New video: contest entry for MakeupByGloria: Tribal!

Wow, it had actually been about 6 months since I last posted a video on YouTube, and it was about time I did a new one! Actually, I have made a few attempts in the last months, but Windows Movie Maker and FlashPlayer together decided it wasn't going to happen! But when I saw MakeupByGloria's contest, I knew I had to enter!

So, I sat down one evening after having gathered all my inspiration, did a look which didn't quite turn out as I had hoped.. so I altered it slightly... and ended up looking like a tropical bird! Haha!

So, the pictures stayed on the cutting room floor, as I started a second look!

I kept it very simple, almost too simple and slightly amateur-ish, and even though I am not impressed with the end result, I decided to post it anyway! Seeing as it had been ages since I posted anything, I just wanted to get back into it all again!

Well, so what did I do, you ask? Here it is!

I painted my forehead and eyelids red with 2 shades from my new 88 pallet as I didn't have any red grease paint, and the rest of my face with Screenface panstick in Almond and set it with a dark shimmery bronzer. I then applies a thick line of clown white from Ben Nye along the edge of the red and under my eyes, and some dots on my forehead and along the eyes. Finishing off with a line down the centre of my bottom lip.

Very simple!
I then donned a long brown wig, braided into two sections with two little braids at the side, and some choice accessories, and voila! Diamond has become a red indian clan chief!

I am under no illusion that I will win, but wow did it feel great to finally post another video on YouTube! Also, this seems to have dis-lodged whatever it was that was stopping me, as I have since then completed 2 more videos and am working on 3 more! Haha!

So I hope you enjoy my return to YouTube, please tell all your friends! ;)

The video for the contest can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oregi3tAHE0

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more from me in the future!

Kisses! Diamond xxx

Nude? Please get dressed, it's apparently racist!

I'd like to start off by saying that I started writing this blog post absolutely aaages ago, I think it was in May 2010, at the time there were comments in the media about Michelle Obama wearing a "nude" Naeem Khan dress. My post was going to be about the controversy surrounding the issue of "nude" being a racist colour description, as clearly the dress was not Mrs President's skin colour... but then I never finished or published it. Now, I have dug it out again as I feel I want to share it anyway!

Underneath is (a somewhat edited version of) what I wrote:

Some of you might know that I work in fashion/textiles, and ever day is a mass of brides to be, aspiring fashion students and wannabe designers, in addition to a great number of well known high street and exclusive designers.

It has been a complete nightmare to see how well this 'nude' trend has caught on this season, we have not been able to keep enough stock of anything flesh, nude, peach, oyster, mink or blush, as well as anything silver or pale grey. And don't even get me started on silk jersey!

As a matter of fact, for the last few months I have been ready to clobber anyone who asks for nude fabrics of any sort! Judging by the fact that 98.9% of all UK based fashion students* are solely using nude and silver for their current design projects and collections, we will be flooded by these garments by spring/summer 2011... a whole year after this trend was in fact a trend!

(* this percentage is purely my estimate from watching students at work!)

But enough about me and my work life (for now anyway)! I wanted to talk about the actual trend of nude colours in fashion. Firstly I would like to say that, being a trendsetter as I am, I pioneered the nude look on New Years Eve 2009-10 with a multi layered nude tulle frock, all hand beaded with crystals, that would have left you gasping for air... had it been any other colour but nude!

This gets us to my issue with the nude trend.. nobody but nobody looks good in a nude outfit. It is just not a very becoming colour, on anyone. Ok ok, I hear you, it looks great on the catwalk, and yes that is the only place it does. But so do a lot of garments and concepts you see on a runway that you would never in a million years wear in public.

Just recently, Michelle Obama stepped out in a hand beaded 'champagne' coloured gown by designer Naeem Khan. This somehow sparked a weird media discussion on racism. The designer, Naeem Khan explained that it was a 'sterling-silver sequin, abstract floral, nude strapless gown'.

