Summer Pastels
Pastels are a quick and fashionable way to inject a hit of summer into any outfit. They add edge and excitement to an all-black ensemble. In a sea of ‘tasteful’ grey, black and navy, subtle pinks, purples, greens and blues add some spark and draw the eye.

The strips of pale pink add drama to this black diaphanous dress

Then there’s the bolder look - colour blocking. Right on trend, this is bound to bring a smile to your face, even when it’s drizzling. Cover yourself in slabs of colour - a light pink top with sexy high-waisted jeans, or a stunning turquoise dress for fancier dos, and feel your fashionista confidence glow with the pastels.



Finally, there’s the ladylike pastel. Think demure picnics in the park with strawberries and cream, or a tea party with cupcakes. Fifties-style printed dresses with pastel floral patterns are perfect for lifting the spirits on a cloudy day - they transport you to a more glamorous era. These dresses embrace your curves, upping your summer sexiness without you having to shiver in skimpy clothes. Finish with a slick of crimson lipstick to really illuminate your face.

Probably the most adorable thing you’ll see all day

It’s time for a colour safari with House of Beth’s online shop - go on and brighten your day!


By Saskia

Ten ways to dress for summer while it’s raining!

Yes, at a time of year when we really should be all out in the sunshine lounging in gardens and parks while not wearing very much at all, it has officially been the wettest June in the UK ever recorded!
Summer this month just wasn’t to be, and every day so far has been an umbrella day. Weather forecasters say that this trend is set to continue so we may as well learn how to look truly fabulous in the rain! Here are a few fabulous suggestions of ethical fashion for you. 

Ralph Lauren Sport shorts UK6 £35.00 from House of Beth
Shorts: Once known as a staple item in any tennis-lovers Wimbledon wardrobe, the humble pair of shorts has come a long way in all its various guises and lengths. In fact it has never been more popular regardless of the rain! Think fitted and figure flattering for those summer ladies who want to bare their perfect pins. No matter what the length they can still look amazing whether basking in the sunshine or tropical thunder storms- although we don’t recommend being out in a tropical storm in any fabulous outfit. Everyone is wearing them with black tights, but try to wear them with clear to look bare, yet be warm, as befitting of a summer goddess.

Splashy Splosh Shoes: Wearing boots over the summer needn’t be something to frown about- with the massive trend in military style footwear over the past two or three seasons- it’s a really hot trend! It is advisable to put away those ultra-feminine dainty flats and peep-toe sandals. It’s all about the boots that look like they have trekked through a field and then some!
Step boldly out into the rain looking fashionably chic in your old pair of muddy ankle high block heels or lace ups.
The Oversized Coat: There is something a little mysterious about a woman wearing that oversized trench coat no matter what her frame! Pull the belt around your waist and it’s one of the most figure flattering items a girl could ever wish for. You can have that instant hourglass figure that you have been lusting after- especially perfect for straight up and straight down figures! Why not try teaming a pencil skirt and jersey style top with a classy coat from House of Beth’s collection?



Paula Ka camel coat £115





The Summer Dress:  Whatever you do, do not let gale force winds and torrential rain put you off wearing your gorgeous knee length dress or maxi this summer. Ok so the weather is not encouraging when you want to wear your favourite dress but that doesn’t mean that you can’t! All you need are some practical boots and a casual waterproof, for ‘floral at a festival’ look. Besides, you will provide a feeling of a summer, which the sky has failed to do. You can try on any of House of Beth’s lovely collection of bright and floral dresses to add a well needed splash of colour to the dullest of June days!


Mango dress £11






By Hema x

Love Labels? Choose to Reuse!

