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valentine's| FASHION |FOR VICTORYYes it’s Valentine’s Day again - the candy floss time of year that makes a divinityout of couples while singletons morph into pariahs. The real winners of courseare the business movers and shakers that have long gone global. Yet the crasscommercialisation of V-Day rarely dents the intentions of the ones who are dead seton treating the love of their life with something special. By Noemi ZarbWe certainly live in an age where men too shoptill they drop and where male groomingdoesn’t question their virility. There’s ahell of a lot to celebrate about this.But the upsurge ofmales spendingmore time infront of themirror doesnot guaranteethat the manin your life isbound to havegood taste, or tobe more precise, youridea of good taste.Gender difference partly explains why, unless it’s a date, mostnerds grab whatever comes first and wear it without thinking twiceabout what they look like. Hopelessly dated and tatty jackets, awfult-shirts, wrinkled trousers rather than knife-edged creases, vile,holey socks, shoes that haven’t seen a shine since they first crossedthe shop counter, hideous underwear. These are staples in many aregular guy’s wardrobe. Passé or not - very, very few have the bodyand the panache to carry off an unshaven face plus razored heador trailing, dishevelled locks. Same goes for those sleeveless ribbedvests. Even the ones who take pains with their garb have problemsto mix ‘n’ match a winning get-up, for it’s a biological fact that 70% ofthe male sex is colour blind.Women are wired differently. Genetically and socially programmedto look their best anytime, every time (equally impossible of course),they have no qualms in embracing the hottest fashion trends andburning their pockets to achieve the latest look and suffer to lookbeautiful. And so the war of the sexes heats up whether your nerddresser is gorgeous or standard-issue.Nor is the conflict resolved by going beyond the surface imageand relishing the essentially good nature of your mate. No amount ofacceptance all round undoes the fact that nerd dressing irks womenbecause it crushes their ego. Meaning your fashion flop is a hugeembarrassment and a damning judgement on your taste - or lack ofit. That the nerd is truly smitten with you fades into a choke-full fury ofrankled feelings.The only way out is to resort to creative (read devious) measuresthat steer clear from open and biting criticism. The first obviousmove is to buy him stuff without making a fuss about it. So forgetany ideas of hijacking his credit card. Be clever and patient byflirting your way (what better time than Valentine’s?) into persuadinghim that what he’s wearing is not as cute as what you’ve justbought him.Next, secretly move your pet hate clothes into the darkest cornersof the wardrobe, blaming a fit of spring cleaning for the upheavaland promising to look for the sorely cherished item as soon as youhave time. Of course you never will. Plot an accidentally-on-purposeirredeemable stain, especially if you’re still living apart and cannot getto his wardrobe.But don’t spoil your efforts by wholesale dumping for this will haveyou lose your battle before it’s begun. Rather stick to the super subtlegame and get down to extra deep-breathing exercises that will pumpup your strength for the next round - post February 14.L&s | february ’09 27
| bits |CARNIVALThis year’s carnival will take placebetween the 20 th and 24 th February.There will be new events such asa Grand Festival planned for the21 st February which will kick offaround 18.30 in Valletta untilthe early hours. There will bealso dances and celebrations allaround the city.Here are some of the highlightswhich you can enjoy. Further updates can be found by logging onto www.maltaculture.com or email antonmiceli@maltaculture.comFriday, 20 th February 200918.00 hrs Carnival Dancing Competitions in Freedom Square,Valletta including a spectacular défilé with the participation ofthe King Carnival Float, Carnival Band and sets of GrotesqueMasks. (Enclosure Tickets €3.50)Saturday, 21st February 200909.30 hrs Children’s Carnival in Freedom Square, Valletta. Asuccession of dances performed by children, float défilés andmerriment all along Republic Street, Valletta, including theprocession of floats in Freedom Square (Enclosure Tickets €5.00)18.30 hrs Carnival Dancing Competitions including aspectacular show of the King Carnival Float and Triumphal andCompany Floats in Freedom Square (Enclosure Tickets €8.00)18.00 hrs Carnival Band Parade all along Valletta main streets20.00 hrs Carnival Parties in St. George’s Square, MarketSquare, St. John’s Square and all along Republic, Merchant andSt. John’s Streets with the participation of 2009 Carnival floatsand dancing companies. (Activities will last up to the earlyhours of Sunday morning)Sunday 22 nd February, 200914.30 hrs Selection of the Carnival Dancing Competitions inFreedom Square, Valletta including a spectacular grand défiléwith the participation of the King Carnival Float, Triumphaland Company Floats, bands and Grotesque Masks all alongMerchants Street, St. John’s Street, and Republic Street followedby the défilé in Freedom Square. (Enclosure Tickets €10.00)LOVE QUOTESJust in case you’re opting for a handmade card!‘’No cord or cable can draw so forcibly, or bind so fast, as love cando with a single thread’’ Robert Burton‘’The love we give away is the only love we keep’’ Elbert Hubbard‘’Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without andknow we cannot live within’’ James Baldwin‘’Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.’’Kahlil GibranGET GARLICKY!Add some garlic to your dinner. Top nutritionists say that garlic isone of nature’s antibiotics. Clinical trials have shown that garlic’simmune-boosting properties are due to the sulphur compoundsfound in allicin, an antioxidant that’s released when fresh garlicis crushed. Studies also point out however, that you can getsimilar benefits from cooked garlic – ‘as long as the bulbs sitout for a few minutes after peeling’, says Karen Knowler, head ofThe Fresh Network, Europe’s largest raw food organisation.If you can’t stomach the taste of garlic, there are various alternatives in tablet form, availablefrom leading pharmacies or health shops.WHAT WE DON’T WANTON ST. VALENTINE’S DAYEveryone knows that February 14 th is the day, so there’s no need for panic-stricken, last-minutepurchases. Plan ahead and try to be different. Ok so we know that ideally love shouldbe showered throughout the year, but if you want to be romantic, wejust don’t appreciate it if you shower us with: An off-the-shelf tacky valentine card. Carnations past their glorious bloom, bought on the wayback from work. Tickets to see your favourite band. Underwear in the size we were in our heyday. And whilstyou’re at it forget the tacky sort resplendent with ribbons. Cash to get our own gift. It shows a real lack ofimagination. Anything useful for the house – even if it comes heart-shaped(no, not even a heart-shaped pinny!)LIFEBITSHELPING KIDS ON EXAM DAYMake sure that your kids get a good night’s rest so that they will feel alert.Children should eat regular meals, since the brain requires glucose tofunction effectively. Make sure they eat lunch or have a snack if they havean afternoon test.Feed your childrena good source ofprotein for breakfaste.g. a hard-boiledegg, porridgeoats with nuts,wholemeal bread.Try to ease off someof the anxiety by notputting too muchpressure. Theyshould be madeaware what it feels like to take a test but should be also reassured thatthey are prepared to take it.L&s | february ’09 29
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