However, when the Associated Press news agency, reporting on the event, referred to the colour as 'flesh', they were lambasted by one editor, who asked 'Whose flesh? Not Michelle Obama's'

In my opinion, Michelle Obama looked stunning in that dress, mainly because it wasn't the same colour as her skin. Had it been.. let's face it, a brown dress, it wouldn't have caused a racial stir, but it would have looked awful. She would have looked like she had been rolled in glue and tin foil! Not a great look!

2011 afterthought: This was as far as I got with it, so I'd like to add the following at this point.

I'm not going to comment on the racial issues as I don't see the point. It's about fashion, not politics.

To me, the pasty anemic 'nude trend' has lived its life, overstayed its welcome. Get rid!

Surely it is time for colour blocking now?

Fashion: Dear Miuccia Prada...

This picture was in last weeks Gracia, showing a jacket and shorts from Prada...

If you parden the pun, the outfit (minus the blouse) comes to you at a "snip" under £1300. Yes ladies and... well ladies, for a mere £1300 you too can be the owner of this stunning ensemble!

But wait, I hear you say, what is wrong with that? Well, plenty actually!

As a seamstress and "designer" (oh how I hate using that terminology) I would like to mention the missing waistband on the shorts, or maybe there is a waistband and it has been tucked in for this shoot? The way the shorts 'bulge' at the top of the fly front kind of disturb me, and gives an indication that they might be folded in ...

But the horridness doesn't stop there, oh no!
Styling wise I guess it's misfortunate that the ensemble has been paired with a white blouse. Is that the shirt flakes sticking out from under the shorts or is that the pocket lining??
The fact that the hems haven't been finished off, but rather left "raw" doesn't help, but rather strengthens the look of 'long trousers cut into shorts'.

Dear Miuccia Prada.
For £1300, could you not at least have gotten a poor fashion intern to hem/overlock/FINISH the garments? Deconstruction is so Ann Demeulemeester ca late 80's!
Thank you!

Sex with the ex... ?

Now that I've got your attention... ;)

I wasn't really going to talk about sex with the ex, but having a relationship with your ex, as this is a subject that has come up a lot lately in my life. So, I wanted to share my views and get yours!

A little over 2 years ago, my boyfriend of 5 years and I broke up, and it turned my world around. We had shared everything for half a decade, good and bad times. Mainly good times. So for a few months we didn't really get on that well, sure, we'd still communicate, but on a practical level, arranging cat sitters and returning property etc.

Then, in the summer, I was around his house to collect something, and we had a little chat about how things were going, and he confided in me saying he had made a mess with someone he was seeing. So, good natured as I like to think I am, I talked him through it and gave him some advice. That was the point where we decided that even though we were no longer together, we could still be friends, and since then we have!

To make this even more complicated, throughout our relationship he was also great friends with his ex before me, who in turn is friends with his ex! Together, the four of us would go out for meals and drinks, or on holidays and weekend trips. The Ex-Men I used to call us, and still do!

Sure, there'd be arguments now and again, as there always will be with a group of opinionated people. But they were usually silly little things we'd get over in no time. Nothing really serious. My ex can be stubborn to a fault, and so can his ex.

But then, there was the fifth part of this story, my ex's current boyfriend. He was never too keen on the idea of doing things with us, and it has emerged that he didn't like that my ex was friends with his ex-es. This (among other issues) caused the end of their relationship (the one I gave advice on and helped work in the early days)...

Now I am seeing someone, who also has a great relationship with his ex. They exchange calls and texts, not on a daily basis but still, and his friends find it weird that he is in contact with his ex.

So I wanted to ask you guys, how do you feel about having a relationship with your ex?
If you are friends with your ex, are you comfortable with them, and even their new partners?
How do you feel about your current partner and their ex(s)?
Would you ditch your friendship with your ex if your partner asked you to?

PS. I understand that most people don't have the same relationship with all their ex-es...

A funny conversation and an interesting question...

I was chatting to a friend on MSN the other day, about all sorts of stuff, and the subject came to job hunting. You know when you are filling in an application form, or even fine tuning your CV for a specific job, what should you really be writing? The truth? Or a modified version of the truth?

