Yours EXCLUSIVE
‘Age gracefully?
No chance!’
Gok Wan on fashion, food and how to dazzle whatever your age By Angela Hagan ok Wan is passionate about three things in life – family, fashion and food. And in his latest offering for ITV’s This Morning he brings all three together as he heads to Hong Kong with his parents to explore his family roots, as well as the country’s vibrant food and fashion scene. “I haven’t been back to Hong Kong with my parents for eight or nine years,” says the 41-year-old, who was born and grew up in Leicester to English mum Myra and Chineseborn John. “It was quite emotional watching Dad go back to the dusty village, Shatoukak, where he lived in the north of the country, and explore his memories. He came to England when he was 16 with my grandfather who was looking for a better life for his seven children.” In his This Morning reports, Gok cooks street food with his dad, a retired chef fondly known as Poppa Wan. He also takes his parents into his world, as he shows them around Hong Kong’s lively fashion scene. “Mum stayed in the background like she always does, but Dad’s always been a big show-off – it’s where I get it from,” he laughs. “But he wouldn’t have gone to Hong Kong without her. They’re inseparable, like lovebirds. It’s their 46th wedding anniversary, they met when they were very young. I’ve never seen two people so continually in love. It’s a lot to aspire to,” adds Gok, who is currently single. Having arrived in Leicester in
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❙ star chat ❙ Gok’s top style tips for Yours readers
‘It’s so annoying; women are so persecuted by the way they look’
the Sixties, John Tung Shin Wan met Gok’s mum Myra on a trip to Southampton. The couple had three children – Gok, older sister Oilen and brother Kwok-Lyn. Growing up an overweight, gay half-Chinese boy on a rough Leicester council estate was not easy for Gok who has talked at length about his quick to offer a suggestion to improve past struggles with depression. But he it. Surprisingly, he says the only maintains his family has been a rock person he’s never been able to help throughout his darker days and when is mum Myra. he found fame in 2006 in How To “I dressed her once and it was the Look Good Naked. most horrendous experience of my Now he says there’s not a day that life,” he laughs. “Nobody should see goes by when he isn’t stopped in the their mum head to toe in Spandex! street, shops, restaurants or even at That’s the honest truth. It’s bizarre, work and asked for fashion advice. but the fame that came with my job “I’d say every hour of every day was so dramatic and debilitating that of my life, I get stopped by women I quickly made a rule to not take work – anyone in fact – asking me what home with me.” I think of their outfit or hair,” he As the population gets older, reveals. “Even on This Morning a cameraman will say; ‘What do you think of my trousers?’ Just today Piers Morgan was on the show and said; ‘What do you think of my suit?’ or Holly Willoughby will rush past saying; ‘What do you think of the dress?’” Gok swears he’s always Gok, sharing words of fashionhonest but never blunt and, wisdom on This Morning with Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby if he doesn’t like an outfit, is
Doing what he does best: a makeover on This Morning
does he believe we should all be ageing gracefully? Gok pauses. “I don’t believe in that,’ he says. “I think it’s an horrendous, misogynist term created by some guy sitting in an office. It fuels women’s insecurity. If I had my way all women would strip down and flash their bras off!!” He roars with laughter as he warms to his theme. “It’s so annoying; women are so persecuted by the way they look. In their 20s they have to be slim and fashionable, in their 30s they’ve got to be well-groomed to have children. In their 40s they’ve got to look like young mums, in their 50s they have to age gracefully and in their 60s they musn’t look like mutton dressed as lamb. It’s all rubbish! “The way I look at it is, any woman who’s had children, a job and survived 40 years of menstruation should be given a medal.” And with that he makes his goodbyes as he rushes off to This Morning’s studio where he’s been presenting for a year. No doubt he’ll be stopped several times en route for advice but somehow, you just know he’s more than happy to help! ✢ Gok Around The Wok airs on ITV’s This Morning on October 14 and 21 YOURS
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PIC: KEN MCKAY/ITV/REX SHUTTERSTOCK; DAVID FISHER/REX SHUTTERSTOCK
Gok’s parents, John and Myra, have been his ‘rock’ throughout his life
1 Let your style grow and develop with your age. Basically, if you lived through the Fifties, Sixties, Seventies or Eighties then you’re in a much better position than me or anyone else in fashion to tell you how to dress, because there’s no such thing as an original idea. It’s always a regurgitation. You lived through those moments from those decades, so find your old photos and see what you wore then. 2 Underwear is vital – go for a proper bra fitting and get your foundation sorted. It makes a big difference; you’d never build a house on soggy soi! One of the only criticisms I get is: ‘Why do you put women in controlled underwear if you’re saying they don’t have to get thinner?’ Whenever I put women in controlled underwear I see them change. 3 Celebrate being a woman and your sexuality. Last week I dressed an 83-year-old head to toe in Top Shop. Nobody should tell her she can’t do that!
