Marks & Spencer shared an image of a skirt to their Instagram account and the internet reacted, open-mouthed and excited.
The midi skirt comes in a fuchsia colour and features an A-Line shape.
It also features pockets – yes, actual pockets – which, let’s face it, is an absolute revelation for women’s fashion.
The skirt, made of wool, was styled with a knitted jumper and leather heeled boots but we think it’d look just as lovely with a black turtle neck and some sock boots – perfect for autumn.
As mentioned above, the skirt hasn’t actually hit M&S hangers yet. It’s set to come out in mid-October.
But that hasn’t stopped customers getting excited for it – with one person saying they’ll be searching ‘morning, noon and night for the skirt’.
The Instagram post has so far received 2,000 likes and plenty of comments.
One person wrote: ‘We weren’t looking forward to Autumn much, but now we’ve seen these amazing pieces…’
Another said: ‘Oh this look is perfection’.
Someone else joked that the skirt reminded them of their old school uniform but they didn’t mind to much.
They said: ‘That skirt is great. It also happens to almost exactly resemble my old school uniform skirt. I’m hoping 1. It comes in a 24 and 2. It won’t be compulsory for me to wear it with a sky blue gingham shirt and v neck jumper.’
Honestly, this may well go great with tights and black boots if it gets a little chilly as the autumn sets in.
British lingerie giant Figleaves has ditched airbrushing for its latest campaign.
The online lingerie and swimwear brand has launched Confidence Looks Great On You for AW18, featuring models of different sizes who have not had their body shapes digitally retouched.
The models’ stretchmarks and curves have been left unedited and will feature darker shades of nude garments to cater for a range of different skin colours.
The plus size range will also be extended, catering for a size 28 back to a 52 back, and an AA cup to K cup, both depending on range.
Jennifer Atilemile in the Cate Bra £42 and Bottoms £21. (Picture: Figleaves)
America’s Next Top Model contestant and Sports Illustrated model Khrystyana Kazakova feature alongside curve model Jennifer Atilemile and Zimbabwean-born Nyasha Matonhodze.
Russian-born Kazakova is a body positivity activist and founder of the Real Catwalk, a guerilla open-air catwalk show that features people of all shapes, sizes, ages, abilities and genders.
The way the three models pose is perhaps as radical as the brand’s decision to use diverse models and eschew airbrushing.
Kazakova, Atilemile and Matonhodze aren’t consistently arranged into classic lingerie advertisement poses that make their limbs look longer and their stomachs flatter.
Nyasha Matonhodze in Calvin Klein Bralette £30 and Thong £18. (Picture: Figleaves)
Instead, they stretch, lounge and hunch to show how the garments will move and sit on real bodies.
Tummy rolls are celebrated rather than being stigmatised and the natural grain and texture of the skin is allowed to shine through rather than being eradicated in Photoshop.
Jenni Burt, Figleaves’ head of buying and brand, said: ‘Figleaves welcomes all women and it’s important they feel visually represented when they visit our website.
‘This is a journey for us. We recognise we have a way to go but are fully committed to becoming truly inclusive.’
Smaller brands have taken an even stronger line on editing, with London-based Birdsong proudly proclaiming that no Photoshop is used whatsoever in their product pictures.
Khrystyana Kazakova in Lace Bra £26 and Bottoms £12. (Picture: Figleaves)
Zara has released a red blazer which some are saying bears a striking resemblance to a bardot dress worn by Meghan Markle back in June at the Trooping The Colour ceremony.
The £69.99 Zara Boat Neck Blazer, a double-breasted blazer with an open lapel neckline and long sleeves with slit details, is most certainly reminiscent of the Caroline Herrera blazer the Duchess of Sussex wore at the ceremony.
It features the same off-the-shoulder, bardot style neckline with folded lapels, as well as fabric buttons.
(Picture: Zara UK)
Of course, there are some key differences
(Picture: Getty)
Meghan’s dress only had one set of buttons while the blazer has two, and the blazer is a little more in your face with its bright red colour.
Oh, and Meghan’s bespoke peach dress is way more expensive, with Caroline Herrera pieces costing thousands.
Regardless, people are still pretty convinced Zara got its inspiration from Meghan Markle.
Some have even been taking to Twitter to highlight the similarities:
Currently, the red Zara blazer is selling in sizes extra small to large.
The model on the website pairs it with a pair of sunglasses and flared jeans – though if you’re wanting more of a ‘Meghan look’, we suggest opting for a matching hat and a skirt or some skinny jeans.
This figure is even more alarming in the developing parts of the world.
For instance, a recent report by the joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) showed that HIV and AIDS have almost become an epidemic in eastern and southern Africa, with upwards of 19.6 million people living HIV.
Despite the alarming spread of both STDs and HIV, the African continent has received the least attention from research.
Most existing technological interventions targeted at STDs and HIV are focused on people in the western world, and are not suitable for people from African countries due to the uniqueness in their culture, religion, and beliefs, especially where it has to do with acceptable sexual practices and approaches to avoiding risky behaviours.
That’s where our game STD Pong comes in.
I’ve always been passionate about helping people, particularly in the area of health and wellness.
