The Great British bank holiday

There’s nothing more British than a bank holiday weekend. It’s a time best spent with trips to the pub, roast dinners and braving barbecues under questionable weather conditions. Of course, this May Day has been a particularly patriotic affair with the arrival of the Royal Baby, so I’ve chosen a red, white and blue ensemble to celebrate. 

National pride aside, this outfit is perfect for a spring weekend. The minidress is another find from Beyond Retro and I love the way the demure collared neckline detracts from the amount of leg on show. While the dress has a real 1960s feel, I brought it up to date with some wooden H&M clogs and my trusty ASOS fedora.

Dress, Beyond Retro

Shoes, H&M

Fedora, ASOS

18 thoughts we all have before drunk dialling our ex

We’ve all been there, newly single on a night out when the psycho ex in us makes texting our old boyfriend seem like a great idea. Our phones should really come with a ‘are you sure want to send this’ button because once the tequila shots get flowing ‘single and loving it’ never lasts far beyond midnight.

1. I am so over you. There’s not even a strong enough word to describe how done I am. Time to call my girls, get dressed up and go out on the prowl.

2. What was I even thinking staying with you so long? I’m a sassy, independent woman and I’m going to prove it tonight. 

3. Shots, shots, shots, shots.

4. This outfit is too hot to waste. Plus lots of fit men around. I’m definitely going to find myself a rebound tonight.

5. Hmm… pulling technique’s a bit rusty. Has flirting advanced that much in the past 6 months or is my game just that weak?

6. Oh well, who needs men anyway. Girls night out, remember?

7. Er, except since when did all my friends start pairing off? I’ll just sit here with my wine then.

8. I miss my ex.

9. Stop, pull yourself together girl. Independent woman, remember? There’s only one solution at times like these, to the bar!

10. I mean, who needs friends anyway when I am at one with the dance floor?

11. But wait- is the DJ playing our song?! Ah sweet memories. I might just look at a few pictures on my phone. For old time’s sake, ya know.

12. Thanks drunken stranger sitting next to me, we were good together. I think I may have made a terrible mistake.

13. Maybe I’ll just send him a quick text to say hi. I mean what if at this very moment he’s missing me too and neither of us do anything about it? It’s not a drunk dial, it’s DESTINY.

14. Now how to strike the balance between cute and desperate? End with lovehearts? A blowing kiss face? Damn you Whatsapp, there is no emoji capable of conveying true love.

15. I know- I’ll quote our song. It’s simple and classy AF. Plus we do belong together, after all.

16. On second thoughts, destiny is a pretty big force to reckon with. I should probably consult one of my friends before hitting send.

17. HeySayStopIfYouDon’tThinkIShould. What’s that? Too late.

18. God, I’m smooth. This was a totally great idea. Now to sit back and wait.

Fashion on the Ration: a lesson in wartime street style

In the blogging sphere fashion isn’t just a statement, it’s a way of life. A single outfit post can coax views into their thousands, and savvy fashionistas are now building whole careers around their wardrobes. So after visiting the Imperial War Museum’s Fashion on the Ration exhibition, it was interesting to find that we’re not so far removed from the girls of the 1940s, who coveted floral dresses and tailored jackets with the same rigour. The only real difference between our lives and theirs was the wartime rationing imposed on the purchase of clothing- compared to the fast fashion of today, where we steam through trends at record pace, women were required to make items last well beyond the average season. Yet what I gaged most from the exhibition wasn’t a story of hardship, instead I found that, clothing coupons aside, women will always find a way to express themselves through their attire. Even in the face of austerity, true style, it seems, never falters.

When clothes rationing was first imposed in 1941 in an attempt to preserve material supplies, women were limited to just 66 coupons a year, which steadily diminished as the war effort progressed. The impact was real, as newspaper columnist at the time, Mollie Panter-Downes, put it, “ruining the Sunday breakfasts of millions of women who regretted not having bought that little outfit they had dithered about the other day”. In an attempt to prolong tired looking pieces the ‘Make Do and Mend’ campaign called on women to recycle their existing garments. Even leading fashion magazines such as Vogue got on board, publishing useful tips such as how to turn your husband’s old silk shirt into a swish new evening gown.

