Author Questions Personal Bravery, Critiques Media and Fashion Trends

Alexandra Shulman, in her latest notebook, ponders the nature of bravery in the wake of a terrifying plane hijacking attempt, questioning her own capacity for heroism in life-threatening situations. She contrasts the actions of those who intervened on the flight with her own inclination towards self-preservation, admitting she would likely succumb to panic.

Shulman also examines the concept of bravery in the context of personal disclosure, particularly concerning her new book, 'Black Coffee And Red Lipstick: Notes On Living.' She dismisses the notion that revealing intimate details about her life, including her experiences with cancer and personal relationships, is brave, suggesting instead that it is cathartic and perhaps even a form of oversharing. She draws a line at exposing others' private lives, respecting their autonomy over their own narratives.

The author then turns her attention to current trends and media commentary. She finds a recent BBC report, which linked unadorned nails to "white supremacy" and classism, to be "utterly ludicrous." Shulman explains the current popularity of nude nails as a natural swing of the fashion pendulum away from extreme decoration, noting that this minimalist look still requires significant maintenance.

Transitioning to linguistic trends, Shulman observes the recent resurgence of the word "vibes," noting its prevalence in political discourse, particularly at the Labour conference. She anticipates its potential appearance at the upcoming Conservative Party conference, questioning whether it signifies substantive policy or mere positive sentiment.

A critique is also leveled at the Green Party's decision to remove words like "mothers and fathers," "homosexual," and "lunatic" from their pre-conference vocabulary, deeming the initiative "deluded."

Finally, Shulman shares her ambivalent relationship with the television show 'The Celebrity Traitors.' While admitting to being initially hooked, she found herself losing interest when the show's premise required contestants to adopt exaggerated personas. Despite this, she anticipates tuning in for host Claudia Winkleman's fashion and acknowledges Jerry Hall's brief but memorable appearance.