June 19, 2013

Feminism 3.0

Apologies if I’m late to the party, but I came across the Gaggle Cave this weekend. It’s a bit like the Batcave, but it’s a pop up shop run by a feminist choir called Gaggle. Yes, you read that right. A feminist choir. In the Gaggle Cave you can find their records, original art work and one-off designs from the creative brains behind Topshop Unique.

When they’re not brightening up London with splashes of neon and the orange hair of their achingly cool artist in resident, they’re running workshops on everything from studio sound engineering for women to welding. We’re hooked.

June 18, 2013

Twinkle Toes

We’re definitely well into sandal-wearing weather now, but if you’re feet are looking less than pedicure perfect, we completely understand why you’re sticking to you favourite pair of boots. It’s time to tackle those toes!

This week the Glossy team put products to the test that deal with the not so glossy issue of dry feet. Read more: Get The Gloss.

June 14, 2013

The Black Mystique

An art installation which invites visitors to touch black women’s hair. Racial objectification? Or an accessible way of beginning to break down barriers in America’s great divide between black and white?

In New York City, Antonia Opiah (founder of Un’ruly), extended an open invitation to all curious passers-by for an exhibition called “You Can Touch My Hair.” Opiah was exploring the “tactile fascination” with black women’s hair by gathering a trio of women with different hair textures and styles (locks, straight/weave and loose, natural hair) and allowing strangers the opportunity to fondle their follicles. Bedecked with signs reading “You can touch my hair,” the ladies made their hair available for two hours to anyone with the courage to take them up on the offer. Read more: Huffington Post.

June 12, 2013

Networking 101

Networking. It’s a skill – and one that many of us struggle with. Is it really as straightforward as going up to someone and simply introducing yourself?

If you’d rather walk on broken glass than work a room, you’re not alone: ‘How to network’ gets a whopping six million Google searches per month. But it’s easier than you think. We asked the experts – from business tycoons to bloggers – to share their networking tips on how to shake the shyness and get ahead. Read more: Easy Living.

June 11, 2013

Feminism 3.0

Recently I attended two events organised and promoted by the UK government. Both events aimed to address issues facing women today. One was a panel on Body Confidence hosted by Junior Equalities Minister, Jo Swinson (as part of her ongoing campaign against re-touching and unrealistic depictions of women in the media). The other was organised by the Women’s Business Council and the Secretary of State, Maria Miller, and was all about how to get more girls interested in STEM careers and business, as well as trying to tackle the lack of female leaders in those areas. What should have been inspiring debates with people of power and expertise were, in fact, on both occasions a face-palming, frustrating, ticking of boxes. But, alas, all was not lost. I did learn a few things…

If in doubt, set up a panel

It seems Mr Cameron plans to fight gender equality with a complex network of panels and councils. When the government is bamboozled by issues that they can’t solve/don’t understand /don’t really care about, Cameron sticks a group of women in a room for an hour and hopes they come up with something.

Launch a report

If you are confused by the purpose of the panel, see the 30-page report. That will definitely make things clearer.

Forget to invite any men

In conversations that were essentially about equality, there was a distinct lack of men on both occasions. And whilst both panels had a token man, superwomen CEO and founder of 30% Club, Helena Morrissey, asked the WBC where all the men were? “Er, they were invited”. Hmm.

Be completely unclear about what you actually intend to do

Grand declarations of ‘changing the culture’ and ‘giving girls opportunity’ were repeatedly thrown about. What panels plan on actively doing when not at the panel, well that wasn’t so clear.

Forget to confer with the people you seek to represent

While we all discussed the pressure 15-year-old girls face, there wasn’t a single high-schooler in sight. Just an idea…

Avoid using the F-word

Prohibit access of violent porn to young men? Encourage girls to feel good about their bodies? Help women back to work after having a baby? I *think* it’s called Feminism.

Remark “how far we’ve already come”

Yes, Maria Miller, fortunately we have come a long way from the days of Suffragettes, but with a 25 year high in female unemployment, fewer women in the cabinet and slashes to services that affect women, it’s not the time to start patting yourself on the back.

June 11, 2013

The Summer Beauty Edit

June 5, 2013

The Science of Sleep

Sleep. We can’t get enough of it. Is there more to getting sufficient sleep than simply managing to ensure you’re in bed at a reasonable hour? Oh yes.

The sleeping hormone melatonin is not just responsible for your circadian rhythm and allowing body and mind to recover. Through the pineal gland, it also controls the human ageing process. But stress, too little daylight and wrong dietary habits can disrupt melatonin production in the human body. The following four tips will help kick-start your melatonin release. Read more: Daily Kate.

June 3, 2013

George & Nina

Things we love even more than discovering an exciting new brand? Discovering an exciting new brand with extraordinarily reasonable prices. Meet George & Nina, a French label specialising in just one thing: deliciously comfortable printed trousers. Oh hello, elasticated waistband! These fancy pants are perfect for lazing about in the park, no-fuss weekend dressing, or any occasion when it’s likely that you might be going to overindulge a little (barbecues, birthday dinners, you get the picture).
Dress ‘em up, dress ‘em down – from the geometric patterns of the Cubano to the pretty florals of the Paris-Paris, there’s something to please everyone. And they’re 45€ a pair! Find out more on the George & Nina website.

May 30, 2013

On Being Happy

Criticising, complaining and control. What if – in order to be happy – it was easier to stop doing things rather than start them? Yes, it may seem counter-intuitive to focus on the negative rather than the positive, but there’s a lot that makes sense in this short, succinct guide.
Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not any more. Read more: World Observer Online.

May 23, 2013

Redefining Success

What does success mean to us? And what should it mean? Giving the commencement address for the 2013 Smith College graduating class, Arianna Huffington inspires and imparts wisdom on how to refocus on what we understand as success.

“Money and power by themselves are a two-legged stool — you can balance on them for a while, but eventually you’re going to topple over.” Read more: Brain Pickings.