The Love Island girls were back together last night following intense rumours about a spat between Amy Hart and…everyone.
Hart joined Francesca Allen, Joanna Chimonides, Maura Higgins, Anna and Mandy Vakili, Laura Anderson and Gabby Allen at the launch of Molly-Mae Hague's PrettyLittleThing collection in Manchester.
Molly was shadowed by boyfriend Tommy Fury for the entire night, but one person who avoided photos with Molly-Mae was Amy Hart.
Amy, Anna, Amber, Fran and Mandy were treated to a luxury room at the Dakota hotel, complete with PrettyLittleThing gift bags and mini bottles of rose wine.
The Love Island ladies were taking selfies together at the Rossa restaurant, dancing to live music from Giggs before heading to Chinawhite for a night out without Molly.
Amy had shared her outfit looks to her own Instagram Story, writing a post about the PLT launch but failing to mention Molly-Mae Hague.
Image: Instagram/@amyhartxo
"When someone asks you who you’re wearing…and it’s ya mate @mollymaehague x @prettylittlething ," Amy captioned an Instagram story with Molly's collection featured.
The former air stewardess thanked her hair and make-up team for helping her to get ready for the launch, but Molly looked too busy to be around her Love Island girls.
From spaghetti strap crops and tiny coloured sunglasses to ankle bracelets, velvet headbands, butterfly hair clips and scrunchies; the 1990s were the days when fashion was born and bred.
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were dating, Charmed, Friends and Sabrina the Teenage Witch were on our screens and Mary-Kate and Ashley launched their careers. Times were good.
What was one of the many gifts the Olsen Twins gave us? Hair bandanas, of course. In paisley print, to be precise.
The bandana is officially the nostalgic hair accessory making a major comeback this summer, and we're rejoicing from the throwback heavens.
Back in 1999, the world and it's mother was donning headscarves from Christina Aguilera to Dionne in Clueless. The paisley print was where it was AT.
Fast forward a couple of years, and the accessory has been spotted on the high street once more. Vintage stores are also stocking up on the style staple.
Brands and designers from JW Anderson, Kate Spade and Max Mara are using scarves for their bold catwalk looks, with signature printed ensembles and monogramming included for SS19
One perfect reason for sporting the look is that it can cover up a dodgy hair day, or unwashed hair with enough grease to cook a double cheeseburger. Unwashed tresses are concealed with ease.
Fold your square scarf diagonally in half to create a triangle, place it over your hair and tie at the nape of your neck. Fix with some bobby pins or hair clips to secure it all day, and voila. You're fierce.
Image: Instagram/@thelegendaaliyah
You can even wear the scarves as a crop top if you tie it correctly at the back, which blew our minds. An accessory and an item of clothing which embodies a past era of our lives? Sign us up.
Bad Gal RiRi even used one for her Wild Thoughts music video, looking out of this world incredible as always. We all know that anything Rihanna touches turns to gold, so it's time we joined the trend.
Image: YouTube/Wild Thoughts
The humble headscarf bandana wasn't just graced on the heads of 1990s royalty like Lauren Graham from Gilmore Girls. Male celebrities like Justin Timberlake and Tupac even wore the edgy accessory.
While some of the trends from the nineties have earned their spot on the World Dressed lists nowadays, we simply must throw our support in for the bandana kerchief. It's both lazy and hip at the same time.
If you need us, we'll be hunting Temple Bar's vintage shops for more old-school baggy sportswear, coloured hair clips and tiny sunnies for festival season. Wear your bandana with pride, ladies and gents.
It's that time of the year again, where we all crack out the Wellington boots, pretend the weather is higher than 18 degrees Celsius and pour glitter all over ourselves for no apparent reason.
Yes, I'm talking about festival season. With the planet in a state of climate disaster, it makes perfect sense why a growing number of festivals are banning glitter across the world.
Glitter takes years to break down, like plastic and other similar materials, but that doesn't mean you can't find amazing biodegradable versions for all your summer fun plans.
As it turns out, you can be savvy about the environment while dancing the night away in a field simultaneously.
There are a huge amount of fantastic brands emerging which promote sustainability and recyclable materials, but we've made a list of our top ten biodegradable glitter options.
You'll thank us when your conscience remains clear while singing your heart out drunk to a band you don't know at Electric Picnic.
Coca-Cola hosted their inaugural Melodic Wood area at All Together Now festival in Waterford, purely to create an atmospheric chill-out zone.
The area centred solely around sustainability and was an immersive experience thanks to the electronic music supplied by rising Irish music duo; Prizm.
Those at the festival who were drinking cans were encouraged to bring them along to be pressed into leaves for the installation, with Coca-Cola commissioning native trees in Waterford alongside Native Woodland Trust.
Coca-Cola has donated €10,300 towards the commissioning of 412 native trees to be planted in Waterford, following the success of the Melodic Wood area and it's hypnotic lights show.
The Native Woodland Trust are Ireland’s only organisation with a sole focus on preserving our ancient woodlands, and it's hard to believe that they're the only ones.
