The all-consuming GirlWorld of Réalisation Par & Reformation
What happens when a brand's image and experience align in perfect harmony
Welcome to The Dandelion Tiger. This publication began during a period of searching, when I was looking for a voice that resonated, that perhaps shared some of my questions, thoughts and experiences. I hope that you will find some of that connection here, as much as I hope to hear from you, if any of what you read strikes a chord.
If you enjoy this newsletter, and would like to see more content in this same vein, a subscription, like and comment would be of huge support to me :)
A misty scene of loose floral print on long, flowing fabric, waving thin straps fashioned into baby bows, a mesh of lace, silks and linens floating gentle in the wind, a field of wildflowers set against a pastel blue sky. I am transported almost against my own will to a different time and place, gentle seduction of halcyon days.
Reformation & Réalisation launched online in 2013 and 2015 respectively, straight into the hearts and closets of young women aged 18 - 35. It struck the right chord with this demographic; the girlies loved them, and I could see why. Tasteful floral prints, silhouettes and fabrics at an arguably reasonable price point, a recipe not on offer at any other high-street brand at the time. The product offering was good, not like anything else on the market, and it was priced well.
I took some time to get on the train, though. Maybe I deemed my style too sartorial for floral prints at the time, maybe I thought I was above the girlish frill, maybe I was insecure about showing too much skin… I was in my late teens when they launched and blew up. I think a part of me was rejecting the raw femininity that Realisation & Reformation embodied, coming from a culture where women had a distinct role to play in society: daughter, wife, mother. I think teenage me was keen to avoid any and all associations with girlhood, because to me it meant losing my power and autonomy. I was afraid, I guess, of being married off to someone I did not love, forced to live a life I did not choose, a life I had no chance to create for myself. So I leaned into my masculine, and stylistically that meant monochrome looks, boxy silhouettes, strong, structured shapes. In short, I’m slightly embarrassed to admit now, I had no interest in tarnishing my quote-unquote autonomy and power with the likes of Realisation Par & Reformation’s silly girlishness.
Fast forward to late 2023, I am spending time with my friends and they are browsing Realisation Par’s website, there is a sale on. So I gave it a go, thought why not. I bought The Gemma & The Alba.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa3664f50-c5bf-462d-8f06-6508b1d1531f_850x800.png)
Ladies, the moment I put these dresses on !
Both fit perfectly, hugged my body in, like, all the right places, cinched my waist into oblivion without suffocating me. Idk (yet) how clothes are made but listen, this was surely a masterclass in dressmaking. That’s not all, though. It was the way I FELT wearing them. Suddenly I was so frilly and feminine and pretty and, dare I say it… ~ sensuous ~
I lent The Alba to a friend too, a self-proclaimed not very girly girl friend. It fit her like a glove too, and I could see the confidence it drew out in her. We have pretty different body types, and certainly I am not as gifted in the chest area as above model, but that one dress fit us all so well, it felt like being part of something akin to the sisterhood of travelling pants. Maybe it is the girlworld?
In these dresses I felt powerful, seriously. To quote Ms. T-Swift, That Was The Moment I Knew. That’s when I understood, I guess, the power of these brands, and of course the transformative effect the right clothes can have on a girl, or a boy. Realisation Par & Reformation had meticulously crafted the perfect blend of the soft and dark feminine, and their clothes were made to help the wearer embody her’s. By accenting her girlishness with florals and frills and bows, by drawing out her sensuality with their plunging necklines, careful structuring taking every curve into consideration.
This is a golden example of brand image perfectly aligning with brand experience. Their products walk the talk, and so no wonder they launched to such success all those years ago and why they still occupy a foothold in the world of fashion today.
I went on to buy two more dresses, both an instant match. Prices are still steep. Fabric, make, and sustainability promises not always perfect…
But for now, what can I say, I’m a convert. I am just girl :)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1081a5c7-b3e1-41a9-a53f-1a2ce83c4852_1220x1028.png)