Spitalfield; Perhaps it’s not the most attractive name for a London suburb. But its early music halls propelled Charlie Chaplin to international stardom. As a major entertainment district for many decades, fashion styles evolve in the evenings as the pub and cub scene come alive. Up and down the streets and alleyways in a mixture of classes and cultures.

Also famous for The artist Mark Gertler (1891-1939) is perhaps most admired for his 1916 painting The Merry-Go-Round, which hangs prominently at Tate Modern. He is less favourably immortalised in the 1995 biopic Carrington, in which he is portrayed as the tormented lover of the androgynous Bloomsbury artist Dora Carrington.

Spitalfields takes its name from a hospital and priory known as St. Mary’s Spital founded in 1197. Most of the area was built after the Great Fire of London and Spitalfield’s market was first established in the 1680’s. Most of the beautiful houses in and around Fournier, Princelet and Wilkes Street date from around 1685 when the Huguenots fled France, bringing their silk weaving skills.

The United States’ Liberty Bell was originally cast in the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in Whitechapel Road. The pavement here is extra wide – this was the main way via Aldgate for cattle and sheep to be driven into London, together with carts laden with hops for brewing and hay for cattle.

Renowned tailor to Tom Cruze and David Beckham, Timonthy Everest concludes many decades of change to the area by opening up shop at 32 Elder Street, once the residence of Bloomsbury artist Mark Gertler. He politely shunned the inherent stuffiness of traditional tailoring, by, saying “moving to Savile Row would be like moving back in with my parents”

He rejuvenated British fashion icon Daks and helped prop Marks and Spencers return to traditional pound for pound quality with his outstanding “Autograph” range of men’s clothing and fashion accessories.

Timothy’s move to the area and adopting the Spitalfield flower as his signature marked a new direction for men’s clothing and accessories. Savile row is far removed from the hub of style evolution. Perhaps the beginning of a new era has begun and more tailors will follow to set up shop in Elder Street.

Now the Spitalfield flower blooms on jacket linings and ties, as though culminating centuries of historic events. And to push the boundaries of innovation even further he has re-invented Swank silver cufflinks, styled on designs from the 1940’s.

Swank Inc a popular designer and manufacturer of men’s cufflinks were incorporated on April 17, 1936. When Cufflinks peaked in the 1960’s they were making 12 million a year.

Even though these were aimed at the lowest end of the market, retailing for an average of $2.50 a pair, that still adds up to a lot of men wearing cufflinks. These days the figure is closer to 200,000, but cufflinks are making a strong comeback with gross sales having increased consistently over the last ten years, while the French cuff continues to be the most prestigious type of shirt.

Nothing in Spitalfield lays to wrack and ruin for long. It’s constantly being rejuvenated and with each new generation evolves different styles from all walks of life up and down the streets of Spitalfield.

You can manufacture fashion clothing, but style is an evolution. Ask Vivienne Westwood

To draw a comparison; The Beatles evolved, The Monkees were manufactured.

Perpetuating traditional values of English made clothing and accessories is part of our ethos.

In the fashion world of reality have you never noticed how latest trendy fashion designs what clothe boutique shop mannequins – duplicate creations designed decades ago. If your keen eye espied this, then does this not tell you something? Yes that’s right, the clothes mum and granny wore in their hey-day could have you after a few minor alterations be the envy of all your friends. A rummage in the closet of the grey haired or blue rinse relative can save you time and money.

Revival of fashion rejuvenates from flower power hippie bell bottoms into flares. The bolero jacket turns box coat, and back on the scene with vengeance the pointed shoe once referred to as the “winkle picker,” oh and not forgetting the square toed “chisel”. I ask who is responsible for such unappealing names. Mind you back in the days of the Beatles the mention of winkle picker was so desirable it was like music to your ears. In reality chic trendy fashion items are not changing with the times – only the name.

Being fashionable is not about designer labels but the actual design of the outfit itself. The style layout is fashion and not the designer. Think about it, Versace and Gucci have been around for years so nothing fresh or new here, only what they create. The huge demand for fake designer labels is saving the fashion conscious a lot of money. Why pay through the nose for something you can not see or the person you wish to impress. Designer tags are sewn on the inside of most garments. Is there a reason for this? Could it be the shame of charging extortionate prices?

Save pennies today and salvage moms clothing donation for the local jumble sale. Bargain buys come in a multitude of choice from local charity shops and car boot sales. Some folk embarrass easily over wearing another’s cast offs (second hand) and this is understandable. If you can swallow your pride then a cycle wash with fabric softener will have the garment smelling fresh and looking like new leaving you with spare coppers in your pocket. Remember not all items for sale in second hand shops, are second hand.

Why not consider designing your own clothes and create a new image for yourself. Set your own trend/style. Fashion is determined by your way of thinking. If you think something is nice you wear it and vice versa. In saying that we have those regardless of how hideous they look in an outfit continues to strut the walk looking like a freak.

