Anna Wintour doesn’t give many interviews and has always been something of a fashion enigma. Which is why we absolutely love this amazing video where she is asked 73 questions whilst going about her business. She talks about Brooklyn, the Rumors, and the One Thing She Will Never Wear. Her favourite comedian might also surprise you but let’s just say, go Britain!
What did you think?
Six months old
Dillon was six months old on Monday the 3rd October 2011. A lot has happened in this first six months including his christening , baby swimming classes, health centre visits and weigh ins, the
dog eating the midwifes shoes, the whole experience of giving birth, going to University, starting my website http://www.femalearts.com, being off work, weaning the baby, his milestones including Dillon getting his first baby teeth, sitting up, rolling around on the floor, playing with his feet, smiling and laughing and interacting with objects and people.
I’d like to thank Catherine Balavage at Frost Magazine for offering me this blank canvas to write about Dillon. I wanted to document these moments so that in the future I can look back (hopefully Dillon will also read it) and have a record of this wonderful, life changing time.
It’s been a brilliant six months but it’s also been tiring, stressful and a lot of hard work. I’ve said in my diary about how the baby is progressing, the goods, toys and clothes we have bought for him, what activities he is enjoying and how he’s developing but I don’t think I’ve said so much about my feelings. The following topics have been on my mind recently…
Men with babies
Recently there has been a couple of TV Doctors with babies – Doc Martin has a baby, James Cordon was left holding the baby in Doctor Who – portraying what it feels like for the dad to be the primary carer –the Doctor Who story was about panic and fluster with the conclusion that dads
are actually protective loving individuals and the mums are competent women who make lists and mother both their partner and baby.
Nothing is that clear cut and I’m not sure there is a big gender difference in the way we are parents, it may just boil down to the amount of physical time spent with the baby = the more you know them = the more competent you become at dealing with them.
The only thing that aggravates me with stories on TV about dads coping alone with babies is that there aren’t an equivalent number of stories about mums coping alone with babies. Because it isn’t all confident list making and natural mothering instincts, it’s often panic, confusion, stress,
isolation and guilt.
Isolation
It’s lonely being a stay at home mum. Even though it is through choice I miss chatting to colleagues, I miss talking to my husband, I miss my family, and I miss my friends. Having another adult in the house during the day (e.g. when relatives have come to stay and at the weekend when the baby’s dad is at home) makes so much difference to my life. All the bags of stuff needed
to carry around for the baby, all the preparation that’s needed before I can leave the house, all the attention and love and care that Dillon needs – is so much easier when it’s shared.
Recently I have realised I need to make more of an effort to see my friends – especially friends who are available in the daytime. Getting out daily with the dog and the baby for walks and taking baby to classes or shopping is something but it’s not the same as being with people who know and care about me, who I can have a proper conversation with.
I can see why going back to work begins to look appealing because you can start to be yourself again and have adult interaction without constantly thinking about the baby’s needs and their safety. But employment means childcare. Which brings me onto my next subject – guilt.
Guilt
As a parent there is one thing you can be certain of – a steady almost constant feeling of guilt. I think it stems from conflict between personal needs/wants and that of your child. My current guilty feelings are – guilt for using formula, guilt for starting weaning before six months, guilt for not weaning successfully, guilt for not establishing a pattern (of eating/sleeping), guilt for trying to establish a pattern, guilt for not living up to other people’s parenting expectations, guilt for not
returning to work yet, guilt for arranging childcare, guilt for doing my master’s degree, guilt for not being sure, guilt over baby’s eczema not clearing up, guilt for letting the dog spend time with baby, guilt for separating dog from baby, guilt for daily dressing of baby in babygro’s in attempt to stop skin contact with whatever is causing the eczema, guilt for not taking enough photos of baby, guilt for not posting all the thank you cards yet, guilt for not buying enough things for baby, guilt for spending so much money, guilt for wanting my boobs back, guilt that he cries a lot, guilt whenever I let him cry before going to him, guilt that I’m spending time writing this!
There’s too much guilt, worry, anxiety and the only consolation is the thought that other people may be feeling the same way.
Self-Medication
One of the best ways to cope is summed up with a quote from my friend BenJohn’s facebook update.
“Youngsters, you probably think booze is for enjoying and having fun. Let me assure you it is a medicine for those with children to let them relax in the gaps when they’re asleep.”
© Wendy Thomson 2011
Wendy Thomson is the editor of www.femalearts.com an online publication which promotes women in the arts and in business.
Glamour has Amanda Seyfried on the cover. She gives a refreshing interview inside. She reveals: “British guys are definitely funnier than American guys.”
It is Glamour’s Men Issue and they have 25 pages of men
In the Dos and Don’ts, Jimmy Choo re-release their greatest hits, men in uggs, ipad covers, Lucy Liu becomes an artist and Prince William is heading the fund-raising to help homelessness, Diesel clothes, Children in Need turns 31!,
Louise Mensch tells Glamour readers how to succeed in a man’s world. Louise is inspirational and she gives good advice.
