 Purposefully seeking out friends who can serve you is generally frowned upon. In her latest column, Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff explores why then so many are driven to do it.

Weu2019re all social climbers. Yes, even you.

We’re all social climbers. Yes, even you.

positive

I racked my brains for smart and witty to say to her

It’s a horrible feeling. It’s like being at school

I know everyone’s talking about Barbie but I’m currently boycotting the movie (a story for another day), and therefore would like to instead recommend <a href="https://www.joyride.movie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joy Ride</a> – a hilarious Chinese/Korean road-trip outing from Crazy Rich Asians writer Adele Lim, which is underpinned by a moving tableau of female and non-binary friendships. In cinemas now.

Dancer O’Shea Sibley was killed in a homophobic attack in New York while voguing at a petrol station. It’s a heartbreaking story, but his friends and other mourners have been insistent on <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/08/oshae-sibley-teen-suspect-charged-hate-crime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">celebrating his life</a> as a form of resistance. Watch the videos of them voguing, and remember to stay active in the face of injustice.

I’ve been really enjoying the book <a href="https://canongate.co.uk/books/3621-homelands-the-history-of-a-friendship/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Homelands: The History Of A Friendship</a>, by Chitra Ramaswamy. It tells the story of a friendship between her and a man named Henry, who arrived in the UK in 1939, fleeing Nazi Germany. The way in which Ramaswamy describes their relationship is so compelling, and the detail that she’s able to draw from their respective histories is remarkable.

Friendship moments to watch, read or celebrate this month:

Stylist Daily

Purposefully seeking out friends who can serve you is frowned upon – but you’re probably doing it without even realising. 

Everyone’s secretly social climbing. Yes, even you.