JESSICA ALBA ON SURVIVING HOLLYWOOD & BUILDING AN ECO EMPIRE
SEXTHE WOMAN BEHIND MAESTRA
AUGUST 2016 £4.20
SUMMER BEAUTY
VEGGIE SUPPERS FOR SHARING
NEW TANNING SECRETS MIRACLE FACE OILS BEACH HAIR SAVIOURS
MIND-SET
08 9 771461 131169 WWW.REDONLINE.CO.UK
SUNSHINE
GIVE UP ON PERFECT FIND HAPPY!
STYLE
EDIT
JULIANNE MOORE: ON MAKING LOVE LAST BRADLEY WIGGINS: MOD, HERO, RED CRUSH NADIYA HUSSAIN: MY LIFE IN BOOKS
THE PERFECT CAPSULE HOLIDAY WARDROBE MUST-BUY: A BODY-LOVING SWIMSUIT WHAT THE FASH PACK TAKE TO THE BEACH
NEW-SEASON FIRST LOOK
EDITOR’S LETTER CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW: Author LS Hilton (page 64); new-season edit (page 31); tanning secrets (page 109); the Red Summer Reads 2016 app
PHOTOGRAPHS PETER PEDONOMOU, DAVID GUBERT
GREAT ESCAPES Summer is a time for reading. For me, it is a chance to dip into the stack on my nightstand, which, thanks to work/kids/life, is (sadly) ever-growing. Most recently, on an unseasonably soggy trip to the Lot-et-Garonne, I managed to steal enough me-time to lose myself in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan fourpart book series. Utter. Bliss. This month’s issue is all about the escapist joys of literature and travel. In our annual Life-changing travel portfolio, Jessie Burton, author of The Miniaturist and now her critically lauded second novel The Muse, writes a candid and touching account of travelling solo in Suriname; while Red’s literary editor, Sarra Manning, tells you what other tomes should be in your pom-pom-bedecked beach bag (page 90). One book that is sure to be read on a lounger near you is this year’s erotic phenom, Maestra. Red writer Stephanie Rafanelli meets the outrageously funny, clever and incomparably sassy LS Hilton, the author behind the raciest pages of the summer (page 64). Not for the prudish. Elsewhere in the issue, writer Miranda Sawyer – whose magnificently insightful meditation on middle
age Out Of Time is previewed on page 91 – interviews the Red oice crush Bradley Wiggins (page 76), as we all fall sway to Olympics fever. And the style team have curated the ultimate beach wardrobe for your pre-holiday sweep of the shops (page 16). I’ve said it before, but perhaps the chief joy of editing Red is the world-class writing talent we get to work with and, as a special summertime treat for you, we have gathered together some of the most brilliant and compelling reads of the year in our Summer Reads 2016 free downloadable collection (available now from the App Store). Just load up your tablet before you travel, and enjoy. Happy reading!
Editor-in-chief SARAH BAILEY
THIS MONTH I HAVE BEEN: ENJOYING a little of life’s luxuries at Le Bristol hotel in beautiful Paris (lebristolparis.com); LOOKING FORWARD
to Hofesh Shechter, among other brilliant performers, at this year’s dance-focused Latitude festival (latitudefestival.com); BOOKING my tickets for the transfer of The Big House Theatre Company’s production Knife Edge to the Royal Court (royalcourttheatre.com); TWEETING @SarahRedMag
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 9
96
16
141
117
CONTENTS Q ON THE COVER
STYLE 15 A pop of white Introducing summer’s suitseverything accessories shade 16 The perfect capsule holiday wardrobe …plus a body-loving swimsuit 23 City safari Urban style gets a tribal makeover 25 Super natural Embrace sunshine-ready raia 26 Instant style icons Three head fashion buyers give us a masterclass in summer dressing 31 New-season first look Clear your wardrobe, here’s what you’ll be wearing come autumn 34 Jewellery news A/W 16’s most-wanted accessories
FASHION 95 Game on The latest pieces are true winners
10 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
August 2016
126
96 Power players In true Olympic style, we’ve picked the new-season power favourites
60 The career advice we wish we’d known from day one Our Red Women of the Year alumnae share their work wisdom, plus life lessons from Victoria Pendleton 64 The woman behind Maestra We get to know the author behind this summer’s most scandalous novel 70 Confessions of a single mum on Tinder One writer on learning to date again 73 Losing a son, gaining a daughter Jenny Dale reveals what it’s like to have a transgender child 76 Bradley Wiggins: Mod, hero, Red crush The Olympic champion talks family drama, depression and looking ahead 83 Cheating death, rebuilding lives Taban Shoresh on why she had to return to her homeland of Iraq to help 86 Your sunlounger life reboot Tiny changes to transform your life
FEATURES 39 How to survive a midlife wedding Rosie Green shares some (somewhat irksome) wedding guest home truths 40 The times they are a changin’ It’s time to embrace the positivity of change, says Harriet Green 42 Jessica Alba on surviving Hollywood and building an eco empire We can learn a lot from the A-list-actress-turned-entrepreneur 47 The trip that changed my life From Kilimanjaro to Suriname, three writers share their life-altering travels 54 Julianne Moore: on making love last Bold, brave, sassy: there’s so much to admire about the on-screen siren
CONTENTS 109
143 ESCAPES 143 Europe’s best-kept secrets You’ll want to keep these lesserknown holiday gems under your hat
SELF 170 My favourite thing For Julia Stiles it’s a ‘baby banjo’, given to her by her now-fiancé
BEAUTY 109 New tanning secrets The quest for a golden glow has never been so easy (tip: try one of these miracle face oils) 117 What the fash pack take to the beach Inside the suitcases of the stylistas, plus their beach-hair saviours 122 Beauty notebook
149 Sweetness and light The healthy ice cream recipe you need in your life this summer 150 I found my inner warrior A new kind of retreat claims to make you healthier and happier – Andréa Childs gives it a road test
149
31 154 Do you know your kimchi from your kale? Rosie Green has your fit squad figured out. Recognise yourself? 157 Give up on perfect – find happy! Eleanor Morgan opens up about her anxiety – and says you should, too 161 Ask Philippa Our agony aunt tackles your issues
OFFERS 33 Great reasons to subscribe to Red 75 Exclusive subscriber ofers
LIVING
IN EVERY ISSUE
125 Summer’s in bloom All you need to find happy? Surround yourself with beautiful blossoms 126 7 veggie suppers for sharing Flavourful and summer-light, these dishes are guaranteed crowd-pleasers 135 The rise of cake-tivism Yes, you really can help the world by baking, says Martha Collison 136 Pale and interesting Neutral shades and simple touches, this is Scandi style in Sussex 141 Club class This season we’re taking our style cues from South Kensington Club
9 Editor’s letter 13 Say it, write it, tweet it 89 Nadiya Hussain: my life in books … And this month’s top page-turners 169 Stars THIS MONTH’S COVERS Recreate Jessica Alba’s look using Match Perfection Foundation in Natural Beige, Good To Glow Highlighter in Piccadilly Glow, Kate Moss Sculpting Palette in Golden Bronze, Brow This Way Kit in Mid Brown, Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Jet Black, Volume Colourist Mascara in Black, Oh My Gloss! Lip Gloss in Crystal Clear, all Rimmel London. Subscribe to Red to receive the limited-edition covers (above, right); see page 33 for details.
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 11
CONTRIBUTORS August 2016
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sarah Bailey Deputy editor Sarah Tomczak
Suki Dhanda
Creative director Tanita Montgomery
Shoots I found my inner warrior on page 150
Acting fashion director Oonagh Brennan Group managing editor Merrick Cassanova Digital editor Fong Chau Picture director Beverley Croucher Entertainment director Rosamund Dean Fashion & beauty bookings director Karina Dial Workflow director Cathy Levy
BEST THINGS IN LIFE
O Walking by the River Lea with my daughter O A photo I took of my grandmother in India when I was 18
FASHION & BEAUTY FEATURES & LIFESTYLE
with a wood-burning stove.
Miranda Sawyer Interviews Sir Bradley Wiggins on page 76
BEST THINGS IN LIFE
O Slow park runs O Vintage 1970s and 1980s clothes O Watching my son play football and my daughter swim Writes about the life-changing power of travelling solo on page 47 BEST THINGS IN LIFE
O When the aeroplane wheels land on the runway for my next adventure O The feel of a new notebook O Slipping into clean sheets O Getting a good new writing idea
NEXT ON MY WANDERLUST LIST
LA in February, when the English weather’s terrible. I’d sit on the sunny boardwalk and get late-night food in West Hollywood.
@RedFashionTeam @RedBeautyTeam Style editor Lauren T Franks Merchandising executive Sophie Hooper Fashion assistant Gabriella Minchella Beauty editor-at-large Rosie Green Junior beauty writer Rebecca Hull
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Mouchette Bell, Deborah Brett, Viv Groskop, Skye Gyngell, Sali Hughes, Caroline Issa, India Knight, David Loftus, Marina O’Loughlin, Sarra Manning, Sarfraz Manzoor, Evyan Metzner, Thomasina Miers, Philippa Perry, Kate Spicer, Alexandra Stedman, Steph Stevens, Stephanie Theobald, Sharon Walker, Frances Wasem
Art editor Zuki Turner Designer Lauren Jones Picture editor Rebecca Shannon
GROUP EDITORIAL PRODUCTION Chief sub-editor Hannah Jones Deputy chief sub-editors Samantha de Haas, Robin Wilks
Duncan Chater Digital director Christina Watson Brand development director Alistair Wood PA to group publishing director Natasha Mann
ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Brand director Lee Bailey 020 7312 4149 Brand manager Lucy Burnham 020 7312 3062 Fashion & luxury brand director/Digital brand director Sara Haufé-Brett 020 7339 4564
PROMOTIONS
Buenos Aires because it looks so fun. A friend and I have a trip half-planned.
ART
GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
Group partnerships director Laura Chase Acting group partnerships director Alistair Holt Partnerships director Sarah Wheatley Creative solutions art director Simeen Karim Acting creative solutions art directors Daljit Kaur Babber, Jo Jo Ma Creative solutions project manager Alexander Stanhope
NEXT ON MY WANDERLUST LIST
@RedMagDaily @RedLivingTeam General enquiries 020 3535 9152 Editorial coordinator/junior fashion executive Lucia Ferigutti lucia.ferigutti@hearst.co.uk Social media and fashion editor Roanna Price Lifestyle editor Sarah Keady (maternity) Deputy digital editor Hannah Dunn Lifestyle intern Harriett Monaghan Features intern Megan Sutton
EVENTS
Procurement & production director John Hughes 020 7439 5200 Production manager Pavel Pachovsky 020 7439 5619 Production coordinator Carl Latter 020 7439 5402
CIRCULATION & MARKETING Head of consumer sales & marketing Matthew Blaize-Smith Group marketing manager Natasha Chamberlin Senior marketing executive Tilly Michell Head of marketing operations Jennifer Smith Head of marketing promotions Charlotte Cunlife Head of digital marketing Seema Kumari
Head of events & sponsorship Victoria Archbold Brand partnerships manager Victoire Laurin
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Kemi Akinola
Shares her favourite summer recipes on page 126 BEST THINGS IN LIFE
O Hanging out with my younger sisters O My gold knitted jumper NEXT ON MY WANDERLUST LIST The
Azores islands. I hear the volcanic lakes are beautiful.
12 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Anna Jones HEARST MAGAZINES UK Managing director, brands Michael Rowley Chief financial oicer Claire Blunt Chief digital oicer Darren Goldsby Director, editorial strategy & content Louise Court Circulation & marketing director Reid Holland Group commercial director Ella Dolphin Head of commercial operations Jane Wolfson Head of digital sales Hayley Cochrane Strategic partnerships director Becky Gee HR director Surinder Simmonds Director of communications Lisa Quinn Head of PR Karen Meachen Acting head of PR Debra Johnson
HEARST MAGAZINES INTERNATIONAL President & CEO Duncan Edwards Senior vice president/CFO & general manager Simon Horne Senior vice president/international publishing director Jeannette V Chang Senior vice president/editorial director Kim St Clair Bodden Fashion/entertainment director Kristen Ingersoll
WORDS MEGAN SUTTON. PHOTOGRAPHS HARRY BORDEN, SUKI DHANDA, LAURA EDWARDS
NEXT ON MY WANDERLUST LIST A cottage on Skye
Jesse Buron
Features editor Natasha Lunn Lifestyle director Pip McCormac Beauty director Annabel Meggeson Health director Brigid Moss Fashion features director Alice Olins Executive fashion & beauty director Kim Parker Fashion director-at-large Nicola Rose
YOUR SAY
SAY IT
WRITE IT
TWEET IT
PHOTOGRAPH CHRIS FLOYD
If you have any news, views or issues you’d like to see covered, we’d love to hear from you RED LOVE After receiving our June issue, Sara Seath emailed to tell us why she loves being a long-time Red subscriber. “I’ve been a fan of Red magazine for years now, and still, the day I see it on the doormat each month is the best,” she says. “I wait until the commotion of tea, bath and bedtime has died down, then open it and savour it from cover to cover. Don’t ever change!” @topfivemum1 @stonefoxbride @RedMagDaily I’m due to give birth any day and can relate to My body, the warrior. Will remind myself of the article post-birth.
Angela Duckworth inspired many with her study of grit and perseverance
@Kayleidogyn @thebodycoach Fantastic seeing you in the June issue of @RedMagDaily with your amazing Bob Marley painting!
WINNING AT LIFE In the June issue, Professor Angela Duckworth spoke about the power of perseverance in Win at life (this woman knows how): “Grit almost always wins over natural talent and moderate drive.” Many of you got in touch to share your appreciation of Duckworth’s inspiring words. “Thanks Red for this wonderful article,” wrote Vivienne Leach by email. “It reairmed what I already knew: that possessing grit, ‘a combination of passion and perseverance for a singularly ON INSTAGRAM important goal’ is a vital You took to Instagram to share characteristic needed to succeed your relaxing Red moments: in life. Having recently taken voluntary redundancy and now searching for a job, I’m feeling even more determined to succeed… it’s just a matter of time.” Quality time Over on Twitter, out with Red @musingsmakings (from left): @jan 2222_england_, concurred: “Loving @busolaevans, @themaverick magpie
Our mail of the month wins a Liz Earle goodie bag worth £94, packed with award-winning botanical beauty products including Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (100ml), Instant Boost Skin Tonic (200ml) and Skin Repair Moisturiser (50ml) – refreshed and revitalised skin just got easy. This month’s prize goes to Vivienne Leach, mentioned in Winning at life.
@RedMagDaily’s interview with Angela Duckworth on the subject of grit. So interesting.” WRITE TO:
Red, 33 Broadwick Street, London W1F 0DQ Email: red@redmagazine.co.uk Tweet us: @RedMagDaily Comment: Redonline.co.uk Like us: Facebook.com/ RedMagazine RED ’S AWARDS BEST PRACTICAL GUIDE TO FRAGRANCE (Kim Parker) Jasmine Awards 2016 MARKS & SPENCER FOOD PORTRAITURE AWARD 2015 (Jonathan
Gregson) Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year Awards 2015 JASMINE SOUNDBITE: MAGAZINES (Annabel Meggeson) Jasmine Awards 2015 BEST MONTHLY CONSUMER MAGAZINE JOURNALIST & JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
(Annabel Meggeson) Johnson & Johnson Skincare Journalism Awards 2014 BEST JOURNALISM: BEAUTY
(Annabel Meggeson and Rosie Green) & BEST LAYOUT: BEAUTY (Annabel Meggeson and Haley Austin) P&G Beauty & Grooming Awards 2013 BEST DIGITAL FRAGRANCE EXPERIENCE (Annabel
Meggeson) The Jasmine Awards 2012 CONSUMER MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR PPA Awards 2011
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 13
Style
Edited by OONAGH BRENNAN
PHOTOGRAPH VICTORIA LING. ART DIRECTION ZUKI TURNER. STYLING SOPHIE HOOPER. GEOMETRIC II LUXOR WALLPAPER, £80 PER 10M ROLL; TULIP DAMASK WALLPAPER, £75 PER 10M ROLL, BOTH COLE & SON
A POP OF WHITE It’s a forever-stylish, go-with-anything purchase. This Tod’s chain-strap, cross-body bag in pristine white adds a neat nautical edge to summer denim, but gives tailoring a modern sports-luxe feel, too. Just what your wardrobe needs next.
Leather bag, £1,130, Tod’s
For more chic white accessories, go to REDONLINE.CO.UK
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 15
Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Marinière, £18
Straw hat, £30, Abercrombie & Fitch Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, £19
Polyamide swimsuit, £155, Solid & Striped at matchesfashion.com
Viscose crepe top, £130; viscose crepe shorts, £80, both Lily And Lionel
Metal sunglasses, £360, Dior
HOLIDAY EDIT
SEE YOU AT THE BEACH
Cotton dress, £610, Lisa Marie Fernandez
Polyester and linen swimsuit, £135, TM at Blaiz
Rose goldplated watch, £770, Frédérique Constant Marie by Madeleine Bourdouxhe (Daunt Books, £9.99)
BREEZY COVER-UPS, BOLD ACCESSORIES AND THE MUST-KNOW NEW SWIMWEAR BRANDS: THIS IS POOLSIDE STYLE AT ITS MOST POLISHED
Kérastase Spray A Porter, £15.75 at Feelunique
Canvas bag, £195, Rae Feather
Rose goldplated sterling silver earrings, £125, Pariah
Straw hat, £112, Melissa Odabash
Style tip Viscose-mix top, £19.99, Zara
Designer Freya Dalsjø has joined forces with Danish label Mads Nørgaard to create a new line of sports-chic swimwear. Add a cream maxi skirt and gold hoop earrings, and you’ve got lunch-to-lounger sorted.
Leather and jute sandals, £185, Isabel Marant Etoile at stylebop.com
THE BIG BLUE
Lycra bikini top, £29.95; briefs, £19.95, both Seasalt
THE PERFECT SEASIDE GETAWAY STARTS WITH A SUITCASE PACKED WITH BOLD STRIPES, PICNIC CHECKS AND ROPE ACCESSORIES. MEET THE NEW TAKE ON NAUTICAL
16 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Polyester-mix swimsuit, £79, Mads Nørgaard
Canvas shoes, £57, Soludos at Oxygen Boutique Lycra bikini top, £24.50; briefs, £24.50, both Boden
Straw hat, £60, Karen Millen
Crepe dress, £240, Maje at Net-APorter
Polyamide swimsuit, £315, Dolce & Gabbana at matchesfashion.com
Acetate sunglasses, £229, Céline at Safilo
STYLE
Gold-plated resin earrings, £375, Oscar De La Renta at Net-A-Porter
Polyamide bikini top, £12.99; briefs, £7.99, both H&M Gold vermeil sterling silver ring, £160, SVP Jewellery
Frederic Malle Carnal Flower EDP, £225 for 100ml at Net-A-Porter Silk robe, £650, Olivia Von Halle
HAWAIIAN TROPIC
Crepe trousers, £310, Alice + Olivia at Net-A-Porter
TURN UP THE TEMPERATURE IN FRILLS, FLORALS AND FRUIT PRINTS. COLOUR IS KEY
Style tip
Cotton top, £270, Club Monaco
Forget sarongs – the newest cover-up on the scene is a sumptuous silk dressing gown. Drape it over your swimwear or belt it and add strappy sandals and oversized earrings for the evening.
Polyamide swimsuit, £115, Calvin Klein
Seagrass bag, £105, Kayu
Gold-plated sterling silver bangle, £180, Thomas Sabo
Leather and raia sliders, £39.99, Zara
Leather sandals, £45, Aldo
Goldplated necklace, £95, Daisy London
Neoprene swimsuit, £35, V by Very
HIGHSTREET BUY
Vichy Ideal Soleil Velvety Cream SPF50+, £14.50
Lycra bikini top, £90; briefs, STELLA M C CARTNEY SWIM £65, both Stella Olympic-inspired stripes, McCartney animal prints or timeless
basics: take your pick from Stella McCartney’s first swimwear collection, launching this summer. We love the citrus-print two-piece. Prices start at £55. Available at stellamccartney. com, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Harrods »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 17
Gold-plated silver bracelet, £30, Anna Lou
Polyester-mix bikini top, £119; briefs, £79, both Kiini
The chain gang The ankle bracelet is having a moment. Try a delicate flash of gold under cropped, frayed-hem jeans, a chunky chain with trainers (nice tip, Calvin Klein), or pretty shells wrapped round bare ankles at the beach. FROM TOP: Calvin Klein; Valentino; worn by Definer app founder Felicity Sargent
Crochet knit bikini top, £89; briefs, £89, both She Made Me at stylebop. com
STYLE
Cotton bikini, £35 for the set, Pretty Lavish at SilkFred
CROCHET Boho returns to the beach with the revival of that 1970s classic, the crochet bikini. We love She Made Me for its delicate desertisland styles.
Cotton bikini, £230 for the set, Hilfiger Collection
Style tip
Neoprene-mix Unless you have a bikini, around £70 boyish figure, steer for the set, Triangl clear of all-over
crochet and head to Triangl for a mix of neoprene and subtle crochet detailing. Flattering, with a nod to the trend, it’s the perfect style solution.
NEW TO THE POOL ALL THE NEED-TO-KNOW NEW LABELS AND TRENDS
Gold-plated bracelet, £15, Z for Accessorize
Silverplated bracelet, £35, Fossil
Polyester bikini REINA OLG A top, £80; briefs, Sisters Isotta and Guia £75, both Paolita Sterling silver bracelet, £45, Pandora
Gold vermeil bracelet, £110, Davina Combe at Otiumberg
Gold-plated sterling silver bracelet, £65, Daisy
PAOLITA Anna Paola’s designs blend clever technology and edgy, eye-catching prints. She says one is not enough: “I carry an extra bikini and a full suit every time I go to the beach. I am in and out of the water, and change often as I don’t like to sit around in wet swimwear. I wear the full suit last for moving to the beach club.” Available at the Paolita boutique in London and at matchesfashion.com
Cleps design reversible and adjustable bikinis. “We encourage experimenting with print and colour combinations; that way, you can focus the attention on your figure’s strength. The Transformer bikini lets you alternate between good coverage and teeny-tiny by repositioning fabric hoops.” reinaolga.com
Polyamide bikini top, £120; briefs, £130, both Reina Olga at B London
Polyester bikini, £100 for the set, Kini Swimwear
KINI SWIMWEAR Tired of coming out of changing rooms feeling depressed, Melbourne-based designers Elaine Aram and Emily Pinniger founded Kini Swimwear, which lets customers create their own designs. “We ofer women total control over their appearance – a revolution for anyone who has struggled with the ‘one size fits all’ ethos of high-street swimwear.” kiniswimwear.com »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 19
STYLE THE CLASSICS REFRESHED USE CAREFULLY CURATED ACCESSORIES TO GIVE YOUR FAITHFUL BASICS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE Acetate sunglasses, £150, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi
Add ankle-tie espadrilles, a billowy shirt and a rustic shopper to give the black bikini a Portofino feel.
Nylon bikini top, £19.50; briefs, £14, both Marks & Spencer
Rose goldplated necklace, £15, Z for Accessorize
Miller Harris Prêt-A-Partir travel refills, £50 for 3 x 9ml Acetate and mirror sunglasses, £285, THE LEOPARD PRINT Prabal Gurung x Linda Farrow Animal print takes on a
laid-back vibe mixed with safari green, dusty brown and boho accessories.
THE ONE-PIECE
Raia hat, £50, Kurt Geiger
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or, £34 at Space NK Cotton top, £130, Ba&sh
Polyester-mix bikini top, £145; briefs, £135, both Rachel Comey at matchesfashion.com
Sporty sliders, a minimal watch and androgynous, loose-fitting trousers lend an effortless edge to a practical all-in-one.
Jersey trousers, £75, J Crew
Cotton shoes, £29.99, Zara
Creative icon Marc Newson should know a thing or two about clever packing. The Sydney-born, London-based designer has a host of international clients (including Straw bag, airline carriers), is married to jetsetting stylist Charlotte Stockdale £30, Asos and claims he’s “obsessed” with packing the perfect travel bag. Crème De So who better to create a range La Mer The of luxurious suitcases for Louis Reparative Vuitton? The resulting ‘wheely’ SkinTint bags are sleek, whisper-light (the SPF 30, £65 cabin size is just 3kg) yet roomy at John Lewis enough for a wardrobe of beachy kaftans. It’s available in a rainbow of pretty shades (as well as the brand’s signature monogram), so no need to fret about mix-ups at reclaim. What’s more, dents and knocks will be taken care of by dedicated repairers in 14 cities worldwide. Just the ticket. Polyamide Kim Parker swimsuit, £39, Cos
Designer Marc Newson champions practicality Silicone watch, £130, Calvin Klein Leather luggage, from £1,510, Louis Vuitton
Rope bracelet, £125, Isabel Marant at matchesfashion.com Leather sandals, £209, K Jacques at stylebop.com 20 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
SUPER-LUXE LUGGAGE
Rubber sliders, £55, Hunter
COMPILED BY OONAGH BRENNAN. PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES, ALLSTAR, IMAXTREE. STILL LIFES HEARST STUDIOS, NOHALIDE
THE LBB (LITTLE BLACK BIKINI)
Cotton blouse, £78, Second Female
The only way to travel – with a chic Louis Vuitton case in tow
STYLE SHOPPING
CITY SAFARI
PHOTOGRAPH VICTORIA LING. STYLING SOPHIE HOOPER. ART DIRECTION ZUKI TURNER
HAND-PAINTED TRIBAL MARKINGS AND AFRICANINSPIRED PRINTS BRING AN EXOTIC VIBE TO STATEMENT ACCESSORIES
CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT: Leather and suede sandals, £495, Isabel Marant at Net-A-Porter. Leather bag, £2,960, Valentino Garavani. Cotton and leather bag, £310, Vanessa Seward at Net-A-Porter. Leather bag, £3,000, Louis Vuitton. Metal and leather sunglasses, £635, Victoria Beckham at Net-A-Porter. Bronze, glass and resin ring, £375, Gucci at Browns
For more safari-inspired accessories, go to REDONLINE.CO.UK
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 23
Dolce & Gabbana S/S 16
Straw hat, £10, F&F
ACCESSORIES
Kate Spade S/S 16
SUPER NATURAL Jane Birkin and (below, right) with Serge Gainsbourg in Cannes, 1972
ACCESSORIES GET THE WOVEN TREATMENT THIS SEASON AND THERE’S NO MORE PERFECT WAY TO SAY ‘ON HOLIDAY’. THESE PIECES ARE RICH IN TEXTURE AND A LAID-BACK ATTITUDE
Dolce & Gabbana S/S 16
Straw hat, £260, Yosuzi
Canvas shoes, £45, Kurt Geiger
Raia bag, £80, Antik Batik at Net-A-Porter
Tory Burch S/S 16
Canvas shoes, £330, Dolce & Gabbana at Net-A-Porter
Mother Of Pearl S/S 16
COMPILED BY OONAGH BRENNAN. PHOTOGRAPHS REX FEATURES, IMAXTREE
STYLE
Jute bag, £240, See By Chloé at Net-A-Porter
Straw bag, £495, Anya Hindmarch at stylebop.com
For more holiday must-haves, go to REDONLINE.CO.UK Raia bag, £50, Kayu
Straw bag, £260, Michael Kors at Harvey Nichols
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 25
SH0PPING INSIDER
INSTANT STYLE ICONS THE NEW SEASON COLLECTIONS HAVE LANDED. THREE HEAD BUYERS SHARE THEIR TIPS ON WHAT TO INVEST IN NOW (WELL, THEY SHOULD KNOW) Words KIM PARKER Photographs STEPHANIE SIAN SMITH
“Lightweight, feminine and the perfect shade to show of a tan” “Luxe new bag that charges your phones and tablets – an amazing life hack”
Cotton top, £480, Peter Pilotto
Leather bag, £680, Gianoi
Hazel Catterall, 45, Head of womenswear at Harvey Nichols
Satin bomber jacket, £570, Victoria by Victoria Beckham. Cotton top, £95, James Perse. Silk crepe trousers, £515; faux-suede bag, £595, both Stella McCartney. Velvet shoes, £525, Gianvito Rossi. All at Harvey Nichols
to wear it into autumn and winter over a black rollneck top. HOW TO WEAR IT
MY HERO ITEM
“A beautiful piece of wearable architecture” Rose-gold-plated ring, £240, Vita Fede
26 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
This Victoria by Victoria Beckham bomber jacket (above) ticks all the right boxes. As a designer, I think she really understands what women want to wear. Bombers are everywhere at the moment – they’ve become a bit of a style staple – but this one has a structural shape at the back plus lots of lovely volume, which makes it feel unique and modern. And because it’s navy, a brilliant neutral, you’ll be able
For casual days, I’d wear it with a plain white T-shirt, some silky printed trousers, like these fun ones from Stella McCartney, and add a pop of summery colour with a cool handbag. It works with trainers or heels, like these velvet ones from Gianvito Rossi. Going into autumn, it will add a cool edge to workwear – I’d wear it with tailored trousers. You can even slip it on over a cocktail dress as its satiny fabric means you’ll still look elegant.
STYLE Patent leather jacket, £775, Courrèges. Embellished skirt, £225, Needle & Thread. Leather clutch, £275, Liberty. Leather-mix sandals, £655, Marni. All at Liberty. Earrings, stylist’s own
“This sums up Liberty in a contemporary way” Leather bag, £150, Liberty
Isla Lynch, 26,
Womenswear buyer at Liberty MY HERO ITEM
“The perfect mix of playful and elegant” Embroidered dress, £2,770, Vivetta
“A brilliant entry piece from one of our coolest British designers” Silver-plated earrings, £265, JW Anderson
“She is the hottest jewellery designer” Gold and diamond marquise ring, £3,500, Anna Sheield
I love this sequinned skirt by Needle & Thread, a British brand that’s a bit of an undiscovered gem at Liberty, but I think they’re going to be big because they make beautiful things and their prices aren’t scary. Wearing sequins for day feels so fun and so right for summer but will also fit in perfectly with autumn’s maximalist, super-luxurious mood. This is a really special piece that will see you through into next year. HOW TO WEAR IT
For day, I’d wear it with a jumper or plain T-shirt and a pair of trainers or sandals, like these amazing Marni ones, plus a cool jacket like this patent leather one from Courrèges, which lends just the right amount of toughness and edge to stop the sequins from looking girlie. But for night, more is more, so I’d swap my sandals for a pair of heels, add a slinky cami top and statement earrings for a full-on efect. »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 27
STYLE “Anything Gucci is like gold dust right now” Leather bag, £1,510, Gucci
Silk-mix top, £660; trousers, £750, both Marni. Suede shoes, £660, Céline. All at Browns Fashion
Lura Larbalester, 39, Buying director at Browns Fashion
For me, it’s all about a pair of beautiful cropped trousers. They will take you from late summer into early autumn, when you’ll be able to wear them with ankle boots (another wardrobe staple for next season). Tailoring is going to be huge in the coming months, and these Marni trousers that I’m wearing will fit right in, but have a playful twist that still feels fresh and right for now. The matching top is a great investment, too, because you can wear them separately or together.
