Questions other than “Am I bikini body ready?” to ask yourself this summer

June 5, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Zainab Boladale

As women, we are expected to have body confidence issues and while it is true that a lot of us do, what about those of us who actually don’t? Why are we being told that we should? It’s obvious that we are perceived as “the weaker fragile sex” by society and are expected to strive for perfection. It seems that society cares about us so much that there will always be someone ready to point out our supposed “problem areas”. The number one offender being, that’s right you’ve guessed it, the media with their “oh so brilliant” strategic marketing. What I mean by this is that in the last few years, companies targeting female customers are using different techniques to sell us their products. Rather than selling the product for what it does, they are selling it as a product that will actually help us improve our problem areas by pointing out that it should be a problem area. These adverts subtly instil the feeling of body shame when in fact there should be no reason to feel ashamed about what your body naturally does or looks like. I get really annoyed when I see adverts that display a healthy size 16 woman going to a size 8, despite the fact that she was perfectly fine at her initial size. Or the recent “Are you beach body ready?” advert by protein world that suggest that all our bodies should look like the woman in the poster, otherwise it shouldn’t be shown.

As for women who actually show or feel confident in their bodies, we are quickly branded as “vain”or “stuck up bitches”. Personally, I 90% feel confident in my body. Of course, there are days where I criticise certain aspect of my body, like my far from iron flat stomach or my kit kat bar chunky thighs but there are days, weeks, months even where I can appreciate that all of these things add to my unique shape and I have no desire to lose an insane amount of weight or volunteer my body for the hunger games just because I don’t look like a Victoria Secrets model. If anything, i’m happy looking like I know all of Betty Crocker’s secret recipes. Body love is something that every woman needs and it genuinely makes me mad that magazines and adverts target our insecurities not because they care about our “health” or want to make us love our bodies more than we already do. There are so many natural, unique and beautiful body shapes in the world so it’s crazy to think that there is one standardized perception of what is considered beautiful. Being aware of two cultural ideas of beauty, Africans seeing perfection in a rounder woman, and Europeans seeing beauty in a slender women, has made me realise that no matter how you look you will always be judged. Body love is an important thing and I think as long as you love your body and know how to work all your best features, then what anyone else thinks shouldn’t matter. So girls, this summer instead of asking ourselves “Am I bikini body ready?” ask yourselves “Is that bikini ready for your body?”.

The Top 5 Acts Hitting Ireland This Summer

May 23, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Emily Crowley

As mentioned in Shirley Donlon’s article published previously this week, festivals and concerts are a must-do on your summer bucket list. With such a wide variety of musical genres hitting Ireland’s main stages and biggest venues, I took a look at the top five acts to watch out for this summer. Ideal for those who want to take a trip within Ireland, why not plan a stay around this beautiful isle during one of these five dates?

Foo Fighters – Slane Castle, May 30^th

This year, Foo Fighters have the honour of being Slane Castle’s only announced headline act this year. The multi-Grammy award winning rock band has returned to Ireland for the first time since performing at Oxegen music festival in 2008. Supporting acts include Kaiser Chiefs and Hozier, making this a concert not to be missed. Tickets are still available, as far as I know, and can be bought on ticketmaster.ie for €79.50.

2. Ed Sheeran – Croke Park, July 24^th

With four sell-out nights in Dublin’s Three Arena last October, Ed Sheeran is back, and this time he’s taking to the main stage in Croker to perform what can be predicted as an incredible performance. With a distinctive live music style, Ed performed alone in his October concerts, only being accompanied by his guitar on stage. This summer, he is to be supported by Irish indie rock band Bell X1 and English singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson. Ticket price began at €69.45 – seize them while you can folks!

Florence and the Machine – Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co. Laois, September 4^th – 6^th

Florence and the Machine were announced as Electric Picnic’s headline act of 2015. When last performing in Ireland, the famous soul and indie rock band played alongside our own Snow Patrol in Phoenix Park in the summer of 2012. With other major names in the industry also listed in the line-up including Blur, Sam Smith, Jessie Ware and MK, as well as the growing popularity of the festival, could this be one of the greatest years Electric Picnic has seen?

