It’s impossible to imagine a person’s absence when it seems, like Iris Apfel, that they were always here. Iris was a woman who understood the transformative and inspiring power of clothing, for herself and for those she encountered. If you knew her well, or observed her closely during quieter moments, the process behind her style […]
Safe Botox isn’t only for Harley Street – it should be on the high street, too | Cosmetic surgery
Every couple of years, I’m invited on to some radio show on the implicit understanding that as a Guardian beauty columnist, I’ll sound suitably appalled and outraged by the latest opening of a high street aesthetic clinic chain. Well, I’m not. I positively welcome the democratisation of Botox. Anyone thinking that these more affordable, more accessible aesthetic […]
Meet the Party Jean – the answer to your New Year’s Eve prayers | Fashion
There is a moment about halfway through Christmas dinner when the cracker hats have slipped askew, shoes been kicked off under the table and belts un-notched, that marks the official end of the season of Making An Effort. A frenzied month of putting on mascara in the work loos and shivering on the way home […]
How swamp, olive and brat came to rule 2024 | Fashion
As with many of this year’s big political predictions, the pollsters got it wrong. Pantone declared last December that “peach fuzz” – a honeyed-take on the previous Barbified year – would be the colour of 2024. Instead, this has been the year of green in all its glory. I thought I was being original when […]
‘It’s shorthand for what we expect women to look like’: how ‘not-too-done’ hair took over screens in 2024 | Fashion
The 2024 Netflix series Nobody Wants This was widely adored for many reasons – not least the concept of the Hot Rabbi, the renaissance of its star, former The OC geek-hearthrob Adam Brody, and the soothing LA lifestyle porn. But, for many of us, through Brody’s co-stars Kristen Bell and Justine Lupe, it was simply […]
Click, clic … boom! How secondhand clothes shopping turned very sour | Vintage fashion
Here is a real-life conversation on a secondhand shopping app: a buyer of two items asks if a seller could combine postage costs. The petulant seller refuses. After a grating plea from the buyer, the seller retorts, “Fine, I’ll refund you, but I’m doing it my way.” Eventually, the buyer receives a large piece of […]
Trend watch: cosy loungewear | Fashion
It’s officially the time of year to get cosy; think tactile fabrics that inspire a relaxed atmosphere. Forget itchy sequins and Christmas jumpers and pull on a look whose only criterion is to offer a sartorial hug. It might be your favourite well-worn PJs or joggers with a new pair of socks, or a gifted […]
Unpeeled tomatoes and barn conversions: Nicky Haslam reveals what’s ‘common’ this year | Design
What is “common” these days – and is it even OK to say it? Some might say it’s a controversial term, but for Nicky Haslam, the 85-year-old English designer, socialite and self-appointed arbiter of taste, defining what is common is not something to shy away from – on the contrary, it has become an annual […]
Breaking the mould: jelly goes from children’s favourite to star food | Food
It has long been a staple of children’s parties and hospital dinners, but now jelly is taking a star turn after being embraced by everyone from Michelin-starred chefs to the fashion industry. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. On social media, videos […]
Five British fashion brands taking the US by storm | Fashion
Like the Beatles before them, a slew of British brands are taking the US by storm with their whimsical dresses and cosy knitwear. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. First up is Toast, the purveyor of said knitwear. Then there is Me […]