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The Pink Lady

Published:Monday | April 16, 2012 | 12:00 AM
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Rachel in a sexy black retro wide-leg jumper with a plunging neckline and 3/4 sleeves.
The full view.
There are also bags in The Pink Lady's collection. This reversible tote has an all-white cotton side for a crisp clean look and the other a turquoise and brown silk zebra print, for when you are feeling a little funky.
A design from Elizabeth Langdon: statement bracelet made of bronze with a hint of brass and rings of solid gold and diamonds.
Natalia rocking vintage fuchsia pencil-leg pants with a lilac silk backless top and coral jewellery from Gypsy Merchants. - Gladstone Taylor/Photographer
Emma sports a fun pink short rompers with cut-out in back and a gold braided shell belt accessorised by a nautilus shell set from Gypsy Merchant. - Gladstone Taylor/Photographer
Rachel in a sexy black retro wide-leg jumper with a plunging neckline and 3/4 sleeves.
Langdon
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Nashaua Drummond, Lifestyle Coodinator

It seems it was written in the stars what Elizabeth Langdon was meant to be.

She had no choice but to follow in the footsteps of her jewellery-making mother, Celia, and fashion-designing grandmother, YvonneEnnevor. Fashion designing runs in her family, and her grandmother owned a dress shop along Lincoln Road in Kingston the 1950s.

The famous swimsuit worn by Ursula Andress for the James Bond film Dr No, which was filmed in Jamaica, can also be traced to the threads of her family.

"I was always intrigued by thedesignsshe would create and the fabric and trims she used, andessentiallyall the people she would design for," noted Langdon of her grandmother.

However, her mother was at first against her following in the 'family trade'. "My mother did not want me to study fashion at all. She said that I should do industrial/furnituredesign and learn to build like my father."

But in the end, Langdon followed her heart and received an associate degree in fashion designing from The Art Institute of FortLauderdale, before continuing her studies at The MiamiInternationalUniversity ofArt& Design.

Today, Langdon is on the cusp of a full foray into fashion and jewellery design with her house of style, The Pink Lady. She has been designing for the past nine years, with jewellery being a relatively new addition. "As a child, I would always watch my mother making rings and pendants and all kinds of 'out of this worlddesigns'. But with all the acids and fire, she would warn, "Stay back! It's too hot in here!" So I never got close enough to learn the craft. After she passed away, about nine years ago, I started working with a little store called Island Girl Jewellery, whereJulietWight taught me how to make fashion jewellery withcrystalsand semi-preciousstones."

Today, Langdon's sources of inspiration are varied, with her describing her style as "contemporary andvintage with a twist".

"I love to people-watch. I see things and always want to make it better or change the hemline or yoke or add asleeveor button. With fashion, I start by getting my inspiration using magazine cut-outs, looking for fabric, getting samples of them as well as trims. I start sketching on paper and things start to come alive. Models aremeasuredand I then start to make my paper pattern ordrapemy form.

With jewellery, ideas come from all over; my mother's old books, leftoverdiamondsand stones of all shapes and sizes, sittingdown at lunch sketching onnapkins -I always seem to create and come up with something new."

Shoot credits:

Location: Grosvenor Galleries 1 Grosvenor Terrace.

Supplier: Elizabeth Langdon: Tel: 296-3219/836-9152

Email: lizzylangdon@gmail.com

Models: Emma Subratie, Rachel D'Silva, Natalia Delisser.

Make up by: Rachel Chin-Yee

Tel: 881-8595.

Hair: Amanda Saulter: mandalesley@yahoo.com

Nails: Pamela Sutton shop # 112 Princeville Place. Tel: 459-5416/925-7145

Accessories: Gypsy Merchant: gypsymerchants@gmail.com.