Pretty Eccentric Magazine #1

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ECCENTRIC ISSUE 1

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

wants you to “GET A LIFE!” BRIGHTON’S VINTAGE HOTSPOTS

HERSTORY:

The unstoppable force of Artemisia Gentileschi

Valentine’S ISSue

We get you ready for the most romantic night of the year

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Pretty This Issue

ECCENTRIC Issue No1 19

Welcome to our first ever issue of Pretty Eccentric Magazine!

Pretty Eccentric Magazine is full of fabulous fashion, fearless females and our tips and guides to help you have fun.

This issue we’re taking the stress out of Valentine’s day to help you feel your best and celebrating women pioneers from today and yesteryear.

We aim to celebrate women, salute individuality and above all else, be beautiful.

FEATURES

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9 VIV-A LE REVOLUTION

Vivienne Westwood, Fashion’s great Dame has no time for bystanders as she declares war on climate change

11 HERSTORY:

A look at the harrowing life and immutable talents of Artemesia Gentileschi

FASHION 3 THE AGE OF REBELLION

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An homage to the 20th Century’s original rebels, the flirtatious, fearless, flappers

15 ONCE UPON A TIME

Sumptuous silk velvet, ravishing reds and envious greens. We present the dress to break a thousand hearts

19 THE COLOUR OF LOVE We take the stress out of dressing to impress with our round up of valentine’s inspired accessories

21 THE BEST OF BRIGHTON

A round up of the best vintage shops in England’s coolest city

Pretty Eccentric is brought to you by: Michelle Scott fashion Director, styling and photography Caroline Lewis Editor, journalist and Art director

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editor’s letter

W

elcome to the February (and pilot) issue of Pretty Eccentric Magazine! It’s been a long old road getting here and the festive season has kept us pretty busy but it’s finally here! Down here on the south coast the driving rain and bitter cold have settled in and everything is looking grey and miserable. But one good thing about this time of year is the trasitional spring wardrobe and the flexibility to play around with layering and textures. And thankfully for me velvet is back! I’ve always been a big fan of velvet and thankfully it’s had a major revival in the last few years.

Not only is it sumptuous and seductive but it’s practical and will keep you cosy and warm without having to compromise your look! I’m currently addicted to my Aurora dress which I designed for Pretty Eccentric. Made from

decadent silk velvet, the deep red wine colour walks a fine line between frivolously cute and fatally feminine making it the perfect go to dress to see me through the long dark nights. It has wide sleeves which are perfect for layering over a polo neck when I want a more casual, look to curl up by the fire.

Velvet can be a daunting fabric and isn’t for the faint hearted. If you’re a velvet virgin and the idea of all that texture terrifies you but you want to stay on trend then chokers are a must have this winter and are the perfect accessory for most necklines.

Black and red velvet chokers add a seductive and luxurious touch and are a really feminine finish to any outfit!

I hope you enjoy this issue of Pretty Eccentric. I’ve put a lot of hard work into getting it out to you and hope it brightens up a dreary evening!

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THE AGE OF

R E B E L LI O N The 20th Century’s original rebels, the Flappers challenged the notion of femininity and redefined womanhood. The flapper girl drank, smoked, danced, cut her hair, embraced her sexuality and voted. Shirking off restricting corsets, ankle skimming hemlines and long hair for drop waists to allow them to indulge in dancing and sports, the flappers pioneered new fashion trends.

Inject your wardrobe with a little rebellion and pay homage to the trail-blazing flappers of the roaring, fun-loving twenties!

Pretty Eccentric

Photo: Michelle Scott Photography

Gatsby flapper dress, £169, Elegant deco earrings, £39; Pretty Eccentric Hat, photographer’s own

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Photo: Michelle Scott Photography

Ida flapper dress, £99, Gatsby headband, £29; Pretty Eccentric Vintage crystal earrings, £49, Rose Locket, £59; Michal Negrin

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Photo: Michelle Scott Photography

Brooks flapper dress, ÂŁ189, Ostrich feather bolero in teal, ÂŁ95; Pretty Eccentric

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!e Green Light

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“With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change.” Breathe fresh life into a grey dress with on-trend teals and greens which will stand out of the crowd. Pair with deconstructed plaits and superbly spring metallic nails for a look that would rival Miss Buchanon herself.

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Beautiful Li"le Fool

1 Gatsby maxi flapper fress in grey £189. 2 Ostrich feather bolero in teal £95. 3 Crescent moon hairclip and brooch £29. 4 Wave diamante clutch £39. 5 Geometric emerald earrings £19. 6 Grace satin heel in green £89.

