Grazia on Rihanna and domestic violence

Since it burst onto the interwebs in January, the Vagenda blog has proved an almost overnight hit with its sharp, witty critique of media for women. Likening the content of the usual suspects on a hitlist of glossy mags as ‘a large hadron collider of bullshit,’ the two founding editors determined that Something Had To Be Done. The result? A blog that has become a daily must-click for a generation of women bored with the bland, trite and quite honestly tedious(not to mention sexist) features that we find in the magazines created for ABC1 readers looking for something to peruse during their lunch break.

There’s a feminist slant to the blog, but reading the Vagenda doesn’t feel like having your slightly militant feminist friend yaddering on about women’s rights when really you’d rather be drinking rosé and having a discussion about politics AND shoes AND art AND whether to get a fringe or not. Well, the Vagenda is the pal that would certainly accompany you in that enterprise. The blog’s posts are insightful, interesting and, in general totally hilarious. You’ll be guffawing at your screen and thinking ‘Damn right!’ as you read Grazia’s Insights Into Domestic Violence or Are Successful Women Scary?

The Vagenda is penned by a small team, and as a proportion of the writers work in media, most have chosen to remain anonymous. That said, Vagenda has already featured in the Sunday Times, the Evening Standard and one of the co-editors even went head-to-head with Cosmo editor Louise Court on the BBC”s Woman’s Hour. In the future, we’d love to see the journalists behind the features Vagenda critiques actually take time to address their detractors. We’ll see.

So with no further ado, we’d like to introduce Holly and Rhiannon, the two fiercely funny ladies who set up Vagenda, ‘a hormonal Private Eye, without the Oxbridge education’. Do follow them on Twitter, they’d definitely swig rosé with you – and tell you why you definitely don’t need to lose weight, improve your blow job technique or get plastic surgery any time soon.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Rhiannon: It’s something I’ve always enjoyed. All of us at the Vagenda enjoy doing it in our spare time, and some of us do it as a profession, too. But unfortunately being a journalist doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be a good writer. I guess the Vagenda was something of an outlet for that.

Holly: The short answer is yes – it’s the longest term ambition I’ve ever had. Blogging is the best kind of writing for our lives at the moment, because it’s a short, rapid response to the media that you can fit around a busy lifestyle!

Why did you set up The Vagenda?

R: Us editors we sitting on the floor in our old, condemned attic flat reading aloud from women’s mags. We were both in stitches. We just thought, “this is utter crap.” We’re also strident feminists and felt there needed to be a new approach to this that was accessible- we believe that you’re more likely to get through to people if you’ve got some good gags up your sleeve.

H: We didn’t see what we wanted to see, as normal twenty-something women, from the media aimed at our own demographic. And apparently, neither did thousands of others!

What’s the blog all about?

H: We do like to think of ourselves as a female Private Eye, although maybe that’s a bit ambitious! A media watchdog is definitely how we’d describe ourselves – although one with a different slant to our predecessors. We also see ourselves as a straight-up source of comedy, using women’s lifestyle mags as our inspiration. The fact that it can be seen as a comedy blog, rather than straight-up feminist commentary, seems to have widened our appeal.

R:It’s sort of a media watchdog, if you will. We monitor women’s mags and highlight the good, the bad and the ugly in terms of women’s issues. Unfortunately it’s mostly the last two categories. But the blog is 95% piss-taking, 5% hard-hitting, which is what has made it so popular, I think.

Just in case you were wondering... Phew!

Who writes for the blog?

H: An ever-growing community of women and men who have some great ideas and some shitty magazines. Rhiannon and I edit the content and produce as much of it as we can.

R: Initially there were ten of us, all of whom went to uni together. Now there are loads more because we’re getting sent pitches all the time from people all over the world, some of whom are journos wanting to stay anonymous because they’re keen to bring the system down from the inside!

How do you feel about women’s magazines?

R: We think they’re funny. They don’t really speak to us. If the Sun newspaper is a builder catcalling you in the street, a women’s mag is your snide best friend who isn’t really your friend at all, telling you you’re fat and a crap shag to boot.

H: There’s just not enough content out there that’s representative of women’s lives or concerns. Women’s magazines are stagnating and sometimes even going backwards in terms of feminism, so we’re hoping to point that out before the entire media gets on board with it. Unfortunately, the magazines that we attack now used to be boundary-pushing at their genesis.

What would you like to see from women’s magazines?

R: More general content. We do dig politics and philosophy and books, too, you know. Less of a body focus too, because the majority of us aren’t thinking about our cellulite on any given Sunday, we’re getting drunk and dancing to Cyndi Lauper.

H: The end of Photoshopping would be the best thing that could happen in that industry, alongside the snide best friend becoming a lot less of a devil on your shoulder waiting gleefully for you to have a breakdown.

What about men’s magazines?

What, you mean like Nuts and Zoo?

H: The seedier ones are obviously just the Rosencrantz to Cosmopolitan‘s Guildenstern. But before we turn our attention to those, it’s more important to target what’s being said directly to women, often by women.

R: They’re pretty funny. Those interviews with glamour models crack me up. It’s always stuff like, “how does it feel to have boobs?” I would ask them, “how does it feel to be a bellend?” Insofar as Private Eye is a “men’s magazine”, obviously I think it’s GREAT.

How did you get to where you are today and would you do anything differently?

R: It feels weird to think that we’ve got anywhere. The Vagenda is like an unplanned pregnancy. We’ve created this thing which exists in the world, and now we have to make sure it doesn’t die. It’s scary. But I guess supportive parents is the main reason we’ve done so well so far. Both Holly and I had single mums, and they have been great (as have our dads) Also just being in the right place at the right time i.e. our crap flat where the baby was conceived. I wouldn’t change a thing.

H: We built the Vagenda out of circumstances that many would describe as completely bizarre – mice, a windowless garret with a weed-smoking actor in the next room, and the dole queue inevitably after graduating from university. Unplanned pregnancy is right on the money, and we’re at the point now where we’ve birthed the concept, it needs loads of attention, and we’re still stumbling along and working out how best to deal with it all!

Who helped you along the way?

