The London Fashion Week review

We have just seen Fashion Week and a sneaky peek at what’s to come for us in spring and summer
2013! I’ve been checking out some of the big designers and there have been some really adorable
pieces on show. We have seen a lot of prints and geometric shapes especially in the case of Sass
and Bide’s cheeky burlesque inspired short dresses! Maria Grachvogel’s collections of pastel and monochrome inspired dresses have some amazing feminine aspects to them. As for accessories I love the Anya Hindmarsh Satchel style bags with neon shoulder straps too.

There’s a lot to look forwards to, but spring and summer 2013 seems like an age away! What about
over the coming months? Here are some of the top trends to help you look hot on those cooler
days!

Houndstooth/Checks and Tartan

This is a huge trend over the coming months; we are seeing a lot of tartan and check patterns. You
don’t have to be part of a highland clan to rock that tartan on your six inch stilettoes! Houndstooth
is also going to be huge this season and not just on coats. Think oversized and asymmetric black and

white patterns on dresses as well as accessories; mix this up with your tartan rara skirts or fitted
jeans.


Wedge heels and Flatforms

The last time we saw flatforms was back in the 1990’s when the Spice Girls rocked those towering
platform trainers. Without a heel they were named the ‘Flatform’. Over the summer we saw some
absolutely gorgeous summer shoes, the trend is still going strong well into the autumn. Don’t go
throwing those peeptoe or sandal flatform to the back of the wardrobe just yet. Instead try wearing them with some patterned woolly tights? Add some legwarmers around the ankles for added warmth and a quirky style.


Peplums

Once a reserve of those wanting to relive those Joan Collins Dallas days; we saw the peplum backwith a vengeance over the summer. On those bright colour block and floral dresses during the summer months. The shorter skirt over the longer skirt style is very in and does amazing things to any girl’s waist regardless of size and shape. Perfect for those ‘straight up and straight down’ figures adding shape while also great on those curvier girls.

Motifs: This is another very popular trend this season; we have seen everything from cats to oddly
moustaches! It’s anything goes when it comes to motifs. Some may consider animals on clothing
to be childish and a little eccentric maybe, but wildlife motifs are everywhere this season. Foxes, owls and rabbits can be seen on sweaters and scarves as well as accessories! Call it revisiting ourchildhoods but we love them! Why not sport an animal motif that’s most like you? Are you as cunning as a fox? As wise as an owl or fluffy like a cute little bunny? Take your pick of this season’s animal motifs!

By Hema

Ripping it bare

Whether you wax, lazer, trim, use burning cream, or shave: most females reading this, remove your pubic hair at least twice a year, if not twice a week. There are so many different ways to exterminate or cultivate all those hairs piercing your smooth skin, but today let us ask why we spend so much time, money and effort doing this? (And on that note, why arm hair? Why leg hair?)

“Body hair is ugly” says little miss normalised. “If you’re going to share, it ought to be bare,” says little miss conventional. But during this article, gag the little misses with scarves made of your own discarded pubic hair, because the removal of hair can be a so very painful and expensive process, we need to examine our reasoning. Indeed, feeling on occasion like paid-for-torture, just so you can be a ‘normal woman’, the wax process, for anyone not familiar goes like this: a woman in a lab coat towers over you, dripping hot (but pink!) wax onto your skin, and as she rips the thick wax from your shuddering body, you cry out from the hideous pain and she cackles. That’s why the lazer, for over a hundred a go, is so popular. Wax is torture, lazer is expensive, shaving and epilating does your skin no good, and cream isn’t precise. It is uncomfortable and expensive and yet we consider it almost a necessity to our lives.

Do all cultures make the same cut? And what is the history of the hairless? Well, there is evidence for it in ancient Indian and Egyptian cultures, especially amongst the upper echelons of society. There are moments of women taking a stand against the excessive hair removal in history too, the habit falling out of fashion after Catherine de Medici, then queen of France, forbade her ladies in waiting to remove their hair any longer from one of the most sensitive places on their body. But the history of waxing, like the history of menstruating is an obscure one, the female body, unless she was a prostitute, was a private body.

Catilin Moran argues that our obsession with making our bodies resemble a pre-puberty time is a pornographic aesthetic. In pornography, they keep it clear so you can see the genitals better, and it has now become a fashionable trend. I would add to this that until the 20^th century, the majority of classical western painters seemed to conveniently miss the pubic hair upon their nude women for perhaps a similar reason? While literature never seemed to explicitly mention women’s body hair, not in Shakespeare and certainly no Jane Austen character went off for a wax.