Well before I became a computer scientist, I was actively involved in volunteerism in my native Nigeria, and took an interest in the impact of HIV through engagement with a World Health peer education campaign.
After moving to North America to study computer science, the stark differences between the level of research and privilege in Canada and Nigeria really hit home. Researchers in West Africa simply don’t have the same access to interact with and educate the public, or the resources to make a meaningful, widespread impact.
I wanted to find a way to combine my desire to empower and help marginalised communities, my interest around HIV and STDs, and my technical computer science training to design something to make life better for Nigerians – and so the concept for the smartphone game ‘STD Pong’ was born.
Working with my graduate student, Chinenye Ndulue, who is also from Nigeria, we were able to go from simply an idea to a live product.
Our Nigerian background helped us to understand the unique perspectives of West African youths, the target market for the game.
(Picture: Dr Rita Orji / Chinenye Ndulue)
West African culture has been considered in every aspect of the research and development behind STD Pong, from the African-centric storyline and characters to the fact that we used smartphones as the method of delivery.
Pretty much every West African youth has access to at least one mobile device, and most use them to play games.
In a nutshell, the game aims to teach this target audience about the risks associated with risky sexual behaviour and ways to prevent common STDs, including HIV, hence discouraging them from those types of behaviours.
We know that for our message to reach youths in Africa effectively, it has to be accessible and takes consideration of all the cultural factors at play.
That’s why we’ve developed a free, easily downloadable, and simple to play game. Our considerations even goes down to the fact that the game doesn’t drain a smartphone’s battery life, an important detail in countries where power can be unreliable.
Another huge consideration we had while brainstorming was the importance of privacy.
(Picture: Dr Rita Orji / Chinenye Ndulue)
The culture in West Africa is such that discussing sex, and anything related to it, is more often than not considered to be taboo. It is rarely openly discussed by parents, teachers or the government.
This is problematic as youths often receive false information, in some cases even being led to believe that HIV and other STDs are fallacies.
Through the game, I hope to provide a safe, trusted, and private tool for people to learn about these diseases, how to avoid them, and what to do in case of infection, which will eventually reduce their spread.
We also hope that massive adoption of the game could gradually erase the stereotype associated with sexual education and discussion of sex-related topics in the public.
If we can demonstrate the effectiveness of sex education and a more open approach, we hope that schools and the government will recognise the need to move away from the conservatism that is often demonstrated now.
We hope these stakeholders will accept that in reality, some people do have sex before marriage and that they need to be better informed about the damage risky sexual behavior can cause and the preventions that can be taken outside of abstinence.
The game will soon be launched publicly, so we will see if our considerations work in reality.
In the end, I will feel like we have accomplished our goals if this is downloaded and played by a significant number of our target end users.
I want this to actually have an impact on the lives and health of West African youths, not just simply be talked about as a ‘good idea’.
Technology is so powerful in today’s world, even in places you may not expect, and we have a responsibility to harness it for social good.
(Picture: Kim Kardashian, Chrissy Teigan/Twitter/Youtube)
Fashion is always evolving. One futuristic exhibit has totally taken it to new levels by introducing the idea of using body modification implants as accessories.
The experimental concept called A. Human comes from Simon Huck, a long time friend of the fashion forward Kardashians.
His artistic pieces resemble body parts and look like they’re growing as part of the person’s anatomy. They’re often seen augmenting parts of the neck or the chest for example.
Celebs like Kim Kardashian and Chrissy Teigen were seen showing some of the accessories off so who knows, it might just catch on.
Reality star Kim supported her friend by endorsing an ‘alien implant necklace’ which lights up and is meant to be worn under the skin.
‘It moves to the rhythm of my heartbeat,’ she said about the prosthetic in an Instagram story.
Chrissy Teigen and Queer Eye’s Tan France also showed off the collection respectively wearing angel wings on the chest and spiky shells growing around the neck, all in nude skin tones to look as natural as possible.
‘This little beauty is The Tudor,’ Tan told his Instagram followers, ‘and you can see it for yourself this New York Fashion Week when they open their flagship store.’
Model Andreja Pejic also got in on the act with a pair of horned shoulders with a blue tip.
Other aspects of the theatrical line include a conch-shell-like permanent heel or inserting DNA-mirrored hearts into you and your lover.
If you want to learn more about the concept or visit the exhibit, it’s in New York City (sorry Britain) and admission costs are $40 (£31). More details are on the website.
Here are celebrities wearing body modification implants
We’ve fallen head over heels in love with a very good dog who was the ring bearer at his owners’ wedding.
Nine-year-old Labrador Duke walked down the aisle carrying the rings to Zac Stout, 25, and his bride Lily, 24, who decided that when they married, it just seemed natural to have Duke in their wedding.
Duke is described by the couple as being ‘the most loveable and happy soul you could ever meet’.
(Picture: Robbie Khan/Caters News)
Lily said that Duke has always been a big part of her and Zac’s relationship and decided no-one else should have the task of bringing them their rings to the altar.
Duke was over the moon to have been given such a big role to play in the wedding.
