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Grazia|Issue 761WELCOME TO THE ISSUEIT’S HARD TO believe that it was 20 months ago that the Duke and duch*ess of Sussex’s wedding had us all buzzing with optimism. Seeing this smart, 30-something woman who’d had her own career and was outspoken about key issues, I’m sure I wasn’t alone in feeling that Meghan’s ability and attitude would be a modernising force for the royal family. It was perhaps inevitable then that she would feel frustrated by her new role; it’s understandable that she and Harry would want to move away from an environment that’s become increasingly hostile towards them. So despite the bombshell nature of Megxit, explored on page 12, it could end up being the smartest move the couple have ever made. In choosing to prioritise their family, they’ve once again set out…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761OVER TO YOU...GET THE HAPPY HABITSo many New Year’s resolutions disappear like a lost sock in the laundry. And when my normal routine leaves me tired, busy and distracted, it is difficult to get back on track. So I was really grateful for The power of (good) habits (13 Jan). Hanging out with friends, going to the movies, buying myself that magazine – I am going to indulge myself and these frequent, healthy rewards will keep me on track. Thank you. Clearly, setting and reaching goals isn’t about willpower, it’s about the power of one’s own intention. Once I’ve mastered these few steps, I’ll be well-equipped to follow through on my resolutions – this time, for good. Corrina WilliamsThank you for an issue (13 Jan) overflowing with inspiration. I identified with Rhiannon…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761GRAZIA VIEW“Samira Ahmed proves justice is worth fighting for Hooray for journalist Samira Ahmed, who last week won her employment tribunal, which she brought against the BBC for sex discrimination. In her equal pay dispute she claimed she was underpaid for hosting Newswatch compared with Jeremy Vine’s salary for hosting Points Of View . She argued she is owed almost £700,000 in back pay because of the pay disparity. Her victory is a huge feat for anyone who has been discriminated against on the grounds of their gender, race, class, sexuality or disability. There’s still work to be done, but this is a turning point. So thank you, Samira, your bravery has led the way for us all and proved justice is always worth fighting for.”…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761I’m starting a revolution. Step one: twerkingI DON’T BELIEVE in doing things differently just because it’s a new year, any more than I believe in To Do lists and horoscopes. They’re all vain attempts to impose purpose and order on the rambling, doomed chaos that is the human experience; to think otherwise is to indulge the kind of harmless delusion that made crystal therapy happen. And yet… When I get a WhatsApp from my boxing trainer suggesting we switch shiz up in 2020 by adding an hour’s twerking session to the back end of our weekly boxing training, oh! I cannot respond quickly enough. ‘A thousand times YES!’ I reply, though my message is lost in a mounting deluge of equally giddy responses from the rest of the group. So it is On; we launch this…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761TWO ROLLER-COASTER YEARS – HARRY + MEGHAN’S DRAMATIC STORY27 November 2017 It all started with a roast chicken. While cooking at home, Prince Harry popped the question. The country rejoiced as the couple smiled for the cameras. 19 May 2018 By May, they were married. The most A-list royal wedding of all time was joyous and elegant. Meghan was a vision in Givenchy, and mother Doria won our hearts. 9 June 2018 Harry appeared to curtly tell Meghan to ‘turn around’ during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony. Meghan looked less than pleased… 14 July 2018 Love on the court? In a show of solidarity after talk of a feud, Meghan joined Kate at Wimbledon. The sisters-in-law were photographed enjoying each other’s company. 6 May 2019 Archie Mountbatten Windsor was born. The couple decided not to give him…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761THE ANALYSISIf Megxit exposed anything about Britain – and let’s be clear, it has revealed a lot – it’s that the country remains as uncomfortable as ever with race. From the moment Meghan Markle and Prince Harry first descended the steps of Windsor Castle as husband and wife, public reservations about the world’s most famous expat came trickling in, a dark undercurrent beneath the wave of optimism about the royal family’s new chapter. She’s too strong-willed. Too Hollywood. Too outspoken. Too feminist. Too American. Too woke. And black. That last one. You may not have heard talk about Meghan phrased as such, probably because the word ‘black’ bafflingly still seems to generate so much discomfort. And yet the feeling ran a through line, connecting a string of racist happenings in news…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761MEGHAN AND HARRY’S NEW DECADE…The couple are welcomed by Canada’s A-list social circle. Meghan exchanges words of inspiration over WhatsApp with Celine Dion and offers Justin Bieber life-coaching sessions. She relaunches her lifestyle blog, The Tig, with a fresh set of peony photos and a new twist on her avocado toast recipe. Serena Williams writes a column on mindfulness, while Amal Clooney contributes a seasonal guide to tablescaping. In a video feature called ‘Souls and Stomachs’, Meghan shares bowls of grains with an inspiring friend: the first guest is Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Harry takes a few years to ‘find himself’. Occasionally, he catches himself waving regally at strangers. In his quest for financial independence, he invests in Canada’s booming new industry, cannabis. His now-teenage nephew George finds this interesting. Archie adapts well to Canadian…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761Villa forecast? Bombshells with a chance of banter (and bickering)The beauty of Love Island is that you can rely on the contestants to be perfectly predictable. Here’s how we reckon the first week will play out…There’s always one contestant who can’t help but mention their claim to fame. We’ve had Dani Dyer (claim to fame: actor dad Danny Dyer), Marcel Somerville (claim to fame: um… did he happen to mention that he was in Blazin’ Squad?); this year it will likely be events manager Sophie Piper, whose sister is Rochelle Humes from The Saturdays and This Morning – not least because she is her doppelgänger.Production bosses will make sure that Lewis Capaldi songs are played over every sad scene involving his ex-girlfriend, singer Paige Turley, who dated him when they were teens.There will be a big dispute sparked by…2 min
Grazia|Issue 7615 They’re Hollywood’s new power players… but Phoebe and Jodie aren’t forgetting their British rootsIT SEEMED AS IF every star in the world had descended on LA last week for the Golden Globes. The biggest names in film and television rubbed shoulders, drank champagne and dined on an all-vegan menu. (A surprisingly tasty carrot soup, FYI.) And yet, in the clamour of the weekend, one woman proved to be firmly on the top of everyone’s must-meet list: Phoebe Waller-Bridge.There was a sign of things to come on the Friday before the Globes – the first major ceremony of the season – at a separate event thrown by the American Film Institute. Phoebe was swamped by A-list admirers. Joaquin Phoenix – tipped for an Oscar for The Joker – appeared charmed. Laura Dern, currently the toast of Hollywood thanks to Little Women and Marriage Story,…3 min
Grazia|Issue 7617 Inside the night ‘great friends’ Brad and Jen publicly reunitedIN 2005, AMERICA’S sweethearts Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt announced their separation and made fans all over the globe wonder if love itself had vanished from the world. Their statement followed many of the Hollywood clichés, requesting privacy and vowing that they would remain friends and stay supportive of each other. And yet, as soon as news broke of Brad’s relationship with Angelina Jolie, so began 15 years of speculation about tension between the exes.So it perhaps wasn’t surprising that all eyes were on Brad and Jen at last week’s Golden Globes. They have attended only a handful of the same public events since their divorce, and while they have seen each other in private, it has always been low-key.Jennifer was nominated for her work on The Morning Show and…3 min
Grazia|Issue 7615 They’re Hollywood’s new power players… but Phoebe and Jodie aren’t forgetting their British rootsPHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES IT SEEMED AS IF every star in the world had descended on LA last week for the Golden Globes. The biggest names in film and television rubbed shoulders, drank champagne and dined on an all-vegan menu. (A surprisingly tasty carrot soup, FYI.) And yet, in the clamour of the weekend, one woman proved to be firmly on the top of everyone’s must-meet list: Phoebe Waller-Bridge. There was a sign of things to come on the Friday before the Globes – the first major ceremony of the season – at a separate event thrown by the American Film Institute. Phoebe was swamped by A-list admirers. Joaquin Phoenix – tipped for an Oscar for The Joker – appeared charmed. Laura Dern, currently the toast of Hollywood thanks to Little…3 min