Indeed, it’s as if female body hair and the everyday women removing it, just never quite existed until recently. Although from the way bikinis and lingerie is cut, it seems the existence of pubic hair doesn’t factor in their designs at all. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if these companies were in cahoots with the waxing industry, shaking hands over secret deals to make tiny underwear that only looks good if you’re barely there.

There is history behind the idea that hair on the body, signifies an unkempt disinterest in basic bodily grooming like an unattractive heathen, even your own underwear is against you!

This has reminded me of the time I confessed myself a feminist to my thirteen year old classmates. ‘That means you have hairy armpits!’ was the intelligent conclusion they taunted me with that break time. I should have replied “Yeah, so what?” defiantly. But I let them instill a sense of shame in me so that I could fall in line with their hairy politics. Didn’t we all? Hair ultimately symbolises subversive contempt for the public ideal of beauty, showing there is someone who does not let the needed approval of others govern her own body. Like the fall of paradise, we became aware not of our nakedness, but of our hair that needed to be governed.

We will carry this playground shame and continue our efforts until someone makes body hair seem beautiful. But meanwhile I’m asking for baby steps. Do you need to rip it all off? And so often? Can you ever feel comfortable with the fact that there is hair growing on your body? This is my parting gift to you.

By Rosalind Kendal

The Ethics of Fur

Six months ago I asked three students what they knew about ethical fashion.

‘umm,’ they replied, ‘it’s like not using fur isn’t it.’

‘Is that important to you?’ I asked.

‘Yeah, I guess.’

‘How about making sure your clothes aren’t made by slave labour?’ I asked, good naturedly.

And the students were silent. Awkward.

Ultimately, the woman who began PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, is a clever marketing guru as well as an ethically minded individual, who has managed to pull a lot of stunts to get the attention of the press, the worldwide community and students. People really do remember and often adhere to her cause, fur is not as fashionable as it used to be. We probably need someone like her in the ethical fashion community, pulling high profile political stunts directed at the labour behind the label and sustainable materials. For although PETA is impressive, I believe that the no fur campaign has over shadowed the general ethical fashion campaign somewhat. Do people care more about animals than they care about people in poverty when they list no-fur as the main ethical choice in their purchases? And what is the real problem with fur in the first place, especially when it is second hand?

The truth about fur is (unless you’re a vegetarian who does not wear leather) in principle using fur from animals you already eat, is theoretically not a bad thing. It’s actually waste efficient. Of course there are farms that breed animals just for their fur, which can seem cruel, places that treat animals badly which is horrible. But just like the choice between buying a free-range chicken or a battery-farmed chicken, can we make a similar choice when buying fur? Is there a way to buy fur ethically?

There is a website called furisgreen.com which argues “For many trappers and aboriginal communities living far from urban centers, beaver and other wild animals are part of their everyday diet. Whatever they don’t eat is returned to the forest to feed other wildlife. Nothing is wasted.” Which all sounds like a rather lovely eco cycle, if it does indeed take place amongst the fur-coat gathers of the Canadian hemisphere. In any case there must be a way to establish more transparency in the fur industry, so that just like free-range chickens, there can be the option of free-range fur. Just as we must try to establish more transparency in retail generally, fur needs to fall in line.

I spoke with a very good friend of mine (Maxine) who always has a more considered stance than most, about what she thought of fur and buying ethically. She takes a more anti-fur stance, yet does not necessarily have the labour behind the label as a high concern when she is shopping, as many people do not, yet. She offers this:

“I think the problem is that the fur campaign was ultimately far easier to push onto people, because the people it targeted are a smaller group and because it's a luxury item people can live without. A person's basic wardrobe is a necessity. As is their child's school uniform. So the pressure consumers can place on the brand/product isn't the same as there's no affordable alternative. If, however, an affordable alternative did exist, then maybe people could be more choosy about where they shopped. Even something as simple as organising charity shop stock so that it was organised by size could help.”

Luckily House of Beth offers both an organized way of ethical shopping, offering only quality clothes at affordable prices, so an alternative now does exist!

As affordable recycling is key to all modern life, I see no problem with second hand fur. In England we are blessed with icy winters, and a second hand fur coat, is a way to keep warm and glamorous all winter long, like Narnia’s winter queen. Besides which I am on a new bridesmaid mission to find the bride a second hand white fur vintage coat to keep her warm in her wedding dress. So far I have checked charity shops, Ebay and I am soon to go Portebello. Wish me luck. (Any retail suggestions are welcome)

By Rosalind Kendal

Recycling Jewellery


If you’re sick of all the clutter, plastic jewels from a pre-adolescent time, it is easy to be flooded with thoughts of sending all that old jewellery into a giant shredder, coming out with a fancy giant Papier Mache sculpture that would give Grayson Perry a run for his money! But if you fancy a spot of recycling that gives your precious bits and pieces a new lease of life, then you’re reading the right blog. 
Sometimes we love our costume jewels too much to throw them away!

