David Bowie sang : "Heaven loves ya, The clouds part for ya, Nothing stands in your way when you're a boy" and that may be true but even if  women today are still treated like possessions, abused, murdered and taken advantage of, I still, deep down , feel completely privileged and honored to be a woman. We are less violent, more communicative , more nurturing and open and, well let's face it - actually have exciting fashion (and of course shooeeeesss! ).

Maybe I am innately optimistic or perhaps I feel like things are changing quicker today in a technology saturated world where remaining an island of ignorance on an increasingly clued in planet Earth is becoming near impossible. Possibly, I feel like violence is on it's way out and people are becoming more conscious of their ingrained but outdated hatreds. Perhaps we as women are getting smarter, learning more , emancipating ourselves, supporting each other. Or conceivably I am disillusioned because I live in a country where misogyny is not publicly cool, although still sometimes practiced.

Last week, however,  I attended the In Style Women of Style awards and was left completely gobsmacked by the achievements of incredibly smart, beautiful women in a myriad of categories including business, beauty, fashion, charity and community, entertainment, arts and culture, environment and more. Seeing these inspiring women who successfully tackle work, children and charity take the stage , I got a little teary in a way that only pride can make your chest feel like it might explode. Would you believe, in this room, no glass ceiling existed, no tall poppy syndrome, no misogyny. Women celebrated women and spurred them on, providing incentives and platforms to strive for even more. Then a man took the stage to accept an award on behalf of his wife who couldn't make it and made a rousing speech that exalted his strong, highly achieving woman in a way that would , I am sure , guarantee him back rubs and more for the rest of his life. Let's face it, the guy was our hero. Women swooned, men shifted in their seats.

Females, very often guilty of undermining and judging other women out of jealousy ,resentment, religion and traditions need to make the first move and unite - after all we do make up 50% of the world and without us the world as it is couldn't go on. Men, very often shaped by the same traditions, religions and patriarchal attitudes need to follow suit, because today needs not only feminist women, it needs feminist men too. History need not be repeated, beliefs need not stay the same and if any century can and will rewrite the rules it is this one. Girls : Keep swinging', we always work it out!

( Pinstripe jumpsuit by Lover, feather cuff by H&M,Giuseppe Zanotti heels from Miss Louise )

( Josh Goot bustier and pants, Maison Michel hat, Pushmataaha serpent bracelet, Alexander McQueen bag from Miss Louise)

( Candidate by Candice Lake top, Dior Homme jacket, Swarovski ring )

If you would like to contribute to the development of women around the world, check out the charity that directly empowers girls where it counts : by providing education , jobs and infrastructure here !