Style Winter-proof your skin notes
Meet our expert
Sally Penford is Education Manager at the International Dermal Institute
Our tips to keep your skin healthy and hydrated as the weather turns colder By Charlotte Haigh MacNeil o you often find your skin gets dry and sensitive in the winter? “Extremes of environment and temperature play havoc with the health of your skin and could make it dehydrated,” says Sally Penford. As we get older our skin tends to be thinner, with lower moisture levels, so we have less natural protection against cold winds and central heating. You might also have noticed your
D
skin looking red and blotchy in the winter. “Going from warm indoor environments to cold outdoor winds causes the blood capillaries in your skin to dilate and contract,” explains Sally. “The capillary walls may eventually start to lose elasticity and the result is permanently dilated capillaries, increased redness and sensitivity.” The good news is that by starting to protect and nourish your skin now, you can reduce your risk of winter skin problems.
Cleanse gently Avoid harsh cleansers that can strip your skin. “Instead, choose a cleanser formulated to protect skin against the winter environment,” says Sally. Dermalogica Ultra Calming Cleanser (£26.90/250ml) is a gentle gel/cream packed with antiageing antioxidants and calming green tea, which can be either rinsed off or removed with cotton wool if water irritates your skin. 42
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Polish up “Exfoliation is really important at this time of year,” says Sally. “What with cold winds and drying central heating, dead skin cells build up, clogging pores and making your moisturiser less effective.” If your skin’s dry and flaky and even rich creams aren’t helping, it’s probably because you need to exfoliate. Try The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator (£11/75ml) once a week. The skin on your body
Layer up Just as you pile on layers to keep warm in the winter, your skin will benefit from some added extras. Here’s where a serum – which you put on under moisturiser – really comes into its own. To replace lost moisture, look for a serum containing hyaluronic acid, which attracts and locks in water. Try Vichy Aqualia Thermal Dynamic Hydration Power Serum (£17/30ml), which helps plump up skin cells.
Remember the extremities Don’t forget your hands and lips – both are exposed to the elements during the winter but can be neglected. Eucerin Dry Skin Intensive Lip Balm (£6/10ml) moisturises even the most chapped lips, with liquorice extract to soothe redness and flaking. Get into the habit of rubbing in hand cream whenever you wash your hands – and smooth it on before you go to sleep so the moisture soaks in overnight. We love Organic Surge Lavender Meadow Hand and Nail Cream (£4.50/75ml).
Nourish and protect “To protect your skin throughout the day when it will be bombarded by damaging free radicals and the environment, it’s vital to moisturise,” says Sally. Avène Rich Compensating Cream (£16.50/50ml), is designed to help put the moisture back and plump and firm your skin. To help your skin recover at night, try a nourishing night cream, such as Olay Regenerist 3 Point Age-Defying Night Cream (£29.99/50ml), with pentapeptides and olive extract to smooth lines. And while your body may not be on display at this time of year, slathering on a rich body lotion will keep your skin soft and comfortable. We love Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion (£5.10/200ml), which contains finely milled oatmeal to help restore your skin’s protective barrier.
PICS: MASTERFILE, SHUTTERSTOCK
can be just as prone to becoming flaky and scaly in winter. Choose a body scrub that contains nourishing oil to leave your skin feeling smooth and moisturised. We love Dr Organic Virgin Olive Oil Body Scrub (£6.49/200ml), which contains nourishing oil rich in anti-ageing oleic acid, plus microparticles of volcanic lava to gently polish away dead cells and leave your skin smooth and hydrated.
STOCKISTS: Aveeno 0845 601 2261 www.aveeno.co.uk; Avène available from Boots and pharmacies nationwide www.avene.co.uk; Dermalogica 0800 917 7147 www.dermalogica.co.uk; Eucerin available nationwide www.eucerin.co.uk; Organic Surge 01955 606061 www.organicsurge.com; Olay 0800 917 7197 www.olay.co.uk; Superdrug 0345 671 0709 www.superdrug.com; The Body Shop 0800 092 9090 www.thebodyshop.co.uk; Vichy available nationwide www.vichy.co.uk Details correct at time of going to press YOURS
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HEALTH &
vitality
I
f you’re feeling run down or as if you have lost your spark, you’re not alone. Tiredness crops up in as many as one-infive GP consultations, while one-in-ten of us have prolonged fatigue. And at this time of year, with the darker evenings and mornings and cold and flu germs doing the rounds, it’s more common than ever to feel a bit under the weather. But feeling sluggish doesn’t have to be your ‘normal’. There are some easy tweaks you can make to your lifestyle to stop low energy levels getting in the way of doing the things you love.