Here's an excerpt from our conversation, initially I thought it was just funny, but then it made me think:

Nic says:
-ohh I applied for a job yesterday

Diamond says:
-cool, what

Nic says:
-livbrarian.. hahahaha!
-can't even spell it!!

Diamond says:
-lol

Nic says:
-rofl
-my application was quite funny.

Diamond says:
-I imagine it was

Nic says:
-so they'll either look at it and think what a nob.. or think she sounds interesting in the part where
you are meant to say why the job would be suited for you, I rambled on about horse riding
-lmao

Diamond says:
-hahaha, you are funny

Nic says:
-well what else was I supposed to say? I like books?

Diamond says:
-well, yes

Nic says:
-ohh

Diamond says:
-that is exactly it

Nic says:
-I didn't say that

Diamond says:
-hahaha

Nic says:
-I didn't even write the word 'book'...

Yes, it was funny at the time, and knowing my friend it was hilarious, but it made me think.. Do we try to hard when applying for jobs? Do we over garnish our CV's and application forms with stuff to make us appear more attractive to the possible employer? And should we be doing this, or is it better to let the 'real' you come through?

What are your thoughts on this?

Two Queens, a biker jacket and a pair of peep toe stilettoes.

This is a true story, whether or not you choose to believe it, however, I am not saying that this is the actual reason for the outcome described at the end... (No peeping! Sorry, bad joke!)

Some time late last summer, or was it fall, I went out with some friends on a friday evening to go to a club we all like to hang out at, for no other reason than it being local to all of us. It was a slightly nippy evening, and I had decided to wear my vintage black biker leather jacket, you know, the type James Dean was often pictured in, with red satin lining and silver metal zips on every pocket and down the front.

The zip pull had long broken off, and I had replaced it with a charm from a broken necklace, a small skull charm, fitting the Biker Rock Chic look. Anyway, as you can imagine, the temperature is slightly different in a busy-ish club, and I soon got too hot to wear my jacket. And so it was that I took it off and here is where the story starts.

There was a small seating area next to where we were standing so I left my jacket there, thinking it would be safe as there were only us and another group of people standing here. We were chatting and having a few drinks, dancing on the spot and generally having a good time, when my friend says:

"Isn't that guy wearing your jacket?"

I looked behind me, and lo and behold, one of the guys from the group next to us is most certainly wearing my Biker Rock Chic pride, all while doing a camp little shimmy! I stared in disbelief, and I guess it was noticeable as one of his friends pointed at me as if to say "You've been busted!"

The guy turns around, looks at me and says, stupidly:

"Oh, is this your biker jacket? Hmm... not very trendy is it?"

I stared incredulously and replied:

"Indeed it is mine, and I suggest you wear it no more!"

To which he replies, by means of turning to his friend:

"It isn't trendy though, but maybe you could make it trendy! How about sending THIS down the runway next season? Hahaha!"


That's when I realised that one of his friends was Alexander McQueen... Now, I have seen him around in London before, but he's not really that noticeable and I don't mean that nastily, he just isn't.. so I hadn't noticed! Well, needless to say I got my James Dean garment back and refrained from further comments and unnecessary bitchiness and left them to drunkenly design the next McQueen collection based on borrowed items from nightclub punters..

Fastforward to last week, my friend Louise had bought her weekly Grazia and we were looking through it to see what celeb has done what to whom, when I came over this picture:


ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Skull zip front ankle boots £595.

All I can say is I am now waiting for the Forgotten Umbrella dress in the spring/summer 2010 collection, as I can't find my umbrella...

Kissing frogs.

