The death of Margaret Thatcher: Dividing the intelligent from the cruel

Today (April 8) saw the death of ex-Prime Minister, Baroness Margaret Thatcher. After a series of illnesses she passed away, aged 87, after suffering from a stroke. As arguably the least popular Prime Minister in recent times, it was inevitable that people would take to social media to air their own views, many relishing in her death and others mourning the loss of the staunch Tory. Where should a line be drawn?

I, myself, am a member of the Labour Party and strongly oppose a majority of Conservative policies. I despise what the Tory party stand for and strongly believe that the coalition are doing more damage to our country than many people think. This, of course, could lead people to label me as a ‘typical left-winger’. So be it, but that is my own view.

I do not, however, condone the celebration of Margaret Thatcher’s death. She, as the leader of Great Britain, showed herself to be the epitome of stereotypical Tory values. She championed privatisation, introduced poll tax, unemployment rose, she doubled VAT and even took milk away from school children.

However, she was also the first female British Prime Minister and held the position for eleven years, the longest term to date. She changed politics from being a male-dominated field and showed that women, quite simply, can do whatever men can. I am by no means an active feminist but as I woman I believe that we should be viewed as equals to men. Thatcher proved this on her own platform.

Once news of her death spread, the reactions I saw online were quite frankly repulsive. Thatcher was a hate-figure and most people are aware of this, but to compare her to the likes of Hitler and Bin Laden is absolutely ridiculous and is a completely uneducated reaction. I have noticed that many of those celebrating her death are the ones that have never shown any interest or knowledge of politics to date, perhaps forming their wild opinions from watching The Iron Lady or memes.

As a politician many hated her views, campaigned against them, suffered from them. Away from politics, she was still a mother, a grandmother, a friend. Have some respect for her family mourning the loss and think to yourselves, how would you feel if people were celebrating the loss of your loved ones?

Today I fell in love with… Burberry (again)

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Christopher Bailey, the genius mind behind Burberry. Every season he manages to stay true to the heritage associated with the brand but gives it a completely unique spin that no one can quite predict.

This afternoon (February 18) he showcased his AW13/14 collection at London Fashion Week, entitled ‘Trench Kisses’, in Kensington Gardens to a plethora of household names including Kate Beckinsale, Olivia Palermo, Rita Ora, Jake Bugg, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and of course, Anna Wintour.

  

True to Burberry form, Bailey stayed loyal to the shapes and styles that the brand is renowned for, with trench coats and pencil skirts aplenty. Coats were nipped in at the waist with gold metal belts,  pencil skirts were given a futuristic twist with a transparent, glossy finish and almost every animal print under the sun made an appearance.

Valentine’s Day may have been and gone for this year but Bailey succeeded in rekindling the romantic feel by adorning trenches, blouses and dresses with love hearts. Just plain cheesy, I hear you say? This is Christopher Bailey we’re talking about. He somehow has the knack of taking what a lot of people would say are the most overdone or tacky statements and makes them, quite simply, beautiful. (Even kitten heeled wedges. Yes, really!).

  

To top it all off, rivets and tassels,  bold thick stripes and classic body-hugging dresses (a black version of one seen on Anne Hathaway at the BAFTAs last week) means that Bailey has yet again created a masterpiece collection that will no doubt be a huge success. Once you add Tom Odell’s live performance with an accompanying choir and a few names such as Karlie, Jourdan, Cara and Edie, there’s no shame in admitting if you were left hugging yourself in pure glee. Hats off to Burberry once again.

  

My best dressed front row crown goes to the ALWAYS gorgeous Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Why can’t I just be her?

Is Whitehall full of in the closet homophobes?

There is much to be said about equality in 21^st century Britain. We are a country that prides itself in our supposedly forward-thinking attitudes and politics but are quick to judge those countries who don’t quite meet these standards, particularly those in the Middle East.

It seems absurd, then, that homosexuals have only recently gained the same rights as heterosexuals. Homosexuality was only decriminalised in Scotland in 1981 and Northern Ireland in the following year. The age of consent for sex between same-gender couples was lowered to 16, like that for straight people, in 2000 and the Civil Partnerships Act was only introduced in 2004.

How is it that our government, the body of people whom we elect to run our country, have managed to get away with putting a limit on love between two people for so long?

I am, of course, referring specifically to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill which MPs voted in favour for on Tuesday (5 February) evening. After a seven-hour long debate, often heated and incredibly passionate, the Commons voted by a majority of 400 to 175 to redefine marriage and make it available to all.

Those in authoritative positions certainly have not shied away from voicing their opinions on this issue. The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said that marriage has always been between a man and a woman and it would be nothing but wrong to change it. It could be argued, perhaps, that his opinions are as redundant as the religion he has devoted his life to preaching about. Does religion even have a place in 21^st century society? That’s another argument for another day.

Embarrassingly for poor old Davey C, he didn’t succeed in achieving a majority Tory vote for the Bill with 139 Conservatives, including two cabinet ministers, voting against gay marriage, 75 abstaining from the vote and 132 supporting the measure. For a leader who has preached about the importance of his ‘Big Society’ since day one, this was Cameron’s chance to prove Tory sceptics wrong and show that the party is a reformed and forward-thinking one. This, evidently, is not the case.

