10 Cute, Smart and Funny Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

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by Lucy Mangan

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With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to start saving and scrimping for that perfect gift. But it doesn’t have to be as hard as it was last year with all the cute DIY gifts and cheap shops that have been popping up all over the place. If you’re as lucky as I feel to have a mom who is pretty similar in age (and taste) to you then shopping for her will be a breeze, but if you’re struggling to find a gift for your mom, I’ve made a list of 10 cute, smart and funny presents that all moms will appreciate.

  1. Sharpie Mugs

These are an absolute personal favourite of mine. You can put anything you want on them and it doesn’t matter if you’re artsy or not. I’ve seen some funny quotes done on mugs for mother’s day, like ‘World’s okayest mom’ and things like that but you can also personalise them and make more heartfelt and sentimental if you want, which is why they’re a perfect mother’s day gift! They’re also cheap and all you need is a mug, a sharpie and an oven!

 

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2. A Drawing

This one may be a little harder to perfect, but it’s still an amazing idea if you can get it just right! A drawing sounds pretty sad but I found that when you draw pictures of people with people they love and give it to them, they really appreciate it, as shitty as the drawing may be. Even if it is awful, your mom will love it because of all the time and effort you put into it and plus you can both laugh at how pathetically bad at art you are!

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  1. Old recreated pictures

I’ve seen this one around the internet a lot and I personally think it really shows your mom that you care. Siblings and fathers may be included in these pictures so it’s a good idea to get your whole family involved and make a scrapbook for your mom out of it. From what I’ve seen and heard these old memories always go down a treat with parents.

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A video of why love your mom

Okay, a little cringe I know, but I can guarantee that your mom will appreciate it. There’s nothing more a mother loves than getting told she’s loved and appreciated by her children and that’s all you need to do. Another good one to include the siblings in, if you have any! Completely free and definitely worth it.. Unless less your mom is like mine and will laugh at how cringe the whole situation is!

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  1. Chocolates

Don’t diss the classics. It may be a bit overdone and cliché, but a bit of a ‘background check’ for this one will never go astray. Find out from your dad, aunts, family friends, anyone who may know, what your mom’s favourite chocolates are. This will earn you a lot of favours. I know that you can’t get my mum’s favourite chocolates where she lives, but you can where I live. Not a hard trip to go in and get them and she will definitely appreciate it!

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6. A cheeky picture of you

This is another one of the funny little gifts that put a smile on my mum’s face when I did it for her. All you need to do is find a cute or funny photo frame to put yourself in and voila! The best part is you can put on your best angel face and she’ll have a good laugh at that! This is also another place where a sharpie could come in handy because with a few cute designs or phrases it becomes personalised and unique!

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7. Candles

Again, don’t disregard the classics. Every time you talk to someone about gifts for mothers, candles always comes up tops! Just look around your house for the type of smells she likes and MAKE SURE you find out the smells she doesn’t like. Yankee Candles are by far the best but can be quite pricey, so a cheap substitute isn’t hard to find. If you’re willing to splash the cash though, I’d recommend Yankee!

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  1. Bath bombs/body wash

One trip into LUSH will completely sort you out for this one. LUSH can be a bit on the pricey side but if you’re only buying one or two things it’s quite manageable. What you buy depends mostly on your mom and what she does. If you mom is a bath person, get her a cool bath bomb, if your mom is busy and doesn’t have time for a bath, get her a nice body wash! Again, be careful with the smells you chose for these things!

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  1. A good old-fashioned clean up

This one will get you a million brownie points with mom! I recommend waiting until she goes to bed/ goes out to start this master plan. It’s pretty simple, just clean up as much as you can! Do all the horrible jobs that your mom does every day and I promise she will be positively glowing when she sees what you’ve done for her!

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  1. Just show her you care

Really, our parents know that half the time we’re completely skint (they also know we all spend every penny of our money on going out) and they understand that  big extravagant presents may not be on the cards, but just doing little things around the house like making tea and feeding cats or dogs, or even just telling her that you love her will genuinely be all that your mom needs on mother’s day!