Lily said: ‘One of the first times I met Zac we walked Duke on the beach together and when we got back from the walk I sat in Duke’s dog bed with him having a cuddle.
(Picture: Robbie Khan/Caters News)
‘Zac said I got the Duke seal of approval, and he asked me to be his girlfriend.
‘We took Duke down to the church we were getting married in before the day and rehearsed him coming down the aisle.
‘He was such a good boy, we knew he would be perfect for the job.
(Picture: Robbie Khan/Caters News)
‘Everyone was so excited to see him on the day.’
Lily added that Duke was so excited to walk down the aisle with the rings that his tail wagged throughout the entire ceremony.
She added: ‘One of the groomsmen had to put his tail in between his feet as it was making such a noise hitting the pews!
‘Everyone cheered him on as he came down the aisle with big smiles on their faces.
‘He said hello to a couple of people on his way up the aisle as he recognised people but all in all he was so good.’
Spicy food is part of loads of different cultures, especially the Indian subcontinent.
When you Google Indian culture, you’re met with images of stunning women in traditional get-up with spices and colours everywhere (probably linked to Holi, the Hindu spring festival).
The reality is, for a lot of British Asians like me, spicy food is pretty unbearable.
Though most south Asian people do love some heat in their cuisine, the idea of everyone being able to handle it is a myth.
My nose starts running and, in extreme cases, my eyes tear up and I end up with heartburn when I consume hot food. Even a jalapeño in nachos have that effect.
And yes, I’ve been called out for it by both Asian and non-Asian peers.
It’s not racist if someone assumes I can handle fiery food but it is a bit of a stereotype.
Indian cuisine in the UK, often a mix of Pakistani and Bangladeshi food alongside Indian but marketed as Indian regardless for broadest appeal, is almost always spicy so people assume that its creators enjoy the fierceness.
But people have different palates. Not everyone is able to consume it and not everyone enjoys doing so.
When I’ve revealed to friends about my aversion to it, I’ve been called a ‘coconut’ – the slur used to describe people who are brown on the outside and ‘white’ on the inside (implying that white people aren’t able to take spice)
My friends are only teasing but what I don’t like is the assumption that just because I am ethnically Asian does not mean I can handle a jalfrezi.
Sabah, a self-described foodie, from Pakistan has had the same experience:
(Picture: Getty)
‘I used to feel really bad,’ she tells Metro.co.uk.
‘I was married before and my mother-in-law used to make such a fuss that I wouldn’t eat her food.’ .
‘I actually can’t handle the spice, I start sweating and it just hurts my tongue so why would I put myself through it. She used to make me feel really guilty about it.’
‘My friends tease me about it because some of them are Asian but they don’t do it in a horrible way at all because I won’t even try anything that has spice in it as it’s better to be safe.
‘But that’s just some banter. It means I get my own food and don’t have to share.’
Writer Ana, of Bengali descent, also has an aversion to spices.
‘My mum would just adjust the spiciness of basically everything she cooks, even if it’s pasta, but my sister expects everyone to handle the heat,’ she tells Metro.co.uk.
‘Initially, I felt the pressure to build a tolerance and my parents assumed we’d handle it because of our culture but then they accepted that we‘re English.
‘The teasing wasn’t bad at my house, just occasional.
‘My friends jested, it didn’t feel like anything that made me feel inadequate, but also, they did stop eventually.
‘They mostly retorted with “it isn’t hot” and “mix more rice and salad with it” except that makes no difference to me.’
(Picture: Getty)
Waqel, a south Asian doctor, physically can’t tolerate spices.
Despite his medical background, he is unable to figure out why his body rejects it to such an extent, he tells Metro.co.uk.
When he ingests something spicy, he starts shaking.
‘I can handle it but not the after effects, probably like the moment the spice hits me I start freezing,’ he says.
‘Doctors find it super weird, I have to get blankets and turn on heaters. I was admitted to hospital a few times because I couldn’t stop shivering.’
He added that it’s not an allergy but even the slightest bit can trigger a form of hypothermia.
‘I’ve tried to have it bit by bit to build tolerance. But my relatives and friends all know what happens so they sometimes make a bland version of the curry just for me.’
As for me, I love my traditional food and don’t see myself ever giving it up.
Just don’t be surprised when I ask for medium to no spice when the waiter takes my order, that’s all.
Freddos come in all sorts of different varieties, from white chocolate to peppermint.
But one we’ve just become aware of is the strawberry pond edition.
It’s essentially just your standard Freddo, made with Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate and shaped like a frog, but it comes with a ‘soft strawberry flavoured centre’.
The strawberry Freddos have been available in Australia for a while but the downside to this is that they’re currently not available at retailers in the UK.
You can find them to buy online but, as you can probably imagine, they’re not cheap.
Caab Living is currently selling the strawberry Freddos for 80p per 15g bar.
If you’re wanting to get enough to last you a good few months, boxes of 72 bars are selling on Amazon for £49.99 – with free delivery.
Yes, that’s nearly fifty quid for a box of Freddos but it actually works out cheaper – considering 72 bars from Caab will set you back £58.
