Just in time for the holidays, British Airways announced that it would be implementing a new boarding policy designed to streamline the process of getting settled in before hitting the friendly skies. However, critics were quick to clap back at the "pay more, board first" policy, which allowed first-class passengers to get on the plane first and have the remaining flyers board in groups according to how much they paid for their tickets. The new guidelines go into effect on December 15.
The Independent explained that this particular process isn't uncommon in the United States. American Airlines uses a similar procedure and so does Qatar and Iberia (though it's worth mentioning that they're all British Airways partners). Virgin America follows a similar boarding order and JetBlue introduced the same policy this year, allowing passengers who purchase more expensive seats to board first.
However, it isn't the M.O. in Europe, which may be why many travellers are up in arms. The way they see it, the people relegated to the back of the plane – usually budget flyers with no checked bags – will end up facing full overhead bins and crowded aisles when it's finally their turn to board. And since things never actually follow the rules of common sense, travellers don't see why airlines don't just board planes from back to front.
New @British_Airways boarding policy is daft. Cheapest tickets are hand baggage only, so likely to be carrying most on board? Nice recipe for more chaos as people hunt for space? How about just boarding rear to front? #britishairways
I love how @British_Airways is justifying the change to boarding procedures by naming and shaming every other airline that has the same brown-nose policy. What, rich people can't wait? What year is it again? #BritishAirwayspic.twitter.com/lJSVH64HZ6
"In a society which we're trying to make more equal, British Airways is doing the opposite. It's very Kardashian, being ostentatious about wealth and status," a flyer told The Independent. "Everyone will know how much money you've got based on where you are in the line."
British Airways told the BBC that the new rules would speed up boarding, since the guidelines would be easier to understand for customers. The Independent adds that passengers with special needs, groups with young children, and frequent flyers would also get priority seating. Critics of the new system claimed that the boarding was nonsense no matter how airlines set it up. After experiencing group boarding on Iberia, one passenger compared the situation at the gate to Mad Max: Fury Road: Rules are great, but if passengers don't follow them and crowd around the gate no matter what the boarding announcements say, any system will look like chaos and earn the ire of flyers.
Call me a Grinch, but I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas music. Sure, it's fun for the first few listens, but there are only so many times I can listen to "All I Want For Christmas Is You " before I get horrible flashbacks of working retail on Christmas Eve. Plus, with all of the news surrounding sexual predators like Harvey Weinstein and Brett Ratner, the creepiness of "Baby It's Cold Outside" is amplified tenfold.
Thankfully, Sia has given even my cold heart a reason to grow three sizes with her new 10-track holiday album, Everyday Is Christmas, which is just as fun as you would expect from the upbeat Australian artist who can make everything, even someone hacking her nude photos, a lively event.
With jingling bells, horns, and plenty of mentions about candy canes and snow, Sia capitalises on the best parts of the holiday season without being too cheesy. In fact, she even gets pretty honest in her song, "Puppies Are Forever," where she talks about how puppies are living, breathing things that deserve just as much love and attention as they get when they're given as gifts. The dogs of Twitter approve.
Though many of the tracks, such as "Santa's Coming For Us " and "Ho Ho Ho" are perfect for getting your friends and family on the dance floor, ballads "Snowflake" and "Underneath The Christmas Lights" would make great additions to any snuggle-fest by the fireplace.
And, if the Twitter comments are any indication, this album is an instant classic.
"#EverydayIsChristmas is absolutely one of the best Christmas album [sic] ever made," one fan wrote. "Sia is a genius. Nothing else to say." Another wrote: "I don't know about y'all, but Sia's new album is giving me life."
#EverydayIsChristmas just arrived and OMG it looks absolutely incredible 😍 I don't think I've ever been this excited for a new album before! I'm so happy to finally hold it in my hands and be able to listen to it. Can't wait a second longer to hear what it sounds like 🙆❤ pic.twitter.com/hIVWp2rCm8
There's only one thing i can say now: UNDERNEATH THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. What a god damn song, she's breaking my heart into pieces with that voice. I CAN'T HANDLE IT. WHAT A SONG. Oh god. HO GOD!!!!!!!!!!!#EverydayIsChristmas
Christmas creativity to the max! Never thought an album full of origninal Christmas tunes would sound so good. This album warms my heart. ❤❤❤ #EverydayIsChristmashttps://t.co/RPAhuv0Lsh
Another year, another Victoria's Secret Fashion Show — right? Pft, of course not. This is the most-watched catwalk in the world we're talking about, which means with the dozens of ridiculously expensive and sparkly lingerie-costume hybrids comes their own dose of drama, theatrics, and standout moments. The 2017 production moved all the way to Shanghai, which was a first for the elaborate event, and caused several high-profile Angels to be shut out of the country. But, like any fashion event, the show went on, and with musical acts like Harry Styles and Miguel taking the stage, made for yet another catwalk bonanza for the books.
For your perusing, we've compiled the official shots of the nearly-100 looks all in one place. While some of our favourite Angels weren't able to make the show, the outfits ahead surely make up for their absence — and their six-foot-something legacies. From the Pink section, to the silver screen debut of their Balmain collaboration, there's a lot to see. Click through to clock which of your favourites got their wings.
Have you seen Solange's latest creative turn? Casting fellow musicians in Calvin Klein's latest #MyCalvins campaign. Alongside R&B singer Kelela, previous collaborator and Blood Orange singer Dev Hynes, plus Caroline Polachek and Kindness (aka. Adam Bainbridge), Solange personally curated the campaign, once again proving her polymath skills and demonstrating her artistic vision beyond her own music. The cast, who are featured wearing core styles of Calvin Klein underwear and denim, were shot by photographer Willy Vanderperre and overseen by the brand's Chief Creative Officer, Raf Simons.
Courtesy of Calvin Klein. Courtesy of Calvin Klein.
A refresh of last year's campaign, which saw everyone from Justin Bieber and Frank Ocean to FKA twigs and Zoë Kravitz touring, excelling and making money in their Calvins, the latest instalment has evolved into "Our Family". "The overarching message of the campaign has family at its centre, a display of unity between strong individuals, further emphasised by the symbolism of the traditional American quilt," a statement from the all-American brand read. "This campaign captures these bonds and brings to life different ways we can inspire families – both born and made – to connect with one another, and celebrate the things that unite us."