A real turning point occurred in 1942 when the government introduced ‘Utility Wear’ to the public, highlighting just how firmly fashion sits in the hearts of most women. Headed up by a panel of leading designers, the likes of John Cavanagh were called upon to inject the wartime wardrobe with a new lease of life, whilst ensuring durability with a host of practical new materials. Although the shapes of the clothes were standardised, attention to detail and a mix of prints ensured their popularity amongst British women. During this time retailers such as Marks & Spencer flourished- even in times of austerity, you could count on the British high street to showcase its pioneering spirit.

By contrast make up wasn’t hit nearly so hard by the austerity measures. Relatively speaking, the beauty industry boomed during this period as the British government recognised the significance of a women’s warpaint on the national effort. Small luxuries like red lipstick were deemed to maintain morale, and served as a much needed escape from the drab sanctions imposed on clothing. So even if your dress was fraying, you could at least throw on some kohl and a smile.

Rationing came to an end in 1949 and with it a new attitude inspired by Christian Dior’s ‘New Look’ collection that brought frivolity back to the forefront of fashion. While the explosion of the fashion industry that has since followed clearly reflects our desire to shop, one lesson we can take away from the 1940s consumer was the emphasis on quality over quantity. Unlike the mass-produced stock we take for granted today, utility clothes were built to last simply because they had to. With this in mind, perhaps we could all think twice about clicking ‘add to basket’ on another £6 top that’s bound to fray after one night of wear.

Fashion on the Ration at the Imperial War Museum London runs until 31 August

Why it’s time to move beyond ‘Fat vs. Thin’

Last night Channel 4 aired Plus Sized Wars, a seemingly predictable take on the ‘Fat vs. Thin’ debate, in which attention turned to the wave of plus size Instagram models taking the British high street by storm (several years behind the times, if you ask me). The usual Twitter wars were sparked as thousands voiced their opinion on the matter, while the controversy continued well into the morning as today’s Metro flaunted a mildly infuriating quote from Loose Woman and one-time 00s pop sensation, Jamelia (yes, who?) about pandering to the nation’s obesity crisis. Yet by lunch time the question of waist size had put firmly back on the shelf again, no doubt ready to be unearthed by an uninspired C4 producer in due course.

It’s not that the debate itself is tired- far from it, if statistics on both female and male eating disorders are anything to go by- but the fact that it’s presented in the same tired format over and over again prevents these kinds of shows from having any lasting impact. We take what is a very poignant issue and dilute it for our entertainment, to the point where most viewers don’t know what to think anymore. One minute we’re poking fun at overweight couples who are so unrestrained that they’re oblivious to their own gluttony on Secret Eaters, the next it’s a big fat thumbs down to the fashion industry for failing to accommodate the fabulous curves of the so-called ‘average woman’. Obesity and society’s prejudice against it are both valid points, yet we never engage with the issue beyond these superficial, and transparently voyeuristic, programs. There’s no real debate other than the need to debate; it’s passive media consumption at its finest.

Political initiatives always assert that female body image needs to be addressed. In schools, in the workplace and, most consistently, in the media. Yet in reality we’re offered very limited resources to thoroughly engage with the complex relationship most women have with their bodies. It’s all very well telling us that, on the one hand, sugar makes you fat, while, at the same time, too skinny= wrong, but where do we go from here? What about the millions of girls who are neither overweight nor disconcertingly thin, who all still struggle with their insecurities on a daily basis? Who are they supposed to relate to? In a move not so far removed from the media fat cats who saturate our ad breaks with junk food commercials in the hope we’ll subconsciously take note, those in power continue to underestimate our capacity to think freely for ourselves.