“A great way to tap into the cold shoulder trend” Cotton top, £255, Sandy Liang
HOW TO WEAR IT
For daytime, I’d wear these trousers with some Stan Smith trainers and a plain T-shirt. To dress things up a little, I’d swap the trainers for a cool pair of heels, like these velvet Céline platforms. Velvet shoes are going to be everywhere in the autumn, so it’s definitely worth investing now. Another bonus: wearing platforms with wide-leg trousers gives you an amazingly flattering silhouette.
28 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
“Wear them on their own, or layer up with other earrings if you have multiple piercings” Black gold and diamond earrings, £375, Rosa Dela Cruz
Discover more wardrobe inspiration at REDONLINE.CO.UK
HAIR AND MAKE-UP LINDSEY POOLE AND KATE LINDSEY
MY HERO ITEM
STYLE
NEW SEASONNOW SNAP UP AUTUMN’S HERO BUYS NOW TO REFRESH YOUR SUMMER WARDROBE, AND YOU’LL ALREADY BE STREAKS AHEAD IN THE STYLE STAKES Acetate sunglasses, £113, Dolce & Gabbana at Sunglass Hut
SUMMER
AUTUMN
Wool jacket, £434, Pinko
Cottonmix dress, £250, Karen Millen
Leather bag, £640, Paula Cademartori
Raia bag, £60, Stella & Dot
Gold-tone bracelet, £16, Rouge Designs at My Lux Boutique
Cotton dress, £735, Rebecca Taylor
Suede sandals, £40, Oice
Burberry A/W 16
THE MILITARY JACKET
Metal sunglasses, £220, Linda Farrow x Matthew Williamson Leather bag, £1,195, Bally
Cotton top, £19.99, Zara
AUTUMN
Pink, metallic and pleated, this is the skirt you’ll be living in next season. We predict a buying frenzy, so snap one up now and wear it with a frilly cold-shoulder top. For autumn it takes on a 1970s vibe worn with a sloppy sweater and suede knee boots. »
Acetate sunglasses, £235, Etro
Metal necklace, £7.99, Lindex
Polyester skirt, £32, Asos
THE PLEATED MIDI SKIRT
Textile sandals, £25, Asos
Inspired by Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana and Givenchy, it’s time to invest in a military jacket. You can wear it now with a white lace dress and gladiator flats, and team it with deep burgundy, gothic florals and velvet as the nights draw in. Velvet boots, £85, Miss Selfridge
Wool jumper, £98, Anthropologie
SUMMER
Silk crepe scarf, £85, Rockins at Young British Designers
Suede boots, £298, Russell & Bromley
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 31
STYLE Silk jacket, £30, Dorothy Perkins
Cotton hoodie, £99.99, H&M Studio
AUTUMN
SUMMER Leather bag, £475, Jérôme Dreyfuss Cotton and polyester mules, £125, Essentiel Antwerp
Silk trousers, £264, Aries at Young British Designers
Leather backpack, £55, Fiorelli
Fashion’s love afair with sportswear continues into the autumn so, if you haven’t already, you need to buy a pair of silky tracksuit trousers. For now you’ll be dressing them down with a neutral bomber and trainers, but the new autumn rules call for an opulent top and luxe mules.
Get set Rio
Cotton jumper, £35, ADPT at Urban Outfitters
Olympic fever makes us all want to feel fitter. Well, at least we can look the part in a summery cocktail of red, hot pink and sunshine citrus.
Polyamide bra, £55, Lucas Hugh
Silicone watch, £66.50, Swatch
Polyestermix shorts, £14.99, H&M
Stainless steel bottle, £35, S’well
Cotton trainers, £89.95, Adidas 32 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Altuzarra A/W 16
Leather trainers, £135, DKNY
Get more new-season trends now at REDONLINE.CO.UK
WORDS OONAGH BRENNAN. PHOTOGRAPHS IMAXTREE, GETTY IMAGES
THE SILK TRACK TROUSER
Cotton T-shirt, £65, Etre Cécile
SUBSCRIBE TO TODAY 60% 6 ISSUES FOR JUST £9.99* SAVE
+RECEIVE A GIFT FROM VITA LIBERATA WORTH £37 O O N LY £ 1 . 67 A N I S S U E ( U S UA L LY £ 4 . 2 0 ) O RECEIVE A GIFT FROM VITA LIBERATA WO RTH £ 37 O FREE DELI VERY, DI RECT TO YO UR DO O R
FREE GIFT WORTH £37
O BECO ME A CLUB R ED MEMBER FO R FREE AND RECEIVE SPECIAL SUBSCRIBER-ONLY O FFERS EACH MO N TH* *
Gift includes: Fabulous Self Tanning Gradual Lotion (200ml), Super Fine Skin Polish (175ml) and a £10 gift card to spend at vitaliberata.co.uk
TO SUBSCRIBE, VISIT
REDONLINE.CO.UK/SUBSCRIBETORED OR CALL 0844 322 1771 QUOTING 1RD10875 Terms and conditions: Ofer valid for UK subscriptions via Direct Debit only. *After your first six issues your subscription will continue at £16.49 every six issues, still saving 34% of the full UK subscription cover price of £50.40 for 12 issues. Free gift is available for the first 600 subscribers and is subject to availability. If this gift becomes unavailable, you will be ofered an alternative gift of a similar value. All orders will be acknowledged and you will be advised of commencement issue within 14 days. Minimum subscription term is six issues. Subscriptions may be cancelled by providing 28 days’ prior notice. Please note, in order to ofer this saving to subscribers, any free gifts included on retail copies will not be included in your subscription copies. This ofer cannot be used in conjunction with any other ofer and closes 4th August 2016. For overseas prices, please call 00 44 1858 438 794. **In order to become a Club Red member, you must register at clubred.redonline.co.uk. You will need your subscriber number, which can be found in your order acknowledgement letter/email.
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 33
Bulgari has partnered with Save The Children to produce this beautiful bracelet, with £60 from each sale going straight to the charity, to help thousands of children living in poverty here in the UK. It means their parents can ensure they have all the books, hot meals and clean clothes they need to feel secure and get on at school. It’s true what they say: charity really does begin at home. Silver and ceramic bracelet, £360, Bulgari
34 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Emilia Wickstead A/W 16
I have a confession. Beneath my minimalist, jeans-wearing exterior beats the glitter-loving heart of a true magpie. I dig sparkle. I crave shine. So nothing made me happier recently than seeing a veritable treasure trove of Swarovski-encrusted clothes on the A/W 16 catwalks. These weren’t the scary, Ab Fab-esque creations of yesteryear – the instantly desirable embellished skirts at Emilia Wickstead, shimmering Holly Fulton knits and dazzling crystal and neoprene creations at Mary Katrantzou are the stuf of grown-up princesses’ dreams. The kind of special pieces you can work into your wardrobe and love forever. They are gorgeous. They are chic. They are… not available until autumn. Luckily, bling lovers like me can tap into the trend right now with Swarovski’s latest jewellery collection, out this month, like this brilliant bracelet (left) or double-stranded necklace (above). They’re just blingy enough for me, for now, and they even look great with my jeans.
TREND WATCH
Rose gold and champagne diamond ring, £820, Anna Sheield at Liberty
Sabbia rhodiumplated rose gold. white and brown diamond ring, £6,080, Pomellato
BROWN DIAMONDS Subtler than their icy cousins but certainly no less beautiful, cinnamon-hued stones are popping up everywhere right now, especially paired with rose gold. “I adore the combination. It creates a tone-on-tone efect that’s so flattering, especially in dainty, personal pieces like rings. It’s a new neutral, something you can wear day or night,” says jeweller du jour Anna Sheield.
Rose gold and brown diamond pendant necklace, £420, Georgina Boyce
Brown diamond and rose gold earring, £630, Alexia Jordan
For more brilliant new jewellery buys, visit REDONLINE.CO.UK
PHOTOGRAPH ARDEN WRAY
HELP IS AT HAND
By KIM PARKER
Anna Shefeld
Crystal and metal bracelet, £79 each, Swarovski
Crystal and metal double-stranded necklace, £79, Swarovski
BLING IS BACK Mary Katrantzou A/W 16
Holly Fulon A/W 16
JEWELLERY NEWS
Emilia Wickstead A/W 16
Mary Katrantzou A/W 16 Emilia Wickstead A/W 16 Tanya Taylor A/W 16
STYLE
LIFE’S ROSIE ROSIE GREEN
How to survive a midlife wedding Brutal hangovers, dancing injuries and dodgy uncles – Rosie Green shares some wedding guest home truths
ILLUSTRATION BETT NORRIS. PHOTOGRAPH JESS REFTEL EVANS AND MARTIN REFTEL. HAIR AND MAKE-UP LINDSEY POOLE
DING DING. ROUND TWO. D IS GETTING MARRIED. AGAIN. Which means that lots of us overexcited
6) There will be uninhibited dancefloor antics by 11pm,
which involve a possible dance-of situation, breakdancing, midlifers are permitted 48 hours of domestic duties possible lifting (Dirty Dancing-style) or, in AM’s case, to go totally crazy and drink to excess consider the Cossack dancing. I know. (This time, during said dancing, beautiful commitment two people are making. I’m AM split his smart suit trousers from waistband to nuts.) so excited about the vast stretch of freedom ahead At least he didn’t punch through the Styrofoam ceiling of me that I don’t even bellyache about the choice of when excited by a power ballad, as has happened before. a Wetherspoons pub (!) as a pre-ceremony meeting venue. However, these things have changed about weddings: 1) When you wake up, you have not only a raging Last time D got married, it was during 2003 and nuptials hangover, but also back pain/unidentified bruising occurred infinitely more frequently than bedsheet changes. from doing ‘the running man’ in your Loubies. Every single summer weekend of that heady year, I was 2) There is iPhone-recorded evidence of said dancing. either on a hen do or at a wedding. Sunday mornings 3) Instead of scanning the dancefloor area for hotties, involved waking up in various two-star b&bs, trying to you are now scanning it for a defibrillator for the more piece together the latter portion of the previous evening portly contingent of your college buddies. and gulp down a full English breakfast under the glare of 4) If you’ve procreated (and have them in tow), you will an unamused proprietor. A proprietor whose check-out be awake at 6.05am the next day watching Topsy And Tim. time of 9am was not being adhered to, and whose 5) The stag/hen dos are so tame it’s embarrassing. Due to establishment contained some unsanctioned additional general knackeredness/lack of funds, everyone is guests (that she knew about) and multiple local council road signs (that she didn’t). “Everyone just going through the motions. Recently, our Nearly 20 years on, not much has changed: overindulges friend H found himself in a lap-dancing club 1) Like greyhounds out of a trap door, at 10.30pm (!), still almost sober, trying to the NIGHT everyone overindulges (massively) in the make polite conversation with its employees. before and thus 6) The pashmina is now pretty much extinct. alcohol department the night before and thus feels somewhat shabby for the big day. feels shabby for Hurrah. (One imagines many Nepalese goats 2) Even though the ceremony is at 3pm, the BIG day” giddy with happiness at its demise.) you do not eat lunch because you are Back home on Sunday night, we’re both tired too busy emergency fake-tanning (me) and emotional. AM’s attempts to stitch his or wrestling with your mates (AM). trousers go badly, resulting in a not-soYou therefore get embarrassingly desirable peekaboo look. We fight. inebriated (me) or very hangry (AM). He goes to sleep in the spare room 3) There is always one dodgy uncle in protest. On discovery of this, I am in attendance – identifiable by his enraged and order him back to our ponytail/tattoos/too-casual slacks. bed, following him as he stumbles along 4) AM and I fail to look the appropriate the landing, ranting about “entwined level of smart. I always look dressed for roots and being one tree, not two” and so a party and AM looks, well, a bit scrufy. forth, until he can maintain his reserve 5) We (I) leave it too late to buy the no longer. We start sniggering. present, so the only things left on Which just serves to inflame his the gift list are six teaspoons, which Cossack-induced injuries. Join the conversation are inordinately expensive, but look #hesdangerous @RedMagDaily THE EXACT OPPOSITE. onthedancefloor… @RosieGreenBQ
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 39
GUEST SPEAKER HARRIET GREEN
The times they are a changin’
From a new carpet to a lost recipe book, even the tiniest of changes fill Harriet Green with dread. But is it finally time for her to embrace them? O My daughter left her primary school – where so many of the mothers had become close friends – to go to secondary school. My baby is growing up. the fitters, and two days later, I got O Developers proposed to build a block at the end of a phone call. Disaster! Our livingour small garden, which has made me feel under attack. room carpet – freely available for so So I’m in a spin. I cling to the constants I have – the many years – had been discontinued. carpets, bras and hair – perhaps because they’re things And so began my carpet replacement I feel able to control. But does it have to be this way? obsession. I scoured the flooring shops of north London, Heraclitus illustrated the point about change being calling in every sample available. Nothing was the same. ever-present by saying: “No man ever steps into the same Close, yes. But not the exact same. river twice.” A river is constantly flowing For some of My mother said: “Perhaps a change and the water in it changing, so from one us, change is would be nice?” Her words chilled me. second to the next it’s a diferent river. quite hard But why? What’s the big deal about It feels safe to stay where you are. But to deal with getting a new carpet? Am I mourning do we really want to be the person never for the old one, fretting about the new moving? Think about poor, stuck Miss one or just trying to control everything? Havisham from Great Expectations and Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, said her decaying wedding cake and dress. that “Change is the only constant in life” The precious things don’t stay the same. to highlight the need for us to always Consider my Jigsaw trousers – if I’d be ready for life’s curveballs. But I’ve kept them, I’d now look like I’d walked been bad at adapting for as long as I can out of an episode of TOTP2. Fashion is remember. In the 1990s, I owned the brilliant in that way – it shifts us often same Jigsaw trousers in three colours imperceptibly. I remember when in 2005, just in case they went out of production. I ditched my boot-cut jeans and first tried “Think of I still hoard bras, and I have multiple skinny (Kate Moss was sporting her grey POOR Miss BaByliss hot air stylers in the cupboard, skinnies at the time). I bullied myself into Havisham just in case they stop making them. them, and it felt liberating and wonderful. and her But last year my life was full of change, Change is never easy – or so it says in and it’s left me reeling. These included: books I’ve read. It can cause psychological DECAYING O My parents moving to London from distress and, as I’ve found to my cost, can dress” Somerset, where I grew up. I may be in my make being optimistic feel impossible. But forties with a family and house of my own, but to that’s okay. Grieve for the lost life. Then find ways me it remained home, the place where I felt grounded. to make your new situation enjoyable. Fixating on what O A freak warehouse fire, during the move, that was lost stops you enjoying what new circumstances can destroyed three quarters of our family possessions. bring. Losing the house in Somerset has meant we’ve O Among the lost items was a 1940s recipe book which had two wonderful family holidays in Norfolk and the belonged to my grandmother (her pencilled notes ran Wye Valley, places we’d never have gone otherwise. through it). In it was our family Christmas pudding Shake things up, that’s my new mantra. Sometimes recipe, passed down through generations, so Christmas it will work, sometimes it won’t. “Be the change that will never taste quite the same again. A minor thing, you want to see in the world,” Join the conversation but food is intimately related to comfort and safety. as Mahatma Gandhi once said. O My beloved great-aunt – wonderfully witty, loving Or as my mother put it: “Perhaps @RedMagDaily @HarrietRGreen and vibrant to the last – passed away at the age of 104. a change would be nice?”
40 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
PHOTOGRAPH LANDMARK MEDIA
A FEW WEEKS AGO, I BURNT A HOLE IN MY CARPET WITH A SCENTED CANDLE. I called in
HONESTLY JESSICA AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE AS HOLLYWOOD’S GO-TO BEAUTY, JESSICA ALBA DECIDED TO TAKE CONTROL OF HER LIFE AND CAREER. ONE BILLIONDOLLAR BUSINESS LATER, SHE TELLS ROSAMUND DEAN HOW SHE DID IT
I
f I’m honest, I wasn’t expecting to like Jessica Alba. Not that I expected to dislike her; but after watching a good decade of her on film, all pouty lips and tawny limbs, I just thought I knew what to expect. It certainly wasn’t somebody so smart, funny and forthright. Yet right now, the sometime movie star and business magnate is sharing her take on the media’s obsession with youth. “It’s so celebrated, but I don’t think you become the beauty you truly are until you have lived life,” she says, resolutely. “It takes years to develop that sense of self. Years! I feel more beautiful now at 35 than I ever did, certainly in my twenties. That should be something that we talk about more; that women get more beautiful as time goes on. As women, we know this. It’s pop culture that needs to catch up.” As if to illustrate her point, she looks better than ever today: that showstopping body poured into a purple bodycon Safiyaa dress. We are sitting in a Beverly Hills hotel suite, on a gorgeously sunny day, with a breathtaking Hollywood view (I know, it’s a tough job).
42 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
And we’re here ostensibly to talk about summer skin, since Alba is the global beauty ambassador for Braun and is promoting the newest products to make your face and body bufed and hair-free. She’s a smart choice because, if there is anyone you want to look like on the beach, it’s Jessica Alba. The theme for Braun’s campaign is ‘Silence your inner critic’, which I mention is an interesting choice for a beauty brand that, one might imagine, is more about your appearance than your inner life. “But that’s what true beauty is all about,” she says, quite earnestly. “You can obviously have certain tools to get there but, at the end of the day, it’s about carrying yourself with confidence.” Well, that’s certainly easier said than done, I remark, immediately feeling like a cynical Brit next to Alba’s positive-vibes Hollywood glow. Luckily, she laughs. “It’s waaaaaay easier said than done!” I think back to Alba’s twenties and find it hard to believe that she was ever insecure. Best known for »
RED WOMAN
You don’t become the BEAUTY you truly are until you have lived. It takes YEARS to develop that sense of SELF
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 43
starring in cult dance movie Honey, Frank Miller’s Sin City and the blockbuster Fantastic Four films, she also made smart, of-kilter choices such as Michael Winterbottom’s The Killer Inside Me (in which her face was beaten to a pulp, as if trying to destroy her beauty à la Charlize Theron in Monster). Meanwhile, she fell in love with producer Cash Warren on the set of Fantastic Four. They married in 2008 and have two daughters: Honor, eight, and Haven, four.
Ambition is so important because you only live ONCE. Where do you want to go? Who do you WANT to be?
SO FAR, SO DREAMY. BUT IT’S REALLY ONLY IN HER THIRTIES THAT ALBA HAS TAKEN CONTROL OF HER CAREER AND HER IMAGE IN A SURPRISING WAY.
In 2011, disappointed at the lack of afordable chemicalfree baby products on the market, she launched The Honest Company. Initially focusing on nappies, it now sells everything from organic moisturisers and vitamins to cleaning products and tampons. “I didn’t anticipate any of it,” she tells me. “I just looked at the injustice of how people with money had access to products and information to live a healthier life. I wanted to make it easier for people – and make it accessibly priced, beautifully designed and convenient.” The Honest Company products are not yet available in the UK, but the company is already worth $1.7 billion, and Alba recently ranked number 42 on Forbes’ list of America’s richest self-made women, with a net worth of $340 million. And she appreciates every last dollar of it. “Until I got pregnant, I was just happy to have a job,” she laughs. “When I started making money, I was all about saving it – a cash-under-the-mattress person. I didn’t grow up with money so, if I was going to make it, I would be responsible and make sure it lasted a long time. So that was my idea of success. I didn’t want to worry about money, I wanted to be financially secure.” She’s certainly secure now, but it hasn’t come easily. “For every leap forward, it’s like there were 20 steps back,” she says, smiling ruefully. This woman is not afraid of hard work, having been acting since the age of 12, and not in the cushy role of a pampered child star. “Oh, I was not successful,” she says. “I was barely getting by, until Dark Angel [James Cameron’s sci-fi TV series, 2000-2002]. That was my first big thing.”
D
espite her huge commercial success, Alba has to deal with the deeply ingrained sexism in business. She recently described repeated comparisons to Gwyneth Paltrow and her Goop empire as “unfair” because “people aren’t lumping Justin Timberlake and Ashton Kutcher together. They do other businesses. When you get success in one area, you’re supposed to evolve and try something else – especially in business, and especially if you’re a man.” And it’s true that Goop and Honest are very diferent, with Alba’s company focused on making organic products afordable and available to all. The main similarity between
44 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
the two actresses-turned-entrepreneurs seems to be they have ambitions outside of the box in which they found themselves pigeonholed. I suggest ambition is often a dirty word for women. Most of us have heard it as a criticism: “Well, so-and-so seems nice, but she’s very ambitious.” Alba nods furiously. “But men should be ambitious, right?” I love her passion: she’s clearly frustrated by the injustice and keen to set the world to rights. “We have to look at, culturally, what we celebrate in women versus what we celebrate in men,” she continues. “I love my family and I love being at home and cooking, but my husband does just as much of all of that as I do. We are equal partners in raising our kids, we are equal partners in what we do in the home, and we are equal partners in going out and working. Ambition is so important because you only live once. So where do you want to go? Who do you want to be? Well, take the bull by the horns and go for it. There’s never going to be the perfect time to try something. More women should start companies.” Alba’s parents were just 20 when she was born. Her mother was a lifeguard and her father worked for the Air Force so they moved around – Mississippi and Texas – before settling in California. She once said she felt they “grew up together” because her parents were so young. “My parents are fun,” she says. “They love to have a good time, and they laugh a lot. And that is something
RED WOMAN portray me a certain way for their audience. I was this puppet, and I understood why, but I felt so disconnected from this version of me that everybody knew, or thought they knew. Social media was the first time I really got to be authentic and speak in my own voice. It’s so great to have an outlet where I can be me.” If you’re a fan of Instagram, you’ll know that it’s all about goals: #relationshipgoals, #bodygoals, #hairgoals, and, of course, #squadgoals. If ever there was a woman who encapsulates all of our goals, it’s Jessica Alba. Not that she will accept that her life is at peak #goals. “It’s more of an ironic thing,” she laughs. “It’s like, that’s my goal but it’s never going to happen. I’ll Instagram that perfect Architectural Digest home, that modern farmhouse in Napa Valley... #goals! But who is ever going to have that? Nobody. It’s just, like, funny.”
CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE: With US secretary of commerce Penny Pritzker; family day out; date night
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES, REX FEATURES, XPOSURE, INSTAGRAM@JESSICAALBA
CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT: Starring in Fantastic Four; with friend Reese Witherspoon; on the red carpet; starring in Sin City
that used to get on my nerves when I was younger, because I wanted them to be more grown-up or more serious. But now I realise how important that is. They’ve been together since they were 16 and 17 and, when you go through life with someone, it’s so important to laugh because it gets you through the tough times. I was way too serious and heavy, way too early in my life, and I’ve only just come out the other side. I look at my kids now and they have so much joy and such a light spirit and I want them to always hang on to that. I finally feel a lightness and a joy that I hope my kids never lose.” It’s quite wonderful that her daughters will grow up thinking that a woman starting a billion-dollar business is nothing out of the ordinary. I tell her they’re lucky to have such a role model. “And it’s equally important for them to see their dad making dinner and giving them their bath at night,” she agrees. “It goes both ways. Then you feel that equality is real and not just a concept. It’s an expectation.” ALBA’S NEW SENSE OF AUTONOMY HAS ARRIVED AT A POINT WHERE SHE ALSO HAS MORE CONTROL OVER HER IMAGE, THANKS TO SOCIAL MEDIA.
“So much of my life was in other people’s hands,” she explains. “A movie studio would market me a certain way for a certain demographic, or a publisher had to
I
’m surprised and strangely reassured to know that even Jessica Alba has unreachable lifestyle dreams. However, when I suggest that social media is also a great way for her to talk directly to her fans, her face contorts into a grimace. “I don’t even think about it that way because that’s weird, like, I have fans?” Erm, yes, you do. “No, I don’t think of myself like that,” she insists. “Maybe I should! But I just think of my friends and what would make them laugh on Snapchat.” Presumably, she is aware that her 9.2 million followers on Twitter and 7.9 million on Instagram are not all her friends. Most of them are just people who love to see adorable date-night pictures, or funny snaps of friends Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Richie. She tells me that another benefit of getting older is that she finds her friendships are deepening. “I love that my friends are becoming more reflective and growing as people, and they’re curious about the world and about themselves, and that’s inspiring. We’re all becoming more conscious and connected.” It really seems as though Alba is properly happy. “This is the first time I feel completely grounded in myself and in my own skin, so maybe people are seeing that,” she agrees with me. “Before, I was much more insecure and, like, ‘Maybe I should be more like this person or that person’ and ‘I’m not smart enough’ or ‘I didn’t say this the right way’. You know, now I don’t care. I just don’t care.” Jessica Alba knows that you might never have that perfect home and, if you want success, you have to work hard for it. But the secret to a happy life is to not take anything too seriously and give zero time to self-doubt. Now there are some rules to live by. Braun beauty ambassador Jessica Alba is inspiring women to take control of their beauty from head to toe. For For Jessica Alba’s best moments, visit more information about the REDONLINE.CO.UK range, visit braun.com/uk.
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 45
LIFE-CHANGING TRAVEL
THE TRIP
THAT
changed MY LIFE... Sometimes a trip is more than just a holiday. New countries, unfamiliar surroundings and foreign cultures can often trigger a new mood or mind-set, shaping the way we see ourselves, the world, and everything in it. From the peak of Kilimanjaro to a starlit canoe ride in Suriname, here three writers share the memorable journeys that transformed their lives forever Âť AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 47
“I WAS ALONE, BUT NEVER
felt LONELY” Novelist Jessie Burton, 33, finds peace, freedom and a sense of self, while travelling solo in South America For the first time since my debut novel sold and the second was finished, I feel a deep calm and utter joy with who I am. Travelling solo is the best thing I’ve ever done… wrote this in Suriname, South America’s smallest country, between Guyana, French Guiana and Brazil. The humidity was unlike anything I’d experienced – the air like syrup, clamping on my skin from dawn to dawn. A chorus of frogs, toads, cicadas and bats began around 6pm and competed with the cranky air conditioning well past midnight. Breakfast was pomelo and excellent cofee, laced with rum if I fancied it. Mangoes loosened from their branches, thwacking on my tin roof like basketballs. Flowers were the hottest pink, and monkeys with furry paws eyed me from their canopy of green. Nothing was familiar, and yet somehow it was. I was 5,000 miles away from home but had never felt more centred, so acutely inhabiting life exactly how I wished.
I
48 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Before this, I had spent 18 months doing global promotion for my first novel, The Miniaturist, while writing another. My new career as a published novelist was an overwhelming privilege, but there were unforeseen efects. I’d become burned out, anxious, and in my personal life I’d recently come to the end of an eight-year relationship. But for the first time in years I was free of obligation. Nothing was keeping me home, so I said yes to appearing at a Colombian literary festival, adding in a two-week research trip to Suriname. I was nervous, never having travelled so far alone. There is no Rough Guide or Lonely Planet for Suriname. It’s 80% rainforest, often navigable only by boat or plane. The national languages are Dutch and Surinamese. When I told people I was going there, they looked blank. I had only recently recovered from a period of anxiety, and was worried that so far away, alone, I might relapse into the dissociative panics I’ve had since I was 10. I felt vulnerable as I hugged my mum goodbye, and asked her, 33 years old that I am, “Am I going to be all right?”