The ASeat At The Table artist took to Instagram to thank the team behind the shoot. "Big love to Raf Simons and the whole Calvin team for this moment of celebrating my musical family, and for capturing us so authentically us. #MYCALVINS."
With Solange's campaign marking the first of a series rolling out from now until spring 2018, we're keeping our eyes peeled for more groups of inspiring people across billboards nationwide. "The talent featured will represent the bridging of several generations stylistically, musically and culturally. They will bring their stories to life as “Our Family” with family and community at the epicentre of the conversation." Regram at the ready.
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Hashtags like #ad and #spon have become increasingly common on social media apps like Instagram. Is that a fashion blogger just going about her normal day with a good “detox” tea? Or is it just an(other) #ad?
Instagram has been tightening up its rules regarding advertising on the platform. Which is good. But in a world where social media profiles – from makeup artists to graphic designers, food bloggers, cosmetic surgery clinics, doctors, beauticians and beyond – are increasingly used as visual CVs, is it ever going to be possible to regulate everything?
One area where this is particularly dangerous is in the cosmetic surgery industry. In fact, a new study, carried out by researchers at Northwestern University, found that the majority of cosmetic surgery providers who market their services on Instagram don’t technically have the necessary certifications.
According to the report, fewer than 18% of all the posts for cosmetic surgery on Instagram were placed by board-certified plastic surgeons; many of the procedures were offered by other types of physicians, as well as barbers, dentists and at least one hair salon. What’s more, posts from other providers were found to be a lot more visible than those from certified cosmetic surgeons, who were more likely to use less search-friendly terms like #augmentationmammoplasty, as opposed to #boobjob.
“The confusing marketing on social media is putting people at risk,” wrote Dr. Clark Schierle, senior author of the Northwestern study. “There have been many recent reports of patient harm and deaths resulting from inexperienced providers offering services outside of their area of expertise.”
Indeed, news stories abound of horror cosmetic surgery procedures that result in irreversible damage to the patient's face or body, and sometimes even death. 30-year-old UK-based Siobhan Phelan nearly lost her entire upper lip after an unlicensed cosmetician botched her procedure. The Sun reported that she had paid just £125 (prices usually start at £300) after spotting an ad on Facebook. Meanwhile in the US, a 31-year-old mother of two died from enhancement injections to her bum, which she reportedly received in a residential apartment building.
“Although there are possible risks related to all surgery, the risks are greater when visiting an unregistered or unlicensed surgeon, or clinic facility abroad,” explained London-based cosmetic surgery clinic Mya. “Likely risks would be infection or undesirable results to name a few, plus unlicensed surgeons would also not provide comprehensive aftercare so if anything were to go wrong, you would have to pay for further surgery from another provider.”
The thing is, finding your surgeon on Instagram isn’t necessarily the problem, it’s what you do after that. There are tons of properly certified doctors who use the social media platform to advertise their services, posting to their at times millions of followers. After all, in 2017 it would be weirder not to have a social media presence.
As 28-year-old Melissa* from London – who recently had Botox with the same cosmetic surgeon as Love Island ’s Olivia – told Refinery29: “Cosmetic surgery is all results and process-based, so you want to be able to see ‘step by steps’, before and after and end results; Instagram is a great visual portfolio for that.”
“I had been thinking about getting it for a while and IG became my go-to for research and verifying results from various cosmetic surgeons,” she explained.“I would often be served images or videos in my discover feed that made me feel confident that I wanted to move forward with it.”
Indeed, for many, it’s precisely the ease, simplicity and straightforwardness of Instagram that proves so appealing. Emma*, who is 29 and lives in London, and is currently saving up for a number of procedures, told us: “It’s a before and after; I am the before, and it’s showing me that I can be the after.”
In this world of seemingly instant pleasure, selfies and Kardashian-esque ‘perfection’, the temptation can be hard to ignore. Especially when those ‘after’ images and ads come up mid-envy-inducing scroll.
Indeed, these aspirational images can influence whether someone wants to get work done in the first place, as well as who they choose to wield the knife (a 2015 study found that 40% of patients said social media strongly influenced their choice of doctor). “Having seen Olivia on the show and on Instagram, I thought she looked gorgeous; then I saw that her cosmetic surgeon did the treatment I wanted in the price bracket I wanted and thought I would like to move forward with her,” explained Melissa.
UK-based cosmetic doctor, Dr. Tijion Esho, who has over 20,000 followers on Instagram and appears on E4’s Body Fixers, emphasises the importance of posting responsibly: “On my account I only use the original, untouched images so patients can see a true representation of my work; I have seen many accounts where images have been altered using Instagram filters and apps which give potential clients unrealistic expectations of the results which can be achieved.”
“I also regularly share posts that explain procedures, including what can go wrong. This is important as some accounts can trivialise procedures leading to the patient not being prepared for the possible outcomes before booking their treatment,” he added.
Indeed, with the average age for those seeking cosmetic surgery having dropped over recent years, and age restrictions on Instagram a very young 13+, it’s particularly important to increase awareness and education of the dangers, and ensure that prospective patients do their due diligence in researching both the person and the clinic behind the marketing.
“Any cosmetic or plastic surgery social media accounts advertising based on price should be seen as a red flag,” explained Mya. “Low prices and time-limited offers (which are against UK marketing regulations for cosmetic surgery) should be clear signs of untrustworthy providers.”
In the UK, all surgical clinics should be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), while surgeons should be registered with the Royal College of Surgeons or the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and be on the General Medical Council (GMC) surgical specialist register.
For non-surgical treatments, the NHS recommends these be carried out by doctors, dentists or nurses, who should all be registered with their respective body (doctors: GMC; dentists: General Dental Council (GDC): nurses: Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)). Insurance cover should also be checked to make sure it is in place and up-to-date for both surgical and non-surgical procedures.
All of this information is readily available on the internet, and any prospective patients should ensure they do some serious googling as opposed to a cursory Instagram stalk. After all, cosmetic surgery is for life, not just for a selfie – despite what our scrolling habits might suggest.
