PHILOSOPHY FIVE PHILOSOPHERS WHOSE TEACHINGS STILL RING TRUE PUT ARISTOTLE IN YOUR STOCKING Adrift on a sea of uncertainty, we need to turn to the philosopher for guidance, specifically the late and the great ... AEDAMAR KIRRANE likes Aristotles way of thinking M uch of our Christmas joy is tied up with the fun of preparation decorating the tree, buying presents or a new dress and hearing Fairytale of New York on the radio for the first time. We set aside our cares to enjoy the festivities except this year, its going to be very different. The unthinkable has happened. Our world of instant everything has ground to a halt and we are forced, temporarily at least, to revert to a pre-post-postmodern way of living. This year we may have to conjure up Christmas magic in a whole new way. Lets start with the basics and take it from there. The essence of Christmas is a celebration of love. Whether Christmas is religious or secular for you, the thing we are all celebrating is love. Infused in all the rushing and shopping is our desire to let people know we love them. Spending time choosing presents and wrapping them up with pretty ribbons and bows is an expression of our love. Enjoying a carol service or Midnight Mass is an experience of love. When we sit by the fire and clink glasses of wine were saying, I love you. Even though we have to do Christmas differently this year we already know we dont want to meet on Zoom for Christmas drinks, we dont want to play cards online with our cousins. Were done with socialising online. And we dont want to string coloured lights across our laptop in a sad effort to make the online office party feel festive. The challenge is to find creative and maybe even richer ways of expressing, sharing and celebrating 16 December 2020 THE GLOSS MAGAZINE our love this Christmas. And it may even turn out that there is a gift in this enforced slow down of life. Maybe we were living too fast and too free and maybe in the razzle-dazzle of Christmas cheer some of us were lost and didnt actually feel the love. Maybe we were trying to express Christmas love in a way that wasnt really true to us. Looked at philosophically, there is a gift in this slower pace of life because it invites us to find even better expressions of love than usual, and not just for those close to us, but for our own selves too. People have always turned to philosophy for consolation in times of trouble, for the deeper meaning and wiser perspectives that it offers. One particular insight offered by Aristotle 2,300 years ago gives invaluable comfort, guidance and wisdom for all that we are living through today. Aristotle was the first to distinguish between the different reasons we do the things we do. On the one hand, he saw that there are things we do for their own sake and which are an end in themselves. On the other hand, there are things we do as a means of reaching some other goal. Not surprisingly, Aristotle valued the former over the latter. Taking our cue from Aristotle, lets try a different approach to preparing for and celebrating Christmas, so that the focus is on doing things for their own sake. Traditionally our Christmas preparations are in service to others: we want to spread love and make other people feel good. What we do is not an end in itself but it is to make someone else happy. Beautiful as this sentiment is, this year the circumstances of life As we kept our heads above the murky depths of 2020, we grasped floaty, but flimsy, lifesavers of honest thought and optimism. Relieved to have something to cling to, we clung. And for a while, we bobbed along, with these balloons bolstering us in the sea of uncertainty. But as time passed, as the months slipped away somehow, we realised that these inflatables were losing buoyancy. Air can only keep you afloat for so long! In order to surf these tides, we need some substance. It cant be this hard to stay positive without testing positive! How did people get out of bed during the Spanish Flu? Did sufferers and healthy folks alike attempt to make each other laugh? From where did they source their strength? We can only imagine that that was what philosophy was