SS09 PRESS RELEASE

Thumbelina Rocks.

Once upon a time, many suns and moons ago lived a teeny tiny fairy. Despite her diminutive size, Thumbelina was blessed with an extraordinary power for fashion and style. Always dressed in woodland couture, she spent her time in a white calla lily studio, nestled deep within the fallen leaves, spinning poppy petals into dresses. It was an innocent and magical existence. And one that was frankly just a teeny tiny bit too perfect for Sara Berman. The Spring Summer ’09 collection might have a fairytale introduction, but its following chapters are where things start getting interesting.

Yes, the Sara Berman customer likes sugar and spice and all things nice but this fairy is no shrinking violet. She likes Eighties rap music and graphic street-art – this Sara Berman fairy likes to rock.

Suitable for a fairy with attitude, the palette this season is bright and gaudy. Acid yellows, sharp grassy greens and riotous pinks, make for a modern psychedelia that the frilly generation will understand. Don’t be scared, Thumbelina has sprinkled enough fairy dust on the silks and satins to keep her delicate fabrics workable in the real world. And nothing says reality like the humble blouse. It might be a secretary’s favourite, but when the blouse goes through the Sara Berman processor, it comes out with a modern spirit. Cut low and flirty into the chest, it has oomph and ooh la la, in equal measure.

If you haven’t heard of the artist Dan Baldwin, then let this collection be a colourful introduction. Working on canvas, with photography and in modern ceramics, Baldwin’s feisty creations deal with innocence, love, life and religion. And it would be fair to say that his sinister realism has inspired a grittier Sara Berman outlook. Her usual leopard print gets an acid wash, belts have are fetish edge and cigarette pants are so rigorously tailored movement seems almost impossible. Consider these all Sara Berman classics with a new streetwise spike.

Urban realism and woodland fairies are not obvious bed partners, but if Thumbelina lived today, she’d love these flirty dresses, elfin prints and brilliantly mismatching buttons. Things might have moved on from wings and petal skirts, but even hip-hop fairies need to fly. With this is mind, the fabrics are soft and fluid: silky crepes, the softest chiffons, watery tailoring and big blousy sleeves are all fairy friendly. But throw out the ballerina pumps. These cocktail colours need some heavy grounding and you can’t do better than a stonking pair of workman boots to stamp out syrupy residues. We love Thumbelina, but being flawless is far too boring.