Why I buy into the Beauty Myth

While drinking my morning cup of coffee, wondering why my body ached so much – ‘cos it’s Monday – my eyes kept closing – ‘cos it’s Monday – and genuinely worrying about my upcoming tax-return saga – ‘cos it’s Monday – my inbox presented me with The Guardian’s fashion digest. Among it was an old yet fantastic report on beauty fixes that require no surgery, written by Sali Hughes. In my opinion, Sali is a pretty decent beauty writer. She bases her reviews on products that have been tested by herself or by her friends. Through her I have learnt a lot about make up and beauty, but also, life – she’s particularly brilliant at The Pool . Having read this article when it first came out almost 2 years ago, I went to the comment section to check whether any of the regulars had used the products mentioned or had other suggestions.

However, what I found was hate. No other word for it, just pure, undiluted, heavy hate. Hate for Sali, hate for her writing, but mostly hate for the “beauty myth” and anyone who dares buy into it. Apparently, if you are a feminist, or of sound mind, or if you have any self-respect, beauty products are a massive NO-NO. Here are some of my favourite quotes:

“Advice for the obsessively vain on how to spend (or should that be “waste”) vast amounts of money on their vanity. Makes you wonder why we bothered with feminism.”

“This article makes me sad.”

“Is society really that obsessed with wanting to pretend to be young? What’s the point? We’ll all be dead in the blink of an eye.”

Oh and the winner:

“The Guardian readership might be interested in the columnist’s Twitter feed or the comments on her site http://forum.salihughesbeauty.com/forum.php – to see what she and her group think of those who have dared express an opinion here which is less than flattering.

Reply: Why? I am not in the least interested in your bitch fest.”

So, in view of all of this, I’m just going to say the following:

1. If you are so bloody confident you ditch beauty creams, facials, make-up, good for you. Now piss off
2. If you have a perfect face/hair that requires no make up, no colour, no re-touching, good for you. Now piss off
3. If your life is about judging others for not being as “awesome” as you, good for you. Now piss off

You see, I’m a feminist, a strong-minded woman with my own political, philosophical and social views. I have a Master of Arts, I speak 4 languages and, guess what? This morning I put on make-up. I did so in the way tutorials by Sali Hughes taught me. I work from home, I am not going out today and spending my day alone. So why did I dare plaster my face with the ointments the patriarchy wants me to use? Because when I look in the mirror, I choose not see an exhausted version of myself, as guess what? Looking like I’ve just been dragged through the sewers is a style I don’t favour.

Make up and facials, creams and red lipstick have A LOT to do with being a feminist. Women rights today allow us to make our own mind, taking decisions for ourselves and no one else. Oh and also,

4. If you ever think I overdo it with the eyeliner, or the number of face creams I buy, good for you. Now piss off

I’m off to play with the eyeshadow palette I bought myself for my birthday, so I’ll leave you with this:

Janet: 8 of her best fashion moments

My brother played an important role in my early childhood. Like any younger sibling, I closely monitored his every move, wondering about his obsession with trainers of a certain brand or taking note of his opinions about the Marvel universe. I also discovered music through what he listened to, which during the early years revolved mostly around Michael Jackson – and a questionable Samantha Fox period. However, the rebel in me couldn’t embrace Michael just like that. Learning Michael had a sister, I became a feminist before I knew what it meant, rooting for the girl. That was the start of my obsession with Janet, Miss Jackson if you’re nasty.

I fell for her amazing moves, her gorgeous voice, and those amazing cat-like-eyes. It was a pretty serious girl crush. While Madonna was my Bible, Janet was my glossy magazine. From her choice of clothes, to how she wore her hair, every style she rocked, fascinated me. Here are my favourite Janet moments, über stylish examples of pop music at its mightiest.

