FASHION
FASHION
It's fair to say that the most stylish iteration of WFH dressing has been the matching tracksuit. Now, with lockdown easing, it's time for a suitable substitute: matching top and trouser sets. Stop sighing! We know tracksuits are comfortable, but they don't make heads turn in the way that matching top and trouser sets do.
Who can be surprised that those tasked with creating beautiful things should also like wearing them
Your body and the planet will thank you for them
We don't care what anyone else says, we love wrap skirts. They're a balmy day in an item of clothing and particularly forgiving after a large meal, which is very useful now that restaurants are somewhat open. They're also diverse: some are plain and some are patterned, some are mini and some are maxi, some are linen and some are denim.
So, the secret's out: whether they're matching top and trouser sets or matching top and skirt sets, we like clothes that match. With the accompanying stresses of lockdown easing, they just make life easier. And funner, actually! There's nothing like knowing you look fabulous to instil you with a bit of self-confidence.
In all seriousness, we'd be bereft without jeans. They're the sweet spot between a tracksuit and something inescapably formal. But, due to the pandemic, 2020 was not a stellar year for them - they were even the subject of derision on Twitter. Still, given that 2020 is now behind us, it's time to be excited by jeans again.
Well, what is there to say about floral dresses? Since examples of them sometimes seem infinite, lots of things. And we shall be saying some of them here - as we always do. Because floral dresses are often nowhere to be seen in winter, their appearance ought to signal the arrival of spring.
Being a staunch vegan in terms of what you eat is one thing, but being a staunch vegan in terms of what you wear? That requires a level of commitment that not everyone is prepared for. It means no leather. No silk. No wool.
Recently, something Billie Eilish posted on her Instagram surpassed a million likes in six minutes. While this may have had a lot to do with the post being her British Vogue cover (and her status as the voice of Generation Z), there was another element to the image that might also account for its popularity: a custom Gucci corset.
If you’re appreciative of sustainable clothing brands, it stands to reason that you’ll be similarly interested in sustainable jewellery brands. So, in advance of Fashion Revolution Week and Earth Day, we gathered our favourites for your perusal.
Since we recently used lockdown easing as an excuse to celebrate matching top and trouser sets (which are most certainly not to be confused with matching tracksuits), it's only fair that we do the same for matching top and skirt sets.
We know that hats can sometimes seem a bit de trop for the less flamboyant among us, but - alongside SPF - a decent hat will shield your precious face from UV radiation (which is as evil as it sounds) like nothing else.
It's hard to move through the world these days without encountering pleas and pledges for sustainability. That's a good thing, though. Without them, there might not be any world left to move through at all. From what we eat to where we travel, so much of what we adore is not sustainable in its traditional format.
The abandoned bra trope is not something that I have ever understood. I would not leave my bra – certainly not the I.D. Sarrieri one – in anyone’s musty bed no matter how quickly I wanted to scarper. That beloved thing would be accompanying me home come hell or high water! If the mattress had to be upturned at the expense of someone’s slumber to do so then so be it. Lie-ins are a waste of time anyway, I’d exclaim (definitely not believing it myself).
Lockdown easing has presented us with multiple opportunities for fun, but that’s not to say it’s guaranteed. In poor weather conditions, outdoor dining is somewhat of an ordeal. And the joy of sauntering to the pub isn’t quite the same when you have to book a table for the privilege. But, regardless of whether or not you will actually enjoy yourself, at least it’s an excuse to dress for fun. On that note, here are some of our favourite printed trousers.
These days, it's fair to say that vegan products are commonplace. You could sustain yourself solely on the wisdom of vegan cookbooks. Dart around only in vegan trainers. Use vegan shampoo and conditioner followed by a vegan hair mask. Anything, really. What we're basically trying to say is that you can now live a vegan existence without excessive fanfare.
