Category Archives: Dates

Hide And Go Seek

Picture the scene: you’re alone in a room that isn’t your own. You know that you have 20 or so minutes entirely to yourself. A computer is open in front of you. There are notebooks and scraps of paper everywhere. There are drawers and cupboards begging to be opened. What do you do? What I [...]

Also posted in Not So Sexy Times | Leave a comment

Last Night A Speed Date Saved My Life

There is a rite of passage all people who write about dating must go through. A harrowing spectacle which only the strongest will survive. A show of strength, skill, and wit beyond measure. That’s right reader: I went speed dating. The plan initially was to go with a friend and my housemate, and spend the [...]

Posted in Dates | Leave a comment

A Day In The Life of E. Jean Carroll

E. Jean Carroll is a dating coach and Elle’s agony Aunt. She writes the longest, currently-running advice column in American publishing. She is also fucking awesome. There are mornings when the world seems full of joy and laughter. A child’s voice from the fire escape above, the sun shining just so through a half pulled damask curtain. Today is not [...]

Also posted in Off Topic | Leave a comment

Everyone You’ve Ever Slept With

Apparently somewhere in the world there are men who like their women to be virgins. Though I’ve never met any of these men myself, I can in a way see their reasoning. When you date someone they bring their whole world with them, a cavalcade of one night stands, drunken fumbles, and obsessive crushes, not [...]

Also posted in Multiple Dating, Not So Sexy Times, Relationships | 2 Comments

Why Don Draper Is My Spirit Animal.

Last night I got stood up. Sparing you the boring details, it meant I found myself in East London, in a pair of platforms and a nice blouse, seething with anger at about 11pm, and with no-one to take it out on. At first I thought I would walk it off, which is my normal [...]

Also posted in Not So Sexy Times, Relationships | 3 Comments

Fuck Valentine’s Day.

Seriously. Fuck it. If you need a Clinton Cards sponsored day to tell someone else you love them then there’s something wrong with you. Buy your flowers, trinkets, heart shaped caramel centred chocolates, and engagement rings all you want – you’re being held down by the man and his bullshit! Look there’s only two ways [...]

Also posted in Relationships, Sexy Times | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My Worst Date Ever: Redux

Last time I wrote a ‘Worst Date Ever‘ post I really did think that I had never had such a terrible time before or since, but on reflection I think that I’ve had a few shitty dates that could contend with that title, although at least one of them is my own fault: after all [...]

Also posted in Not So Sexy Times | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

5 People You’ll Hate Yourself For Dating

5. The one who won’t get away Problem: They called and called, you ignored them over and over again. There were times you had the opportunity to kiss each other, but you decided it was a bad move. Their teeth stink and their hair is greasy but they’re just so sweet and they really really [...]

Also posted in Advice, Not So Sexy Times, Online Dating, Relationships, Sexy Times | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Your Boyfriend Is (Sadly) Not A Toy

I fucking love the idea of matchy matchy dressing with my boyfriend. In fact it’s something I try to trick him into doing regularly, but he’s yet to fall for it and was rather annoyed with me when we left his house last weekend in almost matching scarves. I, conversely, punched the air with glee.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t want us to look like creepy twins, or like that couple who wear one red one green Converse each that Alexander Fury keeps seeing in Tesco, but there’s something fun and ridiculous about being part of a secret gang of sorts who wear the same clothes and do the same shit. I love secret gangs: I used to wish when I didn’t have anyone to ride my bike with that I could get a whole gang of friends and dress them up in leather jackets, then we’d ride around and maybe find a secret island like in Swallows and Amazons, and hang out there for the afternoon. Come on! Who doesn’t want a secret gang? Handshakes and haircuts, secret words and songs, imagine it!

If you think about it being in a relationship with someone is a bit like being in a secret gang as long as you do it right. The best things about secret gangs are how everything cool you do is exclusive and under wraps. So if you and your boyfriend call each other pet names, or have private jokes, it becomes 100000000% less cool and fun when you say them in front of people. This goes double for dressing up. While Halloween is the one day of the year this advice/rule/whatever can take a hike, I want you first to look at Dough Reinhardt’s face and think twice before you dress as the tooth fairy and a… ummm…. depressed molar?

I find that most people and pets find being dressed up like an amusing toy incredibly humiliating no matter how much I’m, er I mean, you’re enjoying it which is a damned shame. Although, duh, your boyfriend isn’t a toy some days it would really be a lot better if he just let you do his mascara, draw a glitter lightning bolt on his face, and squeeze into some co-ordinating platforms, because then the two of you could act out some sweet as fuck Bay City Rollers videos. Or you could wear matching suits and pretend to be city boys. Or put on wigs and pretend to be Lady Gaga and her reflection. The possibilities are ENDLESS.

Just remember the secret gang’s rule: keep it indoors, because then no-one can laugh at you.

Pictures from Fuck Yeah Cute, I Love Pugs, and Jezebel

Also posted in Fashion, Outfits, Relationships | 1 Comment

Make It A Date: Nana by Emile Zola

I was 9 years old when I first read Nana. I was on holiday and had run out of books, so picked up the novel my Dad had just done with and tucked in. On first read I fell in love with the childish, impulsive, somewhat cruel, Nana and the heady perfume of her theatrical world. My first encounter with her was as she walked out onto the stage almost naked for her theatre debut at the tender age of 15. The hush of the crowd followed me through the book as Nana fucked, fought, and froliced with almost every male who run across her path. While she can hardly be considered to be a heroine in the heroic sense, and Zola is often at pains to point out how ignorant or immature she is, the sheer determination to make someone of herself is leaves its mark on even the hardest heart.

At the age of 9 I could hardly understand the not so subtle sexual tone of the book, but I loved Nana for bucking the system in every way she could, and having a bed surrounded by blue drapes and carved cherubs. Now, having read the book countless more times I love her pig headedness, her sharp tongue, and her girlish gaudiness. Had she been moved from the 1800s to now, I’d like to think her look would be perfect for any hopeful cocotte.

Nana

While Nana is a courtesan and proud of it she is always anxious to distance herself from the street walking friends she once had in looks as well as attitude. So while her taste runs to gaudy, (and what can be gaudier than D&G?) she is also effortlessly chic in that sickeningly Parisian way that I can only dream of. The main effect of a Nana-esque look should be a polished exterior concealing the minx within. Or rather as Henry James said: “instead of saying of Nana that it contains a great deal of filth, we should simply say of it that it contains a great deal of nature.” and you can’t go wrong when you act natural…

Further reading:
Wikipedia
Amazon


Also posted in Fashion, Make It A Date | 1 Comment