W
ith the news last week that even So how does this swishing business work? I once had the dreaded task of fishing Instead of heading to the high street,
Sarah Brown, wife to the most Well, step one is to rummage through the through a mountain of clothes to find try swapping with your friends, you’ll be
powerful man in the country has resorted bottomless pit that is your wardrobe until something that was a) tragic enough that amazed at how many little gems people
to second hand swapsies to revitalise a you find something that may interest your I didn’t plan on wearing it again and b) have had hidden away for years. Plus it’s
wardrobe typically stocked with a bevy guests. Step two involves gathering a un-tragic enough that I would expect any a really fun way of spending an evening,
of British designers, it became clear that group of your most stylish friends who are of my friends to wear it without ridicule. get the wine flowing and chances are
if the dedicated fashionista is to survive most likely to present you with something Not an easy task. In the end I settled you’ll have a fully-blown fashion show on
the credit crunch without sacrificing a random, unique and just to your taste. for a LBD and a chunky knit red polo - your hands.”
regular wardrobe top-up, she must adopt Step three is to swap! pretty inoffensive, if not bang on trend.
Mrs Brown’s strategy.
The strategy I speak of is the phenomenon
called ‘Swishing’.

As if it isn’t hard enough to maintain an
aura of effortlessness that seems to
emanate from only the most stylish among
us, today’s fashion savvy have many more
important factors to consider, such as the
ethical implications of buying from the
high street. Where were the clothes made?

_By Caitlin Rattray
Very
Who made them? How much were they
paid? Am I harming the environment? Not
to mention the fact that current economic
conditions mean that we are spending
with less ease than we were this time last
year. Fortunately, Swishing seems to tick
all of these boxes.

But partaking in the occasional swish
doesn’t necessarily mean you have to
Swish_
sacrifice your beloved Jimmy Choos, well
not if you have Mrs Brown and you have The New Consumer, the UK’s only free
a flock of celebrity chums with which ethical living magazine, embraces swishing And as it turned out, just to the taste of Which goes to prove, even in times
to swish with. Rumour has it, a scuffle as the perfect way for fashion conscious a fellow swisher. Kate Smail is a frequent of financial crisis and environmental
equivalent to pandemonium witnessed at dahlings to do their bit for the environment. contributor to The New Consumer meltdown, there is no excuse for looking
the opening of Primark on Oxford Street By digging out their old clothes, friends magazine and holds swishing parties on anything less than a knockout. And it’s
broke out when Mrs Brown revealed a can give a new lease of life to each others a regular basis. She said: “Swishing is a not a bad way of spending a Friday night
pair of size 7 Stella McCartney’s to her clothes while reducing the masses of waste really easy and fun way of doing your bit either, kind of like an Ann Summers party,
guests, including Danni Minogue. produced by the UK each year. for the environment. without all of the naughtiness.
ARe you A gAy, BiSexuAL oR TRAnSgendeRed peRSon?
Do you want to discuss the risks of and referral agencies at our fingertips.
certain types of sexual practice, find Most importantly, we are here to support
out what sexually transmitted infections our callers across all their emotional and
you can be tested for, how to go about sexual health concerns.
testing and what to expect at a genito-
urinary medicine clinic ? To get in touch, see our advert in
this guide, call 0131 556 4049
LGLS offers a confidential service that (main helpline) or 0131 557 0751
respects your total anonymity. We are (Lesbian Line) during the evenings,
a team of dedicated volunteers, trained or email us on help.switchboard@
in listening and support skills and in btconnect.com or visit our website:
counselling approaches and who have www.lgls.co.uk
a wide range of information, contacts
_www.scotcampus.com
_13_Style
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64