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February 24, 2022 at 08:00AM When it comes to the world of beauty, 2021 will go down as the year that nails ruled supreme. From colourful tips to cow-print, it would seem that nothing was off the table when it came to nail art and our lust for experimental manicures. And our nail obsession shows no sign of slowing down for the year ahead with top nail technicians already predicting some seriously beautiful nail trends for 2022. But if like me you’re a little more pared-back when it comes to what you put on your nails, then you might be pleased to learn that we’re also going to see a return to classic, one-colour manicures in plenty of covetable new shades. So whether you’re after something nicely natural or more adventurous, there’s a nail polish colour with your name on in 2022. Keep scrolling for all…

February 24, 2022 at 08:00AM My sartorial needs right now are simple: to be warm and comfortable. So that means nothing is coming between me and my jumpers at the moment. Still, after pulling on my favourite cream cable-knit jumper for what feels like (and probably is) the 500th day in a row, I’m in need of some fresh inspiration on how to style it as we head into spring.Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Jumper-and-trouser outfits are hardly groundbreaking—they’re one of the most basic combinations out there. But aren’t the simplest things always the most effective? I certainly think so. Putting jeans, leggings and joggers to one side, I was keen to discover how fashion people are assembling their jumper-and-trouser outfits for spring in an attempt to make my own ensembles more polished (though no less comfortable). And what I found was seriously impressive.From…

February 24, 2022 at 08:00AM Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a nice collection of lingerie, had multiple bra fittings and received quotes from some of the biggest experts in the industry on the dos and don'ts of lingerie across the board. Most of these rules are easy enough to follow, except for one (at least for me). During my most recent lingerie fitting for a story I wrote on what it’s like to wear lingerie sets for a week straight, the saleswoman assisting me told me that if I’m not storing my lingerie properly, I’m basically killing it, not getting my money’s worth, and so on and so forth.Instantly I switched into panic mode as I realised all my lingerie was currently stuffed in my drawer along with the rest of my five-for-£20 underwear and random assortment of sports bras. In other words,…

February 24, 2022 at 08:00AM At the risk of sounding like a broken record, how great is H&M right now? The brand has always been one of the biggest high-street hitters, but over the past few seasons, it has surpassed even itself. What makes H&M stand out from other affordable fashion retailers is that it doesn’t merely follow the trends laid out on the runways—it starts them.It’s this constant ability to surprise and delight us that keeps us coming back to H&M in times where some sartorial inspiration is required. And that’s precisely what we find ourselves in need of at the moment as we enter the winter lull. With the novelty of layering starting to wear thin but the ease of dressing and comfortable warmth of spring still a long way off, it’s easy to lose your way in terms of style.…

February 24, 2022 at 08:00AM I don’t know about you, but the past year has felt long. I’ve got more grey hair and more wrinkles, and despite going to bed earlier, I’m still tired. There’s no denying that I’ve felt like I’ve aged faster in lockdown. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this (I have no issues with changing hair colour or a few lines on my face), the speed at which it has happened has been a little disconcerting. I want to feel like myself again, and for me, that means getting a haircut. Over the past few months, I’ve lost count of the number of people who have said their hair needs cutting, from my husband to my colleagues as well as my parents. The craving to get a chop has been strong. Personally, I’m desperate to get my hair cut back into a…

February 24, 2022 at 06:30AM In 2021 the British fashion industry was estimated to be worth a whopping £62.2 million. For context, that’s almost three times more than our native pharmaceutical industry. We may not have the historical trend-setting lineage of, say, the French, but for well over 50 years, Britain has been synonymous with cool and setting the trends. While there are some big players who contribute the largest portion to this enormous sector of our nation’s economy, I’ve noticed that there are more small and independent brands thriving than I’ve ever seen during my time working in publishing.The step change could be down to multiple factors. Firstly, the way many of us consume fashion is changing and has been gradually shifting for some time now. We’ve been through the whirlwind of fashion fashion and come out wiser, dissatisfied and determined to improve our ways: yes, we’re left with an…

February 24, 2022 at 06:30AM Over the past year or so, nail art has really hit the big time. We saw bright colours, bold checkerboards and psychedelic swirls reign supreme in the nail world last spring/summer. In 2022, however, there’s the start of a nail design revolution bubbling away. Yep, we’re ready to bid adieu to bold, bright, in-your-face designs and welcome some understated subtlety in the form of small and delicate, but impactful, creations.Long gone are the days of understated nails being boring—nowadays, we’re talking intricate, fine art-like designs that require an expert hand. And the truth is, with at-home LED lamps available and masses of gel polishes on offer, many of us are wanting something bigger and better from our in-salon nail appointments—something we can’t do ourselves at home. And it’s for this reason that delicate, understated designs are having such a moment.To load you up…

February 24, 2022 at 06:28AM Is it just me, or is H&M nailing it right now? During my latest scroll of its new-in section, my eyes were boggled trying to keep up with top-notch buy after top-notch buy. My liked items skyrocketed in number, and by the time I was finished, I had roughly 30 pieces in my auto-generated wish list. Of course, this is ridiculous—I haven’t and would never buy a “haul” of that magnitude. But I swiftly saw that the pieces I liked best tended to fall into one of nine product categories. This realisation is enough for me to summarise that these nine pieces are the best H&M fashion items this season.What are these nine pieces, you ask? For your viewing and shopping pleasure, I’ve listed them for you below, section by section, along with the items on my wish list populating…