1. The Pleasure Principle

Ever dreamt of moving to the Big Apple and living in an abandoned warehouse? I did, thanks to Flashdance and this video. It’s impossible not to watch in awe as the adidas-clad feet strike some truly awesome moves, this was Janet coming out of her shell, finding her own persona. It’s also proof of her raw talent before she became a household name. 

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2. Rhythm Nation

Nowadays, you would be hard-pressed to find a 23-year-old pop star, fully clothed, head to toe and with shadows hiding half her body on every frame, seriously limiting her exposure. Similarly, you would struggle to find a choreography as effective, sharp and powerfully executed. It’s a flawless pop hit and cemented the launch of Janet Jackson worldwide. It also blew my mind.

3. Love Will Never Do (Without You)

Herb Ritts was one of those talents we lost way too early, and part of his legacy are videos like Wicked Game, Cherish and Janet’s Love Will Never Do (Without You). Sporting a cropped top, high-waisted jeans, Janet epitomises fashion in the 90s. When I first heard LWND I was convinced it was a duet, but it’s all Janet, showing off a stunning vocal range that makes this single so special. There isn’t a song out there quite like this one.

4. Rolling Stone magazine cover by Patrick Demarchelier

This iconic image brings us to the entire “Janet.” era, the one that made me record That’s The Way Love Goes  on a VHS tape every time it came on TV, over and over again. I ended up learning every frame, every move, every line uttered by Janet and her troupe. I bought a choker just like hers and copied her make-up. Sidenote: how cute is J-Lo in the video?

5. Got Til it’s Gone

A beautiful video shot by Mark Romanek, it’s stylistically gorgeous, complimenting the trip hop beats of the song flawlessly. Janet’s look is a complete departure from her previous work, and it came after a painful period of self-discovery and acceptance in Janet’s life. The Velvet Rope is a masterpiece of an album and even today, it sounds fantastic. 

6. Everytime by Matthew Rolston

It’s just Janet, with a piece of fabric to cover her modesty and a lot of water. It’s stunning.

7. Scream by Mark Romanek

And this is where I get controversial, because, in my opinion, Janet steals the show. The PVC trousers, the spiky jumper, that -insane- coat, it all seems made for her. I will not elaborate on how she wears her hair. Let’s just say I loved it so much I asked a hairdresser to recreate it…with very dodgy results.

8. All Nite (Don’t Stop) by Francis Lawrence

No one has earn her abs more than Janet and she knows how to flaunt them. All Nite gives you goosebumps at the start, with Janet introducing the brilliance of the song: “this is sick”. The tiniest of cropped tops, a sexy game of lights and shadows, and we are gifted with yet another masterful choreography.

Sadly, everything she has done since that “boobgate” incident has been blatantly ignored and blacklisted by the-powers-that-be. A female nipple is still seen as something offensive, Instagram and Facebook urging everyone to cover up or be banned. Whether it was deliberate, whether it was a wardrobe malfunction, why does anyone care?

Janet is the only artist – apart from Madge – who has an exclusive playlist on my Spotify, my ringtone is Janet’s intro to Escapade and yes, I did lose the plot slightly when I heard she was making a comeback. Unsuprisingly, I am not the only one currently fangirling over Janet. 

Her new single, No Sleeep, is another of those quiet and sexy affairs she is so great at delivering. Fait accompli Miss Jackson, it’s so nice to have you back.

GIRLS: The show I want to hate

I don’t know what it is about HBO’s Girls that as much as I don’t want to follow the show, I end up watching it, season after season. Is it just me feeling like this?

Girls started off as a really funny comedy, about some unashamedly spoilt characters with awkward sex lives and undefined yet high ambitions. All of their attempts at growing up seem to be repeatedly sabotaged by the characters themselves. The show seemed to tick every box: fake friendships, ugly breakups, low paid jobs, dodgy internships, and unsurprisingly, some great wardrobes. I never minded Hannah’s (Dunham’s character) repeated nude scenes, even finding them refreshing amongst the daily “perfect” bodies Hollywood throws at us.

