Recent Posts

January 04, 2022 at 06:02AM Basma Khalifa is a director and film maker who believes in telling stories for under-represented young people, and she is also a journalist and stylist. Here Basma writes about how leaving her role in the fashion industry impacted how she gets dressed and actually helped her to find her confidence.  From my experience, choosing to work in the fashion industry is akin to choosing to join a circus. A lot of performance and bright lights while forgetting the pandemonium of it all. I entered the industry in my early twenties enamoured by the glitz that it seemed to promise, dreaming of being the next big fashion stylist. It was around 2011, the height of Victoria's  Secret models. Skinny was in, and no matter which luxury brand you aspired to, the revered combination of straight hair and blue eyes was the epitome…

January 04, 2022 at 06:01AM I love jeans, specifically my pair of white barrel jeans. Don’t be put off by the name; they’re much more versatile than they sound. The Arket pair that I own are brilliant because the denim is thick and sturdy, and they have a high-rise fit, so they are really comfortable to wear. The wide barrel shape is surprisingly flattering, as it creates a beautiful silhouette when you tuck in tops. As it has a clean hem, I also find this pair easy to dress up and down, maximising its wearability.White jeans are a balance of risk and reward. They are a risky choice if, like me, you’re clumsy. But if you can avoid any coffee or red wine spillages, you’ll be rewarded with lots of styling options—and chic ones at that. To prove my point, I’ve assembled five different looks centred around Arket’s…

January 04, 2022 at 06:00AM Without fail, every year, there tends to be one bold haircut that dominates beauty trend reports and shoots to the top of the most-requested list at high-street salons for those of us feeling brave enough for a change. In 2020, it was the shag. In 2021, it was the mullet. And in 2022, there is already one haircut that looks set to reign supreme: the mixie. “The mixie haircut is a really fun, edgy haircut we’ll see coming through in 2022 and is a cross between the mullet and a pixie—short at the front, longer and choppier at the back,” explains Adam Reed, UK editorial ambassador for L'Oréal Professionnel. “The look is a renaissance of the wolf or shag retro haircut which we’ve seen come through this year, and this look is ideal for those looking to experiment with short hair.”And while it…

January 04, 2022 at 06:00AM There is so much to love about the arrival of winter—cosy knitwear, chunky boots and a palette of berries and burgundies for our nails and makeup. However, when it comes to looking after our skin, the transition to cooler weather can play havoc with our complexions. For me personally, the combination of central heating indoors and biting winds outdoors means that I'm left dealing with shiny patches as well as dry spots. Plus, my usually oily skin is suddenly parched—rendering my carefully curated skincare routine lacking. And I’m not alone in my winter-skin confusion.“Drastic temperature changes and lower humidity levels between indoor and outdoor environments creates stress for the skin,” explains skin and wellness expert Ada Ooi. “This results in dryness and heightened sensitivity, which is a killer for creating wrinkles, while the hydrolipidic barrier that protects our skin can also…

January 04, 2022 at 06:00AM Is there anything more luxurious looking than a winter white outfit? This neutral hue has the ability to make every ensemble look seriously expensive. It may be cold and dreary out, but your outfit says, “I’m not giving in just yet” and looks undeniably chic. Not only does a winter white outfit look luxe, but it can also be an instant mood lifter—a welcome change to the black and grey hues we’re so used to gravitating toward throughout the cold-weather season.So how do you pull off the look? Steer away from your summer whites when it’s cold out (e.g., lace and linen dresses or eyelet blouses), and instead mix and match plush and cozy cold-weather fabrics and textures such as ribbed knits, shearling, cashmere, and denim. Have fun playing with different shades of white within your outfit or contrasting the crisp hue with…

January 04, 2022 at 06:00AM I can guarantee you click on the Zara app/website to either 1) buy a new outfit or, 2) browse for outfit inspiration. While the second option may indeed lead to the first, some of the outfits are easier to copy IRL that others. And there’s no denying Zara’s stylist always know how to create a talking point.With the Instagram account (@awkwardzara) documenting the latest model poses boasting over 64,000 followers (remember the model on a cooker during lockdown one?), the high street site always steps into high end territory with daring outfit combinations. And I, for one, am always inspired by a lot of these. With a new year to think about, I’m in the mood to get experimenting with some of Zara’s new in pieces. So this is why I’ve found seven outfits – from blazers and matching trousers with heels…

January 04, 2022 at 06:00AM Without fail, every year, there tends to be one bold haircut that dominates beauty trend reports and shoots to the top of the most-requested list at high-street salons for those of us feeling brave enough for a change. In 2020, it was the shag. In 2021, it was the mullet. And in 2022, there is already one haircut that looks set to reign supreme: the mixie. “The mixie haircut is a really fun, edgy haircut we’ll see coming through in 2022 and is a cross between the mullet and a pixie—short at the front, longer and choppier at the back,” explains Adam Reed, UK editorial ambassador for L'Oréal Professionnel. “The look is a renaissance of the wolf or shag retro haircut which we’ve seen come through this year, and this look is ideal for those looking to experiment with short hair.”And while it…

January 04, 2022 at 06:00AM There is so much to love about the arrival of winter—cosy knitwear, chunky boots and a palette of berries and burgundies for our nails and makeup. However, when it comes to looking after our skin, the transition to cooler weather can play havoc with our complexions. For me personally, the combination of central heating indoors and biting winds outdoors means that I'm left dealing with shiny patches as well as dry spots. Plus, my usually oily skin is suddenly parched—rendering my carefully curated skincare routine lacking. And I’m not alone in my winter-skin confusion.“Drastic temperature changes and lower humidity levels between indoor and outdoor environments creates stress for the skin,” explains skin and wellness expert Ada Ooi. “This results in dryness and heightened sensitivity, which is a killer for creating wrinkles, while the hydrolipidic barrier that protects our skin can also…

January 04, 2022 at 06:00AM Is there anything more luxurious looking than a winter white outfit? This neutral hue has the ability to make every ensemble look seriously expensive. It may be cold and dreary out, but your outfit says, “I’m not giving in just yet” and looks undeniably chic. Not only does a winter white outfit look luxe, but it can also be an instant mood lifter—a welcome change to the black and grey hues we’re so used to gravitating toward throughout the cold-weather season.So how do you pull off the look? Steer away from your summer whites when it’s cold out (e.g., lace and linen dresses or eyelet blouses), and instead mix and match plush and cozy cold-weather fabrics and textures such as ribbed knits, shearling, cashmere, and denim. Have fun playing with different shades of white within your outfit or contrasting the crisp hue with…

January 04, 2022 at 06:00AM I can guarantee you click on the Zara app/website to either 1) buy a new outfit or, 2) browse for outfit inspiration. While the second option may indeed lead to the first, some of the outfits are easier to copy IRL that others. And there’s no denying Zara’s stylist always know how to create a talking point.With the Instagram account (@awkwardzara) documenting the latest model poses boasting over 64,000 followers (remember the model on a cooker during lockdown one?), the high street site always steps into high end territory with daring outfit combinations. And I, for one, am always inspired by a lot of these. With a new year to think about, I’m in the mood to get experimenting with some of Zara’s new in pieces. So this is why I’ve found seven outfits – from blazers and matching trousers with heels…