I literally cannot give my blood away. I've had three appointments now that have been cancelled & I turned up a week early last Monday. Today, finally, there it was. I ticked my boxes & settled down with Private Eye to wait. AN HOUR LATER I was called into a little box to answer questions about my yes ticks (tattoos, childhood fractured skull, dentists & doctors) & then the guy disappeared & was replaced with a woman who asked me some more questions about my recent tooth escapades. Then she told me because it was temporary treatment & hadn't been completed I couldn't give blood. I did the walk of shame to leave & then the car park wouldn't even take my money! Is it just me? The only stuff about teeth says you're fine after seven days & it's been nine since I had treatment. Why couldn't they have told me at the beginning when I handed over my form, rather than after an hour of waiting after I'd arrived promptly at the time of my booked appointment. Anyway, I've complained. & I don't even want to give blood anymore. It's too much hassle to do something that I thought they wanted me too!

Anyway I don't tend to post just "I got this in H&M" posts but here it is, because this top is awesome & I want to replicate it in lots of pretty fabrics since it's just a rectangle with two seams. Oh & sorry on the tights front, these photos were taken a week or so ago when it wasn't so absolutely blisteringly hot. Which it is now. So I'm going out onto my balcony to read Drugs: without the hot air by the magnificent David Nutt, remember him?

Moody face! Ah ha. Sorry, COS clothes are hard to make look good in pictures right? Online this dress looks nice simple, elegant perhaps. & I like to think it does in real life, but ask me to pose in a dress with pockets & I cannot be held responsible for my hands. Sorry. Talking of COS can I really justify spending £65 (that's over a days worth of pay) on a sheer cardigan made out of viscose & polymide? Put like that, maybe I'll just persevere with eBay or try my luck with this Forever 21 lookalike for £17. But it's just not the same dammit!

THE SUN has come out. How do all these people so easily whip of the tights & have all these floaty summer dresses at their fingertips? With all this heavily moisturised skin ready to expose? Being of the pale & easily over heated variety of human summer is not my natural friend but I tend to blossom into it. Eventually. Might need a bit of thought though, remembering how the fuck to dress without thinking about having to wear black tights.

Wore this to work last week because I was just damn tired on the grey skys & black clothes. I was also wearing a bright green coat which I hope perked up at least a few peoples days. Plus the copy of Strangest Man signed by Graham Farmelo (the author) & Peter Higgs of the Higgs Boson! Well chuffed. Also got my equation on his twitter in amazement that anyone would love the Dirac equation enough to etch it onto their arm forever. Apologies for the art teacher hair, after work & excitement my bun was a little out of control.

Last week was pretty mammouth in terms of STUFF HAPPENING so here's a neat bullet point list to catch up on:

• Monday I went to the countryside. I don't think anything else exciting happend.
• Tuesday my mum got made an Alderman. There's an article here. With a picture of her (2nd photo) & her tiny little medal that isn't even on a silk ribbon. Did also almost spit in Barbara Wank's face after she made a speech about women in politics, the exact group she diminishes every time you talk to her about equality.
• Tuesday (again) went to a feminist debate at the Watershed where I had to be marched out by my mum at the end before I punched someone. I was so angry I was shaking. Healthy, no. If you scroll down I wrote a massive rant about it. Thinking of starting my own feminist group that doesn't just have the kind of people that would join a feminist group. Impossible.
• Wednesday went to a talk by Graham Farmelo & Peter Higgs, where I sat next to (& possibly offended by not recognising) a famous physicist in the front row, got my photo taken by Graham Farmelo (because of my tat) & got my book signed by him & Mr Higgs. *!* SCIENCE *!*
• Thursday went to New Look press day, but more importantly Bauhaus exhibition at the Barbican. It has loads of stuff that wasn't at the Bauhaus Archiv which was fascinating & the timeline from creation to closure was well done (including some hypnotising fonts & tapestries along the way). The only disappointment was the gift shop where there were limited posters & the nice tights were £48!
• Friday was uneventful until I got a massive shooting pain through my tooth & then spent the whole evening on the phone to NHS Direct who promised to call me back & didn't until 5.30 the next morning. Now I'm waiting on a follow up appointment. Oh joy.

Phew, how was your week?

