia’s flutter sleeve-Express tops. (still available on eBay)

This year, she is bringing more of her designs to fashionistas looking for lower priced versions of her classics via her Boots collection. I simply can’t accept that as T.S. Eliot wrote, “April is the cruelest month.” I’ve already endured payment of property taxes, federal and state taxes and now, NO Celia Birtwell collection for Boots available outside of the UK shores. It’s almost too painful for the mind.

Recessionistas, have any of you seen Celia’s Boots collection in person? Any comments? I need those cosmetic bags ! 🙂 The situation is Recessionista code red alert.

For more information on Celia and her gorgeous prints, visit her website.

To learn more about Celia, and read her thoughts on the economic downturn, check out this great recent interview with her.

Share

Since 2008, Mary Hall has been the author of The Recessionista Blog, which is read by thousands of regular readers in over 160 countries. An internationally recognized expert on the art of the living the good life for less, she has been a commentator on local, national, and international radio and TV shows. Her advice has been featured in over 2,000 media outlets, including The New York Times, Reuters, Life & Style magazine, ABC News, NBC News and now The Huffington Post, among many others.

4 Comments