The Hierarchy of Retail

In a world full of competing females on Instagram with there perfect bodies and their trendy clothes you won't find me in the nearest Topshop. Instead I'll be hiding in my comfort zone; the sale section of New Look.

The hierarchy of retail is something which baffles me; if you're not buying the latest eye shadow palette for £30 then you're not fashionable. If you're not buying the latest laced top which 80% of females now own then you're not fashionable. If you don't rejig your wardrobe every few months, keeping only the trendy items then sorry, you're not fashionable.

But who defines what's fashionable to me? Surely, the simple answer is me.

Of course we each have our preferences of where we want to shop otherwise Tesco and Sainsbury's would dominate the fashion industry.

Fashion is one thing, sure I would like to be deemed fashionable but the question is can I actually afford it?

Why spend £20 on a jumper when I could wait a while and get it in the sale for £10? It is rare that I splash my cash on clothes costing more than £15 as a regular occurrence but as always there are exceptions. Last November I found myself parting with £22 for the sake of an absolutely gorgeous black jumpsuit.

It was very much a love at first sight kind of buy; a rarity in my life. Many retail encounters makes me second guess the price and often leads to the sad and lonely walk to return the clothing to the rail.

But I would rather return items there and then than take them home, put them in my wardrobe and never wear them again.

But I would rather that than purchasing the latest must-have buy for the sake of being deemed hip (if hip can even be considered a compliment anymore, am I just living in the 1990's?)

And don't even get me started on the trend of online shopping. How the damn hell am I meant to know if that dress on boohoo.com fits me or not? How do I know the ASOS top isn't going to far too tight on my boobs to actual be acceptable to wear?

Online shopping, for me, is one big no.

Despite my everlasting love for the New Look sales (which isn't a bad thing to love because when it leaves you it's only for a few weeks before the next season's sale is on) there is one thing which I will forever love just that little bit more; charity shops (sorry Jack).

Ok it might not be the things you're looking for or what you need but who actually leaves a shop with only stuff they need anyway? Yes I'm talking about you £1.95 toast rack I purchased just last week.

Maybe one day I'll have the confidence (and money) to splash the cash and become a fashionista. But, in the meantime, the sale rails will do me just fine.

--- Aimee ---

Two Years Meat Free

'Don't you ever miss meat?'

'Blimey, I couldn't do that'

'But surely you eat fish?'

'You aren't really making a difference'

Welcome to this blog post that I am going to describe as 'things vegetarians are tired of hearing'.

As I embark upon my second year being vegetarian, I am becoming more and more aware of the issues, views and stigmas around the subject and, with this understanding I have complied a little list on some issues for for you to dwell upon.

Misusing the word 'vegetarian'
There is a lot of confusion surrounding the idea of vegetarianism which is largely due to a misuse of the word. Vegetarianism is simply defined as the practise of not eating fish or meat. However, vegetarian is used too broadly in society, often covering those who eat fish also.

Although less commonly known, there is word for this; pesciterian. Labelling those who consume fish products as vegetarians causes a lot of confusion among non-vegetarians. This misconception of the idea means that my restaurant experiences consists of me naming myself as a vegetarian and, when then offered the range of fish dishes on the menu, having to state that, actually, I don't eat fish either. Let's not talk about the restaurants which present fish dishes with the vegetarian 'V' next to them.

It shouldn't be this difficult, the word literally means no fish or meat. Stop. Offering. Me. Fish.

Questioning my decision
Some take the opportunity of my dietary preferences to decide for me what I should or shouldn't like/miss/feel. I have made a decision to be vegetarian. If at any point I wish to revert that decision I can.

Please stop asking me if I miss meat and am tempted to eat it again. It is none of your business that Christmas rolls around and pigs in blankets makes me regret giving up meat (for about 5 seconds before I remind myself that animals have been murdered and that is not right.)

If you are genuinely interested in my reasoning then please, ask away. However, if you are just going to mock me, belittle me and interrogate me then please stop wasting your time. If I ever decide to alter my decision it will be my choice and not because Jim in the pub told me I should.

Lack of choice
When I go out to restaurants of course I don't expect the entire menu to be meat and fish free but I do expect some choice. Please don't completely take away my ability to choose what I want to eat. Meat eaters can also opt for these options so please don't make them so limited. It seems almost laughable that Nandos, a restaurant specialising in chicken, has more to offer me than major chain restaurants.

And don't even get me started on the children's menus which exclusively offers meat dishes.

The pointlessness
You always get the pessimistic meat eaters who believe that you're fighting a lost cause and that no number of conversions to meat free diets will make a change. Or they belief that 'the animals will be killed anyway' so what does it matter if you eat them or not. But it does matter because less people purchasing meat means less demand for meat which means less meat being produced aka a change.

Maybe if Tesco were to advertise vegetarianism people would understand that 'every little helps'.

But you're assuming that I'm trying to make some global change. I know that everyone isn't going to stop eating meat tomorrow but because I think its wrong; I'm not the naive. I'm just trying to do my bit to be a better person and help out in any way I can.

Saving the planet would be nice but so would passing my a-levels; it's not top of my agenda right now.

The stereotypical vegetarian
As with any personal preference which distinguishes you from another person, there is no rule book on what you should be.

We won't call you out every time you chose meat over the veggie option (well not all of us anyway.) Of course sometimes it is necessary, after all if we don't make a stand how do we expect more people to become aware and change their ways?

We won't throw up at the sight of meat. As a waitress it would prove difficult if this were the case. I understand and respect that some people will chose to eat meat no matter what horrible stories you tell them and, just as it is no place for them to tell me what to do, it is no place for me to tell them what to do either.

And we don't all go around protesting animal testing and animal rights either. Sure, animal rights are important but there just aren't enough hours in the day. If people want to do that then be my guest but I'll do my bit by choosing the cheaper, meat free option from Pizza Express thanks.

Nor do we all think we are better simply because we cut out meat. Sure, we could be considered more caring, more aware but not altogether 'better'.

So please, please, please stop with the questions; it's my choice, not yours.

--- Aimee ---