Ed Sheerchin

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This is wonderful.

The Theory Of Everything

There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. 

We are all different. 

However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. 

While there's life, there is hope.

I finally watched The Theory of Everything last night, and I can't get it out of my head. Based on the book 'Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen' - a memoir by Jane Hawking - the film follows the relationship between Stephen Hawking and his first wife, Jane, from its very beginning until its very end. A truly beautiful piece of cinema, the development and transformation of the characters is nothing short of mesmerising, and the subject matter nothing short of devastating. But that's not what got to me. In fact, the thing that really struck me about this story - aside from the (very upsetting) portrayal of the tragic condition that threatened to end Stephen's life - was the quiet determination of Jane. Jane Hawking, a person that, unlike her former husband, could go by unnoticed. But a person that deserves to be recognised for her achievements nonetheless. For her stubborn, steadfast support of the person she'd chosen to spend her life with, even when things were at their most difficult. For her courage and her selflessness in giving herself so completely to another, and in her resolve to stand by the man she so blindly fell for, and who she gave up a huge part of her life to be with, even when everyone was telling her to walk away. If the Oscar worthy performance of the brilliant Eddie Redmayne, and of the ever fascinating Felicity Jones (who I have been a little bit obsessed with since Like Crazy) wasn't enough to draw you in, the true story of one woman's - dare I say extremely British, stiff upper lip what what! style - love and compassion for her increasingly difficult husband should. It's the most heart-wrenching thing I've seen in a long time, and you have to watch it. Just be prepared to ball your eyes out... I was basically inconsolable by the time the credits rolled. ♥

More of the women behind great men: Hadley Richardson. Edie Sedgwick. Jean Shrimpton.

On Galliano & Fashion

I read this article - copied with kind permission from The Reference Council - today, and found it to be extremely thought provoking. Concerning the return of formerly disgraced designer, Galliano, to the world of fashion, the piece raises the question of whether we, as a society, willingly give a free pass to bad behaviour in the name of creativity. Whether we are allowing Galliano, a man convicted for anti-Semitism, to continue his reign as one of fashion's darlings simply because he has the ability to create things of beauty.

Personally, I'm unsure on what I think. While awful behaviour is inexcusable - especially in such an overtly aggressive and needless manner - should it determine whether someone's contribution to the world of creativity is acceptable or not, potentially depriving others of the pleasure they garner from the art created? I'm not sure. On the other hand, should we really offer such praise to those that behave in such a damaging manner to begin with? And are we involuntarily saying that it's OK to disrespect entire sections of society by welcoming Galliano back into the fashion fold? Again, I don't know.

Either way these words offer food for thought, and I'd be interested to hear which side of the argument you fall on.

Happy reading. x

***

It has been dubbed “Margiela Monday.” On the 12th of January, just a few short days away, a new chapter will begin in the story of one of Paris’s most illustrious fashion houses. The clothes, for many, will probably have little significance, with the welcoming of disgraced designer John Galliano back into the fashion fray acting as the main point of interest. For proponents of the idea that fashion holds a mirror to the world – accentuating its beauty and commenting on its flaws – Monday may be a watershed moment.

A darling of fashion’s high profile names, Galliano enamoured audiences with his seductive creations for Givenchy and, latterly, Dior. He brought a sense of spectacle to an industry which many felt took itself all too seriously. But things went awry for the English-born designer in 2011 when he was arrested and later convicted of making anti-Semitic remarks in a Parisian bar. He would later blame drink, drugs and stress for his racist outbursts – a similar excuse to that employed by UKIP member, Kerry Smith, at the tail end of last year.

Galliano has since been forgiven by the fashion community and, in subsequent commentary, it has been painted as some sort of one-off, slip of the tongue. And who hasn’t advocated the gassing of the Jews when they’re stressed? Yet, Galliano’s arrest also coincided with the release of a video by a French news website recorded a year earlier in which he berated two females, ranting, “I love Hitler… People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers would all be fucking gassed.” Not only was this an example of his abhorrent racism, it showed that it was not a one-off. It would not be illogical to assume that there were more cases of Galliano racism than the one caught on film and the incident that resulted in his arrest.