Grazia|Issue 7619 Am I the only one feeling strange about ‘new’ Adele?MOST OF US are still rolling around in our post-Christmas comas, trying to remember that half a Terry’s Chocolate Orange and a mince pie is not a normal midmorning snack. But not Adele, who was pictured last week on a beach in the Caribbean, on holiday with Harry Styles, and looking undeniably thin.It’s impossible not to notice – no matter how hard we’re all trying to care less about bodies and weight and dress sizes – that the singer, 31, has lost a significant amount of weight. And if you’re someone – like me – who previously saw her as a kindred mid-sized spirit, then it’s equally difficult not to feel at least a little stung by the changes she has made, and the world’s reaction to them.Headlines have heralded…4 min
Grazia|Issue 76110 Elizabeth Wurtzel gave us all rules to live byAUTHOR, JOURNALIST, Generation X poster girl and cultural force Elizabeth Wurtzel died last week at the age of 52, after a long battle with breast cancer.Her debut 1994 memoir, Prozac Nation: Young And Depressed In America, about her struggles with heroin and cocaine as a Harvard undergraduate, rocketed her on to The New York Times best-seller list at 27. The book marked a new era of confessional writing and transparency about mental health, self-harm, casual sex and addiction that foreshadowed the confident tell-all style of social media today (as Elizabeth wrote later, ‘I was a hashtag before there was Twitter’).Young, beautiful and outspoken, she divided audiences with her writing style; was she courageously candid or merely neurotically self-obsessed? The New York Times Book Review dubbed her ‘Sylvia Plath with the…3 min
Grazia|Issue 7618 ‘After my friend was raped, I’d never return to Ayia Napa’PHOTOS: GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK IT IS A STORY that has provoked international outrage: the trial of a British teenager in Cyprus who was convicted of falsely accusing 12 Israeli men of gang rape. Last Tuesday, the 19-year-old’s ordeal finally came to a closure of sorts when she was handed a four-month suspended sentence for lying to the authorities. She left the Cypriot court in tears, with her mother shouting to reporters, ‘She’s coming home!’, later telling the media her daughter will be challenging the conviction. One woman who knows her story better than most is her best friend from her time in Ayia Napa, who was also on a working holiday between studies. Speaking at a protest organised by women’s groups outside the Cyprus High Commission in London last week, the…3 min
Grazia|Issue 7619 Am I the only one feeling strange about ‘new’ Adele?MOST OF US are still rolling around in our post-Christmas comas, trying to remember that half a Terry’s Chocolate Orange and a mince pie is not a normal midmorning snack. But not Adele, who was pictured last week on a beach in the Caribbean, on holiday with Harry Styles, and looking undeniably thin. It’s impossible not to notice – no matter how hard we’re all trying to care less about bodies and weight and dress sizes – that the singer, 31, has lost a significant amount of weight. And if you’re someone – like me – who previously saw her as a kindred mid-sized spirit, then it’s equally difficult not to feel at least a little stung by the changes she has made, and the world’s reaction to them. Headlines…4 min
Grazia|Issue 76110 Elizabeth Wurtzel gave us all rules to live byPHOTOS: EYEVINE AUTHOR, JOURNALIST, Generation X poster girl and cultural force Elizabeth Wurtzel died last week at the age of 52, after a long battle with breast cancer. Her debut 1994 memoir, Prozac Nation: Young And Depressed In America, about her struggles with heroin and cocaine as a Harvard undergraduate, rocketed her on to The New York Times best-seller list at 27. The book marked a new era of confessional writing and transparency about mental health, self-harm, casual sex and addiction that foreshadowed the confident tell-all style of social media today (as Elizabeth wrote later, ‘I was a hashtag before there was Twitter’). Young, beautiful and outspoken, she divided audiences with her writing style; was she courageously candid or merely neurotically self-obsessed? The New York Times Book Review dubbed her…3 min
Grazia|Issue 761IF CLOTHES COULD TALK...Sleeves go supersized Olivia Colman’s Emilia Wickstead gown had the most extravagance. ‘It’s a privilege to dress her,’ says Emilia. ‘We designed the dress to feel elegant and strong yet modern.’ Extra points for Olivia’s ‘50:50’ ring in support of gender equality for actresses. And then there were none... Sleeves that is, with several stars going sans straps. Scarlett Johansson balanced her sweetheart neckline with a ginormous bow at the back, Renée Zellweger made Cinderella-blue look unexpectedly modern and Nicole Kidman demonstrated that a bare collarbone + statement leg combo = still A Thing. Black and white luxed up Two of the night’s most megawatt looks proved one thing – monochrome is having its moment. Cynthia Erivo’s custom-made Thom Browne gown took 800 hours to bead. Our verdict? Worth. Every.…3 min
Grazia|Issue 761WHAT’S UP IN WESTMINSTER?Newly elected Tory MP for East Surrey Claire Coutinho, 34, talks about her first month on the job, immigration and surviving on endless cups of tea ‘I became an MP because I couldn’t bear the political gridlock any more’ PHOTO: THE SUN/NEWS LICENSING ‘I voted Leave and I wanted to help deliver Brexit’ “It was around 3am on the night of the election when they announced my results and I realised I’d won my seat of East Surrey [previously held by Conservative Sam Gyimah before he defected to the Lib Dems]. I’d been downing cups of tea trying to stay awake, and I was so excited – but it’s also nerve-racking thinking about how so many people put their trust in me. It filled me with a deep sense of…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761THIS WEEK’S MANIFESTOAdd a spoonful of sugar to your wardrobe. Pastels, bows and cute cardies exude sweetness.Polish your halo. The second Lululemon x Roksanda collection will help you keep those fitness resolutions.Go large. Outsize outerwear worked for Lauren Hutton in the ’70s, it works for you now.Check out Roberts | Wood. Royal College of Art graduate Katie Roberts-Wood’s collection is now available at Dover Street Market.Perfect your ‘with the band’ look. Diana Silvers in Celine is the Laurel Canyon dream.Raise your sneaker game – the hi-top is back.PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK,COURTESY OF CHLOÉ, DIANA SILVERS IMAGE COURTESY OF CELINE…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761SPIN IT, DON’T BIN IT!RE-WORK YOUR KNITSFor January, we recommend wearing your classic knits in pairs. Whether that’s aroundn your waist as a belt, tied diagonally under your arm and over your shoulder, as seen at Marni Resort ’20, or around your neck.WEAR IT WITH…As the top will be layered, keep your lower half streamlined. It’s all about the balance.STYLE TIPWearing two tonal shades is instant chic – time to make the most of all those grey sweaters!SLIP ON A SKINNY BELTThe belt has been a bubbling trend for several seasons now. The 2020 way to wear it? Skinny and layered over bulkier items. Great for adding shape to this season’s oversized outerwear.WEAR IT WITH…Take your work suit into street style territory with a little extra cinch.STYLE TIPTake inspiration from street stylers and use…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761MEET YOUR NEW TV STYLE OBSESSIONSSex EducationEric Effiong, played by Ncuti Gatwa, has seen online searches for matching tracksuits increase by 22%, according to Lyst, suggesting he’ll be wielding his influence yet again in season two.Available on Netflix from 17 JanuaryThe LuminariesBased on the Man Booker prize-winning novel, this stars Bond girl Eva Green and a whole lot of beautifully ornate costumes. Think prairie dresses and jacquard capes – two of fashion’s favourite trends for this season.On BBC Two, date to be confirmedShrillAidy Bryant plays Annie, a young woman trying to improve her career as a journalist while juggling terrible boyfriends and a boss from hell. It was a huge hit in the US, where it streamed on Hulu last year – expect a wardrobe full of bright, colourful prints and excellent accessories.Available on BBC…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761THE LAST TIME I HAD SEX... AND WHAT IT MEANT‘Why deprive myself of intimacy and pleasure?’ Jo*, 47, works in sales and lives in Cardiff ‘FANCY TWISTING MY nipples tonight?’ the WhatsApp message read. I should have just ignored it, after the way its sender – let’s call him Mr Nipple Twister – had ghosted me following our second date a few months earlier. We’d met on the dating app Happn, and the minute he walked into my local pub where we’d arranged to meet, I knew we had chemistry and would end up in bed together. That night, back at mine, we did, and again a few weeks later. The sex was fantastic so, when he went AWOL, I was hurt. Now he was back in touch, on a day I was feeling pretty rubbish (it’s like guys…3 min
