Joy Review
They say British labels are the quirkiest and they are completely right; meet Joy the fashion and lifestyle brand with a passion for challenging fashion norms. Renowned for their innovation of eccentric womenswear, menswear, accessories and gifts the self inscribed 'achingly cool' brand is the go to for quirky yet lovable products. Coinciding with its quirky nature the British label is committed to expressing liberal attitudes to individualism and it is a refreshing ethos to come across. Sartorial vintage flair makes up a large portion of the brands aesthetic while its exclusive approach to marketing an individualistic identity allows Joy to stand out from the mass produced crowd. What's more Joy is little known in the fashion world despite being a prolific label and it is largely because it prefers to remain under the radar and focus on curating quirky timeless pieces. It is this selfless, non-fame seeking sense of morality that allows you to have all eyes on the brand and relish in its unique pieces that you won't find anywhere else.
When I was contacted by Joy to review their newest collection for London Fashion Week I was over the moon and despite being unable [rejected] to attend I was honored that they still wanted to work with me regardless. Growing up I was never part of the crowd and as an outsider I have always been naturally drawn to brands that are considered to be 'under the radar' and should receive more recognition for its accolades towards fashion. With that in mind Joy is the perfect fit for me and Faded Spring because it refuses to conform and instead relishes in its unique sense of individualism. After much deliberation I chose the Louche Raquel Bird dress which reminded me of the 50's meets modern monochromatic fashion. Made from a lightweight crepe material, the thigh length monochrome dress features a silhouette bird print with a white canvas base. Fully lined the dress cuts in at the waist to create a subtle pleated skater skirt while the bodice is given interest with the addition of medium sized pockets. The pockets are my favourite feature of the Raquel dress as it can store my mobile phone, pens or any other small items and is the perfect dress for wearing during the day and amping up the volume by night.
Versatile and chic the Raquel dress is unbelievably comfortable and its v-neckline is flattering to all bust sizes making it the ideal choice if you are looking for comfort in a dress or want to show some cleavage off. For smaller bust sizes like myself the v-neckline creates a model-esque 'catwalk' vibe which androgynizes your frame and prevents the dress from looking too twee while larger bust sizes will buy into the Hollywood Golden Era the 50's and channel their inner Marilyn Monroe. Mixing feminine and androgynous figure/aesthetic types is never easy to pull off but Joy has succeeded just by creating the v-neckline. But Joy has many other tricks up its sleeve and delights in conjuring every woman's sartorial fantasy ; time travel. The Raquel dress largely borrows from the 60's with its reverent nod to mod culture mixed with a timeless 50's silhouette. Mod culture was the 60's rebellion against colour with teenagers protesting against the need to conform and wearing black and white both considered 'bland' (white) or morbid (black) has been a popular colour combination ever since. Today Joy's modern 60's meets 50's offering uses a 60's top half silhouette that channels Twiggy's iconic style while the fuller skirt is mostly associated with the 50's. Instead of using a midi length Joy has modernized the dress by tailoring it to gently skim the thighs making it ideal to pair with tights in the winter.
Known for being colorful it might have seemed strange to see me in a monochromatic look but as much as I love colour there is nothing more timeless than a monochrome dress. As established in last Friday's monochrome 'Lookbook' wearing black and white does not have to be boring; clash prints and add length to the dress by wearing a pair of quirky kitten stilettos while a matching large purse contrasts against the bird print but compliments rather than detracts from the design of Joy's Raquel dress. By opposing prints in the same palate the look is kept clean, concise and is ideal for weddings, spring walks and a day at the office. To make the dress more casual just add flat brogues and layer a white or black turtleneck underneath while dropping the sleeves to make them 'off the shoulder' is the flirty vibe needed for a day at the races.
Overall Conclusion
Timeless, sophisticated but undeniably unique Joy's Raquel dress is my ultimate sartorial fantasy and allows me to be true to myself. Well made and true to the brands ethos it is a no brainer that I will be buying from Joy again. It was a pleasure to work with them and their attentiveness to my brand and its relation to Joy was a Joy ( no pun intended) to receive.
Quality of material 4.5/5
Design 4/5
Versatility 4.5/5
Shipping & Handling 5/5
To view more quintessentially British dresses click HERE
Would You Buy From Joy?