Vogue Says Women Are Allowed To Have Breasts This Season

Women of the world rejoice! Vogue says we are allowed to have breasts! Yes, you got it, breasts are in this season. What we are supposed to do next season is anyones guess but lets not be ungrateful. A man can have a penis all year but breasts are, y’know, inconvenient. Just ask Fashion Designer Marios Schwab who told Tatler “I’m not a big fan of breasts. They’re a challenging constructional point.” Well, Mario, how about not designing for women then, because you know who don’t have breasts? Men.

Catherine Balavage

Vogue says in this article titled Return of The Bosom: “So if boobs are not yet an out-and-out fashion trend, they are becoming a frequent exception to the rule.” Should someone make fashion know that women’s breasts aren’t detachable? Maybe a post-it note or something? This piece clearly shows that Kate Upton is a feminist icon. Yes, you can model and be a female role model. She was deemed “too obvious” for fashion. Now some fashionistas grind their teeth every time she is featured on the cover of Vogue, as she is this month.

Vogue goes on to say: ‘Men love boobs – that’s a well-documented story we needn’t explore here. But for women, as is true for fashion, the relationship is more complicated. In short, breasts are difficult to dress. During couture week, Jourdan Dunn exclaimed on Twitter, “Ahahahahahahha I just got cancelled from Dior because of my boobs!” But, she reasoned, “I’m normally told I’m cancelled because I’m ‘coloured’ so being cancelled because of my boobs is a minor : )”‘

 

Wow. Breasts may be difficult to dress, but only because designers are so bad at accommodating them. I mean, what’s next? Hips, arms, thighs? If you can’t make women’s clothes with breasts in mind, you are clearly an untalented idiot. Something Sarah Millican wrote an amazing essay on after being trolled after the BAFTA awards.

 

In my other life as an actor, my breasts have lead to the most amusing moments in my career. I didn’t develop breasts until I was in my twenties but when they came they didn’t hold back:  my size now is 32DD. Which makes costume designers hate you. When I was a UK size 4/6 (I am now a size 8), wardrobe loved me, but when I developed breasts I would stand in the middle of the room while various costume people asked each other, ‘What are we supposed to do with those?’ The answer was usually gaffa tape them down. I am so thankful I am a strong person and that was done to me rather than someone else. I can look at it with amusement, other, emotionally fragile or vulnerable, women could possibly have developed an eating disorder. I have spent a lot of time being dressed up like a boy for parts. I have no idea why. Just hire a fricking boy if that’s what you want.

 

In fact I am rather sick of fashion expecting women to make their bodies fit the dress, rather than the other way around. Even the thinnest woman has curves, only boys are drawn in a truly straight line. We are not ornaments or hangers. In what other aspect of our lives do we pay money for something that isn’t made to suit us and our lifestyles? Instead we are expected to diet our entire lives just for the joy of wearing clothes designed by people who obviously hate the female form, and don’t even lie about it. Yet, still we punish ourselves.

 

Of course not all designers are like this. Valentino clearly loves women. As does Roberto Cavalli. Dolce & Gabbana say in the same Vogue article: “We always try to create clothes that enhance a woman’s curves. We like to think that a Dolce & Gabbana girl wants to be very feminine, sensual, strong and fierce of her body.” So let’s take a stance in the only way that really gets things done: with our money. Any designer who hates women’s bodies should not have a penny of a women’s money.

Whilst researching this piece I came across this article Hadley Freeman wrote on this subject. Check it out here and this website, a body gallery of how women really look, was interesting too.

 

What do you think?

 

 

Galvanina… A Unique New Italian Organic Fruit Drink

With the temperature topping 23 degrees, it seemed the perfect day today to review Galvanina, fresh-to-the-market organic drinks with the romance of Italy deeply embedded in the branding.

home1[1]
The Galvanina Collection comprises of Sicilian Lemon, Ruby Orange, Clementine and Red Grapefruit and as my favourite citrus fruit drink is lemon, I firstly tried Sicilian Lemon, slightly sparkling and cloudy, reminiscent of traditional lemonade and presented in a beautifully embossed 100% recycleable bottle. The Italian manufacturer recommends you ‘lightly tilt the bottle from side to side to revitalise the juicy pulp’… certainly not a mixture you have to shake hard to wake up! Refreshing and perfectly citrus sharp with delicious sherbet notes, Sicilian Lemon Galvanina is made to an old family recipe that uses only Mediterranean lemons, harvested by hand, from centuries-old citrus groves. These juicy organic fruits combine with mineral-rich, gently bubbling spring water for a fresh and thirst-quenching drink, that dances between sweet and sour on the tongue, perfect over ice.
First discovered by the Romans some 2000 years ago, the sparkling spring water in Galvanina organic fruit drinks is an extraordinary natural wonder. The snow and rain that falls on the Apennine Mountains collects in gentle pools before embarking on a long journey. As it slowly filters through sandstone and clay, flows along winding channels and languishes in cool, dark chambers, the water is naturally carbonated and enriched with a perfect balance of mineral salts. After 30 long months, it gently bubbles out of the spring mouth on San Lorenzo Monte.