Grazia|Issue 761THE GOOD ’UNSOmorovicza Miracle Facial Oil (4), £82This contains bakuchiol, the plant-based alternative to retinol. Delivered to your skin via an oil, bakuchiol has more direct access to the layers of skin it needs to work on for retinol-level effects.Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil (5), £24Carrying omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9 alongside antioxidant carotenoids, this oil is a healer in a bottle and even a soother to eczema-prone skin.Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow (6), £68Superfood oils carry vitamin C to your skin and help it penetrate at a deeper level, boosting its efficacy.…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761SPIN IT, DON’T BIN IT!RE-WORK YOUR KNITS For January, we recommend wearing your classic knits in pairs. Whether that’s aroundn your waist as a belt, tied diagonally under your arm and over your shoulder, as seen at Marni Resort ’20, or around your neck. WEAR IT WITH… As the top will be layered, keep your lower half streamlined. It’s all about the balance. STYLE TIP Wearing two tonal shades is instant chic – time to make the most of all those grey sweaters! SLIP ON A SKINNY BELT The belt has been a bubbling trend for several seasons now. The 2020 way to wear it? Skinny and layered over bulkier items. Great for adding shape to this season’s oversized outerwear. WEAR IT WITH… Take your work suit into street style territory with a little…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761BEST RECYCLING PRACTICECheck what can be recycled: visit gov.uk and type in your postcode to find out what materials are accepted in your local area. Separate where needed: plastic bottles are accepted by most recycling schemes – just ensure you remove trigger heads and pumps, which can’t yet be recycled. Clean your empties: use as much of the product up as possible before disposing of the container. Recycle unwanted materials: for complicated product packaging and material that’s not accepted by local schemes, send them to recycling firms like TerraCycle. Visit terracycle.co.uk and check the Garnier or Burt’s Bee schemes to see what can be recycled before finding your nearest depot.…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761IT’S THE WEEK TO…REMAIN CALM WITH...Manic, the third album from US singer Halsey. Featuring her hit song Without Me, it could push her into the British mainstream. Out FridayMOBILISE THE WORKFORCE WITH...Bombshell. Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie unite amid the Fox News sex scandal. Awards will follow... In cinemas, FridayMAKE A DATE WITH...Uncle Vanya. Richard Armitage and Sex Education’s Aimee Lou Wood star in the Chekhov masterpiece. Harold Pinter Theatre, London, now until MayGET AWAY WITH...Series two of The Travel Diaries, an enlightening Desert Island Discs-esque podcast that enlists stars including Dev Patel and Poppy Delevingne to share their wanderlust. Available nowLOOK INWARD WITH...Lucian Freud, A Self Portrait, an 80-minute film exploring the Royal Academy’s exceptional exhibition of the late painter’s work. Select screenings from Friday…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761WATCHOUR POP CULTURE EXPERT PAUL FLYNN HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT TV FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS…AT MOORDALE High School, a chlamydia outbreak has seen panic sweep the corridors. Teenagers are running up and down, screaming at one another. A young student opportunist is selling face masks, an odd precautionary measure against STIs even the useless biology master has fallen for. Our lovely young heroes, Otis and GBF Eric, wander into the maelstrom and begin to take its temperature. Another term, another opportunity for Eric’s counselling wheels to crank back into motion in the perpetually engaging oddity that is Sex Education. Paging Gillian Anderson: your services are once more required.In this Netflix show, the perfectly icy Ms Anderson softens her edges in the role of Jean Milburn, a sex therapist whose…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761MASTER GRAZIA’S LIFE SKILLSASK THE EXPERTHow to support a grieving friendPsychologist, Emma KennyThe most important thing to recognise is that you can’t save your friend from the pain. Instead, you have to be able to support them practically, as there’s a lot of stuff that has to be done, such as registering the death and organising the funeral. If you can say, ‘Let me help with that,’ you shift the energy and allow them to just focus on themselves. By asking your friend how you can help, you can make a huge difference.Contact is an absolute necessity. WhatsApp and phone calls are great, but the point is physical contact, so visit them. Call people who are failing them and ask them to get in contact. Grief is isolating, and it can feel like…6 min
Grazia|Issue 761HEALTHY(ISH!)How not to be a wellness maniac PHOTOS: ED MILES, GETTY IMAGES WE ALL KNOW how crazy the wellbeing industry has become in the past 10 years. Obviously, it’s wonderful that the nation is being advised to take vitamin D, exercise, eat lots of fruit and veg and ditch the Dunkin’ Donuts, but I have a problem with wellbeing ‘extremists’. You will find them mostly on Instagram with a before and after shot, crop top on, abs out, green juice in one hand, victory sign with the other. One post last month showed a former TV star listing everything she does for ‘maintenance’. It included gut-healthy foods, organic meat, biohacking, infrared saunas, matcha tea, grass-fed butter, a spike mat, gene supplement 5-HTP every night… the list went on. She finished…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761REFILLABLE, REUSABLE, RECYCLABLE BEAUTYTESTING NEW BEAUTY products is a fundamental (and, needless to say, fun) part of the job on the beauty desk. But unboxing new launch after new launch quickly opens your eyes to the sheer amount of packaging being wasted. Cellophane piles up upon cardboard sleeves, plastic packets and streams of synthetic ribbon, all meant for a moment’s worth of enjoyment, but ultimately to be discarded. The products in the aisles of supermarkets and department stores are no different. Just think how much plastic you have to get through to use a new toothbrush. In 2018, Zero Waste Week reported that an estimated 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry. Cardboard alone contributes to the loss of 18 million acres of forest each year.…5 min
Grazia|Issue 761IT’S THE WEEK TO…REMAIN CALM WITH... Manic, the third album from US singer Halsey. Featuring her hit song Without Me, it could push her into the British mainstream. Out Friday MOBILISE THE WORKFORCE WITH... Bombshell. Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie unite amid the Fox News sex scandal. Awards will follow... In cinemas, Friday MAKE A DATE WITH... Uncle Vanya. Richard Armitage and Sex Education’s Aimee Lou Wood star in the Chekhov masterpiece. Harold Pinter Theatre, London, now until May GET AWAY WITH... Series two of The Travel Diaries, an enlightening Desert Island Discs-esque podcast that enlists stars including Dev Patel and Poppy Delevingne to share their wanderlust. Available now LOOK INWARD WITH... Lucian Freud, A Self Portrait, an 80-minute film exploring the Royal Academy’s exceptional exhibition of the late painter’s work.…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761WELCOME TO THE ISSUEIT’S HARD TO believe that it was 20 months ago that the Duke and duch*ess of Sussex’s wedding had us all buzzing with optimism. Seeing this smart, 30-something woman who’d had her own career and was outspoken about key issues, I’m sure I wasn’t alone in feeling that Meghan’s ability and attitude would be a modernising force for the royal family. It was perhaps inevitable then that she would feel frustrated by her new role; it’s understandable that she and Harry would want to move away from an environment that’s become increasingly hostile towards them. So despite the bombshell nature of Megxit, explored on page 12, it could end up being the smartest move the couple have ever made. In choosing to prioritise their family, they’ve once again set out…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761Letter of the weekMOVED BY BRAVERY As I was preparing to face the first Friday night of dry January, I decided indulging in my favourite magazine would ward off temptation. Reading South Sudan – the women in need of hope (13 Jan) humbled me. Murder, abductions and rape are a common reality for these outstandingly brave women. I was in awe of their ability to wake, survive and love what family they still have left. I was so moved by the delicate delivery of the article and empowered that as a woman sat on a sofa I could make a small gesture to support CARE International by donating. Hopefully, we can continue to follow the journey of the women of South Sudan.…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761GRAZIA VIEW“Samira Ahmed proves justice is worth fighting for Hooray for journalist Samira Ahmed, who last week won her employment tribunal, which she brought against the BBC for sex discrimination. In her equal pay dispute she claimed she was underpaid for hosting Newswatch compared with Jeremy Vine’s salary for hosting Points Of View . She argued she is owed almost £700,000 in back pay because of the pay disparity. Her victory is a huge feat for anyone who has been discriminated against on the grounds of their gender, race, class, sexuality or disability. There’s still work to be done, but this is a turning point. So thank you, Samira, your bravery has led the way for us all and proved justice is always worth fighting for.”…1 min
