"Below the surface of the Ocean"

It is already end of December, and in a few weeks time the summer 2012 collection will be in the stores. This one is called 'Below the surface of the Ocean' (and that theme was chosen before I ever even thought of going to Egypt to see dolphins in the Red Sea)

All LoFff collections have a name, because they are based on an idea, a book, an atmosphere, a picture, etc. And they are always personal and dear to me.

As long as I remember I have loved the sea and the ocean. Being on a beach, hearing the waves and enjoying this immense feeling of freedom.

As a kid, endlessly looking for shells and strange things the sea would wash on the shore. Finding sea-urchins and boiling them to get rid of the stench, picking of the needles and finding out what amazing colours and patterns appear from underneath that prickly outside.



Orca Dress



When I was a student one summer I went to Crete, and lived on a beach there for a month. It was a very happy time. Swimming out into the open sea  is incomparable to any pool, however beautiful. Feeling the strength of your own body, the shore getting smaller and smaller the further you are out. Very good for your perspective on life.

Diving under water and seeing this parallel world is a miracle. Feeling the weightlessness, the ease of movement. The beauty of plants and life there, the colours, the freckles of sunlight, the sudden warm streams you find sometimes, the muted sounds.  Then I have a daughter who is totally besotted with all cetaceans, and she is an expert on all types of dolphins and killer whales. I learnt a lot from her too.



Jellyfish Dress





All this I have been trying to capture in this collection. The inspiration is translated in various ways, as always. There are obvious references like an orca embroidery, sea horse print, and a sea star fabric. Then there is a jellyfish dress (THE party dress of the collection) and it is called that because the movement of the skirt resembles the way a certain type of jellyfish moves through the sea.



  

Sea Urchin top



Then there is sea-urchin top and bolero, where the decoration resembles a small cluster of sea urchins. The sea anemone skirt has lots of little wisps of netting, making the movement in this skirt like a sea anemone swaying with the tide. “Waves at my hem” and ‘wave skirt’ speak for themselves when you see them.

The foto shoot which we did in June last year was a lot of fun as you can see in the video which we made and which is posted on You Tube. Click here to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2QbU9O_TeY  

 We have found 2 new models (Sunitha, the dark haired one, and Doutsen, the blond haired one) because I felt that we needed to show LoFff on younger girls too. It does look very good on Sterre and Yerus, who now both are 7, but it looks different on a 4-year old. So, they are there to stay for the next seasons.



Colour inspiration for Neutrals



Colour inspiration for Trend

They turned up very timid at the first morning, but gradually opened up and became free, roaming, and sometimes even wild. And since we had a perfect hot day, on a nice little beach, the atmosphere of the turquoise and pink group is like the best pics of all your favourite daughters on the best holiday you ever had. And this is exactly what I wanted for this theme.


Colour inspiration for Pinks

 So, I hope you enjoy the new collection once it is in the shops,

I honestly believe this is the best collection I have ever made (and I have made about 36 by now, so that does mean something).

Jo.