Rumour has it that spring is here. How lovely for us all! But, as lovely as the sun is, it's not particularly kind to our eyes. Some would say it's downright cruel! So cruel, in fact, that it can actually make you weep, ruining your mascara with it.
Year after year, we are forced to accept that the promise of spring does not make its arrival any less laboured. One week, wearing a bikini on the balcony seems like a brilliant idea; the next, it's hard to see beyond balaclavas.
While you can get spring dresses with long sleeves that are also maxi dresses and spring maxi dresses that happen to have long sleeves, the main difference between them is this: spring maxi dresses are for those of us who will always be more hesitant to bear our legs than our arms. Bare legs are such a signifier of spring that they're basically a signifier of summer.
Sometimes, the gulf between midi skirts and miniskirts can seem huge. Styled incorrectly, a midi skirt can feel like the frumpiest item of clothing in the world. And miniskirts just get dubbed 'inappropriate' no matter how they're styled. There's no winning. Uness, that is, you take to wearing a midi skirt with a slit.
By now, you probably know what your astrological sign and your initial is. And perhaps so too does your jewellery box. You rarely need an excuse for new jewellery, but the opportunity to honour certain aspects of your identity is a decent one. Birthstone jewellery, then, ought to be your next target.
Given the fact that it's nearly summer, it seems appropriate that the coming days are set to be warm. Although whether this is a blessing or a curse is entirely down to personal preference, you'll probably still want to be comfortable in the heat.
If you follow Diet Prada on Instagram, you may have seen one of their latest posts about Bottega Veneta. Its focus? A very expensive beaded necklace. But despite the criticism levelled at its price, we still found ourselves somewhat enamored with it. And all other beaded jewellery, for that matter.
Being comfortably cool is essential for sleeping well, after all
If you frequent the likes of Depop and Etsy in search of new jewellery, you’re probably familiar with resin rings. But as popular as they are with the likes of Bella Hadid and Dua Lipa, the ostensibly Y2K ones – being chunky, colourful, embellished and admittedly somewhat juvenile – aren’t to every taste level. But they are to some. And so here we have a sliding scale of resin rings to appease everyone. May yours be as stackable as they are standalone.
BEAUTY
Can tiny crystals in your ears reduce stress? One writer puts ear acupuncture, or auriculotherapy, to the test
Known for hydrating and plumping skin to perfection, we explore what hyaluronic acid actually does, how to use it and the best hyaluronic acid serums
These might just be the perfect start to your skincare routine
Along with the products you need to recreate them at home
Whether you’re fighting fine lines, wrinkles or pore size, there will be one to suit your skin type in our selection
When lockdown forced beauty salons to close, many panicked. Not these women, though, who learnt how to do professional hair treatments themselves
From shampoo and conditioner to mousse and thickening spray, these are the products to give your locks a helping hand in the face of hair loss
This is your chance to make your me-time more sustainable
Adapting your beauty routine for winter doesn’t have to be super expensive. Here are 7 ways to keep skin dewy, glowing & well hydrated in the chillier months (without breaking the bank)
Because what’s the point of actually being able to go out if you don’t wear marvellous makeup?
This time of year can be challenging for skin but, with the right products, it doesn’t have to be
They’ll leave your skin feeling soft and moisturised
From spa-inspired skincare to blissful aromatherapy designed to de-stress both body & mind
Top tips from the beauty pros on how to look fabulous and have fun this party season, whether you’re celebrating virtually or in-person
Whether caused by ‘maskne’ or the wrong products, here’s your blemish-busting plan of action for a smoother chin and clearer skin
From cleansers to serums, probiotic skincare is set to be huge. Here’s why it’s a good idea to have it on your radar
Because being kind to the planet is important when it comes to your beauty regime
From full-blown breakouts to dry and itchy rashes, you can count skin changes among the side effects of menopause
This Christmas is going to be amazing. We say that with confidence because it has to be, seeing as the last one - and the period surrounding it, which we've come to know as 'party season' - was practically cancelled.