R: We all helped each other – that’s what’s great about having a collective voice. Our parents have been full of good advice too.

H: As Rhiannon said, we have a very supportive community of excellent women (and a couple of men) around us, which has been brilliant.

Who inspires you?

H: Our mums have to be number one. My mum did an entire degree in evening classes when I was a toddler, as a single mother with no childcare and a full-time job. Every time I think I’m getting snowed under by my own career, I think of that.

Vagenda's weekly Retro Feminist Cartoon

The world is full of incredibly inspirational figures, and it’s testament to how crappy women’s magazines are that we rarely hear of them. There wasn’t a whisper of Marie Colvin in any mainstream female lifestyle media until she died – so I think it’s fair to say that we need to be able to ask this question in generations to come, and young women won’t have to scrape the barrel for anyone who’s actually aligned with their principles or perspectives.

R: Our Mums. Great female journalists who don’t buy into all that “lingerie can change your life” crap. Equally bad women’s mags inspire us in terms of our writing. We’re hoping that one day we can embarrass them into compliance.

What do you think is the biggest problem in British society today and what is the most positive thing?

H: I think the biggest problem is the division that has been reintroduced by government cuts – women versus men, poor moving further from the rich, North versus South. It’s a cliche but at least it’s a good one that we’re stronger when we’re united. That’s why the Vagenda takes a very inclusive stance to feminism and our readership – divisiveness has never got us anywhere positive, or anywhere fast.

R: I’d say the most positive thing is the internet. It’s giving people a voice. It’s giving them power. It’s become a real tool for social change.

H: I agree that the internet – in particular, the rise of social media – is an incredibly positive force nowadays. Just look at Kony 2012 and its incredible success, which would never have happened before people could share things at the click of a button in real time. Of course it’s necessary to remind people sometimes that they should exercise responsibility with this new-found power!

R: I’d say the biggest problem is latent conservatism. People don’t seem to give a crap about those who are suffering anymore. They’re just cutting everything. It’s a fundamentally selfish political stance to have.

Do you feel British or European?

H: Depends on the time of day and the state of the weather! Britain has a unique culture, and I’d have to say in all honesty that even though I’d love to feel European, I don’t feel entirely aligned with mainland Europe. However, the influence of European languages and culture upon us are such a positive force, and I like the way that differentiates us from other English-speaking countries like the US and Australia.

R: British. But I speak two European languages and have lived in both those countries, and I love Europe. But I think we as an Island nation have some peculiarities which certainly don’t translate on the continent.

How do you feel about feminism today?

R: Hopeful. You have to be or you’d just lie inside crying all the time. I think it’s become a dirty word, certainly, but we’re slowly reclaiming it (with no help from Cosmo)

H:I feel disappointed that people twice my age tell me they see us stagnating, but positive about a future where we seem to have reignited our mojo a bit.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

H: The temptation to answer ‘Anyone but The Man!’ is really tugging at me. But in the serious sense: Andrew Bird, Hiatus and Shura, and Natalie Merchant.

R: My mum has moved house and has offloaded all her stuff to me so at the moment I’m going through all her vinyl. She has all the Beatles albums.

What couldn’t you live without?

R: Friends and family.

H: Salted popcorn, the food of kings.

"Next to ‘BODY NEWS’ which pretends to examine the psychology of not loving your body enough is an advert for plastic surgery"

Dream purchase?

H: A round-the-world ticket, all expenses paid!

R: Probably a flat. Ain’t no chance I’m getting on the London property ladder anytime soon. Saying that, Europeans rent happily throughout their lives so in that respect I’m not really arsed.

Favourite movie?

R: Casablanca.

H: I’ll have Tarkovsky’s Stalker as my hella pretentious one, and Bridesmaids as the funniest thing made last year. Bridesmaids definitely made me rethink whether all ‘chick flicks’ are bad news.

Favourite European city and why?

H: St Petersburg. Why not?

R: Paris, because of my misspent youth. But I can’t go back because I’ll bump into an ex for sure.

How do you stay motivated?

R: I don’t. If I lose motivation, I’ll just take a break and have a snooze. You can’t force things sometimes.

H: It’s a carefully cultivated combination of junk food and feeling that the Vagenda is something bigger than us now – it’s a concept that people love, and it’s our responsibility to keep it going because it’s such a good thing. You can’t do work that you don’t believe in.

Desert island book?

H: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, or White Teeth by Zadie Smith. Marquez was the master of his time, and Smith is the master of ours.

R: I have reread The Blind Assassin by Margaret Attwood more times than I can remember.

Favourite bar?

R: A micro-brewery in Milan called Birrificcio Lambrate. They make 10% ale and play the Smiths if you ask nicely. I spent every weekend in there for a year. It was a home from home. I knew everyone in the place.

H: Cafe 1001 off Brick Lane still gets my vote, five years after I first went there. Best place to get lunch and stay until midnight.

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

H: I don’t think further ahead than a fortnight, or I get vertigo.

R: Working from home, hopefully. I’m lazy, and generally loathe office environments.

Can you run in heels?

R: I’d prefer not to, but if a man’s chasing you down a dark street, what choice do you have?

H: Of course. How else am I going to catch up with the patriarchy?

The Vagenda: you'll be guffawing at your computer screen and thinking 'Damn right!' as you read the blog's fiercely funny posts...

Feel ready to shrink your friends list?

Sometimes Facebook can feel like a popularity contest, with many of us befriending as many people as possible, no matter how fleeting the preceding face-to-face contact may have been. In some cases, we even friend request people we haven’t met – if there’s a mutual friend involved then this is by all means acceptable under the unwritten rules of social networking etiquette.

Facebook is all about staying connected and ‘socialising’ with other people. It’s a nifty little window into our friends’ lives, letting us know who is dating who, where people have been jet setting off to and what nuisances have come their way on a daily basis. And of course, there are the photos to sift through, quenching our insatiable sense of curiosity.

But let’s face it; you’re not really friends with all of your connections on Facebook. A large number of these so-called friends are, by all accounts, mere acquaintances. We’re referring to that guy you said a quick ‘hello’ to at that party last weekend or your two-week friendship with that brunette in St Tropez who shared your love of Chocolate Martinis.