We all know that fashion trends will inevitably die and be reborn in a similar form again (although there is no telling how soon or in what form this will take place) one way or another. Kind of like Jesus perhaps.
Does this means that we ought to hang onto those old clothes, even the ones that are so ‘last season’?
First things first: You can still say goodbye to that old trench and be ethical, because as much as we love clothes to be reborn, there is only a certain amount of wardrobe space. Try swish swapping! It is becoming more popular, and some of the big name clothes retailers are now sitting up and taking notice. Marks and Spencer’s are an example of this fresh new attitude; they have started up their very own Shwop scheme. One in which you are invited to bring in and drop off an item of ‘old’ or unwanted clothing. You can then drop it off when buying new clothes. They will then work with larger organisations to reuse and recycle your pre loved (or perhaps not so ‘pre loved’) clothes.  
From an ethical point of view it is a very worthwhile practice. The general reusing of clothes could mean that there would be less demand for new clothes, less wastage and demand for poorer countries to work tirelessly in sweatshops for meagre wages.
From a Fashion viewpoint keeping those old clothes is brilliant! Especially now, it seems like everyone and their aunt is getting on the vintage bandwagon. Women everywhere love anything retro and it’s about more than just dressing up for a fancy dress party. Themed parties are all the rage, and it is surprising, post-childhood, how much you’re required to find an outfit for obscure dress up themes. Second hand clothes websites are a fabulous way of picking up genuine period clothing for next to nothing- whether it’s the forties and fifties or the swinging sixties you are into.  
Another great reason to shop for second hand clothes online is that in so many cases they may not have even been worn, even better: Hardly worn at all. But the price in so many cases will reflect that they are second hand items. With some savvy shopping you can get a great bargain for half the price or maybe even less. Even more so when talking about designer labels!

It’s all about looking a million pounds without having to spend a million pounds- or anywhere near it! Check out House of Beth’s amazing selection of pre-loved clothing along with great new designers. Among the names there are All Saints, Paul Smith, Cath Kidston, Vivienne Westwood, and Karen Millen. The handpicked items at the House of Beth online website show that reusable fashion can offer you some real steals! Fabulous for those of us with a lust for labels but a restricted budget! By Hema Rishi

The Head Piece and the Headdress

Friday afternoon, and I am fighting the temptation to leap into the outdoors and perform some sort of pagan sun dance, celebratating the hot sun that we are ephemerally blessed with. If I were to discard the co-ordination of House of Beth’s wardrobe for my blazingly beautiful sun mistress however, I would need a head-piece (as well as rather good excuse to give to Talia.)

Yes, a head-piece or a headdress is a historical necessity for any form of worship. From the tribal to the Pope today, they all don their hair in preparation for celebration and worship with feathers, jewels and gold.

And as we, the secular masses, prepare to celebrate the summer and worship the sun, do we too don ourselves with a head-pieces? Well, I suppose we wear sun-hats, but as glamorous as they can be, they lack a sparkle that speaks to the sunshine, for they are far too practical to be considered true crowns. For the head-piece, the perfect head-piece, should act as pure adornment, for our own personal jubilee.

Recently flower crowns have been a massive festival must, a wave to the flower power of the ’60s and your inner fairy-princess. You can purchase them from £3 to £75, from Spitalfield stalls to tiny vintage boutiques. New in for the festival look, are the Native-American inspired feather warrior crowns, which is a fun alternative to flowers, albeit a heavy one.

If you don’t fancy the ‘Hiawatha meets the 21^st century look’, House of Beth has provided you with it’s own range of affordable head-dresses, that differ from both the flower power 60s’ and the feather fun. These headdresses are mirrored with our collection of clothes we are releasing this summer that draw upon the cultural event of the year – the Olympics. To me, Olympics says ancient Greece, rather than panting around in sweats, and as Talia’s all time favourite poet was an ancient Greek poet who sang bravely and magnificently on love, we decided to base our ‘look’ and thus head-pieces this season on Sappho.

Wile Weaving Daughter

Sappho embodies the sensual woman, who is beautiful because she expresses her love and vulnerability, fearlessly. She is renowned poetically by sages, through out the ages, for this. And today we too, pay tribute to her love poetry by our collection’s headdresses that celebrate this poetic beauty. When wearing these headdresses, they will transform an ordinary outfit of a simple white dress and sandals into the Sappho goddess, celebrating your own beauty and worshiping life, love and death. They make you feel at once beautiful and strong, like the ancient Greek poetess herself, with gold and pearls.

On this note, I will put on my own headdress and give my skin to the sunlight so I may cleanse the winter away.

Love

S x

N: B Our Ancient Greece inspired head dresses are made for us by the endlessly talented Justine Silverstone, who takes a few jewels and creates the personality of the woman who inspires our collection. Luckily for you, although they look far from high street, they are high street prices, for House of Beth pledges to always offer high range apparel at mid-range prices.