Perhaps they hold fantastic memories of people, places or events? Too precious to ever contemplate throwing them away! Well the good news is that you don’t have to. We at House of Beth recommend that you get creative with them instead! Here are just a few ideas on what you can do with your old jewellery (If this old jewellery belongs to someone else we also recommend that you ask them before you begin to create your fabulous new pieces!).

Firstly using a pair of round nosed pliers you can unleash your creative side. Take and join together broken segments of necklaces and chains. Join together using the links already available on the necklaces. If there are none then you can normally pick up some jump rings along with your round nosed pliers from any good jewellery suppliers for next to nothing. Alternatively there is always good ole superglue! Most base metals react well to glue and will allow you to make your statement neck piece, or anything else for that matter: A linked hair piece, set of bracelets or even a long bejewelled belt.


Has your dressiest pair of clip on earrings lost the fastenings on the back? Or butterfly backs lost their ‘butterfly’? Unfortunately this is all too common an occurrence. But never fear this is by no means the end- why not try gluing one of the little sparklers to a rubber band or even with some ribbon to an alice band for a DIY headpiece. Check out our ethical head pieces for some inspiration.


With lots of vampire and werewolf related movies on the silver screens at the moment- you may be feeling like donning some dramatic gothic jewellery in homage to some old-school Victorian chic. Take one of your old earrings, glue them to a safety pin, add some black lacy ribbon and hey presto you have yourself your very own Victorian style brooch!


Combine several of your odd earrings and create a bold statement earring or whatever else inspires you. Think mobile charms, key chains or pendants!


Got lots of pretty beads but not sure what to do with them? Although the obvious answer would be to string them together and drape them around your neck or waist why not give them to our fabulous jewellery designer Justine Silverstone, who will custom make you the most beautiful head piece or necklace you have ever worn, on behalf of House of Beth.

By Hema

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.

Sappho

“Violet-haired, pure, honey-smiling Sappho”

She was about sex, love, poetry. Smart as hell, and sassy to boot. An enigma who’s given us access to her deepest thoughts. A woman about whom we know nothing of use, and everything of importance. Doesn’t she sound a little like your best friend?

Sappho was born on the Island of Lesbos in the early-7^th century BC. She wrote poetry. And that’s about all we know of her. A violet-haired mystery. But through her poems, she’s left us keys to the innermost rooms of her heart.

I have not had one word from her

Frankly I wish I were dead
When she left, she wept

a great deal; she said to me, "This parting must be
endured, Sappho. I go unwillingly."

I said, "Go, and be happy
but remember (you know 
well) whom you leave shackled by love

"If you forget me, think                                                    
of our gifts to Aphrodite
and all the loveliness that we shared

"all the violet tiaras,
braided rosebuds, dill and
crocus twined around your young neck

"myrrh poured on your head
and on soft mats girls with
all that they most wished for beside them

"while no voices chanted
choruses without ours,
no woodlot bloomed in spring without song..."

--Translated by Mary Barnard

(via http://blog.michelleragoltd.com/butterfly-kisses-and-wishes-on-wings_767/)

Yes, that’s a woman she’s pining for.

 Sure, there have been debates about whether these poems were autobiographical. Sure, same-sex romantic love was more common in Greece than in other historical periods. But let’s be clear about this: Sappho was absolutely subverting norms when she wrote this. Loving women was a brave thing in a world where (even high-status, intelligent) women were ultimately expected to keep house, have children, and behave. Writing well was a brave thing in a patriarchal society where men held political power, and men’s education was most cherished. Writing better than men – well. That was just foolish.

Except somehow, it wasn’t. Through her genius – the beauty, clarity and feeling in her poetry – Sappho gained not just acceptance, but admiration. Plato called her the 10th muse. Students study her work to this day.

Sappho is a muse, but not just for men, not just for poets. House of Beth is basing their next collection on her – strong, sensuous, loving and intelligent – and the spark that she brings to the world through her writing.

Take heed:

That country girl has witched your wishes,
all dressed up in her country clothes
and she hasn't got the sense
to hitch her rags above her ankles.

--Translated by Jim Powell

Have the sense. Make like House of Beth’s Sappho and you’ll never be the country bumpkin! Combine sexy confidence (those cheeky hints of skin) with the heady romance of a floaty dress. Twine flowers through your hair, or beads. Get fierce, brave, and inspired.

After all, we can all use a little extra poetry in our lives.

By Saskia Deerson