How many of your Facebook friends are people you text, call or meet up with often? Unless you are a serial social butterfly, then chances are, this list will be significantly smaller. So this begs the question – why bother having so many connections on Facebook in the first place? Surely, we want to know what’s happening in the lives of the people we care about. And do we really want some random acquaintance knowing everything about us and sharing in our most personal moments?

Thanks to Mark Zuckerberg and a string of other social platforms, it’s now the norm to share all kinds of stuff online, whether it’s a picture, video or a 140-character tweet. Even our day-to-day whereabouts are pinned onto virtual maps. Last September, Twitter reported that it had 100 million active users per month, and social-site-of-the-moment Pinterest now has over ten million registered users. It appears that we’re a sociable bunch when it comes to the web; obsessed with growing our number of online friends, followers and likes.

Apparently, the average number of friends we have on Facebook stands at around 120 and there are, on average, 3.74 degrees of separation between any one Facebook user and another. But how many times do you log in to Facebook to meet with a news feed peppered with irrelevant updates from people that, quite frankly, you’re not interested in?

The Facebook friend purge is the solution to creating a timeline that’s filled with content you actually want to read. Admittedly, the idea of de-friending someone can feel a bit like a social taboo, but if the website Facebook Purge is anything to go by, thousands have already done the deed and cleaned up their profiles. Although Facebook has revolutionised the way we interact with one another, purging our profile of people who don’t play any genuine role in our lives (out with the social networking bubble) sounds like a revolutionary step in itself.

But if trawling through your friend list to remove connections doesn’t appeal, just look out for a name you don’t recognise popping up on your Facebook feed – then take the plunge and de-friend them. The first one is always the hardest, but culling your friend list does get easier. And each time you do it, there’s one less person to clog up your profile, freeing up your news feed for someone else. And that’s surely what Facebook is all about – connecting with people who truly matter and who you would happily spend time with in the real world, as well as online

GIRL.STOLE.VINTAGE's Lereese Atkinson

25-year-old Londoner Lereese Atkinson moved to the city three years ago, from the seaside town of Whitehaven in Cumbria. Her days are spent sharing a love of fashion from eras gone by, and a natural eye for styling, through her blog GIRL.STOLE.VINTAGE. Leresse’s mission is to source and present one-of-a-kind vintage pieces at affordable prices; travelling far and wide, if necessary, to bag the best bargain or retro beauty, in a bid to demonstrate that there’s no need to pay a fortune to enjoy vintage. Rather than hoarding her finds, she sells them through her independent online boutique as well as on ASOS Marketplace. You can follow Leresse on Twitter @GrlStoleVintage.

When and why did you start blogging?

I started my blog in May 2011 to document my love of fashion and my love for vintage.

What’s your blog about?

A little bit of everything! Personal style posts, fashion news, vintage news, vintage styling tips, news on my own online vintage boutique and my personal adventures.

Who inspires you?

Everyone and everything, literally! Bloggers, movie stars, TV shows, models, fashion and catwalk shows, books, magazines. And especiallu the 1960′s; everything about that decade inspires me a lot.

What’s your day job?

I run an online vintage boutique through ASOS Marketplace and write my fashion blog.

What do your family and friends think about your blog?

They are all really supportive, my family especially. I don’t get home a lot so it keeps everyone up to date with what I’m getting up to in London. A lot of my friends love vintage and fashions, so I’ve a lot of friends and family fans!

Do you read any other blogs?

I love reading blogs, I’ve been following  some of them for years. I have a few favourites at the moment: Frassy, Gary Pepper Vintage, Fashion Toast, Tuula Vintage, It’s the Little things, Liberty London Girl and Chic Muse, I could go on and on and on!

How do you use Twitter and has it changed how you blog?

I use Twitter personally, and sometimes ramble on a bit on there; I talk about my dog a lot (boring I know). But now it’s a great tool to let people know what’s going on with my store and my blog. Twitter has really helped my blog, I’ve been introduced to like-minded people and it has really got GIRL.STOLE.VINTAGE out there to other vintage fashion lovers.

GIRL.STOLE.VINTAGE's Lereese Atkinson styles and models her covetable vintage finds; she's particularly inspired by the 1960's

What couldn’t you live without?

My iPhone.

How do you stay motivated?

Reading blogs, magazines and websites; they give me inspiration and keep me motivated. Also living in London, I love to explore the city and find new things to get excited about.

Typical blog wardrobe?

Vintage dresses, high heels, denim, blazers and designer bags; bags are my thing, I like to wear good bags.

Blog soundtrack?

This is a hard one. I going to say Space Oddity by David Bowie; he is my idol and was the inspiration behind the name of my blog.

Favourite European city and why?

Paris. I love the small hidden streets and the buildings, it’s such a romantic city.

What do you think is the biggest problem in British society today and what is the most positive thing?

Unemployment. Every other magazine I read at the moment, I’m seeing articles about young talented woman and men who have worked hard at university to get their degree and they can’t get work; most aren’t even getting replies back from jobs. There’s a huge chunk of the younger generation that’s out of work and it’s sad to see. But, on the other hand, a positive thing about our society is its drive, creative flair and individuality, and it’s that that’s helping some young people like me to take the initiative to set up on their own, and start their own projects and businesses.

Do you ever get blog block?

No, my blog is a personal diary of just about everything, I’m always working on or doing something new to blog about.

Dream purchase?

A Chanel 2.55 black bag.

Desert island blog?

Tuula, for its beautiful styling, photographs, and a lot of travel inspiration.

Is blogging a viable career?

Yes, a lot of blogs are written and styled better than what’s currently being published in magazines, so if that’s the case then why not.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I’ll still be blogging and sharing my love for vintage and in a perfect world I’ll own my own little vintage boutique…I’m thinking BIG.

Can you run in heels?

I can sprint in heels!

