KONY 2012, HATS OFF

Right. I’m no activist. And I usually make a point of refraining from commenting on things that are hot in the media – not really my style. I don’t need a soap box to say how I feel about things, and social-media-frenzy is exactly the kind of soap box that I try to avoid. Like the plague.

But I’ve been drawn out of my usual silence by all the BS circulating around Facebook and the like. Namely, about Kony 2012.

So I was sent the video by an old mate – I haven’t spoken to her face-to-face in a good while, so for her to post something directly on my wall with a personal message (which included my name, adding precious seconds to her chain-posting session no doubt – I appreciated the effort), I was intrigued enough to watch the thing.

Half an hour later, I re-posted with the comment: “I guess Facebook is actually good for something. powerful stuff - the utility of fame.” An hour later, I realised that the thing had gone truly viral. Now when I re-posted, I knew full well that I wasn’t immediately going to do any more research on the matter and that it was very unlikely that I was going to donate or buy a kit. So I re-posted thinking that perhaps someone else might be moved to. I was shocked to find that I knew nothing of this full-blown crazy, and I was engaged by the concept of pimping out the concept of fame for something more than fuelling the messed up concepts of celebrity and idolising people for having shiny teeth and getting paid too much. Aside from feeling sad about the fact that life seems to work at making some people’s lives so epically difficult, I kind of drew a line under it.

Then. Everyone pulled out their ‘I’m a social expert / activist / my opinion has the same weight as GOD’ hats. And to those people, I just want to say that you may want to calm the fuck down. Everyone who is upset about the fact that it’s a white man heading the campaign – calm down. You’re not allowed to be that upset if you knew about Kony at the height of his regime some 20 odd years ago, and still did nothing. And if you didn’t know about the LRA until this campaign – calm down. You obviously weren’t looking to find out about it in your spare time. And all those saying that it’s all a political conspiracy – you guessed it, calm down. Appreciate the fact that the IC project is raising awareness – which was exactly the aim. Yes it was a video with good production and neat editing – would it be more real and gritty if he held the camera with his feet?

All you clowns hating, pipe down. We’re all talking about it now. Perhaps it will lead to some good, whether through IC or through all the other groups that have been working for the improvement of life in Uganda, and which have now also been brought to light. All the better.

And kindly stop telling me to think, please. I am, otherwise I’d be a lemon.

LFW OUTFIT DIARY #5

Top - Zara (yes, I'm Zara's bitch)

Jeans - Zara (see above)

Shoes - Zara (ha!)

Hello, my name's Zara's Bitch. Pleased to meet you... And I am not ashamed! That said, I reckon it's a hugely under-rated store, which works for me, as it means that the rest of the world is prostituting themselves over at Topshop and H&M.

So here's what I wore on day 5. And we are nearing an end. Now today (Wednesday) is Menswear day at LFW. And as I tend not to dabble in that department at most stores, I may call it a day with this installement. And what fun it’s been!

I hope you’ve all had a fabulous fashion week faithful readers/viewers. Keep the creativity flowing. It’s more fun that way.

Images courtesy of the Thomas Cook stairwell, and the amazing Eleanor Farmer.

LFW OUTFIT DIARY #4

Dress - vintage

Shoes - Topshop

Fridge - courtesy of Thomas Cook

Day 4! Now I considered keeping things consistent by taking these pics in the same place each day. But where's the fun in that? So here's one of the kitchen's at work. Yep!

N.B. Pictures taken by the amazing Eleanor Farmer. She is indeed  a real life photographer - but we're working with a camera phone and aweful light here, so don't you judge her!

LFW OUTFIT DIARY #3

Now. Day three of LFW happened to fall on a Sunday, and I'll be honest - I prefer not to leave my house on Sundays. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that I like to wear a pair of pyjamas and a warm pair of socks for as much of the day as possible, accounting for the time taken for a shower and putting on a new set. And praise to the Lord on high, that's exactly what I did this Sunday! And oh!, it was good.

So I'm afraid that this is all that there is to report. And to all my brothers and sisters in arms (Pj's and socks), I salute you.

LFW OUTFIT DIARY #2

Sleeveless cardigan - Zara

Black body-con skirt - vintage

Boots - H&M

So, installment two! I decided to be an actual young person and go out on Saturday night, rather than sit up in bed and read my book. And was it an adventure! My gorgeous sister and I went to Covent Garden's Tamarai Restaurant and Club. And to be honest, you might do well to avoid it. After we were told to go and wait outside in the cold or pay £10 immediately, as the rest of our party had not yet arrived, the DJ apparently lost his bag that contained all of his music that was made in the last 10 years.

But against all odds, we had a great time! I guess 90’s and early noughties classics, plus a couple of glasses of rose are just the ticket for a good ol’ time. Take note for next Saturday dear readers.

LFW OUTFIT DIARY #1

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So happy London Fashion Week to one and all! For the past year or so, I've actually had the chance to enjoy fashion week and experience the energy and vibrancy that the thing encourages. I've gone from hearing about it as a distant concept, to sitting front row, sniffing the sweat and latex of AW 2011.

Now, the 'cool kids' amongst us will say that the whole thing is passé and boring. And you can listen to them if you fancy. But for me, after spending just my lunch hour in the thick of it at Somerset House on day one, I went back to the office pumped full of the fun and excitement that fashion is surely supposed to inject into our hum-drum lives.

It spurred me to do something to celebrate the creativity and energy that LFW, for me, is synonymous with. So here it is - the first instalment of my fashion week outfit diary. Now, I don't pretend to be a fashionista. Nor am I particularly elegant in front of the camera. But this, for me, is a way to relish in the rugged and heady London fashion scene, as the rest of the fashion world tunes into it. Let's all have a slice of the fun!

N.B. I am incapable of posing seriously in front of the camera - a bout of the giggles will automatically ensue.  Exhibit A.

Schön! PARTY, ISSUE #16

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So this was fun! Last night was Schön! Magazine's party, celebrating the AMAZING 16th issue. Yes, that's the one with David Gandy on the front cover. And yes, this is the third edition with your favourite pensivebuddha as a contributing writer. In print, bitches!