I needn’t have worried. I will look back on that trip as one of the most joyful times of my life. Because there are certain moments when saying yes, leaving your comfort zone and opening yourself to other people, will reward you more than you ever thought possible. Had I been with a partner, or even a friend, I would not have had a trip of such transcendental quality. Sitting at home, worrying about the dangers of solo travel, particularly as a woman, you can wind yourself up. It’s right to be alert to dodgy situations, but when you’re actually there – standing before astonishing landscapes, relying on yourself,
LIFE-CHANGING TRAVEL FROM FAR LEFT: From a dusk canoe ride on the Amazon, to rainforest walks, Jessie Burton relished her solo adventures
listening to your needs and no one else’s – bit by bit, you unfurl in directions you didn’t even know you had. Removed from the context of your everyday life, with no one to remind you of your usual flaws, you realise that you are capable of many things. You meet people you might not have spoken to, your confidence and imagination blossoms. The stress leaves your body and face. You feel
“WONDERFUL things happened when I woke up not KNOWING precisely what I was going to do” strangely more grounded, even though you have never before trod this land. The pleasure of witnessing these developments and recalling them afterwards is lasting and profound. I’m usually a neurotic sort of person, but in Suriname, I learned to go with the flow. Wonderful things happened when I woke up not knowing precisely what I was going to do. I said yes to a spontaneous canoe ride, upriver towards the Amazon basin. We paddled as the dusk above us broke out into stars. “Have you ever been in the rainforest at night?” my Surinamese acquaintance, Sirano, asked, as he turned the canoe left, moving up creek. Hanging vines brushed my face and the light was granular, the
“REPORTING ON THE REFUGEE CRISIS with my THREE-MONTHOLD BABY” trees above us high as a cathedral. “Out you get,” he said. “But I’m not wearing shoes,” I protested. Sirano laughed. “That’s the point.” So we walked barefoot through the Amazon, and Sirano told me how once he’d surprised a jaguar behind a tree. The next night, I sat with him and his incredible wife, Tessa, in their balmy city garden, eating the most delicious Chinese takeaway under a Caribbean moon. All because I’d said yes to a dusk canoe. There were low moments, of course, but I accepted them as part of the adventure, then rode them out. You can’t rely on anybody else to get you out of a slump. You learn to trust your gut. The only negative was one unpleasant conversation with a sleazy American at Bogota airport, but he’ll probably end up in a novel one day, so it’s all copy. I listened to uplifting playlists, and often wrote. I was alone, but never felt lonely. Strangers welcomed me in, kindly. I had time to reflect, and I wonder if I’d have been able to gain such perspective back home, surrounded by the usual apparatus of my life. Travelling alone was an unforgettable opportunity, with psychological rewards that I’m still reaping. The only thing I regret is that it wasn’t long enough, and as my plane landed at Heathrow, I was already planning another trip. There’s something very powerful about a woman navigating the world on her own terms, and I want to experience it again. The Muse by Jessie Burton (Picador, £12.99)
Charlotte McDonald-Gibson, 36, never imagined she’d report on the refugee crisis with her newborn son strapped to her chest. But it opened up her world in new ways
T
he panic struck when I was six months pregnant. At first I wondered how I’d cope when the baby arrived. But as I looked ahead to maternity leave, another thought overwhelmed me. Could I really give up reporting on the most pressing humanitarian challenge of our time? I had been working as a foreign correspondent since 2002, covering coups, wars and natural disasters. I always relished packing a bag and setting of alone for a new challenge, and since 2013 I had been reporting on the refugee crisis in Europe. It was an issue I was passionate about, and
“Thoughts of less fortunate MOTHERS invaded the mental COCOON I had built around me and my son” I couldn’t imagine just stopping. So I decided I would use my maternity leave to write a book telling the story of the crisis through refugees’ eyes. When Nathaniel arrived, maternal instinct took over, and any illusion of free time was shattered. This tiny life was my responsibility. All my »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 49
energy went into raising him, and the book was temporarily forgotten. Then, two weeks after he was born, I turned on the news: 800 people had died in the worst migrant shipwreck in the Mediterranean’s history. Thoughts of less-fortunate mothers invaded the mental cocoon I had built around me and my son. I couldn’t stop thinking about the women who gave birth on sinking boats, who went through the pain and joy of labour, only for their babies to be snatched by the sea. I knew I had to write my book, and try to help people understand why mothers saw no other option but to risk their children’s lives at sea. But the practicalities overwhelmed me. I’d have to spend weeks travelling in Europe for interviews. A few days after my book contract was signed, I turned to Danny, my partner of seven years. “I can’t do it,” I said. Danny just looked at me: “Of course you will – you always do.” His faith was invaluable. And there was never any question of leaving my three-month-old son behind, so I packed a travel cot and sturdy baby carrier and boarded a plane to Rome, then Malta, Austria, and Sweden. We travelled to Rome and Malta in July, as a heatwave gripped southern Europe. We stayed in sweltering Airbnb apartments in rundown areas where the refugee communities settled. At night I would strip Nathaniel to his nappy and train the fan on him; by day I’d venture onto the dusty streets with him strapped to my chest to buy supplies. We were well outside the tourist areas, but I had to see for myself what life was like where the refugees lived. The interview process was long and hard. I was asking people to relive the most painful experiences with a noisy newborn in the room. Relatives
Rome
Sina & Andonis
Mala
ABOVE AND RIGHT: Mohammed and Nathaniel in Malta
ABOVE: Charlotte setting out for Rome RIGHT: Nathaniel and Andonis in Sweden and local babysitters helped with childcare, so harrowing interviews were done over the noise of someone singing The Wheels On The Bus or the cry of Nathaniel demanding his feed. The compassion and understanding with which the refugees responded to this unusual situation will stay
“We stayed in SWELTERING Airbnb flats in rundown areas where refugees settled” with me forever. Mohammed, a 23-year-old Syrian man who had watched his friends drown in a shipwreck turned up for our first interview in Malta with a toy dolphin for Nathaniel. When the babysitter had
to leave, Mohammed’s housemates – three other Syrian men in their early twenties – set up a makeshift cot of towels and pillows on a table in their shady patio, and took turns to tickle my delighted son as Mohammed and I worked well into the evening. Nathaniel was not fazed by any of it. His cheerful presence helped break the ice with my interviewees, and I credit his early travels with making him the sociable boy he is today. And when I made my final trip to Sweden to meet a young Eritrean woman named Sina, I realised how diferent his early months could have been. Sina’s son was born just two weeks after Nathaniel. A tragic set of events had forced her to start the dangerous voyage to Europe while
LIFE-CHANGING TRAVEL nine months pregnant. Then when her baby, Andonis, was three months old, she joined thousands of people on the march from Greece to northern Europe. Sina strapped her baby to her chest and embarked across eight countries by car, train, truck and foot. All the challenges I’d faced on my journey – a broken pram in Rome, the terrible heat in Malta, Nathaniel’s hourly night waking – seemed insignificant. While I fretted about breastfeeding Nathaniel in an airport lounge, she had been nursing Andonis
A test of endurance she’ll always remember; novelist Yewande Omotoso on her Kilimanjaro climb
GUTTER CREDIT XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX
“Travelling with Nathaniel opened my EYES to a new level of EMOTION” on the pavement outside Budapest station among protesting refugees. While I worried about how much paracetamol to give my son, Sina had had to stand up to a people smuggler who wanted to drug her baby so border police would not catch them. But we also had much in common – our partners even had the same name. Our boys played together in the apartment I rented for all four of us – so they had somewhere nice to stay for a few days – then we’d chat for hours over glasses of milk. Sina told me it was good for breastfeeding mothers, sharing our thoughts on weaning, sleeping, vaccinations, and – our favourite topic – how we could be good mothers when there were so many challenges to overcome. Whatever our religion, nationality or background, we all have the same basic priorities – to protect and provide for those we love. Before, as a journalist, I had always felt removed from the subjects I covered. Nathaniel opened my eyes to a new level of emotion. Without him, I’d never have understood the extremes of sufering people like Sina endured. Hopefully, by sharing my experiences, I will help others understand that, too. Cast Away: Stories Of Survival From Europe’s Refugee Crisis by Charlotte McDonald-Gibson (Portobello, £14.99)
“I WANTED TO GIVE UP but I knew I had to FINISH WHAT I’D BEGUN”
A
s a child I dreamed of many things, but climbing Kilimanjaro was not one of them. So when my friend Juanita asked me to join her, I only agreed to go along for moral support. As well as me, she asked five mutual friends and soon we were a team, training on Saturday and Sunday mornings in the cold Cape Town winter, rising in the dark, walking through the grey and the rain. Somewhere amidst training, confirming our tickets, and buying and borrowing the seemingly endless list of what we needed, Juanita’s mission became my own. I started to look forward to the challenge although, with hindsight, I had no idea just how diicult it would be. We flew to Tanzania, arrived at night, and caught a shuttle to our hotel in Moshi. We packed our bags, preparing ourselves for the three-day
Climbing Kilimanjaro taught novelist Yewande Omotoso, 36, the true meaning of inner strength
climb ahead. At first, I found settling into the walk easy. I discovered the strange magic of the mountain and the peace of walking with friends for hours and hours in simple silence. I embraced the quiet, the rhythm of our boots, the wide, wide landscape. With the task of putting one foot in front of the other, I felt the stresses from my new job back home slipping away. Although we’d all been friends before, on the climb we became even closer. At dinner we bonded by reporting in detail any coughs or snivels, taking each other’s temperatures and commiserating over bodily aches. This was important, in fact one of our team, Fred, was carried down the mountain on a stretcher after being diagnosed with altitude sickness. His departure reminded us of the dangerous nature of our climb, »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 51
`
LIFE-CHANGING TRAVEL BELOW: A surprise patch of yellow blossom reminded Yewande of her late mother
and another in the group, Sadia, started having second thoughts. The rest of us encouraged her to stay. It’s funny what people do on mountain tops. On the third day, I came across a yellow blossom and, for no logical reason, thought of my mother who had passed away several years before. I thought of her again when we walked in single file, headlamps on, during the final ascent after midnight. Somewhat desperate, I would call out for her to help me. Up until this moment the hike had been deeply pleasurable – even the long days and steep climbs had been bearable. But now snow had fallen and all around us was an eerie blue-whiteness. Bruce, our guide, said it was -15ºC with 40km/h wind speed so I’d put on almost every item of clothing I had – two pairs each of socks, long johns, tracksuit and waterproof trousers, thermal shirts, a fleece, a heavy jacket and waterproof. On my head I wore a balaclava under a fleece beanie and wrapped what remained of my neck in a scarf. Despite the cold, the night was gorgeous. The snow had gathered on the tents like blankets thrown over loved ones. Except neither blankets nor the high-tech fabrics I’d piled on could have equipped me for the temperatures we faced. Hours into this final climb, I knew I was tired in such a way that no amount of rest could ease. I walked with Bahaa (a girl who wore make-up every day no matter the
52 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
conditions) and we developed our own pace of a footstep every two seconds. It felt like walking through tar. Every now and again a bright sound would burst through the moonlit night, through the heaviness of the task at hand – Bruce’s voice shouting, “Everybody say ‘Ki-li’. As
“I discovered the PEACE of walking with friends for hours in simple SILENCE” the night drew on we responded less and less enthusiastically. I wanted to stop but knew I couldn’t; I had to complete what I’d begun. I quietly acknowledged that my physical preparation had been insuicient and realised I would need to draw on mental strength to keep going. I focused on my breathing, I went deep inside myself. I just thought of the next footstep, and then the next. The walk seemed endless. Almost eight hours later, when I reached the very top, with no warning to myself, I began to cry. My tears were exhaustion, but also from pride and the knowledge that
I had drawn on every strength I had to get there, regardless of how impossible each step had felt. Bahaa and I hugged each other – she was crying too, make-up and all. I suddenly noticed daylight had come and everywhere was white and stark with an exquisite glacier hanging of the side of a clif like a tenacious claw. We’d done it! And I’d tell anyone else to do it, too. These days I think of Kilimanjaro with a deep fondness for the moments I shared with friends. I remember that even when my body couldn’t keep going, I kept going. Most of all, Kilimanjaro is a reminder of the magic nugget of possibility that lies within all of us, which we know is there but sometimes have to climb a mountain to remember. The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso Read more life-changing travel stories at (Chatto & Windus, £12.99) REDONLINE.CO.UK
PHOTOGRAPHS SOPHIA SANGLÖF, VICTOR DLAMINI, GETTY IMAGES
The climb was incredibly demanding and wholly rewarding
ALWAYS WANTING
MOORE
Julianne Moore is one of the boldest, bravest, sassiest actresses out there. As she steals the scene once again in new comedy Maggie’s Plan, she talks to Wendy Ide about love, sexism and nerves (yep, she still gets them) Photographs DUSAN RELJIN
J
ulianne Moore winces when she laughs, but it doesn’t stop her doing it. She is battling the kind of throat infection that would have sent a lesser woman to bed with a glass of whisky, honey and lemon. Instead, she braved lacerating sub-zero winds on the red carpet of the Berlin Film Festival for the premiere of her latest film, Maggie’s Plan. The next day, voice whittled down to a husky whisper, she’s keen to reassure me. “I’m not in pain. The doctor gave me an anti-inflammatory thing.” A few minutes later, she’s chatting about the pitfalls of kissing her
54 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
co-star, old friend and fellow New York-dweller, Ethan Hawke. “It’s like, ugh, God. I know his wife, my husband is friends with him. I know I am going to see him tomorrow, I’m going to see him at the school drop-of!” She laughs again, a throaty chuckle, flinches involuntarily, and covers it up with a smile. Julianne Moore is nothing if not a trouper. That laugh – generous, infectious, disarming – is one of the things that people tend to comment on when they meet her. It’s so warm, so enveloping – it feels as though the room is suddenly filled »
RED WOMAN The Oscar-winning actress says it’s her responsibility to seek out interesting roles
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 55
with sunlight – but it is slightly at odds with many AGEING, HOWEVER, IS NOT HER FAVOURITE INTERVIEW TOPIC. She points out, in the nicest possible of the films for which she is best known. way, that the recurring questions about age and parenting There are the tragic, dramatic roles: her Oscar-winning might be just the tiniest bit sexist. She’s quite right: male turn as a woman facing early-onset dementia in Still Alice; actors don’t tend to get asked the same questions. And her breakthrough performance as a housewife sufering regarding meaty roles for women: in this, as in other things from debilitating allergies in Safe. There are the romantic in her life, Moore takes responsibility. She sees it as her roles: in luxuriantly melancholy love story Far From job to seek them out. At this point in her career, with her Heaven; as a gay woman fighting for her partner’s rights formidable body of work and, crucially, the goodwill and in Freeheld. And then there are the damaged characters: friendship of so many in the industry, more often than not, the monstrously self-involved actress in Maps To The the roles are written for her. This is not always welcome Stars; the mother in the remake of Carrie, all twisted when people expect her to flesh out the up by religious faith turned sour. We are less likely to associate her I don’t think you should character herself. “It has to be clear with laughter but, in fact, she’s as ever get COMPLACENT on the page. Sometimes I am sent something and they are like, ‘I know gifted a comedian as she is a dramatic about your work. If you you can do it.’ And I say, ‘No, I can’t, actress. And she demonstrates this get complacent, then because you didn’t write anything.’ with a slyly funny, scene-stealing turn in her latest film, Maggie’s Plan, maybe you are BORED I am not one of those people who can magic up a character. If the script is which was written and directed there, I can do it. But if it’s not, I have great difficulty.” by her friend, Rebecca Miller. She had no such problems with the character The second thing people notice, after that laugh, is the of Georgette in Maggie’s Plan, the fearsome Danish luminescent, porcelain skin. Tom Ford, who dresses her for intellectual who is oblivious to the dissatisfaction of her many events and directed her in his feature debut A Single less-successful writer husband (Ethan Hawke) until he Man, remarked that she literally glows when you look at leaves her for the nurturing, well-meaning but slightly her through a camera lens. She looks stunning when I meet her, wearing a lace dress the colour of tangerine sorbet, and manipulative Maggie (Greta Gerwig). Moore is full of praise for Rebecca Miller’s writing. “It a sleek black blazer, accessorised by a discreet pharmacy was all there. For example, the argument that they have at bag of throat medication. She appears to have side-stepped the beginning (onstage at an academic conference). What the sell-by date that’s attached to Hollywood actresses, the was so cool about that was she constructed this elaborate unwritten rule that after 40, the roles start to fall away. Not academic argument which is also a marital argument. So only does she look incredible at 55, she has arguably done here are these two intellectuals going at it in public. He her best work in the 15 years since she hit the big 4-0.
56 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
RED WOMAN is basically saying, ‘You are too concrete.’ She’s saying, ‘You’re a dreamer.’ But it’s all in this academic language.” While she says she has little in common with Georgette, there was one element that struck a chord. “For me, the fact that she was European was notable, because Rebecca and I both had mothers from other countries. Her mother was from Austria, my mother was from Scotland. So I was very familiar with this idea that you have this mom that the other kids think is weird because they have an accent. And maybe they are culturally diferent. And you are so familiar with it. You are familiar with the weird food she makes. A lot of what appears diferent about her, formidable or eccentric, was simply Georgette.”
PHOTOGRAPHS DUSAN RELJIN/MANAGEMENT ARTISTS. ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS REX FEATURES, GETTY IMAGES, CAPITAL PICTURES. *STANDARD NETWORK RATES VARY DEPENDENT ON YOUR PHONE PROVIDER. BY TEXTING INTO THIS SERVICE YOU ARE OPTING IN TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM US BY EMAIL AND SMS. YOU CAN OPT OUT FROM SMS BY TEXTING STOP TO 84499 AND FROM EMAIL BY CLICKING ‘UNSUBSCRIBE’
H
er mother’s nationality is something that’s close to her heart. Moore has a sideline in semi-autobiographical children’s books. Alongside Freckleface Strawberry, about accepting the way you look, there’s a book with the title My Mum Is A Foreigner, But Not To Me. And in 2011, she adopted dual US-UK citizenship, in tribute to her mother, who had passed away two years before. Moore’s comic reading of her role in Maggie’s Plan comes from the accent, which she learned by listening to a Danish friend. The Danish pronunciation of certain words, and a slight lisp, punctures the serious way that Georgette views herself. “I am not into fakerwy,” she announces to Gerwig’s Maggie. “I detest the wole of the spurned wife.” Gerwig tells me her co-star “can play the whole piano, acting-wise. Luckily, I’m supposed to be intimidated by her character in the film. I discovered the first day of shooting with her that I had forgotten all of my lines because I was so entranced by her! It’s good, because it works with the relationship of the characters.” There are other parallels. Like Georgette, Moore is married to a man in the same industry, director Bart Freundlich, whose career hasn’t ascended to quite the same heights as hers. Moore says of her husband, with whom she has two children, Caleb, 18, and Liv, 14, that balance is something they work at. “Both people have to look out for each other. If you don’t, then someone’s going to feel slated. I do know there are roles that people take in relationships. For example, I never drive. I can drive, I do when I’m by myself. But my husband said to me the other day, ‘Do you like it that I always drive?’ I was like, ‘Uh-huh!’” She nods vigorously. “But there are things I handle entirely. I empty the dishwasher. Always. We trade of feeding the dogs, we both hate that, it’s disgusting. So in every relationship, you do it. But, in terms of caretaking, if you don’t take care of each other equally, the relationship will sufer. Nobody wants to be a parent to their partner, right?” Home life is important to Moore. She is an interior design junkie, favouring a muted colour palette, an emphasis on texture and the clean lines of mid-century design. Stability and order at home is something she prizes highly. It’s perhaps a response to a peripatetic childhood. A self-
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: In Maggie’s Plan with Ethan Hawke; with husband Bart and their children in 2013; Far From Heaven (2002); A Single Man with Colin Firth (2009)
described “army brat”, she was born Julie Anne Smith, at a military base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Because of her father’s career – he was a paratrooper who rose through the ranks to become a military judge – the family moved a lot. Moore attended nine schools. Constantly being the new kid taught her, she says, the value of reinvention, of trying on diferent identities like new outfits. It’s not hard to see how her upbringing ultimately benefited her acting. I ASK HER TO THINK BACK TO THE EARLIEST DAYS OF HER CAREER AND SHE WINCES. “I can’t believe
I did it. Looking back, I’m like, ‘What was I doing? Why did I even think I could do that?’” The worst moment, she says, happened in an audition for a film role that she badly wanted. “I was 27. I walked in, and I said to the director, ‘How doing you?’ I never recovered.” She is laughing and, at the same time, shuddering at the memory. “That stuf is so painful, not even being able to introduce yourself correctly because you’re so terrified.” It’s a long way from the confident, composed woman sitting in front of me today. Next up, she reunites with Far From Heaven director Todd Haynes on his adaptation of Brian Selznick’s novel Wonderstruck. Then she’ll star alongside Oscar Isaac and Matt Damon in comedy crime mystery Suburbicon, written by the Coen brothers and directed by George Clooney. Does she still get nervous? “I don’t think I have as much social anxiety as I used to because I am older. But then again, there are always new situations that make you feel, ‘Oh God, what do I do?’ I don’t think you should ever get complacent about your work. If you get complacent, then maybe you are bored with it.” So that’s her secret: always be kind, embrace your points of diference and Enjoy more stories in the Red never, ever get bored (right free weekly newsletter. To now she’s too busy to even sign up, text RED and your think about it). We’re inspired. email address to 84499* Maggie’s Plan is out on 8th July
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 57
THE CAREER ADVICE we wish WE’D KNOWN
FROM DAY ONE... Our brilliant Red Women of the Year alumnae share the sage advice they wish they’d known at the very beginning of their careers Words MEGAN SUTTON Photograph VICTORIA LING
S
ince their inauguration in 2009, Red’s Women of the Year awards have celebrated some truly inimitable women. From early winners, including style visionary Natalie Massenet (2009) and charity founder Katie Piper (2010), to recent recipients, such as equality campaigner Laura Bates (2014) and comedian Bridget Christie (2015), our Women of the Year trailblazers are a seriously inspiring bunch. With a list of superwomen alumnae including national treasure Mary Berry CBE and Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams MBE, we couldn’t resist drawing on their collective experience to bring you the very best career advice. Here, some of our favourite past winners share the lessons they wish they were given on the first day of their careers. Their illuminating wisdom might inspire you to embrace your job with renewed vigour – or make the jump towards the work you want. There’s no better time to start than today.
60 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
NIMCO ALI, CO-FOUNDER, DAUGHTERS OF EVE
“Choose a career because it makes you truly happy, not because people tell you it’s what you should be doing. You’ll always be better at something if you believe in it.” BRIDGET CHRISTIE, COMEDIAN, AUTHOR AND ACTRESS
“Find joy in failure – those darkest moments might inspire your best work. Being publicly criticised will be the making of you, so try not to be too afected by it. Be brave. Keep going.”
LULU KENNEDY, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, FASHION EAST
“Don’t take no for an answer. Ever. The few times I have caved in have been my downfall.”
ELLA WOODWARD, FOUNDER, DELICIOUSLY ELLA LORNA CLARKE, NETWORK MANAGER, BBC RADIO 2 AND 6 MUSIC
“Embrace each moment for what it is and don’t take setbacks to heart. Starting your own business, especially one that takes you into the public eye, is a real roller coaster. Because I’m so intricately connected to my work, it’s hard not to take every piece of criticism personally – I’ve learned along the way that detaching from it is so important.”
“I would tell my younger self to worry much less, because the more you do, the less confident you’ll feel in your life and work. Remember: things are never as bad as they seem.”
ALEX CRAWFORD, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, SKY NEWS
“I started out on a tiny weekly newspaper with a larger-than-life editor and a canny mixture of talent, age groups and genders. There were old hands who’d worked on Fleet Street, young, keen reporters with little experience but a lot of talent, and inexperienced baby pups like myself, straight from school. It was an incredible training experience, but I was anxious to leave and get on in my career. I wish I’d taken the time to enjoy it a little longer.”
LAURA BATES, FOUNDER, THE EVERYDAY SEXISM PROJECT, AND AUTHOR OF GIRL UP
“Stick to your guns and don’t be shouted down – if you feel passionate about something, chances are other people will too. Stick at it and don’t be put of if you stumble a little along the way. Also, it’s okay to learn on the job; nobody can be perfect from the start, and there’s no shame in making a few mistakes or asking for help.”
CAROLINE RUSH CBE, CEO, BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL
“Do everything to the best of your ability, even the small stuf – attention to detail shows you care and will make the diference in your career.”
ALICE TEMPERLEY, FASHION DESIGNER
JANVI PATEL, CO-FOUNDER AND CHAIRWOMAN, HALEBURY
“Take a break! It is so important to recharge batteries and clear your head. My fondest memories are of the times I’ve spent going for bike rides with my family.”
“Surround yourself with positive (but not ‘yes’) people. I’ve learned the ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ idea also applies to a successful and fulfilling career.” THOMASINA MIERS, FOUNDER, WAHACA
KATIE PIPER, FOUNDER, THE KATIE PIPER FOUNDATION
“Nowadays I’m good at diary management, prioritising and scheduling ‘me’ time, but that wasn’t the case at the start of my career, and I often ended up burnt out and stressed. I also take advantage of technology when travelling to work – something I didn’t do before. So I would say to my younger self, ‘Time is precious, don’t be wasteful with it.’”
“Do what you love! Cooking has always been my passion, but after leaving school I struggled with the idea that I could make it my job, so I spent almost a decade trying every other career I could think of. I wish I’d had the confidence to pursue what I truly wanted, sooner.” DR SELINA WRAY, DEMENTIA RESEARCHER
NICOLA ADAMS MBE, BOXER AND OLYMPIAN
“Always believe you’re the best and you will be.”
“Network, network, network. A lot of opportunities have come my way through contacts in the field, so time building a network and maintaining relationships is well spent. (Note: good networking isn’t just looking for the most senior person in the room – it’s connecting with peers who understand the particular challenges of the career stage you’re at. Have a pint together to celebrate when things go well and commiserate when things don’t go quite to plan.)” »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 61
“There are ways that things have always been done – but they aren’t necessarily the correct ways. Don’t be afraid to try new things and bring your perspective to the world of work.”
SASHA WILKINS, BLOGGER, LIBERTY LONDON GIRL
“Learn to say no, and say it a lot. Being a craven people-pleaser, as I was once upon a time in a very senior role, is a disaster. There is a big diference between going the extra mile for others (good), and leaving no time to do your job description duties (bad). People will respect you more for doing your job well, even if that means politely saying no to helping them every now and then.”
JULIE DEANE, CO-FOUNDER, THE CAMBRIDGE SATCHEL COMPANY
“Keep things as simple as possible. As you gain experience, you’ll learn you can’t over-analyse everything. So much is down to the connection you feel to a project – and the energy you need to make something super-successful will only come if you’re passionate about it.” BELINDA EARL, STYLE DIRECTOR, MARKS & SPENCER
“Stay focused and use the first few years in your career to really establish a good foundation and experience for later life. I often draw on my first store job, which taught me empathy and teamwork. At the time I didn’t realise how valuable this experience would be.” EMMA SINCLAIR MBE, CEO, TARGET PARKING
“Be less self-conscious. Amazing opportunities could have opened up to me faster in my career if I had found it easier to overcome my nerves and embraced asking questions and public speaking sooner.” MARY BERRY CBE, RECIPE WRITER AND JUDGE, THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF
“Be more eicient with paperwork. When post arrives, deal with it straight away and don’t let it pile up in a heap in the corner of the kitchen. I’m much better now and write thank-you letters and reply to emails as soon as I can.”
BELINDA PARMAR OBE, CEO, THE EMPATHY BUSINESS, AND FOUNDER, LITTLE MISS GEEK
“Ask for forgiveness, not permission. Sometimes you need to break the rules. The corporate world is full of rules and politics, and it’s easy to get swept up in that and lose sight of what really matters, which is doing a brilliant job.” GEMMA CAIRNEY, DJ, RADIO 1
“Don’t feel like you have to follow a set path. When first starting out, I saw my job as a DJ as part of a set trajectory, then I was lucky enough to meet amazing role models with many diferent careers, who made me realise that doesn’t have to be the case. I wish I’d known it sooner.”
62 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
CAROLINE LUCAS, MP FOR BRIGHTON PAVILION, GREEN PARTY
KATHRYN PARSONS, CO-FOUNDER, DECODED
“Learn the diference between when to take a leap of faith and when to let go.”
“Don’t try to do everything at once! We live in a deeply imperfect world – and I always wanted to change everything all at the same time. I became more efective when I started sticking to just a few issues and really plugging away at them.”
To find out more about this year’s Red Women of the Year Awards in association with Clinique, visit REDONLINE.CO.UK/RED-WOMEN/ RED-WOMEN-OF-THE-YEAR
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS LIAM DUKE, STEPHANIE SIAN SMITH, TARA FISHER, GETTY IMAGES
ANNE-MARIE IMAFIDON, FOUNDER, STEMETTES
FIND A MENTOR
BE VULNERABLE Go for gold
T
PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES
he word that best describes Victoria Pendleton? Tenacious. From winning a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics to taking a tumble from a racehorse, Victoria has navigated the highs and lows of her career with aplomb. Now, as the UK voice for Clinique’s Diference Maker Campaign, which is empowering women to turn life’s pivotal moments into personal victories, she’s sharing her career advice and encouraging all women to strive for success, no matter how rocky the path to it may be.
ON AMBITION “Us women are so much more capable than we think we are, so go for your goals, even if they seem overly ambitious. When I started my career in cycling, I never thought I was going to be world champion, but that didn’t stop me using all of my courage to go for that goal. If you eliminate your fears and trust yourself – and the people around you – there’s no limit to what you can achieve.”
Olympic cyclistturned-jockey Victoria Pendleton shares six hard-won life lessons with Megan Sutton ON THE POWER OF MENTORING “I can’t emphasise how important having a mentor is – mine have been so essential in my career, especially sport psychiatrist Steve Peters. It’s sometimes diicult to know what you have to ofer, but someone else can help you reflect on what your strengths are, which is incredibly useful if you’re thinking of changing career. Whenever I’m asked for advice, I’m flattered, so never be afraid to seek someone’s help.”
ON BEING PRESENT
“Because my cycling career was always about working towards the next goal, I found it hard to stop and spend time appreciating individual successes. If I could go back in time, I’d do that differently.”
O N B AT T L I N G S E X I S M “I’m an emotional person who’s not ashamed to admit insecurities, but I’ve often been told the key to success is masking vulnerabilities (being more stereotypically male, essentially). It’s important to remember that the male way isn’t by default the right way; female qualities are valuable and often under-appreciated. You can be vulnerable and a champion at the same time – those things aren’t mutually exclusive.”
O N T U R N I N G FA I LU R E I N TO S U CC E S S “People see an athlete atop a podium, but what they don’t see are all the setbacks they face until that point. We all make mistakes. But by realising that mistakes are learning opportunities in disguise, you can create success from them.” O N S T R I K I N G A WO R K / L I F E B A L A N C E “For years, my training came first, and family and friends accepted that. I’d tell them, ‘When it’s over, we’ll catch up for lost time…’ But it’s important to make social plans your reward. SUBMIT YOUR If you’ve got a big project coming NOMINATIONS up, put them in the diary early so it FOR RED’S WOMEN OF will happen.” THE YEAR CLINIQUE As part of the #DifferenceMaker DIFFERENCE MAKER campaign, Clinique and Victoria AWARD at Redonline. Pendleton are encouraging co.uk/diferencemaker. women to share their inspiring The shortlist will be stories. Find out more at revealed in our clinique.co.uk
September issue
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 63
LS HILTON:
OXFORD GRADUATE, HISTORIAN
and author of
THIS SUMMER’S MOST SCANDALOUS NOVEL Her bonkbuster Maestra is being touted as the thinking woman’s Fifty Shades Of Grey. But LS Hilton is just as controversial – and blunt – as her much-hyped novel. Spoiler alert: expect sex, swearing and serious scandal Words STEPHANIE RAFANELLI Photographs PETER PEDONOMOU Styling LAUREN T FRANKS
O
ver cofee, cigarettes and chocolate bonbons in a sunbaked hotel courtyard in Kensington, historian and novelist Lisa Hilton and I are enjoying a high-low conversational romp on the theme of female appetites. Topics have included oysters, Tinder, Catherine the Great’s sexual penchant for horses (it’s a myth) and the political use of porn by Catholic Europe to vilify Elizabeth I: “There’s this disgusting cartoon of her having sex with the Pope,” she says, blowing out a shaft of smoke that lingers in a halo around her head. Hilton has already revealed how to unbuckle a man’s belt using your tongue (“Do it on your knees with your hands behind your back. I thought all nice girls could do that.”
