Designer Petrova Hammond celebrated the re-opening of her Lady Petrova boutique on Flinders Lane with offerings of flowers, ballet and cupcakes. A ballerina danced gracefully en pointe in the window, peering out from behind a vibrant floral pentagram. She wore the ethereal Daisies in the dust dress from Lady Petrova’s forthcoming SS12/13 collection – a featherlight concoction of powder blue silk tulle and silk satin that will be just the thing for sweetening languid summer days.
The evening offered a preview of the collection, which exudes a nostalgia for a shimmering past filled with romance and adventure. Influences range from ‘60s love songs – girl groups such as The Shangri-Las are a favourite of Petrova’s – to ballet and medieval princesses. Petrova’s love affair with gloriously girlish fabrics including glitter tulle and silk organza continues, along with her use of signature details such as vintage 60s lingerie lace, and a palette of refreshing gelati hues and muted pastels. Multi-layered frills and twisted cutouts see Lady Petrova embrace her grown up, darker side.
If the new interior of the boutique has a theme, it is girl power. Petrova has called on a variety of creative women to create distinct decorative elements, all which pay homage in some way to the superheroines of our childhood. Jessica Singh has channelled unicorn and cat power for a painted mural and Petrova has hand plaited My Little Pony-inspired light fittings. The art deco fitting room curtains summon the holographic 80s glamour of Jem and the Holograms and She-Ra: Princess of Power, while the porcelain white counter is modelled after the façade of a killer dollhouse. The store’s most triumphant moment is the swirling psychedelia of the marbled floor, courtesy of Copenhagen designer Pernille Snedker Hansen’s flooring project Marbelous Wood. When it comes to doing pretty, Lady Petrova remains the leader of the pack.
Tags: Fashion, Flinders Lane, flowers, Lady, Petrova, re-opening
