• Last week, when the criminal record of Meagher's killer was made public, everyone seemed amazed person like him could be out of prison. While I was disgusted he was free, I wasn't surprised and it's because of attitudes like the ones Tracey describes. As a society we place blame on the victims of sexual assault, and therefore mitigate the responsibility of the attacker. There is some underlying idea that men are unable (or unwilling) to control themselves, which is rather insulting to the vast majority of men who do act decently. As I was buying my morning coffee today I was scanning the front of the paper and read the story of Milne's arrest for rape. The barista noticed and I said it was interesting the arrest had happened so long after the crime. The barista asked what did the girl expect, going back to some guy's hotel room. You hear stuff like this whenever these topics come up. Having no desire to start a fight with a virtual stranger I just replied that I had had people I didn't really know sleep at my house in the past and not once did I find it necessary to rape them. I will be buying my coffee elsewhere in the future. - kage
  • Thank you Germaine for the article. I do not need to be persuaded to vote for the PM and not just because she is a woman, but because she is a leader, a leader under extremely difficult and distressing circumstances; a leader with vision; sometimes having to compromise and take a smaller step forward than envisaged, however, any step forward in policy and reform is a step in the right direction. I try to use my voice against shock jocks on stations I despise, just to get up their noses, and get totally put down and ridiculed when objecting to their tactics, BUT Germaine YOU have a voice and a voice to be listened to. Please use YOUR VOICE as well as your writing skills to spread this message. - Vickie
  • Sometimes I just want to give up and call everyone who does not get how wrong such assaults are pigs. - ro.watson
  • Given that i wish to see the continuation of carbon pricing and allied green policies, the roll out of the (real) NBN, the funding of the NDIS and the Gonski education reforms, i have no hesitation in voting Labor on September 14th. I will be extremely happy to see PM Gillard retain her position. - sally b
  • Show me your policies Tony Abbott. I judge Gillard on her strengths already, not as some putative enduring barricade against the shock jocks here or there, Germaine. - ro.watson
  • This is so much like my own story. I have so much trouble getting people to understand, even 6 years after separation that he will always be the father of my kids, that he is deserving of respect, even if he has not been the best husband, that I cannot live with him, I do not feel romantic any more but I want him to be the best person he can be because my kids love him and he is their hero, no matter what I say. And I worry so much about the kids and I hope they don't grow up without the skills for a beautiful relationship. So I hope all goes well. I look forward to seeing how you manage. - Bron
  • But to vote for someone just because they are a woman is as flawed as voting for someone just because they are a man. The key point in Germaine's article for me was that we need to start focusing on policies and not personalities. - Pea
  • The best way to defeat this disgusting attack on Julia Gillard is to support her re-election. If she were to succeed in being re-elected it would send a powerful message to her bigoted detractors. Would certainly put a lot of twisted bitter people back in their proper place. - JohnB
  • I'm a big fan of classical music and rap, maybe it's because i'm from the ipod generation but i don't see why it has to be one or the other. I totally understand not liking rap, but that doesn't mean it has no value. Maybe it's unfair to specifically target Mandy's article, because this is one of many articles reinforce a myopic view of misogyny in music by specifically using rap as an example when it is in all genres, but i felt the readership of the hoopla is intelligent and considered enough to consider my point, which is the double standard when it comes to criticism of misogyny in music. Rap is a genre created by black people and has clear connotations towards it, and this article isn't without context. I realise it was unintentional but it reinforces negative stereotypes about rap, and by extentsion black culture. One doesn't have to mention race for it still to be relevant to the discussion. I am in complete agreement with her otherwise. Anyway I feel i've made my case and it's for others to judge whether i'm right or not. I don't want to continue this because i don't want to diminish the point of this article, which is that we as a society don't take rape a tenth as seriously as we should. That i'm sure is something that you and i can agree on Tony. - Ash
  • Fight, flight or freeze Katie? I froze. I recommend self defence training even if it might complicate your life you know that block, run and scream for help. It did not help me asleep, but I had the moves automatically to resist unlawful use of force when grabbed from behind, notwithstanding what my girlfriend felt at the time.. - ro.watson
 
2
Categories:  Fashion, Style

THE IMPULSE BUY

By Michelle Bateman
July 18, 2012

Sometimes you can get lucky. The question is whether you can act fast enough to turn that luck into – what? – destiny?

When this Rick Owens jacket came through on the weekly new-arrivals email from The Outnet, when I saw that there was one in a size 36 and that the price was reasonable, I had approximately 8.4 seconds to add to cart.

That was two years ago and never for one moment have I regretted this “impulse buy”.

I really believe that if you see something you truly love (and you can afford it), it’s always best to buy. Shopping for an occasion (a wedding, a major birthday) or trying to find something to fit an exacting brief can only lead to hours of frustration. Had I woken up one day and decided: “I really need a great-fitting leather jacket. Oh, and it must be bronze” – well, I’d say the future of newspapers had a better shot at success.

Doing: hearing about Jurlique’s major brand relaunch at a beautiful lunch at the MCA; interviewing Nars global make-up artist James Boehmer about the company’s new make-up collection, coming soon to Mecca Cosmetica; attending a cocktail party for James in the evening.

Wearing: Rick Owens leather jacket; Carven cardigan; Country Road dress; Ralph Lauren heels.

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*Michelle Bateman is a freelance writer and editor who blogs about fashion, beauty and the arts on The Modernity Project, as well as contributing to Australian Vogue, Women’s Health, Harper’s Bazaar and Emporium, among other titles. When not testing new lipsticks (and the occasional gloss), she can be found rearranging her wardrobe in a perpetual quest for more space. This season, she is enjoying mixing patterns and clashing colours; she has always been a sucker for a good leopard print.

 

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2 Responses to this article

  1. Emma July 21, 2012 Reply
     
     

    So true Michelle. I have a somewhat strategic approach to the impulse buy. I keep a list (actually a Powerpoint slide with pics) of the things I need to add to my wardrobe so that when I see something that fits the bill I can grab it. I also have a rule for those ‘lust have’ items not on my list – it must go with at least 3 other things already in my wardrobe or I put down the mouse and step away from the keyboard. i’ve found this hugely helpful in avoiding the “what was I thinking?” impulse purchases.

     
    • Michelle @ The Modernity Project July 22, 2012 Reply
       
       

      This sounds like my kind of Powerpoint, Emma! Having a shopping list is one of the best ways to avoid buyer’s remorse and it’s clever of you to use one to guide even on-the-spot purchases. Sounds like you’ve got impulse shopping sorted!

       

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  • kage: Last week, when the criminal record of Meagher's killer was made public, everyone seemed amazed person like him could be...

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