Why I love sixties fashion

Recently, I was given the opportunity to write a guest post for the legendary Dreamcatcher Blog written by Cathy Cassidy! You can find it here or simply continue reading to see it on my blog. Thanks so much for this Cathy and thank you to everyone reading!

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What I love most about the 1960s is how different this period is to any other that had gone before. Skirts were shortened, colours intensified and fashion boundaries were broken. The teenager was born and young women no longer had to dress like younger versions of their mothers. Fashion broke so many rules and came up with so many innovations in the sixties - the now so-popular bikini came into fashion in 1963 and the miniskirt, symbolic of the decade, is still a timeless fashion piece today.

There was so much diversity in what people wore, too! Fashion mirrored the social movements of the time - the early sixties were relatively conservative with styles reminiscent of the late fifties, such as classic prints and knee-length dresses, whereas by the late sixties things had changed beyond all recognition.

It's no surprise that the sixties was a decade of great change in other ways, too - this was the decade when man first walked on the moon, when women gained more equality and when British pop sensations such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones took the world by storm.

Fashion was not about to be left behind. Skirt lengths became ever shorter and men wore tunics and capes and began to grow their hair longer! Many of these styles seemed to come from the streets - suddenly fashion was for everyone, and not just the rich elite who could afford designer clothes. Young designers such as Mary Quant opened shops selling the things young people wanted to wear - youth was leading the way in fashion for the first time ever. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't long before London stole Paris' position as the centre of the fashion world!

I think my favourite era of the decade is probably the mid point, around 1964-1966. Fashion was at the point where people were choosing how they wanted to dress, and prints were bright but not yet overly busy. Culottes, box-shaped PVC dresses and even paper clothes were popular. This rebellious and energetic vibe is one that inspires me and one I try to carry over into my own fashion choices - only with my own flair, of course! (Wait... aren't flares 1970s?!!! Haha!)

Health and happiness,

Marti xxx

My thoughts on Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

(image source: http://claireobdraws.deviantart.com/art/Kate-Bush-Wuthering-Heights-645213052) How beautiful is this?

Perhaps one of the most absolute classics.. a thrilling, chilling and haunting tale of the tragic love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. Without spoiling too much of the plot (as it's one of those books you just have to read yourself to appreciate), here is a more than basic summary of the 400(ish) page novel:

The story is at first narrated by Mr Lockwood, a tenant of Heathcliff's, and we are told of his visit to the home of his landlord. Whilst spending a night at Wuthering Heights, he encounters a haunting apparition and seeks reassurance and answers from the maid, Ellen. The story then continues and is narrated by Nelly for the most part. Unraveled are the lives of Heathcliff,  Hindley and Catherine, far into adulthood and death. 

Now onto my opinion of the book.. I blooming well loved it! It took me about two months to read which is absolutely atrocious, I know, but I did read other books in between! Being set not far away from where I live in 19th century Yorkshire, I loved the personification of the moors. They felt like a character in themselves, and played a key role in the Gothic theme.

 I can understand why so many readers have major issues with this Brontë sister's style though; the characters are really quite detestable with very few amiable qualities AND there are a few characters like Jacob with hard to comprehend Yorkshire accents. It was actually painful listening to the eBook voice on my Kindle trying to comprehend it...so much so that I gave up and read it myself!

Emily's use of doubles, though thoroughly perplexing, is very interesting. There's Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, Edgar Linton and Heathcliff, Heathcliff and Hareton, Heathcliff and Cathy...not to mention Cathy and Cathy! Some of these are polar opposites, though some (like young Cathy and her mother) suggest to me the repetition of lives.

Have you read Wuthering Heights? What are your thoughts on it?

Forever heath and happiness,

Marti xxx