Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is:  "Because the animals are like us."  Ask the experimenters why it is morally okay to experiment on animals, and the answer is:  "Because the animals are not like us."  Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction. 

-Professor Charles R. Magel

Word: Lamé
Pronunciation:  la-mey
Function: noun
Date: 1920–25
Meaning: An ornamental fabric in which metallic threads, as of gold or silver, are woven with silk, wool, rayon, or cotton.

It’s not enough to condemn perfumes that use animal testing, because anyone can do that. I needed to take it a step further, and look for alternatives that my readers and I can use.

I’m splitting my finds into three sections, the first one being companies I know are cruelty free. Starting with The Cruelty Free Shop, which has three 100ml fragrances at $30 each, a little expensive for the amount but could work if you’re buying more than one item on the online store. Next is Dolphin Clinic’s solid perfume sticks, which looks like a lip balm and contains no parabens, sulphates, phthalates, or alcohol- all you need to do is find a stockist. After that is Lush, who have a great range best seen instore. If you want designer-style fragrances, you can check out Le Reve / House of Scents in Greenhithe. The four most expensive options are MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown,  L’occitane and Jo Malone, but their stores are easy to find and at Jo Malone you can create your own signature scent.

Coming in second are anti-animal testing subsidiary companies whose parent companies pursue testing with no apologies, or use lawyers lingo to soothe the masses, but don’t actually admit they don’t test on animals or contract with companies that conduct animal tests on their behalf. The best example I can find is The Body Shop (parent company L'Oreal), but their fragrances are good value, and probably will be my first choice when I buy another perfume. I know it’s not very ethical of me to do so, but they do support some good causes.

Then coming in third, there's two companies I’m undecided whether they’re cruelty free or not, Avon and Estee Lauder.

It’s not hard (or expensive) to switch to animal friendly products. Here’s a Choose Cruelty Free list to look at to see if you’re on the right track.

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know I just finished watching Freaks and Geeks, a teenage drama show about two siblings living in the 80’s trying to find their way through high school. My favourite character was Lindsay Weir, an intelligent but alienated teen who feels disillusioned with her studious life. Lindsay starts wearing her father’s army jacket after the death of her grandmother, and styling herself in a tomboyish way- far from the buttoned up, feminine style she had as a ‘mathlete’.

Now the surplus look is back, and you can pick up jackets at almost every chain store in the country. I cannot pull off tomboy even if I tried (damn you, feminine body), but when I did hiking for school trips I used to wear something quite similar. These jackets are great for a casual outfit, and a military alternative to denim jackets. Mouse over the pictures for prices, and click to head through to the product page. I may have to wander into Cotton On and try one on…wish they had them in grey!