*Names have been changed
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Is there a particular item hanging in your wardrobe that makes you feel like the best version of yourself? A certain pair of shoes that as soon as you slip into them you feel powerful and more magnetic? Or maybe a favourite dress that transforms you from the reticent wallflower to the one who has to be dragged off the dance floor as the lights come on?
Party wear has the capacity to enhance our mood and our mindset, boosting our confidence or allowing us to tap into an entirely different character for the night. Call it a Christmas miracle but the swish of satin or glint of sequins can alter the very way we carry and present ourselves.
As the festive season fast approaches, we called upon three girls who know their way around a party to discuss how they switch up their style and asked them to share their ultimate party look. So, if you're still in desperate need of some wardrobe inspiration for the Christmas period, friends Nellie Eden, Phoebe-Lettice Thompson and Taiba Akhuetie offer up a host of styling tips with their personal spins on party wear below.
Photographed by Rosaline Shahnavaz
Nellie Eden, 27, cofounder of creative agency Babyface, considers herself to be "probably overdressed 99% of the time so party season is actually me blending in. I think I definitely chuck more accessories at an outfit and wear more dressy boots. Layering can look fancy too!" Stylist and Illustrated People creative director, Phoebe-Lettice Thompson, 27, conversely, thinks her festive party look doesn't differ that much from her regular evening look apart from "the addition of an obligatory sparkly eye". Taiba Akhuetie, 28, cofounder of cult salon Keash Braids, finds the festive season the perfect opportunity to amp up her look: "On a standard night out I like to feel comfortable – baggy jeans, Converse and a cute top are my go-to. When festive season hits, you'll find me rummaging through my mountain of trainers to find the one pair of heels I own and whipping out one of my mum's old vintage garments."
Scroll on to see the girls' party picks, featuring everything from Topshop to Gucci, and to discover the one song guaranteed to get them dancing before you can say "Wild Thoughts".
Taiba Akhuetie
Who are your style heroes and why? I think it depends what mood I'm in as I'm not always inspired by one particular person. I guess my mum is one of my style heroes! I look at old photographs of her and she wore so many amazing two-pieces and she would colour-coordinate everything.
Taiba wears top and trousers by A.V.Robertson and heels by Fabrizio Viti.photographed by Rosaline Shahnavaz
Where are your favourite places to go out? For me, nothing beats a dingy warehouse party. I like to be in a space where I feel like everyone is in their own little bubble rather than feeling the pressure to fit in with certain surroundings. Having said that, my dream night out would be to go to a party as iconic as the ones Mr. Gatsby hosted, wearing crazy diamonds and an iridescent gown. Imagine... solid gold water features, crazy performances, fireworks, fizz and dancing on that scale!
What's your makeup look for the festive season? I'm not really much of a makeup person but I have to say there is something about festive season that gets me in the mood to add a bit of extra shimmer to the palette. I definitely go heavier on the eyeshadow or the lip. I adore a bright bold shadow and this is something I experiment with more in party season.
What's the song that gets you on the dancefloor in a flash? Kayne West "Fade". Purely because my friends all chant my name and encourage me to dance like Teyana Taylor does in the video. Let's just say the outcome is no way near as impressive.
Taiba wears an iridescent purple gown by Gucci.photographed by Rosaline Shahnavaz
Phoebe-Lettice Thompson
Who's your style hero and why? It would have to be the late, iconic Anita Pallenberg because her style was so effortless and sexy.
Where's your favourite haunt and what would you wear on your dream night out? Probably Skeehans, this lovely local Irish pub at the end of my road, it does great Thai food too. Dream night out would be some sort of delicious dinner on a balmy evening in Europe somewhere with all my mates, and then somewhere lols for drinks and dancing. For this I would probably wear a mini dress and thigh-high boots.
Phoebe wears a dress by Gucci and shoes by Charlotte Olympia.photographed by Rosaline Shahnavaz
What's the song that gets you on the dancefloor in a flash? Any '00s banger. Blu Cantrell, Twista, etc etc.
What's your makeup look for the festive season? Either heavy brown, green sparkly eye with a few individual lashes or a red lip.
Phoebe wears a jacket dress by Misbhv and silver boots by Topshop.photographed by Rosaline Shahnavaz
Nellie Eden
Who are your style heroes and why? Monica Bellucci because she makes a cardigan look like lingerie. Bianca Jagger because Bianca Jagger, and Neneh Cherry because "Buffalo Stance". Viv Albertine because she never gave a cent what anyone thought, and Ali MacGraw and Cher for beauty. I could go on...
What's the song that gets you on the dancefloor in a flash? "I Can't Go For That" by Daryl Hall & John Oates. Smooth!
Nellie wears a dress by Simone Rocha.photographed by Rosaline Shahnavaz
What's your makeup look for the festive season? Big, baby blue bug eyes!
Why did you pick these dresses by Simone Rocha and Ashish? Normally I'm led by my mood. Sometimes I just want to wear a tracksuit. Most of the time I'm in Levi's but if I'm out and making an effort, probably a really sexy little dress. Then I go for cut (I have a red Max Mara suit that makes me feel incredible) and colour (pink, yellow, green...). In all honesty, I just know what I like, I'm a very disorganised shopper and dresser. It's very hit and miss.
Which brands make you feel your most confident? Prada, Levi's, and anything I've bought from the car boot sale that no one else owns and has become part of my core wardrobe. I have a raw silk, pink bubblegum coat jacket that cinches in at the waist, that's secondhand and it's irreplaceable. I also like wearing young London brands like Aries, Mimi Wade, Ashley Williams and Marques' Almeida.
Nellie wears a dress by Mimi Wade.photographed by Rosaline Shahnavaz
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From hot oil treatments to Olaplex, we've tried everything out there to save our parched locks from the inevitable damage of bleach. Now that there's more colour inspiration than ever before, we're finding it hard to curtail our experimental attitude towards hair. Can we ever have fun with our tresses without compromising their health?
Bleach devotees rejoice, and meet east London's Not Another Salon. Founded by Sophia Hilton, the salon's speciality lies in bold, statement colours that complement – rather than take over – who you are. On a mission to give clients the hair they want without the lasting damage, they're introducing their new technique: anti-bleach.
