What Women Wear

Octavia Hirst

Tavi wear Malene Birger dress

Octavia (Tavi) is the Operations Manager Assistant at the School of Communication Arts; the Chief Charity Researcher at Makerble; the
Founder of Skill Lab http://signup.skillab.co.uk/ and a passionate Social Entrepreneur.
Tavi is a passionate cycler and has a general love all things sporty.  Other true loves include drawing, painting and sculpting.

What do you wear to work?

I am on the casual end of the spectrum which I prefer - Jeans and a t-shirt.  When the mentors come into the school I need to be a little bit more smart though. 

Tavi wears Jennifer Sturrock necklace
pre-loved topshop vest

Is fashion important to you?

Yes and no. When I was younger I didn’t really care.  I am not an avid follower of fashion but now I’m interested in what’s out there to wear and developing my own style. It is not something I prioritise financially but one day! I don’t really follow trends either – I prefer role models to magazine looks.

Tavi wears Sandro t-shirt,  Emesha trousers
& Justine Silverstone necklace

When buying an item of clothing what are your main considerations?

It used to be about how much could I get for my money.
I still buy things that are cheap and convenient but now I make a concerted effort to buy clothes that are going to last. Clothes that will suit me and fit properly so that I don’t have to keep buying new things.
I don’t like constantly throwing things away – it is part of a really wasteful culture. 

Tavi wears vintage lace top 

What is your favourite item of clothing and why?

I have a lot of hand me downs from family members.
I have this interesting and strange dress – it was my Mum’s from the 70s. It’s a tribal looking, dark Maroon, ankle length dress with blocks of patterns and a Kimono style hood. It fits me perfectly but I can’t wear it in any situation because it is just so weird.
I prefer wearing clothes from this era – in so many previous eras we have been restricted by gender or other issues and now we can wear whatever we like.  

I love delicate jewellery. I have lots of lovely family heirloom miniature items, which I put on chains and I love.


Who is the woman you admire most from past or present?

I prefer the word respect but my Grandma. She has lived through complicated and difficult times and she has come out fighting. If I were to choose someone I aspire to be like – My Grandma is a good person to choose.

Walking through recent trends: Love or Hate them?

It is really rather interesting, the way people relate to ‘trends’, either with disinterested contempt, expressing a vague interest or approaching trends the way a conqueror approaches new found land. Love them or be simply bored by their continuous demands on your purse, they are key to the way we all dress. Even by wearing trousers you’re following a post 1940s historical trend. What really is a trend then, you may ask thoughtfully: A general direction in which something is developing or changing, is google’s helpful answer. With that vague definition floating in your minds I am going to outline a few of my favourite and hated trends from the past five years and the present day.

Hated Trends.

The Motel Dress: Hate may be too strong a word for this trend and I didn’t hate the items in the beginning. The problem with this dress, and you will know the dress I am talking about: navy, white or black on a tight top and flowery beneath, is that everyone had it. True, it was flattering, but it was over-done, and became the sign of the un-imaginative easy-to-wear purchase.

Tiny shorts and boob tube with tights: Possibly Lana Del Rey can wear a tiny pair of shorts, with a boob tube, tights, and look interesting. For most, it says either child, or adolescent on a night out. Like the trend above, it is un-imaginative and in addition says One Thing.

Posh dresses with cut-outs: Call me old fashioned, but dresses that resemble pretty ball gowns are cheapened by incisions beneath the bust. I am sure the designer asked, how can we expose more flesh, in a new and irreverent way, and this is how these triangles of flesh on an unexpected part of the body was born. It really does work on a casual ‘let’s hang out on the beach’ dress, but not for sweeping across the red carpet or dance floor. (This point does exclude the open back, ball gowns with an open back look fabulous.)

Cheap lace dresses: I am partial to bit of lovely lace, but more vintage looking than the recent high street lace dresses that have flooded the low-end high street. Cheap lace attached to some polyester, with a bad design, does look cheap. Lace should say an old-school kind of luxury, something even a bit gothic. The way lace interacts with material is important – and can go easily wrong. If you love lace and can’t afford the high-end side, try vintage as an alternative.

Favourite Trends.

 The collar (with a necklace underneath): This is a recent trend that at first I wasn’t too sure about. However my colleague Talia introduced me to wearing it, either as a separate accessory with a cashmere jumper, a scoop neck dress, a sheer top, or an over-sized t-shirt. White on white is preferable, and pearls beneath the collar is a fun preppy addition. Why is this one of my favourite trends? It’s a quick way to smarten up any outfit and it looks great. Rita Ora agrees!

Best buy: They were selling beautiful metal and sequin collars at the V&A: Want.

