Kate Moss x Stella McCartney = Great Things
Great people. Doing great things. For great causes. We love it.
Welcome to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Spicing up the UN
We have always loved Victoria Beckham and her sharp, tailored clothing. We have also admired her malleability. She transformed personality like no other. The tuneless Spice Girl providing the soundtrack to the 90's with her limited vocal abilities, managed to manipulate herself into one of the world's most respected fashion designers.
She has now taken on a new role, that of UN Goodwill Ambassador for their AIDs campaign, and we wonder with eager anticipation whether she will succeed so dramatically in this field, too.
More importantly, we now have a wonderful excuse to feature her clothing in our blog. And we are so excited to do so.
Fashionable Giving
New York, London, now Milan and next week, Paris. Fashion Weeks are taking over the major capitals of the world. Fashion shows, parties, endless opportunities to see and be seen. Last night saw arguably the most glamorous of them all. The AmFAR Gala took place in Milan, with the best of the best clambering for invites, and then showing off their presence with thousands of instagram posts and tweets. THIS was the event they were proud to be seen at.
Why so? Because it was not only the most enticingly-glamorous event of them all, but it was directed by a social conscience. The Foundation of Aids Research brought them all - supermodels, Victoria's Secret Angels, Hollywood icons and social royalty - together to raise money and awareness for the vital cause. They were there to have fun. They were there to cement their status. More importantly, they were there to do good. If only all charity events would have the social standing that AmFAR epitomises.
See you there next year... we wish.
It's All About Rosie
Rosie Huntingon-Whitely is one of the most beautiful girls on the planet. She is kind and intelligent, too. So when she does something, it shoots straight to the front pages of the press and sits there sparkling, for all the world to gaze upon. And believe us, they do.
Which is why her visit to Cambodia has been so useful for UNICEF. There this week to film a segment for Soccer Aid, the model/ actress has been instagramming pictures to her 1.4 million+ followers and gracing the headlines of the Daily Mail Online, the world's most read web page. The girl who is given huge sums to flaunt the likes of some of the world's biggest brands, including Burberry, is now promoting another: UNICEF. The centrepiece? The plight of Cambodia's children.
So this is all good, jolly and productive, right? Wrong. For if one glazes over comments left under the articles which brandish pictures of her blowing kisses with these suffering children, another image begins to appear: one of scepticism, and jealousy.
'She's not Mother Theresa' bursts one, among shells of 'Her shoes cost more than they make in a lifetime'. This may be true, but does that mean Rosie should keep well away from the disadvantaged, and stay safe and cosy in her LA stomping ground? Does this mean that the rich philanthropists of the world should stop associating themselves with those they help, and focus on their Rolls Royces and Chelsea townhouses? Or maybe, we should all stop buying nice things, and give all our money to charity.
For this, effectively, is what the commentators are suggesting. That promoting the disadvantaged is nothing more than a publicity tool, that those 'with' are not entitled to help those 'without'. Nothing makes us at The Society HQ more angry. People shouldn't be guilty for what they have, but should use it to the advantage of others. Which is exactly what Rosie, and celebrities like her, are doing. She has the ability to catch the eye of millions worldwide - so why not bring the plight of Cambodian children with her?
That is what doing good means. The age-old question of whether there is such thing as 'true altruism' is brought to the forefront, but should one care? Rosie has probably got 10,000 more followers on Instagram as a result of her current trip. But does that devalue what those 10,000+ will do with their newly-acquired knowledge of Cambodian poverty? No.
So we ask those commentators, and observers, and sceptics, to get off their high horses. The comments are so unbelievable that it is hard to imagine them not being tainted by something as blinding as jealousy. About looks, about money, about lifestyle.
There are always rewards for doing good, not least the satisfaction of knowing that one has helped someone. As we always say, there is nothing better than making someone smile.
Who cares what we get along the way? It's what we give that matters.
Cara's Kisses
Our friend Cara has been making headlines yet again this week, but not for any fashion related business. This time, she has actually managed to get the plight of PETA to the front pages. Her crime? Kissing the head of a tiger. A gorgeous cub named Louise. Apparently, because the tiger was older than the 'legal' age of such intimate contact with humans, Louise could have easily killed Delevigne and her companions. Goodness, we knew sexual relations were controversial, but not dangerous. Hmm.
There were other reasons that this escapade made headlines, with the ranch owner having had his exhibiting license revoked in 2001. Obviously, this is something to be reprimanded as completely and utterly irresponsible. But we ask. Is this the sort of animal rights malarky that should be making headlines? Yes, more people now know that PETA exist, but not what they do or why. Why aren't the poor rhinos and elephants, who are being poached left, right and centre, given as much airtime and Louise's love life? Why don't people seem to care as much about the poor dogs and cats of Battersea Dogs Home? It's local, so it can't be that bad, right?
Cara, if you have enough power to let the world know a tiger's legal age limit, go to a game reserve in Africa and let people know about what really happens to the elephants who splash each other gaily with water for all safari-goers and Attenborough-viewers to see. Or better yet, get your backside across the river, my dear, and go and frolic with some puppies.