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Beauty Buy of the Week: Foundation

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by Laura Burke

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I bought Maybelline’s new Superstay Better Skin foundation last week and was amazed by the results. I wanted a foundation that was light on my skin, had good overall coverage, came at a reasonable price and this product achieved all those things.

On my first application, I noticed that when pumping it out of the bottle it appears quite thick and heavy but when applied to the skin it goes such a long way and evens out any blemishes. It’s such a light and comfortable foundation to wear and apart from its wonderful appearance, you almost wouldn’t know you’re wearing it.

As a college student, I’m always searching for foundations that are a good alternative to some of the more expensive brands such as Mac and Estee Lauder. With Maybelline’s new Better Skin foundation I certainly found a reputable replacement I can wear effortlessly mid-week.

This liquid foundation promises to even out skin discolouration and promotes skin regeneration. This has been tried and tested and I personally feel that my skin benefited greatly from this foundation after removal more than any other foundation I used. Some foundations can leave your skin feeling dry, heavy or oily after removal but this certainly didn’t with mine.

It comes in eight shades to suit each individual skin colour and the price ranges from €8.99 to €13.49 at the most.

I would also recommend Vichy’s Dermablend Corrective foundation which in my opinion possesses a slight advantage over Maybelline’s Better Skin foundation as the coverage is quite frankly unbeatable. However, it does come at almost double the price (€21.99) of Maybelline’s foundation but if you want your make up to last and have an amazing glow all day and night, Vichy is the one to go for.

Body Image- Not A Gender Specific Subject

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by Rebecca Lumley

The modern world is a polarized place. For the past few years, ideas concerning body image have been changing rapidly and the spectrum of what is beautiful and what is desirable has broadened exponentially. On the one hand, there’s the fashion industry, who still tell us that tall, skinny models possess the ideal bodies. On the other, there’s the wave of protein fuelled, Instagram- loving gym bunnies who want muscles of steel. On the third hand (because you’re an octopus), we have the plus size bloggers campaigning for body acceptance, an end to fat shaming and for less weight related discrimination.

Those are just a few examples from the Western World.

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I say the world is polarized because never before has there been such an impassioned universal debate on what beauty is or such an emphasis on acceptance- no matter what size or shape you are. It was 2015 when Tess Holiday, at a size 22, became the world’s largest and most praised plus size model. It was 2015 when her hashtag #effyourbeautystandards, got the internet talking about self acceptance and diversity. This year, brands like Dove and No.7 are using “real women” in their beauty campaigns.  This year is when the spectrum continues to broaden and in doing so, creates a more tolerant, less image conscious world.

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There’s only one problem- all this is aimed at women.

Yesterday was International Women’s Day and like women all over the world, I loved the chance to celebrate feminism and verbalise the importance of gender equality. I was, however, struck by an inequality I hadn’t even noticed until recently- that men are under as much pressure as women to conform to a certain image, an issue not given any importance or recognition in society.

Dubbed the “Geordie Shore effect” by the Irish Independent last week, this year has seen a massive increase in the number of men joining gyms and taking supplements in hopes of attaining a thick, muscular physique. The popularity of this look has grown massively in recent times and men are going further and further to achieve it, turning to protein powder, weight gain supplements and impossibly heavy weights. Size, not fitness, is everything.

Talking to the Independent, a Cork native by the name of Mark describes his motivations.

“Myself I wanted to be big beyond belief. I wanted to be that man, the one that people look at and go ‘Jesus, he’s something else’.”    

According to the ESRI, almost half of gym users in the country are men, a massive increase from six years ago when it was just a quarter. This trend is undoubtedly impacted by the media glorification of the muscular male.

“Guys are looking for approval from others. They are comparing themselves to other athletes and actors because they desperately want to fit into one of the categories that we now identified as manly, attractive, or ideal,” Mark says.

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What I find unequal about this turn of events is not the actual pressure being placed on men (because all humans are subjected to a myriad of pressures from external sources every day) – but the societal intolerance when it comes to men’s ability to talk about such issues.