for. It is hard to gain insight from those we follow today. Try as we might to inject intelligence into our surface-level internetsurfing, its hard to find real meaning in our feeds. Philosophers who posited suggestions as to the bigger picture during the Enlightenment probably offered comfort to the confused, and brought light to the lost. Perhaps we need to look to these ancient greats the men (and women) who literally thought things for a living. The Reflection Professionals. Those who looked at love, religion, emotion, connection, friendship and the future, and developed a code for happiness more than that, a creed by which to live, regardless of happiness or satisfaction. With that we can develop a whole ship. Not a temporary flotation device which we can like and share and wear out (cue the Jaws line: Youre gonna need a bigger boat ...) JOHN STUART MILL ON FREEDOM AND CIVILITY British and political, JSM is the wokest of old-timey thinkers. He was instrumental in the election of female MPs to Parliament and transformed the conversation on womens rights that continued at that time in the House of Lords. He felt strongly that everybody should be free to do as they please as long as they didnt hurt anyone else simple as that. Your perfume can be as strong as you like, until it makes others eyes water. You can play Christmas music in your home at any volume you choose until your neighbours ask you to give their ears a break. If you want to swim nude at the Vico, so be it! The only time we can intervene with anybodys freedom, he said, was for the sake Continued on page 18 } FESTIVE FASHION FIXES / DRESS FOR AN OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS / TWINKLY TERRACES DESIGNED BY ARCHITECTS / LIQUID LUXURIES MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 with THE IRISH TIMES ë TINSEL TYPES www.t hegloss.ie Gloriously glossy gifts for everyone Dressing to please yourself MY HOUSE MY RULES ë BROWN THOMAS, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN 2 CONTENTS ANNA MASON IN THIS ISSUE THE GLOSS MONTHLY REMINDER SIGN UP to receive a monthly reminder by email when THE GLOSS is out so that you never miss an issue. Simply register your details on WWW.THEGLOSS.IE. PU B LI S H E R JA N E M C D O N N E LL E D I TO R SA RA H M C D O N N E LL D E PU R E B M E DEC ~ A CHRISTMAS OUTFIT selfie ... Do your WELLINGTON BOOTS embarrass your dog? Irish MYTHOLOGY for a modern audience ... and VISIONARY ABBESSES A s we morph from WFH to SFH CHRISTMAS GOALS Irish Queen Medb rocks a feisty sort of glamour SOCIALISING FROM HOME the Ù Ù Ù Designers PROMOTION The Art of Giving A fashion feast, Brown Thomas edit of elegant accessories and luxury gifts is your go-to source when it comes to spoiling someone special this Christmas F rom trophy bags and bejeweled pumps to finishing touches of gold and sparkle, youll find something extraordinary SHOPPING 2 SPOT THE TREND MONCLER 1 3 4 5 6 8 DINNER OUTDOORS How to survive a chilly winter dinner on a restaurant terrace or your own patio? Dressing warmly and well is an art form and now is the time to master it. Youll need the following and trust us, this is not a pick-and-choose situ Photo Michel Gibert, photograph used for reference only. This collection is a tribute to the explorer that we all dreamt to be. Travelling is an experience that change someone and I wanted each piece to evoke this feeling of bringing back a treasure from a distant land. Montgolfière, sofa. La Pari MOODBOARD 3 2 1 YOU AINT A BEAUTY, BUT HEY YOURE ALRIGHT. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN 4 MY MOTHER WAS NOT RAISED, SHE WAS FORGED. TALLULAH WILLIS ON DEMI MOORE EILISH MCCORMICK 7 IM FRAMING a Helen Cody illustration of Lynn Yaeger. IM CRUSHING on Michelangelos Davids weak ankles. 