For the first time ever, the British Fashion Council will officially merge London Fashion Week‘s womenswear and menswear shows into a single, gender-neutral showcase. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, LFW will also launch a digital-only platform open to both industry insiders and fashion enthusiasts until June 2021. Who would have thought that COVID-19 would be the catalyst that LFW needed to embrace more sustainable practices. Merging womenswear and menswear schedules means fewer but better quality shows, which translates to much less waste produced during Fashion Weeks. The move to digital will also boost morale for British fashion by making viewing access to new collections more inclusive, leading to more engagement from everyday shoppers. LFW’s gender-neutral show sc...
This week, it was reported that the UK has experienced the sunniest spring since records began. And, of course, in typical Brit style, we have managed to simultaneously celebrate by basking in any patch of sun we can find while still complaining about being hot and bothered. For those unfamiliar with the UK’s social behaviours, moaning about the weather is essentially our main way of bonding with each other. Anyway, I digress. As temperatures start to push the mid-twenties, it’s probably time to do a bit of a wardrobe switch-up and pack away our knitwear and boots and bring out the warm weather faves. For many of us, the budget may be an issue right now, so I wanted to...
So what are the trends that Topshop is backing this season? From floral dresses and roomy smocks to long-sleeve numbers and sassy silhouettes, there’s something for everyone. We’ve got our eyes on the dresses that are versatile enough to carry right through to autumn, so many of the below styles will look just as good with sandals as they do with knee-high boots. It’s all about that cost per wear. Thankfully, there have been plenty of fashionable individuals who have been spotted in these winning frocks, and so we have more than enough inspiration to keep our wardrobes feeling fresh. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful peo...
Let’s play a game: Name the most minimal, most buzzworthy and most affordable skincare brand available right now. If you shouted The Ordinary, we commend you. The brand does, indeed, offer up a spectacular lineup of skin heroes, and some of the brand’s main talking points are simplistic, in-demand formulas clocking in at very impressive (i.e., budget-friendly) price points. However, as much as we love The Ordinary, it’s actually not the holy-grail skincare brand we’re referring to. Beauty lovers everywhere, meet The Inkey List—the under-the-radar brand that delivers sleek and minimal product formulas for under £15 each. Yep, you read that right! Founded by former Boots’ branding and product developers Colette Newberry and Mark Cur...
As a Black woman, it’s been obvious for a long time that many brands barely consider me—and women like me—in their board rooms, beauty labs and marketing strategies. With global campaigns often only championing and catering to one skin tone, as well as only presenting one version of “beautiful,” I’ve often felt so alienated. And it isn’t just me—this is a feeling that I know many women of colour can relate to. What I’ve always wanted? To be able to walk into any mainstream store and to pick a product off the shelf with the confidence that it has been created to make me look and feel beautiful too. Looking back to my younger years, I would face a real struggle trying to find a foundation that suited my complexion, a lipstick that matched my version of ...
Looking put together in a heatwave is one of the trickiest styling obstacles, however the one thing that is always cool (in the literal and aesthetic sense) is a linen dress—and I’ve found 30 that I’m sure tick off every summer dress box. A word on how to style, though: My personal preference is to take tips from the likes of super-polished Eni, who always hits the right note with her styling. Don’t opt for anything overly fussy in terms of accessories and opt for barely-there sandals (if they match the colour of your dress then even better). While there are the more expensive options, I’ve also included some of my favourites from the high street. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begin...
Pat McGrath is one of the most iconic makeup artists in history, and her namesake makeup brand, Pat McGrath Labs, more than lives up to her legendary name. Fun fact: The brand also just announced iconic supermodel Naomi Campbell as its first-ever global face of Pat McGrath Labs. “The entire planet is just as cosmetics obsessed as I’ve always been,” McGrath explains on the brand’s website. “Makeup is a movement. Makeup is mesmerising. Makeup is major. Mantra-esque, three words have repeated over and over in my mind ever since I was young. Obsession. Inspiration. Addiction. Those words became my guiding principles, my manifesto as I brought this brand to life.” Visit the brand’s website and you’ll be faced wi...
For obvious reasons, loungewear is what everyone is wearing right now. (I personally haven’t put on a pair of jeans for about eight weeks.) Luckily, there is a lot of inspiration around for loungewear that is both stylish and comfortable, proving that casual clothes don’t have to be shapeless or unflattering. With this in mind, we thought we would highlight a few lesser-known loungewear brands that we and the rest of the fashion set are loving right now. The Line by K is an L.A.-based label favoured by Alyssa Coscarelli and Sasha Mei; Ninety Percent is the sustainable brand that vows to share 90% of its profits with charitable causes and those who make its collection; and Micha Lounge is the affordable brand creating the co-ords you’ll want ...
Full disclosure: I do own several skirts, but they are never my go-to choice. I favour a dress or a loose-fitting pair of trousers in the summer. Don’t ask me why. I couldn’t give you a coherent answer (especially right now—what day is it again?). Despite my irrational approach to skirts, I’ve spotted four trends that I’m genuinely looking forward to trying out—and they’re comfortable enough to wear for working from home or a weekend cleaning the house. First up is the ’90s-style midi denim skirt. I’ve never been a fan of the denim mini, especially as I look to pieces that are more polished, so this is a great balance between casual and smart. But I can’t discount the mini as there are chic versions that are ripe for being paired wi...
For some reason, linen has never really been a fabric that I’ve warmed to. I think it’s due to my reluctance to buy clothing that is so obviously restricted to the summer months which, in UK terms, usually means a period of about eight weeks. I’d much rather buy something I can justifiably wear all year round. Historically, I have also never been someone who feels comfortable in that “bohemian beach-dweller” vibe that so often dominates summer collections. But this season, due to my new WFH context and the unseasonably glorious weather we’ve been experiencing, I have conceded that actually linen might be just what I need right now, and the more I browsed 2020’s offering, the more I found my attitude chan...
While summer 2020 is certainly set to be different to years past, that does not mean there is no use for swimwear this year. Although we may not be jetting off to sun-drenched locations or lounging by Mediterranean beaches, swimwear will still be practical for the likes of balcony sunbathing, days spent in the park or if you’re lucky enough a backyard pool. So let’s talk trends. As far as swimwear and bikini trends are concerned, many of the most popular styles of the season reflect the same trends which have gained traction elsewhere. Tie-dye, for example, was all over the S/S20 runways from Versace to Isabel Marant to Dior and more and evidently, has maintained its prominence across beachwear, as surf-inspired, colourful tie-dye bikinis are available across hig...
But what if you’re an individual? You can put pressure on these major retailers by contacting the company or commenting on their social posts. You can also consider dedicating 15% or more of your personal fashion spending to Black-owned brands. It’s also important to note that the financial impact of COVID-19 has generally hit Black-owned brands harder than others, as illustrated in the graphic below by Mona Chalabi. This New York Times opinion article “How We Spend Tells Us Whose Lives Matter” delves into one of the reasons, inequality around stimulus packages. Thinking longer-term about positive economic change for the Black community, it’s crucial to support these businesses now so that we don’t lose them due to financial hardships...