The Bubblegum Clan

Those who know my blog and its contents prior to this post may think that it has taken a decidedly taken a turn for the 'sweet' so to speak. This was not completely consciously done and I can assure readers that I have plenty of fashion grit and dirt ready to dish up. Consequently, my new design (fresh look, fresh start - by the way, if you have trouble reading the font with the background, be sure to tell me and I'll do something about it) choice clashes with my desire to comment on the latest Agatha Ruiz de la Prada collection and perhaps briefly introduce this Spanish designer to those who know but little of her.

Noting my recent disappearance from the blogging world, and not able to say that it was purely down to procrastination and schoolwork and a passing disillusionment, I will blame that which is still on my list of suitable alibis - the weather. Like Mary Poppins before me, I base a lot of my comings and goings upon the wind changing. I am very much the sort one might find attached to a long piece of string going up into the clouds, instead of one's kite, though on the other hand, you would not catch me bursting out of fireworks (Loud and dangerous things at close proximity) What I mean to say is that, I told myself I'd start blogging again when the wind changes... well, when the winter snow finally melts away until next year, which is more than a little bit determined by the wind since all the snow we have had was coming from a strong wind from Russia. Usually, this would ensure me a sabbatical of maybe a couple of weeks at best but the snow went on and on going from a joy and a treat to an absolute nightmare. End of March and I never wanted to see snow again. Whatever people might say about our weather, in Britain, it is generally mild and, until recently, it hardly ever snowed. Now, all I want is the sun. I have so many lovely clothes for warmer weather and grey skies are starting to depress me.

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, 12th Marquise of Castelldosrius, is well-known in Spain but less so elsewhere in the world. She presented her first women's collection in Madrid in 1981, simultaneous with and promoting La Movida Madrileña, a Spanish counter-cultural movement which emerged after the death of Franco (see footnote for further details)

• 1986 - Agatha took part in a collective fashion show in France and began designing accessories. 
• 1987 - She came out with a line of bed sheets and linens. She likewise took part in the exhibition, "A tribute to Balenciaga".
• 1988 - Her collection "Pasarela Cibeles" launched in Madrid while "Fiera Della Moda." at Milan Fashion Week. She published her book "La moda cómoda".
• 1990 - Agatha presented a collection of unfinished dresses in Berlin and Madrid. Put on a show of kimonos in Osaka, Japan, entitled "Lady from Spain.".
• 1991 - Started licensing her brand name with a new kitchenware line.
• 1992 - Signed an agreement for a new fragrance with Gal. Designed a collection of "Dress Watches" for Swatch and met Tintoretto, which led her to a new line of work in 1995. Began designing several lines of clothing for El Corte Ingles.
• 1994 - Agatha Ruiz de la Prada presented her collection at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris.
• 1995 - Organised the road show "Absolut Ruiz de la Prada" with Absolut Vodka and exhibited her work "A tribute to Chillida" at the Reina Sofia Museum.

1997 - Launched her first line of pyjamas for women and men at the Salón Gaudí Show. Launched her second fragrance and designed a line of ceramics and furniture. Took part in Casa Decor and in a collective fashion show in Washington.

1998 - Presented her collection "Canary Islands, the Flowers of Paradise", in Paris. Presented a wedding dress made out of porcelain at the IVAM in Valencia. Launched her first and very successful line of stationary products.

1999 - Opened her first store in Paris and designed her first home clothing and bathing line, including socks, glasses... even radiators and light-switches!

2001 - Agatha participated in the Children's fashion show, Pitti Imagine Bimbo in Florence, and has continuously done so, the only foreign designer to present her fashion show there. Launched a layette and baby toys line.

2002 - Launched her collection of baby, girls and women's shoes and a line of aromatic candles.

2003 - Presented her first two men's collections at the "Pasarela Gaudí" catwalk. Designed a bathroom supplies line, paddle racquet collection, computer games, pet-accessorises and jewellery. Opened a new store in Oporto (Portugal), followed by new store openings in Milan, Madrid and Santiago de Chile. Expanded her distribution to the United States, South America and Korea.

2004 - Agatha Ruiz de la Prada is awarded the Fashion Oscar in Italy, for best foreign designer. Launched her women's perfumes in Moscow and exhibited several of her outfits in a Moscow art gallery. Exhibited one of her picture catalogues at the IVAM in homage to several great artists.

2005 - Presented new collections such as a cosmetic line produced by Gal, teenage furniture, mobile phone accessories and launched her fragrance "Corazón" in France and the United States. Presented her fashion collection in Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, and Florence.