"New clients were coming to us with such extreme damage that we'd have to refuse to bleach their hair. After seeing so many brought to tears, we had to look at other options," Hilton explains. So what exactly does the anti-bleach technique entail? "Anti-bleach is an option that helps you achieve bright, vivid shades without having to bleach first, leaving the hair in better condition. We start to apply the new blonde lightener tint to the root, meaning the client can grow out bleach over time, too."
If you're looking for fiery reds and oranges, comic-book blues and greens, or purple and pink fizzes, this technique could work wonders for you. However, "You need to rule out pastels and ash tones, as we just can't lift the hair light enough," Hilton tells Refinery29. "If you're going from scalp bleach to anti-bleach, as the hair grows out you can see the difference between the two, so you need a vivid colour that's deep enough to sit over the top and blend them both together."
So what's the maintenance? The root top-up takes the same time as bleach, and you'll need to return to the salon every six weeks. "You need to top up the vivid shades in the shower yourself, too. We love INNOluxe Elixir, which rebuilds the hair while colouring and afterwards," says Hilton, admitting that "bleach is still needed every day in our salon (and we couldn't live without it!), but we're always looking for new ways to give the client something that'll tick all of their boxes."
If you're keen to achieve the same kapow colour but want to protect your tresses in the long run, anti-bleach might just be the treatment for you.
Do you work in an office of mainly women? If you do, I’m jealous. This year I spent six months in an office with a ratio of 40-odd brilliant women to two lovely men and it was bliss. Not once did I find myself having a ‘fake chat’ – you know, that wide-eyed, nodding dog, not-really-listening-just-shooting-lines-of-banter-at-each-other chat. Instead I had genuine conversations where I was thinking and building on the task we were discussing rather than doing my best rendition of ‘woman at work’.
Previously I’d worked in a male-dominated industry where I’d constantly felt the need to prove myself as an uber woman, the quintessential cool girl: smart, funny & FUN!, chilled, slim but an eater, up for banter, a team player, a hard worker and not too emotional. Now when I’m in offices filled with men I try not to revert back to being a performing monkey who bends and stretches her behaviour around what the men in the room expect. It takes constant vigilance. Last week, a list of nine ‘good statements for women to practice’ [sic] went viral after @vegbby tweeted it (and it was subsequently endorsed by Twitter doyenne Chrissy Teigen, no less). Evidently the list resonated with lots of people and racked up over 100k retweets, so I thought I’d put them into practice and see how I fared…
good statements for women to practice: 1) you interrupted me. i’m not finished talking. 2) no 3) that isn’t funny 4) that isn’t appropriate 4) i already know that 5) that won’t be necessary 6) leave me alone 7) you’re making me uncomfortable 8) stop ignoring what i’m saying
1. You interrupted me. I’m not finished talking. "Exac…" my half-formed word hangs in the boardroom air, ignored. I try again. "Exactly what I was…" and trail off. Getting the room to listen today is challenging and I can’t help wonder whether this is correlated to the fact that I’m often the only woman in a meeting room with six men. Sometimes being the only woman on a project means everyone is deferential to me and other times it means I’m left out of the conversation. Either way, in male-dominated industries, my gender always seems to matter in some way and in this meeting it’s rendered me invisible. I don’t say, "You interrupted me. I’m not finished talking" because I still want to be liked. I’m a woman after all.
2. No. Now this I’ve got good at saying. There was a time when I used to think that my worth at work was being the one who would pull an all-nighter or whip up a deck over the weekend. Then I had a baby and availability was stripped from my arsenal and I learnt that I do better work when I’m not strapped to a desk 65 hours a week. I’ve set boundaries. If I need to leave, I leave. I say no to meetings at 7pm. I don’t pander to panicky managers. And I call bullshit on faux deadlines.
This week I also say "no" to being the magician’s assistant in a meeting, refusing to get out of my seat when stuff needs to be pinned to the wall. I often have to catch myself from immediately volunteering to do secretarial tasks at work and just let the expectation hang there.
3. That isn’t funny. No, colleague: how racist your father-in-law is, isn't funny.
4. That isn’t appropriate. "Please don’t wheel me into a boardroom so there are more women 'representing', it’s not appropriate." This is awkward. My male colleagues understand there’s a gender diversity issue so they’re trying to address it by encouraging me to get involved but I’m left feeling that my worth is a diversity quota and calling them out on it leaves them feeling like they can’t win.
5. I already know that. I love explaining things a little too much so didn’t need to pull this one out of the bag. I apologise to anyone this week who really wanted to say it to me.
6. That won’t be necessary. The unnecessary offers stopped when I hit 31, disappointingly. I don’t know whether to be sad or relieved.*
7. Leave me alone. See above; men don’t harass me anymore. Instead I tried this out on my son's nursery. They always call me rather than his dad even though his dad drops him off and picks him up. I’m the one they email to sign a form. I’m the one they text to tell me he’s not eaten any lunch. CALL HIS DAD!
8. You’re making me uncomfortable. When five 40-year-old British men banter about Big Train, a British sketch show from 1998, making me and a young female in the room feel like we don’t get comedy or understand ‘funny’ because we can’t join in their banter, I feel uncomfortable.
When a colleague nonchalantly says "gay, trans, whatever", I feel uncomfortable. I call this one out and we end up having a good conversation about labelling and empathy. It reminds me that not every confrontation has to feel confrontational.
9. Stop ignoring what I’m saying. If I said "stop ignoring what I’m saying", it would sound whiny. If a man said it, it would sound aggressive. Somewhere in the future, someone is saying those words unclouded by gender. Until then, I’m not going to say that sentence, but I will say this: the serially ignored aren't going to have the guts to speak out either. Look around you and if you think there might be someone who isn’t being seen, lend them your voice until they find their own.
Back in 2014, the actress was one of many victims of a nude photo leak that targeted female celebrities. Photos of her, and other stars, were shared online without her consent. Now, in an interview with Scott Feinberg for The Hollywood Reporter 's Awards Chatter podcast, Lawrence has revealed what it was like to have her nude photos shared with the world.