1. Enjoy a breakfast boost
7 ways to
If you usually start the day with a bowl of sugary cereal, or no breakfast at all, it’s time to break the routine. Beginning the morning with a sudden surge of sugar gives you a peak of energy that will soon crash and leave you sluggish, while no breakfast at all will leave your energy levels flat from the start. Instead try foods that release energy slowly, such as an egg with granary toast, wholemeal cereal with sliced fruit, or homemade porridge. A recent study also found pumpkin and sunflower seeds top up your magnesium levels, making you feel more awake. Sprinkle some over your morning meal or snack on them throughout the day.
MORE ENERGY Say farewell to fatigue for good with our useful advice By Katharine Wootton
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❙ feel good ❙ 2. Seek out the sun
It’s tempting to want to hibernate your way through the colder season, snuggled up on the sofa, but getting out to soak up some sun and fresh air is a much better idea for your energy levels. Lack of daylight can confuse your sleep /wake cycles, making you feel sluggish and low. Getting outside for a walk or a bike ride every day could help to regulate your body’s cycles and boost the happy hormones in your brain to give your mood a lift too. All you need is a 15-minute burst of exercise, but the more you do the better you’ll feel.
3. Water works
If you often feel like you’re flagging, it could be a clear sign that you are dehydrated. The European Food Safety Authority suggests women should drink 1.6 litres of fluid a day, that’s about eight 200ml glasses, and you need more if you exercise a lot. While tea or fruit juice will help, water is best for keeping you alert throughout the day without the calories. Fill up a 1 litre bottle first thing in the morning and aim to finish it by dinnertime. You can even download a free app on to your smartphone called Daily Water to remind you to drink more.
Chillies are a great way to speed up your metabolism, helping your body use the energy from your food, rather than storing it. But you don’t have to chomp on red hot chillies to feel the benefit. Chili Burn™ is a natural supplement that’s good for the digestion and releases energy from your food more efficiently. It also contains green tea extract and vitamins, found to improve energy levels. Find out more at www.newnordic.co.uk
5. Perfect your posture
We use lots of energy keeping ourselves upright but slouching puts the spine out of alignment, makes muscles work harder, and eats up even more energy. Pull your shoulders down and keep your head in line with your body. Yoga can help by balancing your body, helping you sleep and reducing your stress levels so you feel more lively.
6. Raise a smile
Stress uses lots of energy so it’s important to relax. Singing, including in the bath, has been shown to have a calming effect, as well as releasing the hormone oxytocin that relieves stress and boosts your overall feeling of wellbeing. Another study found closing your eyes and thinking about your partner could raise your glucose levels and create ‘good stress’ that makes you feel perkier. Anything that takes you out of your busy routine and makes you take a breath is great.
7. Get your beauty sleep
It might sound obvious, but not getting your full quota of sleep is bound to leave you feeling under par. Over a third of us have difficulty falling and staying asleep but there are some ways to help. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day and avoid naps to help train your body’s natural rhythms. Keep your bedroom free from clutter and create a calm, peaceful place, with no laptops or TV screens, before it’s time to sleep. ✢ See your GP before taking vitamin supplements or herbal remedies, particularly if you take prescribed medicines. Always speak to your GP before stopping any medication or before starting any diet or exercise regime. YOURS
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PICS: MASTERFILE
4. Spice up your life
Good to KNOW...
How to...
deal with disappointm You can bounce back after a blow and feel good again By Katharine Wootton e all have times when life doesn’t go to plan and we end up not getting what we were hoping for. Whether it’s a retirement package that falls through, a dream of living abroad that’s no longer possible or a health scare that sets you back, disappointment can be tough to take. But not getting the life you’d imagined doesn’t have to mean abandoning your dreams and ambitions. We asked the experts how to come to terms with disappointment and even turn it into an exciting Plan B.
W
Make time for you
PICS: ALAMY, SHUTTERSTOCK, GETTY IMAGES, ISTOCKPHOTO
Everyone reacts in a different way to disappointment, but mostly it makes us feel hurt, angry or upset. “The most important thing is to accept you’re hurt,” says life coach Carole Ann Rice. “Don’t try and push your pain
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away because this only means the emotions come back another day. Factor some time into your schedule to get over your disappointment. This might mean politely saying no to family gettogethers for a while, so you don’t have to face people asking questions, or having a bit of time by yourself to think things through. “You may also want to take time for a good cry. If you feel like tears are coming when you’re out and don’t want to cry in public, tell yourself when it gets to say 6 o’clock, you’ll go somewhere private and let it all
out. Or say that you’re going to give yourself just 20 minutes to cry in the loo – this stops you worrying you’ll never stop.”