64 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Er, I don’t think so). And she’s advised that “eating as many raspberries as you can” is the best way to flavour one’s genitals – a tip she gleaned from an advice book for 18th-century courtesans. “Women just like sex. Our bodies are designed for pleasure,” she declares at one point. Our waiter shules uncomfortably. Hilton doesn’t notice; she’s become accustomed to disapproval. Her new novel Maestra – published in March, under the name LS Hilton to separate the work from her scholarly back catalogue of six historical biographies and two historical novels – has been, let’s just say, divisive. The book is an art world thriller. Its heroine, Judith Rashleigh, is an underpaid auction-house assistant turned champagne-bar hostess, whose »
RED WOMAN
With her fierce intellect and devilish humour, Lisa Hilton brings class to the bonkbuster genre
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 65
sociopathic tendencies run amok after she is sacked and paid to escort a morbidly obese client to St Tropez. From here, she infiltrates the European jet set, Tom Ripleystyle, and pursues her own ruthless agenda of social betterment, employing her unapologetic sexuality, intelligence and various ingenious methods of murder. The thing is, the book has a lot of sex in it: from orgies to double-dipping (don’t ask). And so Maestra has been hyped as the new Fifty Shades Of Grey. A trilogy was signed of and the Hollywood film rights sold for a seven-figure sum (to Amy Pascal, producer of the new all-female Ghostbusters) before the book was even published. Since it hit The Sunday Times’ top 10 bestsellers list, where it stayed for eight weeks, it has been called “pure publishing Viagra”. Some have cheered Judith as the anti-Anastasia Steele: a woman who knows what she wants sexually, socially and financially and has no intention of enduring the trajectory of a Mills & Boon to get it. The sex is explicit and brutally anatomical, and Judith is vacuum-sucked of sentiment. “No one asks James Bond about his emotions,” Hilton retorts. “There are millions of women looking for emotionless sex on Tinder.” Mostly there has been vitriol, and it’s got personal: “I’ve been called a whore.” Rumours include that she ‘shagged’ historian Niall Ferguson in a tent at a literary festival. “I’ve never met him so that’s ludicrous,” she laughs. One female journalist asked her how many men she’d slept
with. “I said, ‘About average.’ Because one, I’m not going to tell you that, and two, I’ve got no idea. Who counts?” She’s been quoted as saying that other women hate her, which she denies: “You can’t be direct about sex and be a girl’s girl? What’s a girl’s girl anyway? Does it mean you like cupcakes? I’m very female-friendly.” PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT HILTON HERSELF IS SO IMPLAUSIBLE. An Oxford-trained academic who
was once married to an Italian composer, she has a zeal for fashion and a vast vocabulary, speaking French well enough to translate Emile Zola’s Nana into English (her next project). All this packed into the body of a 1970s-era Jerry Hall – and she is (somewhere) in her forties. It’s enough to provoke a twinge of envy in the most sisterly of hearts. Hilton radiates intellectual and sexual confidence. When I ask if she learned anything new about sex during her book research, which included attending an haute-sex club in Paris, she says, “I’d like to say that the answer is yes, but no.” She has, however, inserted a mobile into her vagina in the name of plot credibility. “Not an iPhone 6, but a little Nokia burner,” she says. What warms me to Hilton is this honesty. And she is witheringly funny both in life and on the page. “What is the appropriate selfie pose,” she writes, “for when you’ve just got away with murder?” If anything, Maestra is the British Instagrammer’s version of American Psycho. Twenty-something Judith
You can’t be DIRECT about sex and be a girl’s girl? What’s a girl’s girl anyway? I’m very FEMALEFRIENDLY
66 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
RED WOMAN inhabits a post-Kardashian world in which she lives to consume. She belongs to a financially disadvantaged but ambitious generation that measures its worth in sexual validation and self-branding. The book is also populated by Kanye West-style gold-diggers. Doesn’t this reinforce misogynistic views of women? It’s the milieu, Hilton responds: “Have you been to a club in Mayfair on a Friday night when the girls go out in gangs looking for footballers? This is the reality. It’s not the only reality, thank God.” If the book is set in a regressive world, she argues, it is partly because we still live in one.
PREVIOUS PAGE: LS HILTON WEARS COAT, GALVAN. NECKLACE AND RING (LEFT HAND), JENNIFER FISHER. OTHER RING, HILTON’S OWN. THIS PAGE: TOP, ROKSANDA ILINCIC. BIKINI BRIEFS, PRISM. SHOES, GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI HAIR HEATH MASSI AT FRANK AGENCY. MAKE-UP LINDSEY POOLE
STILL, THIS ASPECT OF THE BOOK HAS PROMPTED OUTRAGE THAT MAESTRA “SETS WOMEN BACK TO THE STONE AGE”. “I am 100%
and powerful and bitchy. I’m going to change my lovers as often as I change my Chanel.” Hilton was academically bright and mercilessly bullied for it. Like Judith, she came home with black eyes and played truant to avoid her tormentors. Despite this, she was accepted by Oxford University to read English. After a post-graduate year spent studying history of art in Paris and Florence, she interned at Christie’s before turning her hand to writing biographies of historically transgressive women – from Elizabeth I to Athénaïs de Montespan, mistress of Louis XIV. The rewards have been wholly intellectual; scholarly works are not the most lucrative, she says. Then, a decade ago, she and her partner divorced and Hilton became a single mother to their daughter Ottavia, now 10. “I used to lie awake at night thinking, ‘Oh my God, how am I going to get to the end of the month?’ I did crappy telly and journalism to pay the rent.” One example is an idea that came from her editor while she was breastfeeding. “He wanted 2,000 words on infidelity by Tuesday. I made most of it up.” In it she wrote, “I cheated because Print copies sold to date I liked sex. I broke [men’s] trust and Amy Pascal, producer of the destroyed their hopes because new all-female Ghostbusters, I wanted to get laid.” Nine years has snapped up film rights later, she still gets hate mail. for a seven-figure sum.
The sory so far
a feminist,” she says clearly. “But because a woman writes a book, it doesn’t mean that it’s pro- or antifeminist, nor should it be. It’s meant to be fun, tongue-in-cheek.” What has ofended most, it seems, is Judith’s prolific use of the C-word when she is sexually aroused. “I think behind their bedroom doors a lot of people use [that word]. It’s an Anglo-Saxon word with a long and honourable tradition, and I think women should reclaim it. It’s used by Chaucer.” There are a lot of penises too, all with BUT SHE DID HAVE SOMETHING in-depth characterisation: “Women Bestseller in the UP HER SLEEVE: A MANUSCRIPT talk about dicks like that all the time,” UK, Spain, France, FROM A FEW YEARS BEFORE, the Hilton insists. Judith, she says, has a Netherlands and the US fruits of her former agent’s suggestion Tinder view of disposable ‘zero-to-60 The script will be written by Erin to write about sex. It was pronounced sex’ and a graphic sexting vocabulary. Cressida Wilson, the woman ‘disgusting’, so Hilton threw it in This does not mean Hilton who adapted Paula Hawkins’ a drawer. But in the summer of 2014 approves. The cybersphere, she The Girl On The Train. she discovered it, along with another believes, has plunged attitudes to abandoned book. She merged the female sexuality into a murky, Number of two, and Maestra was born. retrograde world. Meanwhile, the languages in Apart from revealing that she had social normality of dating apps and which publishing rights an initial Net-A-Porter spree, Hilton ‘dick pics’ have sparked a new sexual have been sold is low-key about Maestra’s success: revolution. “Whether we like it or “Not being scared to go to the not, hook-up culture is real. Boys cashpoint – that’s big for me.” I wonder how Ottavia’s life watch porn online, girls mimic porn poses… all that has been afected. When will she let her daughter read it? lovely stuf about exploring sexuality has been denied “I suppose at the age of consent.” Hilton’s boyfriend, this generation,” she says with a sigh. “Like snogging! Danish tech entrepreneur Morten Lund, binge-read the When you could get aroused on the back of the bus novel cover to cover. She can’t resist confiding that Jan, the because you’d been necking someone for 15 minutes.” Norse-god-like deckhand with whom Judith has a sexual Hilton grew up in Frodsham, a market town near encounter involving sea urchins, is based on him. She Liverpool, as the eldest daughter of a sixth-form urges me to google him for visual evidence of his hotness. college principal (her mother) and a sociology lecturer He is very hot, I agree. But is she sure she wants that in the (her father). She was a bookworm, grazing on the story piece? Her eyes flash with naughty delight. “Oh, you must of Vanity Fair’s heroine Becky Sharp one day and put it in. He’s very proud of it.” And I know she means it. bonkbusters the next. “I thought: one day I’m going Maestra by LS Hilton (Zaffre, £12.99) to have a Chanel handbag and I’m going to be fabulous
,
#
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 67
CONFESSIONS of a
SINGLE MUM
ON TINDER After ending her 10-year marriage, Holly Thatcher is finding online dating tough with two small children. And yet, as she reveals here, the sense of newfound freedom is liberating
“
M
ummy,” pipes up my youngest, “are you putting out tonight?” I think, or at least hope, he means going out. My sons, aged six and four, are too young to understand what dating is, but always watch with curiosity when I’m getting ready. Yet trying to apply eyeliner while they demand repeat viewings of Peppa Pig is just one of the many challenges I’m learning to juggle while dating as a single mum. Others include finding last-minute babysitters and men who might like my kids as much as I do. My marriage ended two years ago and it’s taken me a while to get my head around dating again – but now I have, I’ve realised that settling down young (I was 22) means I’m now doing life in reverse. As I’m beginning to dip a toe in the dating pool, most of my friends are now becoming parents. Their lives revolve around buggies and breastfeeding, not meeting men in bars or swapping dating horror stories over a glass of wine. But being single and a mother is a funny mix – at times it’s liberating to be me again, to have drinks with virtual strangers in bars and be excited about where the night might lead. And then I remember where: home. Because even when you have booked a babysitter for the evening, you’re the one who has to get up for the
70 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
6am wake-up call, to switch on Toy Story for the 813th time, make Marmite on toast and break up the squabbles, whether you have a post-date hangover or not. Nevertheless, I now find myself carefully navigating the emotionally and logistically tricky world that is dating on Tinder. Okay, I know it’s generally considered a ‘hook-up’ app, but it’s also easy to use – perfect for time-strapped mums who can’t waste hours setting up a profile. And there’s no need to describe yourself in 10 adjectives or complete a psychometric test to determine your personality type; all you need is a first name, a few pictures and a couple of lines about yourself. (I decide against actual dating websites when I realise the parental-control settings on my computer won’t let me access men’s profiles before 9pm. Another unexpected hurdle.) I DON’T SEE ANY POINT IN NOT BEING UPFRONT ABOUT MY CHILDREN: THEY ARE PART OF THE LIFE I AM PROUD OF, not something to conceal. So
I type, “Journalist living in Bristol and mum to two little boys.” To my surprise, as I start to flick through the online profiles, nearly every right swipe seems to result in a match. But conversations that start with promise trail of when I bring up the subject of my children. “What are you up to with your weekend?” asks one potential date. “Actually, I’m taking my children swimming,” I reply, boldly. I keep looking at my phone, but get no reply from him. Later, when I check back
DATING again, I realise I’ve been unmatched. Don’t men on Tinder even read profiles? Luckily, not everyone I meet is so fickle. I start messaging Rob* (a guy I have mutual friends with and have secretly fancied for years), after taking my youngest for his like-clockwork 1am trip to the toilet. I can’t get back to sleep, so check Tinder – and there he is… “What are you doing up?” he asks. I could just be honest, but somehow, something stops me. “Still awake. Late night…” I text back, trying to sound flirtatious. “Fancy company? I’m nearby.” Do I say yes? I want to. Even though it’s a blatant booty call. I’ve never had a one-night stand and the thought he wants me right now is a complete turn-on. Can I really invite him over with my kids in the house? Maybe…
ILLUSTRATION ANDREW BANNECKER *NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED
AND THEN, AS I’M DRAFTING A SUBTLY SUGGESTIVE REPLY, MY SON WADDLES BACK INTO MY BEDROOM and climbs into bed
and our evenings can be plastic-toy-free. For a little while, I tell myself it can work. Escaping my real life and responsibilities, even just for a few hours, is blissful. Yet I slowly realise that while Jack accepts I’m a mum, he rarely asks about my children, changing the subject whenever I mention them. And now we only ever meet at his bachelor pad, never at mine. I start to wonder if he’s trying to pretend the other side of my life doesn’t exist. Before our dates, I find myself frantically running around trying to get the kids into bed, rushing through their bedtime story so that I can mentally switch into “sexy date mode”. Then I stop myself, the guilt rising as I realise I’m not giving my children the time and attention they deserve. The final straw comes one morning. “Mummy,” pipes up the four-year-old, “who is looking after us tonight?” Reality dawns. “I am,” I reply. And I always will be. No matter how much I try to pretend there’s a DON’T TAKE IT TOO whole other me – the carefree, “I’ll SERIOUSLY. And stop if come to your place tonight” me – I am you’re not having fun. also, and always will be, a mother. IT’S OKAY TO FEEL And those boys will always come NERVOUS. Dating again after first. So Jack, a man who freaks out having children can be scary. at the sight of Pampers wet wipes, is never going to last. I end things BE UPFRONT. You’re teaching the following week. your kids not to tell lies, so
Holly’s Tinder tips
beside me. And I realise, for tonight at least, he’ll be the only man between my sheets. My sons’ impeccable timing does sometimes come in handy, though. A week later, I go on a date with a man who presents me with a Forrest Gump mug as a gift follow your own advice – state SOME PEOPLE MIGHT ASSUME because I’d told him it was my that you’re a parent. But then THAT DATING ONLINE AS A favourite film. Then another casually use the rest of your profile SINGLE MOTHER IS DEPRESSING. drops into conversation that he enjoys to talk about you. In fact, one positive of being a mum penning “short erotic extracts”. On KEEP PARENTING AND already is that I’m not looking for a both occasions, I’m rescued by my DATING SEPARATE. Avoid husband, or the father of my children, brilliantly ruthless babysitter, Laura, introducing a partner until you or The One. Ultimately, I don’t feel who calls with a far-fetched childare confident that things feel that pressure to settle or compromise, related “emergency”, which demands stable and serious. especially not with a man who views my immediate departure. I make my children as an inconvenience. a mental note to exercise more quality Instead, I’m discovering the joys of my imperfect but, control before agreeing to meet – at £8 per hour for a ultimately, liberating situation. babysitter, these failed dates are proving to be expensive. Yes, my life looks very diferent to the one I had And then I meet Jack*. He’s confident and attractive planned – mainly because now it’s not planned at all. and an entrepreneur. As usual, I start the date by telling When I was married, my future was mapped out for me. him I have two sons, even throwing in some funny I could picture what it looked like in 10, 20 or even 30 anecdotes about them. He laughs. We click. Later, after years’ time. But since I’ve started dating online, I’ve a passionate kiss to round of the date, we make plans embraced my new dual lifestyle: my responsibilities to see each other again. as a mum ground me, but the feeling of getting dressed And we do. But when he arrives at my house for date two, he seems uncomfortable. The boys are at their dad’s, up for a night out and not knowing what’s around the corner? It’s thrilling. Life doesn’t always turn out but evidence of them is everywhere – pictures on walls, how you expected it to, but sometimes the surprises toys scattered on the floor. As we sit down and lean into a kiss, the disembodied voice of Thomas The Tank Engine it throws up are more rewarding than anything you informs us from behind a cushion that he is a really useful could have envisaged. In the For more online engine. We both try to ignore it. But I’m not sure Jack can. place of certainty, I have dating advice, visit freedom. And I’m embracing The following weeks are a dance of babysitters and REDONLINE.CO.UK it with both hands. schedule changes so I can visit Jack at his flat instead,
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 71
MEMOIR Jenny, Toby and Jenny’s husband Ken on a family holiday to Crete in 2006
LOSING A CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Toby aged four; growing up, Toby was shy and good-natured; mum and baby
SON,
gaining a
Jenny at her 50th birthday party with new daughter Laura
DAUGHTER When Jenny Dale’s 19-year-old son decided to change his gender, she had to mourn the son she’d lost – but also learn to love the new daughter she’d gained. She shares her journey to acceptance
O
ne morning in March 2011, I opened an email from my 19-year-old son. “Dear Mum,” he wrote. “I need to tell you that I was born in the wrong body. I finally know I should have been born a girl.” As I read those words, a range of emotions ran through me: relief at finally finding out what was going on in my beloved child’s life, quickly followed by terror at the prospect of the complete unknown. Twenty years earlier, I’d been excitedly preparing for my first baby. I didn’t know if I was having a boy or a girl, but the nursery was decorated, the drawers full of neatly folded Babygros, knitted cardigans and booties. After a 12-hour labour, I gave birth to a beautiful boy. My husband dashed to the payphone with a bag of 10p pieces to share our news, while I cuddled my precious new son. Blue identity labels were slipped onto his tiny wrist and ankle. I still have those today. Unbeknown to us, our new baby, Toby, was on the autistic spectrum. He barely slept for the first three years of his life, and my marriage broke down under the strain of a child who would scream unmercifully all night. When I married for a second time, Toby started sleeping at last and we settled into a fairly normal family life, with two stepchildren and a new baby sister for them all. Toby had the sweetest, most sensitive nature, and friends envied my luck in producing a son who never did anything wrong. He seemed like any other little boy, one who loved playing with Thomas the Tank Engine. Yet,
were there signs when, at 15, Toby started to grow his hair long? Maybe I should have spotted something. He refused to wear anything that wasn’t red or black and had few friends (those he did have were girls), becoming withdrawn as bullies picked on him at school. Eventually, after 18 months of counselling, Toby was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. I remember my relief; finally we had an explanation for his sudden shyness and change in character. But since he was still living with us at the time, while working part-time in a local supermarket, we soon realised that there was more to it. We tried asking Toby if he was in trouble or experimenting with drugs, ofering acceptance and support. He assured us he was alright, but it felt like our son was slipping away from us. The email that day, which finally brought the truth, filled me with shock and deep anxiety, which I now feel ashamed to admit. In hindsight, I wish I’d been able to show compassion, but truthfully my first reaction was disbelief; surely this couldn’t be right. He must be going through a sort of identity crisis, one we could persuade him out of with love and support. I wasn’t ready to knock on his bedroom door upstairs so, fingers trembling, I typed my response, asking if he was certain. Even with an airmative reply, I still hoped this was a phase; something to explain his feelings of not belonging. For a few weeks I buried my head in the sand. Toby periodically tried to talk to me and I couldn’t help asking him, repeatedly, if he was sure. He must have seen that »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 73
MEMOIR I hoped that it would disappear. But Toby insisted that be – and still, in many ways, looks like – your son. Other his feelings weren’t going away. Six weeks later, over shoppers blithely picked out theirs, without a hint of the tears (mostly mine), we told my husband. He was emotional trauma I was experiencing as I dithered shocked and thought, as I had, that this was a phase. among the pink, flowery designs in the women’s section. When I discovered Toby was seeing a counsellor In April 2014 Laura announced that she would legally as his female persona, Laura Kate, I felt like become female the someone else was persuading my child down this following month. She path. I wanted to accept the fact that Toby had needed to change her picked his own new name, but even that left me name via a solicitor, feeling rejected – although and this enabled her to he knew that we’d wanted get a new bank account, the middle name Kate had driving licence and he been born a girl. employment records. I felt like I was losing She told her employers FROM LEFT: Toby my grip on the last 19 (who briefed the other staf), took as a newborn; and on years of my life. I was a week of and returned as Laura. holiday with mum and half-sister Lucy carrying a huge burden Now, finally, there were no more and I couldn’t tell a soul. half-truths, no trying to remember Where would I even begin? which pronoun to use depending I asked to meet Toby’s counsellor, on who knew. My fear turned to perhaps to prove to myself that this This wasn’t a whim, or admiration at her courage. man was sending my vulnerable Then I realised I wasn’t crying any a lifestyle CHOICE; this more when I told our story proudly teenager down a road he didn’t really was a desperate need to to those who didn’t already know. want to travel. Toby agreed, but reminded me that he saw him while align her body with her I began to see how privileged dressed as Laura. That day, I spent I was to be the mother of this amazing FEMALE BRAIN several hours crying, not knowing young woman. I finally gave Laura how I was going to react but also aware that my child a card I had found some months before, and had been would be searching my face for signs of acceptance – saving for the right time. It said, “To a very special and that any fear or rejection would be read like a book. daughter, I’m so proud of who you have become.” Meeting Laura for the first time, nervously in the Since then Laura has become a successful journalist counsellor’s room, was the beginning of a very slow and games writer, and has moved into a flat nearby with and prolonged process of acceptance for me. She was her girlfriend. In April, after spending three years in the dressed conservatively, but femininely. Initially I found NHS gender dysphoria system, she decided to start an it hard when the counsellor called her Laura – all I could online fundraising campaign so she could go private. see was Toby dressed in girls’ clothes. But watching her She raised £21,000 in just 10 days and her major sex face light up at the mention of her new name, I came to reassignment surgery is now scheduled for later this year. understand that this wasn’t a phase. I saw that, for her, Shortly after Laura transitioned, I felt able to think this was not a whim, or a lifestyle choice; this was a about what I wanted to achieve with my own life, and desperate need to align her body with her female brain. our relationship has started to move towards that of a My child needed to find a way to become the gender she mother and her adult daughter. As I make tentative steps knew she should have been born with. into my own burgeoning creative-writing career, she is now the one who supports and encourages me. We often OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS I GRADUALLY discuss writing and she helps edit my short stories. STARTED TO TELL PEOPLE – MY SISTERS, CLOSE I can’t deny that I sometimes struggle to look at photos FRIENDS AND LAURA’S STEPSIBLINGS. Her only from the past. I cannot ignore nearly 20 years of my life. prerequisite was that I let her know whom I had told. But my child has changed from an introverted, shy little Each time I broke the news to someone new, I burst boy into a bold, confident young woman. Going through into tears. I was still mourning the loss of my son. this experience has made both of us stronger. However, I was amazed by some incredibly supportive A little bit of me will always hold on to the part of reactions, from that of my four-year-old granddaughter her who was my son – nothing can, or will, change our right through to Laura’s 94-year-old granny. But I was past together. But now, as we still frightened, knowing that each time my child went both look forward to the future For more family and relationship out as Laura she could be sniggered at, or even attacked. I wonder, if we have come this stories, visit Buying a 20th birthday card for Laura was a mammoth far, who knows what each of REDONLINE.CO.UK task. Imagine choosing a card for a daughter who used to us could achieve next?
74 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
FREE
CLUB
MEMBERSHIP for ALL SUBSCRIBERS
Sign up today for exclusive ofers and discounts from some of Red’s favourite luxury brands, which you can enjoy all year round
OFF YOUR FIRST BIRCHBOX The luxe beauty box subscription
OFF MILLI MILLU Cult celebrityfavourite bags
OFF YEARLY MEMBERSHIP + NO JOINING FEE AT BLACKS CLUB
OFF SIENNA X
One of Soho’s oldest private members clubs
FOR ALL TERMS & CONDITIONS, SEE CLUBRED.REDONLINE.CO.UK
Flawless tanning
OFF YOUR BILL AT MEWS OF MAYFAIR
OFF MURAD Award-winning skincare
Exclusive restaurant, cocktail bar & lounge
Sign up oday 1 VISIT CLUBRED.REDONLINE.CO.UK 2 CLICK ‘REGISTER’ 3 ENTER YOUR DETAILS, INCLUDING YOUR UNIQUE 12-DIGIT SUBSCRIBER NUMBER 4 CLICK ON ‘CREATE ACCOUNT’ AND YOU’RE DONE! JUST LOG IN EACH MONTH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR EXCLUSIVE OFFERS
GO TO CLUBRED. REDONLINE.CO.UK TO ENJOY THESE OFFERS AND MANY MORE AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 75
“I’VE NEVER HAD
THERAPY.
I DO INTERVIEWS INSTEAD” Drinking, depression and family drama: the road to Olympic glory has been a bumpy one for Sir Bradley Wiggins. Miranda Sawyer meets the British cycling hero during his training for Rio, and finds a dedicated family man who’s looking ahead rather than behind him Photographs ROBERT WILSON
I
t’s a cold, blustery day in York. It’s threatening to snow. This is a day for staying in and drinking hot chocolate, watching a skirts-with-bustles drama on the TV. That is, unless you’re Bradley Wiggins. The winner of the 2012 Tour de France has just cycled over to York from Preston, a distance of approximately 100 miles. “I got the train from London,” I say, when we meet at a hotel. He’s not that impressed. Tall, skinny and shrink-wrapped in black Lycra, Wiggins is fully into his preparations for the Rio Olympics. He trains indoors at the Manchester Velodrome three days a week, and he does regular gym work and road rides on the days he’s not on the track. This, apparently, is not enough. “You need to really lay some endurance and foundation,” he says. Hence cycling to York in the sleet and wind. His life is mapped out for him in the days running up to Rio. “I can’t aford to get ill,” he tells me. “I’ve got to stay safe, not get sick, make sure I stay out of crashes. Everything we’re doing at the moment, day in and day out, is for the Olympics.” This year’s Games are a priority for the man whose oicial title is Sir Bradley Wiggins, but who’s known less formally as Wiggo. However, back in 2012, he barely thought about competing in the UK’s home
76 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Olympics. “I couldn’t,” he says. “It was like, ‘I’ve got a chance to win the Tour de France here, I’ve got to focus on the next three weeks. I don’t really care about what happens afterwards.’” He won – and then, 10 days after pedalling triumphantly into Paris as the first-ever British winner of the most important cycling race in the world, Wiggins zoomed to Olympic gold. He made the transfer from cycling secret to national hero seem like a breeze: his of-duty mod style, sideburns and insouciant charisma endeared him to everyone. I saw him at a secret Stone Roses gig just after the 2012 Olympics and, at that precise moment, despite the band’s much-heralded return, he was by far the most wellknown person in the room. I noticed quite a few partying athletes who had their gold medals around their necks. Wiggins didn’t. He was just wearing a nice suit. “THE FIRST TIME I WON AN OLYMPIC MEDAL WAS IN SYDNEY IN 2000,” he says (his collection
currently stands at seven). “I took it out to a nightclub then. Now, I just put them in a drawer. They become really immaterial after a while. It’s the title you carry around with you for the rest of your days. They’re not displayed in the toilet, no. I never wanted to have »
MEN The seven-time Olympic medallist is “not a serious person” – except when it comes to training for Rio
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 77
MEN that stuf round the house, like an ageing rocker with the gold discs, like a shrine to yourself. It’s a bit tacky.” Wiggins has a fear of tacky. After 2012, he was ofered any amount of celebrity gigs – “the usual crap: get me out of the jungle and on the ice, Question Of Sport” – but he turned them all down. He wants “to stand for something more”. Such as? “Well, if you inspire a generation of people to get on their bikes, there’s some longevity in that. If you want to be taken… I don’t want to say, ‘taken seriously’, I’m not a very serious person. But if you want to be real and you want to be believable and honest to people and have integrity, then that celebrity stuf is meaningless.” You would think he’s already done enough to inspire a cycling generation, but Wiggins thinks he could do even more. “Too much is now made of winning all the time, and I think that puts people of,” he says. So he’s worked with Halfords to introduce a new range of Wiggins cycles, which starts at toddlers’ balance bikes and continues through to higher-spec bikes for young teens. With outside projects on the go, is he planning to retire after Rio? “Well,” he says, “I’m as good now as I was 16 years ago in Sydney, and a lot better when it comes to this event. So as long as I keep improving, I could potentially get to Tokyo…” He changes his mind about this, mid-sentence: “Ah, maybe not, if I’m honest. I’ll be 40 by Tokyo. But I’m not ready to wind down just yet.” THE SPORT HAS HAD BAD PRESS RECENTLY, WITH BRITISH CYCLING BOSS SHANE SUTTON RESIGNING IN APRIL FOLLOWING ACCUSATIONS OF SEXISM AND DISCRIMINATION. So does
Wiggins think cycling is sexist? “It was definitely harder for women than it was for men in the past. My wife [Catherine] started racing 20 years ago, when I did, and she had to race with all the lads. Now, you go to a race and there are under-16 girls, under-14 girls, under-12 girls. People have fought hard to bring that equality to the sport, and it’s taken a long time. They’re not quite there yet, but it’s a hell of a lot better than it was.” He and Catherine have been together for almost 14 years. They have a deliberately low-key profile: although Wiggins still has a managed Twitter and Instagram presence, both he and Catherine retreated from public social media after a few Twitter spats, including one with the wife of Chris Froome. But how private can they be when Wiggins is so well-known? How does it work with his kids, Ben and Bella? “Well, they were seven and five in 2012, so they’ll never remember a time when they could go out somewhere with me and not have someone come up and ask for a photo. That’s just normal to them. But to begin with, it was tough.
It was one of the reasons why I withdrew from that world, because the more normal I can be, the less impact [the fame] will have on the kids’ lives.” The couple has never employed nannies. Catherine gave up work to look after their children, and they’re a small family unit. Wiggins’ mum lives in London, 200 miles away from their home in Lancashire, and they are not in touch with Catherine’s parents. “My wife has no relationship with them,” he says, flatly. It’s well known that Wiggins has a strained relationship with his own family. His dad, Gary, left when Wiggins was two years old, and he was brought up by his mum, Linda, and his grandparents on a rough estate in north London. “You either end up like your parents, and do what they did to you, or you do completely the opposite – running here, there and everywhere for your kids, making sure they have everything they want without spoiling them, making sure they don’t grow up to be complete dickheads, you know,” he says. “Helping them become decent human beings.”
I never wanted to have MEDALS around the house, like an ageing rocker with the gold discs. It’s a bit TACKY
WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP, WIGGINS WASN’T A BAD BOY, BUT HE HAD FRIENDS WHO WERE. “If
someone smashed a car window and took a radio, I knew the lad was wrong and I would try to get out of the »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 79
MEN interview Jeremy Corbyn. “He was just a lovely old boy, a really nice man, you know?” says Wiggins, which makes me laugh. He’s met David Cameron too, and is less ABOVE: With wife complimentary: “You just don’t believe a word they say; you Catherine and kids don’t know what you’re being Ben and Bella in 2013, after receiving fed.” Wiggins says he has tried his knighthood to get more excited about LEFT: Riding to politics, watching Question gold at the 2008 Time, trying to educate himself. Beijing Olympics But he admits that it’s not really his thing. “I end up switching of again. Perhaps ignorance is bliss, you know?”
way,” he says. “I was only ever guilty by association.” Cycling took him away from such pastimes. He would wear a tracksuit over his Lycra to sneak out of his estate, get to somewhere posh, such as St John’s Wood, and then take it of. When he was older and more sure of himself, his Lycra anxiety ceased. He thinks it’s easier for sporty kids now, with role models such as Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill. “They’re the boy and girl next door, so it’s easier for kids to go, ‘I’ll be like them.’”
being beaten up. Wiggins did not attend his funeral. Wiggins himself had a bout of depression and overboozing, in 2004, when he was 24. “It was a bit of everything, really,” he says. “Everything happened so quickly for me. I’d decided as a boy that I wanted to be an Olympic champion and, a little over a decade later, I’d achieved it: I had four Olympic medals. “I’d had this perception of what it would be like to win the Olympics – that people would come knocking the door down to give me cheques for a million quid, which didn’t happen. I found myself going back home and struggling to pay the mortgage, with a kid on the way, and I was like, ‘What the fuck am I going to do now?’ I’d always known what I wanted to do up to that point, but then suddenly I didn’t know any more. I started realising what my dad had done to me when I was a kid. It was like, ‘He’d left by now. How did he do that?’” He doesn’t sound angry; just resigned and honest. Has he ever had therapy? “No, I’ve never had therapy. I do interviews instead.” And, with that, our counselling session is over. Wiggins’ time is precious, and every minute is accounted for. He has to go and eat, train and keep on top of things to prepare for – hopefully – yet another Olympic gold. For all his afable charm, Bradley Wiggins is still an elite athlete. Although, admittedly, a very cool one. Sir Bradley Wiggins has Enjoy more stories in developed a range of bikes for the free Red free weekly newsletter. toddlers to teens exclusively for To sign up, text RED Halfords. The Wiggins range and your email launches in shops and online this address to 84499* month, priced from £99 to £450.