"Suffer For Love" by Mutya Buena

Has love lost its meaning?
Am I destined not to feel it?
Baby, I have
And I just don't know it when I'm in it

Is it me to blame
I really need to change
This pattern I'm seeing
I don't wanna be in

Why I gotta mess it up
And get it wrong
Like some kind of curse

Why do I have to suffer for love
Suffer for love
I've given it everything
Still it ain't happening
I'm sick of it all
What does it want
It's asking too much
I'm a sucker for a suffer for love

I keep on trying but I don't know how it works
There's no instruction so I keep on getting hurt
Over again, over again, over and over and over again



Some time towards the end of April this year, I met a man. We had seen each other before, and even shared a stolen smile at some point before we actually got talking.
He was tall, dark and handsome, with a beard, and with green eyes that seemed to sparkle. Though not my typical choice of man, we hit it off really well and were seeing more and more of each other.

So, because of what I do, when I meet someone new I always have to consider the best way of telling them that I do drag. When I am not in drag, I am very much a man, as I have said before. I always grow my beard in between, and I dress in jeans, boots and a biker jacket. As it happens, I like to draw a line between reality and illusion.

After a week had passed and we had met up almost every day, I decided that the time was right, and so I 'dropped the bomb'.. not realising it was going to be a bomb!
He was very shocked, and somewhat unsure whether to believe me or not, but eventually said that he thought it wouldn't be a problem. Seeing as it's something I only do now and again, and it isn't a sexual thing for me, he thought he'd be fine. He even started to come with me to other peoples shows, friends of mine, and he was really enjoying himself.
At one point we went on holiday to Spain, and he took me to see the largest drag show in the area, and translated all the jokes! I was thinking this would work out really well...

Until suddenly I get a phone call from him, and he sounds a little vague, so I ask him if everything is ok, and assure him he can tell me anything. It turns out that he is not comfortable with the drag thing and doesn't want to see me anymore.
Now, I'm not stupid, and I personally think this is rather shallow, but it is his decision and I'm not going to try to make him change his mind, so I tell him there is nothing more to be said, and wish him a happy life... We have not spoken since, but we see each other out and about still.

A few months later, I'm out with some good friends, and I get chatting to this very interesting looking guy, slightly alternative, and very handsome. Those of you who know me will know who/what I mean but I'm not going to divulge any more info.
This time I don't even have time to think about telling him anything, as one of my 'good' friends blurts out: "He's a drag queen!"
To which he replies: "Fabulous!"
I'm thinking: "We're on to a winner!"

History has a tendency of repeating itself, and we hit it off like a house on fire, and see as much of each other as time will allow us in the next weeks. He tells me he used to go out partying in heels and dresses, and still does now and again, for the fun of it, but not in a 'drag queen' manner. In fact, I got to experience it one night and he looked brilliant!

When you meet someone new and you start dating, it is sometimes quite difficult to gage the right time to discuss your relationship, where you stand with each other. So, you leave it for a bit, hoping the other person will take the initiative.
We never got to that conversation, and one evening we went out, he decides to invite two other guys back with us, and clearly not for a crochet lesson...

Now, it has to be said that I am far from a prude, and I have done a lot of things in my life that could probably shock the unshockable, and under normal circumstances I would have had no problem with this situation. But, as we hadn't had this conversation and we didn't know where we stood, I suddenly felt really uncomfortable with it all, and yeah, probably a little jealous as well. Not wanting to share him with anyone.
So, I left ten minutes after arriving at his house.

The next day he texts me to say: "Hope you got home safely!" Clearly he didn't see or understand how this had affected me, so that evening I told him. To make a long story short, that's when I decided to phase him out of my life. I stopped texting him, calling him, and we had been sending 15-20 texts every day since we met.

Eventually he texts me to invite me to his flatmates birthday party, and so I decided to give him one more chance and turn up. We had a fantastic time, and I left his house Friday morning... and then nothing. Four days pass before he surfaces, telling me some nonsense story about not having been able to contact me. My good friends had seen him out all weekend.

I'm now thinking I'm better off alone, and it leaves me thinking I don't want to look for anyone, but I know deep in my heart I want to find that someone special, the one who thinks the world of me and wants to be with me. The one who actually thinks the sun shines out of my ass, as my friend put it!

But seriously, how many frogs does one need to kiss?

Footnote: I would like to clarify that the time line of certain events has been altered for ease and flow of the post.