Then at the same time, after the first season, I began to grow unsure about the show, even dropping it for a while after that twisted sex scene in season 2, involving Adam and his then girlfriend Natalia.

You can argue that the characters in Girls are pretty shallow, that the lifestyles they represent are impossible in reality. However, you could say the same about Sex & The City and Carrie I-write-one-column-and-live-like-a-celebrity Bradshaw, or many other portraits of life in the Big Apple. You can argue that Lena Dunham is not only overrated, but very well connected through her own family and the families of the other cast members. On season 2 the show seemed to not want to be a comedy anymore by turning pretty dark, whether by raising the debate on sexual abuse or by portraying extremely broken characters. However, as its fourth season began this week, there I was, watching the show, laughing again.

I’m still fascinated by Jessa’s long hair and her natural ability for not giving a sh*t. I still want to see Marnie make half the effort for something, then fail miserably, then let herself be picked up again. I want to see Adam and Hannah together and Shoshana still entertains me with her fast paced monologues.

At the same time, I really hate that it is impossible to live like Jessa and survive in NYC unless you have rich parents. It irks me that Adam can be abusive and how he seems to be excused, being the romantic hero for our heroine. I hate how Hannah’s character takes over the entire show most of the time and that Marnie seems to be the token pretty face with very little else to offer. Shoshana…if there was ever a character that resembled a charicature, that’s Zosia Mamet’s character.

Alas, here I am, writing about the show and waiting impatiently for the next one to be aired. Because Lena Dunham is doing something right, it seems. I just haven’t figured out what it is yet.

Picture: HBO

Should You Dress Your Dog?

Fashion trickles down onto everything. Whether we like it or not, trends drive how we behave and the lifestyles we choose. In recent years there’s been a huge shift on how dogs are considered within the household, in many ways this evolution being for the better. The majority of people that have a dog will have the animal sleep under the same roof. Most people will even spend a good amount of money in accessories such as plush bedding and interactive toys to keep their furry friend happy. A lot of dog owners choose only dog-friendly holidays, where they can share their time off with their pets.

And now, we have actual dog fashion, as in clothing brands that are marketed towards dogs and owners who will buy a collar with a certain print, or a jumper with a colourful pattern. When it comes to dressing up your dog, I cannot help but feel like there is an invisible line, in which you go from “dog owner who wants to keep their dog warm” to “crazy dog-person who dresses their chihuahua in a tutu and tiara”.

I really got into dog fashion when I adopted my best friend, Nero, more than 7 years ago. I remember being so excited about my little companion that I bough him a camo-tee with “Action Pup” written on the back. To me, this was treading the very thin line between funny and ridiculous. A year later, I pushed the envelope a tad further… with a Yankees sweater.

I’d like to say no humans were harmed in this photoshoot, but Nero was pretty miffed at me

The fact that Nero would walk sideways, à la crab, every time he wore the sweater was a dead giveaway: what I found cute meant nothing to my dog.

There are ways of dressing up your dog, in the same way as there are many different reasons to do so. Sometimes it’s not about aesthetics. Any dog expert or veterinarian will tell you that certain smaller breeds, with short or barely any hair, do require an extra layer of warmth during the colder months. Greyhounds have such delicate thin skins that it’s advised they wear a coat if they are going to engage in play with other dogs.

I’m a firm believer of “to each his own”. If for you happiness comes from dressing up your dog in skirts, tees and beanies, go ahead. I do however wonder how these animals actually feel about it. Some owners will swear their dogs love to don some Santa shorts and a hat every Christmas and who am I to refute that?

Due to the fact that Nero is small and pretty thin on the furry side, decent canine attire is something I’ve learnt to look out for. Being a dachshund mix, he is fussy as hell and will refuse to walk in anything with sleeves or hoodies. I couldn’t have been happier when, more than a year ago, I found a brand that hits the nail on the head with regards dog fashion, Pepito & Co.