2006 - Agatha Ruiz de la Prada expanded her licenses to paints, mattresses, a collection of children's furniture and children's playgrounds. Presented her collection of bridal gowns at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid. Designed a mobile phone for Vodafone and collaborated with renowned companies such as Osborne, UNICEF and Greenpeace.

2007 - Presented a collection of ski clothes and accessories in Madrid and Milan. Launched a new line of bathroom items. Received an homage for her 25 years in the fashion industry (in Burgos, Spain) in the presence of 25 of the most relevant Spanish designers. Still in Burgos, she inaugurated an exhibition of objects designed by her throughout the last 25 years.

During the NY fashion week 2007, and for the first time in her career, Agatha presented her own show room for her new S/S 2008 collection. Agatha launched a new line of technological items which included an MP3, MP4 and digital frames. She also included a new fragrance, "Beso", to her line of personalized perfumes. Awarded "Colombia es Pasion", for her support of young Colombian designers. Awarded "Prix de la Moda" by Marie Claire for the best professional trajectory. Awarded "Top Glamour" by Glamour magazine for the best designer of the year and the "New Yorker" Award by the Spain US Chamber of Commerce.

• 2008 - Agatha designed a doll to be auctioned to raise funds for UNICEF. Great brands such as Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Louis Vuitton did likewise. At the initiative of Pret a Porter Paris, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada also designed a suit for a themed exhibition that combined High Tech and Fashion. This exhibition was displayed in the windows of Galeries Lafayette until the 26th of December.
• 2009 - Awarded the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts 2008. Named an Ambassador of Fashion. Presented her new perfume "Oh la la!" in a Vogue event. Awarded the medal of merit in Fine Arts by King Juan Carlos.
• 2010 - Agatha Ruiz de la Prada received the Spanish nobility titles, Marchioness of Castelldosríus, Grandee of Spain as well as Baroness of Santa Pau after the death of her Uncle (She has been responsible for a proposed law that men and women be equal in succession to titles of nobility)

This collection is more than a little typical of Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (I think, from now on, it shall be referred to ARDLP - we have reached the point where I would believe it impossible that you did not know what I was going on about) Prime example of la Movida Espanol, ARDLP is a beam of sunshine in international design. Eccentric, confident and innovative, the designer deploys all her originality into brightly coloured confections, non-conforming to traditional aspects of clothing.
Her recurring motifs include crescent moons, suns, stars and, of course, hearts. Her collections are testament to the dynamic and seemingly optimistic world which she presents to her public. With her originality, style and involvement in every element of design, she is one of the great personalities of La Movida espagnole. The designer who defines herself as being of an "independent, creative and idealistic" character, evolves apparently obliviously to the diktats of international fashion. Nothing stops her, she paints a vividly coloured world into every field of creative design!

If it is not already apparent, then I shall explain my reasoning for calling this 'The Bubblegum Clan'. Although there are clothes of more sobre colours like navy and burgundy, there is overall a great use of pretty pastels (so maybe she isn't completely oblivious to the rest of the fashion world) and the lovely masks on the models faces reminded me of animated children's films I used to watch where the bubblegum would pop in somebody's face, covering them in a thin sheet of pink rubber stuff. Yes, the artistry here is clearly greater, and less spontaneous, but one cannot deny that it bears a strong likeness to those images. 








I really cannot help really lusting after the big burgundy coat. Not really the style I generally go for... but it's so big and burgundy and plush-y and it looks so comfortable and warm! (And I thought comfort would never be high on my list of requirements)

 Thank you for reading. This is more something to ease me back into posting, but there should be a few personal style posts and cutting wit and fashion analysis coming up.

 

(I may also, in passing, introduce you to one of my new procrastination obsessions.)

 

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I may do a few more tit-bits of Agatha Ruiz de la Prada collections in the future, so if you want to see more outfits of this type, stayed tuned.

Footnote: La Movida Madrileña is personified by well-known figures in music, film, design, graphics and cartoon, but it is also felt in other aspects of culture as well as social mores. It represented the emergence of the post-Franco Spanish identity and the resurgence of the economy, from 1975 onwards but most noticeably in the 1980s. Although begotten in the Spanish capital, it emerged likewise in Barcelona and most other Spanish cities. It was characterised by an appearance of hedonism, freedom of expression, defiance of taboos which had been forcibly imposed by the Franco Regime, use of recreational drugs and a new spirit of freedom in the streets. The director, Almodovar is considered one of the figureheads of the movement.