What a man is thinking on the first date, work habits that are making you sick, Career tips from jewellery entrepreneur Jessica Herrin, Food versus Exercise; which is better for you? , Is being single making you broke?, How to be single, are you in drinking denial?, Celebrity tenants. You won’t want one after reading the article, Your right to abortion (a very good article, laws are being passed quietly all of the time to take away women’s rights),
50 Sexiest Men: Robert Pattinson takes the top spot again, Taylor Lautner is second.
Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Matt Smith, Ashton Kutcher, Justin Timberlake, Darren Criss, Prince Harry, Zac Efron are also on the list.
Katherine Jenkins tells of the friend, Polly Noble’s, battle with cancer. A very inspirational story. Polly has a book out, The Cancer Journey, that I think will be brilliant after reading the article.
What a man wants in bed.
James Cordon protests that men have feelings too, and he’s right. Well written.
Gabrielle Bernstein gives her happiness guide.
Arianna Huffington has written a brilliant and informative article on the economical climate, explains what happened and if we will recover.
Steve Jones is interviewed by Celia Walden in the lunch date feature.
The rise in broody men.
Guillaume Henry tells Glamour readers how to get Parisian chic.
Julia Restoin-Roitfeld’s celebrity look book.
Bad beauty habits to kick.
Five reasons to love Emma Stone.
The truth about your lady parts: everything you want to know about your vagina.
Charlotte Ronson shows Glamour around her home.
Tatler has Isabel Lucas on the cover, and an interview with her inside.
Anna Dello Russo talks front row fashion.
Frida Giannini, Gucci creative director, gives Tatler her mood board.
Emily Blunt’s brother Sebastian joins the family business.
Sam Leith shows how not to make a speech.
There is an amusing article on fancy dress parties, and lots of pictures, Marc Jacobs dressed as a pig? Why not.
David Sedaris interview.
Super Tutors to the rescue, if you have the money, get the best with Tatler’s guide.
The wonderful Francis Wheen writes about Private Eye’s 50th anniversary, and to the next 50!
Gallerist Maureen Paley.
School pranks.
Camel Racing.
The richest man in Britain: Alisher Usmanov.
The worrying trend of parents taking drugs with their kids. Jeez….
Keith Vaz profile.
Emma Freud’s technology reviews.
Jonathan Yeo interview.
An editorial on Britain’s funniest comedians. Al Murray in the nude (!), Laura Solon, Tim Key, David Armand, Rufus Hound, Miles Jupp, Lucy Porter, Jack Whitehall, Greg Davies (as Christine Keeler, so funny).
How to keep your money safe. Clue: buy gold.
Dynasties of Dynasties: A profile of the Rothschild dynasty.
How to sleep better.
The virtues of Crème de la Mer.
Tatler homes: Scotland’s Linzee Gordon’s.
Ralph Lauren interview.
Solange Azagury-Partridge tells Tatler what she loves.
Ciara Parkes travels to Botswana.
Rosamund Pike is on the cover of Instyle, she is interviewed inside and says: “I find award ceremonies so often the low point – people delivering trite lines in a pretentious manner”.
Sexy perfume adverts.
Nicole Roberts gives her Style IQ
The wonderful world of Christian Louboutin.
15 minutes with Diana von Furstenberg
Chloe Sevigny’s fashion genius.
You can tell people are tightening their purse strings as Instyle – and other magazines- are giving advice on how to do things on the cheap or by yourself. In the ‘your look’ section they tell you how to fake a facial, become your own hairstylist, make your own jewellery.
How to stay original when people keep buying the same clothes as you.
Instyle sits down with Gucci’s Frida Giannini to celebrate Gucci’s 90th birthday.
Jessica Chastain models and is interviewed.
Inside the Kardashian sister’s wardrobes. Envy alert!
How to wear a hat.
Olivia Wilde is this month’s beauty crush.
Downton Abbey star Jessica Brown Findlay models evening make up and there is 10 things you need to know about Jessica.
Narciso Rodriguez, Michael Kors, Tamara Mellon, Oscar De La Renta tell Instyle on the inspiration behind their perfume.
Jessica Alba, up close.
Dita Von Teese goes to the Maldives so we don’t have to. Sob.
Melissa Odabash tells Instyle what she packs for her holidays.
Diane Birch shows Instyle the contents of the bag.
This Month’s Magazines; September: Adele Takes Vogue Cover, Angelina Jolie Takes Vanity fair.
This month’s magazines are a bloody good read. It has taken me hours to get through them, here is my monthly round-up.
[Note: Magazines are published a month in advance, so September’s magazines are actually October.]
On the cover of British Vogue is the beautiful and gifted Adele is breaking boundaries and stereotypes. Glamour magazine previously had her on the cover. There is a good interview with Adele inside where she states that: “I’ve seen people who want to be thinner or have bigger boobs, how it wears them down- I don’t want that in my life”.