"When the hacking thing happened, it was so unbelievably violating that you can't even put into words. I think that I'm still actually processing it," Lawrence told Feinberg. "I feel like I got gangbanged by the f**king planet. There's not one person in the world that is not capable of seeing these intimate photos of me. You can just be at a barbecue, and somebody can just pull them up on their phone. That was a really impossible thing to process."
Lawrence also told Feinberg that she wasn't interested in pursuing a lawsuit because it wouldn't change what happened.
"None of that was going to really bring me peace, and none of that was going to bring my nude body back to me and Nick [Holt], the person they were intended for," Lawrence told Feinberg. She also said that she felt like an "imposter" when a fan told her she was a role model after the leak happened.
Earlier this year, Edward Majerczyk, who was responsible for the leak, was sentenced to nine months in jail after pleading guilty to the hacking. He was also ordered to pay a $5,700 fine.
Lawrence also noted on the podcast that she personally didn't have any negative experiences working with Harvey Weinstein.
"I had heard that he was a dog, but he was always almost paternal to me. He was never inappropriate with me," Lawrence told Feinberg. "I thought we had a nice relationship where when he acted like an a**hole, I called him an a**hole. I actually think the word I used was 'a sadistic monster,' but it was just never of that nature so that was really shocking."
Earlier this month, Lawrence joined Emma Stone and Mary J. Blige in a THR roundtable to discuss sexual harassment, among other topics. During that discussion, Lawrence revealed that she once thought her acting career was over after a producer called her "difficult and a nightmare."
Move over, matcha; step aside, spirulina; and get the heck out of the way, acai. There's a new so-called superfruit taking over Instagram that will no doubt find itself in kitchen cupboards across the land pretty soon.
Why? Because unlike many of the other superfoods, fruits and powders that have been and gone, it's good for you and tastes half decent – and there are already signs that it will take the UK by storm, the Standard reported.
The jujube fruit, also known as the red date, is a red-coloured berry that has been used in the Far East for thousands of years because of its benefits for both the body and mind.
It's an adaptogen (and thereby currently trendy in the wellness world), which means it can help the body adapt to stress and anxiety. It has also been used to treat insomnia and support energy levels. Nutritionally speaking, it's very good for us, too, as it's high in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients (which can ward off disease), and contains 18 out of the 24 amino acids needed to form the 50,000 proteins in the human body.
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The jujube is also thought to improve cholesterol, aid digestion and boost the immune system. One study, published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, even suggested it could be used in the treatment of breast cancer.
However, the fruit isn't a silver bullet to all our health woes. Like other types of date, it's worth enjoying the jujube in moderation because of its levels of complex carbohydrates which can play havoc with blood sugar levels, particularly for people with diabetes.
Another reason why the fruit is a winner? It's incredibly versatile. In the same way that medjool dates have been adopted by bakers as a natural sugar substitute, the jujube can be used in an impressive array of recipes. A casual scroll through Instagram shows them being used in dishes as varied – and drool worthy – as sweet sticky rice, mince pies and cupcakes.
It also can be eaten alone as a snack, sprinkled on top of your morning cereal, stirred into porridge, whisked into a smoothie, layered on nut-buttered toast and even used to make tea or added to soups.
Already, the fruit seems to be having an impact on the UK market, with healthy snack brand Abakus Foods having sold 200,000 bags of them in 2017 alone, the Standard reported. The brand sells the red date on its website in various delicious-looking forms, from jujube crisps (£1.99) to jujube stuff with various nuts (£1.99) and if you get the taste for it, you can even bulk-buy boxes for up to £40.
With Christmas around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to add a new sweet treat to our baking repertoire. Jujube Christmas pudding, anyone? Judging from Instagram, the possibilities are endless and we look forward to seeing what the most inventive food bloggers and Instagrammers come up with.
When Rae Morris dropped her latest single "Do It" back in September, we were immediately bowled over by the catchy, electro-pop melodies sprinkled with the kind of straightforward romantic sentiment that would put a smile on even the most philophobic among us (the song was originally called "Duet" and was written in the studio with the musician Fryars as their relationship evolved from professional to romantic).
And if you were one of the half million people who streamed the track on YouTube then you might be excited to hear that the 25-year-old English singer has just released a remix by one of our favourite modern classical composers Nico Muhly, who has worked with the likes of Grizzly Bear and Antony and the Johnsons.
So to celebrate this dreamy collaboration, Rae has created a beautiful piece of modern dance set to the song, which she directed herself. Dressed in Ganni, the dancers bring to life Nico's tender and heartfelt reimagining of the track.
Watch the video here and scroll down to read an interview with Rae.
Atlantic Records - Rae Morris
How did the remix by Nico Muhly come about? I sent him the tune and asked if he'd be up for reinterpreting it, he very kindly said yes and miraculously had the time to do it! I was so fascinated to hear what he'd do. Nico is probably the busiest person I know, always doing a million incredible things at once. His second opera is happening in London right now! No big deal!
What has he brought to the song? He's brought Nico magic to it! Anyone who knows his stuff will hear the signature twinkles, bells and bliss. If you don't know his work then it's really just a beautifully magnetic version of "Do It" that is so simple but kind of heartbreaking now. I never imaged it could go that way. That's the amazing thing about someone you admire reworking your music.
What is it that you love about modern dance? Dance of all kinds is very new to me. I only recently started to watch and understand the beauty of it. Before, I kind of let it all go over my head because I thought it had to be perfect and pretty with frilly edges. Modern dance is real and raw if you want it to be. It's you whenever you feel like moving and there's absolutely no right or wrong. I love that everybody and everything is welcome.
Why did you want to make this new video? Nico's version of "Do It" felt ultra special and very, very different. The song's mood and energy completely changed and it actually tells a different version of the story. The song was originally called "Duet" and the first time I heard what Nico had done, it took me back to that early essence of the song, before it became a full blown pop song. It's a collision of two people; pushing, pulling and revealing themselves to each other. I'm glad we could give it its own space to exist.