Put it into words Feelings of disappointment can build up to become overwhelming, but articulating those thoughts can be really helpful. “Try talking things out with a friend,” says Carole. “Explain you don’t expect them to give any answers – you just need to offload how you’re feeling.” Alternatively, get a notebook and write down how you feel. Don’t
Your
‘Overcoming everything has
Story made me a different person’
tment Meet our expert Carole Ann Rice is a business and life coach, bestselling author and columnist. www.realcoachingco.com
After redundancy and being diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, Val Charman (60) turned her life around by starting her own business. “I’d been working in telesales for many years and was well thought of in my company, when I began getting severe dizzy spells in 2010. Soon after, I was diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease and began to find it harder to work. “Eventually, when my company were making cuts, I was made redundant. I was
be scared to use emotive language and swear if you want to. Keep this notebook by your bed, in case the feelings come back in the night. “Once you’ve done this, say to yourself ‘I’m experiencing a bad time’, rather than saying, ‘I’m sad’,” says Carole. “This gives you the chance to accept that your feelings will pass. Think back to other times in your life when things haven’t gone to plan, and how you’ve come through it or realised it was actually the best thing to happen.”
Keep a blessings book “Keeping a book where you note everything you’re grateful for is a great way of recognising what you have, so you don’t feel like your life is in deficit because you didn’t get this thing you wanted,” says Carole. Appreciate the here and now by writing down three things that you’ve loved about each day, whether it was having coffee with a friend, putting your feet up or enjoying your favourite TV show. “In this book, or somewhere separate, also start to write down how you can turn your problems into a solution,” says Carole.
devastated. My selfesteem took a real hit and unfortunately I separated from my husband, which was hard to deal with. “But I knew I had to find a way to get well, so I could keep my house and my beloved greyhounds. I began researching what I could do to improve my illness and found a raw vegan diet could help. So I tried it and soon found many of my symptoms disappeared. “Because I’d seen such an improvement in my health I decided I
would set up my own vegan business (www. therawhealthclub.co.uk) to help people like myself. “I also went on to set up a marketing business and a company selling greyhound knitwear. A hypnotherapist helped me with my self-esteem issues, too. Overcoming everything has made me a different person and I now love making a living from my passion. “I can absolutely say I have built something out of nothing.”
SEE IT FROM THE OTHER SIDE Sometimes disappointment can be partly or entirely caused by someone else. Perhaps it was a colleague who scuppered your retirement plans, a daughter who doesn’t want children, so you won’t have the life with grandchildren you imagined, or a partner’s illness that puts your dream of moving abroad on hold. If it feels painful to even speak to the other person about this, Carole recommends this simple coaching tool: Get two seats facing opposite each other. You sit in one and talk to the other seat – you could put a picture of the person you’re cross with on the chair. Then say to them, ‘I’m very upset with
See if you can think of five to ten practical new things you want to do. So, for example, you might not be able to move abroad, but can you redecorate your house instead? Or if you’ve been made redundant,
you because you stopped me having the life I wanted’ or ‘I wanted to be a grandma’, for example. When you feel like you’ve said it all, breathe a few times and go sit in the other chair. You are then that person and you say what you think their side of the story is. Really get into the role. Then breathe again, go back to your original seat and see how it feels now. You might find your perspective has changed.
can you set up that business you’ve always thought about? Give yourself something definite to focus on.
✢ NEXT ISSUE Quick ways to lift your mood YOURS
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Fashion we
wore
1970s style?
special
You had to be there Readers share their favourite fashion memories from a decade that’s back in vogue
DID YOU KNOW? Boots were at the height of their popularity in the early Seventies and ‘wet-look’ boots – made of crinkly, shiny, stretchy vinyl fabric, looked great with hot-pants or a mini skirt – as worn by Lulu, right. Remember wet-look socks that turned a pair of shiny shoes into boots – allegedly. We also recall the wetlook peeling off eventually, which wasn’t cool at all.
