Fairlady February 2016

1 The ‘fat femme’ yoga lady http://jessamynstanley.com/ Jess started doing yoga to help herself get through depression, she told Cosmo. ‘You see someone who lives a yogic life and it’s like “Oh, be like me, my life is so perfect, I’m awesome, my face is glowing… I’m so cool”.’ But Jess thinks being cool is not what yoga’s about. ‘I’m like, “Actually, I’m just over here next to you eating cheese fries watching that person and also living a yogic life’’,’ she says. ‘We are on the same level. We are all in this together.’ 2 Dolce&Gabbana The Nail Lacquer Lover You can’t go wrong: great colour, great texture, long-wearing (I washed my dogs and it didn’t budge) – and it’s called ‘Lover’. Could it be more perfect for Valentine’s…

winning letter Fat Shaming I read the article ‘Why is Fat-Shaming an “Acceptable” Prejudice” (November 2015), with great interest. We have a tendency to associate skinny people with beauty and overlook plus-size people. Anyone can be beautiful, provided they feel it from within and dress for their body. It’s a pity that weight loss is considered more a beauty than a health issue. An overweight person needs to shed kilos to reduce the risk of heart disease and sugar diabetes. If she looks sexier in the process, that’s welcome, but it’s of secondary importance. We need to strive for inner beauty first. If you’re healthy and feel comfortable in your body, you’ll obviously become bright on the outside. This is real beauty. Looking smart on the outside while you’re sick…

RVB Laboratories has patented the revolutionary 51+3 HYALU COMPLEX™ which improves cellular communication, stimulating micro-circulation and metabolism to help skin detoxify, moisturise and regenerate itself better. RVB is eco-friendly, with certified production processes – even the packaging is made from paper produced from sustainable, responsibly managed forests. Now you can preserve your beauty and the environment with one responsible skincare range.…

What is an oud, you may well ask? Pronounced ‘ood’, it’s extremely expensive oil derived from evergreens native to South East Asia. The tree becomes infected by a specific mould, and in response produces a dark resin (the oud – also called black gold). It takes almost a year for this to happen, so you can see why oud is expensive and, of course, highly sought-after. You can’t be indifferent to an oud – the scent is so woody and heady, you’ll either love it or hate it. Here are a few of our favourite oud fragrances… Tip: Many oud scents are unisex. It’s the perfect excuse to splurge on one of these fragrances as you can share it with your significant other! (Hint: perfect Valentine’s Day gift!)…

1 LOCAL IS LOVER-LY Local lingerie label Nette Rose is definitely on our Valentine’s Day lust list! Each piece is delicately handmade in Cape Town. Designer Megan Miller says she wanted to ‘create a brand that celebrates the SA industry and supports local, remaining “intimate” in its nature’.www.netterose.co.za 2 PRETTY IN PINK American Swiss and Sterns have teamed up for the Precious Pink Project –they will donate R100 for every Precious Pink Tempo Watch and R50 for every Friendship Bracelet purchased towards WHEAT (Women’s Hope, Education and Training Trust). Many children are left in the care of women in the community while parents are at work. The WHEAT Trust aims to provide resources and training to help these women turn these informal playschools into Early Childhood Development Centres. Available at…

The Chinese New Year begins on 8 February 2016 and ends on 27 January 2017. This is the Year of the Monkey – and all of us are influenced by its lively, adventurous energy for the next 12 months. The Chinese use 12 animals to define the personalities of people born under them – much as we’re categorised by our star sign, which is determined by the day of our birth. Your Chinese animal sign is affected in a particular way by the Year of the Monkey. Check the table to work out your sign, remembering that the Chinese New Year starts on a different date every year, so if you were born in January or February, you might fall under the previous year’s animal sign. The Monkey vibe is…