We chatted to Prizm as well as the Native Woodland trust about their time in the Melodic Wood, and the importance of Ireland's forests at this critical time in the planet's environmental history.
Prizm are an up and coming electronic duo comprised of Ivan Nicholas and producer Aidan Bond, alumni of the Sound Training College in Temple Bar.
Their intricate knowledge of sound, coupled with their varied instrumental experience leads to standout performances. Their first headline show is set for later this year, and they're scheduled to play a string of festival performances and gigs this year.
We were dying to ask them about their Melodic Wood gig, which acted as a useful yet artistic recycling hub for festival goers.
The Wood's eight trees were all created from recycled materials, with the area forming part of the Native Woodland Trust's wider World Without Waste initiative. World Without Waste commits to collect and recycle the equivalent of every can or bottle that they sell by 2030.
We quizzed them on everything from their first meeting to their involvement in the environmental project;
How do you think your music fuses with nature?
For the song we wrote for Coca-Cola’s Melodic Wood at All Together Now 2019, part of the request was to incorporate nature sounds, we used wind and rustling trees in the intro of the track, and it worked really nicely.
How did you both meet, and when did you decide to become a duo?
We were working in the same place and got talking about music and quickly realized we both wrote and produced music. We strangely had the same vision for a project, so it kicked off from there.
What are your thoughts on Ireland’s attitude to sustainability?
It’s going in the right direction, small things like cardboard straws are a good start but it’s obviously a global problem, you have to start somewhere at the same time.
Why are you named ‘Prizm’?”
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. At least two of the flat surfaces must have an angle between them. “ We are part of the two… it made sense for us musically and we just both totally agreed on the name.
How did you become involved with the Melodic Wood and All Together Now?
We put our song forward and Coca-Cola loved it.
How do you think Ireland’s music scene can become more eco-friendly and sustainable?
Taking home your tents and cleaning up after yourself is simple and makes a huge difference.
Do you think music has the power to encourage people to focus on climate breakdown and the environment?
No, people have the power.
What are your hopes for the future of your music?
We want to release our debut song and work towards an album. Our live show is very important to us, we want to be a touring band.
What would be your dream gig to play?
Closing out a big festival. Our shows will have all the right ingredients to bring you back to life.
Prizm seem like the ideal artists to have played the Melodic Wood, as All Together Now have been an eco-focused festival from the beginning.
The band too share an interest in reducing their carbon footprint, and we were intrigued to hear what the Native Woodland Trust had to say about the installation.
The Native Woodland Trust is the only environmental organisation in Ireland with a focus on saving the last of Ireland's Ancient Woodlands, now down to as little as 0.1 percent of what originally existed.
The Trust is also the only Irish environmental organisation which has raised the funding to acquire and save some of these woodlands while also planting thousands of trees every year. The Trust now manages 11 woodlands and nature reserves across Ireland, from Donegal to Waterford.
We were delighted to be contacted by Coca-Cola to provide new trees to complement their recycling concept. The Native Woodland Trust is the only non-profit in Ireland with a network of nature reserves where we plant new woodlands, so we were able to commit to planting new trees for Coca-Cola as part of the Melodic Wood initiative which comes under their World Without Waste global strategy.
Can you tell us a bit about Ireland’s Ancient Woods?
Ireland’s Ancient Woodlands are those that have been in continuous existence since at least 1650 – this means that they predate most imports of trees and are directly descended from the primeval forests that once covered almost all of Ireland. They are the most biodiverse habitats we have and are often home to rare and unusual species.
What do you think Ireland’s woodland will look like in 30 years?
A few things will change – but gradually. We will continue to lose our old and ancient woodlands – they are not all protected and the protection is poorly policed. We will also lose some more species – some perhaps due to climate change – and gain some too – especially insects and birds. But our Ash trees, which is one of the most common trees in the country and famously used to make hurleys, will become as rare as Elm trees are today.
What would happen if Ireland lost its woodland and nature reserves?
We would lose a huge part of our cultural and environmental heritage. Trees and woods were a significant part of Gaelic culture – with even our native Ogham alphabet having its letters twinned with the different trees of the forest. We would also lose our connection to the original primeval forests of Ireland – which once were thronged with bears and wolves and were the source of many myths and legends. And of course, we would lose biodiversity in a very significant way.
What worries you the most about climate breakdown?
On a small island like Ireland, many species will not have the ability to simply move north – so we may lose some species. Higher temperatures and changing weather patterns may also add stress to various habitats, like woodlands and make them more prone to damage and disease. Climate change may very well alter the composition of our woodlands and change the face of our countryside.
How sustainable do you think Ireland’s festivals are?
They’re clearly improving hugely and its clearly part of the ethos of just about every festival now. Most festivals also now invite environmental groups to have a stand or kiosk, which is a great way to get our messages across to people and to allow them to actually engage with us in ways that we can’t do on social media or email.
What does the Native Woodland Trust hope to achieve in the future, what are its aims?