A skincare ingredient for everyone that has been criminally undervalued
An olfactory journey is the next best thing to a physical one
The best on the market to make you look radiant as opposed to radioactive
Nice guys don't always finish last when it comes to skincare – especially when lactic acid is involved
Or anyone who simply wants to try something new
Teamwork makes the dream work
Your morning routine is incomplete without one
A banana skin to exfoliate? A way to plump lips without filler? These are some of the safe, less hazardous hacks touted on TikTok that are fit for millennials too
There's at least one for every skin type, tone and concern
As the beauty industry is officially declared open, we round up the best salons in the city to redress roots and sort split ends
Since you have absolutely no idea
Arm yourself with these design references for your next professional manicure
Unsurprisingly, this is an edit of floral-scented perfumes
A tanned glow is now yours for the taking
Here's to waking up with softer skin and less frizz in your hair
At least if you use a half-decent highlighter
The beauty industry contributes billions to the UK economy, so why does it not get the Government's respect?
Because some of us actually have a strong disliking to the festive aesthetic
We'll be feeling smug in the bath until all this blows over
SEX & RELATIONSHIPS
From every single detail of what will happen at an STI clinic to the reasons that our sexual health is so important in the first place
Heather Gwyther trials Kama, the sexual wellness app designed to optimise pleasure
Essential when your love life is governed by the likes of Tinder, Hinge and Bumble
Did it take coronavirus to encourage them to do it more?
CULTURE
Apparently - defying all predictions that single people in the nascent post-pandemic era would be particularly horny - Love Island is currently somewhat lacklustre. But while the 2021 season may (or may not) become more interesting as it bores on, what we can always rely on to entertain us is TikTok.
It is impossible to relegate the might of LGBTQ culture to a single month. There, we said it. So, to accompany the queer film and reading lists we published in June, we're entering July with a selection of our favourite LGBTQ documentaries on Netflix. Enjoy.
All facets of life can be found on TikTok. If you like plants, there are plant hacks to ensure that yours thrive. If you prefer tending to yourself, there are hacks for that too: makeup hacks, beauty hacks, hair hacks. If it typically involves staring into a mirror, someone on TikTok will have created content in its honor.
FOOD & DRINK
While we’re glad that we no longer have to eat al fresco in the name of coronavirus restrictions, there are certain types of outdoor dining establishments in London that we love above all others: rooftop bars and restaurants. London’s rooftop bars and restaurants are magical places. In them, we take pictures of the sunset that – at the time – we believe are worthy of submission to National Geographic. We wonder whether we should have dressed more appropriately. We literally look down on people.
It's the treat we all deserve as the ramifications of the pandemic amble on
Realising things! We all do it. Especially when a pandemic punctures normality in its entirety and leaves us with a surplus of solitude. As of late, one such realisation of ours has been this: you do not need meat to have a good time. Nowhere is this more evident than at an Indian vegetarian restaurant.
There is no greater joy than going to one of these establishments for some gluttonous boozing with your friends
We miss London's restaurants. But while they will be able to serve customers sitting outside from April the 12th and fully from May the 17th (along with the rest of the country's), there is a solution in the meantime: London restaurant meal kits.
Especially when travelling to the country itself is proving a hassle
Food, glorious food. Where would be without it? Malnourished, yes, but - if the past year is anything to go by - also bored. Whether it involves making fresh pasta or fancy restaurant meal kits, experimenting with food is one of the activities that has consistently delivered us from catatonia throughout lockdown - just like TikTok.
EVERYTHING ELSE
This bedding upgrade could be just what you’re looking for if you’re feeling a bit anxious and finding it hard to relax
Stress is an inevitable part of being alive. No matter how many happiness hacks you master, you’ll probably feel stressed at some point in your life due to circumstances largely beyond your control. And even if you’d lived a relatively ‘stress-free’ existence before the pandemic, lockdown might have finally pushed you to the edge.