Ladies assemble because it’s time to treat yourselves and the women around you with some TLC. Ditch the workplace woes or everyday stresses and recharge with some good old fashioned girl time.
To give you a little inspiration, we’ve partnered with The Body Shop, who are all about empowering women, and rounded up six feel-good ways to give back to the ladies around you. Gather the girls for a pamper session with purpose and support their Plan International initiative this holiday season, escape to a women's wellness retreat or cheer on fellow creative ladies at a career conference. You could even take it one step further and show some love and support to the women in your community—feeling good is all about doing good after all.
Indulge In A Pamper Session With A Purpose
Ready the iCal invite because this is one surefire way to rally the ladies in your life. Show them some love with a lush at-home paper night featuring all the essentials like a curated Spotify playlist, ‘Gram-worthy cocktails and the pièce de résistance: a personalised bathrobe. As for the pamper products, make your evening of relaxation mean something by stocking up at The Body Shop, who are teaming up with Plan International this holiday season to provide training and skills to girls in Indonesia and Brazil with every purchase this November and December. Be the skincare hero by customising a pamper sesh to each of your girlfriends with a selection of blemish-beating face masks boasting everything from Vitamin E to Matcha Tea.
Clear Your Closet For A Cause
In the age of Marie Kondo and minimalism, we’re continually purging our wardrobes of items that don’t bring us joy. But instead of just ditching these at your local Salvos, think carefully about if they could be of use to women who are trying to get back into work. Charities like Fitted For Work or Dress For Success are helping disadvantaged women achieve confidence, success, and independence by helping them find employment, and you can get in on the cause too. Start by clearing your own closet of double-ups or unloved items that could use a better home—we’re talking chic shoes, versatile blazers, good quality handbags and accessories. Next, rally the work wives for a donation party at the office. Bribe your gals with a solid grazing table and encourage them to bring by their own unwanted pieces to donate—we’re telling you, decluttering never felt so good.
Shop From Local Female Founders
It’s easy to snap up a gift card or shout someone a wine for their birthday but where you choose to drop your dough really does have an impact. For your next girlfriend gifting, we’re challenging you to shop local, supporting the female founders in your own backyard. We’re talking the boutique store down the road, the bakery around the corner or the new florist in town—show them some love and support with your dollars.
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Get Among The Girl Boss Inspiration
While we’re all fans of bottomless brunch, why not make your next get-together something that will help you smash those career goals? From local workshops to large-scale conferences, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Get your Sheryl Sandberg on at your local Lean In circle, or connect with other creatives at monthly Ladies, Wine & Design events. Should you want to step up the inspiration, book your tickets for Curvy—the coveted creative women’s conference that has hosted the likes of Eva Chen (Head of Fashion at Facebook) and Ally Watson (Co-Founder of Code Like A Girl) on their stage.
Host A Care Package Party
Swap your usual soirée for a low-key care package party to show the women in your community some love and support. Pot-luck style, assign each of your mates an essential item—think toothpaste, tampons, hairbrushes, deodorant, towels or chapstick, and have them bring enough to make few care packages to donate to your local woman’s shelter. Turn up the tunes, get the wine flowing and spend the afternoon assembling your packages with add-ons like personalised notes, chocolate and cosy socks. Drop these into your local shelter like the Community Shelters in Sydney or the City Mission in Melbourne.
Cure Your Wanderlust With Meaning
Micro-escapes, eco retreats, wellness holidays—the travel trends are not slowing down and the next one on the rise is Women’s Retreats, a holiday dedicated to embracing your best self, and we’re so here for it. Escape Haven are paving the pathway for this type of travel, offering a range of rejuvenating packages in Bali to suit all sorts of interests like surfing, mindfulness, yoga and fitness. Submit that annual leave form stat because you’ll be treated to breathtaking luxury digs, relaxing spa treatments, yoga sessions, outdoor adventures and indulgent nourishing eats on offer. However, if you're looking to embark on a trip with a purpose, we suggest thinking about a cause-driven journey like Plan International's Trek For Girls. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to immerse yourself in the culture and indigenous communities of Vietnam by trekking the picturesque Sapa Valley and raising funds to support the work Plan International does.
Continue championing women across the world with The Body Shop, who have teamed up with Plan International this holiday season to provide training and skills to girls in Indonesia and Brazil. Every purchase during November and December will make a difference to hundreds of young women, helping them to unlock their dreams.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by The Body Shop and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.