We are also trying to prevent the loss of any more Ancient Woodland. We only have approximately 0.1 percent of those woodlands left – so 99.9 percent have been cut down, and yet now in the 21st century, we’re still losing some of what’s left. We would ultimately like to be able to plant a huge new forest – thousands of acres, which could make a really meaningful difference to people of wildlife.
How can we help the Native Woodland Trust?
There are lots of ways to help – join as a member, sponsor some trees – as presents, to offset your carbon or just because you want to. Come and volunteer with us – especially if you live near one of our reserves, there’s always lots of work to get involved with. If you run a company or work for one who will listen – get them to take out a corporate sponsorship with us.
Are businesses and specific corporations causing the most issues regarding the conservation of our landscapes?
Obviously agriculture and industry has a huge impact – but we as individuals are consuming these outputs and as a species, humanity needs to change its very wasteful behaviour. If we become less wasteful, we can change the behaviour of those businesses that produce them and who use up our natural resources.
Wherever humans go, we tend to wipe out wildlife. We need to give some space back to nature and to leave it to its own devices, without human interference.
What is it about Ireland’s landscapes that makes you so inspired and passionate?
For such a small island, we have such diverse landscapes, many of them as dramatic and picturesque as anywhere in the world. Within these, there are so many wild habitats that are home to our many native plants and animals. There’s something still innately wild about Ireland and its landscapes and its always a pleasure to be outdoors in nature in Ireland.
You can watch the Melodic Wood’s All Together Now journey here –and join the conversation using #WorldWithoutWaste. To volunteer with the Native Woodland Trust, click here.
Is anyone else personally offended by the idea of sleeping on the ground during festival season, worried about the state of your tents and the noise of drunken gangs of lads all night?
Well, if you're feeling the diva vibe like we are, you'll be delighted with these Airbnb gems we've found.
After camping at Electric Picnic last year with intensely bad back issues, never again will I twist my spine in such a way. Only a bed will do for my demands.
The properties are near enough to the festivals that you can stroll on in any time of the day or night, but far enough away to get some peace, quiet and good sleep. We're sold, honestly.
Our top music and arts festivals are fast approaching this summer, and hosts on Airbnb are expanding accommodations options beyond camping fields…Thank the Lord.
Putting a roof over your head this festival season has never been so easy. From Waterford, Westmeath, Bundoran's surf town in Donegal, Stradbally or Meath, Airbnb has a host for everyone.
Check out these fabulous homes near the key Irish music festivals; whether it's floating pods, stunning homes or earth houses; round off your summer season with style.
These adorable floating glamping pods would be ideal to stay in, as they're moored in the sheltered waters of Kilrush Marina along with the boats.
Each pod in this Clare hideaway has an outdoor seating area, a double and single bed, a kitchen and use of Marina Centre facilities like showers, laundry, Wi-Fi, toilets and free parking.
Kilrush town centre is also in close proximity, so you're not too far away from all the fun.
Bundoran is the ultimate Irish seaside town, and a massively popular surfing area with some of the best waves on the east coast.
Staying on the beach at Sea Sessions can be a tricky one with all that Atlantic wind, trust us. This cool and comfortable coastal home is located in a quiet suburb, but is walking distance away from the town and river.
The house can fit over seven guests, with three bedrooms and an open plan kitchen. The true seaside feel with views of Tullaghan would be a great option, rather than getting blown away in your tent.
Ballymore Eustace is a stunning town in Wicklow, and who wouldn't want such a comfortable home to stay in for a weekend of music, losing your friends in crowds and getting covered in mud?
This modern, comfy house is located on the outskirts of the town, and is the ideal place for exploring the county as well as the festival. It's also near the direct route to Dublin, the 65.
The Angler's Rest can house seven guests easily, with three bedrooms and seven beds. Zero tents: Zero problems.
This hidden little gem is located in the picturesque town of Killucan, and the place is just a one minute walk from shops and local pubs, and 15 minutes drive from Mullingar town.
It can house four guests, and has two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The private garden would be perfect for festival pre-drinks, and the rooms are all warm, sparkling clean and spacious.
Why stay in a tent that's about five seconds from blowing away with a light breeze when you can have a whole apartment?
This airy, spacious apartment on the Waterford river is seriously impressive. Situated in the centre of the city, it's in a great location for all the key tourist sites and shopping areas.
The balcony has some unreal views of the river and boats, and the space itself has a king/twin bedroom and a comfy sofa bed.
Imagine, you have a kitchen, dishwasher, and a shower? For a festival? WOW.
Anyone who has camped at Electric Picnic and lived to tell the tale will tell you that it's a little too close to nature. This earth house allows you to feel relaxed while having a truly eco experience.
Located on two acres of rural bliss near Ballintubbert and Stradbally, it's equipped with underfloor heating, a green roof, Mexican clay tilted floor, three double bedrooms and a beautiful vaulted ceiling.
We're blown away by the round earth house, with the windows running across the south side of the house to provide passive solar heating. A masonry stove will also keep you warm.