Avicii – Marlay Park, July 3^rd

For house music fanatics much like myself, we know that Ireland has a lacks seriously in major DJs playing in Ireland’s main venues. With only Hardwell performing in the Three Arena (then the O2) in February 2014 and Swedish House Mafia playing in Phoenix Park in 2012, it was literally music to our ears to hear that Avicii would headline a Marlay Park concert this year. Also playing the same day, Rudimental will be making an appearance as support for the “Levels” DJ. A sold-out arena of 38,000 – this shall be a concert that will definitely go down in Marlay Park history. Much like Ed’s concert, if you source tickets, go for them, they will be like gold dust come July.

Example and DJ Wire – Sea Sessions, Bundoran, Co. Donegal, June 19^th – 21^st

Another year, and another fantastic line-up for Sea Sessions. Example is taking a quick break from fatherhood and will be accompanied by DJ Wire to make a stellar performance on one of the most picturesque music venues in the country. However, Example is not the only act to be followed in this festival, also performing are Maverick Sabre, Klingande, Sigma and The Riptide Movement. So for all you who want the festival experience with a bit more chillaxed vibes, head on up to Bundoran where you definitely will not be disappointed.

The Sea Sessions campsite on beautiful Bundoran Beach

Soundtrack to Summer

May 17, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Bronwyn O’Neill

Summer is almost here, so it’s time to get in the summer mood. Here are some great songs, both old and new, to do just that.

Miami 82 – Syn Cole (Kygo Remix)

No summer mix is complete without Kygo, so to start us off here is (in my opinion) the best song to get into that summer feeling.

Where Are U Now – Skrillex& Diplo ft Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber is back and better than ever. With this new song produced by Diplo and Skrillex, it will definitely be a hit this summer.

Cheerleader – OMI (Felix Jaehn Remix)

This song is already all over the radio and it has those chill summer vibes that will make it stand the test of the summer charts.

Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Ray (Cedric Jervais Remix)

Old but gold, we hope you don’t have any sadness this summer. However, this song will probably make a comeback in nightclubs during the summer months. If not, it’s still a great way to get ready for summer.

I Really Like You – Carly Rae Jepsen

Carly is back with another catchy song that will have us mouthing the words in the car. It may have a different vibe from the rest of the songs on this list but it’ll get me through the summer.

Firestone – Kygo

Kygo makes a second appearance on the list with his first original song. Another song that has already hit the charts, seeming like it’ll bring us into the sunny weather.

Summer – Calvin Harris

It’s called summer, so you might as well use it to concrete the summer feeling in your mind. Anyway, it will definitely bring back summer memories of last year.

Don’t You Worry Child – Swedish House Mafia

I honestly don’t care how old this song is, it is always going to be an undeniable summer tune. As will this next one.

Wake Me Up – Avicii

This song will always bring back fond summer memories.

Don’t Look Down – Martin Garrixft Usher

Martin Garrix’s new song will have you up and ready to feel the summer sun. Be prepared to hear this song a lot.

Sun is Shining – Axwell ^ Ingrosso

Two thirds of Swedish House Mafia bring out this amazing summer song. Although it’s of yet unreleased, it does feature in the H&M advertisement.

Stronger – Arty ft Ray Dalton

A song to get you pumped for the summer and all the adventures you’re going to have.

Hold You – Basto

This song has serious summer vibes, even the vocal will bring sun to mind. This will surely get you through the summer.

If it wasn’t for You – Alesso

Cool is everywhere but Alesso’s newest song which he premiered at Ultra seems like a song better suited for summer. I’m sure we’ll hear it a lot in the coming months.

The Only Way is Up – Martin Garrix&Tiesto

This collab was released last week and has all the makings to becoming a summer hit. With Tiesto and Garrix behind it, there is no doubt it’ll be blaring all through the summer.