A selection of GIRL.STOLE.VINTAGE clothing from ASOS Marketplace; red and white shirt; red flower print playsuit; neon knitwear

Fashionista and Francophile, Milla Msa

Fashionista and Francophile Milla Msa is the lovely lady behind Not Just Another Milla, an unashamedly girly blog which features “tasty treats, style and frolics straight from the City of Lights”. Besides reviews of the French capital’s chicest hotels, restaurants and salons de thé, Mademoiselle Msa shares her latest beauty finds, her thoughts on the fashion editorials of Vogue Paris et al., as well as her tips on where to enjoy a scrumptious afternoon tea. A perfect mélange of fashion and food, Not Just Another Milla will add some of that utterly French je ne sais quoi to your day.

Over a chocolat chaud and macarons, we quizzed Milla about her favourite blogs, her love-hate relationship with her adopted hometown, and why Jimmy Choo’s creations are the most comfortable heels to run in. Follow Milla on Twitter @notjamilla.

When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging when I moved to Paris… I didn’t know anybody and so I used the blogging as a way to kind of interact with the outside world. I was reading English and American blogs and I decided “Yep I’m going to start my own”. My blog was more about my discovery of Paris… I guess it still is the evolution of Milla in Paris.

What’s your blog about?

It’s definitely not a personal blog; I don’t write about relationships or family or anything like that but it’s still my view. I would never write about anything that I haven’t experienced. What I always try to do with my blog is be honest: if I like something I love it, if I don’t then you’ll know. I just want to give a first-hand experience of Paris, my Paris.

Who inspires you?

I’m always inspired by people who do things they don’t have to do. I’m not interested in celebrities at all, but when I hear about a celebrity doing something for charity…that’s quite inspiring because they really don’t have to. I like the average person on the street doing something nice for other people. It’s nice to see that the human spirit still exists.

What’s your day job?

Blogging is my day job!

What do your family and friends think about your blog?

My friends think it’s amazing, they love the idea of blogging… not that they think that the blog is amazing – they think the blogging is amazing just to rectify! None of them blog, some of them are on Facebook, none of them have ever used Twitter so when they see my blog it’s “Oh my God what is this thing?! How come you have comments? Who’s commenting? Who are these people, you don’t know these people?” So it’s kind of surreal for them. My parents think it’s really great, they think it’s fun and it’s a great way for them to see what I’m doing, which is really why I started the blog as well; to stay in touch.

Do you read any other blogs?

I love Cupcakes and Cashmere. There’s also an illustrator who designed the header of my blog, her name is Maya Beus. I love her blog because not only does she do the illustrations for it but she also writes about real topics and about her own personal experiences without giving away too many intimate details.

How do you use Twitter and has it changed your blog?

Twitter has definitely changed my blog. I use Twitter to promote my blog; I’ll add links to past posts but it’s also a great way to find out about other blogs, about people in Paris, people in London, people all over the world. I would definitely recommend it. If you’re not on Twitter you need to be!

What couldn’t you live without?

I think people can live without anything. We only need food, water, love…but I don’t think we need any materialistic possessions. But still, don’t come to my house and steal my clothes!

How do you stay motivated?

I like connecting with people. My favourite part of blogging is the comments. Being able to see what other people see through my blog and to interact with them. I always reply to people who comment on the blog, I think it’s a great way to stay connected.

Stylish blogger Milla on her travels...

Typical blog wardrobe?

I always wear lipstick when I blog, I don’t know why. It’s my blogger uniform I guess.

Blog soundtrack?

Complete silence.

Favourite European city and why?

It’s hard because I have a love-hate relationship with Paris actually. I love Paris in the winter, definitely. As long as there’s no rain and you can just walk around…it’s just the most beautiful place in the west.

What do you think is the biggest problem in British society today and what is the most positive thing?

Multiculturalism is very important and wonderful. That is the environment I grew up in and that made me very open-minded. I think when you grow up in a place that is multicultural you realise that everyone’s the same. I think the worst part is – and this is very British actually – we feel the need to be politically correct all the time, and often it’s to our detriment.

Do you ever get blog block?

Well it’s only happened twice actually and it’s usually when I’ve had a negative experience. I had a negative experience with another blogger once and it made me think about giving up blogging. I’m glad I didn’t.

Dream purchase?

Oh my goodness! A Birkin in camel.

Desert island blogs?

The Family Table; a lady in Canada…started the blog as a way to record family recipes for her children when they grow up. There’s a kind of innocence there, a family spirit, she talks about cooking healthy delicious food and I love it. And Style’N – she’s a working mum in Boston but she has the most fabulous wardrobe. It’s the perfect blend: there’s food, there’s fashion, there’s a little bit of travel and you get to peek into her world.

Is blogging a viable career?

I think it definitely can be and I think there are some major bloggers these days who can pay their rent and have a good life from blogging. I think it depends on what type of person and what type of blogger you are. I think to a certain degree you have to bend the truth but a lot of people don’t want to read the truth they just want to read the nice stuff. When it comes to fashion blogging I think it’s very easy to build a career from that. Things like travel and food however are a little bit more tricky.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In an ideal world I’d be in Tokyo blogging about a wonderful life of food, fashion and travel…Alternatively I would be in London doing exactly the same thing! I lived in Tokyo before and other than London it’s the only place I feel at home.

Can you run in heels?

I can run in heels, I can spend 12 hours dancing the night away in heels but only Jimmy Choos – those are the most comfortable…well worth every single penny!

Milla's exploits in afternoon tea at l’Hôtel de Crillon and the Shangri-La hotel in Paris; and at The Dorchester hotel in London...

Carrie Harwood: the face behind the blog

The face of the wonderfully whimsical Wish Wish Wish is none other than Carrie Harwood, a very fashionable gal who moved to London from her native Somerset to study Fashion Design, Styling and Promotion. Since the début of her blog in 2008, Carrie has seen a fairly stratospheric rise to prominence, winning the Cosmopolitan Blog Award for Best Fashion & Style Blog in 2010, and gaining thousands of followers and fans in the process. Why? It could be her beautiful retro-tinged images, photogenic looks and chic sense of style, or perhaps the fun, friendly – and approachable tone of Wish Wish Wish – assuring us that despite her popularity, Carrie’s fashionably-shod feet are very firmly on the ground. We took a moment to find out all about films stars, sweaty gigs, but above all – all about Carrie!