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Pastels and spring go hand in hand and this year chalky blue is the shade of choice. Adorn with dainty ivory accesories to bring out the best of this icy hue. Add some edge with bold, electric blue eyeshadow and an uber glossy fuschia lip.

1 Large ostrich feather stole in cream £149. 2 Ostrich feather and flower 1920s hairclip £29. 3 Deco flapper dress £189. 4 Mary Frances Victorian handbag £149. 5 Molly garter shoe £89.

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Scarlet Fever

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Red is the colour of confidence. Sexy, bold and playful, a lady in red oozes sex appeal.

Pairing with bold black delivers that knockout punch, creating an outfit that begs to be noticed. Add a punky twist with a bold, smokey eye and a seductive velvet choker.

1 Brooks flapper dress in Black & Red £189. 2 Foxy fur stole in black £49. 3 Large velvet choker with cameo detail £29.

4 Velvet and lace pinup heels in red £89.

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Black Magic

Give the black dress a revival with daring and dramatic silouhettes. Add shoulder skimming earrings to a tight ponytail and a slick flick of eyeliner for an elegant, mysterious edge. Finish with a vermillion lip for a pop of colour that screams femme fatale.

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1 Geometric Clutch, £39. 2 Elegant drop earrings, £29. 3 Hedy Maxi dress £225.

4 Large black feather hairband £49. 5 Esta shoe in black £89.

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VIVA LE REVOLUTION OF

Vivienne

Westwood

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hen attempting to describe Dame Vivienne Westwood, it’s difficult to decide which of her ever changing characters to lead with.

Multimillionaire fashion mogul, mother of punk, national treasure; the woman certainly keeps herself busy and since her rise to punk prominence with her designs created for Malcolm McLaren and immortalised by the Sex Pistols in the 1970s, she has been on a journey of self evolution and in the last few years, at the ripe age of 75 she’s reinventing herself once again.

Forever provocative and never one to shy away from a fight, Vivienne has turned from fashion icon to climate activist.

Seeing fashion now as a vehicle for her activism she has put her business expansion on hold to reconcile her fashion empire with her strong ecological beliefs and her concerns about mass production.

In 2010, Westwood created her ‘Climate Revolution’, a call to act against the status quo and fight for a greener world.

The website has become a collaborative space, combining Westwood’s own diaries and guest articles from celebrity activists and NGO’s.

Born in Derbyshire in 1941, the daughter of a greengrocer, Westwood rose to fame due to her infamous, if not toxic partnership with Sex Pistols manager and fashion boutique owner Malcolm McLaren. Now, as the creator of one of the largest and most famous global fashion labels, she believes it is possible to walk the knife edge between high fashion and political activism.

In a brand new autobiography the designer not only reveals the ins and outs of her star studded life but unveils her unerring, dogged passion for a better world. Spanning the last six years and her inauguration into the world of climate activism, her new autobiography is part diary, part manifesto, part battle cry to her followers.

Entitled “Get a Life”, Westwood explains this is her dictum for her audience. She said, “I call the diaries Get a Life as that’s how I feel: you’ve got to get involved, speak out and take action. My diaries are about the things I care about. Not just fashion but art and writing, human rights, climate change, freedom.”

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Speaking in conversation with Green Party MP Caroline Lucas in November as part of the book’s promotion, Westwood spoke of her distain for societies consumption and consumerism. “Buy fewer clothes,” is hardly the cri de cœur you’d expect from a dame who earned her name from fashion but that is exactly Viv’s message. Speaking at London fashion week in September 2016 she said, “Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity”.

Her own business is now focused on producing quality not quantity and it’s a mantra she wishes others to uphold, “In my view it is worse for someone to come out of a shop with an armful of new T-shirts made in a sweatshop, than it is for a rich lady to buy one beautiful dress…Don’t invest in fashion, but invest in the world.”

But consumerism is just one of Viv’s targets as part of her Climate Revolution. With an army of celebrity followers Vivienne is urging people to think for themselves and to “destroy the credibility of the mainstream media”. She criticises politicians and the media from not reporting the importance of climate change. Based on her readings of James Lovelock, the environmentalist most famous for proposing the Gaia hypothesis, the idea that the Earth functions as a living super-organism, she argues that the human race could be wiped out. “If [temperatures] rise by two degrees they will go on to five and so on in a domino effect. Eventually, if you draw a line at the level of Paris, below that it would be uninhabitable,” warns Westwood.

In an article come manifesto she wrote for the Huffington post last year, Westwood explained

that she aims to be specific in her climate change targets.