Forbidden Voices – Martin Garrix (JakobLiedholm Remix)

Forbidden Voices is one of Martin Garrix’s big songs. However this remix will bring it into the summer and give you some serious summer vibes.

Heartbeat– Magnificence(Nicky Romero Edit)

This song will make you long for summer nights and going out. Summer nights out are always unforgettable, so this song is a perfect one to get you in that mood. Or perhaps a summer evening drive with the gang.

Peanut Butter Jelly – Galantis

Galantis’ first single “Runaway” is high on the charts, their third single seems like it will get you into those chill summer vibes.

Better Off Alone– Alice Deejay (Zaxx Remix)

This remix of a classic will get you in the mood for more summer outings.

Have a great summer guys.

Your Summer Bucket List

May 16, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Shirley Donlon

For most of us, the college year has come to an end which means one thing – summer has arrived! After weeks of stressing, studying and cramming I’m sure that everyone is now looking forward to a well deserved break but with so much spare time it can be hard to know what to do first. With the help of this ready-made summer bucket list you can prepare to have an unforgettable summer.

Travel

Travelling is by far one of the best ways to spend your summer. I mean, how often are we going to have over three months completely free from responsibility? We need to make the most of our summers as students by travelling. Whether you wish to enjoy a relaxing two week break in the sun with a couple of your best friends or go crazy and enjoy a holiday of partying there are many choices of different places to go.
Another amazing option for getting the travelling bug out of your system is to have the experience of a lifetime and go on a three month J1 working trip. This is a great way to experience a different culture, become more independent and also get some work experience on your CV.
If flying isn’t your thing, don’t worry, our own little island has so many hidden treasures and wonderful places to explore during the summer. From a surfing trip on the West coast to a hike up the mountains of Glendalough, Ireland will certainly keep you busy during the summer months.

Summer Barbecue

A summer barbecue is a great way to catch up with friends who you don’t see as often as you’d like and with the expense of student life it’s safe to say money can be a bit tight after a year of paying for campus accommodation and going on endless nights out to Diceys. Save your money by whipping up some home-made burgers and catching up with friends in the evening instead of going to a restaurant.

Festival

The summertime is the perfect time to go to a music festival and with so many to choose from you’re sure to find one that will appeal to you. Festivals have become increasingly popular in recent years and some of the world’s best singers, DJ’s and musicians are getting more and more involved each year. All we’ve been seeing for the past couple of weeks is photos of Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Vanessa Hudgens, Cara Delevingne and lots more celebs as they enjoyed the renowned music festival that is Coachella. And while most of us will never be so lucky to make it to Coachella (sigh) it’s okay because Ireland hosts many of the best Summer music festivals around – Longtitude, Electric Picnic, Forbidden Fruit. Tickets can be pricey and sell out really fast so make sure to grab yours before it is too late!

Exercise Outside

Okay, I know this isn’t as exciting as the others mentioned above but summer is the perfect opportunity to swap the gym for a nice long run on the beach or through the park. It isn’t often that we get nice weather so exercise outside this summer and make the most of the sunshine! Plus, exercising outside will help you get that summer glow J

Camping

Whether it’s in the woods, on the beach or in your own back garden, camping is such a fun thing to do in the summer. All you need is a tent, some warm pyjamas, a group of friends and obviously some marshmallows for toasting. Just remember, it is always a good idea to use the toilet BEFORE getting set up for camping – there is nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, in a tent, needing to go to the toilet!

Cocktail Party

What better way to celebrate the end of exams and the stress of the college year than with a cocktail party? Whether you’re getting ready to go out afterwards or simply having a chill night in with the girls, a cocktail party is the perfect chance to catch up, have fun and relax with friends. Here are two simple recipes for your own home-made cocktails. Enjoy! (Feel free to leave out the alcohol for a yummy non-alcoholic drink.)

Sea Breeze Cocktail
1 Part Vodka
1 Part Grapefruit/Pineapple Juice
3 Parts Cranberry Juice

Woo Woo
1 Part Vodka
1 Part Peach Schnapps
4 Parts Cranberry Juice
Ice

Spice up your look!

