So, welcome to me, Bethan and my world. If you were familiar with my Sybarite column in Sunday Times Style in the noughts, my writing for British Vogue or my contributions to i-D in the 90s you will have some idea of what I’m about to do here. A certain amount of perfume compulsion and beauty commentary but also books, music, fashion, art, film, wellness and anything else that catches my attention or inspires me. I’m doing this because I want to find a home for my thoughts and share them.
So to be fully transparent, firstly, about the beauty element here, in the name of sustainability I won’t be calling in hundreds of products and creating a massive carbon footprint for myself and also a lot of waste. I have currently made the ethical decision to only call in what I’m going to write about and in the realm of skincare in particular I try to finish the last drop of each product I try, or give to friends to road test for me. I think I’ve got a good enough idea of the marketplace to do this, having written about beauty since 1997 or 1998 - over 25 years. I will also try predominantly to test and write about beauty that is sustainably conscious, with certain exceptions eg perfume.
So I do hope you enjoy coming on this journey with me, and thank you for reading, and do let me know if there’s anything you’d be interested in me exploring. I’ve got a long list of topics I want to expound on including Jo Malone’s new vintage-inspired collection, the influence of Fellini’s Casanova on contemporary catwalk make up artists, the discreet charm of Dries Van Noten - fashion and perfume, the preoccupation with beauty and morality in Toni Morrison’s novels. So bear with me, I hope it will be engaging and edifying. In the words of not forgotten rapper KRS One ‘Edutainment’.
Sounds excellent, Bethan!