London's taste for the eclectic and avant-garde keeps it firmly at the frontiers of fashion - creating the perfect, fertile environment from which an abundance of new designers can emerge. The energy and diversity of the city has been a constant source of inspiration for generations of London-based designers and indeed, anyone interested in fashion, and this new series of STYLEist celebrates the amazing talents of the capital's up and coming style-setters.
Lady Lucie is a mostly self-taught pattern cutter and craftswoman. Never really finding any regular clothing to properly fit her 'Glamazonian' proportions, she was forced to make her own clothing and the brand Lady Lucie was launched in 2006. Lucie has a diverse clientele and has recently created the outfits for Lucha Brittania. To date she has had two themed shows at The Torture Garden, with another coming up there for New Years Eve 2010. Recently, she showed at The German Fetish Ball in Essen and took part in Alternative Fashion Week.
Describe your brand
The Lady Lucie label specialises in couture and custom made latex clothing, costumes and corsetry. It's impossible to describe the average latex wearer because the variety is so vast. From housewife to college student, latex is, in many ways, for everybody. There are those who display their latex wearing to the world, others who wear it just in private, or in the privacy of a fetish club. Where ever they wear it, it definitely appeals to their adventurous side!
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What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion means so many different things, to me its about finding your own style which compliments your figure and your personality, it shouldn't be about wearing something because everybody else is wearing it.
Who epitomises London Fashion for you?
I love London fashion, especially where I'm based in Hackney, theres so many artists, so its pretty creative, I walk around seeing some great style, really individual and chic, but still inexpensive. I love London's street style, it always seems ahead of everybody else.
How has London inspired you or your designs?
London inspired my designs just by allowing me to design what I wanted, and being free to go out wearing them, i come from a small seaside town where I was always the outcast, i came to London and I'm not anymore, no one takes much notice if I'm walking down the road in latex, Its a wonderful freedom.
Where do you hang out?
I socialise in the alternative and fetish scene mostly, I find it really open minded and friendly. I live in Bethnal green, and i love hanging out around there too, its great to be able to go for a walk in Victoria park and then 10 minutes away is the hustle of Brick Lane.
What's the worst outfit you've seen someone wearing on the tube?
I'm not keen on the return to 80's fashion at the moment, I saw a girl in a pink floral jumpsuit and white stilettos last week, the jumpsuit had shoulder pads, elasticated waist, baggy hips and tapered ankles, I'm all for crazy individual style but no one can pull that look off.
What was the first thing you designed?
Ever? A wedding dress for my Barbie. In Rubber; I think it was a floor length, strappy, semi-translucent gown for myself.
Which designers inspire you?
I like designers that are craft based, and use interesting pattern cutting and tailoring, like Mark Fast, who makes hand knitted body-con dresses, Rachel Freire, who makes crazy post apocalyptic style, and Vivienne Westwood, she's the ultimate in punk chic!
Where can we buy your clothes?
On my website www.ladylucie.com
