The Distance Isn't So Far

For some, life is like the film 'Love Actually'; a tale of love that is seamless through time, distance and circumstance. I believe with faith, truth, commitment and friendship a relationship can weather any storm composed of distance and time.

I treasure my love as the greatest achievement in my life; it has also been the easiest. So here's my love to those in a relationship where you don't come home to each other every night and share the same dinner; you live each day together via email, text, voice and video call.You both know these days apart are numbered and you'll be watching the evening news together in no time.

Distance is merely a minor inconvenience for great loves.

It Gets Better

One thing I love is a good cause with strong support that rallies a community. An amazing campaign at the moment is the ‘It Gets Better Project’. “It's aimed at LGBT youth who can't picture what their lives might be like as openly gay adults. They can't imagine a future for themselves. So let's show them what our lives are like, let's show them what the future may hold in store for them.” - Dan Savage, the force behind this project.

When I was in Washington DC recently, I was walking past the White House and passed a man in a black suit, carrying a brief case and in place of a business shirt, he was wearing a bright purple t-shirt that said "It Gets Better". I thought, is this dude the face of the campaign or what? In this same moment, I could relate to the notion that it does get better. 

As a teenager, I was teased at school as I was a competitive swimmer and had muscles, and for other ridiculous things like the size of my nose. I remember dreading what these kids would say to me each day and could never think of anything witty enough to say in response to make myself feel any better. For too many teenagers, bullying is an everyday occurrence. 

One thing we all can do is wear an ‘It Gets Better’ purple t-shirt. Wear it for the LGBT kids, wear it for any kid who is bullied during their days because I know and you know it DOES get better. I happen to love my muscle-definition as I'm getting older; they're so functional! It means I can help a lot more when moving house for example. 

I love my life and I can only pray and act so that teenagers today know It Does Get Better. Join the movement, watch the videos and get your shirt here: http://www.itgetsbetter.org/.

Is it about love or rocks?

I might lose a smidge of respect for blogging about Kim Kardashian today, but seriously, what is up with her engagement ring?

We all dream of our ring as little girls (my gift from my love happens to be perfection), but who honestly dreams of 20.5 carats. Personally, I think it looks redonkulous. Is it about love or rocks. Sheesh.

Savage Beauty

Right now The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is housing the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty exhibition. I had the privilege of attending the exhibition last week. I've been to many art exhibitions around the world and have never been as moved as I was last Wednesday morning. 

The McQueen exhibition was true to his work and showcased his talent immaculately. The opening room sets the romantacism and dark emotion of McQueen's work with Tony Hymas' "Scent of Intrigue" humming in the background. The first dress you're introduced to is from the Voss collection and uses microscopes stained red to form the structure of the top of the dress and has ostrich feathers to set the structure of the dress. This was the first time I had ever seen anything by McQueen in real life, and I am certain I stood at that dress for about 15 minutes. If the entire exhibition was only that first room, I would have walked away a happy woman.....but the exhibition walks you through his entire career.

It was at this point I thought I have seen all I have to see in this life. 

Then I walked into the second room. McQueen's work is all about romantasicm first, and what I saw next almost had me to my knees...

The Horn Of Plenty collection. This dress is entirely black duck feathers, this shows his life's dedication to his work. Can you imagine making a piece as perfect as this? It was shown on black mirrors in a dark room with a slight breeze flowing that sent gentle goose bumps over your body. The Met takes you to see Alexander McQueen and then you experience his collection. 

Then you see jackets he structured with fabric only- no padding in the shoulders. His pure technique was all that was needed. The audio tells you stories over and over again of how he would use his scissors as if they were an extension of his arms and seemed to have no inhibitions about taking scissors to a garment to re-create it to its new form.

There were quotes from McQueen scattered at each collection that brought him even closer to the present as you walk from collection to collection. "I want to empower women. I want people to be afraid of the women I dress." I totally get what he's saying here, and I LOVE it.

McQueen's work was controversal in mainstream media, who reported that his Highland Rape Autumn collection of 1995/96 glorified the rape of women. They couldn't have been further from the truth. McQueen is of Scottish heritage which was one of the most important facets of his life, and the collection represented the rape of Scotland by England in the 18th Century.

My favourite piece from McQueen came from his Jellyfish collection. This collection was the last collection he saw on the runway and was based on human life in the future. He thought "what will happen in the future if we continue on the path we're on? Will we return to the ocean?" This was the inspiration for his collection Jellyfish. Seriously, how do minds like this exist? They're to be admired and adored. So I let out a physical squeak when I reached my favourite piece; you'll recognise it, Lady Gaga rocked it in Bad Romance.

Last Wednesday was a turning point in my life where a exhibition brought me to tears. Every single piece is the product of talent I'm not sure we'll see again. I've shared some more pieces from the collection below, but cannot even come close to explaining or sharing the Savage Beauty exhibition. It's absolute genius.

"I'm overally romantic" - McQueen

"McQueen's romantic yearnings guided and fueled his creativity and advanced fashion."- Sarah Burton

Voss, Spring/Summer 2001

 Ensemble, No.13 Spring/Summer 1999

 Ensemble Spring/Summer 2010-11

 Widows of Cullen, Autumn/Winter 2006/7

 Sarablande, Spring/Summer 2007

Emsemble, It's Only a Game Spring/Summer 2005

...this collection was explaining the relationship between Japan and the USA which is why the gridiron gear has an Imperial Japanese design.

Love Stories

In my mind, Tiffany's New York 5th Avenue location is heaven on earth for any sane woman on God's earth. This past week I spent some time there, because I am a sane woman.

The Tiffany's brand is a brilliant case of life breathed into jewelry products. For women, the idea of an engagement ring from Tiffany's is filled with romanticism and desire.  Each year, thousands of visitors to New York City drift through the Tiffany doors, float around the engagement ring level, and then without doubt head to level 3 where the affordable silver bracelets are housed. Once there, they purchase their own piece of romanticism from New York City.

For years, Tiffany's has lead the jewelry industry as they engage their audience with their gorgeous romantic images in Central Park, walking through the snow in New York, and an embrace of a newly engaged couple. Their current in-store placements take their in store advertising to a new level of Love Stories.

One window outside Tiffany's had an iPhone and an engagement ring. The iPhone showed a series of text messages between a man and a woman. The man was asking when she would be home from work, she responded that she had to work late and then make a stop before coming home. He told her not to worry, to come home, he's made her favourite dinner....and then the ring next to the phone symbolized his pending proposal.

Then inside the store was a post-it next to a engagement ring and a set of house keys that read "Come and go as you please, but please never leave me".

There was one close to my heart; there was a airline ticket to Canada and a ring next to it symbolizing great love across distance.

As I watched the customers in Tiffany's walk by these placements it shifted all their moods. It brought smiles to faces as they would appreciate romanticism alone and then would call their friend/mother/daughter/husband over to share with them. Yesterday, with these simple placements of romance, Tiffany's shifted the mood of their customers. It was beautiful to watch, and genius on the part of Tiffany's.

Simple romance is back.