Sisters in Style: How Lady Lola Bute and Jazzy de Lisser Are Redefining Elegance Through Grit and Glamour
Taste & Travel3 Minutes Read

Sisters in Style: How Lady Lola Bute and Jazzy de Lisser Are Redefining Elegance Through Grit and Glamour

December 5, 2024

In the rarefied world of aristocratic glamour, where legacy often trumps innovation, Lady Lola Bute and Jazzy de Lisser have emerged as a riveting exception. Both striking in their individuality and united by an unmistakable familial allure, the half-sisters are rewriting the rules of fashion, fame, and philanthropy. But theirs is not a story of inherited privilege alone—it is one steeped in resilience, self-reinvention, and the audacious spirit of two women turning personal adversity into a shared mission of beauty with substance.

Image courtesy of Tatler

The Daughters of Different Worlds

The tale of Lady Lola Affrica Crichton-Stuart, 25, and Jasmine Francesca de Lisser, 33, begins in the kind of gilded disarray that could only exist in the overlapping worlds of British aristocracy and bohemian artistry. Lola, the daughter of John Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute—a Formula One racer turned land magnate—and Serena Bute, a fashion designer with a penchant for relaxed yet high-fashion tailoring, grew up in a realm that seamlessly blended the grandeur of Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute with the stylish eccentricities of her mother’s West London life.

Jazzy, on the other hand, represents the other side of this cosmopolitan coin. Born to Serena and Jamaican-born Robert de Lisser, her upbringing unfolded between the verdant landscapes of Jamaica and the teeming energy of London. This duality left its mark on Jazzy, imbuing her with a grounded perspective that perfectly complements Lola’s aristocratic polish.

“We’re very different, but we meet in the middle,” Jazzy remarks during a rare shared interview. “We’ve both inherited Mum’s eye for detail, but our creative energies take completely different forms. That’s what makes this partnership so exciting.”

A Partnership Forged in Reflection

The partnership she speaks of is Debute, the fashion label the sisters launched in November 2024. It is a collection that, in many ways, epitomises their shared values: bold yet intimate, modern but steeped in history. Crafted using deadstock fabrics from houses like Chloé and Valentino, each piece is a statement of sustainability and high fashion, a marriage of their love for vintage and a desire to create something utterly contemporary.

But Debute is more than just a fashion brand; it is the culmination of two very personal journeys. For Lola, it represents a turn toward creativity after grappling with immense personal loss. Her father’s death in 2021 left a chasm that she admits took years to navigate. “I wouldn’t wish that kind of grief on my worst enemy,” she confesses. “It strips you bare, but it also reveals what really matters.”

Jazzy, meanwhile, has long been an advocate for using personal pain as a platform for change. Born with Hepatitis C, transmitted from her mother, she grew up with a condition that could have defined her life in the shadows. Instead, she brought it to the forefront, creating an award-winning short film, My Story of C, that challenged societal stigma and earned her accolades as an activist.

Together, the sisters have channelled their experiences into something profoundly tangible: a brand that doesn’t just look good but feels good—ethically, aesthetically, and emotionally.

Image courtesy of Tatler

Fashion as a Heirloom, Reimagined

Debute is deeply rooted in the siblings’ shared love for vintage, a passion nurtured by their mother. “Mum always told us, ‘If you buy something, buy it forever,’” Lola recalls with a smile. “That philosophy runs through everything we do with Debute.”

The debut collection reflects this ethos. There are tartan two-pieces that nod to Lola’s Scottish heritage, delicate slip dresses reminiscent of Jazzy’s carefree London years, and tailored silhouettes that carry their mother’s unmistakable influence. The fabrics, sourced from high-end remnants, underscore the label’s commitment to sustainability—a rarity in the high-stakes world of luxury fashion.

“It’s not just about making beautiful clothes,” Jazzy insists. “It’s about creating something meaningful. We want people to wear our pieces and feel part of a larger story.”

A New Face of Aristocracy

For Lola, this larger story includes redefining what it means to be a modern aristocrat. While her lineage might place her in the annals of British history, she is determined to be more than just a title. “I don’t want to be another society girl hosting garden parties,” she says with disarming candour. “I want to do something that resonates.”

That sentiment finds its outlet in her mental health advocacy. After her father’s passing, Lola became a vocal supporter of addiction and grief charities, drawing on her own experiences to help others navigate similar struggles. It’s a cause that dovetails seamlessly with Jazzy’s activism, creating a shared foundation of purpose amid their distinct paths.

The Glamour of Resilience

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Crichton-Stuart affair without a touch of glamour, and Debute has it in spades. When the sisters hosted a launch soirée at Mount Stuart earlier this year, it was the kind of event that seemed plucked from the pages of The Great Gatsby. Guests—among them Sienna Miller, Charlotte Tilbury, and other glitterati—were treated to an evening of decadent charm, complete with a bespoke tartan runway and cocktails served in heirloom crystal.

Yet beneath the sparkle lies something more enduring. For Lola and Jazzy, Debute is as much about creating community as it is about couture. “We want people to feel like they’re part of something special,” Lola says. “This isn’t just about us; it’s about everyone who believes in the power of reinvention.”

Image courtesy of WWD

The Future of Debute

As they look to the future, the sisters are brimming with ideas. There are whispers of collaborations with emerging designers, plans for capsule collections inspired by their travels, and even a potential expansion into homeware. But for now, their focus remains on building Debute into a brand that reflects their unique vision.

“We’re just getting started,” Jazzy says with a grin. “There’s so much more we want to do.”

In an era where fashion often feels fleeting and performative, Lady Lola Bute and Jazzy de Lisser are a refreshing reminder that style, like substance, is best when it’s deeply personal. Their story—a blend of old-world charm and modern resilience—is one that feels at once timeless and entirely of the moment. In their hands, the future of fashion looks not just elegant, but extraordinary.

Author: Laura Scalco
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