“You don’t see guys post on Facebook complaining about how fat they look or how they don’t match up with the Hollywood movie star image,” Mark says.

“You don’t see this because, men still can’t talk openly about their insecurities because when you do so, you get told to ‘man up. I’ve been there myself and seen it, there are quite a few men out there who are suffering in silence.”

These double standards applied to dialogue concerning body image are having real effects on men all over the world and need to be changed.

Since humans first roamed the earth, men were the hunters and women the gatherers. Men have been typecast since the dawn of time as providers, biologically stronger and taller and expected to protect their families. Because of the leadership role nature placed upon them, an expectation has grown that men should not be emotional, should have a thick skin and should be “strong” in all situations. Luckily, we’re not in the Stone Age anymore and women can now fend for themselves. We have slowly raised ourselves from the gatherers to the hunters of our own lives. We are re-defining gender roles and though there’s still a lot to do, it’s happening.

If women are allowed to re-define gender roles- why not men?

As we strive for equality, we must recognize the oppression that men face in certain areas of their lives and strive to eradicate that. We must treat men like they have feelings and allow them to express them without the fear of judgement. We must realize that as body image in the media can affect women, it can also affect men. We must realize that men have the capacity to hate what they see in the mirror just as women do.

Equality means equality.

Eating disorders in men have increased by 25% since 2000. The average age for a man with an eating disorder is 24. Whether concerned with bulking up or slimming down, men feel the same pressures women do.

As Emma Watson pointed out in her UN speech, feminism does not concern only women- it is a male issue too. Only when we are truly equal will women and men have equal freedom, respect and rights. That includes the freedom for men to be able to talk about their insecurities, their fears and their ambitions as freely as women do.

Negative body image is not a gender- specific problem and the emphasis placed on physical perfection in the media doesn’t only affect women.

Equality means equality.

Beyoncé: a feminist icon

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By Hannah Kelly

So today is International Women’s day. A day dedicated to promoting greater awareness for women’s equality, but also, I believe, a great chance to celebrate strong female role models. Anyone who knows me will know there is one celebrity that I worship. Not only is she beautiful, strong and talented but she is also an amazing advocate for feminism. She’s the one and only Sasha Fierce/Queen B/Foxy Cleopatra. She is Beyoncé.

On top of slaying every performance and being pretty much the most fabulous human on this earth, Beyoncé has contributed a lot to the feminist movement. I’ve heard a lot of people use the argument that “Oh, but she dances around in skimpy clothes, so she’s kind of a contradiction to feminism, isn’t she?”

I think those people need to sit down and look up the definition of feminism.

In fact, why don’t you just listen to Beyoncé’s song “Flawless”, where samples of Chimamanda Ngozi’s TedX speech are featured?

“Feminist: the person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.”

Plain and simple. This has nothing to do with how you dress or how you look.

‘So what exactly has Beyoncé done that’s so great?’, some might ask.  Well, here’s just five of the many amazing contributions that Yoncé has made to the movement:

1. She donated to the Women’s Fund for Scotland charity that seeks to help women facing all different types of challenges including disability, single parenthood, and domestic abuse.

2. She tours with her all-girl band, Suga Mama. This includes bassists, drummers, guitarists, horn players, keyboardists and percussionists and background singers.

3. She is the co-founder of the Chime For Change organisation, which seeks to get education, health and justice for women all over the world, including rape victims, young mothers, human trafficking victims, and girls that can’t pay for education.

4. She opened a cosmetology centre, Phoenix House, which helps women who are coming out of drug and alcohol rehab to get their license.

5. She is the CEO of her own company, Parkwood Entertainment, where the majority of her employees are female.

Beyoncé is an inspiring woman who works hard, and is good at what she does. I strongly believe that she is a great role model for young women like myself. So, continue to win at life, Beyoncé. You truly are Flawless!

