Reading the works of Richard Dawkins is like taking a breath of fresh air. His prose is lucid (yet engaging, accessible, and at times very funny), his examples so vivid, his attacks on religion so vigorous and meticulously constructed… the experience is, well, akin to a religious one. Dawkins would recoil at that suggestion, but all I mean is that this is the sort of writing that propels you to a state of profound intellectual bliss. No dry, plodding polemic, Dawkins’ The God Delusion positively crackles with energy, and it brilliantly demonstrates (through its elated rationalism) the wonder and ecstasy available to those who regard the world with scientific detachment.

Dawkins is often attacked for being an egoist (a verbally aggressive atheist fundamentalist who is not even curious about what religious experience feels like, and a self-important bully so slavishly dedicated to his cause he’ll resort to ridiculing anyone who thinks differently) but it’s difficult not to be swayed after reading The God Delusion. It’s full of ‘aha, yes!’ moments, when something you’ve always believed is articulated, elegantly, right on the page in front of you. Take, for example, his responses to a number of philosophical arguments for the existence of God. These arguments (such as The Argument from Beauty, The Argument from Personal Experience, and The Argument From Design) have troubled philosophers for centuries. Dawkins makes it his business to debunk them one by one, and it’s splendid reading. The Ontological Argument is as follows-:

1. It is possible to conceive of a perfect being
2. It is more perfect to exist than not to exist
3. God is perfect
4. Therefore, God exists!

If you’re like me, you would immediately recognize that this is a terrible argument, but you’d perhaps have to ponder a little to explain why. Dawkins repeatedly and persistently explains each argument in defence of God’s existence. His antenna for flawed logic is excellent, and his disdain is palpable, so you can’t help but be swept along and laugh with him at all those theological loonies.

Dawkins also discusses the violence and oppression that stems from dogmatic religious belief, without dwelling on it (this much discussed externality is a favorite atheist trump card, and probably the least original section of Dawkins’ book) and makes a compelling argument that not only the Old Testament but also the New Testament (hence, the whole bible) is deeply immoral. He mentions the story of a traveling Levite and his concubine, from the book of Judges. The two travelers find refuge with a hospitable old man, whose house is invaded during the night by the men of Sodom. The men wish to (what else?) sodomize the male houseguest, but the host intervenes:

‘Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house do not this folly. Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you; but unto this man do not so vile a thing.’ (Judges 19: 23- 4)

Dawkins mentions this as one example of the Bible’s deep misogynist ethos, claiming:

‘I find the phrase ‘humble ye them’ particularly chilling. Enjoy yourselves by humiliating and raping my daughter and this priest’s concubine, but show a proper respect for my guest who is, after all, male.’

He provides great analysis of several more of the Bible’s unpalatable passages (referring to it cheekily as the ‘Good’ Book, in inverted commas) and the reader is left newly cognizant of how and why religion continues to breed such hate and intolerance. Read The God Delusion for sparkling prose, razor sharp arguments and a glimpse of the more robust morality that could be achieved in a post-religious world.

Text © Sandra Hajda

Books atheist, belief, bible, book, dogma, genesis, god, immorality, infinite, moral, mystic, mysticism, new testament, old testament, religion, Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, the universe, universal knowledge, unknown

Designer Mimi Plange agreed to share her vision with Chic Today in this one-on-one interview, revealing to us her vision, direction, and future plans as Boudoir D’huitres is globally launched everywhere from Paris and New York to Tokyo and London. Straight to the heart of this woman’s passion, Mimi Plange, who emigrated to the United States as a child from Ghana, has realized more than “The American Dream”, but has taken her dream globally. We are honoured to share the candid vision of Mimi Plange’s Boudoir D’huitres.

Chic Today: What is the source of your vision for your collection?

Mimi Plange: My vision lies within the curiosity of myself. The source is my development and self discovery. It’s the creation of me that is constantly changing and evolving. The manifestation of this vision is the oyster. Its beauty, its creation from something outside of itself, not so pure, not so symmetrical and not so perfect, but at the same time containing and creating a beautiful pearl. This is how I see my life, and my collection. It is a vision of constant growth creating garments that last, and are constructed perfectly and are unique and seductive for the consumer and for myself. We are all infinitely beautiful, and my collection is the shell enveloping the body.