So I was invited to a press day at New Look to preview the A/W collection & I'm feeling a bit guilty about it. Mainly because I never started a blog to get press invites & go to these things. I don't really fit in scrabbling around for care labels in a showroom with people eating ice cream. But I am intrigued by how these things work at all so I thought I'd go along & see how it goes. I won't make a habit of it, mainly because Susie Bubble does these things better than anyone else & most companies are evil. Unlike New Look who was founded in Taunton, basically just up the road from Bristol where I live. Which is pretty cool.

The main inspiration was evidently Alexander McQueen's triumphant return to London with McQ & a new shop opening. There was a rack of houndstooth and check in red and black. Along with more houndstooth the likes of which we've already seen filtered into H&M etc. The most exciting aspect of this for me though was the knitwear. Though I'd give the jumpers knitted with crosses a wide berth, there were many heavy knits and bright colours to keep the more discerning entertained. Unfortunately the only pieces that already had care labels were acrylic & the lady couldn't answer my questions about what the jumpers were actually made of, so I reserve my judgement until then.

Aside from this there was a rack of more romantic inspired pieces, notes of Chanel with a whole load of white and cream, but the floral prints were lovely & I spotted a selection of leather through the racks. Again, she couldn't tell me if it was fake or otherwise, but the cut out dress above was a nice spin on the now classic skater dress silhouette & it definitely on my mental wish list to look out for towards the end of summer.

All in all, like a trip to New Look, there were a small selection of pieces that really caught my eye, but there was a lot that didn't really hit the spot. I didn't hang around the accessories too long because the shoes don't go up to my size & although there was some interesting jewellery - all very hardwarey, chain linked rings, studs etc - didn't totally tickle my fancy. But I guess I'm not really their target customer. I think the painted jeans & bright platforms will find oodles of admirers and I think for New Look themselves it's a pretty tight season.

I've just been to a debate on the "Future of Feminism" that makes me truly think that the future of feminism is fucked if it's left in the hands of these "sisters". Not only were the panel patronising, they didn't answer the questions from the audience. They also intimidated other members whilst talking about patriarchy and how we have to bond together in a "sisterhood" and stop judging each other. In the words of my wonderful feminist mother "If you are against the patriarchy then stop patronising my daughter". 

When I asked a pretty legitimate question about the fact that the furthering of the feminism is more about empowering women from the ground up rather than having theoretical debates between like minded people about how we can further equality for everyone; I was met with defensiveness and talk of outreach programmes. The panel were very happy to talk about getting involved with the community to further the "feminist movement" but nothing about actual real women and what it can do for them. Nothing about young women which I specifically mentioned. And don't even get me started on Finn Mackay's response.

Other audience members asked questions which were repeatedly not answered or brushed over into areas the panel felt more comfortable talking in. There were interesting points raised about the role of black feminism as a separate entity within feminism as Chitra Nagarajan from Southall Black Sisters was on the panel. There was also a comment from Finn Mackay to the effect of "In the media feminists are painted as hairy, man hating idealists, like that's a bad thing" which was met with laughter. BUT IT IS A BAD THING. That's the reason young women do not want to identify themselves as feminists. That's why the girl in the audience who'd prompted this reply was being taken to an employment tribunal after making a sexual harassment accusation on the basis that she was an outspoken feminist and didn't know whether to identify herself as such in court.

She was also told to walk into court and tell them "to fuck off" by an American woman who had already read a piece from Sian Norris' book that was straight out of the handbook of bad 70s feminism. This is support. This is "sisterhood".

This same woman had grabbed the microphone to tirade a girl on the other side of my mum who had wanted to ask a VERY RELEVENT question about the medias perception of feminists. Offhandedly she had asked why writing about feminism is still seen as something to tiptoe around & apologise for, unlike racism or homophobia. But the high & mighty couldn't let it slide & answer the pressing question about perception of feminists, they decided to barrage her with complaints about how people are still racist & homophobic. Huh! Really? They patronised her to the point my mum was sat between two young girls shaking with anger at being scrutinised for wanting to move the idea of feminism & the moment forward. Into the future. The point of the whole debate.

No wonder young women do not identify with the idea of feminism if it is still purely a debate for academics. When the idea of patriarchy is still introduced. When we are told to "say the word feminism everyday". When those on the "feminist scene" are too closed to talking about feminism with anyone who doesn't identify with "sisterhoods" & "women only spaces". I am one of those young women & I can tell you for sure that I have said the word feminism to more people in my short 20 year lifetime outside of the world of "feminism" than any of them. I have debated what it means to be feminist with teenage boys raised on pornography & Lil Wayne. & I don't fucking care about pornography & I fucking listen to Lil Wayne.