Fighting Back Against Gender Based Violence

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by Keava O’Loan

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”

Gloria Steinem

#internationalwomensday

Last year, a campaign called Women Against Feminism gathered steam. It was originally set up in July 2013 by women who rejected the label of ‘feminist’. These women would upload a selfie to Tumblr, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media platforms where they held up a sign beginning with ‘I don’t need feminism because…’, followed by their reason. Some of these included: ‘because only the weak-minded buy into cults’, ‘because I’m not a man-hater’, ‘because I already have the same rights as men’. It seems that when the cause needs support more than ever, more and more people are rejecting feminism; reluctant to identify themselves with the movement. It is so easy for people in the Western world to argue that because women in our societies now have the vote/can go to university and obtain a degree/do not need to quit their job  as soon as they marry, that we now have equality. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Not even close.

 Think of the last time you walked home alone; maybe late at night or through a secluded area. Were you constantly looking over your shoulder, listening out for footsteps? Did you cross the road if there was a man walking towards you? Were you on the phone to make sure someone knew exactly where you were, and so they could hear if something happened to you? Did you have your keys clutched in your fist, ready to use them in self defence if someone attacked you? If you are female, you probably answered yes to at least one of these questions.

Gender based violence is ranked as the top public health crisis for women today. Females aged between 15 and 45 are more likely to be maimed or killed as a result of male violence than they are from cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and war combined. In fact, more girls have been killed worldwide in the past fifty years, simply because of their gender, than men were killed in every war during the twentieth century.

Gender based violence can take many forms, and unfortunately, there seems to be no limit to the ugly creativity put into punishing women. Acid attacks, honour killings, female genital mutilation, bride burnings… women worldwide are suffering in ways more brutal and grotesque than we ever thought possible, and it’s not stopping. In fact, it’s on the rise. It is estimated that over 135 million girls and women alive today have undergone genital mutilation, a painful procedure known to be carried out on babies as young as five months old, which carries huge risks of infertility, HIV, and a host of mental health implications such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is, of course, if you are lucky enough to survive the procedure in the first place. Around three million more girls are at risk of genital mutilation every single year. 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not outlawed. A staggering 2.6 billion live in countries where rape within marriage is not a crime. In Afghanistan, a woman can be imprisoned for being raped. In the time it took someone to write out the reason they don’t need feminism, take a selfie, choose a pretty filter, and upload it (around four minutes), four women died while giving birth; eight little girls were trafficked for sexual exploitation; nearly 100 women in America alone were abused.

Sometimes these acts of violence and sexism can seem so far away – because we don’t know anyone who has been a victim to one of these attacks, or because we simply can’t imagine it ever happening to us, the statistics don’t quite hit home. To try and make it more relatable, I set up a survey about sexism, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape, which I shared with my friends on Facebook. Everyone who took part is from the UK or Ireland, and the majority of participants are aged 18 to 25. These are the type of girls and women who are your friends, your girlfriends, your sisters. The results showed that 93% of them have experienced sexism. Almost 65% have been sexually harassed. 21% have been sexually assaulted or raped. To think that this is happening to girls I personally know – girls whose homes I have been welcomed into, who I have gone to school with, who I have grown up with – was so upsetting. The fact that there is such a stigma attached to this type of harassment and violence, that so many suffer in silence, made it worse. We live in a society where it is considered more humiliating and shameful to be raped than to be a rapist. This has to change.

The world we live in treats women differently to men. You only need to glance at the YesAllWomen hashtag on Twitter, where users share stories of misogyny and violence against women, or The Everyday Sexism Project to see that something is drastically wrong with the way women are treated in society. You only need to see the data showing that when it comes to online dating, women’s greatest fear is being matched with a serial killer. Men’s greatest fear is that their date will be fat. We teach girls how not to be raped, instead of teaching boys not to rape. We ask women why they stayed with an abusive partner, instead of asking why that person was able to be abusive for so long. It is crystal clear that there is still a huge gap between the sexes, and it needs to be closed. At best, females are treated unfairly; at worst, they are killed. This is not a world I want for my friends, my family, myself. I don’t want to raise a daughter in a world that dictates she is a second class citizen. I don’t want to raise a son in a world that teaches him superiority and entitlement. I don’t want that world for anyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These tweets may be eye-opening to men. They are very familiar to most women.