Grazia|Issue 7611 MEGXIT PLANNED FOR MONTHSNEWS OF THE monarchy hasn’t been exactly mundane recently, but the drama surrounding the latest twist could barely have been dreamed up by the writers of The Crown .The Duke and duch*ess of Sussex’s statement last Wednesday detailed that, following their six-week break in Canada, they planned to ‘step back’ from royal duties and split their time between Britain and North America – with Canada expected to be their second home – as well as scaling back press involvement in their lives. They were also working to become financially independent, they said.This royal bombshell sent the Palace into crisis mode. It rushed out a curt statement saying that issues would ‘take time to work through’. Sources within said the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William were ‘incandescent’ on hearing about…6 min
Grazia|Issue 761THE ANALYSISIf Megxit exposed anything about Britain – and let’s be clear, it has revealed a lot – it’s that the country remains as uncomfortable as ever with race. From the momentMeghan Markle and Prince Harry first descended the steps of Windsor Castle as husband and wife, public reservations about the world’s most famous expat came trickling in, a dark undercurrent beneath the wave of optimism about the royal family’s new chapter. She’s too strong-willed. Too Hollywood. Too outspoken. Too feminist. Too American. Too woke. And black.That last one.You may not have heard talk about Meghan phrased as such, probably because the word ‘black’ bafflingly still seems to generate so much discomfort. And yet the feeling ran a through line, connecting a string of racist happenings in news outlets and on…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761‘DON’T PAINT MEGHAN AS THE MASTER MANIPULATOR’Social media has long made it easy for us to weigh in on every news story, and a scandal only compounds the urge. When that scandal happens to be royal, the clamour is almost deafening. There’s been a marked split over the Sussexes’ decision last week, between those who think the couple are heroes who’ve rejected an outdated and stifling institution, choosing to thrive, not just survive, and those who think Harry and Meghan are selfishly bent on bringing down the monarchy from the inside.There appears to be little middle ground – but it is interesting, and fairly depressing, how many people have rushed to paint Meghan as a kind of master manipulator. The narrative of women as manipulators who control their hapless husbands has been around since Eve ‘convinced’…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761‘DON’T PAINT MEGHAN AS THE MASTER MANIPULATOR’PHOTOS: I-IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK, GETTY, THE MEGA AGENCY Social media has long made it easy for us to weigh in on every news story, and a scandal only compounds the urge. When that scandal happens to be royal, the clamour is almost deafening. There’s been a marked split over the Sussexes’ decision last week, between those who think the couple are heroes who’ve rejected an outdated and stifling institution, choosing to thrive, not just survive, and those who think Harry and Meghan are selfishly bent on bringing down the monarchy from the inside. There appears to be little middle ground – but it is interesting, and fairly depressing, how many people have rushed to paint Meghan as a kind of master manipulator. The narrative of women as manipulators who control their…2 min
Grazia|Issue 7613 Here comes the (high street) brideIT MIGHT ONLY BE mid-January, but 2020 is already shaping up to be a great year to get married. Why? Because the white dress is having a moment – both on the catwalks and, you’ll be glad to know, on the high street – which means there’s pretty much never been a more exciting time to be a bride with a Pinterest board.The catwalks looked unmistakably bridal this spring. ‘The white dress was a runway hit, especially at Valentino, where Pierpaolo Piccioli opened the show with 12 white looks,’ says Browns’ womenswear buyer Holly Tenser. The store is launching a bridal category for the ‘unconventional bride’ on its website this season, with lace separates from Alexander McQueen and an ethereal lace-panel dress by Loewe. ‘More and more brides are looking…2 min
Grazia|Issue 7612 ‘It makes you think, is this the beginning of the end?’PHOTOS: REUTERS, HEADPRESS/EYEVINE AS SMOKE AND FLAMES engulfed the area where Shelley Caban, 36, lived with her partner Oliver and her three daughters, she says the emergency advice she was given was, ‘Keep driving north and don’t stop.’ Last week, they were forced to abandon their home in a tree-lined valley in New South Wales after they woke to find the sky glowing orange and the air filled with thick smoke. They packed as much as they could into a bus they own and left, joining the thousands of Australians who have been displaced by wildfires ravaging the country. Shelley, Oliver and Aria, 18, Aster, six, and Pearl, four, drove to an evacuation centre in the nearby town of Eden, but found it wasn’t safe there either. ‘I was told,…4 min
Grazia|Issue 7616 Get the menswear memoYOU’LL HAVE TO wait until February to see what womenswear designers have in store for autumn/winter ’20, when the Fashion Week roadshow kicks off in New York. But if you’re of the mindset that impatience is a virtue and want to get a jump-start on next season now, then you’re in luck. Smart (and stylish) women are now looking to the menswear collections – which we’re in the midst of at the moment – for inspiration.No wonder. At London Fashion Week Men’s, held in the capital last week, the shows were stuffed with pieces we’d like to see in our wardrobes, from Wales Bonner’s natty tailoring to Bethany Williams’ colourful appliqués and Martine Rose’s frill-front shirts and knotted sweaters. Forget borrowing from the boys – we’ll be snapping these up…4 min
Grazia|Issue 761Villa forecast? Bombshells with a chance of banter (and bickering)The beauty of Love Island is that you can rely on the contestants to be perfectly predictable. Here’s how we reckon the first week will play out… There’s always one contestant who can’t help but mention their claim to fame. We’ve had Dani Dyer (claim to fame: actor dad Danny Dyer), Marcel Somerville (claim to fame: um… did he happen to mention that he was in Blazin’ Squad?); this year it will likely be events manager Sophie Piper, whose sister is Rochelle Humes from The Saturdays and This Morning – not least because she is her doppelgänger. Production bosses will make sure that Lewis Capaldi songs are played over every sad scene involving his ex-girlfriend, singer Paige Turley, who dated him when they were teens. There will be a big…2 min
Grazia|Issue 7618 ‘After my friend was raped, I’d never return to Ayia Napa’IT IS A STORY that has provoked international outrage: the trial of a British teenager in Cyprus who was convicted of falsely accusing 12 Israeli men of gang rape.Last Tuesday, the 19-year-old’s ordeal finally came to a closure of sorts when she was handed a four-month suspended sentence for lying to the authorities. She left the Cypriot court in tears, with her mother shouting to reporters, ‘She’s coming home!’, later telling the media her daughter will be challenging the conviction.One woman who knows her story better than most is her best friend from her time in Ayia Napa, who was also on a working holiday between studies. Speaking at a protest organised by women’s groups outside the Cyprus High Commission in London last week, the 21-year-old told Grazia , ‘She…3 min
Grazia|Issue 7617 Inside the night ‘great friends’ Brad and Jen publicly reunitedPHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK IN 2005, AMERICA’S sweethearts Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt announced their separation and made fans all over the globe wonder if love itself had vanished from the world. Their statement followed many of the Hollywood clichés, requesting privacy and vowing that they would remain friends and stay supportive of each other. And yet, as soon as news broke of Brad’s relationship with Angelina Jolie, so began 15 years of speculation about tension between the exes. So it perhaps wasn’t surprising that all eyes were on Brad and Jen at last week’s Golden Globes. They have attended only a handful of the same public events since their divorce, and while they have seen each other in private, it has always been low-key. Jennifer was nominated for her…3 min
Grazia|Issue 761YES, YOU CAN BE FRIENDS WITH YOUR EXYou can stay connected to everyone you’ve ever met if you want to, thanks to social media. Why, then, do people find it so strange that you can be real-life friends with an ex? I’ve known my ex Roi for 20 years, after we met and dated for around a year. For most of the decades since we have been best friends. Roi, now 39, even gave a really touching speech at my 2018 wedding. We have the same friendship group, so the initial clearing of the air after we split was for their sake rather than ours. But, as time went on, we genuinely opted to spend time with one another. We may not have worked out as partners but, it turned out, thanks to our similar stupid sense…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761‘CHERYL’S SPERM DONOR REVELATION SHOULDN’T BE HEADLINE NEWS’IT’S A MODERN-DAY fairy tale. Grow up. Follow your work dreams by releasing five No1 singles and becoming one of the UK’s most successful artists. Follow your parenting dreams by having a child with a man you love, and then, after that relationship is over, another using donor sperm. At least, it is for former Girls Aloud star Cheryl, who announced last week that her intention to become a solo mum makes her ‘very happy’.As a mother of two amazing children conceived with the help of a sperm donor, I am delighted that Cheryl is so open about her plans to follow the same route to conceive her second child – and is already considering it for a third. Similarly to Cheryl, I found myself single in my late thirties.…6 min
