July 13, 2021 at 06:17AM Around 20 years ago, it was slim pickings on the high street when it came to lingerie. Marks and Spencer was the default for practical pieces, but if you wanted something a little prettier, you’d end up having to walk into a somewhat seedy store and be confronted with an array of overly lacy/silky/barely-there styles.Thankfully, the market has now changed beyond recognition, and we are spoilt for choice now that retailers are realising women want flattering, stylish bras created for their own appreciation. After a quick survey of the team, it became clear that there were three winners in the “best high-street lingerie” category: & Other Stories, John Lewis & Partners and Marks and Spencer (yep, still going strong). We commended each for their ability to balance comfort, good design and purse-friendly prices.Sophie Edwards wears a beautiful yellow lingerie set from Marks and…
July 12, 2021 at 06:02AM As someone who avoided wearing trousers for the best part of 20 years, I’ve always found it increasingly difficult to style them—particularly where shoes are concerned. Often, I’ll compile my looks from head to toe, starting with a statement top, the accompanying bottom half and then the footwear. However, I tend to find myself slipping on every shoe style I own (trust me—there are a few), unconvinced that any of them suit my strides.Some prove too chunky, while others make me feel frumpy. Either way, it’s not a very enjoyable experience. As such, I set about to find out which shoe styles should be worn with which types of trousers once and for all. After lengthy try-on sessions and lots of IG scrolling, I think I’ve cracked the perfect footwear-and-trouser formulas. Below, you’ll find four key trouser silhouettes,…
July 12, 2021 at 06:00AM I am, for lack of a better phrase, a total sun-worshipper. It’s not that I’m addicted to tanning or anything (trust me, sun-induced premature ageing means I am slathered in factor 50 all summer long)—it’s just that I really love the heat. As someone who lives in London where we spend the majority of the year wrapped up in waterproof jackets, fighting broken brollies and wearing down the soles of heavy-duty boots, the laid-back, carefree nature of summer gets me excited. And I think it might have finally arrived. With the mercury finally hitting 20+, I have flung open the windows, pulled out the fan, packed away my knits and pulled out my dresses and shorts. However, my wardrobe is not the only area where I have been making substitutes. As the heat from the sun gets more intense and the days become…
July 12, 2021 at 06:00AM We created What to Buy Now to bring you a concise edit every Monday of the items we really love, including pieces from the high street and designer labels, vintage gems you can buy online and even charity-shop treasures. We’re constantly scanning the most stylish online stores so you can feel safe in the knowledge that you won’t miss a thing.We know that your fashion requirements can vary massively from season to season, whether you’re looking for an immaculately tailored staple, an affordable sundress or the perfect pair of shoes. So not only will we cover all the bases, but as ardent believers in mindful consumption, we’ll also make sure everything we include will look just as fresh in a year’s time as it does now.Of course, we’ll also bring you those pieces that simply set your heart racing in a way that…
July 12, 2021 at 06:00AM From vivid colours to the return of effortlessly cool ponytails, summer 2021 is already proving itself to be something of a playground when it comes to experimenting with new hair looks. But with copper colours trending one minute and the return of the mullet the next, it can be incredibly hard to keep up with what's popular in the world of hair. So to make things a little easier, I decided to harness my contact book for some insider info on what the key summer hair trends will be for the summer ahead. My go-to hair expert of choice? Syd Hayes. Having worked with the likes of Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber, the celebrity hairstylist and BaByliss ambassador has his finger well and truly on the pulse of what’s on-trend for hair at any given moment—and he was only too happy to share his summer hair predictions with me.There’s undoubtedly one…
July 12, 2021 at 05:00AM I don’t know about you, but I love a pretty trend. Maybe it’s the romantic in me, but I tend to lean toward dreamy, delicate, and graceful styles over anything else. Lucky for me (and you if this is what you’re into as well), this summer season offers plenty of delightfully “pretty” styles and silhouettes that are trending hard. From beautiful ruching to lovely embroidery and vintage-inspired V waistlines, I’ve been spotting these swoon-worthy styles all over the fashion crowd and at our favorite retailers. They’ll, no doubt, add a captivating and charming touch to your summer ensembles. Keep scrolling below for the loveliest fabrics, silhouettes, and styles worth trying (and Instagramming!) this summer.Sweet, textured details always add a pretty touch to dresses and tops alike. Smocking and ruching are ideal for showing off throughout the summer months. I’m a sucker…
July 11, 2021 at 08:00AM Summer holidays might not look how we’d like them to this year, but it doesn’t mean we can’t dust off our swimsuits and get ready for the warmer weather that lies ahead. Now, before you get too excited and end up spending all your money on the first cute swimsuit you see, let me share with you one of the only swimsuit trends I think you need to know this season: retro florals. I am officially convinced that if you’re going to be seen in one swimsuit trend this summer, make it retro florals.Retro florals entail any floral print that looks like it came straight out of the ‘60s, '70s, or '80s. The nostalgia these funky prints bring is what makes this swim trend feel fresh and different compared to your average floral-printed suit. To further sell you on this…
July 11, 2021 at 08:00AM Marks and Spencer is one of our favourite places to shop for long-lasting wardrobe staples and has a strong track record of every day turning basics into cult items, whether it’s a grey jumper or a beige wrap coat. I am most impressed by M&S’ footwear department, and wear a pair of ballet pumps at least nine days out of ten, as they are the comfiest shoes I own. These ÂŁ35 pumps have a high cut and a gentle V towards the toe, which make them appear more elevated that the classic almond toe. There’s something a little Phoebe Philo about this silhouette, no? I personally stick to the black pair, however they are also available in lavender, camel, leopard print, red and navy blue.Ballet pumps were the height of cool circa 2008 thanks to Kate Moss and her weakness for Repetto. Over the past five…
July 11, 2021 at 08:00AM I’m pretty lucky. Not only do I have a job where I get to experience, write, and learn about the newest and most exciting products, treatments, and trends hitting the beauty industry, but I also get to interview and get to know the artists and experts who execute and create them. That said, I also feel lucky to have a beauty-loving, 73-year-old makeup artist mom who I can consult about anything and everything. (My poor father never gets a word in when we have a family catch-up call. Sorry, Dad!) Being a 73-year-old product junkie and also a Tucson-based makeup expert who specialises in educating older women about makeup and skincare, my beautiful mum knows a thing or two when it comes to choosing the best products for mature skin. Oftentimes (but not always), when I try to foist my favourite…
July 11, 2021 at 08:00AM Your age should have absolutely nothing to do with what you should or shouldn’t wear. That said, we often gravitate toward women over 40 for style inspiration given their more experienced points of view. Influencers Erin Busbee and Melissa Meyers are two women we turn to for outfit inspo.Busbee, 46, and Meyers, 56, both consistently post looks on their blogs and Instagram feeds that are equal parts chic and easy. On that note, we were inclined to learn about the key pieces they’re into this season to build some of their strongest looks. They actually shared with us the five trends they both love due to the simple yet directional vibes.Keep scrolling to check out more from Busbee and Meyers, including styling inspiration. There’s also a wide variety of shopping picks if you’re interested in adding one of their go-to trends to your own…