International Guide Dog Day is observed on the last Wednesday in April – this year it’s on the 26th.
Although the International Federation of Guide Dog Associations was set up 34 years a (on the 26th April 1989), the first record of guide dogs dates back to around 79AD in paintings uncovered in Pompeii, Italy. Guide dogs have also been used in ancient China and medieval Europe.
Organised guide dog training began in the early 20th Century, and the world’s first guide dog school was founded in 1916 by Dr Gerhard Stalling in Germany. For this holiday, you could consider donating to a non-profit that helps train guide dogs, or even adopt a dog that doesn’t manage to complete its training successfully.
When I was looking for dog-themed items I found this Bronze Dog Table Lamp and it’s the exact sort of thing that I would absolutely love and my friends would call tacky, but just imagine it with a different lampshade – have you seen these amazing ones from House of Hackney?
If you want some dog-themed décor but lamps aren’t your thing (or you just don’t agree with me about how awesome that lamp is), I also found this doberman painting – it reminded me of the doberman I had years ago. If you want something more personal, you can also send in a photo of your own dog to have a custom painting produced for you.
The last Friday in April – 28th April this year – is National Arbour Day – a day to celebrate trees and their importance to us. The first day to celebrate trees was probably that held in 1594 in Mondoñedo, Spain where horse chestnut trees were grown.
More recently, it was celebrated in Nebraska in the US in 1872 as a way to encourage homeowners to plant trees as the state was mostly treeless. J. Sterling Morton had moved to the state from Detroit, and used his platform as a journalist and newspaper editor to share his enthusiasm for nature and trees.
The best way to celebrate Arbour Day is of course to plant a tree.
I’ve used an image from the SS2013 collection by A Détacher which featured conifer prints on shorts, tops and dresses.
28th April is National Kiss Your Mate Day so if you have a partner you know what to do.
As for me, I might just use the day as an excuse to buy some new lipstick. I love unnatural colours, and I really want to try this blue from Guerlain. If red is more your thing, this YSL x Zoë Kravitz lipstick is a lovely ruby.
International Dance Day was established in 1982 by the International Theatre Institute Dance Committe. It’s celebrated on 29th April each year – this is the birthday of the creator of the modern ballet, Jean-Georges Noverre.
I chose a look from the SS2014 couture show by Viktor & Rolf – the models were cast from the Dutch National Ballet, and they came down the runway en pointe.
They weren’t the only dancers for SS2014 – Rick Owens’ RTW show featured a complete opposite vibe – his show cast dancers from stepping teams for an aggressive runway show full of pounding feet and scowling faces.
Vivienne Westwood Red Label SS2014 also featured a reference to dance – before the show started Lily Cole enacted part of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Red Shoes, a story about a girl whose red shoes dance her to death.
I really like these mary janes because the square toe box reminds me of the ballet shoes from the Viktor & Rolf show. The heel is only 2cm so they’d be great for everyday. For something more formal, these velvet pumps from Jimmy Choo have a crystal ankle chain.
I have to admit when I found out there was a National Zipper Day (April 29th) I was kinda amused, but when I was looking up holidays for this post I came across all sorts of unusual days, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by this one.
Maybe you’ve noticed that lots of the zips on your clothes have the letters “YKK” on them – this stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha, a Japanese company founded in 1934 that makes about half of the world’s zips. Other zip manufacturers include Riri (founded in 1936), Lampo (founded in 1887), and Raccagni (founded in 1983).
Raccagni’s zips are used by brands including Tom Ford, Lanvin and Rick Owens. Some other brands, like Louis Vuitton, make their own zips.
This jumper by JW Anderson has a can pull tab as its zip pull, and this Alexander McQueen crop top has a chunky zip down the front, and teeth decorating the neckline.
30th April is National Honesty Day – it’s celebrated on the last day of April to balance out April Fool’s Day on the first.
I’ve chosen this look from Balmain’s AW2020 menswear collection with a lion on the front – in Hinduism and Buddhism the lion is a symbol of integrity, wisdom and strength.
Lions are quite a popular symbol in fashion – you probably remember the recent Schiaparelli lion head dress worn by Irina Shayk at Schiaparelli’s SS2023 Couture show (and I’m sure you remember the outrage).
There’s also a whole “Lion Head” range of jewellery by Gucci, and Moschino have used the motif on jewellery too.