Who did the choreography? Sara Gordon did the choreography. She has the most wonderful energy. We first worked together with Aaron Sillis years ago on the video for "Cold". I've been in the studio with Sara lots recently discovering what it is to be a mover and a dancer. She's helped me so much to unlock a way of communicating that I didn't know I was capable of. Sara is so intuitive with music that she knew exactly what the movement needed to be. She's also known and worked with Robia and Ajani, the dancers, since they were kids which was pretty surreal and added an extra special layer. You can really tell they've grown up together in their movement. I cried the first time I saw the choreography.
How was your experience of directing and is this something you'd like to do more of? I loved it, you know! I was nervous, not knowing the right terminology and stuff but having Craig the DOP and Sara there, it was the perfect first experience and I'd love to do more, totally. It made me realise how important communication is in creative spaces. If everyone is sharing the same vision, then it's gonna be all good.
"Do It" is taken from Rae’s forthcoming second album, Someone Out There, due for release on 2nd February 2018.
Turning triumph over heartbreak into art should be its own reward. But if you happen to be able to make more than $100 million in the process, that sounds like a pretty sweet deal too. That's what Beyoncé apparently did, becoming the highest-paid woman in music for the last year, according to the latest ranking from Forbes.
From June 2016 to June 2017, Beyoncé pulled in $105 million (£79 million). That's the amount she earned from Lemonade album sales, endorsements, and tours, before taking out taxes and fees to lawyers, managers, agents, and the like. Lest we forget, she did this while also growing two new humans in her body, because she's an underachiever like that.
This number put her far ahead of Adele, who was No. 2 after earning £52 million. Taylor Swift, who was 2016's top earner, dropped to third place at £33 million (taking a break between tours and albums), while in fourth was Celine Dion with £32 million. None of these women released an album within that time period, which tells you something about where the money in music is and has been for more than a decade: touring. In fact, of the entire top 10, Britney Spears (No. 8) was the only artist to have a new album out in that June-to-June span, August 2016's Glory. Everyone else was either still touring on releases from earlier months, playing their greatest hits at Las Vegas residencies (Dion, Spears, Jennifer Lopez), or traipsing the globe like there's no tomorrow (Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand).
Forbes points out one sad fact about this list: "Despite the success of the female stars on the list, there are regrettably still more than twice as many men than women among music's top-earning stars," Zack O'Malley Greenburg wrote.
The tampon tax has barely left the news cycle (ahem) over the last few years, with people standing up against the extra 5% VAT on sanitary products that has existed in some form since 1973. Funnily enough, most of us with periods don't consider them a "luxury" but an essential item.
Last year, after pressure grew to remove the tax, the government agreed to give all the money it raised to women's charities, rather than putting it back in its own coffers. This proved controversial, with many arguing that it painted domestic violence as a women's issue (some of the money goes to Women's Aid); some of it even went to an anti-abortion group.
At the level of the individual, that extra 5% is an ongoing pain that leaves people with periods worse off. You may not notice it when you buy your monthly tampons but over the years, the extra expense sure adds up. And now, depressingly, there's a way to work out exactly how much of your money has gone towards the tampon tax over your lifetime.
The BBC has created a calculator that tells you roughly how much you've spent so far, based on how old you are and when you started your period, and how much you could end up spending in the years to come.
As a 25-year-old woman who started her period at 13, for example, £23.98 of the £503.60 you've spent on sanitary products so far went towards VAT. In your lifetime you're looking at £70.10 going towards the tampon tax, from your total £1,472.07 spend on sanitary products.
If you're 30 and began menstruating at the same age, you'll have spent £701.91 on sanitary products and £37.82 on VAT so far and can expect to fork out a total of £1,476.68 on products,£74.71 of which is on the tampon tax, throughout your lifetime.
The calculator is based on various rough assumptions: that you have 13 periods a year with a 28-day cycle; that you use 22 tampons and/or towels per period; that you'll go through, or went through, menopause at the age of 51; and that tampons and towels cost 13p per unit.
While, of course, periods vary massively from person to person and even month to month, the tool is a useful – if bleak – reminder of what feminists are up against.
Update: November 21, 2017: Beginning today, Instagram is rolling out an option to request to join a Live Story. Just tap the "Request" button in the comment section. When the person hosting the Live accepts, you'll be able to become part of the conversation.
Update: October 24, 2017: Dual live streaming is finally expanding worldwide after a little over two months of testing. Simply invite a friend to join your broadcast and, if and when they accept, you'll be able connect live. You'll also both be able to try on face filters at the same time, by tapping the face icon along the bottom toolbar.
This article was originally published on August 8, 2017.
Double the people, double the fun? That's what Instagram is banking on with its latest update, which will give you the chance to go Live with a friend, family member, or, for influencers and celebrities, a fan, at the same time.
The feature will roll out as a trial to a randomly selected group of people today, and will test for the next few months before officially rolling out.
"After we launched the first version of Live [last November], we noticed that a lot of folks were using it with friends in person," Shilpa Sarkar, a product manager on the Live team, told Refinery29. "We wanted to bring that offline behaviour online, so to speak, with a feature that allows you to be live with a friend even if you aren't in the exact same space."
Courtesy of Instagram.
A two-person live stream proved to be both a product and technical challenge. The Live team had to figure out how both people would appear onscreen. Instead of using the FaceTime model, which makes one caller appear much smaller, Instagram wanted to make the broadcast a split screen since they envision these streams to be an equal back and forth between two people. Sarkar says this is something influencers have been asking for, as a way to communicate more directly and openly with fans.
Then there's the issue of making sure the two-person livestream actually works. "Usually when you watch a livestream it has a very smooth playback," Lu Chen, an engineering manager on the Live team told Refinery29, "[With] two people talking back and forth, we needed to make sure that's super realtime because no one no one wants to bring on a guest and wait 10 seconds to have a back and forth conversation."
Over the past couple of months, the Live team has been fine-tuning the product, nicknamed project Tango (as in "it takes two to tango"). Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger recently hosted a livestream from the company's Menlo Park offices and invited various members of the New York team to give viewers office tours.
While you can only have one guest on at a time, what's especially impressive about this new feature is that you can bring on as many guests or co-hosts as you want. At least, as many as you can fit in to the course of an hour — the current livestream maximum. Simply end a conversation with one person, and invite someone new to join. For those who don't want to go Live on their own, the two-person stream may be a more comfortable alternative. It may also be a way that some of your favourite brands will start communicating directly with customers.