Obviously, not many of us have £50 to spend on Freddos. And so, we’re hoping the strawberry chocolate bars make it over to UK shops.
But, we suppose that we’ve come to accept the Freddo for more than 10p.
To find out whether the strawberry Freddo will make it halfway across the world, we’ve contacted Cadbury. And we’ll update this article when they respond.
When you don’t have time to wash your hair because you’re running late for work in the morn, or just can’t be bothered rinsing and repeating before a night out, a quick spray can be super handy.
And you very much are not alone in thinking this. The most popular brand, Batiste, has released figures showing it sells 2.2 cans a second.
Batiste has faced criticism for selling products in China, where animal testing is mandatory (which Metro.co.uk has asked them about and is waiting for a reply).
The popular brand’s powder-based spray doesn’t really have any special ingredients that are different from other companies; it soaks up scalp oils in the same way.
But the growth in the market shows just how much people are relying on quick fix products. That can’t be a good thing, can it?
Is dry shampoo good or bad for your hair?
(Picture: Getty)
Like with most things in life, it’s best to use it in moderation.
The key thing with dry shampoo is that it doesn’t actually clean your hair, it just soaks up oil and grease by coating the scalp, not by cleansing it.
While natural hair grease is perfectly normal, you don’t want to delay washing your hair for too long and use dry shampoo as an alternative all the time.
Using it several days in a row causes a buildup of product on your scalp and hair follicles.
This buildup blocks new hair growth and can ultimately lead to hair loss and thinning over time.
In short, it’s not a bad thing if used every so often but, if used as a regular substitute, side effects can happen and is bad for the scalp.
Why does hair get greasy?
We all know that when hair goes unwashed it creates natural grease which is actually good for it.
Hair can get greasy over time either because of oils secreted from the scalp or because of oily hair care products.
Some people produce more oils than others.
The excess oil may be due to hormone surges triggered by puberty, stress, pregnancy, menstruation, or hormonal medications.
Do you want to get paid to let someone put makeup on you every day?
The folks at cosmetics company Procoal are looking for exactly that; a beauty test dummy.
What does a beauty test dummy do?
The role is pretty simple and pays £21,000 a year.
You have to sit still for extended periods of time and have to be comfortable in front of a camera as different in-house makeup artists apply a bunch of items to your face.
Product tests, reviews, social and experimental marketing campaigns are also part of the gig – oh and you get to keep the stuff.
(Picture: Getty)
Don’t worry if you’re not the most chatty person or become nervous in front of the lens, you won’t be asked to talk much.
You don’t need to know all the ins and outs of makeup artistry as you’ll be a recipient rather than the person applying it but, we’re told, some knowledge would be appreciated, like knowing your blusher from your bronzer.
The job is open to global applicants though you will be required to be based in Brighton and exhibitions/events throughout the country as needed, where make-up artists will be able to demonstrate their skills.
Because it’s an aesthetics-led job, you’ll have to be okay with having your face used by various publications so consumers can see what products look like.
The role starts on 11 November 2018, lasting 12 months. To apply, check details on the website.
Costa has unveiled its autumn menu before its launch in stores next week.
The coffee chain is releasing some new drink options and 10 new snacks. Oh, and you may want to forget about the pumpkin spice latte because one even more autumn-y is coming (yes, it is possible).
New to the drinks menu is the bonfire-spiced range.
It features a latte which has hints of toffee and spices and comes topped with caramel and cinnamon.
Then, there’s the bonfire-spiced hot chocolate, blended with bonfire syrup and spices.
(Picture: Costa)
If you don’t fancy a hot drink, you can also opt for a cold brew instead. It features the same recipe, but comes topped with whipped milk.
Of course, you can choose which milk is used within each drink so that everyone can enjoy them.
The food menu is going to include a bunch of new things.
For those heading in for coffee and cake, there’s going to be a new chocolate cake which comes with salted caramel and chocolate fudge icing, and a vegan sticky toffee and pecan cookie, filled with a sticky centre.
Those looking for savoury can buy new vegan and vegetarian lunch items such as a goats cheese and grilled pepper focaccia and vegetarian chilli con carne.
(Picture: Costa)
Gennaro Pelliccia, master of coffee at Costa said: ‘After the scorching summer we’ve had, we’re ready to welcome autumn and all the flavours it brings.
‘We’ve taken inspiration from this time of year to offer an exciting range and catered to a variety of dietary requirements to ensure there is something special for everyone.’
The new range is set to hit Costa stores from Thursday 6 September, with lunch pots arriving in early October.
Here’s to spamming Instagram with #BonfireSpicedLatte photos.
Remember when Balenciaga started selling a £1,600 version of the Ikea big blue bags?
Well, they’re back, and this time they’re taking inspiration from McDonald’s. Well, at least that’s what people on Twitter seem to think.
The fashion brand has just released a pair of red, square-toe leather mules which are currently on offer with 51% off for £209.
(Picture: Balenciaga)
For those getting the McDonald’s fry carton vibes – you could always recreate them with a large fries packet, or go all out by buying a meal and saving the carton for later.
The shoes have gone viral after a Twitter user shared a photo of them alongside a photo of him wearing a McDonald’s fry packet on his foot.
