In February of 2016, Batsheva Hay, a former lawyer with two young children, decided to have a favorite vintage dress remade.
Designed by Laura Ashley, the dress, blended a folksy craft aesthetic with the dreamy romanticism of the Pre-Raphaelites. Calf-length with long sleeves and a slightly tapered waist, it was made of a dense corduroy printed with green leaves and purple roses. But the fabric at the armpits had frayed, and then torn beyond repair so she had a pattern maker help her to recreate the dress. The new design (which she had make in several different vintage fabrics) made the sleeves puffier, added a collar, a more corseted waist, a high neck and additional ruffles. She wore her dresses around New York garnering so many compliments that she decided to turn her love for vintage into a career.
Batsheva Hay’s subversive twist on frumpy 80s Laura Ashley style has been making fashion headlines ever since. Her vintage inspired prairie-meets-party dresses have quickly obtained cult-like status in the fashion world.
To me her designs are something straight out of a Fairy-tale. Clothing that characters in your favorite books would have worn. I have been drooling over her designs for years and this week something magical happened, I purchased my first Batsheva Dress.
With a floral print faux under pinning and contrasting gingham mock apron covering, this is one of the most comfortable designer dresses I own. It lets your body move freely while still maintaining a feminine shape. Funky yet pretty with a retro American Cottagecore aesthetic Batsheva has stolen my heart!
What I’m Wearing: Batsheva Gingham and Floral Print Dress | Swedish Hasbeens Sandals | TOPSHOP Macrame Bag |
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