Clearly it’s our fascination with food that drives the creation of programs like Plus Size Wars and encourages us to pick up this morning’s Metro en masse. We consume them with vigour because, along with 140 characters on Twitter, it’s the only way to get involved. You can lay the blame on Western pop culture, the food industry or the individual all you want, but the real failure is society’s expectation of us. For as long as these platforms remain limited, so does the scope for discussion, and worse than allowing women like Jamelia to come out with such idiotic comments, it enables these oversimplified views to have clout.

Make early mornings your new best friend

Fitting in an exercise regime around a bustling social life and full time work is no easy feat, and I’ll  admit that I’ve picked up some pretty bad habits recently. I claim I’m too busy to fit in regular, short workouts so overcompensate by hitting it way too hard a few days each week. The crazy thing is that, if you break it down, there are plenty of chunks in the day to fit in a brief 20 or 30 minutes of exercise- you just have to use your time wisely. Case in point being the mornings: yes, the idea of dragging your sorry self out of bed half an hour earlier than usual does not sound appealing at first, but there are some real benefits to gain from an active start. In fact, science has it that rising with the dawn chorus is just about one of the best times there is to exercise.

Mood

If the phrase ‘not a morning person’ applies to you, you could stand to reap some serious gains from an AM gym session. As we all learnt from Legally Blonde, exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, a mood-boosting hormone that elevates your sense of wellbeing for the rest of the day. So it seems that happy people don’t stay in bed for hours on end (or shoot their husbands, apparently…)

Energy levels

Did you know that working out too late in the evening can actually disrupt your sleep pattern? That’s because exercise kickstarts your adrenaline levels and raises your heart rate- so while your body may feel physically tired, you’ll most likely find yourself tossing and turning unable to drift off. By contrast, the boost of energy generated from a morning stint can be effectively burned off throughout the day, allowing you to sleep easy that night.

Metabolism

Great news, and particularly effective if you do HIIT or interval training. Getting your body moving so early on can speed up your metabolism for up to 48 hours, meaning that anything you do eat that day will be burned up faster than if you’d have hit Snooze for another 20 minutes.

Time

OK, so there isn’t any real science behind this one but it’s probably my favourite benefit. Waking up earlier elongates your day and breaks up the monotony of 9-5 working life by enabling you to claim back a small piece of the morning. Switching from evening workouts also gives you free reign to make plans later that day, so you never have to sacrifice a gossip sesh for a slog on the treadmill ever again.

 

8 life lessons from early 00s songs

In every 00s girl’s life there came a time when adolescence kicked in and the answers once found in Jacqueline Wilson novels just didn’t cut it anymore. Sure, we had magazines like Mizz and Elle Girl to teach us the ins and outs of snogging, and how to customise your jean jacket so you could be the belle of the ball on non-uniform day, but when it came to the real life shit there was nothing like the sassy tunes of the early 00s to complete your transformation from girl to woman.

Frankee, F.U.R.B

A modern day feminist reading of Eamon’s F*ck It could interpret his attack on Frankee as a form of slut shaming, but the Queens beauty sure as hell got her own back. Frankee’s rationale taught a generation that cheating is excusable when your partner is lousy in bed. But no matter what your evil ex pens about you in a song, you can always count on your velour tracksuit-clad girlfriends to have your back. You made me do this.

City High, What Would You Do?

Ah the tale of a running into an old school-friend-turned-prostitute at a party who’s been though more than you could ever relate to. Looking back, this City High song was pretty heavy going for a naive young preteen to sing along to. But, like it or not, it exposed the harsh reality that shit happens, kids.

TLC, No Scrubs

Ultimate. Life. Lesson. Yes this technically came out at the tail end of the 90s, but 15 years on it’s still applicable to many a man hanging out of the passenger side of his best friend’s car window on a warm summer’s eve. Thank you to TLC for teaching me to have standards. Live at home with your mama? No thank you, sir.

Britney Spears, I’m a Slave 4 U

After years of playing her V card, in 2001 Brit’s rebellious side emerged as she taught us girls to take back control of our sexuality. OK so the pink thong/leather trousers combo and sex dungeon video probably took it a little to far for an impressionable 11-year-old, but one look at her razor-cut layers that were so 00s you could cry and who the hell even cared.