The home has two double bedrooms, and the beautiful garden yurt also can also fit two double beds inside, so the place can house a big group of music lovers. Enjoy your back not being sore this year.
Festival fashion is one of the most sought-after gems in the style calendar, but trends have most definitely shifted in 2019 into a more sustainable environment. Rightfully so.
Rather than buying entirely new wardrobes for each music festival attended, the rise of the rental is upon us as well as the overwhelming popularity of vintage clothes.
The billion-dollar festival fashion scene is a whole new ball game since the rise of apps like Instagram, capturing celebrity fashion at Coachella, Reading, Parklife, Electric Picnic and Glastonbury.
A fast fashion extravaganza has been the result, with millions of euros spent on clothing for festival wear each year. The fashion industry is the second-biggest water polluter on earth, after the oil industry.
Outlandish, aesthetically-dramatic outfits which normally wouldn’t be worn are donned, but with the rise of ethical and sustainable fashion, what are this year’s trends?
Vintage styles are setting the trend agenda this festival season, as shown by global fashion search engine Lyst.
The company identified the major trends for festival season by gathering analysis on the shopping behaviours of over five million people based on social media metrics and search data.
It discovered that the 1990s are well and truly the decade to be apart of. Search results for staples from the time such as neon, bucket hats, tie-dye, chunky sports sandals and graphic t-shirts have all increased.
“Sustainability is an issue that more and more customers care about on Lyst,” the organisation’s insights reporter, Morane Le Caer, told The Independent.
Some festivals have already taken action when it comes to the harmful effects of glitter on the environment by pledging to ban glitter from their sites as part of a wider outlaw on single-use plastics.
In case you aren’t aware, glitter contains micro-plastics which take hundreds of years to break down, so can cause a phenomenal amount of damage (despite it’s small size).
However, you simply can’t remove glitter from the festival landscape so a solution has been created; biodegradable glitter.
Penneys P.S…Festival collection, prices from €2.50 upwards
As it turns out, you can be savvy about the environment while dancing the night away in a field simultaneously.
There are a huge amount of fantastic brands emerging which promote sustainability and recyclable materials, but our faves include;
EcoStardust, Dolls Kill ‘Go Get Glitter’, In Your Dreams, Festival Face, Primark P.S…Festival collection, BOD Mermaid Body and Eco Glitter Fun.
With the coming of summer brings iconic vintage trends, predominantly from the nineties this year. What was one of the greatest aspects of that era? Tiny sunglasses, of course.
Style icons like Rihanna, Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez have caught on to the trend, which was based around cinematic veterans from the 90s sporting small sunnies in films like Notting Hill (Julia Roberts) and supermodels like Kate Moss.
Are you even a fashionista if you aren’t wearing teeny, tiny sunglasses? Probably not. If Kendall Jenner is copying 1999 Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Britney Spears, then you should probably try it too.
You can normally find the best pairs by thrift shopping or visiting places like Dublin Vintage Factory or Nine Crows vintage, but ASOS and ASOS Marketplace also do great coloured oval sunglasses.
Sequins as a festival trend will most likely never change.
It’s the perfect way to grab the spotlight from the artists and firmly place it on yourself, and it’s distracting in all the best ways if you haven’t washed your hair at Electric Picnic in three days.
Vintage shopping for sequins is one of the most fun activities in the land, and you can find some sparkly gems in most places.
ASOS Marketplace has an extensive selection, and we can’t get enough of the co-ords.
All that glitters may not quite be gold, but they can give you a killer look for the next music festival you attend with your gal-pals.
Fashion will always have an obsession with sparkle, with major couture designers utilising sequins with precision. It trickles down to the festivals, where everyone wants to have the most eye-catching apparel.
From ’90s bucket hats and cowboy hats to sequinned military-style caps and printed beanies, when you’re having a festival hair day with unwashed tresses; hats will be thy saviour.
Black leather baker boy hats have been spotted on the Nine Crows website, and ASOS Marketplace has an array of velvet and sequinned berets to get your hands on.
Depop is also your best friend when it comes to items like these. The clothes-selling app has millions of users, and is a brilliant place to buy and sell second-hand clothes and vintage goodies.
Somehow, summer always grabs onto the trend of bucket hats every single year. We’ve seen countless boys at Longitude (RIP) sporting branded Kangol bucket hats, but the vintage headgear remain cool.
While fast fashion brands will bring out their own lines of bucket hats and eye-catching caps, there’s nowhere better than vintage stores to get the original ’90s vibe.
Temple Bar has numerous shops to rifle through, but some are better for accessories than others. Online stores like Beyond Retro in the UK have a great collection too, and Depop sellers have gorgeous options.
The Kardashians and Kanye West are partially credited with reigniting the luxe sportswear trend, and the nineties ‘athleisure’ fad is officially back.
Sportswear that doubles up as festival wear is definitely on the rise, with cycling shorts and chunky runners seen on high-fashion runways and in high street stores alike.
We’re fairly sure the Tour de France wasn’t intending on beginning a cycling shorts trend, but here we are.