Translucent: This trend may be a bit too done, especially when it comes to translucent shirts, but they are still a great way to look casually sexy, especially if it is good material.

Best Buy: For a more original take on the translucent, try this vintage dress

Thigh high socks: Okay, I know socks are a bit school-girl, which makes what I am about to say sound slightly wrong. But at university, there were no outfits that felt more sexy, than wandering around in a pair of thigh high socks, an over-sized blue man shirt and loose tousled hair. There were variations to this outfit of course, and the truth was that socks were extremely useful when there was student accommodation with no heating and shoes that gave blisters without socks. Though post-university, I have designated thigh highs to a more youthful age, there will always be a place in my heart for them.

Best Buy: M&S, great staples.

Long oversized shirt with leggings or shorts: It is seriously comfortable, perfect for hangovers, studying and for chilled out excursions. An acceptable form of pajamas; may this trend stay forever.

Best Buy: Fun over-sized shirts.

Head bows, head-pieces, feathers and flowers: Wearing scarves tied up into a bow- the head bow trend, particularly suits girls with short hair, it is fabulous 1950s chic. It is a trend that has been around for a while, and I still love it. Flowery wreaths are a festival trend must, as are feather crowns. My favourite head piece trend is the golden head-piece, which to me is an acceptable form of a tiara, but a bit more sophisticated. Best Buy: It’s all about the golden headpiece.

Have any trends you particularly hate or love and want to tell us why? Write to us and we can feature you in our next blog!

By Rosalind Kendal

What Women Wear: Cllr. Susette Palmer MA

What Women Wear 

Cllr. Susette Palmer MA

Lesley George skirt  Silky Kaftan and Justine Silverstone necklace

Susette is the Liberal Democrat councillor for the Childs Hill ward on the London Borough of Barnet Council. She teaches knitting classes and studies glass bead making which she puts into practice through her beautiful bead and silver jewellery creations as well as being an occasional lecturer on cruise ships on the subject of Ancient Civilizations. Susette is also the political wife of the Councillor Lord Monroe Palmer, mother of 3 and  grandmother of seven. 

What do you wear to work?

I wear dark trousers and a contrasting jacket usually Pink, Royal Blue or Aubergine to council meetings.  I occasionally take out the Jean Muir suits (which I bought from the closing down sale).

Vintage Blu Charme shirt and Jennifer Sturrock necklace

Is fashion important to you?

Yes – I have an eye for it and you can’t teach knitting without knowing the trends and the colours.  I find black and grey is extremely boring and I enjoy colours and patterns.

Joyce Ridings cardigan and Indian Silk dress

When buying an item of clothing what are your main considerations?

I generally start with “this is what I need to complete my wardrobe” and I end with something I spot in the corner of a shop. I recently went to buy a blue t-shirt and ended up with a red jacket with butterflies (and the blue T shirt!).

What is your favourite item of clothing and why?

My beautifully embroidered Anokhi jacket from Liberty. I bought it probably in 1970 and it was extortionately expensive for me even in the Liberty sale but I am still wearing it today.

Gerard Darel maxi dress and Justine Silverstone necklace

Who is the woman you admire most from past or present?

Eleanor of Aquitaine – very political, very interesting woman who travelled far and achieved much in an era when male dominance was the norm.

Styled and Interviewed by House of Beth

Fifty Shades of Fashion

The World has seen a myriad of colours over the past few weeks; here in the U.K it’s been all about sporting the reds, blues and whites of the Union Jack. But also the metallic shades of Gold, Silver and Bronze. While this has all been rather exhilarating, nothing has wetted our literary appetites more than those fifty shades of grey!

E.L James’s debut novel has made grey one of the hottest colours around. The novel ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ has taken the world by storm being the fastest selling book of all time. It seems that we can’t get enough of the kinky Mr Christian Grey. The movie is in the pipeline and Fifty Shades fanatics are waiting on tenterhooks to see who will play the lead role.

For those of you who have been living on a desert island for the past couple of months, the novel charts the meeting and then subsequent sexual adventures of billionaire business tycoon (and BDSM enthusiast) Christian Grey with the innocent and inexperienced Anastasia Steele. The two begin what at first seems like a professional physical relationship soon developing into something that neither of them expect or know how to deal with. To say that this novel is ‘engaging’ is the understatement of the century!

Are you a fan of the demanding but delicious Mr Grey? Do you want to express your love for all things grey? Well there’s been no better time to do so! Check out the fabulous range of sensual grey clothing and accessories on House of Beth.

For something figure hugging and very sensual on the skin, we love this Elm Dress in a size 8-10. The fancy detailed tie belt is not only figure enhancing but in keeping with some of the themes of the book. Belts are featured heavily in the novel so you will be right on trend with this beautiful dress.

