Lily Allen: Life In Pics
As she launches her new collection and ties the knot - we look back on Lily's eventful life so far
Rex FeaturesLily Rose Beatrice Allen was born May 2nd, 1985. The daughter of film producer Alison Owen and actor/musician Keith Allen, it’s fair to say our Lil’ was destined for stardom.
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Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
Rex FeaturesLily may have looked angelic, but the little rascal attended 13 schools in total and expelled from several of them. “I think there was one where I got caught hanging out with much older people than myself, smoking and drinking … you know, just extracurricular activities.” At 14, she ran away from home to party at Glastonbury, and by 15, she’d given up on school altogether, instead setting her sights firmly on fame.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
Rex FeaturesBeing part of a famous family meant that showbiz – and even talent – came naturally to little Miss Lily Allen. At three, she appeared in an episode of The Comic Strip, and at 13 she starred as a lady-in-waiting to Cate Blanchett’s Elizabeth. Music was an early passion; during her school years Lily studied music intensely: piano to grade V, singing to grade VII, guitar, trumpet and glockenspiel!
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
PA PhotosKeith left the family when Lily was four and she admits it took a while for their relationship to get back on track. However, look closely at Keith’s Fat Les, Vindaloo music video (nah, nah, nah... remember that?) and you’ll see a 13-year-old Lily bounding down the street in a lilac tracksuit!
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
WENNEveryone knows Keith is Lily’s dad, but what not many peeps know is that Harry Enfield is her step-dad. He and Lily’s mother hooked up in the 90s, and Harry based the characters Harry and Lulu – those naughty toddlers from his sketch show - on Lily and her lil’ bro, Alfie.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
WENNAt 16, Lily lived in Ibiza for a bit – the rebel – earning money working at Plastic Fantastic, a house music record shop. It was here she met her first manager, George Lamb of T4 fame, and started her journey to the dizzying heights of chart superstardom.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
PA PhotosIt wasn’t an easy beginning by any means. Lily was rejected by several labels - which she put down to her boozing and being Keith Allen’s daughter! After studying horticulture to become a florist, Lily decided to give her true passion another shot. The horticultural world’s loss is our gain...
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
WENNLily was signed to Regal Recordings in 2005; they gave her £25,000 to make her first album. Without the funds for promotion behind her, Lily created a MySpace account and began posting her demos. The rest, as they say, is history.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
PA PhotosIn 2006, after her ever-growing MySpace following finally got her some well-deserved recognition, Lily began working with producer-supremo and all-round hottie, Mark Ronson. They finished her debut album, Alright, Still, in two weeks. Mark Ronson says she cringes when she hears some of the tracks now: “[I sound like a] sort of over-excitable teenager who desperately wanted attention!"
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
PA PhotosSuperstardom soon followed. Her debut single, Smile, was the smash hit of the summer, and the popstral’s irresistibly fresh take on ska/pop heralded a new sound for the noughties.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
PA PhotosBut it wasn’t just Lily’s tunes that were getting her noticed - her off-beat, quirky approach to dressing became her trademark, prom dresses worn with Reeboks and Mr. T-style gold jewellery; her signature look. It was around this time the term ‘chav’ was coined...
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
PA PhotosAfter conquering the music world, Lily turned her talented hand to other areas. In 2007 the starlet, who broke all the fashion rules with her chav-tastic style, designed her own range for New Look, Lily Loves. Her flirty florals and pretty sun-dresses sold out nationwide. GLAMOUR.COM were first in queue.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
PA PhotosThe fashion world sat up and took notice. Soon labels were falling over themselves to sign music’s hottest It girl. Lily was the face (and body) of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur in ’07 and - no doubt aided by her evidential love of Chanel - fronted the campaign for the fashion powerhouse’s 2009 handbag collection.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
WENNIn 2008, our Lily was given her very own chat show on BBC3. The Lily Allen and Friends sofa housed A-list derrieres the likes of Cuba Gooding Jr, and Joanna Page, with cheeky Lily at the helm.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
Big PicturesBut it wasn’t all work and no play. Lily’s love of drinking ‘till she passed out whilst chain-smoking (in Chanel, no less) was well-documented - as was her penchant for tussles with the paps, and not-so-ladylike wars-of-words with fellow popstrals...
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
Big PicturesWhen Lily penned the b-side, Cheryl Tweedy, Mrs. Cole was naturally flattered. Until Lily pointed out the song - which included the line ‘I wish I looked like Cheryl Tweedy’ - was supposed to be ironic. Ouch. Cue much expletive-laden mudslinging!
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
Rex FeaturesLily was serious with music talent scout and DJ Seb Chew when she first cracked the charts.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
WENNIn 2007, Lily had a whirlwind romance with Ed Simons of The Chemical Brothers - 19 years her senior. Sadly, the too-cool-for-school pairing drifted apart after Lily suffered a miscarriage four months into their relationship. She has since described this as “the worst time of my life” and said she “kind of lost the plot a bit.”
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
Big PicturesLily’s love of the, ahem, ‘more mature’ gentleman is no secret. In an interview with GLAMOUR, the outrageous popstral said that her ideal man was “45 / 50” and joked “The other day I met Lucian Freud and thought ‘I want to shag Lucian Freud.’ It would be funny. He’s four times my age.”
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
PA PhotosDespite her success, Lily shocked her fans when she announced her decision to quit music – but the talented starlet didn’t go out without a bang. In May 2010, Lily attended the Ivor Novello awards in London with her little sister Teddy, and wept as she bagged three of the prestigious gongs. Go, Lily!
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
WennLily added yet another trophy to her no-doubt crowded mantelpiece in 2010, being named our Woman Of The Year for a second time (having also won in 2008).
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
paDespite announcing that she would take a break from performing, Lily was soon working on a vintage fashion store with her sister Sarah Owen. Is Lils a workaholic or what? The store opening was a huge success – with Lily’s A-List pals and fashionistas alike swarming to buy (and rent) her vintage finds.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
Bigpicturesphoto.comAnother reason for her break from music was to focus on her relationship with 32-year-old builder and decorator Sam Cooper. The pair announced they were expecting a baby in August last year.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
WennBut sadly the pregnancy ended in tragedy when Lily lost her baby after six months.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
PA PhotosJust weeks after her loss, Lily found happiness when Sam popped the question on Christmas Day. The wedding’s this weekend, but we’re still waiting for our invite...
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Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
Rex FeaturesWhile we might not be invited to the ceremony, we do know that fashionable friend Karl Lagerfeld will be designing Lily's evening dress – the singer popped over to meet with the Chanel designer during Paris Fashion Week to discuss plans.
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Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
WennAhead of her nuptials, set to be held in Gloucestershire, Maid of Honour Miquita Oliver arranged Lily’s hen party, which included cooking lessons by Gordon Ramsay and drinks at the Savoy Hotel. "He was brilliant. Had no idea, I am a very, very luccky girl (sic)" she wrote on Twitter.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
Rex FeaturesBut controversy still surrounds the singer. In March 2011, Lily found that everyone was talking about her, when Channel 4 aired a documentary Lily had filmed with them, in which she revealed her struggle with bulimia. She begged fans not to watch the show on her Twitter page, posting: “I'm inclined to ask you not to watch it ‘cause quite frankly I am embarrassed.”
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
Rex FeaturesBut now, Lily is putting all her fashion experience to good use by launching her very own line under the Lucy In Disguise vintage brand. Are you as excited as us to get your hands on it?
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
PA PhotosSo what’s next for Lily? We’re not sure, but we do know that you’ll hear it here first.
See Lily’s new Lucy In Disguise collection
Lily Allen’s Style Evolution