Grazia|Issue 761ADELE’S A-LIST BRIT PACKEver since Adele arrived on the global scene, her soulful performances, sweeping ballads and windswept music videos painted her as somewhat sad, a woman in pain finding solace from heartache through music. And yet, anyone who knows her credits her with a winning sense of humour, the love of a good party and, of course, a wicked laugh. Now that she’s found a place amid the British contingency of a Hollywood A-list set, we’re seeing more and more of her lust for life. Adele spent the turn of the year on the beach in the Caribbean, seeing 2020 in at a restaurant with Harry Styles and James Corden. Back in LA, the trio are part of an impressive circle, including Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber,…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761OUR PICK OF THE YEAR’S UPCOMING MUSIC MOMENTSGlastonbury celebratesAs the daddy of festivals turns 50 this summer, Paul McCartney will be singing all the Beatles classics on the Pyramid Stage. Also headlining is Taylor Swift, while Diana Ross plays the Sunday ‘legends’ slot.Dua Lipa returnsFollowing the release of her new album Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa’s UK tour kicks off 26 May. Expect all the hits, including New Rules and Don’t Start Now.Number’s up for AdeleThe queen of break-up anthems is bringing out another album. ‘This is the last album [named] after my age,’ she said after 25 in 2015. ‘I believe in trilogies. The next one is just gonna be Adele.’Harry Styles on tourAfter the release of his revered album Fine Line and his hilarious performance on SNL, Harry Styles is the man of the moment. This…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761OTHER NOVELS TO GET EXCITED ABOUTMy Dark Vanessa, Kate Elizabeth Russell (Fourth Estate)Widely touted as the book that will have everyone talking this year, it tells the story of a relationship between a 15-year-old girl and her teacher.Out 31 MarchGrown Ups, Marian Keyes (Michael Joseph)A new Keyes is always a cause for celebration. The wit and warmth of her words in her 14th novel tell the story of the Caseys, a supposedly perfect family, torn apart by a careless remark at a birthday party.Out 6 FebruaryDeath In Her Hands, Ottessa Moshfegh (Penguin)Fans of Instagram’s favourite book, My Year Of Rest And Relaxation, will be delighted by Moshfegh’s latest release – about a widow whose life is upturned by a note she finds in the woods.Out 21 AprilGhosts, Dolly Alderton (Fig Tree)Nina Dean is a food…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761THE LAST TIME I HAD SEX... AND WHAT IT MEANT‘Why deprive myself of intimacy and pleasure?’Jo*, 47, works in sales and lives in Cardiff‘FANCY TWISTING MY nipples tonight?’ the WhatsApp message read. I should have just ignored it, after the way its sender – let’s call him Mr Nipple Twister – had ghosted me following our second date a few months earlier.We’d met on the dating app Happn, and the minute he walked into my local pub where we’d arranged to meet, I knew we had chemistry and would end up in bed together. That night, back at mine, we did, and again a few weeks later. The sex was fantastic so, when he went AWOL, I was hurt.Now he was back in touch, on a day I was feeling pretty rubbish (it’s like guys have a sixth sense)…3 min
Grazia|Issue 761MEET THE CLASS OF 2020MUSIC ASTRID S THE POP IDOL TURNED ECO-WARRIOR ASTRID S, THE Norwegian singer who found fame on her country’s version of Pop Idol, is setting an excellent example. This year, the 23-year-old will embark on a worldwide carbon-neutral tour. ‘I want to take responsibility,’ she tells Grazia over the phone, explaining that she will be supporting a windfarm in Vienna to offset the tour’s carbon footprint. Astrid performed at one of Greta Thunberg’s climate strikes in Stockholm last year. ‘Feeling the energy, anger and excitement of the children was really powerful,’ Astrid says, adding that the climate activist was calm, focused and gentle. ‘Greta’s an important human being.’ For Astrid, songwriting enables her to talk about things that are weighing her down. One particular track, Jump, is about a time…7 min
Grazia|Issue 761DRESSED TO NETFLIX AND THRILLNOT SINCE SARAH LUND’S Scandi-noir knitwear in The Killing or Betty Draper’s co*cktail dresses in Mad Men have we seen television exert such influence over our clothes. Whether you’re aiming for the understated perfection of Shiv Roy in Succession or the cheery femininity of Midge Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, online streaming platforms may have changed the way we engage with TV, but they certainly haven’t lessened its influence. In fact, when it comes to our wardrobes, they’ve only served to strengthen it.Say ‘Killing Eve’ and you conjure a vision of Villanelle navigating the streets of Paris in a bright pink tulle dress. A dress designed by Molly Goddard as part of her S/S ’17 collection. ‘The pink Jack dress was from our archive and not for sale when…6 min
Grazia|Issue 761OTHER NOVELS TO GET EXCITED ABOUTMy Dark Vanessa, Kate Elizabeth Russell (Fourth Estate) Widely touted as the book that will have everyone talking this year, it tells the story of a relationship between a 15-year-old girl and her teacher. Out 31 March Grown Ups, Marian Keyes (Michael Joseph) A new Keyes is always a cause for celebration. The wit and warmth of her words in her 14th novel tell the story of the Caseys, a supposedly perfect family, torn apart by a careless remark at a birthday party. Out 6 February Death In Her Hands, Ottessa Moshfegh (Penguin) Fans of Instagram’s favourite book, My Year Of Rest And Relaxation, will be delighted by Moshfegh’s latest release – about a widow whose life is upturned by a note she finds in the woods. Out 21 April…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761HOW I LEARNED TO LOVE BEING ALONEPHOTOS: STOCKSY MOST OF US LOOK forward to a regular, weekly ritual: a Monday yoga class, Wednesday date night, blowing off steam at Friday work drinks. For me, it’s the hour I spend eating breakfast alone on a Saturday morning. This takes place at my local café, a cosy, oak-furnished spot where the staff don’t bat an eyelid to see me by myself, eating scrambled eggs while reading the supplements. It’s the place I feel more like myself than anywhere else. But it hasn’t always been this way. Growing up, being alone was my biggest fear. My childhood diaries are testament to this – full of existential crises centred around having no one to partner up with in PE. Come secondary school, it was missing out on house parties or…5 min
Grazia|Issue 761HEALTHY(ISH!)How not to be a wellness maniacWE ALL KNOW how crazy the wellbeing industry has become in the past 10 years. Obviously, it’s wonderful that the nation is being advised to take vitamin D, exercise, eat lots of fruit and veg and ditch the Dunkin’ Donuts, but I have a problem with wellbeing ‘extremists’. You will find them mostly on Instagram with a before and after shot, crop top on, abs out, green juice in one hand, victory sign with the other. One post last month showed a former TV star listing everything she does for ‘maintenance’. It included gut-healthy foods, organic meat, biohacking, infrared saunas, matcha tea, grass-fed butter, a spike mat, gene supplement 5-HTP every night… the list went on. She finished with: ‘THIS IS A BASIC LIST.’But…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761MEET YOUR NEW TV STYLE OBSESSIONSPHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES Sex Education Eric Effiong, played by Ncuti Gatwa, has seen online searches for matching tracksuits increase by 22%, according to Lyst, suggesting he’ll be wielding his influence yet again in season two. Available on Netflix from 17 January The Luminaries Based on the Man Booker prize-winning novel, this stars Bond girl Eva Green and a whole lot of beautifully ornate costumes. Think prairie dresses and jacquard capes – two of fashion’s favourite trends for this season. On BBC Two, date to be confirmed Shrill Aidy Bryant plays Annie, a young woman trying to improve her career as a journalist while juggling terrible boyfriends and a boss from hell. It was a huge hit in the US, where it streamed on Hulu last year – expect a wardrobe…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761TAKE NOTECoats to suit New brand Marfa Stance’s coats are designed to be adaptable, reversible and customisable, with details such as removable collars and hoods. Seriously smart. marfastance.com OUT OF AFRICA If you’ve made the decision to shop more consciously, check out Akojo Market. Founded last year, the British e-commerce site offers a carefully curated edit of products by independent, sustainable and mostly female-founded African businesses. A must visit. akojomarket.com ROMANTIC REBELS A reason to be cheerful now, Pierpaolo Piccioli has unveiled a new direction for RED Valentino, injecting the label’s signature romance with a rebellious kick. We’ll be wearing the party dresses with stompy boots. What January blues? redvalentino.com BAG YOURSELF A CLASSIC A classic cross-body bag – like this Furla 1927 style – is the kind of no-brainer purchase…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761EXPLORE The Grazia Travel List 2020THE STARGAZING PARADISEElqui Valley is an oasis in the Atacama desert of northern Chile and boasts skies of unrivalled purity, making it the perfect location for the world’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral described the place as ‘a cry of nature rising amidst the opaque mountains and intense blue sky’. At souped-up glamping retreat Elqui Domos, stay in geodesic domes with retractable roofs to observe the night from the comfort of your own bed. The valley is also known as ‘South America’s Tibet’, thanks to its supposed healing energies, due to its position as the magnetic centre of the world. From £75pn; elquidomos.clTHE LUXURY VEGAN HOTELSaorsa 1875 in Pitlochry, Perthshire, has 11 ethically luxurious rooms offering all ‘plant curious’ travellers the opportunity to feast…8 min