 

Clementine arouses the senses of almost Christmas-like aromas, a truly unique flavour and highly drinkable. Clementines are bright, fresh and vibrant fruits, boasting a distinct flavour, rich in delicate honey and orange blossom notes. Galvanina uses only the juice of organic clementines grown in Sicily’s picturesque, traditional orchards, warmed by the sun in the day and cooled by coastal winds at night. You could try serving Sicilian Clementine Galvanina as an indulgent afternoon treat with cake.

 

I quite like my grapefruit drinks strong, but Red Grapefruit Galvanina is a delightful marriage of bitter, sweet and sparkling. Galvanina use a variety of organic grapefruits that have ripened slowly and naturally in the sun before being hand-picked. Their pulp is also conserved for a natural, fruit-rich texture, which enhances the juice’s aromatic intensity and effervescent spring water for a lively, thirst-quenching citrus drink. Indulgently serve Red Grapefruit Galvanina with creamy desserts and cheeses.

 

Ruby Orange was delicately sweet, made using the juice and pulp of handpicked blood oranges that have ripened fully on the trees. Cool nights, hot days and organic farming methods give this rich, garnet-coloured fruit a natural sweetness and make it extra juicy, zesty, fresh and sparkling on the tongue, an exceptional all-natural spritz. Enjoy Sicilian Ruby Orange Galvanina over ice with a few freshly torn mint leaves.

 

You can visit the ‘fresh ideas’ page each month on the website to find fantastic ideas for not only mixing the fruit drink with alcohol like Limoncello to make enticing cocktails and quenchers, but ideas on how to cook with Galvanina… amazing!

 

It’s such a shame that you have to hide the product away in the fridge to keep chilled as the unique bottles have a really nostalgic style and would look great displayed in your kitchen before consumption or using as a vase or decanter after, an idea which a couple of major coffee manufacturers have cottoned on to lately.

 

I decided to wait until I’d finished my review to investigate the price points on this range as I’d got a figure in mind as to what I’d consider reasonable. This is where I got the biggest surprise of all… and it was a very pleasant one. Available at Selfridges and Waitrose, the product retails at £1.59 for 355ml and £2.79 for 750ml, quite unbelievable considering the quality of the product and the gorgeous bottle.

 

The Galvanina Collection provides the perfect ingredient for mocktails for warm afternoons, over ice as a non-alcoholic aperitif or a punchy fruit base for evening alcoholic concoctions, and at only 47 calories per 100ml, this refreshing new Italian drink is certainly delizioso!

 

http://www.galvanina.co.uk/
Facebook.com/GalvaninaUK

Chelsea Flower Show 2014

The Chelsea Flower Show 2014 is in full swing and a number of celebrities have made an appearance at BrandAlley’s Italian Renaissance themed garden. Amy Willerton also appeared and posed as Venus in a giant clam shell. Top to bottom: Jennifer Saunders and Edmondson, Mary Nightingale, Tim Wonnacott, Amy Willerton, Anneka Rice, Lesley Garrett, Mary Berry and Nick & Jessica Knowles

jennifersaunders

chelseaflowershow timwonnacot amywillerton annekarice lesleygarrett maryberry nickandjessicaknowlesDo you like the Chelsea Flower Show?

 

 

TM Lewin Autumn/Winter Collection for 2014

TM Lewin

Ladies are very lucky when it comes to fashion with an array of wonderful items landing in stores and we can update our look at a touch of our perfectly polished fingertips. Men or men wanting classic clothing on the other hand don’t have that much to chose from. A real downside to the basic wardrobes of many men, but fortunately TM Lewin are upping the anti with their newest collection for Autumn Winter 2014 being launched this September. I had the pleasure of being invited to this brands press day last week, to take a look and also be able to sure all the goodies with you guys. With my camera in hand I headed off to this fabulous event in the heart of London.