To use this new feature, start by going live: In Instagram Stories, toggle over from the "Normal" camera screen to "Live" mode. Then tap the new faces icon that appears in the bottom right. Select one friend to go live with and press "Add." Your invitee will get a pop-up notification and will need to accept before joining the broadcast. You or your guest can end the conversation at any time by tapping the "X" in the corner of the screen. Then, the original broadcaster can keep going on their own, invite someone new on, or end Live altogether. You'll still be able to share the video to your Story afterwards if you want to extend its lifespan.
The Live team believes this feature will help offset the formality of staged posts: If Instagram feeds can be full of posed shots and perfectly arranged pool floats, Live is the opposite.
"Live brought on a new level of authenticity," Sarkar said. "The way people are sharing is really casual, it's just to say, 'Hey, here's what's going on right now.' There's no sense of a barrier — it's not really produced, it's not live TV."
Grab your phone, pick a friend, and get ready to tango.
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You have to admit they’re getting better — they’re getting better all the time.
And by “they” I mean the apologies currently on tour through the headlines and social media sphere, a chorus of mea culpas from powerful men who have suddenly found themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
What began with Harvey Weinstein’s attempt to caveat his transgressions by claiming that he “came of age… when the rules about behaviour and workplaces were different” has morphed into increasingly well-edited statements of atonement. Who knows? Maybe by the time the hundredth serial sexual harasser has been outed in a media investigation, that guy will have so many examples of what not to do that he might pull off a perfect apology!
After all, the apologisers are already catching on. Well, sort of. Kevin Spacey was able to improve upon Weinstein’s acknowledgement of guilt, though he wound up working against himself by turning his own admission into a coming out speech. (Not the right time, dude.) Learning from those mistakes, Louis C.K. did a significantly better job than his predecessors by ending on the feminist-approved assurance that, moving forward, he planned to take “a long time to listen.” But the comedian lost points for failing to use some integral words in his 500-word response — like “sorry,” apologise,” and “apology.” Still, given that he didn’t use it as an opportunity to make a personal confession or discredit his abusers, it’s fair to say that C.K. was on the right apology track.
But then: Why shouldn’t these statements have been getting better over the last six weeks? (Yep. Six weeks. Not the eternity it feels like.) It’s not as though their authors are writing them blind. These are high-powered, high profile men with image consultants, attorneys, and PR teams paid handsomely to deal with exactly these kinds of crises; and, in some cases, masters of story craft themselves. Surely they should be able to put those teams, and skills, to better use. And if they don't want to go the professional route? Not a problem. The apology style guide is being revised in real time, by armchair editors and experts across the internet; plus, there are plenty of primary sources to consult — also known as women.
Open to another tack? Try the convenient celebrity perv apology generator. Or, as Bitch Media founder Andi Zeisler suggested on Twitter: Perhaps the most equitable move would be hiring women to write all future public apologies because “jfc these dummies are doing a piss-poor job of it.” Whatever works.
Witnessing the editing process can be an education in itself, too, if you’re paying attention. Take, for example, Al Franken’s first attempt at an apology to Leeann Tweeden, who provided photographic evidence of the comedian-turned-Democratic senator pretending to grab her breasts while she slept. His original response? He didn’t recall the incident burned so deeply into Tweeden’s memory, but sent his “sincerest apologies,” adding that while “the photo was clearly intended to be funny” now he knows he shouldn’t have done it. When that went predictably badly, he attempted a revised draft that did a considerably better job of not blowing off Tweeden’s lived experience and taking accountability for his behaviour. He even expanded the script, extrapolating to the bigger picture about how women need to be respected and believed.
You know that was a good edit because it stuck. Legendary media figure Charlie Rose has already used a similar line in his own apology statement this week. “It’s essential that women know I hear them,” his remarks read, amid expressions of what appear to be genuine remorse. But Rose — who gave unwanted shoulder massages to female staffers often enough that the behaviour came to be known as the “crusty paw” — also claimed that he always thought he was “pursuing mutual shared feelings, even though now I realize I was mistaken.” Credit has been docked from this apology for being in violation of a key tenet of sincerity: “I’m sorry” doesn’t have the same effect when you end with an excuse.
But, however flawed, at least these men are trying. Of the 33 so far who have been accused since October 5, some aren’t anywhere near willing to consider that they crossed a line, much less apologise for how their actions impacted others, regardless of intent. James Toback — who was accused by hundreds of women claiming that they were dry humped, forced to watch him masturbate, or otherwise harassed by the director — sent a colourful denial of all allegations to The Los Angeles Times. The actor Andy Dick went a more blunt route: “I might have kissed somebody on the cheek to say goodbye and then licked them... I’m not trying to sexually harass people.” Director Brett Ratner is already gearing up for a libel lawsuit; Roy Moore, a candidate for US Senate in Alabama, has called the coverage of the serious accusations against him “fake news.” (Speaking of the groper-in-chief, though he may have “written” The Art of the Deal, he should consider splashing out on The Art of the Apology, especially if has any pussy grabbing plans on the horizon. It’s a tough crowd out here.)
But whether the statement is “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t do it,” the end goal is the same. Eventually, the accused are hoping the miasma will dissipate so they can move on with their lives. Which brings up a point that Sarah Silverman made earlier this month about how we’ll recover from the era we're living through, which is starting to look a lot like the final scene of Fight Club when all the buildings blow up. What do you do when someone you love is also the “masturbating elephant in the room?” she asked. There is no definitive answer; it’s something we’re working through, together. “It’s vital that people are held accountable for their actions, no matter who they are. We need to be better. We will be better," Silverman said. "I can’t fucking wait to be better.”
So how to we become fucking better? It's actually pretty simple, once you get the hang of it. Start by knowing it's wrong to touch anyone’s genitals on the House floor. Don't surprise people who work for you by taking your dick out and masturbating in front of them. Torch the casting couch. The next time you find yourself calling your intern to tell them your fantasies: Please don't. While you’re at it, don’t enter the fray as a harassment apologist. Because the truth is that there's no such thing as a perfect apology (even though yes, it's worth trying to give the best one you've got). The best thing you can offer all women is not doing the shitty thing that requires "I'm sorry" in the first place.
