So Lip Service makes some pretty sweet clothing under its spin off label, House of Widow. Who knew?
I tend to associate the brand - perhaps unfairly, as they've improved a lot - with the worst of nineties goth, predisposed to an overabundance of corset lacing, chains, zips and straps (usually poorly placed), and I've slagged them off - not directed at their account, I should stress - a few times on twitter. Nonetheless, this line has me intrigued. The inspirations and styles are very current, with lots of draped black and occult symbols, and not unattractively priced for those who can't afford the designer versions.
I realize that I'm about a year behind on this, but I've not seen any of this stuff in my local Glasgow goth shops - why, I don't know, as it would be devoured (by me, mainly). Maybe because it doesn't look obviously goth enough? I'd like the Glaswegian alternative shops to stock more current goth fashions, as love it though I may Cyber has had the same horrendous pin-striped trenches for as long as I can remember.
Though I do understand them moving away from the goth aesthetic and towards fashion more attractive to metal and hipster lovers (got to go where the money goes), and that they have an onus to provide fashion that you can't get on the high street - which, to be fair, House of Widow wouldn't be out of place in - but personally I'm getting a little fatigued with sifting through the same old Hellbunny dresses. Maybe moving with the times would be a good thing.
All images sourced from the House of Widow website. Do you own anything from House of Widow? Do you find it frustrating not seeing more up to date trends in your alternative shops?
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I didn't know about House of Widow, it looks more grwon up and layed back than the usual Lip Service stuff!
ReplyDeleteThank goodness that it wasn't just me! I thought so too - they're clearly trying to capitalize on the newer, more mature occult trends in dark alternative fashion right now. I'm quite happy with that, as hopefully it will clue businesses in that we want them to keep up with us.
DeleteI really enjoy House of Widow's clothing as it's not the same old-same old Lip Service styles. I got a chance to see the garments in person at a clothing show and I was impressed!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have any goth shops in Buffalo, but the ones that I have been to (when I travel) seem to be exactly what you are describing. It's borrrrr-ing. ;)
That's good to hear! They have 25% off everything this weekend, so I'm considering browsing their online shop.
DeleteIt's not just boring - it's abysmal. ;) I'm pretty sure most of their stock has been sitting there since the nineties!
There's a couple of Goth shops on Queen St. that have some newer brand releases the one further down that sells Kill Star stuff that I've not seen elsewhere, and there's one just up from the bubble tea place, on the opposite side of the road that has some of the more recent Hellbunny and Jawbreaker stuff, but some of the others in Glasgow are very much selling stuff that's pretty much a) the same as everywhere else and b)not many more recent releases.
ReplyDeleteI need to get a big felt hat from somewhere.
Which ones on Queen street? I'm guessing you mean Hellfire (which I've not been in in a very long time), as the other ones either stock generic 'trendy' stuff or the same old brands - I've not been in for a few months, however. Cyber is actually my favourite, as although it has a lot of terrible clothes it also has proper corsetry fitting, and some good small brand items.
DeleteYou speaketh for us both.
yeah i was happy for lip service when they started the widow offshoot. the stuff they used to do is looking VERY dated (no hard feelings...i still love it! but it IS very dated) and they really tapped into the nu-goth thing and did some innovative marketing by reaching out to top bloggers early on. their editorials are also pretty awesome. I'm a fan of the look. I've got one widow piece and i'm pretty happy with it. I was never really into hellbunny...too junior and mallgoth for me.
ReplyDeleteDamn - I wish I'd started blogging sooner so that I could have got involved with it. Their editorials are very nice.
DeleteLip Service have improved (though I has seen some 'wtf' pieces from them), but though I love the ridiculousness of nineties goth it made some ugly as hell stuff. Hell Bunny produce occasional gems, and I like their spin doctor label, but they're overall a little childish for me personally too (not that there's anything wrong with that!).
Best brand name ever! Too bad the Eye of Providence jacket is a female one, it would have looked great on my partner, who loves that symbol!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Maybe with a bit of tailoring a larger one would fit?
DeleteWoah, I had no idea that they were a Lip Service spin of! And I'm glad you feel the same way I do about what I've branded "typical Goth clothing". It's so annoying to open up five different Goth stores and see exactly the same brands, clothes and general likeness.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was kind of stunned too when I saw; the aesthetics of it are so different to what Lip Service has come to be recognised for.
DeleteI think that there's a general sense of frustration in the gothic community with gothic brands, as they've become too comfortable in styles which are no longer popular and goths are forced to shop online and from high street shops; there's no reason we shouldn't support alternative shops, but there needs to be a change.