 TM Lewin

TM lewinFrom cool winter jackets, with stunning suits and delightful accessories there really isn’t any excuse to look shabby now guys! The main focus of the season is layering and adding different textures, prints and structure but within the same colour block.

Adding really basic and classic items to an outfit can give it a finished touch, but when you are talking TM Lewin you are also dipping your toes into real brand quality, style and panache with confident, edgy and trend setting elements.
Tm lewinThey are still holding on to key classic items like the pea coats and cool ties but adding a fresh feel to the entire collection.

 TM Lewin P1140077

This brand has always been one of the best around and now I feel its jumped up a notch in the fashion food chain. Gorgeous looks that will get heads turning for all the right reasons. The attention to detail is absolutely spot on too with looks that will suit all age ranges. They will last a lifetime as they are so wonderfully crafted and with 100s of shirt patterns being created each month you chaps will be able to update your closets as much as us ladies.

P1140085

P1140091 P1140087

This brand has been around since 1898 and still is by far one of the best in the world.Tm Lewin

While I was there we all chatted about fashion and how it relates to feeling good, happy and positive. “Clothes make the man” (Hamlet) This phrase implies that how a person dresses tells you something about who they are as a person and TM Lewin have got that bottled up nicely with this collection.

P1140102

TM Lewin

They are also tremendous hosts and we are a variety of canapés that where created by the Winner of Masterchef form last year, Nathalie Coleman. Crafted with distinction, style and quality just like TM Lewin themselves.

I am looking forward to this season so much and I hope you chaps are too. Ladies they have a rather impressive collection for you too but on this particular day it was the mens collection was the highlight of the day for me.

Follow me on Twitter @sarahbacchus and visit my photographic website www.sarahbacchus.com 

Sarah Millican Responds To Criticism About Her Appearance On The Red Carpet

The red carpet can be a brutal place for women: their talent is put to one side and they are based entirely on the sum of their parts and ability to dress. This is what happened to Sarah Millican at last year’s BAFTA Awards.

“I’m sorry. I thought I had been invited to such an illustrious event because I am good at my job. Putting clothes on is such a small part of my day. They may as well have been criticising me for brushing my teeth differently to them” She wrote in her Radio Times Essay.

 

Sarah  millican responds to trolls  BAFTA Awards

Trolls on the internet attacked her red carpet look, calling it “disastrous” and “nana”-like. She was hurt but choose to respond and point out the sexism of a woman being judged on her appearance rather than celebrated for her achievements.

“I’m not a model (I’m a comedian), have never learnt how to pose on a red carpet (I’m a comedian) and I have pretty low self-esteem.”

She also had this to say about her John Lewis dress:

“Fancy expensive designer shops are out for me as I’m a size 18, sometimes 20, and I therefore do not count as a woman to them.”

“It was like a pin to my excitable red balloon. Literally thousands of messages from people criticising my appearance. I was fat and ugly as per usual. … I cried. I cried in the car.”

Then she got angry….

“Why does it matter so much what I was wearing? … I felt wonderful in that dress. And surely that’s all that counts.”

 

Cate Blanchett also got sick of the sexist double standards after the cameras kept scanning her up and down at this year’s SAG Awards. She asked, “Do you do that to the guys?”

Funnily, Millican, points out the sexism of the situation: “My husband wasn’t asked who he was wearing, which disappointed him. Mainly because he was dying to tell ANYONE he was wearing an Asda tux.”

Even better, Millican had this to say about the dress she wore:

“I made a decision the following day that should I ever be invited to attend the Baftas again, I will wear the same dress. To make the point that it doesn’t matter what I wear; that’s not what I’m being judged on.”

 

 

This Will Be The Weirdest Thing You’ll See All Day: Terry Crews and Jimmy Fallon Nip Synced Shirtless to Ebony and Ivory

This will be the weirdest, and possibly funniest, thing you will see all day: Jimmy Fallon and Terry Crews performing a shirtless duet of Ebony and Ivory on yesterday’s Tonight Show. Fallon loves to lip synch and it seemed they could not pass up the opportunity to get the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star shirtless for a different take on it.

The Dining Rooms at The Worsley Park Hotel, Manchester | Restaurant Review

The Dining Rooms at The Worsley Park Hotel is a light and spacious restaurant that takes traditional British food and gives it a modern twist. So far, so ‘every decent hotel restaurant’.

From the minute we arrived the staff created a pleasant and friendly atmosphere and our waiter was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. He recommended a 2013 Chenin Blanc to accompany our food choices and he was spot on. It was a lovely wine that somehow managed to compliment both the meaty courses that I chose and the vegetarian ones selected by my colleague.