“The planet has two lungs, one green and one blue. Saving the oceans and the rainforests are the most effective things we can do”. She is is in collaboration with, Cool Earth, an NGO working with indigenous people to ring-fence the forest to stop loggers and protect the interior. She is also promoting the regeneration of the oceans teaming up with marine wildlife conservation organisation, Sea Shepherd. Founder Paul Watson said, “When I first met Vivienne last year in Paris, I was struck by her genuine passion to make this a better world, and her willingness to jump right into controversy to get involved. I believe that [she] can help us to deliver an important message to millions of people.”

At 75, Vivienne Westwood is a woman on a mission and showing no signs of slowing down. Climate change is something most of us agree on but to make a real difference it will take a collective effort. Eccentric, but adored by the masses, just maybe Viv is the one who can unite us in the fight.

She said, “The Revolution is already begun. The fact of manmade climate change is accepted by most people. Through every walk of life, people are changing their values and their behaviour. This continues to build the Revolution. The fight is no longer between the classes or between rich and poor but between the idiots and the eco-conscious.”

Join the revolution. The Dame has spoken. www.climaterevolution.co.uk February‘

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ARTEMESIA GENTILESHCHI :HERSTORY

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f we consult the history books we may be duped into thinking men are the only ones who matter in history. The tales of heros, monarchs and pioneers are largely reserved for men and would have you doubting that the fairer sex were present at all. If we take a deeper look at history we find countless women who, despite the odds, did incredible things that were not recognised or atributed to men. When maverick maidens are remembered, their pioneering ways are often overshadowed by trivial traits. Nancy Astor, the first female MP and original queen of the clapback was painted as an ugly, annoying old nag by none other than Churchill himself. Empress Maude, fearsome femme, Queen of England, astute politician, but what words adorn her tomb at Rouen Cathedral? “Great by Birth, Greater by Marriage, Greatest in her Offspring: Here lies Matilda, the daughter, wife, and mother of Henry�. A disappointing way to immortalise her legacy.

All in all powerful fearsome femininity has been muted from history and many heroines that have pioneered the way have been lost. We’ve decided we want to herald the lives of women throughout history and around the world who defied stereotypes, broke barriers and shout them from the roof tops. In each issue, will be celebrating the fearless heroines who pioneered the way for us ladies today.

One such rebellious heroine was Artemesia Gentileschi.

In a time when the art world was ruled by rich and pompous men and guilds and academies closed their doors on women, Artemisia girded her loins, defied the odds and became a major Italian baroque painter who only recently has begun to get some of the recognition she deserves. One of the most important painters of the pre-modern period, she armed herself with a paintbrush, transforming the horrors of her early life into beautifully brutal biblical paintings which challenged the traditionally virginal and pious depictions of women in art.

Not only was Artemisia an incredible artist she was an incredible woman who led an extraordinary life in a time when the odds were nothing but stacked against her.

Opposite: Susanna and the Elders, Above: Self Portrait as a Lute Player, Below: Self Portrait as the Allegory of Painting

Born in 1593, Artemisia was the daughter of a prominent artist and friend of Caravaggio, Orazio Gentileschi. Eager to foster her love and talent for the craft Orazio hired art tutor Agostino Tassi to hone his daughter’s skills. In the wild art world of Caravaggio’s Rome, artists were rich, arrogant and, as long as they stayed in the pope’s favour, could do just about anything they pleased. When Artemisia was just 19 Agostino violently and brutally raped her. So little was her worth as a woman that it was only when Agostina refused to ‘do right’ and get hitched to her that her father took umbrage and took him to court.

But Artemisia was a woman of extreme courage in her time and in the ensuing barbaric seven month trial she fought back, testifying against her rapist. In front of a judge, she was subjected to a gynaecological examination and because obviously us pesky women can’t be trusted, she was tortured with thumbscrews throughout the trial to verify her testimony.

Amazingly the court transcripts remain in their entirety and Artemisia’s own brutal words echo through centuries, “I felt a strong burning and it hurt very much, but because he held my mouth I couldn’t cry out... I scratched his face and pulled his hair and before he penetrated me again I grasped his penis so tight that I even removed a piece of flesh.”

It was revealed that Agostina had plotted to kill his wife, committed adultery and incest and planned to rob Orazio of his paintings. Pretty deplorable right? But predictably due to his favour with the pope and what was between his

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legs he never served a sentence.