There is an article on legendary designer Azzedine Alaia and Silvia Fendi. Christa D’Souza writes about crying and Alexandra Tolstoy writes about finding the right couture for the Royal Wedding,
Good articles on David Hockney and Ceclia Birtwell’s collaboration and a good Lara Stone editorial.
There is a now infamous interview with Wendi Murdoch, where she revealed that Tony Blair is godfather to one of her and Rupert’s daughters. The interview gives a good snapshot of a women who rarely gives interviews, and clears up some of the rumours about her.
Vogue has a special on the English women and her style. Of course, Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge features, so does Diana Athill, the England Cricket Team, Amy Childs, Jane Birkin, Tacita Dean, Felicity Jones, Julia Sarr-Jamois, Florence BB (Brudenell-Bruce, Prince Harry’s ex).
Also: how to get ride of freckles and lots of Autumn clothing.
Vanity Fair has one of my favourite actresses on the cover, Angelina Jolie. Jolie interviews well and talks about her directorial debut, In The Land of Milk and Honey. She also wrote the screenplay. Jolie says: ‘I have never felt so exposed. My whole career, I’ve hidden behind other people’s words.”. She also says that she is ‘not pregnant, I’m not adopting…[there’s] no secret wedding.” and says that she doesn’t really watch films and falls asleep watching them; “There is some of my own I have never seen.”
There is a interview with Scott Schuman and Garance Dore of the Sartorialist show Vanity Fair their cool stuff, Elizabeth Olsen and Jane Lynch are interviewed in the Vanities section, There is articles on Comic-Con, the News Corp/Murdoch Hacking Scandal, Vivi Nevo, The 2011 New Establishment is a brilliant annual list and is very interesting reading this year; lots of change.
Conrad Black talks about his experience of being in prison, the amazing Joan Didion has written another book, this one on the death of her daughter, there is a very good article on publishing, China and Ernest Hemingway.
Tatler have Zara Phillips on the cover and a post-wedding interview. She denies that the Duke of Cambridge sang Bon Jovi records at her wedding reception and talks of her love of horses.
Angela Missoni gives her mood board (design influences), Morth models watches (yes, really), The Serpentine Summer Party is covered – with lots of pictures, there is an article on the ‘thinking girl’s crumpet; Nouriel Roubini and Alain De Botton feature on it, Balthazar Fabricius talks about launching bookies Fitzdares and being in debt to Zac Goldsmith to the tune of £50,000.
Film producer Stephen Evans is interviewed, and riders are photographed with their favourite horses. Elon Musk and Talulah Riley talk of their love, One Direction are interviewed (weird choice for Tatler) How the Rich stay safe bodyguards and mercenaries apparently) and how to clear up bad skin. Tatler also comes with their annual Schools Guide.
Glamour has Britney Spears on the cover and a comeback interview inside.
Lara Stone is interviewed, there is article on the horrendous London riots, how to tweet proof your career, how Cameron Diaz gets her body, the Truth about Fashion Week, a message to the Norway victims from a Columbine survivor, there is a big section on dating and finding love, Rob Brydon interview, the Downtown Abbey girl’s are interviewed; as are the Made in Chelsea and The Only way is Essex girl’s and Sofia Vergara.
Orlando Bloom, James Cordon, Matthew Macfayden, Luke Evans, Taylor Lautner are also interviewed in the TV special.
The new style bloggers are interviewed, stars give their beauty secrets, Eddie Campbell and a good article on when it is the right time to have a baby.
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GEORGE MICHAEL RELEASES NEW SINGLE ‘TRUE FAITH’ FOR COMIC RELIEF
“Over the years, George has been the most tremendous supporter of Comic Relief. Out of the blue one year he gave us all the cash from the release of ‘As’, his single with Mary J Blige. Then he did a brilliant Little Britain ‘Lou and Andy’ sketch – which ended with the inevitable insult slung at him – “I don’t like him.” But most excitingly, he’s giving Comic Relief all the money from his new single, ‘True Faith’. It’s always so moving when people stick with us year after year – and we’re thrilled and delighted about the song, and the wonderful video that goes with it. We promise we’ll use every penny we make from it to save and change lives in Africa and all over the UK.” – RICHARD CURTIS
‘True Faith’ arranged and produced by George Michael was a hit for New Order in 1987 and was written by, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Hague who have also very kindly donated their proceeds to Comic Relief along with the publishers’ mechanical royalties.
The single, released through Aegean Records via Absolute Marketing & Distribution / Universal, will be available digitally on the 13th March and physically on the 14th March; both will also include an instrumental version of the track as a b-side. At 12:01am on March 19th – after the ‘True Faith’ official music video has been premiered for Comic Relief – the single and video will be available for purchase as a bundle exclusively through iTunes.
Red Nose Day is on Friday 18th March, go to www.rednoseday.com to find out more. Comic Relief spends all the money raised by the public to give extremely poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa a helping hand to turn their lives around.
To stay up-to-date with George Michael news, visit his official website at GeorgeMichael.com or become a fan at Facebook.com/GeorgeMichael