CT: Tell us about your collection and what you have planned for the future?

MP: My current collection, Dinner in Future Victoria, is a spin on Victorian details and modern clean lines. The corset is showcased: it cinches around the waist and the bustline, giving support and molding around the curves and peaks of the female body. I love silhouettes that slim the body, and accentuate the natural line. The natural line of a woman’s body is tempting, and boldly inviting. Boudoir D’huitres’ garments wrap and conform to the body, hiding, yet revealing what is within. For Spring/Summer 09, I am looking to add a futuristic spin on Alice in Wonderland. The tale will be that of a young girl, however not so young, lost in a wonderland of femininity, longing, and lust. This collection will showcase a quiet form of sexy, not in-your-face, but there . . . waiting, and silently calling. During fashion week, we will host an intimate dinner party with beautiful “Alices”.

CT: Describe the type of woman your designs appeal to.

MP: My line is for the modern confident woman. She is a smart woman who has defined her own beauty and lives by her own rules. Perhaps unpleased with the labels that society would like for her to conform to or be identified by, she is looking for beautiful and timeless clothing made with meticulous craftsmanship, clothing that is simply that. She is not a billboard for any brand. She is her own brand, identified through herself, everything else radiates around her, including her clothes that she wears. She is not looking for a label to define her. The new luxury is self worth, and the Boudoir D’huitres’ woman knows that. She is a strong woman who wants beautifully made clothes that are personalized for her ever-changing and evolving style, but is rooted in tradition and classically derived. She uses clothing to accentuate her own self. She is strong, and knows what she wants. She is a world travelLer, passionate, sexy, and definitely not afraid to use her power of seduction.

CT: Tell us about your journey into fashion.

MP: From a young age, I was always attracted to fashion, art and music. My mother was a great source of inspiration. She modeled in Ghana, and had her own sense of feminine, over the top style. I was attracted to her clothing, her jewelry, and her lifestyle. I would daydream about the clothes in her old photographs. Where was she going dressed like that? Who would she meet? How did she feel? Fashion gave me a way to escape my reality, build stories around clothing, travel to new worlds with a traditional embroidery, or seam detail. Fashion was something that brought me great pleasure . . . it still is. I started making clothes for myself and friends. I wasn’t sure if I could make fashion a career, at a young age it seemed so grand, but after architecture school, I felt a yearning, the passion for fashion was too strong. I decided to go to fashion school. I needed to fulfill my dream.

CT: How much does sensuality play into your creations?

MP: Sensuality is everything! I use it to create and to play and it is a major component to my work. The oyster, a natural aphrodisiac, has properties that are intoxicating and seductive. These elements are added to my garments in a quiet way. The sensuality is subtle but always present. When you look at an oyster, it is not obvious-the beauty it possesses, the ability to seduce, yet it is there. My clothing is not overt, it is intriguing to the eye, so that one must dare to look closer … details that bring your eye to the curve of the natural female line, clothing that creates the ultimate desire for she who wears it, and the eyes that are lucky enough to gaze upon her. That to me is real seduction, it takes the mind, and it is seduction of your intelligence-the mystery of what lies beneath. Sensuality is key to desire, and to me clothing that isn’t desirable, isn’t worth making.

Image courtesy of Boudoir D’huitres. Photographer: Oluwaseye

Fashion Boudior D'huitres, Fashion, Marilyn Campiz, Mimi Plange

Simon Le Bon, Red Carpet Massacre Tour, Malta.

I often say that the best plan is not to plan. And true to form, last night I had very little in the way of plans. Yet all it took was a few calls and before I knew it, I found myself being whisked off to the Duran Duran concert with VIP tickets and backstage passes in hand. In fact, this legendary band (self-described as ‘the Sex Pistols meets Chic’) was performing at the Luxol Grounds, their final stop in their Red Carpet Massacre European Tour.

Over 9,000 enthusiastic fans filled the outdoor venue, and the warm evening air was electric with anticipation. By 9:30, the pop rock band made its appearance on stage, unleashing screams of excitement from the crowd. The band (minus Andy Taylor) had Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor whip up a frenzy, performing legendary hits from their 30-year music career as well as more recent songs from their latest album.

