Tag Archives: Cool Britannia

Remembering British Fashion

It’s that time of year when the days become shorter, the chill in the air begins to bite, pumpkins are carved, fireworks brighten up the night sky and we Brits buy and wear Poppies to remember and honour the service men and women who have fought for our green little island.

During the Remembrance Sunday service and parade, World War I and II veterans stand proud in beautifully presented suits displaying their array of medals. Despite the hardships faced in the 1940’s, men always appeared smart and respectful while women, classy and glamorous.

Fashion is dictated by social trends and the economy in the 1940’s was certainly no exception. With worldwide suffering, poverty and hardship, fashion had to be approached in a different way. Fabrics were rationed in order to supply the men on the frontline with uniforms and blankets. Official material restrictions were put in place meaning hem lines became shorter and skirts became more fitted to save fabric. In contrast to the 20’s and 30’s where women hid beneath lose fitting flapper girl dresses and full clave length skirts, those womanly curves had no choice but to be on display.

British Fashion 1940's       British Fashion 1940's

With the majority of men enlisted in the army, women took to the factories to produce weaponry, artillery and aircrafts. Women began to wear jeans and, because trips to the hairdressers were an unnecessary luxury, women began to tie their long hair back or up in a turban for safety. Service women had to wear their hair above their collar while on duty and would also add victory curls to create a more feminine look.

British Fashion 1940's

1940’s make up was all about the natural look with dark eyelashes, a little eyeliner on the top lid, long eyebrows and striking red lips. Make up was so important because it was one of the only ways working factory women could reclaim their femininity.

British Fashion 1940's   British Fashion 1940's

With women taking on a more masculine role in society, shoulder pads became fashionable and proved striking when paired against the figure hugging skirts.

British Fashion 1940's   British Fashion 1940's

The material restrictions and need for practically meant that women also started to wear shorts.

British Fashion 1940's

With the end of the war and rationing Christian Dior brought out his New Look in 1947. This was an outrageous contrast to the short hem and figure hugging silhouette of the war. This New Look was full bodied and long, using loads of material which many women still could not afford. This radical New Look paved the way for the rebellious fashion of the 1950’s.

Fashion 1950's  Fashion 1950's

To get the perfect 1940’s look you need to think- pencil skirts, peplums, red lipstick, victory rolls and anything high waisted topped off with the November’s most important accessory – a red poppy with all donations going to the British Legion.

London Fashion Week AW 2013

“I think British style is the best in world. It’s a bit naughty, doesn’t take itself too seriously and I love that.”

If British fashion icon Twiggy thinks so then who are we to argue?

I have decided to keep this simple and let the images do the talking. I have picked my ultimate favourite bits from London Fashion Week  A/W 2013 from the fabulous to the weird and wacky.

Paul Smith’s bold design’s with a masculine twist is perfect daywear which will literally make you stand out from the crowd.

When I saw Marios Schwab’s collection I couldn’t help but think of an elegant yet powerful Maid Marion rescuing Robin Hood from the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Dominic Jones’ gothic inspired jewellery.

I was completely lured into Sophia Webster’s collection like Hansel and Gretel to the witches Candy House.

Now for the bizarre and the baa.

A loo roll, foil baking trays, sellotape and corner shop carrier bags. Louise Gray is taking recycling to another level.

Peplum Perfection

By Leyla Keskin

Anyone who knows me will know that I am obsessed with any and everything 1940’s.  Women during this time seemed to look effortlessly classy and glamorous despite the difficulties of living in wartime Britain (or anywhere else for that matter).

Advert in Vogue circa 1947

 

My obsession started when, as a little girl, I realised that my Grandparents where alive during the war. I would ask them all sorts of questions about their experiences and loved hearing everything they could share with me, from how my Grandfather helped his Grandfather build their air raid shelter to how my Grandmother would watch her Mother draw a line on her calves instead of wearing stockings. My Grandmother would and still does tell me stories about her childhood and she always seems to remember exactly what she was wearing. She describes her outfits in great detail, creating a vivid image in my head and always ends her description with ‘Oh, I thought it was marvellous’.

Given my obsession with 40’s fashion you can understand how pleased I was when celebrities started posing on the red carpet wearing PEPLUMS!!!

The 40’s were all about curves. Clothes were made for women with curves or to create the illusion of the perfect hourglass and the gathered, flared material around the waist of a peplum does exactly this.

So you know what a peplum is but how do you wear it? I read somewhere that because the peplum is already a statement piece then you should not colour clash or team it with any patterns! Rubbish! As far as I am concerned there are no rules when it comes to colour or patterns.