Christina Aguilera, Can’t Hold us Down

While Britney had the sultry side covered, Christina stepped up to the mark with a dose of girl power. In what was actually a pretty groundbreaking equal rights anthem at the time, a bright orange XTina hit back at all the h8rs with a gaggle of her fiercest pals.

JoJo, Leave (Get Out)

In contrast to Frankee’s defence of her infidelity, when the shoe’s on the other foot it transpires that shit really does hit the fan. Props to a fresh faced JoJo for hitting back at her no good, two-timing man in this classic 00s R&B jam. (Also, FYI guys, if you’re going to cheat don’t leave her number on your phone DUH.)

Jenifer Lopez, Jenny from the Block

Ah, a little modesty from one of the richest female artists to emerge from the decade, and one half of power couple Bennifer at the time. Despite all of the glitz and DKNY goodies, we could count on JLO to remind us that no matter how successful you become later in life, it’s important to always remember your roots.

Nelly and Kelly, Dilemma

Providing some much needed tenderness in a world of flash cars and promiscuity, Nelly and Kelly proved that true love conquers all in their romantic duet. Looking back, the duo were kind of like a modern day Romeo and Juliette, only in baggy trousers and heavy lip liner.

 

Pastels for pale girls

Pastels have hit the high street just in time for the April heatwave, and nothing says ‘summer’ like a dreamy pop of pink or cool mint green. While an authentic tan may be the perfect accessory to compliment a lighter hue, there’s no reason why pale girls can’t get in on the action too- the key is to pick the right colour to suit your features. Here’s my pick of the best pastel shades for blondes, brunettes and redheads.

Blondes

It’s tempting to gravitate towards girly pinks, but blondes are best off avoiding neutral tones that will wash them out. For a failsafe look, stick to brighter greens and blues to offset light hair and make your eyes sparkle.

1- top, Oasis; 2- top & skirt, Lavish Alice; 3- culottes, Warehouse, 4- bag, Cambridge Satchel Company; 5- mixed rings, JOY; 6- sunglasses, Asos; 7- shoes, Topshop

Brunettes

Lucky brunettes probably have the most scope when it comes to pastels. Pink can be ultra flattering when contrasted with darker locks, while yellow can make for a surprisingly daring choice that is right on-trend this spring.

1- dress, Warehouse; 2- dress, Oasis; 3- skirt, Lavish Alice; 4- scarf, Accessorize; 5- bracelet, JOY; 6- bag, Accessorize 

Redheads

For redheads, stick to cool purple tones to flatter porcelain skin. When paired with auburn hair purple makes for a winning combination that’s sure to catch more than a few admiring looks.

1- top, Oasis, 2- bag, JOY; 3- trousers, Warehouse; 4- top, Oasis, 5- shoes, New Look; 6- necklace, JOY

Fitness hacks in time for summer

Hands up if the sun came out this week and scared the bejesus out of you at the thought of revealing your pasty winter body to the world once more? It seems like just yesterday we were happily sipping on our hot chocolates, nestled in the safety of layers upon layers of knitwear, while postponing our gym plans for another place and another time. The next thing you know its 20 degrees outside and our attention turns to midriffs, short shorts and a whole lot of body angst. After a dreamy weekend of chicken soup and Lindt bunnies (oh, the joys of being mixed faith) I’ve been feeling particularly sluggish this week, but I’m determined to overhaul my mindset and get back into healthy habits once again. Because if there’s one thing I know, aside from the fact that that extra portion of kneidlach was beyond worth it, a healthy outlook is half the battle won.

Cut out the crap

Kickstart your regime with a kitchen clear out- that means waving goodbye to all the unhealthy snacks that taste great at the time but do little for your health. It’s surprising how quickly you stop craving crisps when they’re no longer lurking in the back of your cupboards.

Get into a routine

If, like me, you go all in at the gym for a week, momentarily feel like Bar Refeali then slack off again, it’s time to knuckle down with a realistic schedule. Even if you’re busy, a quick 20 minute burst every other day is better than no workout at all, and the regular exercise will keep you focused on staying healthy outside of the gym.