This International Women’s Day, the theme is Make It Happen. It hopes to encourage action to advance women’s causes; recognising not only the struggles that women have overcome, but the progress that still has to be made. The first step is to remove the negative connotations associated with the term ‘feminist’. I don’t think we need to rebrand feminism or give it a new name. I think we just need to better educate people as to what it actually stands for – equality between the sexes. When girls and women everywhere are no longer viewed as less important because of their gender; when we are no longer vulnerable to becoming the victims of gender based violence and everyday sexism; when feminism becomes a global way of life instead of a movement, we can truly celebrate. Until then, those of us who have a platform, who have a voice, must continue to speak out on behalf of those who cannot. Until then, we need to keep trying to #MakeItHappen.

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Kickass Girl-Power Songs

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by Bronwyn O’Neill

Do you want to be inspired to be a strong independent lady? Good, here is a list of some feminist songs to make you want to succeed.

1.Flawless – Beyonce feat. Nicki Minaj

  1. Blank Space – Taylor Swift
  1. Girl in a Country Song – Maddie & Tae
  1. Irreplaceable – Beyonce
  1. Independent Woman– Destiny’s Child
  1. Beautiful – Christina Aguilera
  1. Monster – Nicki Minaj’s verse (The hell with the rest of the song)
  1. Cinderella – The Cheetah Girls
  1. Pretty Hurts – Beyonce
  1. Man! I feel like a Woman – Shania Twain
  1. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
  1. Boss Ass Bitch – Nicki Minaj (EXPLICIT!)
  1. BO$$ – Fifth Harmony
  1. Respect – Aretha Franklin
  1. Loyal – Maliibu n Helene
  1. Fly – Nicki Minaj feat Rihanna
  1. Who Run the World (Girls) – Beyonce

The Book Club: Girl Power

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by Keava O’Loan

2014 was hailed by many as the ‘the year of feminism’. With The Guardian listing its most inspiring young females, Huffington Post rhyming off the reasons why it was a great year for feminism, The Telegraph explaining how pop culture made the ‘F-word’ cool, and Buzzfeed chipping in with their countdown of ‘22 Powerful Moments That Made You Proud to Be a Feminist in 2014’, there’s certainly no shortage of articles you can read to reminisce about the feminist highlights of last year. However, with many still on the fence (or even worse, completely in the dark) about what it means to be a feminist, we here at The Ink Ladies thought it was time to do some research. If, like us, you are completely swamped by your module reading lists, fear not! To save you the hassle of reading everything from the Oxford Dictionary’s definition of ‘feminism’ to Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex (although both are recommended reads), we rounded up some of our favourite feminist books. Not only do these texts make feminism funny, relatable and accessible, we guarantee that whether you’re male or female, they’ll open your eyes to what it means to be a woman in today’s society.

‘How to Be a Woman’ by Caitlin Moran

Moran, a writer and broadcaster, is known by many as a media personality – one of those people who is prolific on Twitter, regularly appears on panel shows, and shares her opinions with the nation in her column at The Times. ‘How to Be a Woman’ charts her journey from girl to woman, starting on her thirteenth birthday. Covering topics such as puberty, porn, motherhood, abortion, strip clubs, and many more, Moran’s witty, friendly voice makes potentially heavy subject matter easy reading.

“We need to reclaim the word ‘feminism’. We need the word ‘feminism’ back real bad. When statistics come in saying that only 29% of American women would describe themselves as feminist – and only 42% of British women – I used to think, What do you think feminism IS, ladies? What part of ‘liberation for women’ is not for you? Is it freedom to vote? The right not to be owned by the man you marry? The campaign for equal pay? ‘Vogue’ by Madonna? Jeans? Did all that good shit GET ON YOUR NERVES? Or were you just DRUNK AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY?”

