July in International Zine Month and the 21st July is International Zine Day, providing me with the perfect excuse to tell you about my favourite zine, Unskinny.In GWL’s zine collection are 2 issues of Unskinny (no.7 and no.8 from 1996), the creation of “cartoonist, raconteur and legendary lard-arse” Lucy Sweet ( lucysweet.org).
I wish Unskinny was still available. It is the perfect antidote to the dozens of women’s magazines whose articles make us feel ugly, fat and unfashionable (and therefore pretty likely to be single forever, which of course is the worst thing ever) while conveniently suggesting hundreds of beauty and fashion products which will definitely solve all of these problems.
“Get your own back on Cosmopolitan” outlines seven simple steps on how to dispose of Cosmo’s editorial team and replace articles on “how to have 17 multiple orgasms on the way to work” with “lard recipes and amusing cartoons”.
Unskinny (Issue 8) offers “10 top tips for a beautiful you on your fist date!!!” which includes wearing a gold lamé catsuit with mink trim and a feather boa, coating one’s hair in chip grease to make it shine, and making sure to eat something light before the date such as “roast beef and Yorshire pudding, followed by gateau and cheese and biscuits (and coffee).”
If you too would like to find out how to “get your own back on foodies” or read about Lucy’s Groovy Drinks Cabinet, you can just drop in to GWL and check Unskinny out for yourself. We also have stacks of other zines in the collection, so I am sure there’s something for everybody.
And if you happen to have any of the other issues of Unskinny, I would love to see them!