During the debate, Tory MPs overall came across as the most prejudiced and bigoted of all participants. Tim Loughton, Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham said:

“Who are we, this government or this country, to redefine the term marriage that has meant one man and one woman across cultures, across ages, across geographical barriers since before state and religions themselves?”

This begs the retort: Who is the government, be it Conservative, Labour or Monster Raving Loony, to enforce legal barriers on love between two people?

Stephen Gilbert, Liberal Democrat MP for St Austell and Newquay, summed up the whole thing perfectly, in my eyes:

“Love should be there for one and all. Marriage should not be an exclusive institution. This view is one which is born of a hatred of decriminalisation of all types”.

I am both proud and happy to be part of the next generation whose majority holds no prejudice against same-sex couples, race or religion. Now we just need to get those with the same mind-set into Parliament.

BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund winner revealed

It was announced this week that Nicholas Kirkwood is this year’s recipient of the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.

The footwear designer’s prizes include £200,000 and intense mentoring from some of the industry’s leading figureheads over the next 18 months.

The Fund, which was launched in 2008 to aid up and coming designers, is supported by Burberry, Debenhams, Harrods, LF Europe, Marks & Spenders, Paul Smith, Topshop, Clothing at Tesco and Vogue.

Kirkwood triumphed over the likes of Peter Pilotto, R0ksana Ilinic and Mary Katrantzou, all of which are up and coming designers who have established themselves in the past year to high critical acclaim.

The designer has already collaborated with the likes of Erdem, Peter Pilotto and Meadham Kirchhoff, proving himself to be one to watch in coming years. With Jonathan Saunders receiving the award last year and having hugely successful seasons to follow, there is no need to doubt the eye of the BFC and Alexandra Shulman.

Here are some of my top picks from Nicholas Kirkwood’s Spring/Summer ’12 collection:

Emma Watson’s new Lancôme campaign revealed

Emma Watson’s new campaign for Lancôme was revealed today. The 22-year old actress has been the face of the brand since 2011, making the ‘In Love’ range her fourth campaign. The new collection is a drastic contrast to the glam-goth nature of the previous campaign. Perfect for spring, pastel hues are dominant with peach nail polishes and pink lipsticks and a playful burst of colour for the more daring in the form of eyeshadows and liners.

It’s no secret that I always have, and always will be, a huge Emma Watson fan. She can do no wrong in my eyes and is a genuine role model for young females, a rare thing in the world of celebrity where sex tapes and drugs scandals barely produce public shock these days.

After the huge success of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, her first main role since the Harry Potter films, Emma is returning to Brown University this month to continue her degree in English. It’s refreshing to see a young woman in the limelight who has had so much success in the film and modelling industry stay grounded and motivated to further her education.

Stars of tomorrow, take note.

The Annual Fibs aka New Year’s Resolutions

Yesterday, the last day of 2012, my Facebook news feed and Twitter timeline were filled with heart felt posts about ‘next year being different’ and ‘it’s time for a big change’. The whole notion made me feel thoroughly irritated because, let’s be honest, the same empty promises are told every single year and every single year they are broken. It’s likely you will stop eating chocolate for a couple of weeks and go to the gym every day for a good month or so and then everything will go back to being exactly the same as it was on December 31st.

Although guilty of making a few half-hearted New Year’s resolutions myself, it seems silly to revolve so called ‘life changing’ decisions around the date. Many resolutions, however seem irrelevant to the 21st century.

The most common resolutions for young adults and students are:

1. I will join the gym and get in shape
2. I will eat healthily
3. I will give up smoking
4. I will have full attendance at university/stay motivated with deadlines
5. Save money

Bore galore. You shouldn’t need a new year to make these big changes to your attitude! Instead, here are a few resolutions that I think are more relevant to our generation and should be noted by many people for 2013…

1. Stay away from social media when intoxicated/upset/angry
2. Avoid indirect posts on social networks/posting lyrics to make you look really unique and edgy aka a complete and utter fool
3. Consider whether you REALLY want to send that text after two bottles of wine
4. Spend your last £20 on food for the fortnight and not Nando’s and cocktails
5. Stop viewing the overdraft as free money

Happy New Year!!

The perks of working in jewellery…

My two previous part-time jobs at Primark and Sainsbury’s hardly entailed benefits that were thrilling. As much as I love a bargain, getting 10p off a tub of Onken yoghurt isn’t really what I call a perk.

I started my part-time job at Ernest Jones in September to help fund my way through university and as well as the best colleagues anyone could ask for, I have gained knowledge in watches and jewellery which has, quite simply, made me want more and more.

Here is some of the jewellery I have had the pleasure of purchasing and receiving in the past few months, as well as some of my favourite items in the Ernest Jones January sale.

            

            

Pearl pendant necklace from the Ernest Jones sale; self indulgent treat – Emporio Armarni pearl dial watch; Tiffany & Co. bangle from my wonderful mother at Christmas; freshwater pearl earrings from my Secret Santa

 

            

            

            

From top to bottom, left to right:

Eternal silver heart key pendant, was £95 now £23

9ct white gold and pearl knot studs, was £90 now £40

Marc by Marc Jacobs rose gold plated watch, was £209 now £104.50

9ct white gold cubic zirconia ring, was £175 now £85

9ct gold cultured freshwater pearl bracelet, was £150 now £75

Jubilee sterling silver diamond set heart locket, was £65 now £30