But this hideous chapter in Artemisia’s life is just that; a chapter. Incredibly, this young woman endured. Now worthless as a woman, her father married her off after the trial to a modest painter from Florence, where they made their marital home. However, after giving birth to her daughter she continued to flout tradition and generally be a boss, leaving her husband when she became exasperated with him for being a financial burden and an all out waste of space. In 1621 she returned to Rome.

Emancipated from the men who tried to limit and shackle her she moved to Naples where, despite the pressures of being a single mother, she enjoyed fame and a lucrative career. As the only female follower of Caravaggio, she was the first woman to ever become a member of the Accademia di Arte del Disegno in Florence. Intrigued by her celebrity she was invited to the court of Charles I and enjoyed a brief spell in London, employed by the king, and reunited with her father who worked as court painter.

But Artemisia’s fearsome strength and feminism is most evident in her art. A 1916 research paper by Italian art critic Robert Longhi said, “There are about fifty-seven works by Artemisia Gentileschi and 94% feature women as protagonists or equal to men”. She depicted strong and suffering women from myth realistically; departing radically from traditional interpretations of the same themes and communicating a powerful personal vision and achieving what no other male artist could.

She defied the men who oppressed her and became her own heroine.

This page: Judith slaying Holofernes, one of Artemesia’s most iconic and brutal works. Opposite: Judith and her maidservant

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This is most evident from her highly regarded portrayal of biblical figure of Judith; a young but ferocious widow who to protect her kin, seduces the general of an invading army, Holofernes and once he is passed out drunk, chops off his head off. There is clearly something fascinating about this femme fatale as she has been depicted in art many times throughout history, even

by Caravaggio himself. But whereas Caravaggio’s Judith is a young, nymph-like maiden sporting a pious unwilling look, Artemisia’s Judith is strong, wilful, determined.

She is a passionate protector of her people and the painting is relentlessly physical and violent.

In most paintings, including Caravaggio’s illusory rendering, Judith has a servant who waits to collect the severed head.

But Artemisia makes Judith’s servant a strong young woman who actively participates in the killing. Not only does this add a savage realism that it would take two women to kill the brute but female camaraderie is a recurring theme in Artemisia’s work. Raised in an environment inhabited by men, Artemisia’s work contained a strong sense of the importance and solidarity between women.

The visceral power of her art was heralded, making her one of the most famous artists in Europe. But despite her fame it is only known that she died in 1653 by the two published obituary poems that speak of her audacity in making money from art and what a bad wife that must have made her. The final dagger in the back from men to a woman plagued by injustice. Artemisia Gentileschi was centuries ahead of her time. She created real female characters who were strong, passionate but truthfully flawed. Her work had an electric sense of narrative drama and a unique perspective that both celebrated and humanised women. She defied the men who oppressed her and became her own heroine. An artist and pioneer who should be remembered and revered for her strength of character and her incredible talent.

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Combining luxurious textures with classic 1930s inspired silhouettes creates a look that is dangerously seductive and fatally feminine...

Antonia maxi dress in silk velvet in emerald, ÂŁ219; Velvet cape available AW17

Pretty Eccentric

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Photo: Michelle Scott Photography

nce upon a time...

...when princes slayed dragons. The most romantic of dresses will make your fairytales come true.

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Photo: Michelle Scott Photography

Dreamy and daring, lavish, luxe velvet will kept you cosy through the wintry weather

Antonia maxi dress in silk velvet in emerald, ÂŁ219; Velvet cape available AW17

Pretty Eccentric

Photo: Michelle Scott Photography

Head to toe velvet gives the allure of decadance and a hint of old Hollywood glamour

Antonia maxi dress in silk velvet in red, ÂŁ219 ; Star burst comb, ÂŁ39

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Colour

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Valentine’s day is rapidly approaching and as the most romantic day of the year, it’s a great excuse to indulge your girlie side and adorn a palette of red, raspberry, blush and blossom. Whether you’re having a lavish dinner out with someone special or celebrating singledom with a night with the girls, we’ve rounded up our favourite accessories to get you date night ready!

Tokyo Milk Candle in Dead Sexy & French Kiss, £13.50

Tokyo Milk Dead Sexy and French Kiss eau de parfum, £39

A sparkling small clutch is the perfect touch of romance. Glitter clutch, £19

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Don’t let the rain ruin your romance! Keep dry with this oh so stylish Fifi umbrella by Blooming Brollies, £39

SHOES

to die for

Michal Negrin crystal and flower necklace, £69 Carta Alta Velvet bunny venetian mask, £59

The combination of sumptuous velvet and flirty lace make these heels the perfect touch for any outfit. Velvet and lace pinup heels, £89

Vivienne Westwood diamante heart stud earrings, £69 Made from recycled PVC, you can love the environment as much as you love these cute flats. Vivienne Westwood Queen heart shoe, £49.50

Vivien Sheriff Victor pill box hat, £149

Rose scarf in silk velvet, £39

The perfect shoe for any occasion, this heel slips on and instantly adds glamour to your favourite dress.