It is always tempting to change up your look during the year but sometimes the fear of it turning out badly and having to go into work or college to showcase your new look can be enough to stop you doing it. The summer is the perfect time to be adventurous and try out that style that you’ve always wanted to. Use the three months to experiment with different looks and have fun with it. Whether you feel like dying your hair a new colour, wearing something you’ve never worn before or doing something you have always wanted to there is no better time to do so than during the summer months. If hair is your thing, follow in the footsteps of Kylie Jenner by adding a pop of colour to the tips of your hair using hair chalk or hair dye. If you’re not feeling that daring, try spicing up your style by buying something you’ve always wanted to wear.

Go on an Adventure

Ireland has so many great attractions. For those of us who are staying home for the summer this is a great opportunity to explore the great hidden treasures that Ireland has to offer. Go on a group surfing trip in Lahinch, Co.Clare or take a visit to Carlingford Adventure Centre in Co. Louth for a weekend filled with activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, zip-lining and more. If you and your friends are the spontaneous type (and are lucky enough to own a car) go on a road trip and see where it takes you!

Charity Work

During the summer there are lots of options to get involved in raising some money for a great cause. In Ireland there are many different organisations that encourage students to get involved and volunteer to do some charity work. There is a variety of marathons and races that raise money for charity running through the summer months. Gather a group of friends and take part in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon on June 1^st and run, walk or jog for a great cause.

Relax

Finally, if you’re feeling exhausted after a year of doing assignments and exams it is important to relax and enjoy your well deserved break from college. Don’t feel like you have to keep busy every single day. Sometimes all you need is a good rest.

Enjoy your summer!

How social media affects our self image

May 14, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Bronwyn O’Neill

Social media plays a huge part in our lives, especially in our teenage years and into our early twenties. I decided to look at how social media controls our self-esteem because of a famous confession revealed last week.

Kylie Jenner, one of the world’s most fashionable teenagers, has admitted to getting lip fillers. Although it was probably one of the worst kept secrets out there, it does raise the issue of how social media can affect us. In the latest episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kylie discusses her own self-consciousness, an issue that has only been heightened due to social media attention.

So, if one of the most influential teenagers can be affected so badly be social media, how can us regular plebs not be?

Everyone, male and female, has insecurities. Whether it be weight, height, scars, noses or lips, I highly doubt anyone wakes up and thinks “perfection.” (Except maybe Beyoncé because she did in fact wake up like that.)

On a serious note, there hasn’t been a year when we hear about another suicide because of social media. Of course there are bullies attached to these deaths but the problem may also be that we put our most “perfect” self online. Every image is scrutinised, edited and filtered before we make it our profile picture on any social media site. The fear when we receive a notification saying someone has tagged you in pictures stems from wanting to seem flawless online. Due to this, cyber bullying is such a huge issue and such an attack on our self-esteem. If our ideal self is called fat and ugly then what are we really?

Teenagers look too much at unrealistic body images, photos that are photoshopped and edited to make the celebrity look perfect. Even when the images aren’t edited to such an intense standard, most celebrities take pictures in full make-up and hair, done by professionals that we can never stand up to.

This is not just a female issue, men also have to measure up to a certain body image. Men fall under just as much scrutiny and also suffer from negative body issues. We are all victims to this. We all put too much thought into how many likes our pictures get on instagram or how many followers we have on twitter. We feed into it and because of that, so many people face eating disorders and mental health issues.

I think it’s time we embrace our insecurities and learn to love them. Easier said than done, I suppose.

The Dress Debate: What happened when girls were kicked out of prom for what they were wearing

May 13, 2015May 13, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Rebecca Lumley

The prom, or debs/grad here in Ireland, is a rite of passage for school leavers and generally a lively topic of conversation for months in advance. Whether you’ve been dreaming of the dress you’d wear since first year (guilty) or just looking forward to a night out with your friends, it’s a big social occasion and something to look forward to amongst the stress of exams.