When and why did you start blogging?

I started my blog in 2008, when I was just 17. I had always existed on the internet in some form, making websites or posting my pictures on Livejournal, so it seemed like a natural progression. I read blogs, and thought: ‘Hey, I can do this too!’

What’s your blog about?

The world of Carrie. It sounds terribly narcissistic, but when I began, I didn’t have many people reading; it was just like writing a diary – somewhere to post my thoughts. Now I’m blessed with lots of lovely readers, and my blog has really become my creative outlet. It’s my passion, I get to direct, style, and model in my own mini-photoshoots.

Who inspires you?

Everybody from other bloggers to 60′s film stars and fashionable people that I see on the streets of London – they all inspire me in different ways.

What’s your day job?

I’m currently still at university studying Fashion Promotion! So it’s very interesting getting to see it all from a blogger’s point of view as well – the way brands are becoming aware of us, and our value and potential.

What do your family and friends think about your blog?

My family are very proud of everything I’ve achieved with my blog, that and it’s also a useful tool which lets them see what I’ve been up to if I’ve left it a while without calling. As for friends, most of mine have blogs anyway – and so of course they understand when I have to stop to take pictures of cakes… or flowers, or something!

Do you read any other blogs?

Yes, of course. I read lots! I couldn’t possibly name my favourites either – it’s like picking your favourite child. There are blogs I have read for years and years!

How do you use Twitter and has it changed how you blog?

Usually to post useless things like what I’m having for tea, but at the same time it’s a great way of letting your followers know you have a new post up, or talking directly to readers or other bloggers. It’s such a useful networking tool!

What couldn’t you live without?

My computer… and camera. Typical blogger.

How do you stay motivated?

By reading other fabulous blogs that inspire me to try and create equally as beautiful content; and by the sweet readers that email me, thanking me for the time I put in. It can be difficult to stay motivated, but the rewards make it worth it.

Blog soundtrack?

I strangely listen to music that really really doesn’t fit with my blogs aesthetic at all, but it makes me happy. You’re probably expecting me to say something boring like She & Him because Zooey Deschanel is ‘like, my hero’. But that couldn’t be further from the truth – there is nothing I like more than going to sweaty, loud gig where I can shout all the words until I lose my voice. Arcane Roots – Left Fire, is my soundtrack!

Favourite European city and why?

I fell in love with Paris when I was there. It used to be London, but I think living and working in a city can take the charm out of it sometimes. Paris is just so beautiful, and everybody looks wonderful too. I can’t wait to go back.

Do you ever get blog block?

There is always something I’m itching to post about or photograph, the problem is a lack of time, not a lack of ideas!

Dream purchase?

A 50mm 1.2 lens. I’m such a blogger.

Desert island blog?

Eek, tough! Hjartesmil – her photos are beautiful, as are her words.

Is blogging a viable career?

Yes, I don’t see why not. If we’re producing work that is just as good as other photographers/art directors/stylists/journalists etc all at once, then that should be acknowledged. It’s a bit of a touchy subject at the moment as nobody really understands what’s ethical and the right way to go about it. Watch this space…

Where do you see yourself in five years?

As long as I’m doing something I love, I don’t mind!

Can you run in heels?

Nope – I’m rubbish in heels. Brogues all the way!

On Wish Wish Wish, Carrie styles, snaps and stars in her own photoshoots - these are some of our recent favourites...

What does your status say about you?

These days, nearly everybody has a Facebook account, many of us are on Twitter, and social networking has become firmly entrenched in our everyday lives. Facebook may be a valuable tool for keeping track of events, remembering birthdays, and staying up to date with our friends, but what role does it play in our love lives?

Thanks to Facebook, it’s possible to find out all about potential partners, even before you’ve had your first date. The wonders of ‘facestalking’, as it has become known, mean that we can browse the pages of people we’re interested in, whether admiring their profile pictures or clicking through their interests to see if we’re compatible. And even when you’re well past the first date stage, Facebook makes it possible to find out far more about our partners than they may want to share. Rather than having the dreaded and often uncomfortable conversation about why their last relationship ended, we can open the ex-files on our own by browsing through their Facebook history: every photograph, every wall post, every loved-up status, is there to view.

One of the key ways social networking has changed modern relationships is Facebook’s relationship status tool. For many, changing your status has become a way of signifying the end of the ‘dating’ period and the start of the ‘relationship’. It’s a public declaration of your feelings that all your friends can view and, if they feel the need, comment on. Some people choose to hide their relationship status altogether: others declare themselves single and open to offers. Absurd US boyband Heart2Heart have recently taken the internet by storm with their so-cheesy-it-must-be-a-joke song ‘Facebook Official’, encouraging the girl of their dreams to ‘put a heart on [her] page.’

As well as opening the doors for people to make public commitments, the casual and detached nature of Facebook and Twitter make it all too easy to dabble in flirtatious banter – and easier still for your other half to find out. From finding out your partner has been ‘liking’ a few too many of someone’s photos to feeling jealous of their retweets, social networks are full of potential relationship problems. In recent years a number of celebrities have got into hot water over their online banter: Jason Manford, for example, famously disgraced himself by exchanging lewd messages with female fans over Twitter.

There’s no doubt that the advent of social networking has made all of us used to having an audience: our inner monologues have been replaced by tweets and status updates, and there is a general compulsion to over share. All too often this spills over into our love lives, making social networks a minefield of public displays of affection, from his ‘n’ hers profile pictures to excited tweets boasting about perfect dates. Isn’t it possible that things were more romantic when love was a little more private – when we penned love letters rather than ‘liking’ each other’s statuses and tweeting sweet nothings.

There are many though, who feel that the changes made to our love lives by social networks are positive. Lucy, who is in her forties, says: ‘I met my new partner online – a friend of a friend on Facebook. We both have failed marriages or relationships behind us and neither were looking for a relationship – it just happened.’ As well as opening the doors for new romance, many couples have made social networking a part of their relationship. Comedienne Caitlin Moran recently spoke of her enjoyment of watching television with her husband, while both tweeted away about what they were viewing.