From backstage, I managed to catch an exclusive glimpse of John, Dom and Roger as they warmed up with an impromptu jam session which was as impressive as their concert…

Music concert, Duran Duran, Luxol Grounds, Malta, Red Carpet Massacre, Simon Le Bon

Think ‘mp3 player’ and many of us will automatically think of those sleek, white I-pods which have now invaded metropolises globally. Yet as much as I love the designs and products created by the fabulous people over at Apple, I also celebrate diversity and uniqueness. Here are a handful of truly funky mp3 players which are sure to have you bobbing your head to the beats and catching quite a few stares…

Image courtesy of Bang & Olufsen

Made from stainless steel and glass, the BeoSound 6 by Bang & Olufsen (above) is one very sexy little number. Light, portable, and with a battery life that will last you the longest of commutes, the sound quality is impeccable.

When it comes to technology, no one does it better than the Japanese. Sony’s versatile Walkman® Video Mp3 player allows you to not only listen to your favourite albums, but also allows you to download and watch an infinite amount of videos and photographs. And if you (like me) get sick of hearing the same albums whilst lazing by the beach, you can tune in to the radio. Their pink bonbon version (left) is my absolute favourite.

At first glance, Creative’s Zen X-Fi looks like a very thin digital camera. But in fact this innovative player is able to hold over 4,000 songs (8GB) and comes with an uber-cool pair of earphones designed to improve the clarity of your music. This too allows you to store videos and photos, and includes an fm radio. What’s more, the built-in speakers allow you to share everything whilst on the road (perfect for those very long and dull car journeys).

Perhaps some of you many never have heard of iRiver, but this Korean powerhouse makes one very snazzy mp3 player. Its Clix Gen2 has a high-quality display screen and can store up to 8GB of material. It weighs a mere 55g, and comes with a long list of extras: an alarm clock, fm radio, voice recorder, equalizer, Macromedia Flash Player and Flash games. What more could you want?

Living Bang & Olufsen, Creative, i-pod, iRiver, mp3 player, Music, Sony, technology

What is a summer without a healthy and glowing skin? Luckily there are plenty of products on the market to help us achieve that, but which to pick?
I’ve made a selection of my favourites to help you look after your body in summer and beyond!

Every body care regime should start with a good exfoliator – L’Oreal Exfotonic is an excellent gel exfoliator that is very refreshing and efficient in getting rid of old and dull skin!

Slather the skin in body moisturiser – Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Souffle Body Crème is pure luxury to be had - it contains the vitamins A, E  and F for nourishment and shea butter for moisturising.

Clinique Water Therapy Whipped Body Cream is another body cream worth splashing out for – it will leave skin as smooth as silk!

This bikini season is a perfect time to make use of all the slimming products around and there are quite a few ones that are working, such as Shiseido Body Creator Aromatic Sculpting Concentrate that combines the use of aroma effects with the physical use of massage.

Another highly effective cream that I would recommend is Institut Estherderm Bio-Svelt Body Shaping Multi-Target Cream, a truly powerful treatment cream that targets localised fat deposits and stubborn cellulite. The shops are struggling to keep this cream in stock as it keeps selling out – a sure sign it works!

A new revolutionary product has come to my attention that promises to increase the bust size without going under the knife – Rodial Boob Job with regular use will increase a cup size by 8.4% - not a bad result in my book, especially as the product will both lift and firm the bust and decollete areas!

One of the most neglected areas of the body are the hands so give them all the TLC they deserve by using Crème de La Mer The Hand Treatment! The hands are vulnerable to harmful elements like the sun, cold and pollution – The Hand Treatment will soothe the skin on contact while working to resurface and protect even the driest hands! Hands are more vulnerable to external elements, like sun, wind and cold – The Hand Treatment soothes the skin on contact while protecting the driest of hands.

Beauty & Make-Up aromatic sculpting concentrate, body cream, body exfoliator, body lotion, Body skincare, clinique, Creme de la Mer, glowing skin, hand cream, institut estherderm, l'oreal exfotonic, laura mercier body souffle, rodial boob job, shiseido body creator, the hand treatment, water therapy