However, 2015 has seen a number of young ladies turned away from their prom because of what they were wearing. The last night of fun with their classmates was ripped away from these girls, all because the dresses they had chosen were deemed “too revealing”. When the cases were challenged by the students and parents affected, the schools refused to discuss the matter. You might be surprised by the offending dresses in question.

Case 1: Mireya Briceno

This gorgeous Michegan 18 year old was sent home after just one hour from her prom because the backless dress she wore was “inappropriate”. The school’s dress code stated that dresses showing skin “around the midriff” were forbidden, but had no such rule concerning backless dresses.The school principal, Brad Perkins, originally defended the decision but is now saying the dress code will be “reviewed” in the Autumn. Probably because of the internet storm the decision has caused.

Case 2: Alexus Miller-Wigfall

This Pennsylvania teen wasn’t turned away from her actual prom, but issued a day’s school suspension after the event. This came as a complete shock to Alexus and her mother, who believes the targeting is weight related. The school’s dress code requires that “all body parts are covered”, including breasts. Alexus’ mother maintains that as Alexus has bigger boobs than several other students, she was punished over girls who were wearing more revealing clothing. To add insult to injury, her mother had emailed several photos of the dress to the school for their approval prior to the prom. “I don’t see anything wrong with that dress. What do they want her to wear, a turtleneck?” her mother said.

Case 3: Shelton High School

This is perhaps the worst case of all as dozens of students have been affected and not just a few select individuals. Shelton High, a school in Connecticut, created an extensive list of dress code violations and have warned students that breaking the rules will see you denied entry from prom. The problem? They announced these rules a mere eight days before the event was set to take place. This late change in policy has naturally caused a wave of distress amongst students and parents, with many finding their pricey and often non-returnable dresses in violation. Above are two of the dresses rejected by the school. Determined to fight the unfair regulations, the students launched a petition that has gone viral in the last few days. They point out that:

“It takes a long time to pick out a dress or have one custom made, even longer for any necessary alterations to be made; it is unfair to release the dress guidelines eight days before the dance and expect every person to have a dress that follows them.”

The students also articulately tackled the wider issue of double standards in the school.

“There is a sexist and backwards logic that girls must cover up so that boys are not distracted or tempted to behave inappropriately. If a girl wears a pair of shorts and a boy takes that as an invitation to touch her, who really needs to be told to control themselves? Don’t teach girls to hide their bodies; teach boys self control and that they aren’t entitled to a girl’s body just because she dressed in a way that made her feel beautiful or just didn’t want to get overheated.”

“There is no reason why the boys at Mr. Student Body should have been allowed to parade around the stage in nothing but their boxers but a girl can’t wear a backless dress to prom. This selective enforcement of school dress code is unacceptable.”

Read the full petition here.

The issue that the students of Shelton High so brilliantly address here is the crux of all of the prom debacles we’ve seen.

While prom is a school event and the school are entitled to ask for decent dress, the instances we have seen have gone too far. Is an exposed back really so “inappropriate” when women wear backless gowns getting married every day? Is a 1cm sliver of midriff really so offensive? Are people unaware of the fact that girls have boobs and are therefore startled when they see them in a v-neck dress? Is it reasonable to demand that ALL BODY PARTS be covered, as in the case of Alexus’ high school?

The idea these cases perpetuate is that it is unacceptable for women to show their bodies. These rules tell girls that it is their responsibility to cover up so boys aren’t distracted in class. They say girls should dress a certain way to avoid wolf whistles on the street or leering gazes in a nightclub. They tell people that there is something wrong with exposing skin. They place the blame on women for the way men react to womens’ bodies.

This often unrecognized attitude is an important mark of inequality in modern society. It shows society is still placing the blame on women for sexual harassment and even sexual assault because the inherrent attitude that women should cover up still exists. Is it fair for teenage girls to be banned from wearing sleeveless tops and shorts in school so the boys “aren’t distracted”? Is it fair that police still ask a woman what she was wearing in a case of sexual assault? Is it fair that girls were denied their prom because of the archaic idea that it is women’s duty to cover their skin?