There are few, if any, in the upper echelons of fashion that would deny the industry’s power extends beyond what is taken from the runway and sold in stores. Consumerism aside, fashion’s vanguard would argue that the discipline is part of a wider intellectual discourse – an integral aspect of contemporary culture which informs aspects of western life. How we dress and, therefore, how we help define our ideas of identity extend into wider social and moral issues. And those who champion this idea the most, tend to be at fashion’s very core.

On Monday, however, the fashion world will send a message, that racism is ok – as long as you possess a degree creative brilliance – and in doing so, chip away at the ideal that fashion deserves a meaningful voice. As the likes of Anna Wintour and her burgeoning league of disciples have shown through their embracing of Galliano, any power that fashion holds in commenting on issues outwith its own little realm is fast becoming a fallacy. It is not only through the designer’s forgiveness that this has been highlighted, but in the manner which his return has been reported. In the days which followed Margiela’s announcement of their new creative director, much of the commentary from fashion’s leading journalists centred on the fact that Galliano was the antithesis of the company’s founder – not that a man who had declared his love of Hitler was being ushered back in to a position of power, and more gallingly, influence.

If we truly wish to declare that fashion has power beyond the runway and, therefore, its main protagonists have influence – how can we reconcile this with the fact that we’re giving an anti-Semite one of the biggest platforms upon which to communicate? Forgiveness, perhaps? But that can be achieved without giving Galliano a far-reaching voice. Monday will communicate a wider message to those not enamoured with the view that fashion holds a greater power – the message that we are aloof, uncaring of wider issues and ready to ignore any sense of morality at the drop of a lace-embellished hat.

For each person that stands and applauds Galliano’s inevitably tearful bow on Monday, the cultural gravitas of the discipline is diminished in the eyes of the wider world. And with so many high-profile figures clamouring to do so, maybe it’s for the best.

Raspberry Meld

How to recover from an emotional blog post: Re-decorate your room on a whim.

(Side note: Dictionary.com defines 'whim' as "an odd or capricious notion or desire; a sudden or freakish fancy" - Adorable.)

I'm in love.

Ruby Sparks

"You have all these rules, and you don’t tell me what they are until whoops! I’ve broken one, and then you get to be disappointed with me?" 

- Ruby Sparks, describing every relationship I've ever been in. 

You have to watch this movie.

Related: What If, Happythankyoumoreplease

Current Obsession

Fade into you // It's been a while since I have even heard from you.

Also: Take Me To Church - Hozier, Hard Work - Ella Henderson,  My Game - Joe Garvey

Micro Pleasures (1-10)

From the hedgehogs on my bedsheets, to the box of teabags by my kettle, to the gothic mirror I found in a junk shop in my third year of university, and have carted with me everywhere since, I'm constantly surrounding myself with things that bring me little moments of happiness. 'Micro Pleasures,' as The Goddess Experience would call them. The debris of a life well lived, as the older generation might say. 'My stuff' as I'd go about it.

On Saturday, Thom suggested we begin a 'gratuity jar,' to put some positivity into our collective lives. This escalated to become a colour coded 'gratuity calendar,' with a different coloured post it note for each housemate and then, for me at least, it became an idea for a blog series. Much like the '100 things that make me happy' lists I put together way back in another life, these posts will be used to document the things that bring me joy, or pleasure, as the title suggests. Because what better way is there to combat loneliness and romantic drama than to take stock of the things in life that make you crazy happy? No better way, that's what. Absolutely none whatsoever.

Here goes nothing...

1. My four legged feline friends. Erm, can we just take note of how tiny Charlie looks in Thom's arms? I love this.



2. Sanctuary spa candles.

3. Photography by David Bailey.



4. The blackboard in our living room. This is where we leave each other notes. Random, ridiculous notes. Mostly just quotes, really. And ripped out pictures of Taylor Swift with 'long live the queen' scrawled across them.

5. Movie posters on bedroom walls.

6. Receiving a text message from someone adorable.



7. Proper pyjamas. Yes, this is what I mean when I say I'm going to 'slip into something more comfortable' - eat your heart out gentlemen.

8. Time spent on the sofa with housemates, discussing absolutely everything, watching Big Bang Theory, and eating our weight in Camembert.

9. Camembert. Baked and served with crusty bread.



10. This necklace. Because it is exactly my taste in jewellery, and because Sam gave it to me for Christmas, which just shows how well she knows me. I've worn it every day since.