#4 — The “Perfect” Eight

BEAUTY BEHOLDEN
Aug 25, 2017 · 4 min read

Wow, where to start with this incredible woman?! Firstly her attitude to her body is great; she’s been on either end of the spectrum and eventually found comfort having a healthy and sporty physique. Another point worth noting, is that she no longer compares herself to others, which is highly admirable. Secondly, her approach to her personal style is quite avant garde, and really bucks the conformity of mainstream fashion with her love of Vivienne Westwood. For me, it raises a lot of points worth addressing; why do we think women of a certain should dress a particular way? What is the environmental impact of throwaway fashion? With the advent of social media are we just adding to the dumbing down of individuality? One thing is for sure, I’d love to hang out with her on a Friday night! Who’s with me?!

  1. H0w has your body image changed over the years? It has changed massively. For the first time in my life (age 48) I actually feel good about myself. I was a bit chubby for much of my adult life and didn’t like my body, then in my early 40s I lost a lot of weight very quickly, started long distance running and got very skinny. I loved being able to wear styles of clothes that I had never been able to wear before but I still really struggled with body image and beat myself up over everything I ate and the tiniest roll of skin. Looking back I walked a fine line with having a real problem and I am very lucky that I never ended up with an eating disorder. Injury made me have to stop running so I took up the sport CrossFit, which has been a game changing for me. It is a very positive nurturing environment. I have put on weight, lots of muscle and feel fantastic. You don’t compare yourself to others, you just aim to be a better version of you every day. Being around people with that positive attitude has made all the difference.
  2. When do you feel at your best? Every Friday night my husband and I have date night and I make a real effort to dress up: clothes, heels, jewellery, the works, as if I was going out somewhere fancy. At the end of a physically hard week I always feel my best dressed up relaxing with a gin martini for an aperitif.
  3. What was your experience of feeling at your most beautiful? I’m sure a lot of women would say their wedding day but ours was very small and low key I never had my make up and hair done or had a special dress. I can’t actually think of an one occasion that stands out; I’ve managed to get myself to a place where I feel pretty good on a regular basis. I guess I’ll say every Friday when I shake up a martini and my husband runs through to watch my bum shake!
  4. Do you feel pressure to look a certain way? I used to when I was young, I think most people do, but my experience of getting older is that you stop caring a jot what other people think and it is glorious. I have developed a style in recent years that’s quite out there and I really enjoy pushing the envelope with it for my own amusement. One particular garish outfit my husband (who I have to say is wonderfully supportive of me being me) involuntarily shouted “Jesus wept!” when I came downstairs. How I laughed!
  5. How can we be more body positive? That is quite the question. I found it through CrossFit and the support of others. You have to surround yourself with positive people and be ruthless in cutting negativity from your life — be it family or friends. Refuse to be around people who bring you down or pick at you to make themselves feel better. Find the time to do something that makes you feel good and that you’re good at (not necessarily exercise). Concentrate on the good and try to let the bad go. It’s not easy, it can be a constant battle.
  6. With the advent of digital technology, do you worry about the pressures of social media on the younger generations? I think it must be incredibly difficult to be young now, much harder than when I was young. At every turn you are presented with the idea that you aren’t good enough — there are filters for photos, models being photoshopped, lip fillers, botox, teeth whitening, the list is endless. It must feel like the whole world is judging you and you are found wanting.
  7. Where are your favourite places to shop? My favourite shops are Vivienne Westwood, Irregular Choice and Nike (because you can never have enough gym kit).
  8. Who is your inspirational women idol, and why? Vivienne Westwood is a huge idol of mine. I am a big fan of the punk movement and she has been inspiring and creating amazing clothes for decades. She is also fearless in her pushing her environmental concerns to the forefront of her fashion campaigns. She wants to make a difference. Plus you can wear her clothes at any age and look amazing, and just that bit different from the rest of the crowd.

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