After the Olympics, I thought people would come KNOCKING with cheques for a MILLION QUID. But I struggled to pay the mortgage
A MUSIC ENTHUSIAST – HE LOVES PAUL WELLER – WIGGINS WENT ON BBC RADIO 4’S DESERT ISLAND DISCS IN 2015, AND PICKED DAVID BOWIE’S SOUND AND VISION AS HIS ULTIMATE CASTAWAY TRACK.
In his late teens, he was a huge fan of Oasis, but earlier, it was The Prodigy. “They were like our generation’s Sex Pistols,” he says. He first saw them play in Camden in 1991, and, for a while, he had a tattoo of frontman Keith Flint on his arm. It’s now covered with one of King Henry V – because “he was the first Englishman to conquer France” – and he tells me that he has what he calls a “knight of the realm thing” tattooed across his chest and arms. He also has a “C” on his ring finger, for Catherine, and a “B” on each thumb for his kids. He can see them while he’s clutching his handlebars. I wonder if he’s interested in politics. When he hosted Radio 4’s Today programme in December, he chose to
80 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES. *STANDARD NETWORK RATES VARY DEPENDENT ON YOUR PHONE PROVIDER. BY TEXTING INTO THIS SERVICE YOU ARE OPTING IN TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM US BY EMAIL AND SMS. YOU CAN OPT OUT FROM SMS BY TEXTING STOP TO 84499 AND FROM EMAIL BY CLICKING ‘UNSUBSCRIBE’
WIGGINS’ FATHER GARY WAS A PROFESSIONAL CYCLIST WHO SUFFERED FROM ALCOHOL PROBLEMS. He died in 2008, aged only 55, after
EXPERIENCE
CHEATING
DEATH,
REBUILDING LIVES Her terrifying past prompted Taban Shoresh to leave a successful career in the City and return to her homeland of Iraq to join the fight for Yazidi women Photograph VICTORIA BIRKINSHAW
M
ost childhood memories are full of days at the seaside and building secret dens. But not mine. My earliest flashbacks are of being on the run with my family, fleeing gunfire and being locked in a dark and dirty prison cell. I was born in 1982 in northern Iraq, which lay under Saddam Hussein’s barbaric rule. He hated Kurds like us, and in attempting to crush our ethnic identity, he murdered thousands of innocent civilians – often by chemical gas or firing squad. As a Kurdish freedom fighter, my dad Sami was wanted dead or alive. One day, while I was playing quietly with my doll, aged four, Hussein’s secret police stormed our home. Dad was fighting in the mountains, so they ordered my mum and me, along with my grandparents, into a car with blacked-out windows. Luckily, my quick-thinking uncles hid my older brother in the basement. Under interrogation, Mum – who was an accountant back then – refused to talk, asking only, “How could you take an innocent child?” I had no idea what was going on, but no amount of comforting from Mum could disguise the fact that we were in real danger. After being driven to a prison, we were locked in a small cell with so
many other prisoners there was barely room to lie down. Meagre rice rations were the only food, but I found it almost impossible to eat because of the stench coming from the single shared toilet. Nights were the worst, when the haunting screams of men being tortured rang out from the adjoining prison. I was frightened, but mostly I was just confused. Why were we here? Why couldn’t we go home? Mum says I was as quiet as a mouse; I guess I was extremely traumatised. Two weeks after our capture, we were bundled onto a crowded bus. As I clung tightly to Mum’s hand, I noticed lots of grown-ups crying. But I was too young to recognise the significance of the two diggers in front of the bus. Only much later did I understand this was a sickening plan to bury us alive in a mass grave. Soon after we set of, fate miraculously intervened. The bus was flagged down by two undercover Kurdish rebels, who spoke at length to Hussein’s soldiers in hushed voices. We never found out what was said, but somehow they’d struck a deal. We were free. “Get yourselves to safety or you’ll be killed,” our two saviours told us.
We were locked in a SMALL CELL with so many other prisoners there was barely room to LIE DOWN
WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, OUTSIDE THE CITY OF ERBIL, BUT AFTER WALKING A LITTLE WAY WE MANAGED TO FLAG DOWN A TAXI, which
took us home. It was such a relief to be reunited with my brother and we all felt so happy to be alive. But Mum knew then that she had to get us out of the country, and arranged for us to meet Dad across the border in Iran. The journey was perilous, taking us through underground tunnels and across mountains on »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 83
horseback in the dead of the night. Some tracks were in London was unthinkable. So, without hesitation, I quit so steep I was afraid the horses would fall, sending my job and returned to Kurdistan as an aid worker. Two us plummeting. En route, we stayed with relatives days in, I was in a helicopter, distributing food, water or Dad’s allies, and on one occasion, my brother and and supplies to thousands of refugees trapped by IS on I crawled into huge flour barrels as Hussein’s men Mount Sinjar. Witnessing their sufering and despair searched house-to-house. was devastating, but it galvanised my desire to help. On arrival in Iran, we were thrilled to see Dad again, Life as an aid worker was a whirlwind, and over the but unfortunately he was seriously ill. A husband and next year I was heavily involved with establishing a large wife had given him a Kurdish yoghurt drink laced with refugee camp in Duhok province. It was harrowing work rat poison. It left him paralysed and made his hair for us all; families were grieving for loved ones and fall out. Amnesty International quickly stepped in, homes they had lost, and I met dozens of Yazidi women flying Dad straight to England for urgent and girls who had been raped by IS, sold as treatment. A few months after he’d sex slaves or had their children abducted. recovered, we flew over to join him in our I cried more tears than I thought possible. new home in south London. Taban with local PERHAPS UNSURPRISINGLY, THE It was 1988 and I remember children in Iraq WORK TOOK ITS TOLL ON MY HEALTH being awestruck as I saw during her aid AND IN LATE 2015, I RETURNED TO skyscrapers and the Tube for mission last year MUM AND MY SON IN LONDON, the first time. I immediately UTTERLY EXHAUSTED. But the loved the UK, even though it was freezing. humanitarian fire in me was still blazing, Settling in was culturally challenging and I came up with an alternative strategy. though, as we spoke no English and If we couldn’t yet solve the IS struggled to make friends. Some Witnessing the problem, then surely I could at children at my primary school made refugees’ SUFFERING least try to help the women in the upsetting jibes about Hussein, but camps get their lives back on track. their animosity soon waned as they and despair was Realising that one-of aid was a mere realised I was no diferent from them. devastating, but it drop in the ocean, I saw the need for While I was emotionally scarred, GALVANISED my them to gain employment, allowing I dealt with it by not speaking about them to earn money and achieve our experiences. And by blocking out desire to help independence. So I called on my past, it gradually began to fade. contacts for their expertise, turned my front room Looking back, I was happy growing up, though into a makeshift oice and set about launching I always felt an innate gratitude for our lives. My a non-profit organisation called The Lotus Flower. With family’s afection for our homeland remained, and Dad centuries-old spiritual links to beauty and rebirth, this was so committed to the Kurdish cause he returned in a political role in 2003, when the US-led Iraq war began. In exotic flower seemed like the perfect symbol of hope. Now up and running, The Lotus Flower funds refugee spite of all he’d endured, we very sadly lost him in 2010 women to use local materials to make hand-crafted following a period of ill health. Hussein had finally been products, such as make-up bags, laptop cases and ecoexecuted in 2006, but the toll of his rule remains: 4,500 friendly household textiles. These will be exported to the villages razed to the ground, tens of thousands killed, plus UK for sale and all profits will be ploughed straight back persistent side efects from chemical attacks including into the organisation, enabling it to expand. The dream is lung damage, blindness, infertility and birth defects. fast becoming a reality, with lots of the women excitedly BY THIS TIME, I’D GRADUATED IN INTERNATIONAL learning how to use donated sewing machines. I’m a firm POLITICS AND HAD FORGED A SUCCESSFUL believer in the power of storytelling, and The Lotus CAREER AS A DIGITAL MANAGER AT A GLOBAL Flower will share these women’s heartbreaking and ASSET MANAGEMENT FIRM IN THE CITY. I had a great inspiring experiences, giving them a resonant voice at last. social life living in south London and was also mum to I often reflect on where my family and I might have a wonderful son, but somehow, it wasn’t enough. I felt ended up if those two men hadn’t helped us all those I needed to do something to make a diference to the world. years ago, and that thought still inspires me today. Then, in summer 2014, I was horrified as history Together, I believe we can began to repeat itself in Kurdistan. IS forces seized encourage these women to gain Find out more at towns and villages, displacing and killing thousands strength from struggle, rise thelotusflower.org and follow Taban Shoresh of Yazidi people, who make up one of Iraq’s oldest out of the darkness and bloom @tabanshoresh minorities. Old memories were stirred, and I felt shaken once more – just like the on Twitter to the core. It was then I knew I had to go back – staying precious lotus flower.
84 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
AS TOLD TO ANNA POINTER. HAIR AND MAKE-UP LINDSEY POOLE. STYLING SOPHIE HOOPER
EXPERIENCE
FR
EE
TO D
RED’S BEST
OW N
SUMMER READS 2016
LO AD
BRILLIANT WRITERS
+
EMMA JANE UNSWORTH HADLEY FREEMAN WILL STORR
INSIGHTFUL INTERVIEWS
PHOTOGRAPH GETTY IMAGES
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON CHIWETEL EJIOFOR TINA BROWN
SEARCH THE APP STORE FOR RED SUMMER READS TO DOWNLOAD THE COLLECTION
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 85
YOUR SUNLOUNGER
LIFE REBOOT Forget New Year’s resolutions or five-year plans – now is the perfect time to shake things up and make some tiny changes that’ll transform your life
S
ometimes the biggest transformations can begin with the smallest of steps. From a fresh lick of paint to a thoughtful new podcast, here the Red team pick seven life-enhancing but simple resolutions you can make right now.
MAKE A DAILY ‘NO MORE PUTTING IT OFF ’ LIST
It’s easy to start your working day by replying to emails and reacting to the world around you. Instead, says writer Chris Baréz-Brown, “Every morning when you arrive at work, identify the One Big Thing that you need to achieve before you go home.” By putting the task you’ve been avoiding at the top of your to-do list, you’re far less likely to get distracted. Plus you’ll get a delightful sense of satisfaction from conquering it first thing in the morning. Shine: How To Survive And Thrive At Work by Chris Baréz-Brown (Penguin, £9.99)
86 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
PAINT YOUR HOME HAPPY If your home is looking a little tired, a fresh coat of paint will enliven your décor and your disposition, suggests Joa Studholme, Farrow & Ball’s international colour consultant. “The right colour can make you feel warm,” she says. “A paint with red, yellow or greys in it can be comforting, nurturing and will make you more relaxed.” Shades such as Dimity and Joa’s White can put the metaphorical hug back into your house. “Never underestimate how much a colour can afect your spirit,” says Studholme, “transforming your home from a place you are in to a place you want to be.” Farrow & Ball: How To Decorate by Joa Studholme and Charlotte Cosby (Mitchell Beazley, £30)
Take brain naps
WORDS NATASHA LUNN. PHOTOGRAPHS DAVID MANDELSON, VICTORIA BIRKINSHAW, GETTY IMAGES, ANDY RYAN
PREP YOUR MEALS “Use one hour per week of the time you usually spend on social media to plan and prep meals for the week ahead,” says nutritional therapist Eve Kalinik. “That could be cooking up portions of quinoa and soups to freeze, boiling eggs for breakfasts or preparing packed lunches for the week. When I recommend this to clients, they find it’s pretty achievable and realistic. Give time back to yourself, rather than the smartphone.” evekalinik.com
Do you push through tiredness on tea, chocolate and willpower? Take regular brain naps, AKA quick bursts of meditation. “When you’re overstimulated, you need quick and deep ways to rest,” says yoga teacher Nadia Narain (below), who teaches Kate Moss and Sienna Miller. “For a quick brain nap (you can do it on the loo), breathe in for four counts, then out for four. Breathe in for four, out for six. Breathe in for four, out for eight, then in for four, out for six, in for four, out for four again. Even better, do it in the shavasana yoga pose, lying on your back, legs and arms relaxed (knees bent if more comfortable) and palms up. Feel your body dropping down to the floor, relaxing, and really rest.” Nadia Narain Flow Yoga Strength & Stability DVD (amazon.co.uk, £10.99)
THE NEW YORKER RADIO HOUR
Because who’s got time to keep on top of all news, politics and culture these days? David Remnick hosts a rotation of brilliant writers and editors, talking about everything from Lena Dunham to Syria. HAPPIER WITH GRETCHEN RUBIN
MOVE YOUR NIGHT CREAM Hear us out on this one. Moving your night cream from your bathroom to your bedside table gives you the chance to really give your skin a good, thorough massage before you go to sleep – which, facialists say, is one of the best things you can do for your complexion. “Get into bed with clean skin, turn the lights out, snuggle down under the covers and, before you sleep, take a sweep of night cream and massage it upwards and outwards from the centre of your face to your ears and hairline, then from your chin along the jawline, to release tension. Then sweep it down your neck and across your chest. It only takes a couple of minutes, but it will relax your entire body, not just your face, plump up your skin and increase your wellbeing,” says A-list facialist Anastasia Achilleos.
TUNE IN Reset your mind by listening to a podcast on your commute. Red’s entertainment director Rosamund Dean loves...
WORK OUT FOR 1 MINUTE – HARD
A study from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, says working out as hard as you can for three 20-second sprints (with short breaks to get your breath back), is as good for your cardio health as a 45-minute workout. Factor this into your workout by going hard for a minute or, on days when you’ve got no time, run up the stairs or do star jumps.
FOR MORE WAYS TO LIVE SMARTER, FIND OUT ABOUT RED’S SMART WOMEN WEEK AT REDONLINE.CO.UK/ SMARTWOMENWEEK
The bestselling author (below, right) of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before provides practical tips and hints to help you break bad habits and make better ones. Does exactly what it says on the tin: it will make you happier. WOMAN’S HOUR
Listen to highlights of Jane Garvey and Jenni Murray’s engaging conversations with everyone from Jodie Foster to Christine Lagarde on your walk home.
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 87
Reads
Edited by NATASHA LUNN
NATIONAL TREASURE To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter’s birth, five fashion designers reimagine the covers of her best-loved tales
T CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: Preen’s Squirrel Nutkin; The Rodnik Band’s Tom Kitten; Cats Brothers’ Peter Rabbit; Orla Kiely’s Mrs Tiggy-Winkle; and Henry Holland’s Jemima Puddle-Duck
he very best stories are those that stand the test of time. The ones that are passed on from one generation to the next, through lovingly told bedtime stories or thoughtful birthday presents, leaving an imprint on our memories forever. And Beatrix Potter’s tales have done exactly that. Today, 150 years after she was born, the artist and storyteller’s books are still treasured by old and young alike. So much so, in fact, that five iconic fashion designers are now celebrating Potter’s world by designing new covers for five of her books. From Henry Holland’s Jemima Puddle-Duck to Preen’s Squirrel Nutkin, this charming, current and clever collection is a fitting tribute to one of the best-loved British storytellers of all time. A seriously stylish treat. » Beatrix Potter Fashion Designer Collection (Warne, £6.99 each) is out 7th July
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 89
NEW
MARVELLOUS must-reads
Sarra Manning falls for two of the hottest titles in town The Muse by Jessie Burton (Picador, £12.99) No diicult-second-novel syndrome for Jessie Burton, whose debut, The Miniaturist, sold more than a million copies. With The Muse she has smashed it (as the young people say) and honed her skill as a writer of quite extraordinary depth and detail. Set in Spain on the cusp of the Civil War in 1936 and in a grimy 1960s London, The Muse is about a painting conceived during that heady Spanish summer, lost for 30 years, only to turn up at the Skelton gallery in London. But more than that, it’s a novel about four displaced women. In the 1930s, there’s Olive Schloss, her creative ambition thwarted by her art-dealer father, and Teresa, a Spanish girl desperate for the glamorous life that Olive has rejected. And in the 1960s, Odelle, arrived in London from Trinidad five years before, swaps a menial job in a shoe shop for a position at the Skelton and meets the mysterious Quick, one of those beguiling literary characters that you can’t help crushing on. A rich but light-handed novel about the ways in which art and creativity shape the lives of women, it’s also a book that will leave you replete when it’s over, but also utterly bereft.
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub (Michael Joseph, £12.99) I love a good New York novel and Modern Lovers didn’t disappoint. Comfortably discontent and on the wrong side of 40, Elizabeth, Andrew and Zoe are neighbours in a Brooklyn suburb and veterans of an obscure indie band. Then, over the space of a few months, their collective malaise, the antics of their children, Iggy Pop (a cat) and a ghost
90 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
from their former lives threaten to destroy their cosy little bubble. Modern Lovers is funny yet tart, warm yet incisive; I adored it and can’t wait to get started on Emma Straub’s backlist.
We also loved... The Invitation by Lucy Foley (HarperCollins, £12.99, out 14th July) Film crew, Italian Riviera, 1950s. What part of that does not appeal?
The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware (Harvill Secker, £9.99) Murderous mayhem on a luxury cruise where travel journalist Lo is convinced the woman in the next-door cabin has been tossed overboard.
I Found You by Lisa Jewell (Century, £12.99, out 14th July) Single mum Alice finds a man with amnesia on the beach by her house, while miles away a woman reports her new husband as a missing person.
READS EXTRACT
A MIDLIFE-CRISIS SURVIVAL GUIDE
As she takes a modern look at the midlife crisis in her new book, Out Of Time, Miranda Sawyer reveals how to squeeze every last drop of juice out of life, whatever age you are
T
here’s this feeling that accept them, you’re every age and happens in midlife. no age at all. You’re on a tightrope We can decide to be happy. We and you’ve managed can make tiny changes. We can to keep your balance take on the kinds of responsibilities and your nerve, and continue that we shirked when we were moving forward. And now you’re young. We can be patient with all the way out in the middle. You’ve people who have no done amazingly, but now you’re power and angry with out here, you can feel the wind all those who have power. around, and you sense the space We can decide to beneath and above you, and you reclaim our body from worry that you might wobble. Oh, outsiders: to ignore what God, you do wobble. No wonder, we’re meant to look like, given that you’re negotiating the how we’re supposed to tightrope while carrying several treat that body, and large suitcases from the past, plus instead concentrate on a few significant others, who are how it feels. How does clinging to you and growing to your body feel, to you? enormous sizes. So you freeze. Accept its limitations What can you do? You can fall and strengths, work of. You can turn back. Or you can with them. Dress it however carry on, step by step by step, to you bloody well like. the other side. We can throw out our old We all have dreams ways of thinking. and fantasies. They are We can pull ourselves “We all have part of what makes us out of time by enjoying dreams and who we are. But we our time. We can work FANTASIES. get diverted, we lose really hard and we can But we get confidence. The truth meditate, if we can be is, in middle age, we DIVERTED” bothered, and we can can’t do everything we read and make our kids once thought we could. At laugh, and we can dance some point, you have to say, and we can make time stand “This is as good as I can be, still by staring out at the sea or as good as I can be right now.” into someone else’s eyes. We If you can understand your can make time stretch. restrictions, recognise them, We are our past, our present and hold them up to the light and our future all at once; we are always
all of these things. It’s only that, as we age, the proportions change. My past is more of me than my future, but it’s my present that I’m involved in. All around, friends, heroes, parents, children are being picked out at random, and they die. They fall over and bang their head, they get knocked down by a car, they become terminally ill, and we say, “Why them? Why us? Why me?” But why not? Midlife is diferent from youth and it’s diferent from elderly. But all of life is living with death flickering and glittering somewhere to the side, around our blind spot, where we can’t quite see. Life is like that, no matter how old we are. So, I look at the chessboard in my mind, I see the pieces that remain, I mourn the ones I squandered. I feel the atmosphere change when I ask if I can start the game again… Still. All those pieces! On the board! Waiting for me to move them. I think about that, and I feel… better. Because, yes, this is the game. This is our life. This is it. Let’s play, with whatever we’ve got left. » Extracted from Out Of Time by Miranda Sawyer (4th Estate Books, £12.99)
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 91
READS The Last Days Of Rabbit Hayes was the last book Nadiya read; she cried throughout The Lovely Bones
Q&A
My life in books: NADIYA
HUSSAIN To celebrate the release of her recipe collection Nadiya’s Kitchen, the Bake Off winner reveals the reads that shaped her
THE LAST BOOK THAT MADE ME CRY WAS… The Lovely Bones by
Alice Sebold. So upsetting. So beautifully written. I bawled solidly from about a quarter of the way through. THE BOOK THAT MAKES ME WANT TO TRAVEL IS… The
Caterpillar by Eric Carle. My teacher read this to me when I was five. The whole caterpillarto-butterfly thing was magical to me then, and still is now. THE BOOKS THAT GOT ME THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME WERE... the Nancy Drew books.
As a teenager I read them in my local library and “As a to be someone TEENAGER longed else, like Nancy. In I longed to be the end, they made someone else, me believe I could be.
like Nancy DREW”
Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald. The description of 1920s New York is so glamorous and opulent, it makes me want to live in that time and place. MY FAVOURITE BOOK OF ALL TIME IS… The Hobbit by JRR
Tolkien. I remember reading it for the first time when I was 17, being sat at home with my brothers and sisters, but feeling like I was in another world.
92 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
MY FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S BOOK WAS… The Very Hungry
THE ONE BOOK EVERYONE SHOULD READ IS... Gangsta Granny
by David Walliams. His books share such important messages, I think adults should read them, too. I’m bad, though, because I’m such a fan, I read them before letting my kids get their hands on them. Nadiya’s Kitchen by Nadiya Hussain (Michael Joseph, £20) is out now
The Very Hungry Caterpillar was Nadiya’s favourite book as a child; she thinks David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny has important messages for all ages
WORDS MEGAN SUTTON PHOTOGRAPHS REX FEATURES, HEARST STUDIOS, SUKI DHANDA, CAPITAL PICTURES, GETTY IMAGES
THE LAST BOOK I READ WAS…
The Last Days Of Rabbit Hayes by Anna McPartlin – a book about the last seven days of a woman’s life, with a surprising amount of humour. I read it over six months when I could steal moments in-between baking.
The Great Gatsby makes Nadiya want to see New York
Fashion
Edited by NICOLA ROSE
Jersey sweatshirt, £695; jersey trousers, £625; elastane belt, £225, all Christopher Kane
PHOTOGRAPH MAX ABADIAN
GAME ON We’re getting in the Olympics mood and feeling a touch sporty, which is lucky since the PRE-FALL collections are all winners. Champion pieces include a FLORAL BOMBER, a louche PYJAMA-STYLE SUIT, a rock ’n’ roll studded LEATHER jacket and classical CASHMERE coats. Now, on your marks… AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 95
Clashing florals is a winning combination for summer. And as we know, Gucci does it best. A sporty bomber jacket with an A-line pleat skirt is the combination of champions Silk and lurex jacket, £2,590; silk muslin shirt, £955; wool gauze skirt, £965, all Gucci. Suede shoes, £525, Jimmy Choo
WITH THE RIO OLYMPICS ON THE STARTING BLOCK, WE’VE GOT SPORTING ON OUR MIND. LUCKILY, A WINNING PERFORMANCE FROM THE PRE-FALL COLLECTIONS TAKES SARTORIAL GOLD Photographs MAX ABADIAN Styling LAUREN T FRANKS
96 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
A new mood for Mary Katrantzou saw a starting point of 1960s sci-ďŹ books turn out a collection just the right side of intergalactic. This is sports-luxe futurism; just team with your favourite pair of trainers Silk-blend dress, price on request, Mary Katrantzou
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 97
Ahoy there. Prada’s bold red velvet dress conjures tales of times gone by. Add a chic cross-body bag to make sure you have all you need with you when your ship comes steaming in Velvet dress, £1,735; cotton hat, £225; leather bag, £1,300; leather and velvet shoes, £580, all Prada
98 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Soak up the last few rays of summer in Victoria Beckham’s clean-lined knitted dress. Pop a fineknit cashmere rollneck on underneath as the nights close in Wool dress, £1,595, Victoria Beckham. Leather shoes, price on request, Bally
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 99
There’s nothing quite like cocooning yourself in one of MaxMara’s classic cashmere coats. Adding a longsleeved mesh top or fishnet tights (yes, they are back) will give the look a S/S 16 twist Cashmere coat, £1,855; polyamide top, £195; wool skirt, £230, all MaxMara
100 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Dolce & Gabbana pack a real punch in their silk pyjamastyle suit with a raspberry-pink overcoat. Just slip on the shoes of the season, backless loafers, to really reign supreme Cashmere coat; silk shirt; silk trousers, all price on request, Dolce & Gabbana
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 101
To unleash your inner rock star, look no further than Saint Laurent. This is the penultimate collection from Hedi Slimane, a designer who has brought rebellious rock ’n’ roll glamour back into our wardrobes, and we are starstruck Leather jacket, £2,565; lamé blouse, £1,140; velvet and sequin skirt, £2,290; leather belt, £310; leather and suede boots, £695, all Saint Laurent. Leather balls, from around £270, all Killspencer
102 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
This is the first collection since Raf Simons’ departure from Dior, but we’re still in love. Take note and dress down the more sultry pieces in your wardrobe with an oversized knit Cashmere top, £830; leather and lace skirt, £1,600; velvet and leather shoes, £1,100, all Dior
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 103
Asian influences meet boudoir nightdresses at Fendi. But you can wear this dress for work or play, without getting a red card Cotton dress, £1,310, Fendi
104 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Giorgio Armani shows us once again why he’s top of the class in tailoring. Structural yet feminine, this jacket can be worn with smart trousers for work, or with cropped jeans for downtime Silk jacket, £2,650; rhinestone ear cuf, price on request, both Giorgio Armani
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 105
Contrary to Coco’s famous quote, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory,” Chanel proves efortlessly that more is definitely more. Game. Set. Love Leather jacket, £6,100; denim jeans, £920; metal and glass earrings, £780; metal and glass pearl necklaces, £1,170 each; velvet and leather bag, £2,680; vintage tennis racket, stylist’s own, all Chanel
106 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Athletic details run consistently through Nicolas Ghesquière’s collections for Louis Vuitton. Take note of the subtle sporty stripes on this slick, streamlined coat – big news for the season ahead Wool crepe coat, £2,350; silk top, £880, both Louis Vuitton Model Xiaomeng Huang at Viva London. Hair Ben Cooke for Lockonego at Frank Agency, using Aussie. Make-up Terry Barber at David Artists, using MAC. Nails Kim Treacy at Stella Creative Artists, using Chanel Le Vernis in Marinière and Body Excellence Hand Cream. Stylist’s assistant Gabriella Minchella. Floor tape thanks to Le Mark Group. Location thanks to Spring Studios
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 107
SKINCARE
Beauty
Edited by ANNABEL MEGGESON
YOUR EASIEST TAN
Jersey swimsuit, £315, Hermès. Brass bracelet, £775, Louis Vuitton
EVER Suntan or self tan? This year’s innovations mean the quest for a golden glow is so much smoother than before Words ALEXANDRA FRIEND Photographs DAVID GUBERT Styling NICOLA ROSE
S
ummertime and the tanning is easy. No more burning, no streak-filled self-tan sessions – just a seamless golden glow, from start to end. Well, we’ll level with you – an even, painless tan requires some work. The trick lies in making it as pleasurable or negligible as possible. Happily the beauty industry has your back (and shoulders and nose) with SPFs and self tans that are now swifter, sheerer and lovelier to use than ever. Here’s where it all starts… »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 109
THE OLD STORY SPECIAL-OCCASION BRONZING
THE OLD STORY BLENDING, BUFFING, WAITING
THE EASY STORY
A SUMMER-LONG GLOW “Gradual tans are so easy to use and can keep your colour topped up all summer,” says St Tropez tanning expert Jules Heptonstall. “Apply liberally as you would your body moisturiser – no buing, no blending, just wash your hands afterwards and that’s it.” For a bespoke approach, mix with your body lotion, but know the latest formulations are nourishing enough to make even your most heavy-hitting body cream redundant. In the St Tropez range, you’ll find hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and a new Hydraglow Complex that drip-feeds moisture through to the skin for 48 hours. “On the days you don’t use it, an aloe vera-based body butter will tide you over,” Heptonstall says. For your face, slow-developing oils and serums are the latest in no-fuss bronzing, nourishing the skin while turning it a gentle, glowing gold, and requiring as little blending as your regular skincare. We’ve been layering ours under moisturiser every few days – the colour’s so consistent we almost forget it’s not our own.
Your easy kit
● ESPA Naturally Radiant Gradual Tan 1 Face Serum, £24 (1) ● St Tropez Self Tan Luxe Facial Oil, £23 (2) ● Deciem Hylamide Glow Radiance Booster, £20 (3) ● St Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Body Lotion, £14.50 ● St Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Face 3 Cream, £25
THE OLD STORY SMELLING OF BISCUITS THE EASY STORY
THE EASY STORY
SMOOTH & GO No time? St Tropez’s fastest-ever mousse develops in an hour (though leave it for three if you want to go really dark). “Legs are often much paler, so start there 30 minutes before the rest of your body,” says Heptonstall. Textures have had an upgrade too: silky serums, mousses and water-light mists spread over the skin with less coaxing than a lotion, making the whole performance less of a drag – literally. On that note, do be generous, as too little product is harder to blend.
