Having a little long hair moment. Today we see the side parting, with bed waves (i.e getting up and not brushing your hair). I'm finding these culottes a really easy-to-wear piece of clothing, with something simple on top. Looks good with a suit jacket too. I got them from topshop, and I don't know whether to buy the other pair online, or to copy the pattern and make myself a pair on the cheap. I'm constantly in awe of Kirsty from Fatty Unbound's dress making skills, so yeah, having discovered the unlimited amount of choice to be found in London regarding fabric, it seems such a shame not to take advantage!
So tonight it's Manchester's Slut walk, and tomorrow will be the London incarnation. As most of you will be aware, Slut walks have been happening up and down the U.S and have now made their way to the U.K too. A lot of people, men and women alike, are struggling to comprehend why anyone would try and reclaim a word like "Slut" which is steeped long enough in history with the meaning of a slovenly woman, fallen or otherwise, but definitely not one to be regarded as respectable. Some say it's an ugly word, some women are proud to proclaim themselves one. I on the other hand feel that the Slut walks, are more than about re-appropriating a word that was used in Shakespearian English, and less about the implication that dressing like one (it's debatable on what this actually constitutes) could be the precursor for a person to raped. In my eyes, Slut walks are about saying, shouting, screaming that you can't tell anyone what to wear, because whatever women wear, rape will always happen. All over the world.
Whether it's a niqab, mini skirt, maxi dress, sari, bikini whatever... women and men have the right to wear what they wish and not be abused. Looking sexy, isn't a crime. Rape is. And the attitude towards women who wear a short skirt, high heels or low cut top – or a combination of all three – as being one who is out there asking for an invitation to sex. Well it might well be, as much as I am not an advocate for revealing all, there is nothing shameful in being proud of your body and wanting to show it off, and to happily want to have sex with multiple partners. Just as there is no shame in covering up. The girls may be dressing up like dolled up peacocks, but that doesn't mean she is putting herself out there as a signal for rape, that somehow she was always asking for sex, so it doesn't matter. No means no, just as yes means yes. The attitude of, if you look like a slut, you're asking to be raped, is an insult to women, men and children who are raped, the world over, despite this. So the Slut Walk to me, is about the freedom to dress as one wishes to, slut or not and to raise the point that women don't get raped because of what they wear, rape is about domination, power, not really ever about sex itself. And can I add, the culture of accepting violence towards to the woman who looks like a slut, is presumed by default a reference to sex workers, and infers the argument that sex workers deserved to be raped. Which is not on. There is nothing wrong with female sexuality, or the right to be safe at work.
This is just before I went out, thought I'd add it to the post, showing the outfit with the coat!
Sorry for the Stevie overdose... I've just had this song in my head all week!