Grey Elm Design Dress UK 8-10 at £45.00

Just who wears the trousers in the relationship between Anastasia and Christian? Why Mr Grey of course! Or so it seems at first. Get in on the action with this fitted straight legged number. Perfect for the office or even when being flown to exotic locations in the personal helicopter of a billionaire play boy! Team these trousers with a fitted blouse that will show off all those curves, playful but professionally discreet at the same time.

Max Mara Grey Trousers UK 16 £55.00

Mr Grey is known to be a little on the serious side and perhaps needs to lighten up. But it just wouldn’t be the same! There is something so attractive about the alpha male that some of us girlies just adore. However this is no reason why you can’t add something a little fun and flirty to your own grey style: Try this fabulous Deci Dela knitted dress with a chiffon style bottom, perfect for those more romantic evenings out!

Deci Dela grey dress UK 12 at £9.99

Love Hema X

Wedding dresses: colours, ethics and will you wear it again?

White wedding dresses under-whelm me. There I have said it. Almost every time I see one, I feel that I have already seen that same style in a guilty pleasure rom-com or a magazine; the ‘wow’ factor is diminished. Even more under-whelming to me is the fact that you wear a dress only one day of your life, and it may be your most expensive clothing purchase as well as your most beautiful. There seems to be a glamorous wastefulness that is encouraged in the ritual of purchasing your beloved bridal gown that exists as a ‘one dress stand’. Although mothers’ may hand down their dresses to their daughters, judging by the amount of bridal shops and magazines, the majority seek a new one out. Renting is a good option, but I still wonder about the labour behind the label of any rented or purchased dress as well as the general politics behind the white corset and flouncey skirt, the bridal livery.

First of all, the white dress: No one even wore white dresses until Queen Victoria, the matriarch of repressive sexuality, made it fashionable. I actually think this colour is what holds people back from wearing their wedding dresses casually to their garden parties. Once it is white, it identifies the woman as a bride, and she is only a bride at her wedding. Therefore the dress becomes a costume slut, only good for one thing, and out of place for everything else (apart from maybe a Halloween corpse bride). Of course you need to look like the centre of everyone’s attention, but I am unconvinced that white is the only way that can distinguish you from the crowd, especially as half of the crowd wore or will wear white too. But it isn’t just a crowd issue, it’s a political issue. White on your wedding day, as everyone knows but doesn’t always care, traditionally means pure virgin land for the groom to plough where none has gone before. If you don’t mind the history of the colour or the idea of spending so much time, money and effort on a dress you aren’t likely to wear again, let’s move on to point two: the labour behind the label.

This year I am going to be a bridesmaid for my housemate from university’s wedding. Her name is Katy and we have always had good-natured debates, agreeing more often than not. For a fresh approach, I took her to an Indian & ethical bridal wear shop, just to try on a couple of dresses that were a bit unconventional for a Greek Cypriote. These dresses were fabulous and the shop inspired her to start thinking about making her own dress. Alas, as a busy PHD student finding a cure for asthma, with a wedding only a few months away, this romantic idea seemed more of an idea than a reality. I asked her a few questions about finding an ethical wedding dress for her special day, whether white was an important colour and would she want a dress she could wear again.

So, Katy! Was buying an ethical wedding dress important at all to you?

Yes it is important to me. My yaya (grandma) took me to Organics to buy my wedding dress, and the dresses are made on site!

Did you want a white wedding dress?

Yes, I like the tradition of it!

Even though the tradition is a virgin being ploughed by a groom?

Well, the thing is, it’s more than that. Maybe that is how it started, but it’s now a symbol of being married.

But your dress is Ivory. Ivory isn’t quite white?

Ivory is just a more flattering version of white. Whether it’s got virgin connotations or whatever, it doesn’t really matter. It’s like looking outside and seeing the pretty snow on the grass. I really like the idea of wearing a white dress and I think it suits me as well! And it’s very Greek.

Do you think you may ever wear your dress casually to a garden party or the opera? Can you get away with it, or is it definitely a wedding dress?

No, it’s definitely a wedding dress. I think I might put it on, on anniversaries. I definitely wouldn’t sell it. Some people sell their wedding dresses but I would keep mine. I think it is a sentimental thing more than anything, like keeping your birthday cards. I know it’s expensive, but…. I think getting married is essentially special, and actually the dress is it’s own party. And back in the day the villagers used to kill the calf that was a year’s worth of wages. It’s traditional to make an effort!

Thanks Katy!

