Category Archives: Fashion

Biba and Beyond: Barbara Hulanicki

28 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by in Brighton Journalist Works, Fashion, Lifestyle

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When I received a Biba purse for my birthday, I knew nothing about the brand and was confused as to why something sounding like ‘Bieber’ was so classy.

I recently visited the ‘Biba and Beyond’ exhibition at Brighton Museum where I was immersed in the world of the highly successful woman behind the brand.

Barbara Hulanicki’s iconic Biba store and label was a symbol of swinging 60s high street fashion, known for being stylish yet inexpensive. Half a century on and the brand is still thriving after its relaunch by House of Fraiser in 2009.

With walls adorned with original sketches, photos, and quotes from Barbara and those close to her, the exhibition took me on a vibrant and inspirational journey through her exciting career.

Polish-born Barbara Hulanicki spent her early life in Brighton and studied fashion illustration at Brighton Art College in the 50s.

At just 18 years old, Barbara won a prestigious fashion design competition in the Evening Standard, allowing her to see her design made up by a top couturier.

This pivotal achievement propelled her into her position as a fashion illustrator in London contributing to The Times and Vogue.

Together Hulanicki and her husband Stephan Fitz-Simon set up Biba’s postal boutique which had its first triumph in 1964 when they advertised a pink gingham dress in the Daily Mirror and received 17,000 orders.

Within 10 years they transformed the label from a tiny boutique to a seven-storey department store. I was instantly reminded of the Abercrombie & Fitch store when learning about ‘Big Biba’.

The clothes were simple, aimed at the young and suited slender frames, whilst the the stores had dark interiors and loud, thumping music. The only difference was that you didn’t need to shift too many pennies to purchase Biba!

Hulanicki recently returned to fashion design by creating capsule collections for Topshop, with the likes of Fearne Cotton and Alexa Chung sporting her unique designs.

Hulanicki’s career came full circle when she signed with George at Asda to produce affordable fashion once again.

The exhibition also explores Barbara’s current interior design business, designing hotels in Jamaica and the Bahamas, as well as art nouveau style wallpaper for Habitat and Graham & Brown.

It was a truly interactive exhibition with Biba outfits to try on, Biba dolls to dress up and you could even have a go at sketching your own Biba designs.

If you’re a fashion lover this exhibition is a must-see. Biba and Beyond: Barbara Hulanicki is on at the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery until April 14 2013.

Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair

05 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by in 'The Badger' articles, Arts, Fashion

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With student loans now safely in the bank, students are rushing to the high street to fritter away their cash on a brand new wardrobe, only to find four other course mates wearing the same outfit the next day. To avoid this awkward fashion faux pas, why not check out Brighton’s vast vintage scene?

Vintage fashion is constantly influencing mainstream brands, with imitations of old styles becoming increasingly popular. With renewable fashion being so attainable, why not pick up the genuine article for a similar price?

There are many boutiques specialising in one of a kind pieces dotted around the city, but one event brings all of the top dealers from around the country together. Frock Me! is the hottest London event for vintage fashionistas, which took up residence in Chelsea in 2004. The man behind it all, Matthew Adams, who has been selling all things vintage since 1979, now also hosts a number of fairs in Brighton.

We went along to the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange this month to see what this retro fashion craze was all about. A maze of vintage delights, showcased by a number of boutiques and online retailers, left us spoilt for choice, and we quickly began to rummage through the rails. From antique jewellery to vintage Dior there was something from every era to suit any budget.

Many things took our fancy, but when we stumbled upon a stunning 80’s fishtail frock in cobalt blue, we immediately fell in love. We rushed to try on the dress, from Snaffle Vintage online boutique, and were astonished to find that it fit both of us perfectly. We were equally impressed by the reasonable price, and as we were both so attached to it, we decided to share it and split the cost in true student style.

Whether you’re looking for a whole new outfit or just wanting to spice up an old cardigan with a unique accessory, the next ‘Frock Me!’ event should be a date in the diary. Don’t worry if you missed it this time, ‘Frock Me!’ will be returning to Brighton on November 6, or if you can’t wait that long, head up to Chelsea Town Hall this Sunday for some retro retail therapy.

For further details visit the website at: http://www.frockmevintagefashion.com

University Outfitters?

11 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by in 'The Badger' articles, Fashion, Lifestyle

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Although I live in a city as vibrant and diverse as Brighton, where individuality is embraced, there is still a feeling that we students are targeted and influenced to dress a certain way. Where else to start than with a brand that suggests a change of season is as an excuse to bring out another catalogue (or ‘handbook’) and that we should buy a whole new wardrobe because it’s Spring Term 2011. That’s right, yuppy-tastic Jack Wills. We can spot their logo tees and slogan hoodies a mile off, but is this ‘fabulously British’ brand really worth the money?

Us university folk seem to have similar opinions of the brand. Most of the people I asked said that it is over-priced, and for preppy wannabes. It is ironic that a company selling high-priced clothing target British university students, when we have the least money to splurge! It does seem like a waste if you’re only buying it to try and fit into the idealised Jack Wills student lifestyle. This is just emphasised by the fact that younger people who don’t even go to uni are stamping WILLS across their chests!

And the photography in the handbooks is atrocious! Scantily clad girls, frolicking in underwear and scenes of sexual embraces. This would be okay if it they were just trying to emulate ‘typical’ students. Programmes such as ‘Skins’ do it all the time. But the fact is that Jack Wills don’t realise they also have a younger and more impressionable audience who will copy the clothes, and the ideology that comes with it.

Even when asked if money wasn’t an issue, people said they still wouldn’t shop at Jack Wills, because of the negative connotation of seeming like a pretentious clone. This aversion to the brand just proves the power of the stereotype. We students much prefer to invent our own style, with a combination of high street and vintage clothes.

In Jack Wills’ defence, the clothes are of a very high quality and are well worth investing in if, for example, you want a hard-wearing shirt. Also, their cardis, jackets and jeans are more discreet if you’re worried about seeming showy! It all depends on how you choose to spend your precious loan. To be fair, similar looks can be pulled off elsewhere for half the price. Maybe that’s the way to go, if it’s just going to be out of fashion next season!

 

(This is the first article I had published for the student newspaper on 21/02/11)