It’s got nothing to do with exercise or physical performance, but everything to do with looking festival fierce in a flash.
Princess Diana’s mid-90s style and Yeezy’s obsession with form-fitting athleisure have both caused an influx in people searching for leggings and patterned cycling shorts online.
Labels like Fendi, Dior, Chanel, Nanushka, and Maryam Nassir Zadeh all showcasing stylised riffs on cycling shorts in their runway collections recently, with the addition of neon to prove peak 90s.
Wear with an oversized blazer and statement belt if your shorts aren’t eye-catching enough at Electric Picnic.
Patterned all-in-one by Tara Khorzad LDNat ASOS Marketplace, €69.55
With vintage and sustainable shopping on the increase, nailing these five festival fashion trends in the 2019 season will be easier, and cheaper, than ever but with a less negative environmental impact.
You don’t need an entirely new wardrobe to slay the styles. It just takes some dedication and creativity, and the knowledge of the best second-hand places to shop.
Do yourself a favour and download Depop while you’re at it. The ’90s will be all over your campsite aesthetic in no time.
6. Footwear
Consider the weather and location – this might sound like an obvious one, but it’s also one of the most important. Festivals can be totally different experiences depending on the location and the time of year. Keep an eye on the forecast during the week running up to the festival and be ready to change your festival shoes options at a moment’s notice.
You should also do a bit of research on the type of ground the festival is set on. Fields can get muddy, beaches can get hot and street festivals can be hard on the feet, so you’ll need to adjust your Blundstone shoes choices accordingly.
Most festivals are heavy-going on your footwear, even if the weather is kind, so we recommend choosing something sturdy and strong to take the brunt of the wear. Leather is always a good choice as it’s strong, comfortable and easy to clean, but plastic and rubber are also good choices.
Feature image: Purple lens sunnies by Vintingsat ASOS Marketplace, €11.76
Why switch to vegan products? How to get the beauty benefits on a budget
Here’s a statistic worth noting: our skin absorbs up to 60% of any product which is applied to it.
If the beauty brands we use are processed, synthetic and jam-packed with toxins, chemicals and preservatives, that’s a lot of possibly harmful material we’re consuming.
Not to mention that many brands are ambiguous at best when discussing their animal testing.
Vegan beauty products are all made without harm to animals and they also don’t contain any animal ingredients, animal by-products or animal-derived products.
Some common animal ingredients used in skincare beauty include beeswax, lanolin (grease from sheep’s wool – ew), carmine and uric acid from cows.
Some haters suggest that vegan products can’t possibly be as effective, but actually this is merely a myth. Formulas which don’t contain animal ingredients are actually far better for your skin.
Plant-derived ingredients contain more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which repair and hydrate the skin.
It’s largely unsurprising then that millions of people around the world have switched to vegan beauty.
In the last decade, beauty addicts around the world are raving about new and natural vegan creations. Returning to nature is becoming more and more attractive, except finding the best quality products with all-natural components has a hefty price tag.
Here’s where vegan brand Nacomi Beauty come in: they’ve just opened their flagship store in Malahide, Co. Dublin and have caused a massive stir.
Their gorgeous body mousses, scrubs, shower jelly and body butter are absolutely flying off the shelves. Why have they propelled to the top of the vegan beauty chain?
Here are a few reasons:
-They import raw materials from all over the world and produce their cosmetics in Poland, surrounded by stunning green scenery.
-ALL their products are totally handmade for each individual, so you know anything you buy has the unique customer in mind. SO personal.
-They don’t just sell produce for women, they now have a mens and baby range. Inclusivity, people. It’s the best.
-They are completely against animal testing
-They source the highest quality product from all over the world and use cold pressed oils, butters, extracts and cosmetic clays in their pure form.
-Their products are all made within a month of being ordered, so it’s fresh to death.
YAS BETCH, we can finally afford it to be natural.
-The simplicity of their cosmetic compositions is what make them totally different, they use Unrefined Oils and Vitamin E as natural preservatives.
-They don’t use paraben, harmful dyes and preservatives, SLS/SELS, petroleum derivatives, or mineral oils.
Nacomi stand by their mission to provide the best quality products at affordable prices:
“We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to use healthy cosmetics.”
English songstress Ellie Goulding is marrying her art dealer boyfriend Caspar Jopling tomorrow and it sounds like the 32-year-old has planned the most lavish day.
The lovebirds have invited a whopping 300 guests to their nuptials at the stunning Castle Howard.
The posh stately home is certainly one of the most beautiful wedding venues we’ve ever laid eyes on.
The couple have invited the best of the best to their wedding, including members of the royal family. It is believed Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice will be in attendance.
It was rumoured that Prince Harry, Ellie’s former love interest, was invited to the wedding but the new dad supposedly declined the invitation.
Popstars Ed Sheeran and Rita Ora will also be attending, as well as model Karlie Kloss who is a dear friend of Ellie’s
Following their ceremony at York Minster on Saturday morning, the couple and their guests will head to Castle Howard for a festival themed celebration.