Photographer Janet Holmes wants to show the personalities of animals rescued from neglect or slaughter.
All the creatures pictured were saved from being butchered for meat or after being abandoned by their owners.
Holmes donates her services to Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties, New York, and she’s formed special bonds with many of the animals in their care.
At Catskill, 11 species of farmed animals rescued from cruelty, neglect, and abandonment are able to live and play in an 148-acre refuge in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Janet Holmes told Metro.co.uk: ‘I was inspired to make this photo series to help people see the individuals behind the animal-based products that most of us are accustomed to eating or using every day.
‘This formal style of portrait makes me think of paintings of kings and queens hanging in museums, and I think it helps people see the animals as equals, worthy of our respect and protection.’
Holmes says that by putting the hours in with the animals, she was able to get to know their unique personalities.
‘I spend a lot of time with the animals, often on repeat visits.
‘I watch them closely and encourage them to sniff me or lean in for a back scratch. I also try to learn as much as I can from their caregivers about each individual’s likes and dislikes.
However, Janet Holmes’ photographs aren’t merely interesting portraits of animals.
They speak to our demand for cheap animal products and raise questions about the ethics of intensive farming.
This is Bruce. (Picture: Janet Holmes)
In Britain alone, over a billion animals each year are killed each year in slaughterhouses.
Holmes says: ‘Intensive animal agriculture satisfies our demand for the inexpensive meat, milk and eggs that people have been socialised to think is normal, natural and tasty.
‘These intensive farming practices result in the cruel treatment of hundreds of billions of animals, but we shouldn’t forget that animals are exploited, and eventually killed, on small farms, too.
‘We have the power in our wallets to change this system. If we ask for, and pay for, alternatives to animal-based products, companies will respond to our demand.
‘We can be kinder to our animal friends by choosing food, clothing and other products that are made without exploiting animals.
‘No one is perfect. But you can spend a little time every day thinking about your specific choices of what to eat, wear and buy.
‘Imagine the animal behind the product and ask yourself if your actions are aligned with your values.
‘You can learn more about farm animals and how they are treated by visiting a farm sanctuary and you can support companies and restaurants that offer animal-free products and encourage your friends and family to try them out.’
Let’s meet the subjects of Janet Holmes’ unusual photo series.
Buddy the blind horse
He used to have panic attacks but now happily roams his field with his friend Mirage, another blind horse (Picture: Janet Holmes)
Clarice
Anyone else getting serious Queen Elizabeth I vibes? (Picture: Janet Holmes)
Scout and Zeke
Best friends for life (Picture: Janet Holmes)
Sadie
Gorgeous brown and white girl Sadie (Picture: Janet Holmes)
Freddy and Travis
Regal boys (Picture: Janet Holmes)
Scout
Janet credits Scout as her ‘muse’ because she can recognise human faces and always remembers the photographer (Picture: Janet Holmes)
Shy Girl
We feel you, Shy Girl (Picture: Janet Holmes)
Violet
Violet was saved from a makeshift farm-to-table slaughterhouse. (Picture: Janet Holmes)
Bartleby
Bartleby will stand on your feet until you give him a head scratch. (Picture: Janet Holmes)
Homles has another animal-centric series that focusses on chickens saved from the poultry industry who now live in the homes of their rescuers.
It’s one of the winners of The Fence: 2018, and is being exhibited in eight cities across the US and Canada.
British holidaymakers spend on average 22 hours and 36 minutes trying to take the perfect holiday photo on a nine-day trip, research has found.
While this includes editing it afterwards when they finally snap ‘the one’, the average Brit takes seven minutes and 12 seconds trying to take the perfect photo to impress their follows and on average the will be taking 21 photos a day.
The research developed by International Currency Exchange (ICE) says some people will try to take the same photo up to 13 times to try to get the perfect picture, before spending another five-and-a-half minutes editing the photo and thinking up a caption.
And it turns out social media is even influencing where people go and what people do. Nearly one in five will choose where to travel based on what they’ve seen online.
Others admitted that they will choose where to eat based on whether it’s going to make a pretty enough photo.
(Picture: Getty)
That means some people might really miss out on what they really want on the menu just to please their Instagram followers.
But all of this dedicated selfie-taking is doing us more harm than good, causing us extra stress, not something needed while on holiday.
More than a quarter of 18 to 24-year-olds even panic that their followers won’t be impressed by their holidays, worrying when they don’t get enough likes on their photos.
Louis Bridger, ICE general manager, said: ‘Our research shows that Brits go to extreme lengths to perfect their holiday photos, so much so that they spend almost an entire day of their break taking them and, in some cases, even base their holiday around what will get the best shot.
‘Our message to those who do worry about what others think is that they really shouldn’t have to.
‘We’re always our own worst critics and at the end of the day it’s all about enjoying yourself and capturing your memories.
Only 4.5% of commercial pilots in the UK are female.
Budget airline easyJet have launched a national campaign to inspire more girls to become airline pilots.
In a recruitment video, a famous of scene from the film Catch Me If You Can is re-imagined with a little girl in the role of Leonardo DiCaprio.