Grace shoes, £89

WE LOVE...

The brand new Rose Bud handbag by Mary Frances. This hand crafted masterpiece makes a bold and beautiful addition to any outfit. It’s threedimensional petals are covered in thousands of hand-laid beads in brilliant reds and leafy green bead work, £259,

Harness the energy of one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in these jazzy, vivacious heels.

Ginger T-bar metallic shoes, £89

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Home of the dirty weekend, fiercely independent and England’s last Green frontier, Brighton is saucy, bohemian and accepting. Famous for the avant-garde personalities that call it home, simply put, Brighton is cool. In its myriad of winding lanes you can find a plethora of independent boutiques and quirky vintage shops making it a haven for eccentrics, individuals and fashion forward thinkers. The city is a shopper’s paradise so we’ve rounded up our favourite vintage haunts to help inspire your new wardrobe for 2017.

1. Hope and Harlequin

2. Beyond Retro

31 Sydney St, Brighton BN1 4EP www.harlequin-vintage.co.uk It’s easy to fall in love with Hope & Harlequin’s charm, charisma and beautifully nostalgic atmosphere.

Specialising in meticulously handpicked vintage items which are lovingly restored, Hope & Harlequin pour boatloads of passion into their work. It’s easy to see that love, effort and care goes in to every item you can find. Their real forte however is their stunning vintage wedding dresses and incredible made-tomeasure recreations from their unique collection. Their aim is to help clients find the piece they will fall in love with and cherish for years to come.

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42 Vine St, Brighton BN1 4AG www.beyondretro.com THE BEST OF

BRIGHTON’S

VINTAGE BOUTIQUES

Beyond Retro began in 2002 as a single warehouse-turned-retail store in East London. Fourteen years later they have become a European powerhouse of vintage fashions with nine stores across UK and Sweden. They are also home to the Beyond Retro LABEL, an up cycled range of clothing and accessories made entirely from vintage pieces and fabrics saving some 600,000 garments from landfill each year!

What could be more Brighton than that! As the only bricks and mortar store in the UK outside London, Beyond Retro, Brighton certainly has its own charm.

3. Snoopers Paradise

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7/8 Kensington Gardens, North Laine, BN1 4AL Snoopers Paradise is exactly as the name suggests. Prepare to loose hours sifting through an Aladdin’s cave of vintage clothing, homewares and trinkets in the cavernous shop lined with petite antique stores, independent boutiques and colourful curiosities. Upstairs you’ll discover Snoopers Attic, a vintage heaven and creative haven. The Attic is a unique Brighton collective featuring over twenty designers, makers and hoarders who’ve created a boutique market, art space and workshop all at once. Jam packed with character and eccentricities, you can find everything vintage you’d ever dreamed of and things you never knew could exist.

10 Bond St, Brighton, BN1 1RD www.prettyeccentric.co.uk

“England’s last Green frontier, Brighton is saucy, bohemian and accepting”

4. Wolf and Gypsy

30 Sydney St, Brighton, BN1 4EP Almost the antithesis of Snoopers Paradise, Wolf and Gypsy’s stock is carefully selected to provide only the most stylish and covetable vintage gems. Each of their rails is meticulously thought out, making them a firm favourite with local fashionistas and vintage lovers.

With irresistible pieces ranging from the eighties right back to the roaring twenties, there’s a deluge of fashion to choose from. Their main focus however is on the swinging sixties and ultracolourful seventies showcasing some incredible flamboyant statement pieces alongside bold prints, shift dresses, blouses and go-go boots.

Pretty Eccentric certainly lives up to its name with stunning, avant-garde designs and unique creations. The decor is a fusion of twee vintage tea party and steampunk soiree creating a shop that appeals to the inner magpie in all of us. Boutique owner and designer Michelle Scott’s creations are inspired by 1920s-1950s fashions presented with a modern twist in opulent velvets, decadent crystals and lashings of lace. Presented alongside renowned designers like Vivienne Westwood and Mary Frances you’ll find a treasure trove of stunning vintage inspired fashion and accessories allowing you to get an entire look in just one place.

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Did you enjoy Pretty Eccentric Magazine?

Visit our website: www.prettyeccentric.co.uk Or come see us in store: Pretty Eccentric 10 Bond Street Brighton BN1 1RD

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