‘The Vagenda’  by Holly Baxter and Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

As students, Baxter and Cosslett spent a lot of money on women’s magazines, and a lot of time laughing at articles entitled things like ‘50 Sex Tips to Please Your Man’, ‘Get That Beach Body FAST!’, and ‘Preparing For Your First Vajazzle’. When they stopped laughing, they started to feel uneasy. They launched a blog named The Vagenda, which aimed to shine a critical light on women’s media; exposing the ludicrous, manipulative, and often damaging ulterior motives at play. Their book of the same title tackles these same issues, with chapters such as ‘Body Politics’, ‘Sex in Magazineland’, and ‘Let Us Eat Cake’. Essentially, it cuts through the media bullshit you’ve been fed since you picked up your first copy of Mizz.

“If Page Three is the sexist builder hollering at you in the street, then Grazia and Cosmo are the frenemies who smile to your face and bitch behind your back. It worried us that women such as us, reared on a diet beginning with problem-page questions about tampons in Bliss magazine and graduating on to Company, weren’t being offered any of the necessary tools to deal with increasingly sinister content. There comes a certain point (probably around the time that you’ve picked up your tenth issue of Cosmopolitan) when your brain is encased in such a large volume of fluffy bullshit that you switch off and start thinking, ‘My elbows are fat.’”

‘Bad Feminist’ by Roxanne Gay

Roxanne Gay’s book charts her conflicting views on what it’s like to move through the modern world as a woman. She blasts rap music as she drives to work every morning, even though she finds the lyrics deeply offensive. She loves anything pink, although for a while she pretended her favourite colour was black – it just seemed cooler. She reads Vogue, and not in an ironic way. She occasionally fakes her orgasms, even though she is certain the sisterhood wouldn’t approve. She is not entirely sure who the sisterhood are.

“The more I write, the more I put myself out into the world as a bad feminist but, I hope, a good woman… Like most people, I’m full of contradictions, but I also don’t want to be treated like shit for being a woman. I am a bad feminist. I would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all.”

‘Bossypants’  by Tina Fey

Whether you know her from SNL, 30 Rock, or Mean Girls, you know Tina Fey. Fey’s book is similar in style to Moran’s ‘How to Be a Woman’, recounting her development from girl to woman. Although not as explicitly feminist as the other books listed, every topic discussed is shaped by the theme of female empowerment. Just the fact that it’s the story of a female achieving insane levels of success in a predominantly-male dominated industry makes this a very inspiring, necessary read, in our minds. Included are anecdotes about her first trip to the gynaecologist (where she passed out), starting out as a female comedian, and what she has learned from reading fairy tales to her daughter.

“I think the first real change in women’s body image came when JLo turned it butt-style. That was the first time that having a large-scale situation in the back was part of mainstream American beauty. Girls wanted butts now. Men were free to admit that they had always enjoyed them. And then, what felt like moments later, boom—Beyoncé brought the leg meat. A back porch and thick muscular legs were now widely admired. And from that day forward, women embraced their diversity and realized that all shapes and sizes are beautiful. Ah ha ha. No. I’m totally messing with you. All Beyonce and JLo have done is add to the laundry list of attributes women must have to qualify as beautiful. Now every girl is expected to have Caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican dance hall ass, long Swedish legs, small Japanese feet, the abs of a lesbian gym owner, the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama, and doll tits. The person closest to actually achieving this look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes.”

Dig into one of these books (or all of them!) and get involved. Whether it’s something as simple as joining the #AllWomen or #HeForShe Twitter campaigns, or doing something big to show your support for this year’s International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, every act of support counts. Feminism has come a long way since Emmeline Pankhurst and the suffragette movement, but there is still a long way to go. We’re almost a quarter of the way through 2015 – let’s make sure this year is even more empowering, progressive, and feminist than the last.

The F Word

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by Bronwyn O’Neill

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When most people hear the word feminist they cringe in fear. They picture a towering tall, masculine, unshaved woman. However I’m here to destroy that stereotype. I’m a tiny, blonde female who enjoys wearing dresses and jamming to Taylor Swift. And I am a feminist! I most certainly do not hate men. We need to destroy the idea of “feminazis”.

So firstly let’s discuss what feminism is. The definition of feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes. Yes, equality. The whole idea wishes for men and women to be equal. Therefore, as a feminist, I don’t just preach about women’s rights, I also am a firm believer in promoting men’s rights.