The school administrations that are enforcing unfair rules clearly need to shift their focus. It is not the fault of the boys in a school, or men in general that such policies are being enforced but it is the fault of the policy makers. Instead of turning girls away from prom, maybe they should be teaching students that bare skin is never an invitation, that the female form is neither something to be feared nor overtly sexualised.

Take the blame off women as a whole for the actions of a few select men who believe certain clothes grant them entitlements. This is a minority mindset and one that must be done away with through education. As these girls have realised, this is about much more than missing out on prom.

Everything you need for festival fun

May 13, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Bronwyn O’Neill

With summer fast approaching, everyone is excited to finish exams and enjoy the freedom. With the he scramble to buy summer clothes, book holidays and finalise those summer plans, eyes turn to music festivals.

Here in Ireland, festivals such as Electric Picnic and Longitude draw in crowds by the thousands. With the festival season already kicking off overseas with Ultra and Coachella, here is a quick guide to some essentials to pack, as well as some cute outfit ideas to make sure you’re fashion forward on the days.

Dry Shampoo

Realistically, you’re not going to have much time to use on-site showers. Especially not to give your hair the TLC it deserves. Dry shampoo is a godsend; any female can vouch for this. So, pack a bottle in your bag to make sure your hair looks fresh over the weekend.

2. Portable Phone Charger

You’re going to be taking lots and lots of pictures and videos at the event (as well as receiving phone calls from mammy wondering if you’re okay). Make sure you bring a portable phone charger. It will save you a lot of hassle and you’ll have use of your mobile device the entire time.

3. Water/Hydration packs

And lots of it. You’re going to be dancing and pushed into a crowd for hours at a time. If you can get your hands on a hydration packs this is even better. You can fill this up with 1 or 2 litres of water, and carry it on your back. Water is a safe choice to prevent dehydration. Always be safe kids.

4. Raincoat

Let’s be realistic, this isn’t Coachella, we’re not in sunny California. It’s Ireland, it’ll probably rain. So a raincoat is always a good shout. Even if it’s really light, it’s better than nothing.

Wellies

Obviously, you’ll have to pack wellies. It’s great to see that we’ve moved on from green farmer willies to pattered wellies for the fashionista. It’s a festival. It’s going to be mucky. Don’t wear sandals.

Travel size toiletries

It’s just the easiest way to bring deodorant, sun cream, spray etc. The smaller the better.

Baby wipes

You’ll be sweaty and sticky by the end of the day. You probably won’t want to wait in a queue to have a shower, so baby or wet wipes are your best bet. They’re also handy for taking off makeup and cleaning up small messes quickly.

8. Earplugs

What?! Yes, bring earplugs. You’re at a festival. It’s going to be super loud. What if you want to go to sleep early (an act you don’t like is performing) or your camp site is just too loud? It’s also helpful if you’re up at the front with extremely loud speakers. Just a thought.

Aside these, of course bring spare clothes, a tent, sleeping bags and food!!!

Now onto the fun part! The clothes.

Everyone is always inspired by the celebrity festival goers at Coachella. Vanessa Hudgens in particular always seems to look flawless each year.

Shorts

Cut-off and high waisted shorts are still a huge trend. Try something with a cool print or just go for plain denim.

Crop tops and florals

This year crop tops are really popular.Especially those with a light flowing material and funky patterns. However if you don’t feel comfortable showing your midriff, a flowing floral top always looks great.

Layers

Bandeau bras and tank tops are always popular as layers. Kimono jackets are also a huge style trend this year. They are really easy to wear if you want to spice up an otherwise boring top.

Flower crowns

Flower crowns don’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

Snapbacks

If you can’t get behind the flower crown trend but still want to wear headgear, snapbacks are always popular on the festival scene. Cara Delevingne is often seen wearing them, during and outside festivals.

Bowler hats

I am personally obsessed with bowler hats and any excuse to wear one is great. So why not try out the look at a festival? You definitely won’t be alone.