Nine-year-old Hannah Revie leads in place of DiCaprio, and is seen strolling through London Southend Airport arm in arm with flight attendants who are all boys.
The recruitment campaign comes off the back of research from Easyjet that shows how boys and girls are divided when it comes to career aspirations.
Boys were found to be significantly more likely to aspire to careers as pilots and, out of 500 pilots polled, more than half (55%) of the male pilots said they knew they wanted to fly by the age of 10, with 22% reporting that they were sold on the job at just five years old.
In contrast, only half of Easyjet’s female pilots had considered the career by the time they were 16, with others waiting until they were even older to think about flying, raising questions about why girls don’t feel that flying roles in aviation are within reach for them in the same way that boys do.
The lack of positive female pilots in TV and film may be part of the reason why girls don’t imagine themselves in the cockpit at a young age.
According to easyJet, Hollywood films depict men as pilots 90% of the time, with pilot roles in famous movies like Top Gun, The Aviator and Flyboys going to men alone.
All the kids in the Catch Up, If You Can video are children of easyJet employees. (Picture: Joe Pepler / PinPep)
They decided to re-shoot a scene from the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can, based on the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr. who impersonated an airline pilot (among many other ‘roles’), where Leonardo DiCaprio swaggers through an airport flanked by female stewardesses.
Hannah Revie, daughter of real Easyjet captain Emily, starred in Easyjet’s recruitment video, dubbed ‘Catch Up, If You Can’, and looked every inch the part in a mini pilot’s uniform.
Emily said: ‘When I was at school being a pilot was definitely considered a career for the boys and I was told to think about what else I could do as a job.
‘This misconception isn’t helped by Hollywood producers who have a habit of always putting male actors in the cockpit.
Leonardo Dicaprio flanked by female cabin crew members in Catch Me If You Can. (Picture: Snap Stills/REX/Shutterstock)
‘I’m really pleased to be taking part in an initiative to encourage more girls like Hannah to consider the career. I love my job and would recommend it to anyone.’
Easyjet hopes that the recruitment drive will encourage more girls to dream of becoming pilots and promote diversity in the cockpit.
There’s a significant gender imbalance in the aviation industry, evident in the roles that men and women gravitate towards and the existence of a huge gender pay gap.
Ryanair has the most substantial gap, with male employees earning 72% more an hour than their female counterparts.
In 2015, Easyjet launched the Amy Johnson initiative, leading to new entrant female pilot numbers more than doubling within two years, growing from 6% (2015) to 13% (2017).
By 2020, the airline hopes that 20% of new pilots joining Easyjet will be female.
Easyjet is also working with Girlguiding to offer an Aviation badge for Brownies and the firm has visited more than 150 schools and colleges in the last three years to encourage young women to consider becoming pilots.
Chris Browne, easyJet’s Chief Operations Officer, said: ‘It is clear from our research that changing perceptions and ambitions for women starts in school.
‘We wanted to create an entertaining but thought-provoking take on this famous movie scene, to inspire more girls to pursue this rewarding career.
‘We hope that our campaign inspires a new generation of pilots, challenges gender stereotyping and encourages more women to take to the skies.’
Hannah, Catch Up, If You Can’s star, said: ‘I think girls can do any job they want. I really enjoyed taking part in the film and it felt so exciting to wear a real pilot uniform like my mummy.
‘One day I could be a pilot just like her and also the fifth pilot in my family.’
From 3 September, the Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme is open for applications.
If you’re interested in becoming a pilot, you can find out more here.
A US school has gone against children being sent home for wearing ‘inappropriate’ clothing by doing away with a dress code altogether.
The Alameda Unified School District in California is embracing an ‘anti-dress code’ that champions self-expression and body positivity.
Students are no longer going to be penalised for wearing ripped jeans or showing their midriffs.
They won’t be punished for wearing formerly banned items, as long as their clothes cover ‘covers genitals, buttocks, and areolae/nipples with opaque material’.
Hats, torn jeans, tank tops and crops are now permitted, although anything with violent or illegal imagery, hate speech, swearing or pornography is still not acceptable.
According to the official Alameda Unified School District dress code, their new take on student attire is meant to ensure that students are able to dress without ‘fear of or actual unnecessary discipline or body shaming’.
Students should be able to dress in a way that’s ‘comfortable and conducive to an active school day’ and the dress code is meant to ‘support all students to develop a body-positive self image’.
These are radical statements considering that schools across North America have doubled down on student dress codes, banning ‘revealing’ items and even sending students home because their attire is deemed to be inappropriate for a learning environment.
The crackdown on student attire has focused largely on girls and young women, with the principle of a Chicago school even saying on tape that provocative dress from female students is connected to ‘sexual abuse’, suggesting that girls’ bodies and the clothes they choose to put on them are the reason that sexual assaults occur.
Bra straps, shoulders, cleavage and midriffs have all been singled out as ‘distracting’ to male classmates, leading to stricter dress codes and girls missing out on education because they’ve been isolated or asked to leave school property.
A report from the National Women’s Law Center shows that excessively gendered dress codes don’t just penalise girls more than boys – they are also disproportionately enforced against girls of colour.