Grazia|Issue 761THE GOOD ’UNSOmorovicza Miracle Facial Oil (4), £82 This contains bakuchiol, the plant-based alternative to retinol. Delivered to your skin via an oil, bakuchiol has more direct access to the layers of skin it needs to work on for retinol-level effects. Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil (5), £24 Carrying omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9 alongside antioxidant carotenoids, this oil is a healer in a bottle and even a soother to eczema-prone skin. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow (6), £68 Superfood oils carry vitamin C to your skin and help it penetrate at a deeper level, boosting its efficacy.…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761AT THE END OF THE DAY…D I N A ASHER-SMITH24, ATHLETETHE WORLD CHAMPION SPRINTER ON DRAG RACE, LOATHING BANANAS AND SKINCAREI train six days a week so, in the evenings, when I first walk through my front door, I take my shoes off, flop on the bed, then get up to cook or tidy. I also like to light a scented candle and make myself a mint tea. I live alone in a modern flat in Kent, and my favourite thing in my home is the bath taps – that is such an adult thing to say! They’re an old Victorian style and so traditional, I love them.I’m a book person, rather than a film person. The book I’ve been recommending for over a year now is This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay.…3 min
Grazia|Issue 761BEST RECYCLING PRACTICE■ Check what can be recycled: visit gov.uk and type in your postcode to find out what materials are accepted in your local area. ■ Separate where needed: plastic bottles are accepted by most recycling schemes – just ensure you remove trigger heads and pumps, which can’t yet be recycled. ■ Clean your empties: use as much of the product up as possible before disposing of the container. ■ Recycle unwanted materials: for complicated product packaging and material that’s not accepted by local schemes, send them to recycling firms like TerraCycle. Visit terracycle.co.uk and check the Garnier or Burt’s Bee schemes to see what can be recycled before finding your nearest depot.…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761OVER TO YOU...GET THE HAPPY HABIT So many New Year’s resolutions disappear like a lost sock in the laundry. And when my normal routine leaves me tired, busy and distracted, it is difficult to get back on track. So I was really grateful for The power of (good) habits (13 Jan). Hanging out with friends, going to the movies, buying myself that magazine – I am going to indulge myself and these frequent, healthy rewards will keep me on track. Thank you. Clearly, setting and reaching goals isn’t about willpower, it’s about the power of one’s own intention. Once I’ve mastered these few steps, I’ll be well-equipped to follow through on my resolutions – this time, for good. Corrina Williams Thank you for an issue (13 Jan) overflowing with inspiration. I identified…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761Letter of the weekMOVED BY BRAVERYAs I was preparing to face the first Friday night of dry January, I decided indulging in my favourite magazine would ward off temptation. Reading South Sudan – the women in need of hope (13 Jan) humbled me. Murder, abductions and rape are a common reality for these outstandingly brave women. I was in awe of their ability to wake, survive and love what family they still have left. I was so moved by the delicate delivery of the article and empowered that as a woman sat on a sofa I could make a small gesture to support CARE International by donating. Hopefully, we can continue to follow the journey of the women of South Sudan.…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761I’m starting a revolution. Step one: twerkingI DON’T BELIEVE in doing things differently just because it’s a new year, any more than I believe in To Do lists and horoscopes. They’re all vain attempts to impose purpose and order on the rambling, doomed chaos that is the human experience; to think otherwise is to indulge the kind of harmless delusion that made crystal therapy happen. And yet… When I get a WhatsApp from my boxing trainer suggesting we switch shiz up in 2020 by adding an hour’s twerking session to the back end of our weekly boxing training, oh! I cannot respond quickly enough. ‘A thousand times YES!’ I reply, though my message is lost in a mounting deluge of equally giddy responses from the rest of the group.So it is On; we launch this brave…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761TWO ROLLER-COASTER YEARS – HARRY + MEGHAN’S DRAMATIC STORY27 November 2017It all started with a roast chicken. While cooking at home, Prince Harry popped the question. The country rejoiced as the couple smiled for the cameras.19 May 2018By May, they were married. The most A-list royal wedding of all time was joyous and elegant. Meghan was a vision in Givenchy, and mother Doria won our hearts.9 June 2018Harry appeared to curtly tell Meghan to ‘turn around’ during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony. Meghan looked less than pleased…14 July 2018Love on the court? In a show of solidarity after talk of a feud, Meghan joined Kate at Wimbledon. The sisters-in-law were photographed enjoying each other’s company.6 May 2019Archie Mountbatten Windsor was born. The couple decided not to give him a title. A hint of their future plans?25 June…1 min
Grazia|Issue 7611 MEGXIT PLANNED FOR MONTHSNEWS OF THE monarchy hasn’t been exactly mundane recently, but the drama surrounding the latest twist could barely have been dreamed up by the writers of The Crown . The Duke and duch*ess of Sussex’s statement last Wednesday detailed that, following their six-week break in Canada, they planned to ‘step back’ from royal duties and split their time between Britain and North America – with Canada expected to be their second home – as well as scaling back press involvement in their lives. They were also working to become financially independent, they said. This royal bombshell sent the Palace into crisis mode. It rushed out a curt statement saying that issues would ‘take time to work through’. Sources within said the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William were ‘incandescent’ on…6 min
Grazia|Issue 761MEGHAN AND HARRY’S NEW DECADE…The couple are welcomed by Canada’s A-list social circle. Meghan exchanges words of inspiration over WhatsApp with Celine Dion and offers Justin Bieber life-coaching sessions.She relaunches her lifestyle blog, The Tig, with a fresh set of peony photos and a new twist on her avocado toast recipe. Serena Williams writes a column on mindfulness, while Amal Clooney contributes a seasonal guide to tablescaping. In a video feature called ‘Souls and Stomachs’, Meghan shares bowls of grains with an inspiring friend: the first guest is Archbishop Desmond Tutu.Harry takes a few years to ‘find himself’. Occasionally, he catches himself waving regally at strangers. In his quest for financial independence, he invests in Canada’s booming new industry, cannabis. His now-teenage nephew George finds this interesting.Archie adapts well to Canadian life, attending a…1 min
Grazia|Issue 7612 ‘It makes you think, is this the beginning of the end?’AS SMOKE AND FLAMES engulfed the area where Shelley Caban, 36, lived with her partner Oliver and her three daughters, she says the emergency advice she was given was, ‘Keep driving north and don’t stop.’ Last week, they were forced to abandon their home in a tree-lined valley in New South Wales after they woke to find the sky glowing orange and the air filled with thick smoke. They packed as much as they could into a bus they own and left, joining the thousands of Australians who have been displaced by wildfires ravaging the country.Shelley, Oliver and Aria, 18, Aster, six, and Pearl, four, drove to an evacuation centre in the nearby town of Eden, but found it wasn’t safe there either. ‘I was told, “The fire is heading…4 min
Grazia|Issue 7614 Love Island’s back – and with a new hostLAURA WHITMORE IS speaking to me from Cape Town, where she has just landed to present the new series of Love Island . ‘It’s bloody hot is what it is,’ she says. ‘It was 29 degrees yesterday! And I’m Irish, so I’ve SPF 50 with me. I’m not like all these bronzed bodies going in – I’m just trying not to be sunburnt.’You’d understand if Laura was a little tense, considering the circ*mstances under which she’s joined the show: she replaces Caroline Flack, who bowed out of this series following an assault charge just before Christmas. For legal reasons, Laura is not allowed to chat about this, but points me to the statement she released: ‘[Caroline] has been incredibly gracious and supportive of me taking on the role for the…5 min