1973
Wonderful wet-look
Modish maxis
1972
Here I am in South London in my tartan maxi-dress and tie-wrap jacket with long, pointed collar. The yellow blouse had a similar collar and long puffed sleeves on a tight wristband. The oversized specs and ‘gypsy’ haircut were right on trend. Deirdre Mason, South London
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How I wish I still looked like this. My dungaree-style hot-pants were the latest thing, as were my white, wetlook boots with laces that went all the way up. I can’t believe how long my hair was either. Those were the days. Hazel Moysey, Surrey
1972 Hot hot-pants I was at a dinner and dance wearing pink hot-pants with a matching button-up top. The goodlooking bloke is my husband and we’ve been married for 45 years – so they did the trick! I wish I still had that figure. Barbara Seward, Staffs
1973
Marvellous minis In this photo, taken at home, I’m on the left with my friend Sylvia – both in our mini skirts. The pointed collars and cuffs were the style at the time. Sylvia is wearing Dr Scholls on her feet – which were supposed to be good for you, too. Mrs P Webb, Avon
DID YOU KNOW?
Fabulous flares
The popularity of crochet was part of the rustic, romantic look that also gave us cheesecloth peasant blouses. Branching out from shawls and waistcoats, we crocheted hot-pants, hats, ties, skirts – and, not surprisingly, our own wedding dresses – and they looked fabulous too!
This is one of my favourite looks from then, although I also liked long dresses and hot-pants. This top, worn over a blouse with full sleeves and deep cuffs, teamed with flared trousers made me feel the bee’s knees. I wish I still had the outfit today. Ann Stanil, Manchester
1972 Chic snakeskin
Creative crochet This is a picture of my wedding dress. I crocheted it in a light pink yarn with white velvet ribbons. My eight-year-old daughter was my bridesmaid in a matching dress crocheted in white with purple ribbons. Sadly, I gave it away when we moved house! José Winters, Stratford-upon-Avon
1973
Super smocks
I’m on the left, in the very flared trousers and smocked top, while my friend Jan is on the right in a plaid A-line skirt and platform clogs, which were all the rage then. We are still friends today and see each other regularly. Mo, E Sussex (Mo – please send us your full name and address so we can send you your voucher)
I was 23 or 24 when this photo was taken. My imitation snakeskin dress was very fashionable – part of the trend for wearing Westernstyle clothes back then. I was very fond of my dusky pink shoes, too. I think I match the flowers very well! Claire Davies, Hants
MORE PHOTOS
We’d love to receive your fashion photos too – all decades accepted! If we publish yours, you’ll receive a £10 High Street vouchers, which can be redeemed at many of your favourite stores. Please send as much detail as possible about the date, clothes and people shown – 60 words please. We promise we will keep them safely and return them to you. Digital images welcome, but all scans must be 100 per cent and 300 dpi hi-res, or we can’t use them. Send to: Fashion We Wore, Yours, Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Peterborough PE2 6EA or email valery.mcconnell@bauermedia.co.uk
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PICS: REX SHUTTERSTOCK
1973
1973
❙ time for you ❙
Easy veggie meals Compiled by Claire Williams
Making a tasty vegetarian dinner from scratch is quick, simple and hassle free! BAKED EGGS IN TOMATO
You can make a spicy version by adding a little Tabasco sauce or a sprinkle of chilli flakes Serves: 6 Preparation time: 15 mins Cooking time: 30 mins
• 4 tbsp sunflower or coconut oil (odourless) • 1 large onion, sliced thinly • 125g (4½oz) shitake (or other variety) mushrooms, thinly sliced, stems removed • Sea salt and white pepper • Garlic granules • 50g (2oz) curly kale, stems removed • 500ml (1pt) jar pasta tomato sauce • 6 large eggs • Cracked black pepper
1. Heat coconut oil in a large frying pan and sauté thinly-sliced onions for 5 mins until soft and translucent. 2. Add the sliced mushrooms, cook for 2 mins; at this point you should notice the mushrooms soaking up the oil. Season well with sea salt, white pepper and garlic granules and cook for a further 3 mins. 3. Add the curly kale and cook for 5 mins, continuously stirring. 4. Pour in the tomato sauce and cook
for 10 mins on a low heat to reduce the sauce. 5. Remove from the heat, crack the egg into a wine glass, then make a little well in the sauce and pour in the whole egg, repeat with each egg. 6. Place the frying pan back on the heat and cook covered for 6-8 mins until the egg is set. Then serve straight from the pan with a sprinkle of black pepper. Per serving: 226 cals Fat 16g (sat fat 3g)
BUY THIS...
Garlic granules Garlic granules are a great way to keep this spice around the home without worrying about it going off. Like garlic salt or powder, the granules can be stored in a cool dry place and will remain fresh for several months. ✢ Available from Sainsbury’s Recipe from My Relationship with Food by Lisa Roukin
£1