According to reports, there will be vegan dishes, champagne, VIP pods for guests to relax in and even golf buggies to transport them around the grounds.
It seems like Ellie and Caspar have spared no expense for their wedding celebration.
The giggles, the embarrassment and the speculation circled the classroom – a lady was on her way to teach us about sex.
Cue the dildo sitting in the centre of the table and the dodgy glances between a bunch of 17-year-old girls.
After a brief, two-sentence description on what a penis was – it was whipped away, as the woman exclaimed that we would be WAAAY too distracted by the sight of the male anatomy – b*tch, please.
Periods, pregnancy and STIs were mentioned, and that was it – that's all I can remember about my sex education in school – but it seems like I was one of the lucky ones.
Grilling the SHEmazing office about their sex ed, more often than not I got the reply of – 'we didn't get any,' 'I went to an all-girls school,' or 'there was the advice of waiting until you were married.'
I'm not gonna lie but I was stunned – but I don't know why? If you even try to talk to the majority of Irish men about periods – they're clueless, and that it isn't entirely their fault – it's the culture we've been raised with.
Shame around sex, unplanned pregnancy and masturbation are commonplace in classrooms around the country.
But the lack of sex education means that young people are missing out on serious topics too – these are just a number of topics that weren't discussed in our Irish sex education lessons.
It is only in the last couple of years has the issue of consent been raised in our society.
Yet still, people dismiss the importance of teaching men and women what is and isn't consensual sex, kissing and touching.
The word wasn't even uttered in the classroom and when the possibility of it being taught in universities arose, people scoffed.
If you do have the opportunity to go and learn about consent, please do.
Porn
God forbid that the 'expert' stood at the top of the room might address the issue of what you see in porn.
But we could only imagine the looks and dismissal you would receive if you even try to ask the question.
Yet the porn industry is a problem for young men and women around the country – leading to very high, misinformed expectations and unreasonable pressure around sex for both parties.
More often than not, both genders feel like their body and performances can't live up to what they see on porn – and FYI, the reason for that is because porn isn't reality.
Unplanned Pregnancy, Miscarriage, The Morning After Pill, Abortion and Fertility issues
Usually, the pregnancy topic is approached from a very unrealistic standpoint – "when you find yourself a nice husband, you can settle down and have a baby."
I know first hand what unplanned pregnancy feels like and I can confirm that none of my sex ed helped me prepare myself for how scary and challenging the situation was.
There's no information offered surrounding the morning after pill, the time window you have to use it and how effective it is.
And of course, because abortion was illegal – it wasn't even dared to be uttered.
However, the topic of miscarriage could and should have been spoken about, so if you ever find yourself in this heartbreaking situation, you know what to do and what to expect – to know that you aren't alone and you haven't done anything wrong in your pregnancy.
Fertility issues are very common in our society, particularly conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome – yet we weren't given any information about the signs, symptoms and treatments available.
Contraception and STIs
Though some of us got the condom on the banana job – most of us didn't get a good understanding of what types of different options we have out there.
What the side effects come with different contraceptives, how effective they may or may not be and how crucial double protection is – (I now have a four-year-old thanks to this).
And although some of us got to grips with STDs and STIs, it was with a lot of stigma instead of real advice.
Education and being comfortable with the subject is becoming more and more important as there had been a 10 percent increase in STIs from 2016 to 2017.
Empowerment of personal sexuality, masturbation and sexual orientation
Want to learn that it's perfectly healthy to explore your body, mind and sexuality? Then don't go to your sex ed class in school.
More often than not, these subjects aren't even touched.
Enjoying sex, masturbation and those we chose to love should be embraced and not shamed, since in the real world the majority of people don't give a flying f**k.
No LGBT or LGBTQ organisations were even mentioned or how normal it is to be attracted to the same sex.
There’s no doubt Princess Diana was one of the biggest figures in the fashion world during her time. Her legendary ‘revenge dress’ was by far one of the most memorable looks in pop culture.
The late princess was never afraid to push style boundaries, despite her royal title. Diana managed to make jumpers and cycling shorts look chic. She donned oversized blazers and baseball caps yet still managed to look as classy as ever.
She certainly wore some of the most beautiful ball gowns, but it was her casual, dressed-down looks that cemented her as a true fashion icon.
Her style has continued to inspire many, including Hailey Bieber who has channelled Diana in a photoshoot for Vogue Paris.
The 22-year-old honoured the late Princess Diana in the striking photoshoot which has sent fans into a frenzy on Instagram. Hailey’s followers were stunned by the resemblance between the pair.
Hailey heralded Diana as one of her inspirations. The model said, ‘All credit and inspo to the amazingly beautiful and iconically stylish Princess Diana who I’ve looked to for style inspiration for as long as I can remember.’
She added, ‘Thank you for leaving behind such an iconic fashion and style legacy.’
Hailey’s Vogue Paris shoot was released ahead of Diana’s 22nd anniversary.
The mum-of-two tragically passed away on August 31, 1997 in Paris, France. Diana was only 36-years-old when her life was cut short after that horrifying car accident.