Their garments are very wearable and easy to clean, even catered for fussy dogs, as Celia, the lovely designer behind the brand, once told me. Their rescued dachshund Pepe, doesn’t enjoy garments with sleeves. So everything that is manufactured has to be canine-approved, otherwise it’s discarded. Celia and her partner Rubén are continuously inspired by their beloved dogs: Blondie and Pepe, and now, wonderfully sassy Conchita. Pepito & Co products can be bought via their online store and, recently via HOUNDWORTHY in the UK.

Yes, I’m a sucker for cute things, so it’s no surprise that when I found another sausage in need of a home, I adopted said wiener. I bought him his own Pepito & Co collar because I felt he deserved his own stars. I’m hoping one day I’ll be able to afford one of the travel bags by Pepito & Co, they are ridiculously cool-looking, and, I said I’m a sucker, didn’t I?

Jarvis giving good face with the 2013 Americana collar, part of a limited edition

I can’t help loving my dogs as much as I do. I honestly don’t make them wear anything they are not comfortable with …anymore. Having a dog is a massive change in lifestyle and I, for one, am happy to see cute accessories aimed at making my life easier and my dogs happier. I don’t know if I will ever be OK with dogs being dressed up as princesses or pirates. This is the thing about trends, they end up permeating everything. If it makes you smile and you are 100% convinced your dog wags its tail happily every time the superman suit comes out, it’s not the worst you can do. You could be one of those people who buys a dog of a fashionable breed to then abandon it when things get tough. For that, personally, I have zero tolerance.

Pictures: Fashion Limbo via @sausagemafia on Instagram,  Santos Román por Pepito & Co

Does anyone actually care about sweatshops?

A year ago, a Bangladesh clothing factory collapsed, killing 1,129 people. I write this number** but I still barely believe it: one-thousand-one-hundred and twenty-nine human beings died while creating garments for Benetton, Mango, Primark, El Corte Inglés and many other brands: tops, dresses, coats, clothing we get for, really, very little money.

At the time there was so much written about it, petitions pushed forward,  many brands signed pledges to strive to improve workers’ conditions, to ensure every person involved in the process of creating a garment could work in complete safety and for a fair pay.

However, it only takes a short look into the fashion industry to realise that, this is not something that is easily done by brands – it takes a lot of money, time and ultimately, will. More importantly, if the customer expects to pay a tenner, five dollars or euros for a t-shirt, then the conditions in which the garment is produced are going to be extremely cheap, quite basic, and with pretty slim safety checks.

So, have my shopping habits changed since the Rana Plaza disaster? Do I shop and if so, am I willing to pay more for clothing that’s not made in sweatshops?

As a freelancer, at this moment in time cash is pretty limited, so you could say I’m the perfect consumer for low-cost brands. Whenever I get some money, I could easily walk into H&M, or Primark, and score an outfit for less than 20 euro. Get a fashion fix, think nought of the consequences.

I love fashion, and I used to fantasise about having a HUGE wardrobe. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t genuinely curious about the latest Topshop collection, or that I don’t get excited when I hear of H&M designer collaborations, but lately, there is a little voice inside of me that tells me that this wouldn’t be right.

This year I decided to stop eating meat, I did so because I feel strongly about animal rights, and because I believe there is an excess of meat in supermarkets. Too much waste, too many animals kept in horrible conditions, and way too many chemicals injected in what’s supposed to be our food. I’m tackling my fashionista habits in the same manner: I have stopped going shopping. I unsubscribed from Topshop newsletters, “unliked” Facebook pages by Zara, Mango and H&M, deleted their Apps from my phone, and I avoid the areas in Barcelona in which these stores are located.

So, while I’m not  boycotting brands per se – which, maybe, could be the only way forward -, I have began to shop differently, driving my attention away from these major labels.

