Hey Luxury Lovers! Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena-Irons took over Bloomsbury Lanes — an actual bowling alley — and dressed it as what one reviewer called a Slavic fever dream: totems scattered about, tree branches growing indoors, guests lining both sides of the wooden lanes. The collection is called X/Lucky Spirit Lost Strike/X, and I have not stopped smiling about it since.
Witches, nymphs and league night
The folklore is the heart of it: Samodivi, Morana, Kikimora, Rusalka, Baba Yaga — the Eastern European figures who kept everyone in line long before religion did. “We were looking at characters from Slavic culture who were there to enforce rules pre-religion,” the designers said. Then they crossed all of it with 1950s American bowling and the real-life champion Marion Ladewig.
So you get a white corset with the boning drawn to trace the ribs, a black dress with hand- and laser-cut spiky chiffon, and the signature carabiner pleated skirt back in a tapestry fabric — next to retro bowling shirts, striped jersey leggings, poplin shorts and proper house dresses.
And the dogs
Yes, dogs on the runway, with Lloyds pet insurance. Their chihuahua Nikita in a neon green inflatable puffer with a headband. One dog in an anti-theft outfit with spikes and a tiny security camera with a flashing red light. Another in goggles trailing a parachute. Trained dogs, vets on hand, and not a single one asked to do the final walk — which was left to the humans, soundtracked by heavy metal after Paramore and Monster Mash.
My verdict
Beadwork radiating like stars, red sequinned trousers, bright tights, headscarves, black lipstick, and a Dr. Martens collaboration in distressed studded leather and tartan. It is joyful and a bit feral and completely theirs. Take the beaded accessory idea into your own wardrobe even if the carabiner kilt is a step too far.
Runway photographs: Vogue Runway.
See every look on Vogue Runway → · See the collection on chopovalowena.com →
Luxury Mummy xo
