nd
Sweet & spicy
Claire Sawers meets two entrepreneurs who have very different experiences of Valentine's Day
Michelle Aaron, cupcake baker from Glasgow
Everybody loves to see a cupcake. If I'm selling them at a craft fair. people always stop and smile. I guess they evoke childhood memories and look fun. All that sticky frosting and sweet indulgence — there's a guilt factor too. but it‘s contained in one neat little portion. You‘re not committing to a whole slice of cake.
For Valentine's Day I use lots of pink. and sparkles. or maybe white chocolate or fondant hearts. I also do a range of naked gingerbread biscuits, which are popular at this time of year. Good food would always be part of my ideal Valentine’s Day. Especially a cake baked for me by someone else. (‘hocolate with raspberry
Cherry Loco, 21, Burlesque performer
The braces are vintage. The rhinestone spade necklace is from the Hip Hop Shop in Glasgow. I love tacky spangly jewellery.
Both my jeans and shirt are from Topman. The girl’s corset belt is from eBay where I get a lot of waspie and cinch belts. When I’m wearing something very masculine like this I like to tart it up a bit to make it more feminine.
I like to be lowbrow with my performance style. This month I’ll be dressed as Sweeney Todd, armed with a razor and decapitated head (prop!) at Dr. Sketchy’s Valentine's Day Massacre. (see page 16)
121115 LIST 5—19 Feb 2009
‘LOVE AND SEX SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT PLEASURE AND THE SENSES'
My favourite shop is Starry Starry Night in Glasgow’s West End. It’s great for Cruella de VII moments trying all the furs and stuff on! I also love H&M for simple things and Mr Ben on King Street in Glasgow for retro stuff.
A
I would describe my daytime style as 1950’s Americano Rockabilly: jeans and a lot of leopard print. In the evenings I go for more androgynous formal wear.
lnnttercreain icing is my favourite. liating together is very sensual anyway. but cupcakes add an element of fun. You cannot eat a cupcake in a delicate way. You haye to lick your lingers. peel off the wrapper. Use your hands . . .
Lucy Tanat Jones runs
Organic Pleasures
After Christmas. Valentine‘s Day is our busiest time of the year. I describe the shop as an ‘eco- erotic boutique for women' and hopefully it's as far away from the tacky. slea/y image of ‘sex shops. as we can get. I don‘t sell any pornography for example. I prefer to lows on women’s health. pleasure and confidence in a totally non-intimidating atmosphere.
We sell everything from candles and massage oils. to feather ticklers and playful lingerie. or sex toys and vibrators. We get the occasional group of teenage girls who‘ll come in and giggle. but hopefully we're presenting the more grown-up. mature side of sex. and making people feel comfortable about experimenting and having fun. ()ne of our bestsellers is a clitoral stimulant from a Swedish company called l.elo. It looks fantastic like something designed by Bang and ()lufsen or something. It‘s ['88 chargeable too, which is a nice. quirky touch. I‘ve also started offering gift vouchers for boudoir portraits. so people can treat themselves or offer it to their partner. It’s a photo session in a boutique hotel. wearing whatever you like a glamorous corset. maybe a peephole bra and burlesque knickers ~ or totally nude if you prefer. It‘s a chance to see yourself looking ama/ing.
Love and sex should be all about pleasure and the senses. My idea of a good Valentine's Day would be drinking champagne by a cosy lireside. If you're with someone special. it doesn't matter where you are. The important thing is feeling relaxed. Maybe the champagne would lead to a little massage. and after that. who knows‘.’
Michelle’s cupcakes are available at Heart Buchanan, Byres Road, Glasgow, www.covetables.co.uk. Organic Pleasures, Broughton Street, Edinburgh, www.crganicpleasures.co.uk