I believe there is no denying we buy way too many clothes, there are countless amounts of brand new garments that don’t even make it to the shops. A contact at H&M once told me that from the Martin Margiela collaboration for H&M, certain stores received an excess of stock, with dozens of boxes left unopened. This is the product of hours of underpaid work in a factory: waste.

So, how do I go about finding cheap fashion? Currently I’m focusing on several alternatives: charity shops, Ebay, and vintage stores. Recycling has never been easier, and with more and more websites like Vestiaire Collective to do so, it’s become a lot of fun, and for some, the only way to shop. It’s kinder to the environment and goes against the main point of fast fashion: we don’t just throw it away, we give it further life. I recently scored a Zara leopard print coat via Ebay. I could have bought any of the replicas the brand has produced since, but I decided second-hand (and cheap) was the only way to justify the purchase.

This post is not written with the intention of tooting my own horn. I simply wanted to give my own take on the video above. I could do more, and sometimes it’s hard to resist the power of shopping therapy. I also understand that not everyone is prepared to shop differently. Maybe it needs to be a combined effort: our responsibility as consumers to drive sales of ethically sourced fashion, and of the brands with the most money and influence to find a way to really and truthfully change the way they do business.

After the Rana Plaza disaster, brands like Zara, Topshop and H&M continue to enjoy successful sales and huge profits. Their Apps are still downloaded, their Facebook and Twitter accounts attract hundreds of thousands of followers. H&M has developed their eco-friendly line further, but it’s a small side of their business. Most of their stock is still produced in “questionable” factories in Asia. Whether they can actually control what goes on at the end of the production line, remains to be seen.

Am I a dreamer? Should I be doing even more? Does anyone actually care about where our clothes come from? Do you ever think about sweatshops? Do let me know, on the comments below, or via Twitter, I’m always up for a friendly discussion 😉

Picture: Fashion Limbo

*Further reading: thanks to blogger and stylist Arash Mazinani for directing me to this:
“Why do we need a Fashion Revolution” by fashionrevolution.org. Worth checking out, they are organising an awareness day, on April 24th 2014, to get consumers to ask brands where their clothes come from. More info via their website and Twitter @Fash_Rev.

**Regarding the Rana Plaza death toll, 1,129 is the number on Wikipedia, while other sources claim it has gone up to 1,133.

& Other Stories opens in Barcelona

Last night I braved the awful weather in Barcelona to attend the exclusive opening party for & Other Stories, the new store/brand to come out of the H&M dream factory. Despite the rain and cold wind, the fashionable people in Barcelona showed up to celebrate the designs and beauty products offered by the new brand to storm the retail front. Scroll down for pictures and my review of the entire experience.

To me, & Other Stories seems like a candy store for devoted followers of fashion. In terms of the Spanish market, many items would probably puzzle shoppers used to less riskier brands such as Zara or Mango, but if they are looking for the Scandinavian desing of COS, paired with the quirkyness of H&M’s most adventurous styles, then & Other Stories could be a lot of fun.

Things get even more exciting when it comes to their accessories collection. There is no room for boredom. Extremely covetable with shapes and colours that are unavoidably eye catching at times, in loud and vibrant shades, and on the other side of the spectrum, items that favour minimalistic lines. As I walked out of the underground floor dedicated solely to shoes, bags, shades and other tit bits, I couldn’t help but think to myself “well played, Stories, well played”.

I may have fallen for the burgundy/shiny pair above, and I may have or may have not bought them already

It was a fun event: great music, cool atmosphere, canapés and bubbles galore. The layout of the store meant there was space for a lot of people, waiters, photographers and shoppers.

The beauty section had me quite intrigued. I loved the packaging, very simple, effective and the colours in the nail bar were extremely attractive. I was gifted with the Moroccan Tea Body Mist, light and fresh, perfect for summer. I used it this morning, right after my shower, and, at almost 4pm, it’s still present, in a soft, subtle way.