Your easy kit
2
St Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse, £33
TanLuxe The Water, £30
Fake Bake St Flawless Tropez Coconut Self Tan Tanning Classic Bronzing Serum For Face & Mist, £22 Body, £29.95
St Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse, £31
Clarins Self Tanning MilkyLotion, £20
SELF TAN MEETS FINE FRAGRANCE That strange, cloying smell associated with self tan is caused by sugars in your product (collectively called DHA) reacting with amino acids in your skin to turn the top layer of cells golden brown. This year, the industry’s closer than ever to making it disappear. Clarins’ newest formulas smell of fresh figs, while St Tropez has worked with haute fragrance company Givaudan (clients include Dior, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent) to create an accord of bergamot, lavender, jasmine and rose that incorporates the DHA reaction scent into its bouquet, masking it in the process. We also like Tan-Luxe’s Self-Tan Drops, which you mix into your body lotion for a customised level of colour and a scent you already love. »
110 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
Tan-Luxe The Body Illuminating Self-Tan Drops, £42
BEAUTY
Whether natural or enhanced, a throw-on golden glow is easier to achieve than ever Rayon bikini, ÂŁ310, Missoni at Harrods
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 111
BEAUTY THE OLD STORY SKIPPING FACIAL SPF THE EASY STORY
FACE DEFENCE YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO USE Even higher on the pleasure scale are the new SPF-loaded creams that turn protection from a must-do into a must-have, and ofer multiple face-saving benefits. Sisley’s new tinted sun cream ofers coverage as flawless as your foundation, while Dior’s featherlight cream gives skin a pearlised glow and smells of rich white blooms. Red’s beauty director Annabel Meggeson applies one of these first thing after moisturising, then tops up with protective mists (the best of which won’t dislodge your make-up) throughout the day. Dior Bronze Beautifying Protective Creme Sublime Glow SPF30, £24.50
Sisley Super Soin Solaire Tinted Sun Care SPF30, £103
Bioderma Hydrabio Eau de Soin SPF30, £9
THE OLD STORY STICKY, ANNOYING SUNSCREEN THE EASY STORY
SUPER-FINE MISTS FOR FACE & BODY
Crepe bikini top, £510 (part of a set), Michael Kors
4 “Nobody likes sun protection,” says Dr Marko Lens, skin ageing specialist and founder of Zelens skincare. “It takes ● Zelens Daily Defence Sunscreen time, you need help to rub it in, it’s just annoying.” He Broad Spectrum spent three years developing his first body sunscreen and SPF30, £55 (4) cites texture and application as deal-breakers. “If your ● Vichy Idéal Soleil Invisible Hydrating sunscreen doesn’t spread well and you need a second Mist SPF30, £16.50 (5) pair of hands, you’re not going to reapply as often as you ● La Roche-Posay should.” Which, he adds, is every two hours. His answer Anthelios Invisible is an oil-based mist that barely needs blending and can Face Mist Ultra-Light access tricky areas better than a handful of cream. » SPF50+, £9.50 (6)
Your easy kit
5
6
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 113
BEAUTY Nylon swimsuit, £330, Lisa Marie Fernandez. Resin earrings, £220, Marni
THE OLD STORY A S A LT-SC R U B F R E N Z Y O N C E A W E E K THE EASY STORY
LIGHT EXFOLIATION ALL SUMMER LONG “Smoother skin tans more evenly in the sun and holds onto its colour for longer, but there are easier routes than buing like mad every couple of weeks,” says leading facialist and skin expert Nichola Joss. “I use exfoliating gloves in the shower all summer, often doubled up with exfoliating body wash. It keeps my skin gently prepped for the sun without eating into my time, and once I have a tan, it keeps it looking fresh and bright without sapping it of colour.”
Your easy kit
● Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Exfoliating Body Cleanser, £30 (7) ● Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator, £19 (8) ● Soap & Glory Super Exfoliating Scrub Gloves, £4
THE OLD STORY GOING FOR THE BURN, FEELING THE PEEL THE EASY STORY
9
TAKING TIME OUT & MOISTURISING IN-BETWEEN
10
Your easy kit
The little-and-often approach also applies to sun exposure, says Joss. “For every 20 minutes in the sun, I spend the next hour in the shade, and during that time I moisturise from top to toe. I never burn, always go home with a tan and, at the age of 49, have very little sun damage. If you’re exfoliating regularly, you’ll also have a head start on hydration as the new cells that have been brought to the surface are fresh and ready to absorb.” Joss favours natural oils – coconut, shea, olive: “The molecular structure is smaller than cream, so they sink in better.” She also takes daily marine collagen and hyaluronic acid supplements, as “they make my skin more resilient in the sun”.
11 114 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
8
● Nars Monoï Body Glow II, £45 (9) ● L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil, £34 (10) ● Garnier Ultimate Blends Mythic Olive Body Nourishing Oil, £7.99 ● Ingenious Beauty Ultimate Collagen+, £75 (11)
For more beautiful bronzing ideas, go to REDONLINE.CO.UK
MODEL LINDSAY ELLINGSON AT VIVA LONDON. HAIR BJORN KRISCHKER AT FRANK AGENCY, USING BUMBLE AND BUMBLE. MAKE-UP MARY WILES AT THE WALL GROUP, USING ST TROPEZ. ON SET PRODUCTION KARINA DIAL. LOCATION THANKS TO DAIOS COVE; RATES FROM £365, DAIOSCOVE.COM
7
PROMOTION
SUNKISSED ALL SUMMER Get set to glow in just three minutes with the latest addition of St. Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion – your fastest, easiest and most natural-looking tan yet
T
o step out of the bathroom with healthily gleaming skin always feels so uplifting. And now that’s even easier to achieve with at-home tanning at its fastest and most innovative. In fact, all that stands between you and an allsummer-long golden glow is just three minutes in your own shower.
JUST ADD WATER If it’s been a while since you tried tanning at home, you might not know that plenty has changed while you’ve been away. St.Tropez has been at the forefront of a tanning revolution, most recently with a new variation of its award-winning Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion. A unique tanning lotion, it takes just three minutes to activate on wet skin. Used in the shower daily it creates a healthy-looking sunkissed glow that deepens with every application (two to three days of consecutive use gives the best results). Already available in Light and received with global acclaim, St.Tropez has now added a Medium
version, for a deeper yet naturallooking tan. And because both shades are packed with sweet almond oil and have been clinically
3 steps o golden
“St.Tropez has been at the FOREFRONT of a tanning revolution… its award-winning Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion takes just three minutes to activate on WET skin” proven to moisturise the skin for up to 24 hours after application, you’ll be maximising your shower time in more ways than one. There’s no streaking, no giveaway smell and because the colour is totally non-transferable, you can dress as soon as you’ve dried of without staining towels or clothes. Show of your Watch the stepgolden tan with by-step video at #showerandglow. STTROPEZTAN.CO.UK
A faster, healthier golden glow has never been easier to achieve WASH St.Tropez In Shower Lotion is best applied on clean, wet skin, so step into your shower and wash as usual. APPLY Moving away from the water flow, smooth Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion Light or Medium onto wet skin in circular motions, using the luxurious lather as a guide to ensure an even application. Wash the palms of your hands with warm water. RINSE After three minutes (why not use a hair mask, or brush your teeth), simply rinse away and dry of. Your tan will continue to develop for eight hours.
New!
St.Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion in Light and new Medium, £14.50, available at leading retailers and salons nationwide
BEAUTY
Bare Minerals BareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer, £22
Anja Rubik Original EDP, £60 “My scent identity”
DESTINATION CHIC From the Med to the Maldives, three seasoned travellers show us how they master the art of holiday style Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Gel Eyeliner in Pitch Black, £18
The Master And Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Penguin, £7.99) “A Russian writer I love”
Lord & Berry Ultimate Lipliner in Bare, £9 “The perfect nude”
Byredo Candle in Peyote Poem, £50 Silk dress, £575, Isabel Marant “I love to throw a flowing dress over my bikini – Isabel Marant is really cool”
Sister & Co Coconut Oil, £12 “I love the shine coconut oil gives my skin”
Crème De La Mer Moisturizing Cream, £108 “A thicker moisturiser for long flights”
ANJA RUBIK The beuty minimalist Model, fragrance creator and the face of Kérastase L’Incroyable Blowdry, Anja Rubik unplugs at her holiday home in Mallorca I SPEND TWO WEEKS EVERY AUGUST AT MY HOME IN MALLORCA. I’ll
read by the pool for a day, but then I love to walk. Usually in my Converse.
Anja Rubik whiles away two weeks in Mallorca every year, reading and walking Canvas trainers, £47.99, Converse
I USE MY VACATION TO GIVE MY SKIN AND HAIR A REST FROM MAKE-UP AND STYLING PRODUCTS. I use
coconut oil everywhere – face, body, even in my hair. Any brand, but make sure it’s from the supermarket’s food aisle as then it will be purer. Then I just put my hair up in a bun, or braid it here and there.
I DON’T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT MY CREAM BLUSH
– ones in a palette are great for travelling. Any time I want to look fresh, I put some on my cheeks, nose and hairline.
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm, £9.50 “I like having more moisture than gloss on my lips”
Rubik tries to unplug on holiday and has a oncea-day rule EXERCISE HELPS WITH MY JETwhen it comes LAG, so I’ll go for a jog and do yoga to checking as regularly as I can. Switching to the emails mealtimes of my destination as soon as I land helps to reset my body clock. I DON’T WEAR MUCH PERFUME.
When I do it’s my own [Original by Anja Rubik], but usually I just mix a few drops of lavender essential oil into my coconut oil. It keeps the mosquitos away and I love the smell.
Kérastase L’Incroyable Blowdry, £21 “For a little volume in the evening”
I UNPACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,
especially if I’m in a hotel room, so it feels more like mine. And a scented candle changes everything. »
Stila Convertible Colour Palette in Sunset Serenade, £29
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 117
BEAUTY
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance, £29 “Such a beautiful glow”
Institut Esthederm Sun Care Oil, £42.50 “I absolutely love this brand, it’s so moisturising”
La Prairie Advanced Marine Biology Tonic, £72
Clifs at dawn in Corsica and touch up shadowy areas with concealer. For evening, I’ll add a bronzing primer, eyeliner and Dior mascara – so eight minutes at most.
Cashmereblend scarf, £195, Amanda Wakeley
CLEANSING IS A RITUAL I ENJOY WHEREVER I AM
The luxe traveller The creative director of her eponymous lifestyle brand travels with tea, cashmere and luxury skincare I’M ON PLANES ALL YEAR ROUND, BUT THIS SUMMER I’LL BE SAILING.
Cloqué bikini, £250, Lisa Marie Fernandez “Won’t fall of when I’m on my waterski”
Boating holidays are top of the list for the British designer
The Wakeley Blend Loose Leaf Tea with Quinteassential, £25, Amanda Wakeley “I take my loose-leaf tea with chocolate – because chocolate doesn’t travel well”
118 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
I’ll start in Saint-Tropez, then head down to Ibiza, Mykonos and the west coast of Corsica, which is just spectacular. I LOVE TO FEEL THE SUN ON MY BODY. I buy my suncare in Saint-
Tropez at the beginning of the summer. French brands just seem to get their science right and I never burn when I use them. MY HOLIDAY MAKE-UP IS FAST AND SHEER. It takes me two
minutes to fling on a tinted day cream
so I always have my La Prairie cleanser and toner with me. It’s a way of taking care of myself on the move. WHEN I TRAVEL LONG-HAUL, I TAKE A BESPOKE FLOWERESSENCE BLEND for two days before
the flight, every hour on the plane, and another two days after landing. I rarely get jet-lag, so I swear by it. La Prairie Ultra PRE-PACKAGED SACHETS OF Protection SUPPLEMENTS ARE BRILLIANT Stick FOR TRAVELLING. Because the SPF40, doses are all worked out, I don’t have £50 “I wear to think about what I’m taking. GP this all Nutrition is my latest discovery. summer long” LITTLE TOUCHES OF LUXURY MAKE ME FEEL TAKEN CARE OF.
Cashmere scarves work as cushions or bathrobes, so I fly with two. They fold down into nothing, yet are incredibly warm. And thrown over the end of a bed, they somehow transform a room. » Dior Diorshow Black Out Mascara, £25
IMAGES COURTESY OF AMANDA WAKELEY
AMANDA WAKELEY
Natura Bissé The Cure Sheer Cream SPF20, £146 “This tinted day cream has a beautiful radiance to it”
Alexis Smart Flower Remedies, from £24
Davines This Is An Oil Non Oil, £19.50
Chanel Le Vernis in Organdi and Rouge Essentiel, £18 each “Nude nails work with everything, but red always looks cute”
Ultrasun Glimmer SPF50+, £22
Polyamide bikini top, £160; briefs, £95, both Vix “Vix makes structured swimwear that lasts”
Acetate sunglasses, from £60, Ray-Ban “Ray-Bans are great for Asian face shapes”
PEONY LIM Elemis Biotec Skin Energising Day Cream, £75 “Takes the edge of dry skin on a long flight”
The beach buf Travel and style blogger Peony Lim stays cool and coordinated on far-flung beaches IT’S SUCH A TREAT TO TURN MY PHONE OFF AND READ A BOOK ON AN EMPTY BEACH. A tiny resort
in the Maldives was the closest I’ve been to the desert-island experience. THERE ARE NEVER AS MANY HEEL-WEARING SCENARIOS ON HOLIDAY AS YOU THINK. What’s
important is a pair of shoes with no straps, for those overheated moments. I take Vietnamesestyle slippers.
YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in Rose Rive Gauche, £26 “Glossy enough to double as a lip balm” Sisley So Intense Eyeliner, £39 “A flick of black liner with a red lip is an easy evening look”
I PICK A COLOUR SCHEME FOR EVERY HOLIDAY AND PACK BY OUTFIT, with two
tops for every bottom so everything’s interchangeable. I PATCHWORK MY SPF. I love
Clarins and Institut Esthederm but
120 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
By Terry Sun Designer Palette in Light Tan Vibes, £64 “Palettes make holiday make-up so easy”
Peony Lim’s hero cover-up is a crisp white shirt; relaxing in the Maldives is her ideal holiday always wear Ultrasun on my back. It lasts all day, so I only need to ask my boyfriend to rub it in once. BEING MIXED-RACE, MY SKIN WANTS TO TAN DEEPLY, so I’m a
careful tanner. I keep my face covered and stay out of the midday sun. WHITE SHIRTS ARE MY GO-TO COVER-UP. If I catch too much sun
on my shoulders, I can throw one on and still have my legs and tummy out.
Jo Malone Red Roses Bath Oil, £40 “I love indulgent baths on holiday, so I pick this up in duty-free”
THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO ON A HOT NIGHT IS TURN ON A HAIRDRYER.
I slick Davines This Is An Oil Non Oil through my hair after showering, pull it into a ponytail and go to dinner embracing the wet look. MY GOYARD TOTE HAS EARNED ITS PLACE IN MY TRAVELLING WARDROBE. It’s lightweight, even
when it’s holding my laptop, camera and all my heavy lenses.
Leather tote, from £1,218, Goyard
Straw hat, £29.89, Lack Of Color “Lack Of Color makes great afordable hats”
Find more celebrity travel must-haves at REDONLINE.CO.UK
PHOTOGRAPHS INSTAGRAM/ANJA_RUBIK, GETTY IMAGES, PIXELEYES
BEAUTY
PROMOTION
ENJOY YOUR
SUMMER
Don’t let bites or stings spoil the sunny summer days outside. Be prepared with Anthisan cream, to soothe itching and inflammation caused by insect bites
SAGB.MPR.16.04.0387a . May 2016
T
he joys of summer, with long hot days in the garden, picnics in the park, building sand castles on the beach… And the inevitable accompanying nettle stings, mosquito bites, uninvited wasps and swarms of midges. But you could turn a bite or sting into just a little hiccup, not the defining moment of the day. Enter the product that’s going to save your summer, helping you to make the sting or bite feel better. Anthisan is a topical bite and sting relief cream that works to relieve the itching, pain and inflammation caused by insect bites, stings and nettle stings. It can be used by adults and children over two years, so will come to the rescue if you or your little ones have been stung by nettles while exploring in the woods or if you’ve picked up a pesky mosquito bite while drinking a cool glass of rosé at dusk in the garden. Be prepared, forwardthinking (and smart) and
“You could turn a bite or sting into just a little hiccup, not the defining moment of the day”
pack Anthisan in your picnic or beach bag. You’ll recognise the name because it’s a tried and trusted first aid staple that’s been around for over 50 years. It contains an efective topical antihistamine, to help soothe away itching and inflammation.
ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR BITES So how does Anthisan work? If you’re bitten or stung, your immune system produces a chemical called histamine, to help protect itself but it also causes inflammation and swelling of the skin which can feel itchy. Because Anthisan Bite & Sting 2% w/w Cream, £3.65, contains a topical antihistamine, mepyramine maleate, it works to reduce pain and irritation. Available from pharmacies and supermarkets nationwide. Always read the label. For more information, visit anthisan.co.uk
BEAUTY
(
v
UPDATE
ANNABEL’S ADDICTION
It sounds a bit like a Farrow & Ball paint colour and Clinique’s High Impact Kajal in Blackened Brown (£16) is similarly elegant and fit for purpose. It gives eyes a grown-up sexiness and playfulness without being harsh. I can’t get enough.
One o atch It’s hard to address ageing without clichés, but Boots has nailed it in the ad for No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum (£27 for 30ml): 53-year-old ballerina Alessandra Ferri dances with a hologram of herself aged 19 – and it’s spine-tingling. The product had great trial results, too.
Blumarine S/S 16
JO MALONE’S PEONY & MOSS CANDLE WILL FILL YOUR ROOM WITH ITS WARM, EARTHY SCENT. IT WILL ALSO FILL PUBLIC SPACES WITH BLOOMS, AS PROCEEDS GO TO THE CHARITY GARDENS SCHEME.
SWEET TREAT
BEAUTY NOTEBOOK
Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color (£39), shown in Mustique (above) and Pipa (right), has goldflecked pigment and an oil-rich core to tint and nourish in one sweep.
BEAUTY INSIDER
BEST…
skin smothers
Summer requires up-a-gear exfoliation. How smooth will you go? PREPPED: St Tropez Prep & Maintain Tan Enhancing Body Polish (£10) leaves no residue – just soft, self-tanready skin. POLISHED: Origins Ginger Body Scrub (£38) is still one of the best salt and oil scrubs for a gleaming, spa-grade finish. PERFECTED: Braun’s Silk-Epil 9 SkinSpa epilator (£179.99) has a brush attachment that uses sonic vibrations to exfoliate and boost lymphatic drainage.
122 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
The fragrance year started with MINIMALISM, but perfumers have thrown those pared-down, cleansmelling molecules to the wind this summer with a heady treat. The new scents are full of SUNSHINE AND FLOWERS. A dynamic mix of BERGAMOT, JASMINE AND AMBER makes both Tom Ford’s Soleil Blanc EDP (£145 for 50ml) and Miller Harris’ Lumière Dorée EDP (£65 for 50ml) redolent of ENERGY, HEAT AND SKIN. Coconut ups the creaminess of Soleil, while Lumière sparkles with BIGARADE ORANGE. Byredo’s Heliotropia EDP (£135 for 100ml) is also big on WHITE FLOWERS, but with the refined dryness of birchwood; while in Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Cedro Di Taormina EDT (£61 for 75ml), INTENSE WHITE WOODS lean it towards soft and ‘everyday’. Jo This month Malone’s new Nashi I have been… Blossom Cologne FINDING my tube of (£89 for 100ml) and Lanolips Tinted Balm in Annick Goutal’s Perfect Nude (£7.99) has fig-fattened Ninfeo become indispensable; Mio EDT (£87 for RAVING about The 100ml) also get a Estée Edit, the new, mention. Enjoy.
For more of Annabel’s best buys, go to REDONLINE.CO.UK
want-it-all range from Estée Lauder; HOPING I’ll be as fabulous as Joan Collins when I’m 83.
PHOTOGRAPHS IMAXTREE, GETTY. STILL-LIFES HEARST STUDIOS
by ANNABEL MEGGESON
PROMOTION
Scent savvy Discover a world of summer fragrances just landed at the airport
3
1 2
I
t’s tempting to holiday shop months ahead, but with new and exclusive perfumes in World Duty Free and at least 20% of your favourite bottles, choosing your summer scent at the airport is a ritual for any jetsetter. Snap up brand new releases like McQueen Parfum EDP ahead of the high-street launch, or for a luxe touch, try Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Rosa Pop EDT – only available when you fly. Travelling light? Opt for one of the many mini fragrance sets such as Versace’s Floral Mini Crystal Collection. Perfect to pop in your hand luggage! And before you even check-in, why not save time by browsing hundreds of scents at World Duty Free’s Reserve & Collect service to pre-order online and collect on departure? Just go to worlddutyfree.com and make your choice. To find more fragrance inspiration, head to Instagram @WorldDutyFreeBeauty
4
5
6
1 Versace Miniature Crystal Collection, £35 for a set of 5 2 Hugo Boss Boss The Scent for Her EDP, £71.20 for 100ml 3 Shanghai Tang Miniature Set, £39.20 for a set of 5; 4 Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Rosa Pop EDT, £46 for 100ml 5 Jimmy Choo Illicit Flower EDT, £54.40 for 100ml 6 Alexander McQueen McQueen Parfum EDP, £76 for 75ml 7 Prada La Femme EDP, £80 for 100ml 7
Living
Edited by PIP McCORMAC
PHOTOGRAPH ANDREW MONTGOMERY. STYLING SARAH KEADY. FLOWERS CAROLINE OLERON OF CHERFOLD COTTAGE FLOWERS
SUMMER’S IN BLOOM
Here on the Red Living desk, we see the August issue as the highest point of summer. So we’re making vibrant dishes like Kemi Akinola’s on page 126 that take moments to prepare, and seeking solace from the (hopefully) scorching sunshine with the cool greys on page 136. Of course, the best summer moments come together with little or no efort: lazy days in the hazy blaze of the season. Like simply pairing pale blue flowers with dusky pink and white. Fresh and easy, the mood of right now.
For simple ways of decorating with flowers go to REDONLINE.CO.UK
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 125
Beetroot and mint houmous and Spicy papaya salad, right (recipes on page 128)
126 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
LIVING SUMMER RECIPES
FOOD
for SHARING Kemi Akinola’s summer dishes are more than just light, easy meals – they’re her way to create a whole community » Photographs LAURA EDWARDS Prop styling TABITHA HAWKINS Food styling JOSS HERD
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 127
M
eet Kemi Akinola and you’ll feel inspired. To do more for your community, to never take no for an answer, and even to eat more healthily. As the founder of the not-for-profit organisation Be Enriched, she runs three free weekly supper clubs in south London, serving food about to be wasted to guests who might otherwise be hungry or lonely. It’s not a paid job – she works part time as an advocate for young people at Barnado’s “to cover my bills, and I give the rest of my time to Be Enriched”, she smiles. It started in 2013 when Akinola identified that the community service being foisted on to young ofenders was mainly menial. “Better to get them cooking, learning real skills,” she says. And, as seemingly fuss-free as that, Be Enriched was born. I ask her how she has the energy to do it. “I find happiness in teaching people how to cook,” she says. “Many of the young ofenders who do the cooking at the Tooting event have gone on to catering apprenticeships, and I see guests making friends.” The food comes from local stalls and supermarkets, with funding via grants from Wandsworth Council, the NHS (“as we combat social isolation”) and private donation. At the event I go to in Battersea, the food is cooked by volunteers. I’m sat next to a 32-year-old disabled man and a 56-year-old woman with heart problems. We bond over our love of cats – and, of course, the food. I leave feeling warmer, aware of more hope in the world than I’d known about before. Akinola serves light, vegetarian dishes, packed with nutrients and vitality, to nourish her guests both literally and figuratively. Simple and fresh, her recipes are easy to make for large groups. So how can people help, other than via the donations channel on her website? “Everyone has a bit of free time, or a skill – use it to get involved in your community,” she says, full of uplifting conviction. Put simply: “Just do it.” PIP McCORMAC be-enriched.org.uk
128 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
BEETROOT AND MINT HOUMOUS (page 127) Bright red and zingy, this speedy take on houmous is so satisfying. It also goes well on the side of a grain salad.
SERVES: 4 as a starter PREPARATION TIME: 10 minutes ● ● ● ●
1 x 400g tin cannellini or butter beans 2 beetroot, peeled 1 bunch of fresh mint Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 Drain and rinse the beans, roughly chop the beetroot and pick the leaves of the mint stalks. Put everything in a blender with the lemon juice and blitz until smooth. Serve with strips of warmed wholemeal pitta bread, and carrot and cucumber sticks.
SPICY PAPAYA SALAD (page 127) There’s not much to this simple summer salad but bold, vibrant ingredients full of bold, vibrant taste. If you want to prep in advance just don’t dress the salad and keep it covered in the fridge for up to a day.
NOT-SO-RAW GAZPACHO This light, chilled summer soup is so refreshing – we make it in big batches as it can be prepared well in advance, or even frozen for a month. It’s ideal with a dry white wine or frosty beer.
SERVES: 4 PREPARATION TIME: 25 minutes COOKING TIME: 10 minutes ● ● ● ● ● ●
SERVES: 4 PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes ● ● ● ● ● ●
2 baby gem lettuce 2 large ripe tomatoes 1 large cucumber 1 ripe papaya 50ml-75ml extra virgin olive oil Pinch of cayenne pepper
1 Chop the lettuce into chunky squares. Halve the tomatoes and slice into chunks, removing and discarding the stalk. Halve then thinly slice the cucumber. Peel the papaya, halve and scoop out the seeds. Cut the remaining flesh into thin strips. Now mix all your chopped fruit and veg in a large bowl. 2 Pour the olive oil over the salad with the cayenne pepper and some salt and pepper. Mix everything together so it’s well coated. Serve immediately.
● ●
● ●
2 red and yellow peppers 6 large, ripe tomatoes 1 red onion 1 aubergine Olive oil Juice of 1 lemon 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 2 slices of bread, ideally slightly stale, crusts removed Handful of fresh basil Drop of Tabasco sauce (optional)
1 Deseed the peppers and tomatoes, peel the onion, and chop everything so it’s all around the same size. Heat a griddle pan over a high heat while you peel and thickly slice the aubergine. Spritz a little oil onto the pan and char the aubergine on both sides. You’ll need to do this in batches, moving the cooked pieces onto a plate. 2 Put all the veg into a blender with the lemon juice, vinegar, bread and most of the basil. Pulse until smooth. Add the Tabasco and check for seasoning. Divide between four bowls and sprinkle the remaining basil over the top.
LIVING JERKED MACARONI AND CAULIFLOWER ‘CHEESE’ Lightly spiced with flavours that speak of warmer climes, this dish is so delicious even cheese lovers won’t mind that it’s dairy free.
SERVES: 4 PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes COOKING TIME: 35 minutes ● ● ● ● ● ●
●
●
300g dried macaroni 1/2 cauliflower, cut into florets Handful of chard, spinach or pak choi Olive oil 1/2 onion, thinly chopped 2 orange or red peppers, deseeded and thinly chopped 1 x 400g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 2 garlic cloves, peeled
● ● ●
2 tbsp cashew nuts Jerk seasoning Pimento seeds (available from Asian and Jamaican food stores)
1 Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 4. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and add the pasta, simmering until cooked according to the packet instructions. In another pan, bring two centimetres of water to the boil and add the cauliflower. Cover and steam for four minutes before adding the chard, spinach or pak choi for another three minutes. Drain and set aside, uncovered. 2 Heat some oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and add the onion and peppers, stirring for five minutes so they soften and start to turn translucent but don’t brown. Tip them into a blender with the cannellini beans, garlic, cashew
nuts, 200ml of hot water and jerk seasoning and pimento seeds to taste. Blitz to a smooth purée. 3 In a large, deep baking dish, mix together the pasta, cauliflower and greens. Cover with the purée and place in the oven for 20 minutes, until the top begins to brown. Serve with tomato and basil salad. »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 129
LIVING
GARDENER’S PIE Inspired by the classic shepherd’s pie, only with just vegetables, hence the name. Topping it with celeriac rather than potato feels a bit more summery, but this is for days you still want a supper to sustain.
SERVES: 4 PREPARATION TIME: 25 minutes COOKING TIME: 1 hour ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Olive oil 1 turnip or swede 3 large carrots 2 red peppers 1 litre vegetable stock 1 savoy cabbage, chopped 1 bay leaf 2 thyme sprigs 4 celeriac A pinch of brown sugar
1 Preheat the oven to 190ºC/gas mark 5. Drizzle some olive oil into a large roasting dish and place it in the oven while you prepare the vegetables. Peel and chop the turnip or swede and carrots, and deseed and chop the peppers. Put them into the roasting dish, basting with the oil, and roast for 20 minutes. 2 Bring the stock to the boil in a large pan and add the roasted veg with the cabbage, bay leaf and thyme.
Balsamic-grilled courgettes and aubergines
Simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered. Meanwhile, peel and cube the celeriac into small chunks, placing them in a large pan of water with a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of olive oil. Boil for 20 minutes until soft and flufy. Drain, reserving 200ml of the liquid, add the sugar and mash until smooth. 3 Pour the mixed vegetables and reserved stock into a large, deep dish, fishing out the bay leaf and thyme. Top with the celeriac mash and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until the top begins to brown and the veg bubbles up the side a little. Serve with a simple salad and glass of cucumber water.
BALSAMIC-GRILLED COURGETTES AND AUBERGINES Serve these as either a starter or snack, piled high in bowls. They’re
quick to make, and are always devoured immediately.
SERVES: 2-4 as a snack PREPARATION TIME: 5 minutes COOKING TIME: 5 minutes ● ● ● ● ●
1 large aubergine 2 courgettes Olive oil Balsamic vinegar Pinch of paprika
1 Set a griddle pan over a high heat. Peel the aubergine and thickly cut it – and the courgettes – into four slices lengthways. Brush with a little olive oil, sprinkle over some salt and pepper then drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Dust with a little paprika. 2 Griddle the vegetables for around five minutes, turning regularly, until beginning to look a little crisp. Serve immediately while still warm. »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 131
LIVING FRUIT PARCELS You can use any fruit you have to hand for these rustic parcels – mango and peaches are particularly good. This is also a great way of using up overripe produce.
SERVES: 4-6 PREPARATION TIME: 10 minutes COOKING TIME: 20 minutes ● ● ●
2 small eating apples 3 plums 75g strawberries
● ● ● ● ● ● ●
75g raspberries Juice of 1/2 lemon 1 tbsp honey 1 tsp cinnamon Rapeseed oil 250g shortcrust pastry 1 egg white
1 Peel the apples and plums, chopping them into chunks. Place them in a pan with the berries, lemon juice, honey and cinnamon and set over a low heat. Gently bring to the simmer and let it bubble into a rich, sweet confection. Leave to cool.
2 Preheat the oven to 190ºC/gas mark 5. Brush a 12-hole muffin tray with the oil. Lightly flour a clean worktop and roll out the pastry until it’s around two millimetres thick. Using a large round pastry cutter, cut up to 12 discs, using them to line the muffin holes. The pastry shouldn’t look too perfect – squash it in to get a bit of character. Brush with a little egg white and spoon the fruit mixture into each pastry case. 3 Bake for 20 minutes. Serve with ice cream or on their own.