Go to any department store’s “Juniors” section & you will find #croptops. Thanks to a change in the dress code, students of Alameda Unified School District can now wear them to class, along with tube tops & ripped pants. What do parents think about the change? @nbcbayarea 📺6PM pic.twitter.com/xUpTsOySGg
This concern about the attire of female students has sparked debate about whether schools are bodyshaming girls with increasingly prescriptive and gendered dress codes.
Susan Davis, spokesperson for the Alameda Unified School District, told ABC7 that the aim of the new dress code is to combat the ‘bodyshaming’ implicit in previous rules.
She admits that last year’s dress code affected female students more than their male counterparts, saying: ‘When you’re looking at things like how short are your shorts, are your shoulders showing, is your cleavage showing, that really means that girls are being punished more often and losing class time more often than a boy.’
The new Alameda dress code was based on a suggested policy from the Oregon chapter of the National Organisation For Women, and seeks to challenge the idea that girls’ bodies are a ‘distraction’ and what they’re wearing matters more than them getting an education.
The policy will be a ‘pilot’ for the 2018-19 school year and the school board will make a decision in May 2019 about whether or not to take on the policy permanently.
In the meantime, students will be able to express their individuality through their attire away from the ‘bodyshaming’ rules of old.
So far, no other schools or countries have followed suit.
September is shaping up to be a pretty busy month of new openings in London, especially after a quiet August.
Several restaurants that were slated to open earlier in the year have finally overcome delays, and are now scheduled to open in the coming month.
As well as celeb-owned digs that are pegged to be hotspots this autumn, it’s also a good month for those who love the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent.
So brace your palates, here are all the best places to check out in September.
Peter Joseph, formerly executive chef at the Michelin-starred Tamarind in Mayfair, is opening his first solo restaurant in Chelsea.
At Kahani, Joseph will be bringing to life the food from his native state in India, Tamil Nadu.
On the menu will be dishes like smoked Malabar prawns with coconut and Keralan spices and Gressingham duck with
coriander, apple chutney and kumquat salad.
Zela – the Ibiza restaurant that boasts celebrity owners including Cristiano Ronaldo, Enrique Iglesias and Rafael Nadal – is coming to the ME Hotel on the Strand.
Billed as ‘Meppon cuisine’ (that’s Japanese meets the Med), the menu features a fusion of dishes that actually takes inspiration from a few places around the world.
So while you’ll find your usual sushi selection, you’ll also discover some unusual combinations such as scallops with Ibicencan Sobrasada.
Bengali supper club Little Kolkata will be opening its first permanent site in London’s Covent Garden.
Its co-founders, Prabir Chattopadhyay and Biswajit Deb Das, both have Bengali roots and come from India and Bangladesh respectively.
The food is for sharing, and there are dishes such as maacher cutlet (a cod fish cutlet with mustard sauce) and truffle paratha to pick from.
Notable recent openings…
(Picture: Jessica Jill Partridge)
New to Islington is James Cochran’s new restaurant, 1251.
The Great British Menu chef is showcasing dishes that draw on his Scottish and West Indian heritage through a mixture of a la carte dishes, snacks and tasting menus.
And for bigger groups, his signature goat sharing board, featuring black-eyed pea dahl, roti, and scotch bonnet jam, will also be available.
(Picture: Elena Shamis)
After a bit of a delay, The Belrose has finally opened in Belsize Park.
The reinvented gastro-pub – a micro-brewery meets Italian restaurant sort of affair – takes inspiration from all over Italy, offering up pizzas alongside small plates like grilled Calabrian sausage.
And to wash it all down, they are serving up their own beer as well as craft numbers from around the world.
(Picture: Chiringuito)
Taking inspiration from the beach-front bars of Spain is Chiringuito in Bethnal Green.
But while there isn’t a view of the sea, there is a roof top terrace where you can enjoy a gin and tonic or three.
Food-wise, there are small and large plates to share, borrowing flavours from Spain as well as Latin America, including Mexico and Peru.
(Picture: Veerle Evens)
Hotel Indigo has launched a new rooftop terrace that’s inspired by 1920s Shanghai, at least in decor.
The menu is largely European, with breakfast, lunch and dinner all served with a view of Leicester Square.
But you will probably want to stop in for a cocktail, it’s quite a spot for a sundowner.
Lewis, who studied at the Royal College of Art, invented bite-sized liquid balls to get the fluids in her system.
And the adorable granny loves them. She was filmed munching away on the brightly coloured treats and Lewis even joined in.
Hydration is a tricky business for elderly people, particularly for those with dementia:
‘Memory problems mean someone with dementia can easily forget to drink enough water,’ Alzheimer’s Society said.
‘The part of the brain that recognises you’re dehydrated and sends a message to let you know you’re thirsty doesn’t always work properly. Some medications and dementia-related illnesses can also make dehydration worse.’
(Picture: Jelly Drops)
Lewis consulted dementia psychologists and doctors before he made the hydrating product as part of his Innovation Design Engineering degree.
