To like Kirstie Allsopp?

[plaingirly]

Pretty much all of my friends and colleagues seem to hate her! Something about setting women back 60 years.

I like her - and all the craft stuff. I don't see that she is setting women back or being anti-feminist. Surely feminism is about choice so she is choosing to live the way she does - and has the freedom to do that.

In interviews she always seems pretty straightforward and doesn't hide who she is. She is a bit posh but that is who she is - no point hiding the accent! Maybe I am biased because I love all the crafty homemaking type stuff. (And her clothes.)

"For some women, the wedding-veil canopies, crocheted jellyfish mobiles and calli-graphy place cards in Kirstie?s Vintage Home (more recession-friendly than her previous books and television series, it has tips on how to transform old fabrics and furniture into modern-day treasures) are not only off-message but demeaning. Sally Bercow called one of her shows 'condescending, too-good-to-be-true, middle-class nonsense?.

Allsopp is unflustered by such criticism. 'When people call me a 1950s housewife trying to take us back ? that?s so wrong,? she says. 'I consider myself a feminist. I have the most balanced and equal relationship with my husband. Likewise at work with Phil [Spencer, her 'TV husband? of the past 13 years]. He?s paid the same as me and I expect to get paid the same as any of the men on Channel 4.?"

www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9599318/Kirstie-Allsopp-televisions-crafty-lady.html

Same here. I've always loved browsing, buying, obsessing over and living with old furniture and household goods. And I always will, regardless of whether or not it's considered fashionable, middle class, twee or any of those other dreadful things. I spent years in the wilderness while everybody else was buying black glass coffee tables and thought old stuff was weird, so I'm sticking by "twee" now.

I love Kirstie AND I love Beeny.

I saw Sarah b buying cushions in a shop near me. She hada nice coat.

I thought she was great on 'the hotel'. Really down to earth and much more in tune with the reality of life for the trainees than Mary Portas or Gordon Ramsay. She seems very genuine and kind and its not her fault she is posh! Would rather spend time in her company than many other supposed salt of the earth celebrities or reality tv 'stars'.

Who is she?

I love Kirsty but not so much the new crafty persona.

She has my body shape pretty much exactly and I read an interview with her saying that her body doesn't suit trousers; that she only wears dresses and skirts.

I took her cue and stopped wearing trousers about 5 years ago. And she was right - I look a million times better in a skirt

So for that fashion tip alone, I am grateful.

I fear however if I tried to be her BFF she wouldn't have it - am too much of a pleb!

YABU. Tory.

MrsJay not Laura Ashley as far as I know but Cath Kidston is Kirstie's cousin.

FWIW I love Kirstie. I like that she just comes across as a lovely, friendly, jolly person. There is enough sadness & depression in real life, a bit of jolliness on TV (albeit posh, twee, chintzy etc) can only be a good thing IMO.

Likewise Sarah Beeny.

She's great teamed with Phil on the property shows but she just exploits the craft scene for cash. She's tapped into it and now endorses anything.
I know one of the artists featured in her Homemade home who is riding on the back of it so I suppose that's something.....not just Kirsty milking it then.

That place she did up in Devon is actually a holiday let and she makes tons of cash from that too.

Sarah beany is just so whiny though. At least Kirstie smiles and seems to mean it.

YANBU. I like her. I especially like Location although I preferred the old 30 minute format.

I met her once and thought she was warm and genuine. Was on a train with her and it was all very bizarre as I was heavily pregnant and she sparked up a conversation about my bump and the whole time I was thinking 'you're Kirsty off the tv' and wondered if I should mention it.

She lives on a different planet to me but seems very likeable....

One of my best friends is very posh & reminds me a bit of Kirstie; except she's tiny at size 6-8 - i'm more Kirstie's size!

I do like the house in 'Kirstie's Homemade Home' - love that she calls it a cottage though; my house would fit in a corner of that house!

Beeny is wonderful - practical, knowledgeable and intelligent (and beautiful).

Allsop is a Tory bossyboots.

I love her and I'm a dyed in the wool feminist.

I adore baking, crafts and drinking wine faffing in the kitchen. She is right up my alley.

I like Kirstie on Location Location Location. I love posh accents (also because not being English posh accents are easier to understand). Never seen her other programs or indeed I wasn't aware she had them (not in the UK)

I always think she and I would have a right old laugh together. I can see why she wouldn't be some people's cup of tea (no pebbly shit in her house ) but I love to see what she is wearing and enjoy her crafting programmes.

In fact, I only discovered her while watching a rerun of Homemade Home, while sprawled out on the sofa feeling poorly and very sorry for myself.

It inspired me to try making a few bits and I am now a confident sewer, knitter and crocheter. So there

Hear, hear soverylucky

Kirsty's fine.
DD1 and I enjoy a cup of tea and a nice homely craft show.

My arty DD likes to unwind with bits of knitting, sewing and felting.

She also likes doing something tough and technical out doors too.

she comes across as very likeable

agree, I would not dress, decorate or live like her

but so what? she seems warm and I like her

Thank goodness we are not all alike ... some will love her, some won't... bet the same can be said for you and I!

I enjoy her crafts et al. She's a good business woman too. Goof for her. To each their own.