Despite what we see in film, TV and the media; a wheelchair can often be the most beautiful part of a person, an extension of themselves.
When it comes to representation and wheelchair users, what is often presented to us is vastly different from the reality.
We recently chatted to Izzy Keane, one part of the duo that founded Izzy Wheels, to get a grasp of what it means for her to see fellow wheelchair users on magazine covers, in the film industry and in media campaigns.
Dove’s new project #ShowUs aims to empower women by showing faces and bodies that normally aren’t displayed in the media, and Izzy herself has been one of the hand-picked people in the 5,000 photo-strong movement.
Dove Ambassador Izzy Keane at the Irish launch of Project #ShowUs
So, why is this movement so vital? According to new research, a shocking 70 percent of women still don't feel represented in media and advertising.
This affects more than just beauty routines and self-esteem; by homogenising the idea of ‘beauty’, it undermines the notion that being different is what makes us stand out.
From dating to style to career choices, confidence goes a long way. It’s time to get unapologetic about diversity in fashion and media, and demand to see a more truthful and authentic portrayal of real people in our daily lives.
Digital editing, filters and social media have shined an ugly light on how narrow-minded these industries are when it comes to a woman’s appearance.
Dove are helping us to take back control of our differences, and it’s high time they’re highlighted for how perfect they truly are.
From people of various ethnicities to freckles, stretch-marks, acne and wrinkles to older mothers and people with disabilities- beauty doesn’t have a single face or body.
In collaboration with Girlgaze and Getty Images, Dove’s #ShowUs is no ordinary campaign, but showcases how nobody is simply ordinary. #ShowUs is the world’s largest stock photo library of images created by women for use by brands and agencies in marketing and communications.
The phenomenal project is designed to shatter beauty stereotypes by showing women as they are, not as others believe they should be. It aims to drive a more diverse and inclusive visual landscape through media and advertising, and it's set to be a game-changer.
The images are a call-to-action in the beauty industry, it’s no longer good enough to see the same type of body shape, skin tone, and ability on billboards and magazines every day.
True confidence lies in the individuality and unique essence within every single person.
If you’re not familiar yet with this incredible, important company, they’ll soon be a household name.
Izzy Wheels came into fruition when Izzy’s sister, Ailbhe Keane, designed stunning and creative covers for her younger sibling’s wheelchair as part of her project for NCAD.
The resulting social media post went viral, and soon there was a high demand for more covers to be designed for wheelchair users all over the world.
The joy of bringing colour to other wheelchair users, especially those of a younger age, can be seen in posts on their social accounts, and it couldn't be more beautiful:
Izzy was born with spina bifida, which meant that Izzy has never been able to walk.
Does this stop her from achieving any of her goals with infectious energy while wearing unquestionably funky clothes? Not a chance.
Her wheelchair and it’s kaleidoscope of brilliant designs reflects her vibrant personality, her ethos of creativity and self-confidence.
Who better to interview about her part in Dove’s new campaign of representation? The young student is acutely aware of the need to show individuality when it comes to representation;
“When you turn on the television, you don’t often see people with disabilities. People’s favourite soap operas, if you see someone with a disability it’s as a result of something really extreme and tragic.
"It’s really important in all types of media to show that it can be a really positive thing, and we shouldn’t see our differences with so much negativity."
Dove Ambassadors Izzy Keane, Tara Stewart and Sene Naoupu at the Irish launch of Project #ShowUs
“The whole purpose of the Dove campaign is to represent women of diversity, of all different shapes, sizes, levels of ability, ethnicities; as many types of women as possible. I ticked that box, because of my disability and because I wear quite unusual clothes and colours,” Izzy says, with a laugh.
Looking through her impressive Instagram, it’s difficult to ignore the splashes of colour and statement prints.
The motto of Izzy Wheels is a breath of fresh air in itself; ‘If you can’t stand up, stand out.’ It’s clear that Izzy intends to bring this principle into all aspects of her everyday life, and is refreshingly aware of the magical potential which unique traits hold.
Unfortunately, most of those currently in power in the beauty industry appear to disagree with expressing difference as a strength.
With current standards of beauty seemingly impossibly high, what is Izzy’s own perception of beauty?
“I honestly believe that the most beautiful people are so self-confident that their confidence is infectious, and they make everyone around them feel amazing about themselves. The type of person who is able to bring everyone up around them.”
Brands in the industry have a huge responsibility to boost the confidence of consumers, rather than profit from their insecurities. Thankfully, Dove's message is one of hope for people who feel left out.
“Dove is an absolutely amazing brand to be undertaking a cause like this, because they’re so huge. Everyone knows about them, they’re very highly regarded and respected. It’s such an important task to undertake and I think they’re able to do it in a meaningful way."
Together, we have reached 4 million young people with our body-positive and self-esteem curriculum and now we will reach even more! https://t.co/9hFz7nJ4Ug
While numerous brands are beginning to expand their reach in terms of diverse models, it’s still a rarity to see anyone with disabilities such as those with hearing loss, blindness or users of wheelchairs in the media.