It’s clear that social networks have changed our relationships to a certain extent, and it’s impossible to avoid that. They’ve altered the way we interact with our friends: perhaps it was inevitable that they would change the way we interacted with our partners, too. But when it comes to romantic dinners and first kisses, at least there’s no substitute for the real thing: at least, until someone invents an app for it.

Heart2Heart’s so-cheesy-it-must-be-a-joke song ‘Facebook Official’

Pretty objects on the Treasure Hunter

The blogosphere is a busy place, that’s for sure. And with so many bloggers tapping away on their keyboards and sharing expertise on their niche topic, it’s easy to think that you might be missing a gem of a blog out there. However, I’m sharing my very own Little Blog Book – the top five sites that you simply must visit, whether fashion, beauty, gadgets or food is your vice.

Charade

Charade, created by English Literature and Creative Writing graduate Megan, is described as a blog for stylish, successful students surviving on a budget. But in my opinion, Charade is an inspirational read for anyone, whether you’re a student or a twenty-something already embroiled in the daily nine to five.

From the Ultimate Geek’s Guide to Fashion Budgeting  to top tips on enriching your day – the blog offers lots of practical advice, complemented by a selection of beautiful images. One of Megan’s regular posts is called Words to Live By, and I always take a look when this pops into my inbox, as the quotes she features – from the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Coco Chanel and  Charlotte Bronte – prompt a pause for thought.

The Treasure Hunter

A blog about ‘stuff’ – The Treasure Hunter is a perfect read for those who like objects; be it jewellery, accessories, beauty buys or any other curio you might find lurking in your home. Usually, the objects featured have a quirky, unique twist and you won’t find them in your average high-street store.

Blogger Jenny hunts down anything and everything  – my personal favourites being this butterfly artwork , these fabulous patterned storage pots and also these pretty jelly moulds. Definitely worth a look if you have spare cash to splurge!

Makeup Savvy

For all the beauty junkies out there, Makeup Savvy is a blog worth bookmarking and has even featured as Escentual’s blog of the week. Focusing on low-cost beauty products, it’s a make-up bible for the girl next door who wants to stay on trend on a budget.

Regular blog posts include Nail of the Day,  which will leave you spoilt for choice on which varnish to part your cash with, and Monthly Favourites, brimming with the latest lotions, creams, powders and lipsticks. The posts are picture-led and the blog is easy to navigate, too.

Girl Geek Chic

Love gadgets? Then Girl Geek Chicis worth a click. Winner of Cosmopolitan’s best gadgets and technology blog in 2010 – Girl Geek Chic was created by technology writer and tv presenter Nikki Moore.

Featuring tips, reviews, guides and a forum, not to mention its very own problem page Dear Girl Geek, there’s lots of useful information on this site. What I particularly like is that it has five ‘chic’ categories – eco, baby, love, beauty and sport – making it easy to find relevant posts. From recycled cardboard bikes to bubble spas – you’re bound to find something on here to tickle your fancy.

Cannelle et Vanille

Foodies will salivate at the sheer thought of visiting this blog, which was something of an overnight success when it first launched. Cannelle et Vanille is edited by Spanish pastry chef Aran Goyoaga and it’s worth a peek, just for the fantastic photography alone.

Gluten Free Glazed Sour Orange and Coconut Pudding Cakes, Milk Jam and Chocolate Meringue Cookies, Fig and Champagne Sabayon Gratin and Creamy Potato, Celery Root and Sunchoke Soup with Purple Potato Chipsare just a few of the wonderful recipes available on the site. It’s no surprise that Aran is currently working on her own cookbook, due to be published next year.

Orange and Coconut Pudding Cakes, Celery Root and Sunchoke Soup with Purple Chips, and Fig and Champagne Sabayon Gratin

Overwhelmed by the plethora of social networks?

Two weeks ago, my laptop died a death, and is now in the depths of an IT workshop. For the past nights, I have woken up from a terrible dream in which it lies disembowelled on a workbench, being frantically revived by furiously sweating men in white overalls, who periodically scream things like ‘It’s no good! The hard drive’s gone! She’s a vegetable! We have to know when to let GO!’  Between bouts of depression, I sent a text round to friends explaining why there would be an uncharacteristic lack of online response from me for up to a month. One fellow geek replied immediately. ‘Oh man – that’s like losing a limb’. I appreciated the sentiment, but he hadn’t quite got it. I felt more like I’d been silenced. As if I’d lost an invisible, but very real, tongue. I couldn’t tweet, blog, status update or simply swap picture over chat. I was back to being 15 years old and without my own technology, and I simply cannot remember what I did without social media – how I kept in touch with people, wasted empty hours or found new pictures of fat kittens in Japan. Without me realising, Web 2.0 had taken over my life.

But perhaps I shouldn’t have been so shocked. Social media is, after all, the fastest growing technology around. As of July this year, Facebook had over 750 million users worldwide, with 30 billion pieces of content being shared each month. 53 billion minutes was spent on Facebook in May 2011, 50% of UK users log in daily, and 1 in 8 users go straight from Facebook to another social media site: Twitter, once only for cutting edge techies and media peeps, now with over 200 million users; LinkedIn, an increasingly popular way of networking with a growing base of 120 million; or one of dozens of others: Scribd, Google plus, Flickr, Myspace. Not since the internet itself has something changed so drastically how we spend our time – and not since the invention of the telephone has something changed how we can interact with others.

And unsurprisingly some people are a bit terrified of this. Less than ten years ago, it was simply Myspace and Bebo: teen-orientated sites which focused mainly on exchanging simple messages and the odd angst-ridden blog. Now social media encompasses every aspect of life for anyone from schoolchildren to silver surfers: LinkedIn covers your career, Flickr and Scribd your artistic efforts, Twitter your useless meanderings and Facebook everything in between: previews of the new profiles, being unveiled this month, show that it covers and displays everything from the day you were born to your graduation ceremony. Social media is no longer something only the geeky do: everyone does it, and once you’re in, it’s virtually impossible to go without editing your online presence. The temptation is overwhelming: make sure your degree is up if you want to show off your grade; delete that photo of you with half a glass of wine all over you and half a bottle inside you; make a profile picture of the one taken in low light somewhere glamorous. List endless bands you like, even if you don’t, and make sure you put the smartest sounding books in your favourites list (no-one really likes The Unbearable Lightness of Being, you know).