My verdict on the brand? Honestly, I’m excited. It could be because I live in Spain, surrounded by the Inditex empire and quite fancied something different. The medium to high price tags – below COS but more expensive than H&M – may be a drawback, but it is an entire different shopping experience. The staff made sure we were treated superbly, but it remains to be seen whether they will always be as helpful. I couldn’t have had more fun at the shoe section, the girl giving me a hand was also dedicating herself to please several other customers around me, never ceasing to smile. The shoes are nicely packaged and they seem to be of good quality. The cosmetics appear to be more affordably priced. With regards to the clothing, again, I think time will tell whether & Other Stories manages to please initial customers and create a following like that of sister brand COS. Quality needs to exists with these higher prices.

Oh yes… I bought the shoes. It was a strong tie between these and their siblings in black, but I went for these burgundy beauties. The more I look at them, the more I like them. What do you think?

Is there an & Other Stories where you are? Or will you be shopping online? Do you think this could be a brand for you?

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

PS. Thanks to Santiago Asensio and the team behind Area CG for inviting me to the event xx

Mimi Scholer jewellery

I recently met German jewellery designer Mimi Scholer. She is based in Barcelona, in my neighbourhood, and if you want to read more about what she does you can do so in this month’s Miniguide, in an article by yours truly.

To find out where to shop for Mimi Scholer pieces and see more of her work, click here.

 Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Learning to knit with… oh, my hands!

Recently, I have been making some changes in my life to help me de-stress. Apart from baking like never before I was searching for something less complicated and messy. A hobby I could just pick up whenever I needed it, whether for 5 minutes or several hours, then move on to something else. Knitting had been in the back of my mind for a while, as it combines being creative with fashion: the more ambitious you become, the faster you can move from accessories like scarves and mittens to attempting bigger challenges like jumpers. However, I had two problems: zero patience… and the fact that I suck at knitting.

Last week I wrote a cover feature for Miniguide Barcelona, talking about knitting as a way to generate income, and the urban art known as yarnbombing. While doing the research for the article I came across Oh My Hands, who not only sell gorgeous scarves and merino wool, but also organise Barcelona-based workshops for yarn newbies like me. During said sessions they also serve tea and cake, so I really couldn’t resist when they invited me to join them some days ago.

If you’re not in Barcelona, you can shop online, either one of their gorgeous snoods, 100% merino wool, or a complete DIY set and follow their novice-friendly videos. Here are some pictures I took during the workshop.

Their wool is 100% merino wool, it comes from Portugal, feels extremely soft and doesn’t itch.

Me on the right, trying not to stab myself with the needles. I loved their glittery ends (Maria, thanks for taking the pic)

Freshly baked cake and tea, what’s not to like?

My verdict? I had a great time. With two hours we had enough time to learn the basics, practice a lot, share a few laughs and enjoy some freshly baked cake with tea. Their video tutorials, which were projected on the wall for further help, are very well filmed and easy to use from home. While you can’t expect leaving the workshop with your snood finished, it took a novice like me only 4 sessions of knitting at home, whilst I watched a movie, or relaxed for a couple of hours. I had to undo my work a couple of times, but the more you re-started it, the easier it got. I think, overall, it took me 5 hours to complete mine. It was surprisingly easy and extremely relaxing.

My finished snood, in plush burgundy red

The big needles and thick yarn make it easy to knit, spot your mistakes, and simply unstitch everything if necessary. You quickly see that you are creating something, and for impatient, over-stressed souls like me, that is a huge plus.

If you’re in Barcelona, why not book one of these workshops, which are also available in english? If you are outside, they ship internationally, so you can purchase one of their snoods, made by hand, with luxurious merino wool, which is a treat. They look great worn over plaid shirts, leather jackets and t-shirts.

So, what do you think of my snood? I’m planning to make new items soon, knitting is addictive! What should I do next?

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Oh My Hands can be reached via this link. Their website is in Spanish and English.