When the eccentric mother Blaise de Boursiere was
diagnosed with M.E during her pregnancy she was sceptical about her life and
how the near future would plan out. Now she tells me how fashion took centre
stage in her life and made her the successful individual that many rely on
today.
‘’I’m the designer, owner of Belladonna’s Boudoir, from Penwortham, Lancashire and I do all the designing, PR, admin, liaison and website (shop bells rings she’s answering).’’ She stops speaking and waits for the next questions ‘’ Yeah I’ve always made clothes I mean it was one of the things we did at school, which was to my hatred, designing, but because I came from a relatively poor family , having something different was just not possible so I had to start making my own clothes. (She keeps straight eye contact while reminiscing positively of her time as a child). ‘‘I gave it up.’’( She corrects herself). ‘’Well I used to hang out with a lot of rock stars as well I ended up swapping clothes with those which was different. I then got high profile jobs, gave up the sewing, went off, had my happy life and then the late 80s, I developed ME through pregnancy and it collapsed the thyroid and I gained 7 ½ stone. (She recalls resentfully). ‘That was a big culture shock, there was nothing to fit me in the styles I wanted so I had to start making clothes again or look like my granny. (She smirks and laugh) ''So I started making big clothes and continued with that even though I had lost the weight and people were literally stopping me in the street asking me where I’ve got the designs from and from there it just doubled.’’
''The name Belladonna's Boudoir has had about four or five different names over the last few years but I wanted something that sounded a little more upmarket, a little more classy. I also have the men’s range which is Felladonna.(She plays with her thumb)that came from opening it up to the Facebook fan clubs (speaks very proudly). I’d like to have changed it because the boudoir tends to have a lot of people thinking it’s a bedroom (speaks certainly) whereas boudoir was actually a changing room or a dressing room but (shrugs it off) everyone knows me as belladonnas boudoir so I think that’s how it’s going to stick.
‘’In terms of the customer the most important thing is to find out what your customer wants and generally they have an idea but they’re never 100% sure or they have a stock idea. ‘They want something different so I’m quite fortunate that I’m able to get into the customer’s head quite easily and see what it is that they’re after.''
My first ever garment that I designed was probably something really simple like a black velvet skirt that was laced down the back it was for an event I was going to and didn’t want the regular stuff that was out there. ''I whipped out a quick skirt, (eyes light up as she’s speaking, footloose is playing in the background) and laced it half way down the back so it gives you quite an hourglass figure. After that I went into doing long hooded robe type coats. (Silence as she waits for me finish writing)
’My favourite piece I think has to be the Victorian polonaise . ‘’I didn’t particularly design it as it’s a true Victorian design but it’s very flattering on every size (says it reassuringly) and with it being such a Victorian renowned , neo Victorian it works with a whole amount of different styles. I love it. Very feminine.
(Itches nose and answers abruptly)'It’s annoying! Of course it’s annoying , when someone copies your work. 'When I’ve put my heart and soul into thinking of something and being someone else’s brain power (laughs) but if Versace can be copied from catwalk to shops within 48 hours then the rest of us have no choice.
- As a young child Blaise was on the hippie biker scene and would sell clothes right off her back
- As a designer, Blaise works up 40 hours a week
- Target age group for Belladonna's Boudoir is 45+
- Blaise has designed for famous rock groups in the past
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