The Daily Mail, as usual, was one of the first to make a fuss about this, reporting in 2010 the results of a study which found that ‘those who spent more time updating their profile on the social networking site were more likely to be narcissists’. According to the study of 100 students, by York University in Canada, the site provides a perfect setting for the vain to monitor their appearance and how many friends they have while avoiding any real human contact and empathy. Men tend to boost their profile with written posts, while women tended to carefully select the photos on their profile. Those with the lowest self-esteem were found to visit their site the most often. We all recognise this – everyone either has or is the friend who detags ruthlessly at a mere hint of a double chin or unplucked eyebrow, or knows of that one macho idiot who posts his running times or weights lifted after every workout (usually followed by a sentence which brings up the really unwanted image of them ‘hitting the showers’). But, as is usual for the Mail, they were reporting half-arsedly on an already acknowledged truth. Of course vain people constantly manipulate their own image – they’re vain, and that’s what vain people do. Elizabeth I was de-tagging way back in the 1500s: she had unflattering portraits of her burned whilst enthusiastically commissioning those which showed her as a powerful empress. In revolutionary Russia, Stalin took a break from oppressing the people to remove rival Trotsky from photographs, and create fake images of he and Lenin enjoying cosy garden parties.

What is new, however, is the growing number of people who now have a public identity to manipulate. It’s not surprising that leaders and politicians engage in propaganda, but anyone who has ever edited their facebook profile is effectively doing the same thing: we have become benign but obsessive dictators of our own images. Facebook expects you to portray a persona: it used to flash up a huge, bewildered question mark when a user didn’t display a profile picture, and it still encourages you to post interests, likes and activities, despite professing to be a medium to connect with people who would already know this information. Status updates and tweets on whatever’s on your mind, and responses to them, give a ridiculous importance to what only a short while ago would have seemed idiotic. It’s unimaginable that in the year 2000, people would have texted everyone on their contact list just to tell them they were sitting down to warmed up soup, to watch a DVD or to cut their toenails.

Twitter: devoid of cohesive narrative?

It’s this sort of constant manipulation of one’s image which could believably be damaging. Eminent scientist Baroness Greenfield told the House of Lords that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter “are devoid of cohesive narrative and long-term significance. As a consequence, the mid-21st century mind might almost be infantilised, characterised by short attention spans, sensationalism, inability to empathise and a shaky sense of identity”. She also put forward that “[such sites] can cause users to become unaware of where ‘they themselves finish and the real world begins.”

Photos of nights out now are not taken to serve as memories but to serve as displays. Bring out a camera while out anywhere these days and at least one person will cup their chin in their hands, pout their lips, or flick their fringe artfully. Why? Because those photos will end up on Facebook, Flickr or a blog, not just in a dusty photo album: social media has undeniably changed our behaviour. Every image of us is seen and dissected. For some young women, already victims of narrow fashion industry parameters and the media’s obsession with cellulite, this is a nightmare: most either hide all photos or ruthlessly edit the ones they do display in an attempt to feel at least comfortable on their own profile page. For teenagers, it must be a nightmare: a number of schools are banning social media sites from their internal networks due to a huge rise in reports of internet bullying.

The prevailing zeitgeist amongst those in their teens has always been to create an image for themselves – and either use it to become immensely popular or have it turned against them by sneering peers. This tribalism, however, is creeping into those in their twenties and even thirties. Being used to editing our own images so much has led to a culture which reflects the need for catch-all, one stop icons, patterns and songs which say a lot with very little. At a 2010 speech to the Society for Young Publishers, creator of the ‘Art Meets Matter’ Penguin mugs, Tony Davis was asked by a member of the audience if he thought his products were a replacement for ‘actually reading books’: if the people buying the objects were using them to display intelligence without actually having to work for it. Davis seemed a little bewildered that anyone should think such a thing, and denied it outright. Most members of the audience, however, were not nodding in agreement: a group of young twenty-somethings, most recognised the reason for ‘props’: products which immediately tell peers and people on the tube who you are and what sort of thing you enjoy.

Elsewhere, Cath Kidston’s overpriced florals are the go-to for any yummy mummy wanting to portray a sense of 1950s domestic bliss, whilst black Wayfarers are an essential part of any hipster uniform. It’s arguable that a culture which bases itself so much on instantly recognisable, oppository symbols is one which is beginning to lack subtlety and certainly originality: even directors once considered edgy – Tim Burton, for example – are producing remakes of old films, whilst apparently alternative musicians sound much like most before them: Frank Turner may as well be a Billy Bragg tape, whilst Lady Gaga’s wackiness is pure Bowie and Grace Jones.

But all of this scare-mongering and cynicism forgets one thing: the adaptability of the human brain. It has been coping with technological changes since the stone age: the invention of the printing press did not precipitate a species-wide breakdown in brain function but a species-wide adaptation. Those intelligent enough to edit photos on Facebook or clip comments to 140 characters on Twitter are hardly likely to be changed so drastically by doing so that they, as Greenfield suggests, begin to live permanently in an imagined cyberworld, perhaps clicking on their partners instead of kissing, and pressing invisible Ctrl Alt Del buttons before getting into bed. Like the results of most technology, social media is essentially a reflection of what is already in our head: although it is giving us new options, it is not forcing us to follow them. The options it does give us are now enabling to do previously difficult or impossible things: thousands of ordinary Joes broke a super-injunction against Ryan Giggs on Twitter; Facebook famously enabled ease of communication in the Egyptian uprisings and long lost relatives have even been reunited thanks to a quick Google search and an IM. In truth, social media will only produce what we ourselves put into it. Although it’s life: edited, it’s still just that: life.

Business of Fashion founder, Imran Amed

The Business of Fashion (BoF) started out as a ‘little experiment’ in 2007, when Canadian Imran Amed began writing a blog from the sofa of his London flat. His aim was to fill the journalistic gap that existed between the commercial and editorial sides of fashion – where the Financial Timesended and Style.com began, if you will. With an MBA from Harvard Business School under his belt, years of management consultancy experience and a yen for the creative buzz of the fashion world, Amed was perfectly positioned to fill that void.