One thing you do need to remember when rocking a peplum is that it is designed to show off those womanly curves. If you are wearing a peplum top then team it with a pencil skirt or a pair of skinny jeans to avoid it looking too fussy and loosing that hourglass shape. When wearing a peplum skirt you can team it with a strapless bodycon top for a glam evening look or dress it down with a jersey top for a daytime look. As with any look, remember to have fun and experiment – the peplum is both quirky and glam, vintage and modern and can be worn day or night.

I asked my grandmother the other day whether she ever wore peplums as a young girl, partly hoping she still had one or two pieces stashed away in her wardrobe.

‘A what?’

‘A peplum, nana’

‘You’ll have to show me what a pep….peplum is’.

I ran up to the small bedroom I stay in when visiting my grandparents and grabbed my purple peplum top.

‘Oh, a frill! I had a coat with a frill going around my waist as a girl. Oh, I thought it was marvellous’.

The Union Jack in Fashion

By Leyla Keskin

The Union Jack – a glorious symbol of the harmonious unity between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales or the ever present reminder that the English invaded, killed, conquered and controlled the surrounding territories?

In the United States the people treat their flag with pride and respect. Teenagers stand to the sing the national anthem at their graduation while gazing at the flag in awe and the elderly dutifully wake at the crack of dawn to rise the flag in their front garden. Across the pond, in the United Kingdom, we are told that displaying the cross of St. George in our windows during the Football World Cup is racist. The Union Jack has been used in the UK by racist right wing groups and a symbol of their white supremacist ideals.

To celebrate 10 years of sponsoring emerging designers at London Fashion Week earlier this year, Topshop invited their NEWGEN alumni back to design a capsule T-shirt collection.

When the Royal Wedding was announced  the British public became fascinated with romantic notion of a average middle class girl meeting a prince, marrying and living happily ever after as his beautiful queen. In the weeks leading up to the wedding we saw an increase in royal wedding merchandise alongside the novelty Union Jack flag.

Alas, the day of the Royal Wedding arrives. No one could avoid the scenes outside Buckingham Palace. It was a sea of Union Jacks being waved by happy, excited faces from all walks of life.

On this day British people were ‘allowed’ to wave the Union Jack with pride! Suddenly it was alright to say ‘I’m British and proud’.

These scenes outside Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and the up and coming London Olympics has had an influence on the high street. From Accessorize to Zara, who have Union Jacks printed on T shirts, earrings and necklaces to Topshop who have taken a more subtle approach with Tees inspired by British Culture.

This look can be a difficult look to carry off. I have to admit it is something I have avoided. I tried on a chiffon Union Jack tee from Zara and I felt like a hardcore Athletics fan at the Olympics Games. All that was missing was a Union Jack painted on my face and a banner reading: Britain for Gold!!!

The trick is to start off with subtle little touches. Accessorize have cute necklaces with iconic British charms like a Double Decker red bus and Big Ben. Nail art is always a good place to start. If you don’t want to paint the union jack on each of your finger nails you could embrace the different colour on each finger look using red, white and blue.

If you’re bold enough to skip the subtle touches be sure not to go Union Jack overload. This chiffon Union Jack tee from Zara (below) would look great with a pair of black skinny jeans and a leather or denim jacket. Always keep the rest of your outfit simple to avoid looking too messy. The Union Jack deserves everyone’s full attention.

Whatever look you go for be sure to rock it with pride. Chin up, cuppa tea in hand and a stiff upper and don’t forget that dry sense of humour. We can finally say we are British and proud!

Fashion Interiors Wishlist – April 2012

  • There are a few different Alexander McQueen designs available, mostly with skulls on them, but this Hummingbird cushion by The Rug Company is our favourite – POA, from The Rug Company.
  • The Oxygene lamp from Armani Casa will fit into a variety of interiors – POA, from Armani Casa, Dubai Mall.
  • So you’ve got a few pieces from House of Holland with a similar design, why not bring the same print into your bedroom? This DVF Spotted Cat bed linen will not only brighten up any interior, but is on trend for 2012 – $250-$350 from DVF or Bloomingdales, Dubai Mall.
  • As always, we can’t resist a bit of Vivienne Westwood, and the VW Flag Rug, Mouth and Scribble Orb cushions are no exception. Add these pieces to a bland interior to infuse a bit of Cool Britannia punk – POA, from The Rug Company.
  • Fine bone china from Paul Smith by Thomas Goode – the collection includes a coffee jug, tea pot, and breakfast cup and saucer – perfect for an afternoon tea (or coffee) – collection prices start at $62, Coffee Jug $500, from Paul Smith.