For more perfect summer dishes visit REDONLINE.CO.UK 132 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
LIVING ANTI-APATHY
The rise of cake-tivism Bake Off’s youngest contestant Martha Collison knows cooking is not just about soggy bottoms. Time to join her baking crusade
Y
ou’ve probably never thought about the huge problem of people-traicking in conjunction with the simple art of baking. You almost certainly haven’t realised the latter can be used to help stop the former. Until earlier this year, neither had I. But then I’d not quite grasped the great power – and empowerment – of baking, its ability to shape a community, its route as a way out of a helpless situation for people who need it most. SERVES: 6-8 Baking, you see, had always been my PREPARATION TIME: means of escapism. Kneading dough, 10 minutes stirring batter and even the gentle COOKING TIME: 5 minutes whir of the fan oven had all been tools ● 1 large egg to relax, the products of those eforts ● 1 tsp vanilla extract simply treats to bring joy to those ● 100ml milk around me. But after appearing on last ● Zest of 1 lime year’s The Great British Bake Off, my ● 100g plain flour understanding of what those baked ● 1 tsp baking powder goods can do has totally expanded. ● 1 pinch of salt For baking is an industry that goes ● 1 tbsp caster sugar, plus more far beyond the bake sale. It can provide for dusting help, I’ve learned, for those in great ● Vegetable oil, for frying need. For me it began when I joined 1 Whisk up the egg, vanilla, the Christian charity Tearfund to track milk and half the lime zest. Mix children vulnerable to traicking, the other ingredients in a bowl starting in Bangkok. There, wandering and whisk in the wet ingredients the seedy backstreets of the red-light until there are no lumps. district were alarmingly young2 In a pan, heat 3cm of oil until looking girls getting ready for a night it sizzles if you sprinkle in a of unthinkable abuse, a harrowing, pinch of flour. Using a piping heartbreaking sight. The sheer scale bag, squeeze around one-sixth of the problem seemed unconquerable. of the batter into the oil. But this, strangely, is where baking 3 Cook for one minute, then came in. Over the border in Cambodia two minutes on the other side, I met a Tearfund partner who is until golden. Cool on kitchen stopping traicking at the root: saving paper then dust with sugar children from seeking work in the city and lime zest. Repeat with the by teaching income-generating skills. remaining batter. Serve warm Inspired, I ran a workshop in a rural with a chocolate sauce. village, showing how to bake funnel
PHOTOGRAPH GETTY IMAGES. ILLUSTRATION ZUKI TURNER
Funnel cakes
cakes – a North American fairground snack that looks a bit like a pretzel with more loops – using a water bottle to measure and ‘funnel’ the batter. We shared them around to taste, the happiness of eating together breaking cultural and linguistic barriers. It was humbling to ofer a small amount of knowledge, to be later approached by a woman who said she was going to make and sell funnel cakes to provide for her family. Eliminating poverty is the first step in preventing traicking, and I left that village feeling uplifted. I’ve since focused on how baking can change lives locally – helping to halt the exploitation of British women. Bakeries like the Luminary Bakery in London or Bramber Bakehouse in East Sussex – who I’ve created recipes for that are taught to vulnerable women – have been set up for just this reason. The training ofers women a fresh start to learn the art of bakery, empowering them to build a positive future. Support these organisations by buying their wares, and think about what skills you can pass on to help those in your community who need it. Baking has the power to change lives, and cake is more than just a nice crumb. Twist by Martha Collison (Harper Collins, For more of Martha’s £16.99) is out recipes go to on 14th July REDONLINE.CO.UK
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 135
Cement tile, £6 each, Bert & May
Matt emulsion in Warm Pewter, £24.99 for 2.5l, Dulux
Anna Phillips with her sons Herbie (left) and Miller RE AL HOME
PALE AND
INTERESTING
Soft greys, simple linens, floors that feel cool on hot bare feet. How to do summer, Scandi-style, in the heart of Sussex Photographs JOANNA MACLENNAN Words CLAUDIA BAILLIE
Matt emulsion in Mistflower, £40 for 2.5l, Sanderson 136 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
LIVING Concrete pendant light, £85, French Connection
Ceramic plate, £45, Bert & May
Iron pendant light, £59, Industville
KITCHEN
This is no typical fitted kitchen, but “the imperfections give it a lovely quality that’s full of character”, says Anna. Basic carcasses from B&Q are fronted by antique floorboards from Ebay, while the hardwearing concrete floor is “ideal in a home with two boys as it only gets better with age”. The walls are painted in shade 9094 from Papers And Paints, while antique Portuguese tiles are used as splashbacks – try Bert & May for similar. The work surfaces are reclaimed school laboratory tabletops from Retrouvius, and the island is topped with old French scafolding boards. Antique French shutters, used as doors on the tall built-in storage, were sourced at Ardingly International Antiques & Collectors Fair.
Matt emulsion in Dawn Mist, £40 for 2.5l, Designers Guild
HOME CV WHAT: A three-bedroom Victorian terrace in Steyning, West Sussex OWNERS: Anna Phillips, founder of luxury children’s knitwear company Hambro & Miller (hambroand miller.co.uk), her husband Jeff, a web designer, and their two sons Miller, seven, and Herbie, five
Earthenware cups and saucers, £60 for a set of six, Neptune
RENOVATION BUDGET:
£40,000 to add an open-plan kitchen/ diner at the back of the house. Jeff built the kitchen and did all of the other renovations himself. Wood serving board, £18, John Lewis
Metal jug, £9.95, Rockett St George
Wood stool, £120, Out There Interiors
Stylist’s notes Porcelain cup and saucer, £25, Toast
Iron kettle, £120, Another Country
A spare reclaimed floorboard, leftover from doing up the bedroom, makes the perfect rustic shelf »
Moroccan tile, £8.99 each, Fired Earth AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 137
LIVING
Emulsion in Brightest Ray, £36 for 2l, Paint By Conran
Wood grain wallpaper, £70 per 10m roll, Cole & Son
MASTER BEDROOM
Crushed linen looks just as inviting as starched – it’s all in the mix of texture: rough wood, soft sheets, playing on contrast. Old crates clad the bed base, while the headboard is made from a pair of antique doors sourced at Ardingly, which Anna painted using a mix of dark greys. The bedlinen was bought from Merci in Paris, and the curtain is made from antique Swedish linen from The Cloth Shop on Portobello Road.
Concrete planter, £12, Timberline Studio at Etsy EN SUITE BATHROOM
“The en suite brings together lots of elements from elsewhere in the house,” says Anna. The antique French shutters, used as doors, were sourced at Ardingly. French ticking curtains hang at the front of the washstand. The antique basin is tinplated copper. “It’s so beautiful because the tin is wearing away, so you can see the copper underneath,” says Anna.
Rose and eucalyptus bouquet, £70, Jane Packer
Emulsion paint in Great White, £39.50 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball
Velvet sofa, £849, made.com
LIVING ROOM
Mixing natural textures such as wood and linen makes the living room feel soft and welcoming. Keeping finishes rough – such as unpainted wood and bare bulbs – is what prevents this style from looking too trad. The floor lamp is from Closet & Botts in Lewes.
Wood lantern, £99, Marks & Spencer
Velvet armchair, £1,045, Loaf
Ceramic table lamp, £139, OKA Velvet footstool, £319, The Sofa Workshop
Wool cushion, £40, Hunter Jones Vintage at notonthehighstreet.com Cotton rug, £285, Mahout Lifestyle
138 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
SHOPPING COMPILED BY HARRIETT MONAGHAN
THE GREAT INDOORS While Instagrammers have been going wild about the chic outdoors on ofer at Soho Farmhouse, the new boutique hotel in Chipping Norton, it’s the interiors that have had us reaching for our Pinterest pages. Jewel-yellow furniture next to darker burgundy shades, patterned rugs that evoke Little House On The Prairie, and a general feel of rustic gentility; it’s a style that’s easy to live with – about comfort more than anything – and set to be the look of the year. sohofarmhouse.com
LIVING
Black and antique brass floor lamp, £129, made.com
Artificial cheese plant, £24.99, Dunelm
Stylist’s notes
“When it comes to lighting, the bulb should never be seen,” says South Kensington Club’s founder and creative director Luca Del Bono. Matt emulsion in Blue Planet, £25.99 for 2.5l, Crown
Coated iron bowl, £15, Amara
Antique brass sand timer, £29.50, Marks & Spencer
The club’s spa is a calming haven of dark woods and houseplants
SHOPPING
CLUB
Copper lantern, £12.95, Ruby Roost
CLASS Palm print, £39.95, Rigby & Mac Oak and cotton upholstery armchair, £349, Swoon Editions
COMPILED BY HARRIETT MONAGHAN. SOUTHKENSINGTONCLUB.COM
Emulsion in Yeabridge Green, £39.50 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball
Palmeral wallpaper in Of White/Green, £148 per 3m roll, House of Hackney
Copper cocktail shaker, £22, The Orchard at notonthehighstreet.com
Cheese plants and copper gilding, the South Kensington Club lounge is a tropical storm of this season’s hottest homeware While enjoying a summer evening in the South Kensington Club, we were struck by how of-the-moment the interiors are. Dark greens, flashes of metallic, a hint of white linen. All very Joan Collins in the Bahamas, and all very now. So we’ve translated the look to try at home, a fun and fabulous homage to hotter climes. Wool cushion, £89, HAY at Selfridges
Velvet sofa, £999, made.com Copper-efect metal stool, £99.99, Maisons du Monde
Stylist’s notes
“Racing green is very liveable,” says Del Bono. “Use it for larger pieces, placing copper and white accessories nearby.”
See more tropicalinspired interiors at REDONLINE.CO.UK Faux potted areca palm, £239, Rockett St George AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 141
Escapes Edited by SARAH TOMCZAK
EUROPE’S
BESTKEPT
SECRETS
The antidote to Ibiza’s crowds, a super luxe family-friendly retreat, Stockholm’s hipper younger sister city – these are the holiday destinations you’ll feel smug you visited before everyone else did... »
Greece’s Halkidiki coast makes a perfect retreat for families
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 143
FROM LEFT: Grab some alone time by the pool or build a castle by the sea
THE FAMILY HIDEAWAY Halkidiki, Grece
E
Luxe design meets family practicality throughout the whole of Ekies resort
Mini plunge pools and hammocks make for a t ranquil hideaway
kies All Senses Resort wasn’t supposed to be so family friendly. The boutique hotel, nestled among the palms and pine trees of the Halkidiki coastline, was bought as a crumbling ruin by Alexandra Efstathiadou, who had visions of creating a grown-up, artful holiday retreat, replete with architect-designed suites and tropical gardens. And it is all these things. But the chic striped sun loungers and the irresistible giant macramé hammock edge the shallowest lapping sea waters, which are perfect for kids to safely splash about in. And the open-air beach bar and adjoining restaurant may be a hip array of bleached wood, Tom Dixon lights and over-stufed neon banquettes, but the staf are so accommodating of young families that it would seem a travesty not to bring yours with you. And that’s what makes Ekies so special – it blends the luxe-y holiday hopes of adults with the practicalities of kids (see also the pancake bar, giant cushion-strewn day beds-cum-children’s sleeping areas, nappy supplies in the public bathrooms and a stylish pastel wood playground). It’s not all about the little ones though. The swimming pool is bracingly cold and surprisingly deep
(good for hot days, not for toddlers), which makes it an oasis for people coming sans enfants; there is a bijou spa hidden among the foliage, with good massages using home-grown herbs; and some of the rooms are definitely tailored to a more sophisticated clientele, tucked away in the sleepy forest with plunge pools and hammocks. We didn’t spend our time in Halkidiki snapping Greek ruins or shopping for leather sandals – to be honest we barely left the resort. As a fourth birthday treat for my daughter, Coco, we hired swan pedalos from a craggy Greek man 10 minutes down the beach (though she was more into the chocolate cake and rendition of Happy Birthday the staf surprised her with). Another day we ‘trekked’ for five minutes to Karidi beach, which would rival anywhere in the Maldives. But mainly we were perfectly content on our little sandy beach at Ekies, drinking Greek iced cofees then chilled beers, eating ice cream or building sandcastles in the sun. A happy holiday is one where everyone feels suitably spoilt. SARAH TOMCZAK
TRIP NOTES Ekies All Senses Resort, from £157 for a double per night,
half board; ekies.gr. Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Thessaloniki from £34.99 each way; ryanair.com. (Ekies can provide airport transfers, Halkidiki is an hour and a half away)
144 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
FROM TOP: Boat trips run to harder-to-reach beaches; the open-plan bar is family-friendly
White sand beaches and the azure ocean are the ideal spot for absolute relaxation – or an all-family water fight
FROM LEFT: Sunset at Cova d’en Xoroi; the beaches of Cala Galdana
THE PERFECT BEACHES Menorca
W FROM TOP: The exterior of Jardí de ses Bruixes hotel; sea views over Cala Macarelleta
hen choosing which of the many glorious beaches to flop on, on the island of Menorca, the question you must first ask is the direction of the wind. Or so says Anja Sánchez-Rodrigo Wickers, owner of Jardí de ses Bruixes, the luxuriously stylish and homely boutique hotel I’m staying in here. It’s a good tip: Menorca can get breezy, so you want to get it right to avoid sand in teeth (and other places). Just a two-hour cheap flight away from the UK, the beaches are indeed spectacular. Long stretches of white sand backing on to wild, natural flora. Every local has their favourite, from Cala Pregonda to Santo Tomas and all those around Cala Galdana (you may need to do some walking to reach the best ones). The sleepiest of the Balearic islands, Menorca is the antidote to heady Ibiza. Hire a car and Mahón, the capital, makes a good base. It’s a small city, with a natural harbour and narrow, cobbled alleyways lined with shops and restaurants. On a Saturday late afternoon, we followed the sounds of a lively band and came upon the fish market, packed with trendy locals enjoying calamari and paella at outdoor tables with cold beers and gin cocktails (gin is pretty much the thing, seeing as it’s made on the island). We drove around a lot, exploring – nothing is all that far really. The handy Me-1 road cuts through the island, exposing acres of farmland and verdant country. In 1993, Unesco
declared Menorca a Biosphere Reserve to keep it that way. We had a couple of excellent dinners out – one at Jardí de ses Bruixes in their incredible courtyard, surrounded by fragrant plants, trees heavy with oranges and decadent outdoor chandeliers. Then there was Ca n’Olga (+34 971 375459) in nearby Es Mercadal, in a picturesque terrace with a faultless rack of lamb and a charming owner. We sipped cocktails while watching the sunset over jaw-dropping sea views at Cova d’en Xoroi (covadenxoroi.com) in Cala en Porter, the island’s only nod to Ibiza. A bar/ nightclub set in a series of Acetate interconnecting caves (entry sunglasses, is €8.50, including a drink), it’s £67.50, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi a big draw; worthwhile, too. at theoutnet.com Back to Jardí de ses Bruixes, our base in Mahón, where I was Polyester quickly falling in love. Anya bikini top, £16; and her architect husband briefs, £12, Red Herring at renovated this 100-year-old Debenhams house (opened two years ago) in soft muted tones, saving the Shell and cotton original floor tiles. All eight earrings, bedrooms have melt-into Sterling silver£7.99, H&M mattresses, the softest linens bangle, £170, Trollbeads and natural bath products – but leave your British reserve when it comes to la toilette; it’s rather open-plan, so embrace it. The multi-course breakfast alone will make you forget your cares. Leather sandals, £90, Geox It’s a laid-back, peaceful vibe here, where it’s easy to find your perfect spot. Just maybe keep it under your hat. CATHY LEVY »
What o wear
TRIP NOTES Jardí de ses Bruixes,
from £104 for a double per night, b&b; scottwilliams.co.uk; plus get a complimentary Hush sarong with your booking. British Airways flies to Mahón from £39 each way; britishairways.com
The cobbled streets of Mahón: an ideal base for exploring the island
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 145
ESCAPES
E
FROM TOP: Hotel Bellora exterior; a coastal village; Lådfabriken guest house
verything you think you know about Sweden is true. Well, almost. You won’t be met with a string of murders solvable only by socially challenged detectives. But. Everything else. The belief that the Swedes lead the way in functional design. The certainty that restaurants serve only the finest, the prettiest and the nearest-found ingredients. That you will see a flutter of Ryan Goslingalikes striding down the street, on their way to fika (the act of sharing cofee and cake with friends). All this is true of Gothenburg, anyway. For the city, I’m soon to discover after a flight of less than two hours from Gatwick, is the style capital of Sweden. Karin Höglund, who runs a farm in nearby rural Dingle, says the shops – even the chain stores – sell diferent products there. Sharper. More directional. Ideas that don’t seem to work anywhere but in Gothenburg (and hopefully in the UK, too, considering how much I’ve brought back). She’s right. Even the H&M holds untold wonders, staples that fit in ways highstreet clothes shouldn’t (and is cheaper than at home). Granit, a Muji-esque homeware shop bursts with clever storage, hanging planters and succulents for less than £10. Then there’s Vallgatan 12, Sweden’s first concept store. A blue-eyed waiter serves prosecco inside his greenery-covered café, bar stools in wood as blonde as his hair. Upstairs, local brands such as Blk Dnm, 2nd Day and Whyred hang next to its own range of linen sprays: a spritz of Swedish chic. Gothenburg is green. And clean. The wide streets, flowing with rivers
146 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
What o wear
b&b; hotelbellora.se. Lådfabriken, from around £129 for a double per night, b&b; ladfabriken.eu. Guided fika tour in Alingsås, around £27 per person; vastsverige.com. British Airways flies to Gothenburg from £105 return; britishairways.com
PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES, TANIA DIEZ
Gothenburg, Sweden
and a welcoming energy, are littered only with beautiful people, food markets and flowers. The Botanical Sweden’s striking Gardens (entrance: free, because sunsets take place open space and quality of life are famously late during seen as rights in Sweden) has its own summer months succulent greenhouse, rhododendron walk and rocky waterfall. Stay at Hotel Bellora, where House Of Hackney-esque rose vine wallpaper climbs the staircase, and the whole city is within walking distance, especially the approachably cool shopping area of Magasinsgatan. Take a fika stop at da Matteo, where exposed-brick walls crumble and pastries flake. Eat at Familjen, with its Bib Gourmand from Michelin (given to afordable restaurants) Optyl and heavy influences from the 2004 sunglasses, Nordic Kitchen manifesto. £159, Fendi Hire a car and drive to the rocky outcrops along the coastline. To Lådfabriken, an hour away: a guesthouse with four rooms, with kayaks to ride out on as the sun sets Cotton(late) and owners who will cook you mix a meal of local cod in brown butter jumper, £75, Gant better than you’ve ever tasted. Linen shorts, Gothenburg, you see, is cool, £46.50, Boden unpretentiously so. It makes you feel flattered to be there, flattered that you didn’t head to the better-known delights of Stockholm and that you can be in a city as Leather progressive and sandals, £69, Kin welcoming as this. By John Lewis It’s the benchmark of European breaks. A bench, of course, with iron joints and a clever but easy-to-use FROM LEFT: folding mechanism. Re-energise with a fika PIP McCORMAC break; stock up TRIP NOTES Hotel Bellora, from on homewares at Granit around £55 for a double per night, PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY
THE HIP CITY
Self MIND • BODY • SPIRIT
Edited by BRIGID MOSS
SWEETNESS AND light Fans of sundaes, cones and splits, rejoice. Now your summertime ice-cream fix comes with a health kick
TESS WARD’S AVOCADO AND LIME ICE CREAM MAKES: 1 litre PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes ●
WORDS MEGAN SUTTON. PHOTOGRAPH ALICIA TAYLOR
●
A
s temperatures climb, you might develop a hankering for one of the sweetest treats of all – ice cream. A nutritious variation can be just as good, says chef Tess Ward. “I use coconut milk, kefir and probiotic yoghurt in my ice creams. I find them easier to digest than cream – and more flavoursome.” Try her avocado and lime ice cream recipe, right, and for the mango and coconut and plum and amaretto flavours in the picture, see The Naked Diet by Tess Ward (Quadrille, £16.99), or go to Redonline.co.uk.
● ● ●
●
3 large, ripe avocados 300ml thick coconut milk Zest ½ lime 2 tbsp lime juice 175g unrefined cane sugar or coconut palm sugar 1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 In a food processor, blend the avocado, coconut milk, lime zest and juice, sugar and vanilla extract. 2 Once it has a smooth, creamy texture, add to your ice-cream maker and churn. 3 Serve while it’s still soft, or place in a sealed container and freeze until hardened.
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 149
Exercise in nature is the kind of holiday your body craves
MINDFULNESS
I found MY INNER
WARRIOR A new kind of retreat claims to reconnect you with your inner warrior, making you happier and healthier. So did Andréa Childs finish the weekend feeling like a natural woman? Photographs SUKI DHANDA
150 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
I
am crouched in a field, trying to walk like a chimp – sideways on hands and bare feet – across the damp grass. It’s the first morning of a three-day Worrier To Warrior health retreat and my bottom is wet, my thighs are shaking and I’ve a nervous urge to make stupid “oo-oo, aa-aa” monkey noises, especially when I glimpse the fierce concentration on the faces of my fellow retreat members. The retreat isn’t what I expected; more Planet Of The Apes than Planet Organic. We’ve been channelling our inner primates since 6.30am, when we were woken by a gong and introduced to “natural movement”, the mobility skills of our human and primate ancestors. Told we’re expected to “ground live” – squat, crawl and scuttle on hands and knees
SELF – for the rest of the morning, we ‘chimp’ our way to the dining room for breakfast, only to find that the table and chairs have been removed. We will be sitting on the floor to eat our “sporridge” (raw buckwheat porridge) and green smoothies (with wild nettles, dandelion leaves and cleaver, aka sticky weed) – and all of our other meals, for the duration of the retreat. The retreat is held in the most natural of surroundings at 42 Acres, a rural estate nestled in a secluded valley near Frome in Somerset. Outside, it’s all meadows and ancient forest. Inside, it’s country chic, with wooden floors, log burners and cosy armchairs that we’re requested not to sit on during our stay. I’m in the Frieda Suite (named after John Frieda, a frequent visitor) and there
ANDREA WEARS: HOODED TOP, ADIDAS BY STELLA MCCARTNEY. TOP (UNDERNEATH), FRAME. LEGGINGS, MARA HOFFMAN. ALL AT NET-A-PORTER
“We go for BREAKFAST to find the table and chairs have been taken away. We will sit on the FLOOR to eat our raw buckwheat ‘sporridge’” are mod cons – a cloud-soft bed and a bathroom bigger than my living room. But there is no TV, only dodgy phone reception and patchy wi-fi. I give up trying to check work emails and Facebook entirely; that’s the idea. “We exist in a technological age and we can’t expect to live the way hunter-gatherers did 400,000 years ago. But I believe when you remove the human animal from its natural environment, it sufers physically, socially and spiritually,” says Tony Riddle, the retreat’s founder. Which is why we’re here: to explore the belief that to fix the woes of modernday living we need to look back to a time before technology, gym machines and Deliveroo. Riddle is an ex-soldier, Pilates instructor and personal trainer who’s now a coach in primal lifestyle, a trend that’s huge in the US. You’ve no doubt heard of the paleo or caveman diet of fresh meat, nuts and
seeds, fruit and vegetables with no sugar or grains, with fans including Anne Hathaway and Jessica Biel. The other elements of the retreat are natural-movement fitness (MovNat), learning to use our bodies the way they were designed, hence our chimp walking, as well as learning to play again, and living in nature, in sync with the day and night. Despite his beard, extensive tattoos and muscles, there’s nothing chest-beating or macho about Riddle’s approach. He and his yoga-loving wife Katarina also teach natural parenting, “ground live”, and co-sleep in a huge bed with their three children. In his deep London-ish accent, he tells us stress, digestive problems and much mental sufering come from a disconnect with our natural selves, from light and sound pollution, toxins, processed food, lack of human contact, and not moving our bodies enough or the right way. “When you replace the human animal back into its natural environment and relearn these deep connections with nature, ourselves and each other, we can heal and return to being a warrior,” he says. I’M HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO FEEL VITAL AND CONNECTED, NOT STUCK IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER WITH THE WALLS CLOSING IN AROUND ME. I want
to stop following clean ’n’ green Instagram feeds while eating chocolate and crisps on the sofa. The other guests look fit and healthy, but over the few days we’re together, they open up about their issues – adrenal fatigue, digestive problems, insomnia, work stress, sugar addiction, emotional baggage. Between us, we’re a pretty good cross-section of the 21st-century wellness deficit. Day two, I find myself lying on my back under a ‘cage’ of the five other women, wriggling beneath boobs and armpits to escape. At home, I run a couple of times a week, do a morning bootcamp and lift
How o become a more natural human TAKE “MOVEMENT SNACKS”. I squat while
I’m waiting for the kettle to boil, and set a 30-minute timer on my computer to remind me to get up. To realign my posture, I hang from a pull-up bar on my oice door for a minute, then drop to a squat. PROTECT YOUR MICROBIOME
(the trillions of micro-organisms that live in our gut and on our bodies). Eat fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, which contain natural probiotics that help improve digestion. Riddle also advises washing less often to help preserve good bacteria on skin. IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY. Some
bulbs, TV and devices emit blue light that inhibits melatonin (the sleep hormone) production. Wearing special amber glasses filters this out – you may look like Bono, but you can still watch Netflix before bed (try Prisma Pro Glasses, available on amazon.co.uk).
weights, but none of it has prepared me for the sweaty physicality of this. This is what Riddle describes as the “play” phase – games that help set us free from ‘What will people think?’ inhibitions. It reminds me of shouting out “Bundle!” in the playground, and I laugh more than I have in ages. It has been an intense day. We started with breathing exercises before breakfast – lying on our backs with our mouths open, panting in and out in a fast, steady rhythm. I find it impossible to release the tension in my lower stomach so I can breathe in deeply, and have to be propped up on cushions. One »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 151
SELF
T
hank goodness the food isn’t Bear Grylls kill-your-own. Our paleo meals are dairy-, gluten- and sugar-free – help-yourself bowls of avocado salsa, kimchi, baba ghanoush and salads, alongside baked mackerel and venison stew. It’s the type of food I love to eat, but it makes up only half my diet at home; the rest being quick bowls of pasta or toad-in-the-hole. There’s no cofee or builder’s tea (I usually drink both), so I’m amazed I’m not crushed with withdrawal headaches. In fact, I don’t even eat the Twix I snuck into my handbag – that’s how good the food is. Next come barefoot-running drills to help us learn the upright, energyeicient running style of huntergatherers – so diicult after years spent pounding the pavements in trainers. Riddle takes one look at us wincing on the gravel and sends us to put on the Vivobarefoot minimal shoes that were left in our rooms. After that, we learn to vault over and balance on logs, and hang and move along bars. The aim is to be mindful in our movements, strengthen our bodies and restore our posture. “Our spine is naturally S-shaped, but sitting on chairs forces it into a C shape that constricts the chest and organs,” explains Riddle. He gives us a set of kneeling and squatting ‘rest’ positions to use after chair-sitting – such as dropping to a deep squat with heels flat and chest raised for a few seconds when we get out of the car. To help build our emotional health and the bonds of our temporary ‘tribe’, after dinner we’re put into pairs and handed cards with a trigger word written on them, such as Frustration, Fear and Alcohol. We take it in turns to tell a negative story
152 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
related to our card. I pick out Shame, and remember the diicult first year of my marriage; I started a new job as my husband went to university as a mature student. While I was working hard and being sensible, he was staying out late and drinking. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone how lonely I felt, and that gut-kicking feeling comes back to me now. Then we’re asked to think of a positive emotion linked to the word – and I realise the person I actually opened up to was my husband. And it changed things between us. Umpteen years and two children later, we’re
“I suddenly feel a huge surge of POSITIVITY, knowing I faced that CHALLENGE and can meet new ones” happier and stronger than ever. I suddenly feel a huge surge of positivity, knowing I faced that challenge and can meet new ones. The high takes me through next morning’s 5.20am start to watch the sunrise – Riddle says morning sun-gazing allows us to regulate our melatonin so we sleep better – and into the final day of the retreat. THERE ARE THREE HOURS OF FULL-ON WARRIOR ACTION TO BRING TOGETHER WHAT WE’VE LEARNED. We begin with crawls
and squats, progress to balances, followed by a barefoot run. Next, we work as a team to carry a log across fields and through woods. I’m bruised and battered, but I feel incredible; a deer leaps ahead of us on the path, the sun is shining, and despite the weight of the log on my shoulders, I feel I’m standing straight and strong. The path ends
The last exercise is running along a huge stack of logs; the delicious food, below
FROM ABOVE: Carrying the log builds teamwork; being barefoot fires up your feet and legs; the house and grounds at 42 Acres
in a huge stack of logs, at least three metres high and 50 metres long. Our final challenge is to traverse its length, then climb to the top. Splinters dig into my hands, bark scrapes my face and my arms feel like courgetti (not spaghetti; we are wheat-free!). But as I stand on the top, I really do feel like a warrior. Modern life, I’m ready for you. Worrier To Warrior retreats cost from £550. For information, go to tonyriddle.com and 42acres.com
HAIR AND MAKE-UP ANNA GIBSON. STYLING LAUREN T FRANKS. ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES
of the other women gets severe pins and needles, and has to drum her feet on the ground to take the pain away. But when the 45 minutes is over, the rush of oxygen in my blood makes me feel like I’ve been drinking champagne.
Do you know YOUR KIMCHI FROM YOUR KALE? Mindful mafia
Is a 10k run an excuse to get away from the kids? Or are you – like us – replacing the relaxing benefits of wine with meditation. Rosie Green has your #fitsquad figured out
I
t seems we’ve all fallen for wellbeing. Even those who used to be the most serious hedonists are Nutribulleting, ultra-marathoning or repeating daily meditation mantras. In the spirit of laughing at ourselves – and at the people we love – we’ve identified the most common new wellness tribes that are popping up. We’re sure you’ll recognise some people you know. Maybe even yourself…
154 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
O Do you have a Headspace, Worry Box or Breathe2Relax app on your phone? O If you stopped buying Bach’s Rescue Remedy, would the manufacturer issue a profit warning? O Have you posted inspirational mantras on Instagram? If this is you, read on… Do you want to stop and smell the roses more (NB David Austin not Cadbury’s)? Do you need to ‘make space’ for you? To meditate, be mindful and live in the present? Are you always trying to quieten that mean girl voice in your head? (New Zealand Sauv Blanc used to work, but now it’s Transcendental Meditation instead.) If so, you’re probably a fully signed-up member of the calm clan (spiritual leader Sandy Newbigging. Motto: “Success is
SELF stillness”). You aspire not to overreact to life’s stressors, even Really Annoying People. You slow cook, slow grow – you even have tantric sex in slow mo. If life throws you a non-organic lemon, you refer to your daily gratitude list. Secretly, you hanker after an extreme mind cleanse, to return your brain to factory settings. But visiting a shaman for hallucinogenic ayahuasca might be a stretch after the kitchen extension, so instead you focus on owning your orgasm (thanks Emma Watson for pointing us to OMGYes). Sadly, your parental controls on the internet prevent access. But the meditation is definitely working because you don’t mind in the slightest #calm.
