Last Friday I decided to go and check out the collection Lou Doillon did for Lee Cooper jeans in person. I'm not usually one for celebrity endorsements but I haven't found jeans I like for so long and this video had me convinced. Watch it - no really, watch it first. (I love the bit where she's speaking about her inspirations in French and halfway through says "Artful Dodger" in a completely straight English accent. And the little song...)
I looked on the Lee Cooper website (which is shite by the way) and failed to find a single stockist listed that was anywhere near London. It also barely mentions the Lou connection.
I knew there was a Lee shop in Carnaby Street so I went down there, found no sign of Lou so berated the staff and manager for about ten minutes for their lack of knowledge of their own brand, explained who Lou Doillon was, berated them a bit more for not promoting the hell out of the Lou Doillon thing and then realised that LEE and LEE COOPER are completely separate jeans companies. My favourite quote from this exchange was from the very sweet LEE manager who said; "No, Lee Cooper, that's like, um, bad. I think it's only sold in Madhouse (really cheesy discount jeans outlet) or somewhere."
By this point I was seriously confused and then I went into Topshop and accidentally threw a shoe at someone but that's another story.
So this morning I actually telephoned the Lee Cooper headquarters which is in SLOUGH of all places and asked about the collection. It turns out that although the range was launched last November, that was in a proper showing the spring range in autumn way and it will be stocked only in Harrods from mid March. Which should just about turn around Lee Cooper's fortunes and yank them out of obscurity - especially since she's signed on to do sixteen pieces per season for three years.
photos from Vogue Paris Dec/Jan
15 comments:
Im glad its not just mee seeking this stuff out without success!. There is NOWHERE that sells it where I live..
It's not out yet although we've all been seeing the pictures for ages - that's why...and it'll only be in Harrods when it is...
wow...she is actually a lot more articulate than i expected. but wow, to jump back and forth in english and french and seeminly without an accent. ahhhhh, in my next life. although one thing did bother me about the vid...it doe sseem to be at least one frame out of the sync...(i am always annoyed when the audio doesn't match the picture)....and and the jeans she designed do seem great....but i would think you would have to be a stick...i have hips...
I love Lou. How weird that Harrods wil sell Lee Cooper jeans. I remember Madhouse from the 90s, does it really still exist? Her sister does that too - just suddenly speaks in a really perfect English accent, and you can't believe she is French.
i confirm the madhouse story for having bought a pair of jeans there about 3 years ago... (and i also ended up cutting them to make shorts!)
you talked to someone in the office in Slough? was it Ricky Gervais?
or have I got things confused-- I do that sometimes, but thought The Office was based in Slough . . guess I better shut up and go get some sleep.
~bp
bp: it is! I mean it wasn't Ricky Gervais I spoke to but yes, The Office was based in Slough - which completely sums the place up.
Yes, this sometimes happens to me. I work myself up into righteous indignation, only to discover that I wasn't so right after all! I find that after 10 years of city living, I just assume that salespeople or for that matter waiters in restaurants are justing bluffing their way through everything and keeping on questioning them until I find their exasperation genuine. I am the customer from hell... BB
bb: I think they thought I was some kind of care in the community jeans lover...
I agree with a lot of whay your blog is sayin, but I have a friend, whose friend does PR for Lee Cooper and its funny, if you look at the French mags, you will find Lou everywhere and the other brands who are doing stuff with Lee Cooper, like JCDC who does some Lee Cooper denims, I think they are about to open a shop next to Vivien Westwood in London. In France, Lou and Lee Cooper is everywhere, they just had a crazy Paris fashion week party for Lou's next collection - which I ended up at, my friend got me into the the fabolous Miu Miu party, and the next thing I know is that we are drinking Lee Cooper branded champagne at a very cool little venue, with hidden rooms everywhere. I suddenly found myself standing next to Lou and although she is much taller than me, and followed by cameras, she was so cool with me, she was telling me all about her autumn, winter collection and said, the summer collection is gonna be in Lodnon on the third week of march. Milla Jovovich was there wearing the new Lee Cooper cashmere and only afterwards someone said she had just had a baby. I think what has happened in London is that everyone remembers being kids or the shite madhouse days, like you said people think lee and lee cooper are the same, it's a joke, and I can't wait to see it change, it's fucking crap that there's no Lee Cooper shop in London, so I'm happy about Harrods and now at least I gotta a good reason to schlepp to Knightsbridge.
yes I noticed they had good press in France - maybe it will kick off over here when the range is available to buy in a couple of weeks - although when it was launched in November it still stayed well under the radar. It's only a certain section of people in England who even know who Lou Doillon is, unlike in France. I think I prefer it that way actually...more jeans for me!
Hey, thought you would like to know that I found this website where you can get Lou's Lee Cooper collection,
www.leecooper-online.com
They ship to you home, can't wait for my tops to arrive....:) x
Leecooper-online.com sells the lou range and ships worldwide at a very cheap cost. Customer service is fab and really helpfull. A guy called steve will find out anything and offers really good advice. My order was posted the same day.
Hey,
I love the blog, I think Lou is fab, I also got two Lou Lee Cooper jeans from the Lee Cooper online shop.
My boyfriend gets sportswear international mag, and I saw that Lou Doillon by Lee Cooper has been nominated for some awards. Check out www.sifa.sportswearnet-special.com .It wud be wicked if she wins. Have you got any more Lou info for us. x
Lou has won best new designer in the sports awards you mentioned so I have been told. New Lou Autumn winter is due very soon, I have seen preview of a red dress that is the most sexy thing ever, was on a model though. Lou sale on online site mid month so watch out for it.
Post a Comment