Here at The Eye of Faith, we have a special affinity for those in life drawn to the mystical, magical, and wonderful.

Count us in the know, cause we can definitely feel the magic in the air. It seems like a new strand of fashionista has been making it’s way around the world these days, and it is about time we began addressing it!

With it’s ethereal notions, hard edges, brute romanticism, and a touch of the past; something wicked this way comes with our days’ most noted fashion superstars, and they’re not just on television. They roam the streets, the parks, the malls, the cafes, even the beach- and not just at night. No, no. All day they come to play, touching all those they pass with their psychic premonitions of fashion future-present: the Fashion Witch.

It’s all so witchy! But let’s be honest, now that YOU think of it, they’re everywhere too. Thank God it’s 2012, or we’d have quite the persecutions on our hands. With all the skulls, diamonds, and lace, it’s a blessing a Fashion Witch can ride the city bus without a jealous neighbour crying “Witch!”

But that’s all in the past, and the Fashion Witch truly seems to be reigning supreme! A Fashion Witch knows, and a Fashion Witch is always able to stay just a step ahead of the everyday crowd, and really tap into the universe for it’s greatest style secrets. Look at it anyway you like, The Fashion Witch is here to stay!

One of our favourite Fashion Witches of the moment, an individual who always seems to make it shine, is Florence Welch, of Florence + The Machine. The 25 year old High Priestess of Pop has been probing literally everybody’s radar with her defiantly chic and sophisticated otherworldly styles (not to mention a killer voice to boot).

Welch’s preoccupation with witchery began long before the songstress began belting her beautiful battle cries. Indeed it seems a witch’s life was always in the cards for our beautiful friend.

“I wanted to be a witch when I was a kid. I was obsessed with witchcraft. At school, me and my two friends had these spell books; I always wanted a more magical reality. I had a little shrine at home and I did a spell to try and make the boy in the other class fall in love with me.”

Citing “Clueless”, “Mary Poppins” and “The Craft” as favourite style go-to’s growing up, it is no wonder the songstress always seems to dazzle with eccentric decadence and stylistic innovation. Watching her style continuously evolve with the days is a true treat.

For her latest album “Ceremonies” Florence has raised her own aesthetic playground from the Pre-Raphealite dreams of her past album, to a darker and stranger decadence. Citing Tamara de Lempicka and Gustav Klimt as two prime examples of the new influence in her aesthetics; the look is at once streamlined, soft, demure, but powerful, spiritual, and above all ornamental.

Looking through other works by artists of the same periods it is easy to see where her inspiration lies. In the heyday of the early part of the 20th Century, esoteric and occult knowledge was becoming of great interest, with many pop idols in the field including Aleister Crowley and Harry Houdini. As well as the worlds of the psyche were being opened by Freud and Jung, and suddenly the worlds of the unknown were at everyone’s doorstep and fingertip. These influences had a profound influence of popular culture of the time, and continue today.

Spooooooooky.

Nothing to be afraid of. Florence’s endeavours into the world of ceremony give great insight into her supernatural worlds. Watching “Shake it Out” it’s impossible not to see the allusions to everything from Freemasonry to the Illuminati. Heavy stuff. The song is a celebratory call asking each of us to look into the darkest depths of ourselves, and to set the light free. All it takes is a forboding dark mansion, some secret friends, and bit of dancing. Fashion Witches know!

“And I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t
So here’s to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
And I’m ready to suffer and I’m ready to hope
It’s a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat
Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Well what the hell I’m gonna let it happen to me”

-Florence + The Machine, “Shake it Out”.

Talk about secret societies! Baron Alexis von Rosenberg, great friend to the Rothschilds, knows you need a great mask to make a great party.

There certainly is a formality to the idea of “ceremony”, but often times during the rituals or rites being performed, strong emotions can be conjoured that overpower this formality. Check out “No Light, No Light”– our favourite Florence vid that completely lends itself to the power of these forces. Portraying a battle between Good and Evil- it’s an epically beautiful poem.

“I always wanted a more magical reality.” she said, and she definitely got it creating some of the most beautiful music videos of our time. No unworldly visions here, just plain truth. We feel a great kinship to Florence Welch who, without even us asking, has transformed into such a wonderful…well, Witch!

If you ever have the chance to see the wonderful Florence Welch live, definitely make the effort, as she really has a knack for commanding the stage, and seducing your heart. Like a modern Maenad, she makes her way from one end of the stage to the other in a blink, casting a spell with her song, and never letting go of her momentous energy from beginning to end. Not to mention, gracing the stage like a true Fashion Witch in something absolutely out of this world. Check out her site for a performance near you!

Taking the reigns of Popular Music, and steering it on a course towards the dark, the stars, and the great unknown will hopefully be Florence Welch’s greatest achievment. But rest assured, this daring 25 year old is already a style star in everyone’s eye, and EOF’s favourite Fashion Witch of the moment.

A new favourite of Karl Lagerfeld, Florence Welch had the priviledge of singing her heart out for Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2012 show featuring an Oceanic theme, and although Ms. Welch has made a star in the heavens for herself with her witchy ways, it got us thinking maybe mermaids for our magic muse…I guess only time will tell!

“O well done! I commend your pains;
And every one shall share i’ the gains;
And now about the cauldron sing,
Live elves and fairies in a ring
Enchanting all that you put in. “

-William Shakespeare, Macbeth (Act 4: Scene 1)

Having a fascination with the great divide between the material and ethereal can bring oneself much pleasure and curiosity. Like staring into a flame- it wavers and shakes, it is real before your eyes, but never seems to fully materialize.

All you’re left thinking is, “Isn’t nature strange?” – well Yes, and for thousands of years the blind have kept on seeing in their veil of misunderstanding, while the Wake diligently sift through the information they have recieved and carried from each passing generation.

So, we get it! A Fashion Witch always does.

A big Thanks to Vigilant Citizen!

Until next time,

{theEye}

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