The modelling world have strict limitations on what they see as beautiful, but many brands are seeking to break those chains.
Some of them may not use authenticity, but Dove’s latest batch of stunning imagery are gorgeously genuine.
They show off the essence of the models themselves, and their personalities jump from the photographs.
Izzy’s bright and sunny nature as well as her taste for the colourful are weapons in her beauty arsenal, but her wheelchair assists her in her quest for confidence.
“I think that we’re living in an era when finally brands like Dove are starting to realise that it’s not acceptable to just show one type of body or one type of person. It’s really important for even their own sales and their own business that their audience is able to relate to the image they put out to the public," Izzy shared.
Writers and activists like Erin Clark are opening up more and more about the difficulties of never seeing your appearance in the media, and slowly progress is being made.
How does Izzy feel when she sees how limited images in the media are in terms of ableism?
"It can be really annoying when people like myself open up the fashion magazines and I don’t see anyone like myself, but things are going in the right direction.
"There’s always further to go and I can’t wait to see the strides that are made by everyone to be more inclusive, it’s an incredible thing to be part of. It’s really about embracing the thing that makes you different," she continues.
Izzy’s wheelchair is a device used for her creative-expression, why should a wheelchair only be seen as mechanical?
We were interested to hear Izzy’s own personal inspirations, and who she loves to see on the covers of magazines representing her.
“Sinéad Burke is an absolute legend, I absolutely love her. There are so many people making big waves in the area of diversity," she says.
"The first person I saw who made me feel really included in the media was Joanne O’Riordan. She is incredible, but there’s so many other people that I’d be here listing for ages.
"There are also people with a knowledge about disabilities that some people with disabilities themselves don’t necessarily have," she adds.
“Lucy Jones is a designer in New York, she’s from Wales, and she’s designing clothes for wheelchair users. She has such a knowledge of what needs to be done and she’s so open-minded.
"There’s such an opportunity there. People shouldn’t be afraid to tap into that, and push the boat a bit.”
The campaign hopes to target those who work in the media as well as those who deserve to be included and see their own faces reflected back to them.
What makes the images extra special is that each woman photographed has chosen the search result tags, meaning they have digitally taken control back over their own beauty.
Izzy's goal is to share that part of her which she wants seen the most:
“My wheelchair! The wheels do so much for me, and I think it’s so important out of a sign of respect to show it off well and make it look nice. It’s an extension of my body and it tells such an interesting story.”
#SeeUs is a direct challenge for the beauty industry to tackle, what does Izzy hope the audience will get from seeing these pictures?
“I think so many different groups will finally feel represented and included. For someone like me can be asked by a brand such as Dove to work with them is incredible, it’s a dream come true."
"Other people will realise that that kind of dream will come true for them too.”
Women worldwide can get involved in #ShowUs: go to Dove's website to share your images.
Check out Izzy Wheels' incredible array of wheelchair cover designs by Ailbhe Keane and other artists here.
Ah festival season, which marks the start of the summer and the beginning of many three-day hangovers.
With people coming from all corners of the country to pitch their tents in various fields, there are a few common tropes you will tend to see.
We hate to play into festival stereotypes, but you have to admit that these are pretty apt:
The Influencer
What would a festival be without a little bit of product promotion from our fave influencers?
It's actually pretty handy to have these guys and gals on Instagram, otherwise you would probably forget about some of the more niche elements of the festival itself that they're hired to flog.
Their outfits will be on point and their hair will somehow perpetually look like they've just popped out of Dry & Fly, even on the Sunday.
Most likely to be heard in the VIP section panicking that their phone is about to die and all their power banks are empty.
The Lad™
This particular breed of festival folk is your typical hearty Irish guy.
He just wants to have a bit of craic with the lads, and if that involves spending a few hundred quid to drink cans in a field for 12 hours a day, so be it.
Electric Picnic often falls on a weekend of serious sporting importance, and this year is no different.
The Festi-hun
You know this girl, You love this girl. You probably are this girl.
The festival gal is ready to battle through a weekend of frivolity in her Penneys leopard print wellies, and she means business.
From dragging her pals to every act to having a different flower crown for every outfit, festival season would not be the same without her.
Aren't we all this girl really? At least a little bit inside.
The Professional Raver
This crew will have you uber-envious of their rainbow hued threads and seemingly endless supply of energy. We wonder where they get it from?
Decked out head to toe in Ireland's finest vintage store finds, the niche acts are her calling.
When she's not bopping at an exceptionally cool DJ set you've never heard of, she'll be found getting her braids fixed at the on-site hairdressers.
The Lost-weekender
This guy has more Baja hoodies than he can count, but he just brought the one to make space for more cans.
He'll have every festival wristband he's ever gotten looped up his wrist, and despite your warnings about the potential hygiene issue this look entails, he won't ever hear you over his horror that you've 'never even been to Sziget, man.'
His ultimate goal is to one day make it to Burning Man, but for the time being he'll survive on the Irish festi vibes.
