I've spent more years than I care to imagine working out how to love my reflection. It might sound strange to anyone who doesn't identify as a woman, or wasn't raised as female, but the constant stream of messages we receive about how our appearance is the most important thing about us takes a certain... Continue Reading →
Like a lot of young women in their teens and twenties, I grew up feeling very uncomfortable in my own body. By most "standards" I was too big - my thighs were too fat, my arms were too chubby and my boobs were definitely too enormous to be considered desirable. I was an early bloomer... Continue Reading →
For a while, I didn't really 'get' Instagram. I've been addicted to Twitter since 2008 and it suits my propensity for sharing snippets of sarcasm rather well. It's a lot like my blog used to be, but with a much lower character limit. I've whined about every update they've made to how Twitter works but,... Continue Reading →
About eight years ago now, as a university graduate wet behind the years, I stumbled upon the burlesque scene in Scotland: a Ministry of Burlesque performance in Edinburgh, as it happened. From there, my long-term love of burlesque - and corsetry/costuming - was born. At the same time, I also found myself in the lucky... Continue Reading →
I have many books to read right now - from those which are helping with my research, to some sent to me for reviewing on this blog - but I'm not getting as much time as I'd like to fully tackle the vast majority of them. I have had more success with Frances Corner's book... Continue Reading →
Back in February, I wrote about the upcoming Kiss Me Deadly catwalk show. I was very much looking forward to seeing the wonderfully diverse selection of superfans that the brand had chosen to show off their current and future lingerie and swimwear styles, and planned to attend with two lovely friends. It turned out that... Continue Reading →
Having sex when you're fat is not an urban myth. There's nothing shocking or disturbing about it. But when you are the fat person having or trying to have the sex it can sometimes feel like it is a taboo manoeuvre. Let's be honest, fat bodies getting fucked are not ever going to be the... Continue Reading →
Blackbird Underpinnings describe themselves as having a fresh approach to intimate apparel. They got in touch with me because they thought their ethos of confidence, self-expression and authenticity was something that would appeal to the readers of Rarely Wears Lipstick, and I think they might be right. This interesting new lingerie and loungewear company are... Continue Reading →
I was asked recently about how to develop a positive body image. The biggest problem with body confidence is that most people think it starts with the mirror, but it actually begins in the mind. You have to get to that point where you love what you have. It's not necessary to look in the... Continue Reading →
I am exposed to billboard advertising every day on my daily commute, magazine ads every week in Shortlist and Stylist, plus banner advertising online and glossy cinema ads too. I skip the ads at the beginning of some YouTube videos as soon as I can, but there's little else you can do to avoid this... Continue Reading →