Paint dots

A tamer version of rave paint, paint dots are a huge festival trend. You can’t go anywhere without seeing a famous face with dots on them when looking at Coachella fashion.

Rave Kandi

Every teenage girl has gone through a “bracelet phase”. If you haven’t, I’m sure you’ve seen one of your friends with a pile of bracelets up to their elbows. How about bring that trend back with some rave kandi bracelets. People make masks and even bras out of this stuff. Trust me it’s cool.

And if all else fails and you’re still looking for festival outfit ideas, look no further than Vanessa Hudgens, queen of Coachella.

The Perfect Chill Summer Playlist

May 12, 2015May 12, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Emily Crowley

With exams just around the corner, a lot of students can just taste the freedom of the months ahead. Here at The Ink Ladies we try to keep things as calm and collected as possible, and so, we have listed 20 of the essential chill-out tunes you need for summer 2015. Whether you’re relaxing after a long day of study, unwinding once the tedious exams are completed, or if you’re jetting off to the sun because you’re already finished, these are the songs you need on your summer playlist. So sit back, crack open a drink of your choice – or a nice cold 99 cone, and just chillax.

Big City Life (LEEX Remix) – Mattafix

Something New (Robin Schulz Remix) – Axwell /\ Ingrosso

Wicked Games – Parra for Cuva feat. Anna Naklab

Stolen Dance (DIMMI Club Edit) – Milky Chance

Flume (Kulkid Remix) – Bon Iver

When The Beat Drops Out (Don Diablo Remix) – Marlon Roudette

Unendliches Fliegen – Tinush

Treasured Soul – Michael Calfan

New Orleans – Naxxos

No Woman No Cry (Jason Nova Remix) – London DJs

Parov Stelar (LCAW Remix) – The Sun feat. Graham Candy

July Flame (Gamper & Dadoni Remix) – Laura Veirs

Sunday (Klangtherapeuten Remix) – Max Manie

Ella – Sascha Braemer

Coming Over (Filous Remix) – James Hersey

What Is Love (Lost Frequencies Bootleg) Jaymes Young

Sun Goes Down – Robin Schulz feat. Jasmine Thompson

Down Under (David B Edit) – Colin Hay

19. Riptide (Flic Flac Edit) – Vance Joy

What a Day – Lette

Bye Bye Bundchen- Gisele’s Top 5 Catwalk Moments

May 12, 2015May 12, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Michelle Martin

Before there was Delevigne, before there was Hadid, there was Bundchen – Gisele Bundchen.

The Brazilian bombshell became one of the world’s leading supermodels without the help of Instagram, and managed to maintain her top spot even after the birth of not one, but two children.

The 89^th most powerful woman in the world (according to the 2014 Forbes magazine list) is credited for putting an end to the ‘heroin chic’ era of super skinny models, and for developing the foot stomping runway strut the industry calls the ‘horse walk’.

Earlier this year, the 34 year old announced she would walk her last show at April’s Sᾶo Paulo fashion week in Brazil, marking the end of her 20 year catwalk career.

Gisele told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo that her body helped her make the decision to stop.

“Automatically my body tells me if what I do is worth it, and it asked to stop”

Thankfully, this won’t be the last we see of Bundchen. She hopes this new found free-time will leave room for “other projects” and is expected to continue doing photoshoots and catalogues.

As a tribute to the world’s highest earning model of the last eight years, we have sought and provided five of her most memorable runway moments:

1. Top of the list has to be baby Bundchen’s big break. After only two years in the business, 18 year old Gisele’s ability to walk in heels on a slippery surface landed her a spot walking in Alexander McQueen’s ‘rain’ themed show.

2. One of the original Victoria secret angels, Gisele was chosen to model the most expensive fantasy bra to date. At 15 million dollars, it earned a place in the Guinness book of records as the most ‘extravagant and expensive underwear ever created’.

Proving she’s got more than just the looks, the stunner flaunted her fun personality in Rio 2005.

4. Bundchen whipped back into shape and walked for Colcci just six short months after giving birth.

5. Walking for Dolce and Gabanna in 2007, the world learnt two things: Gisele can do high fashion, and can literally pull off anything.