‘For people with dementia the confusion and sleepiness caused by dehydration are often mistakenly attributed to their underlying condition, meaning it can often go unnoticed until it becomes life-threatening,’ Lewis explained on the college’s website.
After visiting his gran, he noticed that care home residents struggled to eat when presented with a plate of food and needed assistance. But when it came to eating with their hands, they were more intuitive.
When he gave a box of chocolates to the residents, they instinctively knew what to do.
‘Residents who were otherwise disengaged with their environment would light up and gratefully accept a treat when offered, with many taking multiple,’ he said.
‘There is something about this format that excites people with dementia, they instantly recognise it and know how to interact with it.’
How to prevent dehydration in dementia patients
Leave glasses or jugs of water within easy reach. This is especially important for people with limited mobility, who aren’t able to get up and make themselves a drink.
Make drinking easier. Have a clear glass so the person can see what’s inside (this may not work so well with water) or a brightly coloured cup to draw attention. Make sure the glass is within the line of sight. Having a glass that is suitable (not too heavy or an odd shape) can help. Straws might also be a good idea.
Make drinking a social occasion. Have a cup of tea or an ice lolly with the person and make sure they’re drinking during mealtimes.
Leave reminders. Make sure someone with dementia remembers to drink regularly by leaving notes out for them or putting up notices around the house. You could also set up a phone reminder or set an alarm clock.
Provide high water content foods. Supplement water and other drinks with foods that are high in fluids. Some good options include jelly, ice cream, soup and fruit such as melon.
Now, there’s a crowdfunding page to help Lewis upscale production to help other dementia sufferers get some vital fluids.
So far, over £2,132 out of a targeted £5,000 has been raised.
After Lewis shared the video of his grandmother happily munching the jelly sweets, demand has grown.
‘I appreciate many would like to try these now but unfortunately, they are not available to buy at the moment,’ said Lewis on the Jelly Drops Facebook page.
‘I am currently conducting further trials and looking for potential funding options to put them into production.’
You can help Lewis raise the funds by visiting the Justgiving page.
Starbucks took to Instagram to reveal the Pumpkin Spice Latte’s comeback.
The limited edition festive drink is a firm favourite on the Starbucks menu, with people taking to Instagram everyday to snap photos of it.
What they didn’t make clear straight away, even though it’s an earlier launch than ever before, were the countries that it’s launching in.
Taking to their Twitter, the coffee chain wrote: ‘Fall, is it really you? Pumpkin Spice Latte is bask. #PSL’
But it’s only in the US for now
So yes, if you live across the pond, you can already get your hands on the drink which is blended with autumnal spices.
But there’s currently no news as to whether it’ll be making an early release to the UK too – though we have reached out to Starbucks to ask what the plan is for the UK.
But don’t worry, if you’re desperate to get your hands on a hot, autumn inspired drink now the weather’s getting colder, Costa has got your back.
The store has just released a new Bonfire Spiced drinks range.
It features a latte which has hints of toffee and spices and comes topped with caramel and cinnamon. Then, there’s the bonfire-spiced hot chocolate, blended with bonfire syrup and spices.
If you don’t fancy a hot drink, you can also opt for a cold brew instead. It features the same recipe, but comes topped with whipped milk.
So, while the PSL might not be back just yet, at least we’ve got something to keep us holding on until it is.
Added to the long list of Oreo flavours are hot chicken wing and wasabi.
Mondelēz Internationa tweeted the news, calling it ‘innovation sensation’.
‘Oreo just launched two new big and bold flavors; hot chicken wing and wasabi!’ it said.
Accordingly, the new tastes come in an orange filling for the chicken flavour and green for the wasabi.
No, we’re not sure either.
There are now over 50 flavours of Oreo around the world though not all the varieties are available in one single country, with variety the spice of life.
It might not sound like your usual sweet treat but the folks at Mondelēz International, Oreo’s parent company, might just know what they’re doing.
(Picture: Mondelez Intl)
If that sounds like something you want to get your teeth into, then bad news, it’s only available in China.
And there are no plans to roll it out elsewhere, Yue Fe, the corporate affairs contact for China told Metro.co.uk.
‘There is no plan to sell into other countries,’ she said.
‘We are dedicated to provide new products that meet local market trends and young people’s needs. The newly launched Oreo wasabi and Oreo spicy chicken wing biscuits are the new flavours recently developed by the Suzhou Technical Center of Mondelēz China.
‘During our market research, we learned that savory and spicy flavours in China’s snacks industry has big potential, and especially spicy flavour is very popular amongst young people. This triggered our idea.’
(Picture: Mondelez Intl)
Some people online questioned whether it was an elaborate joke by the company but many were quite curious to taste it.
‘I would love to try them, especially the wasabi one. Please bring them to Canada!’ wrote one user. ‘I’d try the wasabi cookies just cause I love spicy things,’ said another.
Most were cautious and one person was already thinking about gifting it to others; ‘Thank the lord I’m going to China in October. Bringing these back to offend my friends in the UK,’ she said.
Would you try the bold new flavours?
Other bold Oreo flavours
There’s no one comprehensive list of all the options but here’s 10 of the flavours we might say pass to:
