Who’s afraid of pithair?
It didn’t start out as a statement. It just kinda happened. I haven’t been out of the house for three months while recovering from back surgery. I feel like I should hang my head in shame as I admit that shaving my armpits was absolutely not high on my list of priorities. In fact, it…
Intergenerationele vrouwen, een fototentoonstelling van Juan Martin Monte Casablanca
English translation below. Juan Martin Monte Casablanca groeide op in Argentinië, waar hij al snel in aanraking kwam met fotografie en genderpolitiek. Samen met beeldhouwer Marc Janssens stelt hij zijn eerste expositie in België voor in DeRUIMTE te Turnhout. Reeds als kind gebruikte Monte Casablanca fotografie als persoonlijk emotioneel en intellectueel expressiekanaal. Door te werken…
Whatever the result is, this referendum has changed Ireland forever
Friday May 25th, the people of Ireland will take to the polls to decide if the 8ththth Amendment should be removed from the constitution. This amendment states: “The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to…
It seems that Ireland hates women
This morning a friend sent me a photo of a Belgian newspaper article and I cried. I have been involved in the Irish women’s rights struggle for years, but seeing it covered in a Belgian newspaper, in the language of my adopted country, hit me in a way I didn’t expect. This is for everyone…
The strength of Irish women.
I am auctioning this painting to raise funds for #repealthe8th. 100% of the final sale price will be donated to Together for Yes. It is comprised of three canvases, with a total size of 100x90cm. Place your bid by commenting under this FB post or via email to seriouslyhilary@gmail.com. Closing date for bids: 31st of…
The story of how I found my Dalilla
Bless me, friends, for I have sinned. It’s been seven years since my last painting. 🙂 Seven years ago I made a painting inspired by a strong and artistic young woman. The painting turned out to be the best I had ever made. It felt the closest I had ever gotten to my truth. Lena…
“This happens every day. To women that you know. To women you love”
After the Harvey Weinstein scandal, the conversation about the continued sexual harassment, objectification and degradation of women has been ongoing. Actress Alyssa Milano asked women who’ve had similar experiences to reply to her on Twitter with “me too” to show people the magnitude of the problem. Thousands of stories emerged. Here our Irish writer Hilary…
Irish man goes on “hunger strike” against women’s rights
Let me tell you story of 28 year old man called Tim. Tim supports the 8th amendment which was voted into Irish Constitution by referendum in 1983. The amendment states: ‘The states acknowledges the right to life the unborn and, with due regard the equal right to life of mother, guarantees in laws to respect,…
Baby Shaped Hole
Baby Shaped Hole August 2008 Acrylic on canvas 60x80cm (Sold) “One morning I awoke and understood the hole in the middle of me. I realised that I could compromise my life, but not the life after me. I couldn’t explain it. The need came before explanations.” “I needed a child” Quote from “Extremely Loud &…
Frida love
Dearest Frida, Your art touches me in ways that I never imagined possible. It claws at my heart. I feel it ache in my bones. But I am writing to you now about your words. These words: “I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are…
How Ireland treats a pregnant 14-year-old in 2016
As an Irish native living in Belgium, Charlie editor Hilary is concerned with Ireland’s current affairs. This week a report surfaced, revealing another example of how Irish girls and women suffer because of Ireland’s strict abortion laws. I had hoped that I wouldn’t have to write another article like this. I had hoped that I…
The unimaginable evil done to mothers and babies in Ireland
In 1975 human baby bones were found in an underground chamber believed to be a septic tank on the grounds of a Catholic Mother and Baby home in Tuam, Ireland. A priest said prayers over the pit and it was re-sealed. In 2012 a local historian Catherine Corless published an article revealing records of 796…
Song of Good Hope
Fifteen years ago, in my first week of university, a girl pushed a CD into my hands and said “You HAVE to listen to these guys.” The band was The Frames and ever since that moment, I have been doing the same, pushing their CDs into the hands and hearts of everyone who crosses my…
License To Pee
Picture the scene; a person is having a drink in a bar when they feel they need to use the toilet. They get up and walk to the bathroom, choose an empty cubicle and do their business. Afterward they go to the sink, nod politely to another toilet-goer and wash their hands. They return to…
Say My Name. It’s time we learned about the female body.
Recently a teacher in America lost her job for using the word vagina while discussing Georgia O’Keeffe paintings in her class of 14-15 year olds. I’m not even sure how you could teach about O’Keeffe without using the word vagina! Meanwhile, in a café in the UK a couple of ladies having a chat about…
“In onze manier van leven is weinig ruimte voor rouw en verdriet”
Jelle en Sofie zijn twee filmmakers die een verleden als koppel delen. Toen Sofie zes jaar oud was, pleegde haar moeder zelfmoord. Dit trauma speelde een grote rol in haar breuk met Jelle. Tijdens de voorbereiding van hun film How to Fall Apart belandde Jelle in een verlammende depressie waardoor de film een nieuwe wending…
When having an abortion makes you a criminal
This Friday the 26th of February, the people of Ireland will take to the polls to elect a new government. One of the topics needing urgent attention is the country’s highly restrictive abortion laws. In the tourist travel book my boyfriend had when he first came to Ireland it warned “don’t start conversations with Irish…
In search of what makes me Irish
“You know, an immigrant is just someone who used to be somewhere else.” said comedian Russell Brand. Whatever you think about the refugee crisis and migration, we have to admit he has a point. Allow me to introduce myself. I am an Irish immigrant who has been living in Belgium for ten years. I am…
Watch What Happens When You Kill The Clickbait
Sometimes you just can’t resist those seductive headlines. Links like I’ve Been Brushing My Teeth Wrong All These Years. Have You? HUGE Difference! mostly lead to disappointing spammy content but we still find them so alluring. For Charlie Magazine I looked at why we should all stop clicking clickbait. #KillTheClickbait. This one almost got me…
Needles, laziness, x-rays and a check-up.
On Christmas day it will be exactly one month since I left hospital. Being at home has run more smoothly than the nightmare scenarios I imagined. I’m not in pain and I can move around if needed. I’m learning to embrace laziness and even wrote about it for Charlie magazine. There were so many unknowns…
15 x Laziness
I am learning how to be lazy. I practice every day. I’m getting quite good at it. Sounds strange, I know. Laziness is not considered an attractive trait. But I don’t have any other choice. Restricted to bed-rest following an operation on my back, laziness is my new friend. If I did not embrace laziness…
Sinead, you’ve got more than 8 good reasons to stick around
Sinead O’Connor is no stranger to controversy. In 1992 she tore up a photograph of the pope while signing the word evil on live television. She did this in protest against child sex abuse in the church. It was not until years later that we learned how widespread this issue was. A typical case of…
Day by Day – The Back Operation
In an effort to keep a short diary over the next week I will update this post each day with some news. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, jump over here for the background info. Day One – Friday So that happened. I feel like my whole back is a magnet and…
Saying goodbye to the whole world.
I feel like I’m saying goodbye to the whole world. Sounds dramatic right? Starting tomorrow I will have a different life. In my new life I will not have to worry about the weather. There will be no birthday parties, concerts, brunches, playgrounds and no Christmas dinner. There will be no workdays, no supermarkets, no…
George and Milly
George and Milly is run by my sister the fashion guru. She mainly focuses on making stunning scarves, perfect for brightening up any outfit. She runs a gift shop located in The Barn of The Old Yard. With handpicked Irish gifts including household, fashion and kids toys and accessories I personally think that J. Law…
Learning to love my self(ie)
I don’t know what I look like. I can’t visualise the shape and size of my body. I look at women and try to figure out if they have a similar shape to me. Catching my reflection in shop windows I wonder how other people see me. I’m often surprised by how I look in…
The story of how my heart broke. Why we should talk about suicide.
It’s estimated that around one million people die by suicide worldwide each year. It is the most common cause of death in teenage girls and men under the age of 35. But yet nobody seems to talk about it. Austin and I met on New Years Day at a Mundy concert. A shy smartass with pink hair, carrying green and red striped crutches and a leg cast…
Do you mean ‘seriously hilary the painter’?
I used to know who I was. It was easy. hilary is a painter. hilary is ‘seriously hilary’. ‘seriously hilary the painter’ I imagined ‘seriously hilary’ into existence without any notion of what she would become. Seriously hilary was an email address hastily created in order to receive some serious files. As for the small…
Don’t you see, Mia was the fox
Mia by Gorki was the first Belgian song I learned by heart. This song is on my lovers’ mixed tape, on my office playlist, on the soundtrack of my life in Belgium. Someone once said that Luc’s lyrics couldn’t be translated into English. That confused me. I thought everything could be translated. It has taken me years to understand. You can’t translate heart. You can’t…
Give me a YES!
This morning I cried when a very dear friend of mine told me he would leave Ireland if the Referendum did not pass this Friday. He is not the only one. The Referendum my friend is talking about is the worlds’ first ever Marriage Equality Referendum. It is the first ever because most governments have recognised same-sex…
How Modeling Lingerie At La Fille d’O Made Me Think About Shaving, Breastfeeding, Feminism, And Vanity
Something I never imagined myself doing is modeling lingerie. It’s probably because I am absolutely terrible at posing for photos. I feel fake and vain anytime someone points a camera at my face (which actually does not happen very often because I am usually the one snapping photos). On occasion, though, if the sun is…
A Chubby Story
Two things hit the news this week (well, on a twitter level anyway) that are related in a way like you’re related to someone you bump into in the street. The first story was the trending of #PlusSizeAppreciation on Twitter. The second story was about a report launched by the WHO stating that Europe is…
OMG I’m a Charlie!
Becoming a writer for Charlie feels like coming home. A group of writers who write from the heart. Honest, real, inspirational stories. They write what they really feel, think and believe, without stopping to worry about being judged. Charlie is the breath of fresh air that the world needed. You can read all of my…
What It’s Like To Be “The Girl With Long Hair”
For most of my life, I had really long hair. I mean really, really, really long. (In my 20s, it even went past my knees.) A long time before hashtags ever existed, I was #hilarywiththelonghair. Lucky for me, I have always had thick, healthy hair, so I never had any trouble with thinness or stringiness. My hair and I have gone through several…
Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?
I am not usually one to be scared of things, I think spiders are cute, can handle heights reasonably well, no sign of a boogeyman in the darkness under my bed. There is only one thing that scares the living daylights out of me and that is gigantic huge human-operated machines, such as trucks and…
Why to Love Walter Van Beirendonck’s Designs
The one and only designer dress I own is a 2009 Walter Van Beirendonck, and the reason I could afford (or pretend to afford) this particular dress has a lot to do with the ideals surrounding the Belgian fashion designer’s work. There are three main reasons I am attracted to his clothes: Firstly, it is fashion with a moral message — his…
11 Things You Didn’t Know About Redheads
Do redheads come from another planet? Do they have super powers? These aren’t uncommon questions thrown around at the ginger community, so I decided to read up on our flame-haired friends and let you in on a few scientific secrets about these mysterious people. I have never considered myself a proper redhead because my sister Sarah’s locks are undoubtably redder…
13 Fashion Problems That Only Extremely Sensitive People Will Understand
We have all dealt with uncomfortable items of clothes from time to time, sometimes we make that choice before going out the door. You know, the heels that are a couple of inches too high, the shapewear that renders you unable to sit? We’ve all been there. For other people, even their everyday clothes are uncomfortable and going…
I Fucking Love Science
I enjoyed science in school but haven’t kept in touch since then. The I Fucking Love Science site is a superb way to catch up on lost time and let science back into your life. Follow them on facebook and before you know it you’ll be up to date on all the latest quirky science…
Bustle Bustle
Bustle was my first writing job ever. I always enjoyed writing down my ideas but never imagined that someone would pay me to do it! Marie Southard Ospina took me under her wing and taught me the ropes. I learned a lot about myself in that time. I pushed myself to do things I never…
Is Fashion Supposed To Be A Fairytale Or Should We Expect A Bit More Realism?
Fashion designers are often asked why they don’t opt for more realistic looking models to wear their creations on runways. Inspired by the catwalk of Elie Saab, featuring dreamy gowns and an enchanted forest, my question is: Is fashion supposed to be a fairytale? Is it our way of escaping from reality? Catwalk models seem unreal — unreachable.…
Here’s What Not To Wear To A Kids Party
Whether you have kids or not, the fact is that once you hit 30, you’re going to start getting invited to kids birthday parties. These are social events that do not follow the rules you usually bear in mind when heading out. Looking trendy, hipster or sexy is certainly not what you need to aim…
No One Agrees on the Color of This Dress
Today was one of those days that upon waking up and checking the state of affairs on the internet (while still in your pyjamas), you notice that no matter where you look, everyone is talking about the same topic. Normally on days like this the news is about a natural disaster, a plane crash, an…
Victory Parade Lets You Create Your Dream Dress
Finding your dream dress is no easy task. After all, it must be the right shape, style and color — and it has to match that [probably unrealistic] dream dress criteria in your head. We’ve all been there: On that shopping trip to find the perfect dress for that very important event. All of a sudden, you…
Don’t believe everything you think – what we think about gender.
In general I strive to treat people like people and to not treat anyone differently because of their appearance, gender, race, background, etc, etc. This sounds logical and straight-forward but I know that not everyone feels the same as me, even good, loving people sometimes believe wrong things just because they grew up being told…
Abortion and Ireland, some more broken mother hearts.
In the tourist travel book my boyfriend had when he first came to Ireland it warned “don’t start conversations with Irish people about abortion or religion”. That was ten years ago and today I have to wonder if anything has changed. Quick update for those of you who are not aware of the situation with…
FYI, Your Hair Has 5 Seasons
We live in a world where we seem to be moving further and further away from nature whilst forming habits that go against our natural beings, like sitting still for eight hours a day and using all kinds of chemicals in our food, in our beauty products and on our clothes, getting surgeries like nose thread…
9 Absolutely Cringeworthy Lingerie Disasters
Whilst researching horribly embarrassing stories in preparation for Valentine’s Day, I discovered that there are two particular situations that seem to bring about the worst lingerie disasters: The fitting-room and the wedding. And I can totally understand why. In the fitting room, one is in a vulnerable position — half naked, trying on underwear that often doesn’t…
The Mermaid Trend is All Over Fashion, But Why Do We So Love These Creatures of the Sea?
Back in November of 2014, The Little Mermaid celebrated a 25th birthday, so it’s no surprise that most thirtysomethings of today have this film ingrained in their memories by this point. Personally, I had the movie on a VHS cassette and watched it 50 million times (I counted); so now I’d like to have a look at…
What’s in Store for Body Image in 2015?
In the last couple of years, a few fashion designers and department stores have begun to realize that there is a need for diversity in the models they choose to advertise their products. Carrie Hammer is making fabulous clothes to fit real-life figures, more and more fashion publications and brands are publicly moving away from photoshop and the world…
Why We Need To See More Real Bellies
All day long, we are presented with photos of humans in the mainstream media, but very rarely are we presented with “average” humans and their “normal” bodies. That there are problems with the way the mass media presents femininity and womanhood is no secret. But that being said, there are several sites and blogs in existence at the moment…
13 Things That Happen To You And Your Wardrobe When You Know You Won’t Be Seeing Anyone For A Week
What would change in your daily fashion and beauty routine if you didn’t have to leave your house for a week? I mean, what would you do differently if you knew you weren’t going to see anyone for the next seven days? (Or should I say, if you knew no one was going to see you!) Well, I…
Creepy Flashing Guy Update
I’m sure you have all been waiting with bated breath to find out how my crusade against Creepy Flashing guy is going! I’ll start with the good news, Edegem council have agreed to help me in a project to get the wall cleaned up and are even open to the idea of replacing the offending…
Not in the Party Mood? These Quotes Will Help!
Theoretically, I think parties are great. I love them, because what’s not to love, right? But in reality, we all know the stress that comes with trying to get out the door when you really don’t feel like it — be it because you’re not coping well with a winter bug, your hair is not…
Cute Sheep, Poisonous Plants and a French Dress.
Proud moment of the week: I made a Belladone! I bet you think I’m talking about Deadly Nightshade Atropa belladonna right? (Because I know my readers are down with the latin names for plants and stuff). The name “bella donna” means “beautiful woman” in Italian and the plant got this name because it was used…
Sewing Tips for the Pseudo Dressmaker
It has happened to the best of us: The shopping disaster day. We drag ourself from shop to shop, searching for that perfect dress and go home empty-handed and frustrated. But what if I told you that you could make the dress of your dreams, and that it would fit you perfectly? Want to try…
Why I’m Buying My Son a Lammily Doll For Christmas — And Why Our Fear of “Average” Kind of Needs to Go
The Lammily doll was born in 2013 out of a Photoshop experiment (oh, the irony!) by Nickolay Lamm, who wondered: What if fashion dolls were made using standard human body proportions, rather than proportions that would only allow for half a liver and a few inches of intestine? His Photoshopped image went viral, and one…
Photoshop me pretty.
After reading about this photoshop experiment: I Asked 21 Photoshop Experts From Around the World to Make Me (A Plus-Size Woman) Beautiful — Here’s What They Did and seeing the results, I was curious what the result would be if I would photoshop the photo. (By the way, High-Five to Iceland!) I’m no photoshop expert, but I do…
Down with this sort of thing
On my daily school-route cycle I pass a piece of graffiti that bothers me greatly. Complaining about grafitti is not something that I normally do, I am happy with most things that bring colour to our world but I’m making an exception for this one. It is an image of an old grinning guy flashing…
Soft Cactus in sun
I made this scarf with three prints from the first range of Soft Cactus fabrics based on a George and Milly design. This range was fun to work with because of the matching colour palates and pretty designs. The second range has just been released and I am looking forward to choosing a project to…
Lena
I want to be more aware of passing time. A year flies past as if it was a month… Four years, five years… whoosh… When I was in school each year seemed like a century. Time went by so slowly and each new year was clearly outlined and defined by a class title and new…
Lucy Takes Photos
Lucy Takes Photos is a long time friend and lady after my own heart when it comes to love of colours. This is clear to see in her fantastically pretty and wonderful photography. I am proud to list myself as one of her extremely satisfied customers, you can find the results of her shoot with…
Great Expectations
In my teenage years I was in love with the 1998 version of Great Expectations with Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow. I spent hours pausing it and sketching the pretty shapes and clothes and drawings. I loved the feeling of the film, the fact that the colours reflected the emotions of the scene. Most of…
Hey-Day Florist
The official bio: “At Hey Day Wedding Florists our team of expert and imaginative designers can cater for your every wedding requirement. Our unique and individual approach to each wedding ensures the highest quality and design. So whether your wedding is a small and intimate or a large and lavish affair, let us use our…
Bobby Sewing
At Bobby Sewing in Mortsel you can find the most lovely fabrics, and lots of friendly advice from Joanna. If you’re not in the area and see a fabric on her facebook that you fancy, ask nicely and she’ll even put it in the post for you!
Nele Needs a Holiday
This is my favorite song from the Nele Needs a Holiday album It’s my Party https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8WtuhNmAy8
Mums days
Mum’s days is a fab parenting and general all round life blog run by the wonderful Hannah Parker. “Every Mum’s Day is split into bits of time and every Mum will tell you that there aren’t enough of those bits to get everything done. But we do what we can and we do it the best way we can.…
Bouquet of Buttons
Bouquet of buttons is a lovely sewing and style blog, I will let Lieke introduce herself: “I like beautiful people, beautiful on the inside that is. I like eyeliner, red lipstick, wearing skirts, the smell of fresh brownies, people who smile randomly on the street, drying my freshly washed hair in the wind, hugs, reading…
Unbearable + Lightness + Being
“Is heavyness truly deplorable and lightness splendid? The heaviest of burdens crushes us, we sink beneath it, it pins us to the ground. The heavier the burden, the closer our lives come to the earth, the more real and thruthful they become. Conversely, the absolute absence of a burden causes man to be lighter than…
Day Dream
Day Dream January 2008 Acrylic on canvas 120x80cm
Be the change you want to see in the world…
This is an article I wrote for my mum in February 2013 when she decided to close her business and asked me to write something to encourage people to shop local and save other small business from the same fate. Following the sharing of this article on facebook, Hey-Day Florist was invited to speak on…
Mother and Baby – A Mother’s Heart
Over the last few weeks it has come to light that, following the research of Catherine Corless, 796 children, most of them infants, died in one “Mother and Baby” home in Galway, Ireland between 1925 and 1961. Their deaths are recorded, but there is no record of where they were buried, it is suspected that…
How to Fashionably Keep Warm in the Winter
Sorry to be the one to say it, but summer is long gone and it’s time to find ways to deal with the extreme cold that has entered our lives once again. No more denial: Dig out your abandoned winter wardrobe and learn to love it again. My son is a huge fan of the film Frozen (who…
Seriously hilary: The Newsletter
I really should send out more newsletters than I do. My current record is one mail in the last 6 years. So there is no need to worry about getting swamped! Sign up below and I’ll try to ensure you hear from me at least once a year. 😉
Hurt
September 2004 Acrylic on canvas 51x75cm There was a person who brought love and light and beauty into my life. And I felt darkness and hurt when he left the world. But I still have his love and light and beauty in my heart. “I wouldn’t swap the pain for never knowing you, I wouldn’t swap…
Volg mij
Ontvang nieuwe berichten rechtstreeks in je inbox.
Seriously hilary 