If you preach non judgement on other women then do not belittle me because I oppose your arguments & can back them up. Do not set up a debate of the future of feminism and only talk about ideas of feminism that have been irrelevant for decades. We need it more that ever & they're taking it & turning it into something cliched & undebatable. So fuck it. Maybe I'm not a feminist. Maybe I'm an equalist. Because if the debate of feminism has been hijacked by these people then I do not identify it & I'll move onto a different debate. That of equality for all. Because that was meant to be the message all along.

This is my "scary" purple lipstick. Inspired by a very lovely woman who came into work the other week wearing purple lipstick and a lovely fluffy green jumper. Plus I keep meaning to wear these sunglasses instead of my normal ones, how insane & 90s & childish are they? I love that they make my face look really long in an odd way. But this was yesterday when it was sunny & lovely & now, well, it's raining again.

You guys should all read this blog post by Alexandra Therese. She's a brilliant writer & I have a sneaking suspicion a very lovely person too.

How was your weekend?

In honour of the first day without rain for like 3 weeks here's a pretty summery outfit. I admit after these morning photos I put on some tights & a coat before I went out. Although I did laugh hysterically when the bf said I looked like a fucked up cheerleader. Bring It On did used to be one of my favourite films (still is) *ahem*. Anyway, not gonna talk about the skirt, why I waited till now to blog it!

Been dealing with a lot of crazy people at work lately. Like more than usual. A guy on Wednesday just spouted complete nonsense at me about studios and ice cream, who knows. Then today this little stooped old lady came in & asked for a Crossword book she'd had us order for the third time. She looked up three answers and then said she didn't want it. Is it wrong of me to have a go at her & then hold the door open? I don't think so, being old doesn't mean you can get away with shit like that. Ah man, bookshops hey.

So being a recent convert to River Island, I popped in on my way through town the other day & after navigating through the polyester & badly printed leggings I left. Only to be captured by the mens display in the window. So I went back in upstairs & found a whole rack of awesomely printed polo shirts. I've been sort of half heartedly looking for a polo shirt for a while & these printed ones are pretty sweet. I almost bought the motel one but then realised it bore a resemblance to my car printed shirt & didn't. When I went back to look online I also found a whole load of lovely printed shirts too. £28 is a lot for one shirt but...maybe they'll get put in the sale? Find the polo shirts here & the shirts here.

Oh & thanks for the nice comments about my clothes rail/wardrobe. I thought it would be nice to have some colour behind me! Haha. Also it is like the best thing to wake up to every morning. I think everything should be colour ordered, right?

Dude, this sounds

like an advert.

I couldn't resist the cheesy last shot, matching your nails to your lipstick = radness. I realise one of the last posts I did was with this shirt but hey ho, I am a human being who wears the same clothes more than once. Plus this is the most bad ass way I've found to wear it. I love disco pants, have I said that before? I had to buy a new pair of black ones because I wore the first pair so much (about once a week at least, like jeans basically) the elastic was starting to go all funny. Here I am thinking I'm half way to having all the colours & they go & release 2 more. Damn them! 

So, yes, I disappeared. So unlike me right? Not really... Basically I was really fucking down & depressed (not a great blogging mood) & then last week I was in Crete with my dad. It was well nice & although we sort of ran out of stuff to say to each other, it gave me a better perspective so I was waaay happier when I came home. If that makes sense. So for a quick update let us turn to the almighty bullet pointed list:

• Having discovered how much I love wearing lipstick I possibly went a step too far with dark purple which caused my mum to raise her eyebrows & say "scary"
• Voted yes to a Mayor in Bristol & so glad we won! Awesomeness, just hope people vote for the Labour candidate, unlike *ahem* (in style of Hunger Games) The Capital
• Put together an Ikea sofa & bought my very own TV, who knew they were so expensive? So now when I finally move out all I will have is a 32" telly & my clothes, totally mature.
• Been interviewed twice for peoples PHDs. Once about "Fashion Blogging" & once about making data public, sort of thing.
• Have become addicted to listening to the Drake song Marvins Room / Buried Alive Interlude on repeat as I fall asleep.
• Saw two amazing films at The Watershed, Damsels in Distress & Marley. Go & see them. Serious. They'll make your life better.
• Read El Narco & found out loads about the history of the drug trade that was fascinating.
• Went to the dentist, eek. Have three weeks of Monday appointments in July to look forward too. So much for getting them to knock me out.

That's enough I think. So how the hell have you been?