French Government Ban Super Thin Models

I have always advocated a change in the way society views body sizes, especially in high fashion (see my Tess Munster post here), but honestly, it's been a slow process to get where we are today.

France is a trailblazer in the world of high fashion and runway shows, and in the aftermath of Paris fashion week, the French government have passed a law that states bans the use and activity of any model under what is regarded as a safe BMI by the French health authorities. Iran have also passed a similar law, however, after seeing such a huge impact in the country that is home to one of the fashion capitals of the world, we should see some swift movements from other countries.

This law came around due to the pressure that is put on younger people and even children to look like the super skinny models that they see on catwalks, in magazines and on billboards. There are only a handful of people who know what the photo editing process entails, but it is not pretty, honestly, I find it quite frightening that someone sat behind a computer screen can alter an image to create what will become a completely unrealistic goal image that some young people will strive for.

The only way to get themselves to that state; an eating disorder. Another reason France has banned the use of super-skinny models is due to the increase in eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia which are becoming more and more common in our modern day society. Since the 1980s, cases of eating disorders like these have sky rocketed, coincidentally, this is the same time that images of models appeared to be getting sickeningly thin.

What do I hope will happen after this? Honestly, I hope the rest of the world follow suit, especially the countries that shape the high fashion industry such as Britain, Italy and the USA. This will hopefully provide a healthier set of role models for children and young people who aspire to become models, and will protect the models who are currently working in the industry from being told they cannot work unless they reach a certain size.

I think the most important lesson to be learnt, however, is to love your own body and the skin you are in, the fashion industry constantly changes their definition of perfect, but you will only ever have one, strive for your own perception of beauty to find true happiness.

Photo Sources:

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03236/Skinny_models_1_3236151b.jpg

https://edanafashion.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/plus-size-models-4.jpg

Be Happy Doing The Daily Grind

It's so important that you're happy in your job. Unhappiness in work leads to stress, mental health issues and let's face it, bad work. I've had a few friends recently question the job they are in, and if it is right for them, and I think there are a lot more people out there during this time of year who are starting to question why they do what they do. Here's the advice I gave to my friends:

1. Make Sure You're In The Right Job

This sounds like one of those things that's easier said than done, but if you really hate your job, start looking elsewhere. If your job doesn't use the skills you have, either naturally or learnt through school and previous work, you need to start looking for something else. There will be a company out there who is looking for your exact skill set, all you need to do is find each other.

Don't leave your current job without having something else planned out and waiting for you. I can't stress that enough, just hold on until you find something new. It's better to have a job you hate than no job at all.

2. Challenge Yourself

Are your deadlines so far away that you feel you can just sit and relax all day? Change your deadlines yourself to meet your own targets. Your manager will notice this and start setting more challenging and complicated work that you will receive more praise for as you will have demonstrated how hard you can actually work.

If you don't challenge yourself, your work will get easier and easier and it has been found that having too little work to do can cause just as much stress as having all of the work.

3. Stick It Out

If you're new to a role and you feel it just isn't working for you, keep trying at it. The longer you are with a company, the more they will trust you and value you as an employee, so your working life will improve. You'll learn, get to know the people you work with and really get to grips with the work you are doing. If it still isn't working out after a few months, then you can consider a change.

The right job is out there for everyone, it's just sometimes it's too difficult to find. If you can't find the right job, why not make your own? Freelancing, contracting and even becoming a business owner are becoming easier with grants, support networks and companies designed to help you along the way.

Try something new, it might just be the thing that makes you.

Picture Sources:

http://media.tumblr.com/16d095e90e386799abfb598160a6edec/tumblr_inline_mo1evtqHdt1qz4rgp.gif

http://25.media.tumblr.com/28e94553357c966914b12cefaa545bd1/tumblr_myh0a6y4rX1sqdjd0o1_500.gif

http://i.imgur.com/12LDC63.jpg

http://mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-Office.gif

A Little Bit Of Very Big News

Okay, okay, let's all just calm down for a second.

I am starting a new blog. But wait! Before you leave! I'll still be running Offbeat, my love for writing has come back because of this blog and the posts on the new blog will be as and when the opportunities come through.

The new blog will be a music-orientated blog about all things rock, punk, pop punk, indie, alternative, maybe even some dance and pop etc thrown in from time to time.

I attended the Social Media Conference in Manchester before Christmas and I got talking to a guy (funnily enough I think his name was Guy) and he had gotten into his job in social media through interviewing some really high profile bands just as a blogger. He had met My Chemical Romance, Panic! At The Disco, basically loads of people I love and I got rather excited.

After some deep thinking and not being able to concentrate in work, I decided I need to be able to do this myself. After a few texts with my amazing best friend (who is now weirdly my assistant) we have decided to go on a new journey, open up a lot of new doors and work on this new project together so I don't have to leave Offbeat behind.

The posts will be coming back, I promise. Blog neglect is wrong and I need to up my game, so I'll be writing more content than ever over the next couple of weeks.

I hope you can all get behind this new project and maybe even suggest a few names for me? I'm flagging!

Thanks guys, I love you all, and have a great anti-Valentine's today!

New Year, Same Me?

Every year since I was younger, I vowed I was going to change at least one aspect of myself in the new year. Whether this was a new style, a new regime, or a new look at life, I always changed something. But this year, something has changed.

The first time I remember saying 'new year, new me', I was around 8 years old. I was shopping with my Aunt for Christmas presents and she let me pick out a top from a small boutique. As I was clutching the pale blue t-shirt that shouldn't have been allowed anywhere near a chubby kid, I announced that in the new year, I was going to change and wear nicer clothes. Yes, I suppose that's where y love of clothes came from and if it wasn't for that moment I would still be wearing pedal pushers and jelly shoes. But my point is, it may not be a bad thing to change.

This is not me putting down anyone who wants to change a certain thing about themselves. In all honesty, go for it! The reason I am choosing to stay the same in 2015 is because I feel I am content with everything I currently have and do. I have great friends, I like the way I dress, I am happy in my job, I enjoy my out of work activities, I'm quite satisfied with my current situation.

However, this is not to say I will not change within the year. The new year is just a change of a date. Yes, it's a big change, however, if we take this down to a smaller scale, you could change yourself every day. If you want to change something, don't wait until the new year, don;t come up with an excuse, take the leap and do it.

Happy 2015 to all of my readers, let's hope it's an awesome year.

Emily x

Picture source: http://circlesconference.com/2015/images/2015.png