Now a far cry from a sofa-based personal project, BoF has evolved enormously since its inception. Within two years of its launch the site had enjoyed a slick makeover and boasted interviews with design stars like Giles Deacon. By 2010, more than 100,000 unique users were visiting each month, drawn in by frequent exclusive scoops, and the site was generating revenue via sponsorship. Today, while Amed still conducts major interviews (such as the ‘CEO Talk’ series – Q&As with the fashion brand bigwigs) most of the news is written by BoF staffers. That Amed managed to recruit Colin McDowell, the fashion journalist most often termed legendary, as one of three contributing editors, is testament to his pulling power. Likewise, the list of former interviewees is impressive from either a business or fashion perspective: photographer Nick Knight; Dazed and Confused Editor Jefferson Hack; Marc Jacobs’ CEO Robert Duffy; and the incomparable Karl Lagerfeld.

The evolution of BoF is really the story of Amed’s career too. A polymath for the digital age, 35-year-old Amed has variously been described as an internet journalist, industry expert, commentator, entrepreneur and consultant. He still acts as a strategist for luxury brands and as a talent scout for private equity firms looking to invest in emerging designers – he’s well placed to find the latter in his role as a business lecturer at Central St Martins, London’s most revered fashion school. Add to that a place on the British Fashion Council’s Digital Committee, the launch of social networking site Luxury Society, plus speaking engagements, guest blogs (most recently for the Huffington Post, and being your go-to guy for press quotes everywhere from the New York Times to the Daily Mail and you’ve got a serious multitasker.

With such a wide digital reach, Amed’s influence has been duly noted in the fashion industry. He was listed at number 29 in the Independent’s Online Fashion 100 in 2009 and Net-a-Porter put him at seven in its 2011 Blog Power List. Breaking ground outside of just the insular fashion crowd, Amed came in at 92 in GQ’s 100 Most Influential Men in Britain earlier this year.

So why exactly is BoF so indispensible? In part, it’s because of that USP that Amed recognized when he started. With ecommerce on a seemingly unstoppable upward trajectory, it stands to reason that editorial content, technology and, ultimately, sales are increasingly reliant on one another. No other online outlet occupies the intersection where fashion and commerce meet and, as Amed puts it, translates the languages of fashion and business. To wit, he does a nice line in quotable similes. When asked his opinion on new designers, Amed told Another magazine: ‘In New York, the designers are being led like an orchestra, they make beautiful music but it’s very controlled and planned. In London, it’s more like a jazz band.’

The site’s success could also be credited to the fact that its indispensible content is delivered so deftly. Take the Daily Digest for example, an email round-up of the most important fashion biz news, hyperlinked and quoted in chunks. It’s like having a PA to trawl Google news for you everyday, which is especially valuable when you want to get a handle on a subject that could have been reported anywhere from Reuters to New York Magazine’s Cut blog. Beyond that, the site offers expert analysis and op-ed. ‘Rather than think of ourselves as a news site, our approach is to take some time to reflect on what the news means, drawing inspiration from our conversations and observations at the front line of the fashion business,’ Amed has said.

To that end, one of BoF’s most recent projects saw Amed really putting his money where his mouth. Asked by British luxury leather goods designer Bill Amberg to collaborate on a bag, together they came up with the Calgary bag, a tote designed to fit all of technophile Amed’s gadgets, named after his hometown. But they went one step further and called on BoF readers to feed back on their preferences in terms of three prototype bags. The results of the crowdsourcing were used to dictate the colourways and quantities produced of the £295 bag, and every version has now completely sold out online.

Like the birth of BoF, the Calgary started off as a ‘little experiment’. Taking such entrepreneurial risks have helped the site grow to the influential, prominent position it now holds. Back in 2007, the ‘BoF Basics’ articles were intended to help neophyte designers navigate the nitty-gritty of fashion finance. They still offer sound advice today, but the newbies would do as well to pay attention to Amed and his own career – he’s clearly leading by example.

The making of the CALGARY by Bill Amberg for BoF | Source: Crane.tv

A reason to watch the Menswear shows...

We’re often transfixed by the couture and RTW shows at international fashion weeks, but it’s not often that we check out the menswear collections. However, when it comes to the Dolce & Gabbana show, one can most certainly make an exception. Deliciously dressed, superbly styled, jaw-droppingly handsome male models? Yes, please.

And now our favourite Italian design duo have created something else that has us a little intrigued: the Dolce & Gabbana Rules for the Modern Gentleman App. Compiled by current British GQ Editor Dylan Jones, this clever app has been dreamed up by the innovative pair to educate chaps that consider themselves (or aspire to be) what might be termed ‘modern gentlemen’.

From how to tie a sharp, elegant Windsor knot and tips on choosing a suitable suit for a hot date to advice on etiquette (including the indispensable “avoid the anchovy salad”) and how to entertain in style, the app is an inexhaustable resource of handy pointers that will take just about anyone from basic Homo Sapiens to a modern day James Bond-esque dandy. There’s also ample information on general grooming and skincare. If you have ever tried to explain what exfoliation is and why it’s important, you’ll wonder just why this app didn’t exist before! The Rules for the Modern Gentleman app’s approachable style ensures that even the most seemingly complex grooming and fashion concepts are explained with wit and style.

The app was inspired by the brand’s latest fragrance for men, The One Gentleman; described as “the embodiment of  modern elegance.” Domenico and Stefano say of the scent ““This fragrance really reflects our gentleman in many things: he is worldly, successful, impeccable but he also boasts something else such as an innate elegance that distinguishes him from the rest. Men would love to be him, women to be his.” He certainly sounds like a chap that we’d like to meet. The scent is available to buy online here (UK) and here (US).

Have you tried the app? Have you downloaded it for your own Homo Sapiens as a gentle hint? Any tips for would-be modern gents? (Other than why exfoliation is necessary, of course…)

GQ's Dylan Jones presents his essential rules for the moden gentleman - the app was inspired by The One Gentleman fragrance...