I do not hate men!!! I do not know how many times I had to explain that feminists do not hate men. Quite the opposite really. If you’re asking what male rights are, that is a fair question. Feminists fight for men to be able to speak out about rape and abolish the concept that men cannot get raped. It is one of the more difficult topics that we deal with. However it must be said.

So, are you getting a better idea of what feminists are?

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Another concept that gets to me is the idea that only certain women can be feminists. False! This is a serious problem, even within the feminist community. Just because you are feminine does not mean you are not a feminist.

Why do we hate on females you enjoy wine and fruity drinks? Who like singing Taylor Swift into a hairbrush? Girls who like to wear leggings and Uggs? Honestly, I am guilty of all of these. Does that make me any less of a feminist?

Do you have to do a certain test to get into feminism? I don’t think so. Being girly does not make you any less qualified to be a feminist. It shouldn’t matter if you are “slutty” or a “prude”. If you believe in equal rights for the sexes then you are indeed a feminist. This may be a shock for some of you.

Being a feminist does not mean you have to give up your femininity. In my opinion, it means you should embrace it more. Trust me, I will get equality wearing red lipstick and sipping a vodka and coke, whilst walking over the old ideas in killer heels.

Also, we cannot forget- men can be feminists too. What??? Yes, dear reader. You do not have to possess a vagina to want equality. I know several male feminists, and a dozen more who have no idea they are feminists.

Please stop the hatred of feminism. Please become more informed on the topic before deciding you are not one. We are not a man hating cult, I swear.

Equality for all.

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DCU Fashion Show: 10 Years of Style

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by Shirley Donlon

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DCU Style Society’s annual fashion show is one of the biggest and most popular annual events on campus.

However, this year was slightly different – it was the 10thAnniversary of DCU Style’s Fashion Show and what better way to celebrate a decade of fabulousness than with another stunning display of this year’s top trends from the best high-street stores such as H&M, American Apparel, Tommy Hilfiger and many more.

The show was held last Thursday in DCU’s very own theatre The Helix and was sponsored by Bank of Ireland, FM104 and Bodywhys.

We were welcomed to the event by the lovely staff in The Helix, and of course the members of Style Soc, and were given a bag of free goodies (always a nice bonus!).

The show commenced with a webcam video of DCU graduate and TV presenter Laura Whitmore wishing everybody good luck and saying how proud she is that the Style Society has come so far since she left DCU. Laura studied Journalism here in DCU and established the Style Society back in 2005 along with fellow DCU graduate Mikey Robinson.

First up on the catwalk was H&M. The clothes worn by the STUNNING models really demonstrated some of the trends that are huge this Spring! Lots of black and white monochrome accompanied by stripes and other interesting patterns which created a sophisticated look overall.

Next up was urban brand American Apparel. A young and fresh collection was displayed here with lots of denim, jumpsuits, crop tops and pastel colours – perfect for the spring and summer.

Tommy Hilfiger was the next brand to grace us with its beautiful collection.  Throwing it way back to 1920 we saw the return of the drop waist in, my personal favourite of the entire show, a black and white monochrome chiffon dress. Also popular for Tommy Hilfiger were jackets of every colour and pattern and of course the classic men’s suit.

Speaking of men’s suits, next up was Louis Copeland and Sons, which displayed various classic tailored suits ideal for any black tie event. (Shout out to the male models who did a fantastic job walking in the show!)

My favourite brand of the whole night had to be Folkster. I had never previously heard of them but the minute the first model took to the runway I was immediately attracted to the different shapes and lines created with the clothing. From shoulder pads to fur shawls and prom style dresses this vintage collection was anything but boring!

Of course, we have to mention the beautiful makeup which was done by the very talented ladies at Inglot. They kept the makeup on the models very simple as far as I could see, only using a small amount of foundation and highlighter to create that flawless, dewy look. The eyes were defined using light brown colours and gel eyeliner while the lips were a soft nude shade. In order to spice up the makeup for the second half of the show the lips were changed to an orange/red colour.

