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Witch Weekly · April 27, 2021 – 4:33 PM

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The End of the House of Lytton?
If the calamity of the wrecked cruise liner the Santa Antonina was not already tragedy enough, society is also mourning the particular loss of Mr. Marcus Lytton, a sparkling personality, not to mention the jewel of British fashion. Mr. Lytton, both the founder and head designer of the House of Lytton, created his company in 1879.

In the years since, his background in textiles, artistic eye, and charming manner have seen his fashion house flourish beyond expectation: these days one cannot attend a single ball without admiring his own work adorning every notable socialite, and none in the country have proven so formidable a rival to the likes of Worth and the best-loved Parisian designers. His funeral, hosted this week, was an extravagant marker of his successes in fashion, with guests donning their best — but with the season upon us again, we at Witch Weekly are left to wonder what the future of fashion holds...

The late Mr. Marcus Lytton, and new heir to the fashion house, Miss Camilla Lytton.

It may be early days, but ownership of the House of Lytton has passed officially into the hands of Marcus Lytton’s sister. Miss Camilla Lytton, born in 1862, is no stranger to the fashion house in either business or fashion, having catered to some select clients with apparel of her own design and having headed up their cosmetics branch. But will she prove a worthy successor to her brother? A former Gryffindor, Miss Lytton has always been bolder than her brother in colour, flair and expression, and though the House of Lytton has been renowned for its refined tastes, Miss Lytton’s customers have often leant a touch more towards the outlandish — and among some certain hits, other designs have been definite misses. Will today’s socialites truly be brave enough to take the risk of commissioning Camilla Lytton originals? Will the pressure of the House solely upon her shoulders simply prove too much for her creativity? Or has the trauma of the shipwreck wherein she lost her brother perhaps cost Miss Lytton her talent already?

It may be convenient that Miss Lytton never married, which must indeed lend itself towards her passion for the business — but can a failed debutante-turned-headstrong-spinster really cater to the bulk of fashionable society? Witch Weekly is not so sure she is up to the task, so one might see the House of Lytton forced to invite in an outside designer to take up Mr. Lytton’s former clients and save fashion from itself. Or will some lesser-known designers prove themselves worthy of taking up so grand a mantle? It seems unlikely, but will Mrs. Fernsby, of the Maison Bellerose, leave her muggle and half-breed clientele behind and attempt to set her ambitions upon conquering high society? She certainly has aspiring daughters of her own on the social scene. And what of the newest import to Hogsmeade, the widowed Mrs. Lavinia Rose? Though quainter in premises - and though American styles have hardly ever been at the forefront of wizarding fashions - will the subtle but feminine work of the The Modiste Rose begin to catch the eye of more notable debutantes and socialites this season? Or will a surprising new designer appear to step into Mr. Lytton’s shoes?

We can only hope that this is not yet the end of a golden age in British fashion.

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Issue #258 - The End of the House of Lytton?