If you follow particular fashion behaviours then make sure they compliment “you” and your shape. If you choose to ignore this advice then be warned

Take heed of the fashion reminder “What goes around comes around” Remember moms’ clothes were once chic and fashionable so why not again. Fashion is about attitude and if positive is in there somewhere, better still for recreating. If the golden oldies attire is not for you then try spice up other garments regardless of which person it belongs too.

1. Neck ties or any kind of neck adornment like scarves, chokers, boot laces and tastefully twisted rope can make a huge impact on how a plain dress/blouse looks. Dickie bows and cravats are fabulous finishing accessories.

2. Bring out the calling in colours – let them shout. Clash colours if you want to get noticed. Stripy shorts and polka dot tights (green red yellow) whatever your preference in colour will turn heads.

3. Use colourful ribbon to make a flash impression. Get it out of your head (excuse the pun) that ribbons are solely for the hair.

4. Tights and socks with funky inexpensive bits and bobs sewn on create an affective finish.

5. Liven up old belts with sequins, bows, studs, chains, rhinestone, pearls or beads

Anyone can revive their wardrobe by recycling their clothing.

1. A long skirt can be shortened. Short skirts can have layers added e.g. ra ra style, tassels or fringe.

2. Remove dress or blouse sleeves to create a sleeveless one. If a dress has pockets embroider with fancy stitching or sew on flower motifs.

3. Not familiar with a needle and cotton that’s okay, you can purchase fusing and permanent glue products for many tasks.

4. Feathers are fabulous and fancy and glue easy.

5. Leave your mark on a pair of plain slacks by running a satin strip down the leg, waist or hem. Cheap inexpensive trims can add oomph, sparkle and elegance and can be obtained from craft and fabric stores.

If you can knit then take advantage of this trait and knit a shawl or woollies i.e. sweater or scarf and decorate with a brooch or other type decorative pin.

It is simple to accessorize with a brooch. The brooch can be pinned to one side of your neckline towards a sleeve or in the middle of your neckline highlighting the bust. Gather the material and attach the brooch to your bra strap. This creates a unique neckline and offers a wide range of possibilities for clothing items. Fashion magazines are a fine source for ideas. The finest craftsmen in the world who work on gems and Jewelry are Indians, and look how they present themselves at the time of a tribal war dance.

Good fashion sense tells us not to go over our budget and that we don’t want to wear the same outfit over and over, hence more reason to be able to create. It is best to find a look that best suits your personality. Not all trendy fashion designs are created for each individual, individually, so therefore you must feel comfortable before you can feel stylish.

Chic fashion designs come and go! Don’t hold back on buying classic wardrobe accessories. As long as you have imagination they will never go out of style.

Did Macca infect Ringo with the deadly virus?

My first experiment with stop motion animation.

This is the first of a series of articles which will be trying to delve a little deeper into the life and times of the Beatles.

We will be looking at their history, their time in Hamburg, their time at the Cavern Club, their time in America, and the time they spent in the Studio, together with other fascinating little known facts that have come to light over the years.

Without doubt the Beatles are an iconic group, a one off, and although it is getting on for 40 years now since they broke up, their fame and influence is still as strong now as it was back in the 1960’s and early 70’s.

I grew up during the Beatles era, and everywhere that I have travelled around the world they are known, and loved. I remember being in a small nightclub in Thailand where there was a Chinese Beatles tribute band playing, and although I personally did not appreciate the sound that they produced, particularly the singing, they were immensely popular with the locals.

On another occasion I was on holiday in Peru, and half way up a mountain I came across a bunch of Peruvians playing their type of music, on pipes, but the song they were playing was Love Me Do.

So, who were The Beatles?

Well let me begin by telling you the basics, something which many of you reading this will know, but to many of our younger readers this basic information may be something which they have never got a handle on.

The Beatles were a pop group ( as they were called in those days) and they came from a city in the north of England known as Liverpool.

The group consisted of John Lennon who played rhythm guitar and vocals, Paul McCartney who played bass guitar and vocals, George Harrison who played lead guitar and vocals, and Ringo Starr who played drums and vocals.

Two other names were former members – Pete Best, drums, and Stuart Sutcliffe, bass.

I think if you had asked The Beatles what was their style of music in the early days they would probably have told you that they were strongly influenced by rock and roll, and skiffle. Later on this style did change quite a bit, but that was their early influence.

Now it is true to say that not only were they influenced by many earlier groups and styles of music, but they were quite an influence on many groups that came after them.

Their music, the clothes they wore, the things they did and said, all had an enormous influence on the young people of the day, 1n the 1960’s.

When eventually the group broke up in 1970, John, Paul, George and Ringo all pursued their own solo careers, and we will be looking at those careers in more details in forthcoming articles.

If you would like to be kept updated on future articles then please go to my website and near the bottom of the page you will find my email address. You simply need to email me and ask to be kept updated.

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