Skinny models!

After a very long season, which began in mid June and only ended last weekend, even though to be honest, I still have 2 more clients to see - one in Milan and one in London, my dear colleague will do the appointments for me - thanks JB :-)

Show after show, both mens and women, the models are really, really skinny. When I spoke to a colleague in Milan about the shows, her comment was that there body was the same size as my 13 year old daughter! For me, the comment of the year - Suzy Menkes (fashion editor at the International Herald Tribune), commenting on the Prada show where several models struggled to walk the walk, maybe due to the heels or maybe their lack of nutrition! "................ the unfortunate model, whose figure, folding up like a pipe cleaner as she hit the concrete floor, made even the most seasoned fashionista squirm."

This brings a smile to my face every time - keep up the good work Ms Menkes - I love it!

Single By Choice!

A few weeks ago, I had lunch with a female friend who is in her 30's, single and attractive. At the start of the lunch she told me she was happy being single and she enjoyed her freedom. I then asked her whether she missed the intimacy of being in a loving relationship - and when I looked into her eyes I knew the answer!

If you believe what you read in the newspapers, then there has never been a better time to be a single man or woman. The term "spurmos" - straight, proud, unmarried men over 30 - is new to me, also "freemales" - women who are too busy having a good time to worry  or have time for relationships. I wonder how many spurmos and freemales are in my network of friends?

The stereotype of the single woman is of someone crying into her Chardonnay as she watches another episode of her Sex and the City box set, the stereotype of the single man is someone gallivanting through town from one wild and sexual affair to another.

In my opinion, both men and women want the same things: intimacy, the sense that there is someone to whom you are the most important person in the world, the person you call first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. Being single gives you freedom, but the truth is never like the fantasy :-) 

Are you single by choice?

Bitter Women

Time and time again I am hearing from my male friends about their ex. wife/girlfriends using their children as buffers against their true feelings of anger and "hate".

Today, I was contacted by my buddy in Berlin, who recently split up from his long time girlfriend, as he found a "younger model". All was going fine, he thought until yesterday, when she told him when he was about to collect his 18 month old son, that "she thinks it best that he only sees his son twice a week". Now tell me is this fair?

The father's role in a child's life has an important influence on the child's self-image, capacity to form positive relationships and moral development.

At the time of separation and divorce, mothers are often overwhelmed by the demands of a single parenthood and unable to provide for all the psychological or emotional needs of their children. In such cases, a continued relationship with an involved father can provide additional reassurance and nurturing during this difficult period. Boys who have lost close ties with their fathers often attain lower levels of academic achievement, have difficulty developing a healthy masculine self-image and demonstrate rebellious, aggressive and impulsive behaviour. Girls in this situation often have greater difficulty establishing and maintaining healthy and satisfying love relationship with males. They also tend to become sexually active at a younger age and have more sexual partners than girls whose fathers remain actively involved in their lives.

Daniel H. Swerdlow-freed, Ph.D