A Story of Body Acceptance

May 10, 2015May 10, 2015 ~ theinkladies ~ Leave a comment

by Bronwyn O’Neill

Since I was around twelve or thirteen, I realised my body would never fit the stick figure body type. It wasn’t something I was over excited about. In my eyes, tall, skinny girls were the most beautiful things ever. However being five foot three, I knew I would never reach the tall part of my dream girl.

I struggled with being curvy when every “pretty” girl I knew was so tiny. To me, that body standard was the norm. And that was the only figure that meant anything. They were the beautiful ones and I would never reach that.

One of the prettiest girls I knew was a tiny size six, with an A-cup bra size. By the time I was thirteen I was wearing a D-cup bra. I used to get so nervous before going to get a bra fitting. What if I had gone up in size? The usual answer was yes.

I would get so upset when the lady who measured me told me my new size. Afterwards, I would have to trawl through ugly, beige bras. Every time I went shopping in my early teens, I would look at the gorgeous bras that were aimed towards A and B cups. Envy would make my blood boil. Why couldn’t they make them three or four sizes bigger?

The larger bra size did not cater towards young girls. They were either too maternal or too sexy. Neither of which I felt at the age of thirteen. So, I donned my beige bra and glared enviously at the pretty floral bras.

Having a fuller bust made it difficult to do PE. Sports bras barely fit over my chest, so I tended to get moody around the time of exercise. For five out of the six years of my secondary school life, my PE teacher was male. So, they would never understand my pain at holding my boobs while jogging the length of the gym.

Another thing that made me uncomfortable about having a fuller figure was the leering looks. At the age of fifteen I ventured into the big city of Dublin for my Transition Year work experience. I was wearing a blouse or something professional for my first day of “work”. I innocently asked the gruff bus driver for a child’s ticket into the city centre. His gaze dropped from my face to my breasts and asked me what age I was.

My whole face drained of colour and I had never been so nervous whilst I replied with a dry mouth my age. He shrugged and gave me my ticket. But I was still shaken until I arrived at the building where I was to work for five days. Yes, I was fifteen and yes I had boobs and hips. My top wasn’t inappropriate, a problem I had with most tops. It was not low cut but still my boobs were brought into question.

Of course, I thought that if I was smaller this would never happen. If I fitted that beautiful model body, I would never get unwanted attention like that. Only boys my own age would think I was stunning. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Another part of having a “curvy” body type, are wide hips. These are still a challenge whilst trying to squeeze into seats in lecture halls. However, the first time I really noticed this was on a swing. Yes, I was on a swing. I was visiting my little cousins and I was playing outside with them. I tried to fit into the swing seat, a seat I had fitted comfortably into only a few months prior. My hips were squeezed into the now narrow seat.

So, my hips had widened and how I had to face it. In school, trying to squeeze into narrow desks was a struggle. At times I would hit tables with my hips or my ass and try to play it off. I could fake joke about it, except I didn’t find it funny. Still everyone was so tiny and skinny, no boobs, no hips. It was still the perfect body to me.

It wasn’t until around a year ago when I finally got comfortable with my body. Unfortunately, it took me this long because in my opinion popular culture doesn’t promote curvy women. In any tv show or film, the main character is a stunning stick figure girl. Any curvy women, like Nicki Minaj or Kim Kardashian, are mostly ridiculed for their body type. Maybe because they are sexualised in the public eye. I don’t know. However, I felt this negative view from a young age.

Getting into a positive mind set about my body was difficult. However I now am more comfortable with my curves. Of course, I still think that the skinny, model figure is the most beautiful body type. Although, now I am happy that I don’t fit into that body type. My curves make me who I am, they make me unique.

Now we need to make the curvy, fuller sized girl a positive thing. Not a sexualised body type, especially for young girls. And to end on a cheesy note, to all the young girls out there struggling with their body image, whether it be you feel too skinny or too heavy, you are still beautiful and you need to love yourself no matter what.