All of our food arrived promptly, although this might partly have been because the restaurant was surprisingly empty for a Friday night. It’s worth noting here that the hotel is a little out of the way which probably explains the number of customers.

To start with I had chicken liver parfait and my colleague had asparagus with blood orange and hollandaise sauce, both off the specials menu. The blood orange nicely cut through the taste of the asparagus, which was well cooked. My parfait was flavoursome and had a lovely texture but, as is so often the way, it needed a little more toast to accompany it.

Chicken Liver Parfait Starter Asparagus Starter

For the main course I had lamb in a Chambord jus with mashed potato and roasted beetroot and my colleague had a macaroni and cheese pie with garlic bread and salad. My lamb was tender and meaty and went perfectly with the beetroot and jus. My colleague too was impressed by her macaroni and cheese pie, finding it to be an inventive take on a classic dish which used great quality ingredients and was just the right size. However, there could have been more of the accompanying salad as on its own the pie was a little salty.

Macaroni Cheese Pie Lamb with Roasted Beetroot and Chambord Jus

To finish, I had a white chocolate panna cotta with raspberry sorbet and a raspberry soup. The creaminess of the panna cotta went perfectly with the sharpness of the raspberry – it was possibly my favourite dish of the evening. My colleague had the sampler which came with miniature versions of the chocolate torte, the blood orange cheesecake and the sticky toffee pudding. Each was served with a suitable sorbet or ice cream and it was clear that thought had gone into the flavour combinations. The torte was dense and rich, just as it should be. Unfortunately, the cheesecake was a little bland and the sticky toffee pudding whilst delicious was lacking in sauce leaving it a little dry in the middle. However, I suspect that this might just be a problem with the miniature taster dish rather than the dessert when served on its own.  Both desserts, as with all the courses, were immaculately presented.

Dessert Taster White Chocolate Panna Cotta

The Worsley Park Hotel is a cut above your average hotel restaurant and is certainly a good choice for a meal on a special occasion. Does it manage to do anything radical in its attempt to provide a modern twist on traditional dishes? Not really. Would I recommend visiting anyway? I certainly would.

 

Lovesick Saints | Music Profile

These guys are a personal favourite of mine, I love War Story and listen to it on repeat. It starts with bagpipes playing ‘Amazing Grace’ and then goes into a brilliant song. They may be lovesick, now so am I.

Love Saints Band/Artist: Lovesick Saints
Location: Scottsdale AZ.
Styles: Alternative Punk
Similar to/RIYL: Bad Religion, Social Distortion, Pennywise, Alkaline Trio, Face to Face, The Ramones
CD: Dia De Los Muertos
Release date: 6/19/13

Members/Instruments: Tom Holliday (Guitars/Vocals), Jarrod Olson (Bass), Christian Howell (Drums/Backing Vocals)

Production: Recorded at Pyramix Studios (Glendale,AZ) Mixed at The Salt Mine Studios (Mesa,AZ) Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, ME)

Tracklisting: 1) Dia De Los Muertos 2) Sick and Broken 3) One Foot in The Grave 4) War Story 5) This Aint It 6) Empty

Bio:
Born in 2007 in Chandler Az, Lovesick Saints was a formation of Tom Holliday on guitar/vocals, his brother Davy Joe on bass/vocals and Sun Yun on drums. Initially mixing the old skool country sound with old skool punk rock, Lss eventually evolved into the rhythm-driven Alt-punk rock sound it is today. Although heavily influenced by early punk pioneers such as the Ramones and the Clash, Lss continues to push forward, incorporating fundamental punk music principles with messages from life’s ups and downs of today.

Christian Howell joined the project in 2010 when Sun departed ways and moved to California to pursue another career. Possessing similar musical interests and undeniable dedication, Lss was honored to welcome the new punk rocker to the line up with his undeniable rhythm capabilities. When Davy Joe left the band for personal reasons in 2012, thats when Tom turned to long time friend and fellow musician Jarrod Olson. Having worked with Jarrod on an earlier project years ago, Tom knew he would be a perfect fit. With Jarrod’s unrelenting grunge-era bass technique, this Seattle-born musician was exactly what the band needed to complete it’s line up.

Lovesick Saints has played numerous venues in the Maricopa county area of AZ and looks forward to expanding its sound outside the borders of its home state. The band has released 4 studio EPs: The Punk Rock Honky Tonk, Resurwreckshun, Outside Looking In and its recent “Dia de los Muertos” EP was released in June 2013.