Mum-scapes
O Would you do anything to skip CBeebies (including wearing a swim cap that gives you an egg head)? O Were you captain of the school netball/hockey team? O Do you battle with your husband (a signed-up MAMIL) about who gets the 7am weekend workout slot? If this is you, read on… You know leaving your partner and kids for an allweekend sun/shopping/Aperol Spritz bender is a no, but how can they question an extreme sporting challenge that a) helps charidee, b) gets you fit and c) bolsters your self-esteem? Same goes for the ‘training sessions’. How did this start? Probably the day a short sprint for the train left you panting harder than an asthmatic pug. Hence the revival of your fitness/competitive mojo (previously buried in the recycling bin under your kids’ ‘art’ work). So now you have a JustGiving page and an obsession with your PB. You’ve got a bike helmet (good example for the kids), reflective gear and you might even, whisper it, have a head torch (sartorial suicide). With all your apps and wearable tech, you are monitored more closely than Assange. You’re rarely out of sports gear (handy for saving on washing, not so great for yeast infections). But who cares? While pumping music and jaunts to Ibiza once made you feel vital, now it’s swimming in a -5ºC lake, peeing in a bucket, getting blisters on blisters. You love it because your energy is sky high. And all of this is nothing compared to doing bath and bedtime…
ILLUSTRATIONS BARBARA DZIADOSZ
Athlisure addicts
O Is Gigi Hadid or Kendall Jenner in wet-look snakeskin leggings your total #fitspo? O Have you sayonara-ed Spanx in favour of those miraculous Sweaty Betty Zero Gravity leggings? O Have you worn athleisure to brunch, then ended up not breaking a sweat that day? If this is you, read on… Last year you charity shopped your ‘I ran the world’ T-shirt (sorry, Bob) and retired your pom-pom sports socks to the clothes bank. Why? Because new-gen athleisure is genius. It makes you look longer and leaner
and gives you an arse people would pay £££ for. Plus, knowing the skinny on brands Lululemon, Tully Lou, Lucas Hugh and Charli Cohen gives you an insidery thrill that used to come from being genned up on the hippest club nights. So now you’re amassing accessories faster than you can say “matcha, matcha” – sunnies and retina-burning bright trainers teamed with the essential topknot. You then up your cred by throwing about the names of exercise classes you’ve done that have waiting lists (Barry’s Bootcamp, Kobox, 1Rebel etc). You do need to watch out for the pitfalls, though. Your leggings are so tight, after half an hour every seam is imprinted on your body. And the old camel toe is an occupational hazard, too #buzzkill. But if you wear the kit, you’re more likely to do the workout, right? And if you’ve got the thermal, sweatwicking, antibacterial, turbo-boosting fabric you can #powerthrough any weather that west London/south Oxfordshire might throw at you. All the gear? Great idea.
Team clean
O Before you went ‘clean’, did you know the calorie content of the Pret menu of by heart? O Are you, or have you ever been, bloated? O Forget five-a-day, do you aim for 12 – and regularly make it? If this is you, read on… You’re the tribe that in the 1990s thought Chupa Chups and Marlboro Gold were key to looking great in a slip dress. Skinny fat was where it was at (#MossyPosse). Then you spent the Noughties with ketosis breath from zero carbs and the early teenies on the 5:2. Now, thanks to those gorgeous Hemsleys, Madeleine Shaw and Deliciously Ella, and with the help of daily updates from Gwynnie’s Goop, telling everyone else about your nutrition mission helps you resist the call of marshmallows and Frazzles. You know food additives are poison (which is a shame as ready meals save a lot of time) and that, actually, however low-cal those Percy Pigs were, the sugar just got turned to fat. Bummer. So it’s no more counting calories, slimming shakes or processed food. Nope, you’re all about boiling bone broth and fermenting kimchi. Except bloody hell, some of the ingredients are harder to find than a gay Trump supporter. And when you do locate them (vanilla mushroom protein powder, he shou wu, anyone?), you’ll be £25 poorer. Then you’ll spend upwards of four hours making avocado chocolate cake. Nevertheless you stick with it because for the first time ever you can fit into cool jeans without getting hangry, and your skin’s glow can be seen For loads of new fitness from space. Hallelujah. Just don’t regress and Google the and nutrition ideas, go to REDONLINE.CO.UK fat grams in nut milk…
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 155
SELF WELLBEING
OPENING UP
ABOUT MY
anxiety
New research shows women are twice as likely to sufer from anxiety. It helps to talk about it, says one of them, Eleanor Morgan
I
simmering foreboding. Sometimes it’s easy to reckon t’s a peculiar feeling, your face and neck growing with, sometimes it’s diicult. Three years ago I had the so hot, so fast, that it feels like you’re going to worst extended episode of anxiety of my life which, due burst into flames; that every organ from brain to to the increasing hopelessness that I’d ever be able to heart to bowel is fizzing like a lit fuse. It’s alien regain control of my thoughts and symptoms, became to look down at your hands but not feel them, depression. I found it incredibly diicult to leave the even as your fingers tremble. And to believe you’re on house, and didn’t, really, for about a month. the verge of spilling from unspecified orifices. This is what happens to me at the apex of a panic attack. BUT EVEN IF YOU HAD MET ME DURING THAT Anxiety is something I’ve been reckoning with my entire PERIOD, YOU WOULDN’T HAVE KNOWN. There adult life. My fight or flight response – essential for our is no of-the-peg ‘look’ for mental distress. I am a ancestors’ survival – over-serves me constantly. journalist who’s travelled the world for my work, often Because that’s what anxiety is. When we encounter interviewing people I admire. I have a wide circle of something we perceive as threatening, a tiny part of friends, a lovely flat, a dog, nice things. But none of the brain called the amygdala is activated. It acts like these matter. At various points, anxiety has made life a switchboard, alerting other areas of the brain to the incredibly diicult, like a joke I wasn’t really in on. perceived danger, which stimulates the release of The most recent Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey chemicals such as adrenaline, norepinephrine and showed at least three million people have anxiety disorder cortisol to prepare the body for action. Unfortunately, in the UK; new figures show women are twice as likely to these chemicals can also lead to increased heart rate, be in this group. One in four people will experience a altered breathing, hot or cold sweats, trembling, mental health problem in a given year. dizziness, diarrhoea, nausea, stomach You or someone you know will likely cramps, headache, muscle tension, I had my first PANIC be navigating the webs of thought pins and needles or numbness in the ATTACK in a toilet patterns, rituals and coping strategies limbs, a dry mouth and feelings of cubicle. It was terrifying, that come with disordered anxiety. uneasiness and fear. and DEATH seemed the I have always felt frustration At the age of 17, I had my first panic and sadness bound up in the attack in the toilet of my school science only logical conclusion management of my anxiety, but these block, a terrifying experience for days I feel a lot better about it because I have begun to which death seemed the only logical conclusion. Panic accept it as part of who I am, not something I need to attacks are a defining aspect of my anxiety; their very fight in order to be ‘normal’. Normal does not exist. It’s nature means I have a tendency to live in fear of them. taken me a long time to realise this, though, and part of My fear response now activates on a hair trigger. It is a fear of fear itself. Between the explosions exists a quiet, that process has been opening up to people. »
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 157
SELF What helps with my anxety
Everyone has periods of anxiety and low mood. If what you are fleeing or avoiding situations that made experiencing is impacting your life to the point where you can’t me nervous. In the pub with groups of function in the way you need or want to, go to your GP for help people, I’d have visions of myself throwing up or passing out on the table to slipping into old thought – neither of these has ever happened – and ● THERAPY Being brutally honest about things you’re patterns. Exercise is the best became convinced that people could see ashamed and frightened of with way to burn up those potent the panic rising on my face. I didn’t want a stranger can be daunting. But, fight-or-flight chemicals, so people to fuss – or think, “She’s crazy.” through cognitive behavioural I run two to three times a week, I only told a handful of people for that therapy (CBT), I have learned cycle everywhere, walk the dog very reason: being thought of as mad. strategies to deal with my for as long as she can bear it, Diferent. The black sheep. I couldn’t even negative thought patterns when breathe in the chlorophyll of bring myself to tell my parents. I didn’t I start to spiral. I’m now more able east London’s natural spaces and, want to be the child who was worried to identify thoughts for exactly I’m not remotely ashamed to say, about; I didn’t want to admit I was I am usually in bed by 10pm. struggling. The people I did tell – my then what they are: thoughts. Having CBT tools is empowering. ● NOT GETTING HUNGRY Our partner, and my friends Kate and Nell body goes on high alert when ● MEDICATION During an acute – were incredibly supportive and kind but period of anxiety three years ago, we need to eat, and I’m very I still found it very hard to speak more my GP started me on an SSRI sensitive to that. As such, I would widely. I worried that the buoyant, not – could not – miss a meal if successful image of me would be distorted. antidepressant – one frequently prescribed for anxiety disorders. you paid me a million quid, and Even if, in 2016, we’ve reached a point For years, I’d fought with the idea I carry nuts and fruit at all times. where mental vulnerability is discussed of medication. Despite being ● LEAVING MY COMFORT more than ever before, there is still a helpful to millions, antidepressants ZONE The more we flee anxietylingering stigma. Self-stigma, also known are something people still moralise provoking situations, the as ‘perceived stigma’, is the belief that more we tell our brain there is about left, right and centre, and we have something to fear in being open something to fear when there isn’t, I believed I’d become just another about sufering. If you know anxiety, and, ultimately, the worse we get. mental-health statistic if I went you’ll know it is sufering – the sense of I had so many panic attacks on the on them. But a few weeks in, being lost within your own casing. It is Tube that it became a disaster alongside therapy, I began to feel also the fear of being judged, viewed zone in my mind. I built up from hopeful. I am more hopeful now, diferently or defined by vulnerability. very short journeys to longer ones, in my thirties, than I have been I have a great fear of being pitied. staying with the thoughts rather since I was a teenager. After writing my book Anxiety For ● A HEALTHY LIFE Boring, sure, than trying to escape them. I still Beginners, I’ve come to believe that but on the days I don’t eat and don’t like getting the Tube, but understanding and normalising mental sleep well, I feel more susceptible I can if I need to. That’s enough. distress can only result from education – not just in schools and via the media, but through talking to one another. My anxiety is just one part of who I am. Breaking the seal of my sufering I have learned to sit with my anxious thoughts and and saying, “Hey, look, I am the silly, fun person you’ve feelings for longer, rather than fight them. liked for years, but I feel this way sometimes,” has made I still have attacks sometimes, but far, far less frequently such a diference. A problem is immediately made than ever before. A few years ago I was desperate for an smaller when someone else knows about it. Also, more absence of anxiety altogether. I was exhausted. But feeling often than not, when we open up, others do too. People anxious is part of being human – we are wired for it – I’d never have suspected have shared their experiences so ‘sometimes’ is a deal I’m willing to accept. with me, and I feel our eyes have truly met. People with disordered anxiety are, with the right help THERE IS NO CURE FOR ANXIETY. LEARNING TO and strategies, capable of the spectacular things nonACCEPT IT AND LIVE WITH IT IS ALL WE CAN DO, anxious people are, even if it is a process. There are AND THAT’S OKAY. One of the most powerful things millions of us out there, imprinting the world. Beginning for me has been learning the neurobiological basis of to talk about it is where that process starts. Anxiety For Beginners: A Personal Investigation anxiety: how the fight or flight system can be controlled, by Eleanor Morgan (Bluebird, £16.99) quietened down. With intense and determined practice,
158 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
PHOTOGRAPH GETTY IMAGES
I SPENT MORE THAN A DECADE LIVING IN SILENCE WITH MY ANXIETY,
PROMOTION
SUMMER HEALTH BOOST Want to feel happier and healthier this summer? Say hello to Almased, Germany’s bestselling shake, which is packed full of protein and nutrients
T
the healthy yogurt helps with he skies are blue, holidays digestion and the enzyme-rich are looming, and now is honey supports your immune system the perfect time to show and settles the stomach. Not to your body a little TLC. To mention the other essential nutrients look after your physique, it also contains (from amino acids to it’s important to get the right nutrients enzymes) that help keep your body and proteins – and that’s where in great condition. Almased comes in. For the ideal healthy Gluten-free and “Almased is snack, try mixing non-GMO, this Germany’s 50g of Almased with energy-boosting bestselling shake 200–350ml of water shake is crammed or 200ml low-fat full of goodness that is for a reason: it’s milk – you can use essential for reaching chock-full of natural unsweetened almond your peak health and happiness. So it’s no quality ingredients or soya milk if you prefer. Try adding surprise that Almased like soya, yogurt 1–2 tsp of flaxseed, is the number-one and honey” olive, rapeseed or meal-replacement walnut oil for an programme in extra boost of essential fatty acids. Germany, where it originated. Packed This energy-boosting shake is free full of natural ingredients and fermented from preservatives, artificial flavours using a unique production process, it provides an efective way to get in shape. and stimulants; it’s the perfect supplement to add to your daily The high-quality soya protein gives diet to kick-start your summer. you an extra boost of energy, while
Make a plan
Want to get your hands on your own bespoke plan to help with your summer fitness and health goals? Just head to figureplan.co.uk and enter the code RD3. Almased.co.uk will provide you with more infomation and lots of useful tips on how to fit Almased into your daily routine. Then pop into a Boots store near you or boots.com to purchase your own can of Almased (containing 10 meals) for £22.95.
SELF
PSYC H
ASK PHILIPPA My unreliable ex has left me hurt, says one reader. It’s likely his issue, but it’s worth looking at your own relationship history too, says psychotherapist and Red’s agony aunt, Philippa Perry
MAKE-UP LINDSEY POOLE
Photograph CAMERON McNEE
Four years ago, aged 32, I met someone and fell in love. It was my ideal relationship and we had a lot of fun together: travelling, festivals, restaurants. But every few months, he used to fly of the handle about something trivial. As an example, once at New Year, I organised a party with friends and he suddenly said he wasn’t going. Then he cut of all contact. When I called, he’d either not answer or be uncommunicative and cold. A week or so later, I went to see him and he apologised, telling me he was ashamed about his behaviour. I wanted to plan a future together but I didn’t push him, although he knew how I felt. He told me he was frightened of losing me. Finally, six months ago, he asked me to buy a house with him and move in together. I was so happy. However, it soon became clear he wasn’t actually going to do anything about this. When I confronted him, he said he felt “frightened” and “overwhelmed”, called himself a “lost soul”. He walked out again three months ago. I sent him a letter telling him I loved him, but that he had to fight for us this time. I have
heard nothing since and have decided not to contact him. I’m left feeling hurt and angry. I thought we’d have a family together. Why didn’t he want to be with me – what’s wrong with me? Will I be able to meet anyone? Name and address withheld Sorry for the cliché, but ‘it’s not you, it’s him’. Some people want to avoid intimacy almost as much as they want it. Some souls learn, before they can even speak, that people can be more of a threat than they are a comfort. They want that comfort but have a fixed certainty it will bring pain. They want to know how to love but dare not change. Okay, so that’s just a story I constructed to make sense of why he behaved like he did. It may contain some truth which explains what happened or it may not. But, more importantly, where does it leave you? He has been hot, then gone cold on
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO ASK PHILIPPA? Philippa would love to give you an answer to your problem, whether it’s about children or fertility, friends or frenemies, partners or relations, life change, work issues, expectations, confidence, goals or ambitions. Email her in confidence at therapy@redmagazine.co.uk. You’ll find all Philippa’s past columns at Redonline.co.uk.
you. Understandably, this has shaken your confidence in relationships. If this is not a pattern for you, if it is just a one-of that someone has been keen, then run away without an explanation, I think you can write it of as one of those things. If on the other hand you keep being attracted to men who play you like this, it may be worth having a think about your past relationships. Look at those with both your parents to see if you are confusing feelings of love with a feeling of what seems familiar. If you had a parent who made promises then always broke them, it may be you’re trying unconsciously to resolve that past problem in a current relationship, so you’re being drawn to people who bring up that old yearning. Relationships are complicated. We all bring baggage. We are not only who we are but we are also formed by all our past relationships including those with parents and siblings. We build upon those bonds with new ones and we all change a bit in the process. It can be painful to look back and trace the influences that have made us yearn for people who reject us (I’m not saying this is you, but ofer this explanation just in case it fits). Some people think a ‘spark’ is important when you first meet someone, but it ain’t necessarily so. Sometimes we have to learn our type is not our type and go for someone who knows how to look after our heart and is willing to be vulnerable enough to trust us with theirs. This may begin with a spark but on the other hand it may begin as a slow burn and turn out to be much better. Thirty-six is an age when there are a lot of messages that your fertility is going down, so it could feel like a hard time to be single, after splitting from the man you thought would become family. However, don’t panic. Take advantage of your newly single status as much as you can – try not to think about dating as a means to an end but something to be enjoyed for its own sake. I think it’s time to enjoy yourself.
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 161
Advertisement feature
cocobay.co.uk Wondering where to go for your holiday beach wardrobe? Look no further than Coco Bay, the on-line store that has taken the hard work out of beachwear shopping. Their excellent choice of bikinis and beach clothing, plus on-line fitting tips and free returns/exchanges mean buying beachwear has never been easier. Our View: Don’t go on holiday without them.
15% + Free P&P for Red Readers use Red1608 at checkout.
THINGS JUST DON’T FEEL THE SAME ANYMORE? Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, weight gain and even some high impact sports can leave your pelvic floor weakened and stretched. This problem affects millions of women in the UK resulting in leaks, lack of sensation and prolapse (where pelvic organs drop out of place). You can regain control and confidence with Kegel8. Featuring 20 exercise programmes this digital exerciser automatically locates and works your muscles to perform over 200 contractions. Take the Kegel8 12 week challenge and take positive action to get strong again. See women’s stories at: www.kegel8.co.uk/prolapse Call: 01482 496 932.
Fentimans Fentimans have been making the finest quality natural botanical drinks since 1905. Their award winning artisanal beverages are hand crafted, using the finest natural ingredients and made using the time-honoured botanical brewing technique. It takes a full seven days to make our drinks and the process hasn’t changed much in over one hundred years, with the knowledge and expertise being passed on from generation to generation of the Fentimans family. The result is a range of beverages, which can be enjoyed on their own or as a mixer with a premium spirit. For more information visit www.fentimans.com
Advertisement feature
British made sofa beds, sofas and beds Willow & Hall design and sell quality upholstered living and bedroom furniture, lovingly handmade by skilled craftsmen in Wiltshire. Designs are available in a large selection of fabrics and leathers while sofa beds come with three 14cm deep mattress options. Use code RED3816 by August 3rd 2016 to receive a further 5% off current discounts, leading to 35% lower prices than high street retailers. Free delivery for most of the UK mainland and 14-day free returns on all items, whatever your customisation. Product featured: The Ashwell Chaise Storage Sofa/Sofa Bed in Linen Cotton Stone from £1,712 and £1,855. Visit www.willowandhall.co.uk or call 0845 468 0577 to ind out more.
25% OFF FOR ALL RED READERS Beauty from Within with PureHA Hyaluronic Acid (HA), or Nature’s Moisturiser as it is often called, is found naturally throughout the body but most abundantly in the skin where it helps create a smoother plumper appearance. As we age, our HA levels reduce. By taking PureHA liquid food supplement daily, you are naturally helping to top up your body’s HA levels. Join the fight against ageing today and create beauty from within with PureHA. 17mg of HA in every sachet, simply add to water and drink! Get 25% off your order today quote RED25 at www.pureha.co.uk or call us on 01480 869 456 or buy in Waitrose with our in store offer!
The Indigo Twister Made to fade, made to last. Vintage wash. The Twister gracefully adds an element of fluidity to your wardrobe, whilst at the same time, provides you with an enduringly versatile cropped style sweater. Team with your favourite jeans. Knitted 100% Indigo Denim cotton, this flatteringly cut Aran style sweater features a traditional cable pattern with a rolled edge crew neck, cuffs and hem. Reader offer: Normal price £115.00 use code RED2016 and save £26.00. From our online store www.originalblues.uk or call 01635 867165.
Advertisement feature
EDBLAD – JEWELLERY, FASHION, LIVING Contemporary Scandinavian designs. Timeless, elegant style for summer. Affordable luxury. Swedish design duo Hans and Cathrine Edblad design contemporary and fun pieces in stainless steel, rose and yellow gold. Using clean lines with a contemporary twist, the jewellery is the perfect accessory for day or night. Wearable style for an active life, the collection is designed for modern, design aware women. Layer up and mix metals to create your own unique look. Prices range mostly from £20 to £72. Edblad strives to create sustainable products, both in terms of quality and design. For UK stockists visit www.nordicagencies.co.uk
Look Younger Longer™ Regentiv’s The Specialist Serum (with Retinol) Lines, wrinkles, crepey eyes, sun and skin damage can all benefit from this potent formula. Developed by leading skin specialists with concentrated Retinol, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera and sunscreen. Users say, “Since starting with The Specialist Serum my friends have asked what I am using and my skin has never looked better”. To order visit www.regentiv.co.uk Tel: 01923 212555. 30ml £29.95, 50ml £44.95, 100ml £79.95, 200ml £149. Free P&P. Regentiv Specialist Skin Care, PO Box 400, Herts, WD17 3ZW.
BOUDOIR DES LUBIES Made in France and handfinished using high quality materials such as crocodile or calfskin leather. Designed by the Parisian architect Myra Taguelmint, each bag carries a Parisian street. Featured here is the Saint Germain bag, elegant, square and practical, the gold plated chain matches all kinds of outfits. Available in different colours. www.boudoirdeslubies.com or at the boutique 2 Rue Dupin, Paris.
C O L L E C T I O N S
commissions in gold, platinum & silver brochure: +44(0)117 909 0225
www.indutrial-jewellery.com info@industrial-jewellery.com
Use: IJRED0816 For 10% OFF all orders
Tara Chandelier Earrings Green Tourmaline
www.sushilla.co.uk
LINELL ELLIS Handbags and accessories for the woman who believes that true luxury is found in life’s experiences.
“Live Completely” www.LinellEllis.com @linellellis
**
10% OFF USE CODE:RED10 Call 01273 722 110 | www.scarlettjewellery.com *10% discount valid until 31.08.16
www.cliftonrocks.co.uk
TO ADVERTISE HERE PLEASE CALL THE RED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260
www.dianaporter.co.uk
FA S H I O N
S O P H I S T I C AT E D .
&
H E A LT H
WAT E R P R O O F .
OUTERWEAR.
“From the boardroom to the mountain peak, serious waterproof outerwear designed to be worn anywhere” www.protected-species.com
TO ADVERTISE HERE PLEASE CALL THE RED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260
15% OFF FOR RED READERS - QUOTE RD15 AT CHECKOUT
Measure the difference with Water Balance
HRI Water Balance tablets for the relief of water retention HRI Water Balance is a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve the symptoms of mild water retention, based on traditional use only. Available from Holland & Barrett, Boots, Superdrug, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons stores. Look for the THR symbol – your guarantee of safety and quality.
Always read the label
www.HRIHerbalMedicine.co.uk
H E A LT H
&
B E A U T Y
you. incredible ever after
™
The UK's Premier Cosmetic Surgery Group
photo shoots for all women by women as seen on
www.fyeoportraits.com
Book your consultation with a UK BAAPS and/or BAPRAS registered plastic surgeon today!
was thrilled with the level of “ Icare I received with MyBreast. I couldn’t be happier “ Trust Pilot Reviewer
www.mybreast.org 0843 778 1525 Radara™ Unique HA micro-channelling patches to reduce wrinkles and revitalise skin
www.radara.co.uk
Your local 45 minute Surgeon Consultation will cost £25 Interest Free Finance options available subject to Terms and Conditions. Comprehensive Aftercare.
BESPOKE AESTHETIC TREATMENTS WITH A WHOLE FACE APPROACH
HANDBAG CARE & REPAIR SPECIALISTS Nationwide handbag renovation service for leather & fabric bags
Before
Bra & Swimwear Specialist
After
Dr. Christine is a G.M.C. registered doctor, a member of B.C.A.M. & trained in Harley Street. Ofering a range of treatments including; • HANDBAG RESTORATION OR COLOUR CHANGE • REPLACE ZIPS & LINING • REPAIR SCUFFS, SCRATCHES, BURNS & TEARS • REMOVE LIQUID & ALL OTHER STAINS
web: www.handbagclinic.co.uk tel: +44 (0)1207 279963 / email: enquiries@handbagclinic.co.uk
Phone for a catalogue on 01439 798388 or visit www.AmpleBosom.com
• Advanced Wrinkle Relaxing Injections • Dermal Filler Treatments • 8 Point Lift • Liquid Facelift • Excessive Sweating • Obagi Medical Skincare • Skinade Stockist
www.drchristine.co.uk 07928 971683 | christine@drchristine.co.uk
TO ADVERTISE HERE PLEASE CALL THE RED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY PORTRAITS®
Fall in love with yourself just a little bit more
L I F ES T Y L E
©KBWEL
TO ADVERTISE HERE PLEASE CALL THE RED TEAM ON 020 3728 6260
WINNER OF EVERY MAJOR
AWARD
GRAB YOUR FRIENDS AND SAVE UP TO 40% GROUPS 6+ PAY £42.50 PER TICKET KinkyBootsTheMusical.co.uk/Groups | ADELPHI THEATRE, LONDON *Groups 6+ available for Monday - Friday performances only, exclusion dates apply. Tickets usually priced up to £77.50. For full terms see website.
Protect & Freshen Your Toothbrush! steripod® clip-on toothbrush protector freshens & protects for up to 3 months with active vapours. Fits manual & electric tootbrushes. No cables or batteries.
toothbrush protector
www.steripod.co.uk Available at Boots & Superdrug
ideal for home or travel!
HOROSCOPES
STARS
Yasmin Boland reveals what’s in store for you this month
PISCES 19th Feb–20th Mar Try not to get caught up in the madness of everyday life if you can help it. Not just this month, but any month. You are a sign that is very much about dreaming and intuition. Try not to allow the demands of life to turn you into a modern-day automaton!
Illustration CAMILLA PERKINS
LEO 23rd July–23rd Aug Shore up your most important relationships. The ones you don’t care about any more? Let them go now and they almost certainly won’t come back. The relationships that matter to you? Behave in a way that will nurture them. VIRGO 24th Aug–22nd Sept You love to do things for other people. It’s part of your life ethos and very much who you are. But this month the eclipse is gently reminding you that being of service to other people is great, as long as you leave enough energy reserves for yourself. This is not obvious to all Virgos, so take note.
ARIES 21st Mar–19th April
SAGITTARIUS 23rd Nov-21st Dec Spend a little time thinking about how you are coming across to others. It’s time for you to check in with yourself, to see if you have somehow become beaten down by life’s goings-on and lost your ability to see the funny side. Sure, there are of days, but life wasn’t meant to be a drag, you know.
If a friendship is ending now, be brave and don’t cling on to it. It’s the right time, and chances are it has more than run its course. For others, this month will see a dream come true – so keep dreaming. And for others still, it’s about striking a balance between your need for fun versus what others need from you.
TAURUS 20th April–20th May Every year around about this time, you get a gentle nudge from the universe reminding you to find a work/life balance. It’s not just a cliché. It’s an actual thing. It means you can do your job properly and also find the time you need to have a fulfilling private life.
LIBRA 23rd Sept–23rd Oct You’re a people person and this is the right time to be looking at how good a friend you’re being to others, and how much giveand-take is going on. The holy grail for you will be to feel as though you’re being allowed to express yourself while still supporting the people you love.
CAPRICORN 22nd Dec–19th Jan
GEMINI 21st May–21st June
Money might be the surface issue, but there is more going on behind the scenes than just pounds and pence. If you’re a student of metaphysics, you’ll already understand that money is energy and basically comes to us in the exact proportions we think we are worthy to receive.
You’re trying to cover so much ground that, in the end, you may be left feeling that you have done a lot of everything, but not done anything as well as you meant to. Find a middle ground between doing all the running around you have to, and still allowing yourself time out to reflect on the big picture.
SCORPIO 24th Oct–22nd Nov
AQUARIUS 20th Jan–18th Feb
CANCER 22nd June–22nd July
This month’s full-moon eclipse across your home and work zones means you really can be a star professionally. Just don’t get so caught up in it that you forget to take care of things on the home front. These people love and need you even more than your colleagues do.
This is not a month to live carefully. However, nor is it a month to live too dangerously. But neither would it be a good idea to live in the middle of the road… So what are you supposed to do, Aquarius? Now is a time to follow your heart and your dreams and just see where they lead you.
If what you have been waiting for is a new upsurge in your finances, then August might well deliver what you’re seeking. The full moon eclipse brings a massive chance for change when it comes to money, as it happens. Remember, being rich need not turn you into a tyrant or a show-of.
AUGUST 2016 REDONLINE.CO.UK 169
MY FAVOURITE THING
JULIA STILES The star of the Bourne movies (and all our favourite Noughties teen films) loves playing her “baby banjo”
A
few years ago, I started learning to play the ukulele. I’d sit in my flat in New York, playing chords I learned online and singing along. I hadn’t showed anyone my new skill until one evening a guy I had just started dating came over and, for whatever reason, I played a song for him. It was Christmas soon after and, with our relationship being so new, I wasn’t expecting a present from him. I was touched when he gave me a miniature banjo and encouraged me to keep on with my musical
170 REDONLINE.CO.UK AUGUST 2016
hobby. Now, almost three years later, we’re engaged and my “baby banjo” goes with me wherever I travel to remind me of home and my fiancé, Preston. I play it when I’m sitting in a trailer or a hotel room as a fun distraction, and even just having it near me calms and comforts me after a stressful day on set. I’m no virtuoso but I have a growing repertoire of covers: I Fall To Pieces by Patsy Cline is my favourite to play and sing along to. It’s nice having something to keep me in tune! Jason Bourne is released on 29th July
INTERVIEW MEGAN SUTTON
Photographs DANIEL SEUNG LEE