So whether you decide to wear white or another equally exciting colour, I think it’s important to make sure that your dress, which is worthy of a party in itself, is an ethical purchase, like my good friend Katy has done. Here are a couple of ethical wedding dress retailers House of Beth recommends:

1. http://www.tammam.co.uk/

2. http://www.wholly-jo.co.uk/

By Rosalind Kendal

Size fetish
Over the last few months I have worked with many women of all shapes and sizes, photographing their bodies in an assortment of designer and high street clothes. In the course of these styling sessions, I have learnt a secret so obvious, and yet never publicly acknowledged. I have also come across a key body myth that ought to be dispelled, post-Olympics.

Women rely on their sizes like an intense mantra, they must try to lose that weight to be a size 12 or 10. But I have seen a size 8 not fit into a Karen Millen size 10. I’ve also seen a size 10 find that size 10 is too big for her in Monsoon, and a size 12 fit perfectly into a Topshop size 10.

The size you think you are, that makes you feel so awful or so good, is just not true.

The truth, really is, all sizes are arbitrary, all sizes are made up, all sizes are rules that don’t really work.

You may have suspected this, but size, which we hold so much in store by, are only the roughest of guidelines. A hundred years ago we made our own clothes (or a tailor for the wealthier among us). This is no longer a viable option for the working woman’s wardrobe (although sewing the odd piece here and there is pretty fun). We now standardized size, but until all retailers have a huge conference where they decide on inches, waists, body shapes and re-adjust their clothes accordingly then you will never be ‘a size’. Most women, if they tell me they’re a size 10 for example, can usually fit beautifully into a loose size 8 dress and a tailored size 12 or 14 jacket.  

Women must understand that size is a rough guide and not something that ought to define their identity. The body myth I wish to shed some light on is Female Arm Anxiety. You may have noticed, or you may have not, that when most women have their photograph taken, they put their arm on their hip to try to make it appear as slim as possible. I am a culprit for this kind of slim seeking behavior myself and if you check out Facebook, you will see the majority of girls’ consciously or subconsciously follow this trend. Accordingly the skinny arm is a sure symbol of a ‘healthy’ life style, of an attractive girl who is control of her eating habits. Unfortunately, in reality, the skinny arm, the truly skinny arm, is not a so-called sign of health as magazines would have us believe, but an indication of genes or fasting. Models with arms as thin as a pin are not the symbol of health. If you want to see a healthy female arm just look at the Olympic athletes. Surely the most ‘healthy’ women in the world have just competed in the Olympics, and none of them, I have checked, has thin as a pin arms. Some arms really aren’t very muscular looking either, more Titan limb than model pin. 

We need to ask ourselves, who is more healthy an Olympic athlete or a size 0 model?

We need to know, women have arms and don’t belong to a size.

 VS. 

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

Can't get enough of denim!


There’s no denying it, the love affair with denim is never going to quite diminish. This extends to whether it’s a highly priced pair of jeans or something you picked up from a second-hand store. The more pre-loved the better in so many cases. It’s one of the most versatile fabrics, originally used for ‘worker’ clothing. The hard wearing durability of denim was prized above style, but this fabric soon evolved to become a highly stylised item. It’s just so surprisingly figure flattering, sensual even - it wasn’t long before the fashion industry sat up and paid attention. 

The major appeal is that anyone can wear it; from teenager to pensioner. It was a massive hit with youth throughout the 70’s and 80’s, the statement of rebellion. Blondie’s Debbie Harry rocked the fitted and oh-so-feminine denim look along with the likes of The Rolling Stones and Queen.
While always being on trend, denim has evolved and dare I say it ‘grown up’ a little from those heady days of the neon and pastel hued eighties. Every season seems to have a different take on denim style whether it is Combat Jeans or Flairs, or the return of the denim jacket. But how is it done this season? 

Layering it: This is a very cool way of wearing your denim this season; why not try wearing that short jeans jacket with a florals or a striped shirt and barely-there vest top? Roll up the sleeves to reveal the details of your shirt. Think ‘Preppy’ and you will make an inspired summer statement.


Mix it: Denim is arguably one of the few fabrics that can be teamed with practically any other pattern, go ahead and be as experimental as you like with it. Try your hand at adding an Aztec or ethnic style pattern to your denim outfit. It’s all about the tribal print this autumn so be ahead of the trend.

D.I.Y Denim: Feel free to mess about with your denim, rip it up, tie or dip dye it, there are no hard and fast rules to doing it alone. Denim is a touch fabric so can endure a multitude of sins should you so wish to give that worn pair of jeans a new lease of life.

Wear it oversized: Have that favourite piece of denim clothing that just doesn’t fit anymore? Perhaps you have lost a ton of weight on that diet but still adore your denim summer coat. Not ready to part with it just yet? There’s no reason why you should completely give up on wearing it, oversized demin is the rock & roll alternative to leather for the summer.

By Hema