Hair was handled by the stylists at Dylan Bradshaw who created a sleeked back look using lots of hairspray that kept hair off the model’s faces, which is very on trend at the moment.

So that’s it! The DCU Style society’s 10th Annual fashion show was an absolute success and a pleasure to attend.

We would like to congratulate all of the members of the style society for organising such a wonderful event and to everyone involved in the whole production we would like to say a huge well done from everyone at The Ink Ladies

Here are some of the looks.

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And now we have Amy’s take on the show.

By Amy Lawlor

This year DCU’s annual fashion show brought us through 10 years of incredible, glamorous style which was very fitting for the occasion as it was the 10th anniversary of this amazing event produced by DCU Style.

The atmosphere surrounding the show was electric. Upon arrival guests received a gift bag sponsored by Bank of Ireland stocked with goodies which started the night off with a bang. The staging of the show was symmetrical, ideal from any viewpoint and the music and lighting captivated the audience whilst the collections were on display.

The fashion show showcased many collections, the first being from H&M. This brand is the definition of high street fashion and the pieces put forward on the catwalk definitely lived up to expectations.

The H&M female collection provided us with monochrome tones as well as subtle burnt orange colours to act as a medium for some pieces. It was all about the oversized duster coats which worked well with the black skinny jeans, sleek tops and blocked heels showcased.

The men’s H&M collection however took a slightly different approach with a hipster chic every day look. Again the monochrome tones were in full affect accompanied with khaki greens and greys. Grey denim jeans were a feature in this collection along with accessories such as woolly hats and the occasional schoolbag.

The American Apparel collection next took to the catwalk displaying pastel spring tones. Spring/Summer vibes were given off while this collection was showcased with looks such as long sleeved crop tops/high waisted leather skirts, along with jumpsuits accompanied with sun hats for the ladies whilst the men’s collection was casual with plain t-shirts and jeans accompanied with snapbacks worn backwards.

The Tommy Hilfiger collection was comprised of casual every day pieces for both men and women. The outfits really stood out on the catwalk as they incorporated different eye-catching prints and textures.

A personal favourite of mine was the Louis Copeland and Sons suit collection. The collection was comprised of perfectly tailored mostly pin-striped suits. There was a combination of different black, grey and navy toned suits. The music and lighting really set the catwalk afire, while the models’ choreography was masculine and strong- perfectly pulling off such a masculine, powerful collection.

The fashion show also showcased pieces from the Ilac centre, Blanchardstown centre, Tola vintage, Folkster, Nine Grows, Covet Designer, Warehouse, Bertoni of Denmark and Feature.

As Shirley mentioned, make up was done by none other than the fabulous Inglot team who used creamy foundation accompanied with a mineralised bronzer which really contoured and highlighted the models cheek bones. They used the Inglot gel eyeliner to smudge the inner lid creating a natural look and the second half of the show saw the introduction of a red lip to add contrast between the different coloured outfits.

DCU Project Young Designer

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by Amy Lawlor

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The winner of Project Young Designer was announced during DCU’s 2015 fashion show. Project Young Designer is a competition run by DCU Style where up and coming designers have the opportunity to have their pieces placed in one of Ireland’s glamorous boutiques – Om Diva.

The competition was organised by Orlaith Farrell, a member of DCU Style who worked as a stylist in last year’s show, and the winner was chosen by a panel of well-established fashion designers, stylists and journalists. We were lucky enough to talk to Irish TV presenter and fashion stylist Brendan Courtney. When asked what he was looking for in the winning piece he replied saying, “something interesting, new and fun.”  The theme this year seemed to be focused on nature as all of the six finalists had a nature inspired theme behind their pieces. All of the pieces were outstanding and unusually different.

The winning outfit was a two piece organic flowing dress designed by Geraldine Brein. Geraldine used green, white and navy panels to create an outstanding structured skirt which left the judges in awe. The top of the dress was short sleeved and predominately navy but she incorporated the print in the skirt on the collar of the dress to create fluidity. All of the designs were noteworthy and I’m sure we’ll be seeing these designers in retail stores in the near future.

Image courtesy of DCU Style Soc