Bip Ling x Pretty Ballerinas Collaboration- The Clothes Maiden

When asked to think of sleek, minimalist design in the realms of technology and home furnishings, a bounty of brands tend to shoot to the forefront of the mind: Apple, Ikea, Bang and Olufsen, and on and on, ad infinitum. Model, DJ and blogger extraordinaire Bip Ling’s collaboration with the ballet pump brand Pretty Ballerinas is the very epitome of the aforesaid. Pretty Ballerinas are well known for being the purveyors of elegant, dainty pumps adorned with the odd touch of lace, sequins or studs; essentially, it’s timelessness distilled and then dressed-up a smidgen.

A quick browse through the archives of Ling’s blog, and it’s clear to see individuality is the cornerstone of all that she wears, does and, consequently, is; essentially, it’s akin to being catapulted into a parallel universe, festooned with glitchy GIFs, bold and bonkers colour combinations, Mooch (Ling’s cartoon mascot and the “inspiration” for her designs) and a multitude of things in between. But it is important to note that it works. As much as it shouldn’t, it does: the air of playful defiance, confidence, charm and quirk Ling exudes tempers any form of discordance.

And it is this that Ling brings to the collaboration, resulting on six new spins on a classic: “modern textures” such as mesh inserts – but no PVC, which Ling has said she learnt “look[s] great, but [makes] your feet feel clammy” – complementing a vivid array of cobalt, candy-pink and pistachio hues; a mix between pointed and rounded toes; and, of course, an appliqué Mooch adorning all but two of the pairs. It may not be sleek and minimalist, but it sure is rather marvellous.

Tara Okeke