6 5 T H I S M ON WWW.AVOCA.COM Wishing you a Wonderfilled Christmas Elegance is an attitude Kate Winslet Longines DolceVita TREND Arizona Muse at the 2020 Venice Film Festival. I LEFT Print silk dress, 1,098; matching mask, 45; both www. thevampireswife. com. Red earrings, Baublebar, 32, at Brown Thomas. RIGHT The Vampires Wife X Dover Street Market installation. Matching your face mask to your outfit is officially a Auction Tuesday 8th December 2020 FINE JEWELLERY & WATCHES Catalogue Now Online at www.adams.ie On View 4th - 8th December A Rare Sapphire Cuff, by Mario Buccellati, circa 1950 Estimate €15,000 - 25,000 PRSA REGISTRATION NO. #001959 Enquires to Claire Mestrallet Claire@adams.ie 26 St Stephens G PHILOSOPHY FIVE PHILOSOPHERS WHOSE TEACHINGS STILL RING TRUE PUT ARISTOTLE IN YOUR STOCKING Adrift on a sea of uncertainty, we need to turn to the philosopher for guidance, specifically the late and the great ... AEDAMAR KIRRANE likes Aristotles way of thinking M uch of our Christmas joy is tied ADVERTORIAL TREASURE FOREVER CELESTIAL MAGIC Reach for the moon and stars with this intricate, sparkling double charm. Blue Night Sky Crescent Moon & Stars Dangle Charm, 59. Sparkling Snowflake Collier Necklace, 79. SPACE ODYSSEY Soar to new heights with this Pandora Rose Galaxy inspired Charm, PHILOSOPHY really invite, if not demand, that we place our gaze closer to home, and even on our own selves. Were not comfortable with the idea of lavishing love and attention on ourselves, but Im not talking about a selfish kind of love, Im talking about a better, nurturing kind of self-love. Becaus More ToExplore NEW STORES Kids concept store Barn: unique childrenswear, toys and gifts and Folkster, the fashion and homewares pop-up boutique Home to a host of luxury fashion and retail brands, including brand new Barn and Folkster, Dundrum Town Centre has all our favourite stores including Lo GLOSS GIFTS ë GLOSS GIFTS SPECIAL GIFTS FOR THE DISCERNING WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE From eye-catching vintage print silky masks (with unique reusable ribbon fixings so you will never lose them!) to a subscription to THE GLOSS, our hand-picked presents are gifts the women in your life will get excited LIFESTYLE DESIGNER SHOES the Spend ë W hen coronavirus struck in March, Melanie Scott was on her way back to her home in London after almost five weeks travelling for work. Global travel was always part of her role but this had been a particularly punishing trip, and with a pernicious virus on th LIFESTYLE DIAMOND RING Another friend, who has dabbled in watercolours for years while raising her family, bought an easel and set herself up in the (slightly modified) guest bedroom. Even with two grown-up children working from home, she was determined to create the space to paint. A monthly wine Fine Jewellery 2 Chatham Street, Dublin www.esljewellery.ie LIFESTYLE I plan a dress purchase for weeks before I pull the trigger. your purchase, and plan which pairs you really want to buy. In New York, Freya Drohan, from Malahide, is fashion editor at The Daily Front Row and a freelance writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and fashionista.com. SNEAKERS Drohan h FASHION MY HOUSE my rules One upside to a downsized festive season is the opportunity to wear exactly what you fancy ... Have fun, says AISLINN COFFEY THE GLOSS MAGAZINE December 2020 25 FASHION MY HOUSE, MY RULES THE FESTIVE FROCK Not-so-basic Christmas Day dresses Top of our Christmas list this year is the colourful, softly tailored midi dress, easily the most sophisticated but easy-to-wear dress trend for years. This length really is the happy medium, suiting most beautifully. FASHION Gold Rose leather house mules, 335; www. oliviamorrisathome.com. MY HOUSE, MY RULES PARTY FLATS Twinkle toes: pretty and comfortable When it comes to Christmas Day, everything you wear should have an oven-to-table vibe, meaning, you can cook, serve and clean up without hobbling and look c FASHION MY HOUSE, MY RULES Cream Tonio mohair cardigan, 110; www.sezane.com. Marine blue turtle-neck knit dress, 100; www.hush-uk. com. Doublestrand pearl necklace; www.chanel. com. SWEATER DRESSING Heaven to wear, cosy and cool Over the past few months, our attachment to comfort has grown expo FASHION MY HOUSE, MY RULES CHRISTMAS DAY PJS Ways to wear pyjamas all day Chic yet relaxed, attention-grabbing yet informal, the pros of pyjamas as daywear extend well beyond the bedroom. Not only is this simulated jacketand-trousers duo chic for