Grazia|Issue 7613 Here comes the (high street) brideIT MIGHT ONLY BE mid-January, but 2020 is already shaping up to be a great year to get married. Why? Because the white dress is having a moment – both on the catwalks and, you’ll be glad to know, on the high street – which means there’s pretty much never been a more exciting time to be a bride with a Pinterest board. The catwalks looked unmistakably bridal this spring. ‘The white dress was a runway hit, especially at Valentino, where Pierpaolo Piccioli opened the show with 12 white looks,’ says Browns’ womenswear buyer Holly Tenser. The store is launching a bridal category for the ‘unconventional bride’ on its website this season, with lace separates from Alexander McQueen and an ethereal lace-panel dress by Loewe. ‘More and more brides are…2 min
Grazia|Issue 7614 Love Island’s back – and with a new hostLAURA WHITMORE IS speaking to me from Cape Town, where she has just landed to present the new series of Love Island . ‘It’s bloody hot is what it is,’ she says. ‘It was 29 degrees yesterday! And I’m Irish, so I’ve SPF 50 with me. I’m not like all these bronzed bodies going in – I’m just trying not to be sunburnt.’ You’d understand if Laura was a little tense, considering the circ*mstances under which she’s joined the show: she replaces Caroline Flack, who bowed out of this series following an assault charge just before Christmas. For legal reasons, Laura is not allowed to chat about this, but points me to the statement she released: ‘[Caroline] has been incredibly gracious and supportive of me taking on the role for…5 min
Grazia|Issue 761YES, YOU CAN BE FRIENDS WITH YOUR EXYou can stay connected to everyone you’ve ever met if you want to, thanks to social media. Why, then, do people find it so strange that you can be real-life friends with an ex? I’ve known my ex Roi for 20 years, after we met and dated for around a year. For most of the decades since we have been best friends. Roi, now 39, even gave a really touching speech at my 2018 wedding.We have the same friendship group, so the initial clearing of the air after we split was for their sake rather than ours. But, as time went on, we genuinely opted to spend time with one another. We may not have worked out as partners but, it turned out, thanks to our similar stupid sense of…1 min
Grazia|Issue 7616 Get the menswear memoSHOPPING: KACION MAYERS. PHOTOS: JASON LLOYD-EVANS, GETTY IMAGES YOU’LL HAVE TO wait until February to see what womenswear designers have in store for autumn/winter ’20, when the Fashion Week roadshow kicks off in New York. But if you’re of the mindset that impatience is a virtue and want to get a jump-start on next season now, then you’re in luck. Smart (and stylish) women are now looking to the menswear collections – which we’re in the midst of at the moment – for inspiration. No wonder. At London Fashion Week Men’s, held in the capital last week, the shows were stuffed with pieces we’d like to see in our wardrobes, from Wales Bonner’s natty tailoring to Bethany Williams’ colourful appliqués and Martine Rose’s frill-front shirts and knotted sweaters. Forget borrowing…4 min
Grazia|Issue 761ADELE’S A-LIST BRIT PACKEver since Adele arrived on the global scene, her soulful performances, sweeping ballads and windswept music videos painted her as somewhat sad, a woman in pain finding solace from heartache through music. And yet, anyone who knows her credits her with a winning sense of humour, the love of a good party and, of course, a wicked laugh. Now that she’s found a place amid the British contingency of a Hollywood A-list set, we’re seeing more and more of her lust for life.Adele spent the turn of the year on the beach in the Caribbean, seeing 2020 in at a restaurant with Harry Styles and James Corden. Back in LA, the trio are part of an impressive circle, including Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, and…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761IF CLOTHES COULD TALK...Sleeves go supersizedOlivia Colman’s Emilia Wickstead gown had the most extravagance. ‘It’s a privilege to dress her,’ says Emilia. ‘We designed the dress to feel elegant and strong yet modern.’ Extra points for Olivia’s ‘50:50’ ring in support of gender equality for actresses.And then there were none...Sleeves that is, with several stars going sans straps. Scarlett Johansson balanced her sweetheart neckline with a ginormous bow at the back, Renée Zellweger made Cinderella-blue look unexpectedly modern and Nicole Kidman demonstrated that a bare collarbone + statement leg combo = still A Thing.Black and white luxed upTwo of the night’s most megawatt looks proved one thing – monochrome is having its moment. Cynthia Erivo’s custom-made Thom Browne gown took 800 hours to bead. Our verdict? Worth. Every. Second.Cut it outSienna Miller and…3 min
Grazia|Issue 761WHAT’S UP IN WESTMINSTER?Newly elected Tory MP for East Surrey Claire Coutinho, 34, talks about her first month on the job, immigration and surviving on endless cups of tea‘I became an MP because I couldn’t bear the political gridlock any more’ ‘I voted Leave and I wanted to help deliver Brexit’“It was around 3am on the night of the election when they announced my results and I realised I’d won my seat of East Surrey [previously held by Conservative Sam Gyimah before he defected to the Lib Dems]. I’d been downing cups of tea trying to stay awake, and I was so excited – but it’s also nerve-racking thinking about how so many people put their trust in me. It filled me with a deep sense of wanting to deliver. It was tricky…2 min
Grazia|Issue 761MEET THE CLASS OF 2020MUSICASTRID STHE POP IDOL TURNED ECO-WARRIORASTRID S, THE Norwegian singer who found fame on her country’s version of Pop Idol, is setting an excellent example. This year, the 23-year-old will embark on a worldwide carbon-neutral tour. ‘I want to take responsibility,’ she tells Grazia over the phone, explaining that she will be supporting a windfarm in Vienna to offset the tour’s carbon footprint.Astrid performed at one of Greta Thunberg’s climate strikes in Stockholm last year. ‘Feeling the energy, anger and excitement of the children was really powerful,’ Astrid says, adding that the climate activist was calm, focused and gentle. ‘Greta’s an important human being.’For Astrid, songwriting enables her to talk about things that are weighing her down. One particular track, Jump, is about a time she was deeply depressed and…8 min
Grazia|Issue 761OUR PICK OF THE YEAR’S OTHER TV TO WATCHThe LuminariesCasino Royale’s Eva Green is starring in the big budget TV adaptation of Eleanor Catton’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel, due to air on BBC Two this spring.I Hate SuzieBillie Piper reunites with Secret Diary Of A Call Girl writer Lucy Prebble to co-create this Sky Atlantic drama, in which she plays a star whose phone is hacked. When a compromising image is leaked, her whole world is turned upside down.Small AxeOscar-winning writer and director Steve McQueen is bringing an anthology of hour-long stories about London’s West Indian community to BBC One, with stars including Black Panther’s Letitia Wright and Star Wars’ John Boyega.The Last Days Of Marilyn MonroeThe final months of the bombshell’s life provide the setting for this four-part BBC drama. The show will trace the run-up to…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761‘CHERYL’S SPERM DONOR REVELATION SHOULDN’T BE HEADLINE NEWS’IT’S A MODERN-DAY fairy tale. Grow up. Follow your work dreams by releasing five No1 singles and becoming one of the UK’s most successful artists. Follow your parenting dreams by having a child with a man you love, and then, after that relationship is over, another using donor sperm. At least, it is for former Girls Aloud star Cheryl, who announced last week that her intention to become a solo mum makes her ‘very happy’. As a mother of two amazing children conceived with the help of a sperm donor, I am delighted that Cheryl is so open about her plans to follow the same route to conceive her second child – and is already considering it for a third. Similarly to Cheryl, I found myself single in my late…6 min
Grazia|Issue 761HOW I LEARNED TO LOVE BEING ALONEMOST OF US LOOK forward to a regular, weekly ritual: a Monday yoga class, Wednesday date night, blowing off steam at Friday work drinks. For me, it’s the hour I spend eating breakfast alone on a Saturday morning. This takes place at my local café, a cosy, oak-furnished spot where the staff don’t bat an eyelid to see me by myself, eating scrambled eggs while reading the supplements. It’s the place I feel more like myself than anywhere else.But it hasn’t always been this way. Growing up, being alone was my biggest fear. My childhood diaries are testament to this – full of existential crises centred around having no one to partner up with in PE. Come secondary school, it was missing out on house parties or being the only…5 min
