Choosing to pursue a career in fashion often comes with a lot of preconceived ideas. Devil Wears Prada aside, historically, people who work in this industry have been stereotyped as shallow or materialistic. In fact, I personally will never forget when a former friend patronisingly disregarded my knowledge on a subject by saying, “It’s not the kind of thing you’d read in Cosmo, sweetie.” Much to the contrary, in recent years, I have found myself in awe of the eloquence and intelligence of people who work in this industry, many of whom use their extensive platforms to bring about change, particularly when it comes to issues that go way beyond fashion. Initially, Instagram was predominantly used as a platform for outfit inspiration and to attain a glim...
Acting as your very own virtual clothes rail, this simple solution allows me to bookmark the pieces that have caught my eye. It’s also the perfect way to step back and mull on a potential purchase rather than ending up in a panic-buy situation. There’s nothing more satisfying than coming back to my wish list after a few days and being able to cherry-pick the pieces that still set my heart racing and deleting those that don’t. I’d pay a lot of money to get a glimpse into the wish lists of my favourite fashion icons. But as I currently don’t have a direct line to Alexa Chung, we’ll just have to do with yours truly. This week, I’m revealing the items currently residing in my Topshop wish list. Out of all my fashion apps, Topshop has one...
This week, the government finally announced that salons can reopen and that they are allowed to offer manicures and pedicures once more. Frankly, I couldn’t be more overjoyed. Months of neglect has left my nails looking seriously worse for wear and there’s no doubt that they could benefit from some professional pruning. And, while I am certainly itching to get back to the nail bar and have book in for some chic nail art, it’s actually the prospect of a pedicure that has me most excited. As outdoor activities and general socialising are becoming a more regular part of my life, and I’m slipping on my summer sandals more and more, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the state of my feet. You see, whereas the lead up to summer would usually involve a trip to the salon for ...
There are two groups of people (and no judgement here as to which group you fall into): those who’ve given themselves a rogue lockdown haircut and those who now have three Pinterest boards of post-lockdown styles to take to the salon. Regardless of what camp you’re in, it’s time to get in the know about the trending hairstyles for the remainder of this seemingly forgotten year. As hair salons open back up, we decided to speak to some hairstylists about the styles that their clients have been booking in for. Stephen Buller, the co-founder of Buller and Rice, says, “Having been in the salon for a few days, I’ve seen some questionable hair. Lockdown has been unfair to some, but with this come some unforeseen trends.” Ready to switch things up?...
As someone who became a teenager in the ’90s, casual sportswear was a big deal. Britpop stars such as Damon Albarn and Liam Gallagher were often spotted wearing Adidas zip-ups and T-shirts. The Spice Girls had Sporty Spice, whose whole “thing” was wearing sportswear. Then, in 1997 Jason Nevins’s remix of Run-D.M.C.’s “It’s Like That” came out, and it once again made me consider sportswear in a way I hadn’t before. I loved how casual it was but how, when kept pristine, it still looked smart. I could probably go on, but all of these above influences played a role in my love of layering casual sports tops, trousers and sneakers into my own wardrobe. There are three vintage Adidas pieces I wear regularly: a pair of ...
Once regarded as the lowly younger sister to high heels or winter boots, sandals have certainly come up in the world over the last few years, in no small part due to the design prowess of a number of cool, up-and-coming brands. However, shoes can be a tricky thing to shop for regardless of your budget, as you’ll want something that will last and be hardworking yet affordable. Luckily, many of the cult labels making their presence felt right now are offering the design kudos and quality of designer brands but with a price point that comes in under £300. Of course, this is by no means a wallet-friendly option, but if you’re looking to invest a little more in your sandals this summer, I would seriously recommend the below brands. From ATP Atelier...
My hairdryer has been rendered practically obsolete these last few months and instead, I’ve been embracing the joy of slow living, which includes air-drying my tresses. And after months of perfecting the art, my preferred way to style my wet hair is in a low bun. I’m usually a hair down kind of girl but, with ample time to experiment with my look, I soon started searching for inspiration. And I found it, by way of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who wears her hair in a low bun on the regular. Worn at the nape of my neck, my low bun afforded me some of the polish that gradually started to fade in my day to day looks. Accompanied by gold hoops and a slick of mascara, the low bun hairstyle instantly makes me feel pulled together—even when I’m working in my pyjama...
While the current weather in London might not be any indication, summer has certainly arrived. It’s the season of maxi dresses, shorts suits and swimwear, and although we know this summer is set to look a little different, we’re still finding ourselves preoccupied with seasonal trends. With this in mind, we decided to consult a few experts in an effort to find out exactly which summer trends womenswear designers are championing this season. We asked seven designers—including Anine Bing, Henrietta Rix of Rixo, Sarah Staudinger of Staud and more—about their top three summer trends, and as you can imagine, each answer was unique, much like brands they’ve created. While we did receive varied answers from each individual, a...
If it were any other year, Wimbledon would currently be taking place in London. Though, if there’s anything we know to be true, it is that 2020 is no ordinary year. While this year’s tennis tournament may be cancelled, we can’t help but reminisce on the immaculate courtside style of Wimbledon’s past. Of course, you can’t talk about Wimbledon style without mentioning Princess Diana, as she always had fun with her tennis looks. Diana was a keen tennis player herself and often looked amazing on the court in her cycling short and pleated miniskirts. Her courtside looks are just as memorable, however, as she often watched Wimbledon in pastel suits, bold accessories and vibrant prints that we would look just as fabulous today. In particular, we love t...
For those of you who have been diligently applying hand sanitiser for years, you’re probably feeling pretty smug right now—especially considering all of the eye-rolls you encountered every time you took out your prized bottle before a meal. Well, as this is our new normal, we all need to get on board and befriend the not-so-humble-anymore hand sanitiser. There are obviously two camps of sanitiser: the usual medical-scented ones and the more luxe versions. With frequent use, the strong alcohol scent can often seem a bit harsh, so we’ve done the legwork for you to find the best hand sanitisers that also smell pretty nice. Reminder: It’s recommended to go for an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that has at least 60% alcohol content, so keep an eye out for th...
There’s no doubt that our style evolves as we get older. By the time you’re in your 40s, you know what pieces work for your lifestyle, career, body, and personal taste. There’s a confidence that lies in an over-40 woman’s wardrobe. You don’t force yourself to wear trends that don’t work for you, and by this point, you’ve likely built a reliable capsule wardrobe that consists of timeless staples along with powerful statement pieces. Eager to find out where stylish women in their 40s shop to create said reliable wardrobe, I tapped five fashion-forward women over 40 who I love to follow on Instagram for their chic style. Below, they’re sharing the retailers, stores, and boutiques they shop for classic and trending pieces alike, along with some of their current must-haves ...
As life slowly returns to normal, pubs and restaurants reopen and international travel begins to look like an option again for some this year, I’m finding myself revisiting new-in sections with a newfound interest now that I am wearing more than just jogging bottoms. There are three high-street summer collections in particular that I’m really impressed with: Zara, & Other Stories and COS. All of these summer collections have plenty of throw-on appeal, making them realistic for my working-from-home set-up and low-key summer plans. They also all have an elevated and timeless appeal, meaning they’ll last for summers for years to come. Hero pieces I have my eye on include a pale-blue cotton midi dress from COS, a pair of sage-green shorts from Zara and chunky sc...