Watch the midweek booze

Alcohol has a nasty little habit of creeping up on you and before you know it that glass of wine you poured to drown out a stressful day at work has turned into two, then three, then half the bottle mysteriously disappears. Like it or not, liquid calories still= calories, so it’s best saved for weekends and times of crisis where sparkling water just won’t cut it.

Make time to cheat

Probably the most important rule of all. It’s ok to say yes to dessert every once in a while- just think of it as a reward for all your hard work. This is especially true if you’re out and about socialising; no one wants to be that girl ordering a garden salad at dinner, and you shouldn’t have to live a life of austerity in the name of healthy living.

Am I responsible for my never-ending singledom?

At this moment in time I honestly feel like I’m destined to be single forever. In fact, the odds of Anna Wintour herself calling to personally offer me a job at Vogue seem more likely than the prospect of finding a nice boyfriend in time for summer. I’d love to know what the secret it; where this mythical man with certified ‘BOYFRIEND POTENTIAL’ status stamped across his forearm lies. But could it be that I’m looking for answers in all the wrong places? While it’s true that in the two and a half years that I’ve been single I’ve questioned the psychological make up of the less-fairer sex extensively, I seldom bring my own behaviour under scrutiny. Perhaps the true reason why I’m still on my own lies a little closer to home.

Complaining about my seemingly endless single status to my brother over the weekend, he raised the point that I was in no position to gripe when I write off guys for the most trivial reasons. While it’s true that I have, in the past, dumped someone I was seeing on the basis that they were only ever free for dates on Sunday evenings, and another because he made me buy the first round of drinks at the bar (these are not some of my proudest moments, I hasten to add), I always blamed the end of our trysts on their shortcomings.

Older brother’s advice threw me into a brief wine-induced spin of self doubt (being a male and thus infinitely more knowledgable about their mindset). Was I guilty of sabotaging my own happiness before it even began? Men, he reminded me, are a complex breed and it’s not always possible for women to understand the logic behind their strange actions. Fundamentally a lot of the guys I’ve dated have been nice, well raised boys, they’ve just cocked up early on and I’ve been unwilling to forgive them.

After a tall glass of water and some soul searching, I brought myself back to reality. The trouble is that while this sentiment is nice, it’s easy to subscribe to when you’re out of the harsh world of modern dating as my brother is. In the midst of it you’re susceptible to a hell of a lot of bullshit, and if you don’t keep your guard up it becomes soul-destroying beyond the usual desolation of swiping through sleazebag after sleazebag on Tinder. Anyone in the dating game will tell you they’ve come to form a wall of self protection out of necessity.

Yet there is something about dating that makes us uncharacteristically harsh. First dates are like much like auditions in which you scrutinise everything from each other’s ambitions to choice of footwear over a lukewarm G&T; the second date dinner is a three-course boot camp and, well, you’re lucky if you see them again after that. Often we’re willing our date to slip up and reveal they’re actually a bit psycho so we can justify never seeing them or their hideous shoes again; it’s probably not the most constructive way to find a life partner.

Then I remember that I did give aforementioned first round guy a final chance, a ‘movie date’ that involved him plying me with gin then never contacting me again after he realised I wasn’t a third-date-third-base kind of girl. So maybe my instincts aren’t so far off after all.

Pillar box red

Vintage shopping is a great way to cultivate your own unique style. Why buy that must-have Topshop dress you’ve seen everyone wearing around town when can find something equally special that no one else will have? Sure, rooting around rails upon rails of questionable pieces is not always fun, but when you come across a retro gem it’s like striking gold.  I picked up this 1950s-style dress from Beyond Retro and I absolutely love the feminine cut of the fuller skirt. A dress like this oozes classic elegance- simply throw on some pillar box red lipstick for old-school 50s glamour that won’t be going out of vogue any time soon.

Dress, Beyond Retro

Shoes, ASOS

Bag, Urban Outfitters

Lipstick, MAC Ruby Woo