Grazia|Issue 761OUR PICK OF THE YEAR’S UPCOMING MUSIC MOMENTSGlastonbury celebrates As the daddy of festivals turns 50 this summer, Paul McCartney will be singing all the Beatles classics on the Pyramid Stage. Also headlining is Taylor Swift, while Diana Ross plays the Sunday ‘legends’ slot. Dua Lipa returns Following the release of her new album Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa’s UK tour kicks off 26 May. Expect all the hits, including New Rules and Don’t Start Now. Number’s up for Adele The queen of break-up anthems is bringing out another album. ‘This is the last album [named] after my age,’ she said after 25 in 2015. ‘I believe in trilogies. The next one is just gonna be Adele.’ Harry Styles on tour After the release of his revered album Fine Line and his hilarious performance on SNL, Harry Styles…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761OUR PICK OF THE YEAR’S OTHER TV TO WATCHThe Luminaries Casino Royale’s Eva Green is starring in the big budget TV adaptation of Eleanor Catton’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel, due to air on BBC Two this spring. I Hate Suzie Billie Piper reunites with Secret Diary Of A Call Girl writer Lucy Prebble to co-create this Sky Atlantic drama, in which she plays a star whose phone is hacked. When a compromising image is leaked, her whole world is turned upside down. Small Axe Oscar-winning writer and director Steve McQueen is bringing an anthology of hour-long stories about London’s West Indian community to BBC One, with stars including Black Panther’s Letitia Wright and Star Wars’ John Boyega. The Last Days Of Marilyn Monroe The final months of the bombshell’s life provide the setting for this four-part BBC drama.…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761TAKE NOTECoats to suitNew brand Marfa Stance’s coats are designed to be adaptable, reversible and customisable, with details such as removable collars and hoods. Seriously smart. marfastance.comOUT OF AFRICAIf you’ve made the decision to shop more consciously, check out Akojo Market. Founded last year, the British e-commerce site offers a carefully curated edit of products by independent, sustainable and mostly female-founded African businesses. A must visit. akojomarket.comROMANTIC REBELSA reason to be cheerful now, Pierpaolo Piccioli has unveiled a new direction for RED Valentino, injecting the label’s signature romance with a rebellious kick. We’ll be wearing the party dresses with stompy boots. What January blues? redvalentino.comBAG YOURSELF A CLASSICA classic cross-body bag – like this Furla 1927 style – is the kind of no-brainer purchase that will never date. Put your own…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761WELL OILEDIN LIFE, THERE tends to be a handful of topics that split opinion quicker than you can say Marmite. The beauty world’s variety is facial oil. Since the use of face oils came really to the fore over a decade ago (as a spin-off from an obsession with plant-based cosmetics and organic produce), arguments have raged over their efficacy and, indeed, necessity. Midway through their nouvelle vague phase it was the consumer who was sceptical. ‘But surely adding oil to my face causes spots!’ we exclaimed. ‘Not at all, little one,’ the beauty industry replied, holding our hands through the skincare aisles as we filled our baskets.So, slowly but surely, we came around to the idea, heading down a well-oiled route in search of optimal skin health. Indeed, nowadays you’d…4 min
Grazia|Issue 761THIS WEEK’S MANIFESTOPHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK,COURTESY OF CHLOÉ, DIANA SILVERS IMAGE COURTESY OF CELINE Add a spoonful of sugar to your wardrobe. Pastels, bows and cute cardies exude sweetness. Polish your halo. The second Lululemon x Roksanda collection will help you keep those fitness resolutions. Go large. Outsize outerwear worked for Lauren Hutton in the ’70s, it works for you now. Check out Roberts | Wood. Royal College of Art graduate Katie Roberts-Wood’s collection is now available at Dover Street Market. Perfect your ‘with the band’ look. Diana Silvers in Celine is the Laurel Canyon dream. Raise your sneaker game – the hi-top is back.…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761DRESSED TO NETFLIX AND THRILLNOT SINCE SARAH LUND’S Scandi-noir knitwear in The Killing or Betty Draper’s co*cktail dresses in Mad Men have we seen television exert such influence over our clothes. Whether you’re aiming for the understated perfection of Shiv Roy in Succession or the cheery femininity of Midge Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, online streaming platforms may have changed the way we engage with TV, but they certainly haven’t lessened its influence. In fact, when it comes to our wardrobes, they’ve only served to strengthen it. Say ‘Killing Eve’ and you conjure a vision of Villanelle navigating the streets of Paris in a bright pink tulle dress. A dress designed by Molly Goddard as part of her S/S ’17 collection. ‘The pink Jack dress was from our archive and not for sale…6 min
Grazia|Issue 761REFILLABLE, REUSABLE, RECYCLABLE BEAUTYTESTING NEW BEAUTY products is a fundamental (and, needless to say, fun) part of the job on the beauty desk. But unboxing new launch after new launch quickly opens your eyes to the sheer amount of packaging being wasted. Cellophane piles up upon cardboard sleeves, plastic packets and streams of synthetic ribbon, all meant for a moment’s worth of enjoyment, but ultimately to be discarded. The products in the aisles of supermarkets and department stores are no different. Just think how much plastic you have to get through to use a new toothbrush.In 2018, Zero Waste Week reported that an estimated 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry. Cardboard alone contributes to the loss of 18 million acres of forest each year. And,…5 min
Grazia|Issue 761UNDERSTAND THE KEY SYMBOLSMOBIUS LOOPThis indicates that the product can be recycled. If there’s a percentage in the middle, this means it has been made from that amount of recycled material.PLASTICSWhen the mobius symbol is on a plastic product, there will be a number in the middle (from 1 to 7) to signify what type of plastic it is and how you can recycle it.WIDELY RECYCLEDThis means it can be recycled by more than 75% of local councils in the UK. Check you’re not in the unlucky 25%.CHECK LOCALLYThis packaging can be recycled by 20-70% of local councils, so make sure you check before binning.THE GREEN DOTThis doesn’t mean the product is recyclable or has been recycled. Rather, the packaging producer has contributed financially to recycling services.FOREST CERTIFIEDThe Forest Stewardship Council logo identifies…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761WELL OILEDIN LIFE, THERE tends to be a handful of topics that split opinion quicker than you can say Marmite. The beauty world’s variety is facial oil. Since the use of face oils came really to the fore over a decade ago (as a spin-off from an obsession with plant-based cosmetics and organic produce), arguments have raged over their efficacy and, indeed, necessity. Midway through their nouvelle vague phase it was the consumer who was sceptical. ‘But surely adding oil to my face causes spots!’ we exclaimed. ‘Not at all, little one,’ the beauty industry replied, holding our hands through the skincare aisles as we filled our baskets. So, slowly but surely, we came around to the idea, heading down a well-oiled route in search of optimal skin health. Indeed, nowadays…4 min
Grazia|Issue 7617 DAYS OF TVCatch up on…Don’t F *** With CatsA cross between a true crime docu-series, YouTube pet showreel and absolute domestic horror story may not sound like the breakout hit of the festive season. But come on, this deeply unsettling example of televisual WTF-ery was everything the schmaltz of Christmas 2019 deserved. It will give you nightmares. In a massively pleasing way.NetflixWatch live…Love IslandI mean, as if you need telling. You will be, right?Nightly, ITV2Wallow in…Grace And FrankieIt’s with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we say goodbye to Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in one of the most dependable sitcoms of the last decade. Grace (Fonda) is the unimpeachable Republican divorcée, all blow-dry and manicure. Frankie (Tomlin) is the pot-smoking hippie Democrat. They’re thrown together for a deliciously drawn frenemy…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761SELF HELP DIGESTEDAnxiety is a distorting lens, but developing a more solid self will make you less prone to imagined threats.Do your own thinking. True beliefs are not about conforming or rebelling. Base your beliefs on your own logic.Don’t let your pseudo-self run the show. Craving acceptance from other people can damage self-esteem.Take the emotion out of things. Practise separating thought from feeling; it will change your outlook.Don’t be afraid to appear vulnerable. It will help forge deeper connections.Take a step back. Let people take responsibility for their own actions.…1 min
Grazia|Issue 761UNDERSTAND THE KEY SYMBOLSMOBIUS LOOP This indicates that the product can be recycled. If there’s a percentage in the middle, this means it has been made from that amount of recycled material. PLASTICS When the mobius symbol is on a plastic product, there will be a number in the middle (from 1 to 7) to signify what type of plastic it is and how you can recycle it. WIDELY RECYCLED This means it can be recycled by more than 75% of local councils in the UK. Check you’re not in the unlucky 25%. CHECK LOCALLY This packaging can be recycled by 20-70% of local councils, so make sure you check before binning. THE GREEN DOT This doesn’t mean the product is recyclable or has been recycled. Rather, the packaging producer has contributed financially…1 min
