Right from the start Lydia impressed with me with her capacity to stand out from the rest of the Essex crowd, with her own sense of fashion and appealing kind nature. I predicted early on that she would end up being a current fashion icon, and I wasn't wrong! With front row invites to London Fashion Week events and countless fashion parties she has obviously got the fashion world under her spell...
Over the last few months I have met with Lydia regularly at events and have always been taken with how she seems to rather be standing on the sidelines, with friends and family than in at midst it all... It was over cocktails with Lydia and her sister Georgia that it became apparent that their shop, 'Bella Sorella" is a real passion and driving force for the sisters... So I decided to grab Celebrity & Fashion stylist Kalee Hewlett down to the shop to check it out!
'Bella Sorella', which translates into 'Beautiful Sister' in Italian seems appropriately named, not just because Lydia & Georgia are obviously beautiful on the outside... but on the inside as well.
Georgia, who works at the shop 7 hours a day, 7 days a week met Kalee and I there, and while Kalee went around and scouted some of her favorite items of clothing from the ranges the girls stock, I chatted with Georgia about the concept.
It is clear that the girls love to surround themselves with beautiful things 'Bella Sorella' stocks some amazing clothing lines, Jewellery, Candles, Cupcakes, Photo frames, Boards displaying inspirational quotes and vintage inspired tea sets and cake stands.. there wasn't a thing in the shop that I didn't fall in love with, and I left with a few bits that I simply couldn't leave behind!
Both girls have been working since an early age, working several jobs before Lydia shot to fame on TOWIE and Georgia took the reigns at the shop... Georgia stated that she felt that it was her parents guidance that has kept both girls grounded... they were never given hand outs, but always encouraged to follow their dreams... and it appears from 'Bella Sorella's' amazing success that this life lesson has really paid off!
Due to Lydia's outside commitments it is usually down to Georgia to source stock and select items for sale in the shop, even so Lydia always checks through the selections, maybe adding pieces, however as the girls taste is so similar there is rarely any dispute on which collections they go for.
You can tell the shop is a real family affair, with Georgia working practically every day and Lydia or their mother Debbie, who also appears in TOWIE dropping in as much as possible throughout the week to both work and meet and greet customers and fans alike. When the girls can't be in the shop it is usually family or friends who hold the fort.
In the few hours that I spent in there with Georgia I couldn't fault the customer service provided, everyone who walked through the door was made to feel special, and with some of them being young girls.. hoping for a glimpse of Lydia their nerves were put straight at ease by Georgia's friendly nature and they were all informed of when either Lydia or Debbie would be in the shop next... It felt like an open house, which I understand is the custom at the Bright household as well...!
The delicious cupcakes, cookies and made to order birthday cakes are supplied fresh every couple of days by Fancy Nancy Cakes, plus you can order clothing such as the dresses that Lydia wore to The Baftas's direct from the shop from Dynasty for that special occasion such as a wedding or school prom!
After lunch Lydia heard that we were in the shop so swung by between appointments for a quick catch up and gossip, I got her to pull out some of her favorite pieces that are currently in stock and chatted to her about how it is her dream to maybe one day come out with her own range of clothing, having full input into design, material sourcing and finish. I for one hope that this dream, like the dream of 'Bella Sorella' comes true!
I had a great day with the girls down at 'Bella Sorella' and would highly recommend anyone who wants to look at beautiful things, surrounded by beautiful people to get down there and see for themselves! Of course, if it is a bit far away for you to go the store will be going on line from tomorrow, Monday 16th April 2012
It struck a note with me that as I left Lydia chatting and signing autographs for young girls in school uniforms, that if young girls of today are looking at girls like Lydia and Georgia as role models then in a few years time.. this world is quite possibly going to be a very beautiful place...