wearing at home with some fancy slipper-style shoes Connect with 6TH SENSE Intelligent Cooking The New W Collection of Ovens & Microwaves from Whirlpool 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON PARTS & LABOUR Just pick your recipe and the Whirlpool 6th SENSE technology will make it great everytime. Choose the New W Collection of Ovens & Microwaves from Whirlpool for STRAP WWW.LANSDOWNEPLACE.IE ESSAY THE REMEMBERING ROPE POLLY DEVLINs remembrance of people and times past is triggered by her collection of treasured antiques and the backstories of their acquisition For new readers and seasoned ones ... This is the sixth episode in the loose concoction called The Remembering Rope a series ESSAY With all my limitations, with my laziness, my lack of money, my lack of time I do WHAT I WANT exactly. A set of big wash jugs in primary colours from a convent boarding school I should think dormitory pieces and those lovely tin caddies for tea and flour and sugar that had once stood in eve BOOKS PRESENTS OF MIND PENNY McCORMICK selects the seasons best books to give or get FOR HOME LOVERS What side of the fence do you sit on the bold or the beautiful? Plan your next home decor project with these differing approaches. Twenty creatives, including furniture designers Bethan Gray and #MINDOURSELVES was bordering on obsessive. I would start every day by looking at her profile first thing in the morning. Now I look back, and realise, of course, that I was basically setting myself up for failure and bad energy before Id even got out of bed! Everything I did I compared to her. I fel DESIGN INTERIORS Head Office/ Ballycoolin Showroom Units 12/13, Block 8 Blanchardstown Corporate Park Ballycoolin, Dublin 15 01 820 8480 +353 1 820 8480 BESPOKE FURNITURE Deansgrange Showroom Unit F, Deansgrange Business Park Kill Lane Blackrock, Co. Dublin 01 207 0702 www.ventura.ie London S HEALTH THE CRITICAL COUNT The number of ICU beds occupied by Covid-ð cases now trips off our tongues, such is our obsession with coronavirus stats. But, the story of the ICU is over-simplified. LYNN ENRIGHT speaks to Professor Gerard Curley about the story behind the figures B efore this year, HEALTH Despatches from the ICU Dr Catherine Motherway, Consultant Intensivist at Limerick University Hospital Edel Nolan, ICU Nurse and Acting Clinical Facilitator, St Vincents University Hospital Every day in the ICU is very different. Some says are quiet, some days are busy, some days are hell, INTERIORS INTERIORS @MODAOPERANDI Tastemaker Lauren Santo Domingo at her writing desk. Ten correspondence cards with lined envelopes, 30; www.smythson.com. ABOVE: Natural collection personalised stationery, 131 (includes 25 correspondence cards, letterheads, continuation sheets and envelopes); w VENEZUELA MULLINGAR, SKERRIES AND ARDEE Stockists of Annette Gortz Transit Tandem Clemente Eva Kayan Ania Schierholt Marco Moreo Andia Fora Patrizia Bonfanti Browse collections on Instagram and Facebook @venezeula_boutique Call any of our boutiques with your queries, or for styling advice Purchase J E W ELLERY . GIFTWARE . DINING . C HRI ST MAS Shop in-store or online now at www.newbridgesilverware.com ENTERTAINING A Merry OUTDOOR ë SANDRA ANDREA OCONNELL discovers how three architects are creating outdoor dining spaces for festive celebrations and beyond GRACE KEELEYS TIPS CREATE A SPACE E ntertaining family, friends and neighbours during the Christmas period is what we love. And decorating ENTERTAINING WRAP UP AND EMBRACE THE OUTDOORS GARETH BRENNANS TIPS TRANSFORM AN UNDER-USED COURTYARD Creating beautiful patio spaces for their clients has been a strong feature in the work of Brennan Furlong Architects. Now architect GARETH BRENNAN is planning to tackle his own under-used courtyar INTERIORS COOL & COLLECTED My World at HOME the details NAME: Rosa de la Cruz ADDRESS: Knightsbridge, London HOME: Four-bedroomed apartment in an old Victorian mansion which she shares with her four sons and partner Mark Reynier THE VIBE Being in a contemporary art gallery PHOTOGRAPHS BY KATE MA BEAUTY GLOSSARY ë Brighten up with LOccitanes bright citrus Verbena Mandarin eau de toilette (52, limited edition). Winter BEAUTY Some (but not all) beauty gifts promise joy, says Sarah Halliwell Dont be pale and wan this winter: Westman Atelier Butter Powder Bronzer, 80, at Brown Thomas. Perf ANDREW RYAN H A N D C R A F T E D S I N C E WWW. ANDREWRYAN.IE 1 9 7 3 SCENT FOR LIVING The Nature of Things have a range of boxes, including Dont Stress, with trios of essential oils (44). Add a few drops to the Mael diffuser far more cost-effective than a shortlived scented candle. But my pick would be a bottle of Jasmine Absolute (21) to wear as a perfume its hard PROMOTION AFTER I am delighted with the results, particularly because it was all natural treatments with no needles, no pain and no downtime. Linda AGEING BEAUTIFULLY WITH NEELU THE ONLY AESTHETICIAN USING IREVIVE, TO LIFT AND REJUVENATE SKINTONE Exclusive to Neelus in Ireland Neelu provides res I NTE RI ORS + D ES IGN 25 Rockhill, Main St, Blackrock, Co Dublin 01 9631383 info@rockhillinteriors.com www.rockhillinteriors.com to order Explore the best of our Christmas fare, from plump Irish turkeys to sumptuous handmade Christmas puddings and mince pies. Order Christmas Food by 15th December at 3pm. Collection or Home-Delivery SHOP ONLINE AT DONNYBROOKFAIR.IE Donnybrook Malahide Stillorgan Greystones Baggot St. 5 D ISH DES EI HAVE YOUR CAKE & EAT IT ë TR E FOO Y N B FOOD ë TRISH DESEINE makes the final Christmas countdown a joyous, all-Irish affair T his year, more than ever, is one to treat yourself and your loved ones. Youve earned it! So once the turkey, goose, ham, spiced beef, sprouts, cho FOOD Yukon Gold and Mayan Rose, and add a bunch of their Frivole kalettes, a mix between purple sprouting broccoli and kale. Breakfast in the Burren from Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna is a wonderful selection of smoked fish, butter, wheaten bread and granola, all produced in the Burren and deliv PROMOTION Yoga & Mocktails with Wellness Guru Daniella Moyles Social Insecurities The daily anxieties of modern life EXPERIENCE THE EXTRAORDINARY WITH ÉALÚ EXPERIENCES Éalú Experiences is a curated collection of gift experiences including exclusive video masterclasses from the very best of Irish WINE WI ON-TREND ITALIAN N E BY M A R A white wine made with flair, to suit most tastes and enjoy with a wide range of dishes ... Every Christmas household needs one. My top pick is organic DOMAINE BÉGUDE ÉTOILE CHARDONNAY, LIMOUX 2019. Combining appley freshness with a creamy texture thanks to THIS GLOSSY LIFE ë TINSEL TYPES Author and podcaster Pandora Sykes. ë As we contemplate whos in our Christmas social bubble, here are six characters you may recognise and gifts they will love THE PATIO PRINCESS 60 December 2020 THE GLOSS MAGAZINE Gorgeous Gifts AL FRESCO FAVOURITES All th Red scalloped napkin, 15 for two; www.zarahome.com. Designer Victoria Beckham has admitted, I want to micro-manage absolutely everything. @AERIN @SOHOHOME THIS GLOSSY LIFE THE MICRO MANAGER HEIRLOOM LUSTRE PHILOSOPHY Quality over quantity Burgundy Dragon cashmere scarf, Simone Bruns, 395, a @CASSAPERRIN @BABBINGTONHOUSE JOHN LEWIS THIS GLOSSY LIFE Interior designer and perfectionist queen of cream Kelly Hoppen. THE BEROCCA BARBARA FOR THE HOSTESS Perfect for Zooming Balance + Stability oil, £35stg; www.anatome.co.uk. Red swirl mask, Susannagh Grogan, 35. Kenneth Jay Lane baroque THIS GLOSSY LIFE ë Actress Jennifer Aniston is used to her own company. ë @WORMLONDON A book full of Christmas design inspo: The Season, Created by Scandinavian Artists, 54; www. nordicelements.com. LUXE APPEAL Perfect for self-gifting 18ct gold moonstone round cabochon ring, 1,750, at ESL jew THIS GLOSSY LIFE Lunch in the forest, designed by Lens & Larder. DOREEN KILFEATHER Danish supermodel Helena Christensen THE TINDERELLA @LENSANDLARDER Grounded adventurer ANNA MIRABILIS TEXT BY PENNY MC CORMICK A Blue sky thinker nnas friends have started to call her Anna Mirabilis such is h IRELANDS BLUE BOOK GIFT VOUCHER Gift Vouchers can be used in over 50 of Irelands most luxurious country houses, historic hotels, castles and restaurants. TO ORDER www.irelandsbluebook.com / T +353 1 676 9914 CHANEL.COM