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Hollywood is far from the only place that's rife with claims of sexual misconduct. A new open letter, signed by almost 2,000 women, details alleged sexual abuse in Sweden's music industry. Robyn, Tove Lo, Zara Larsson, and The Cardigans' Nina Persson are among the artists who signed the letter.
"In the music industry, we work around the clock, often with unsafe and temporary employment. Being courteous and not worrying becomes extra important in order not to be [fired]," the letter states. "This makes women in the music industry targets for [interactions] that are often of a sexual nature. We live in a life where the law of consent is still far away, where we are objectified and where sexual abuse and harassment are more common than [not]."
The letter includes accounts of sexual harassment, as well as rape and sexual assault. It also encourages that there be consequences for sexual abuse. The letter requests "zero tolerance against sexual exploitation and violence. Sexual abuse or violence should have consequences [such as termination of employment]."
"Musicians in the music industry — it is your responsibility to ensure that no one is sexually [harassed in] the workplace. We will support all the stories we have shared with and have learned. We will continue to listen to each other and support each other. We will lay the shame where it belongs — with the perpetrator and those who protect him," the letter reads. "We speak with one voice and will not comment on the content of this article. A no is a no — respect it! We know who you are."
The country's leading three music labels — Sony Music Entertainment Sweden, Universal Music Group Sweden, and Warner Music — have all expressed support for the letter. The news is a powerful reminder that sexual misconduct and abuse isn't limited to one industry, or to the United States; it's something that affects people across the globe.
Hopefully, the open letter is the first step toward stopping sexual misconduct in Sweden's music industry. Almost 2,000 signatures means there are hundreds of people who've recognized the problem in their field. And while it's inspiring to see that many women coming together to effect change, it's also an indicator that it's time for us to find the solution.
If you have experienced sexual violence of any kind, please visit Rape Crisis or call 0808 802 9999.
For most of 2016, hackers had access to Uber's user data, including names, email addresses, and phone numbers. But the news didn't come to light until today, when the company let both users and drivers — whose information was also compromised — know through a blog post.
Why did it take so long? According to Bloomberg, Uber spent much of the time between late 2016 and 2017 paying off the hackers to keep the entire thing under the radar.
Chief Security Officer Joe Sullivan has been fired over the ordeal, which involved paying the pair of hackers £75,000 to delete the info they had stolen. Mashable notes that during the hack, Uber was actually in talks with US regulators to discuss other privacy concerns. Legally, Uber has to let users know exactly what happened. Sullivan's failure to disclose the hack after finding it was part of why he was terminated.
The hackers got into the company's cloud storage using data on GitHub. After they accessed the archive of user data, they demanded cash from Uber.
The details of how Uber got hacked (Uber engineers left their AWS keys on Github) don't do much to inspire confidence in their cybersecurity practices. This is the equivalent to: left the keys to the safe in the front door.
Uber's current CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, wasn't in charge when the incident went down. In the blog post, he assures users and drivers that the information wasn't actually used and that the company has taken the time to strengthen security in the cloud-based storage system that was breached.
"None of this should have happened, and I will not make excuses for it," Khosrowshahi said in a statement to Bloomberg. "We are changing the way we do business. While I can't erase the past, I can commit on behalf of every Uber employee that we will learn from our mistakes."
Khosrowshahi is offering free credit monitoring for the affected drivers and monitoring all the leaked accounts for fraud. Uber also hired Matt Olsen, formerly of the National Security Agency and director of the National Counterterrorism Center, to make sure that moving forward, everything stays on the straight and narrow.
Bloomberg reports that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman — who fined Uber £15,000 in 2014 for not disclosing a different privacy breach — has already launched an investigation to the hack.
Just in time for Christmas, beloved British bag brand, Sophie Hulme, has opened a shiny new boutique in the iconic London shopping promenade of Burlington Arcade to coincide with a new personalisation service. Thinking about a bag stamped with your very own initials? Look no further than this elegant new space, hidden in the heart of Mayfair.
Available exclusively in-store and the only one of its kind worldwide, the three personalisation services offer numerous ways to customise a bag, to tailor it just for you or a loved one. Firstly, there is a hand-painting option by acclaimed sign writer, Mark MacDonald, in original fonts designed for the label by John Morgan’s renowned London graphics studio. Secondly, Leather Letters launches exclusively with the Resort ’18 collection, available with 10 handbag styles across eight colour ways. The third and final service is leather embossing — either gold-foiled, or blind — offered on several styles.
The boutique launches with the Sophie Hulme Resort ’18 collection, which reflects the label’s design-led DNA, focusing on clean lines, beautiful materials and minimal details. Leathers are dyed solely using veg-tanning and signature elements — polished hardware, saddle leather — remain integral. The interior of the 30-square-metre space has been designed in collaboration between Sophie and her husband Ted Swift, featuring furniture created from a sustainable material made from recycled denim and cotton, sourced from the Kvadrat textile studio.
So if your Christmas shopping list is still unwritten, let alone complete, we suggest hotfooting it to the new Sophie Hulme store to find the perfect Christmas gifts for your loved ones. Or yourself.
Below, we caught up with designer Sophie Hulme to discuss the evolution of the brand as it approaches its 10-year milestone and what it was like to open her first store.
Has a bricks and mortar store always been the next goal for the brand? There’s something special about a store – it’s an opportunity to create our own little Sophie Hulme space. Our design studio in Islington really reflects the brand – it’s so vibrant and buzzy – we wanted to share that feeling. From the styles we sell, to the interior, the lighting, the details, it’s a chance to really bring our clients into our world.
Why did you choose Burlington Arcade as your first location, and Chiltern Street, which will be opening in the coming months? Burlington is where we’ve launched our new personalisation services. The arcade is iconic – championing artisans, quality, specialism – all the things that are important to us. There’s something dynamic about the juxtaposition of launching a buzzy young brand with exciting new initiatives and plans in such a historic space.
Chiltern Street will be our first independent boutique. The area perfectly reflects us – the eclectic mix of art galleries, interiors stores, cafés, and boutiques makes it about broader interests, outside fashion – this wonderful celebration of expert craftsmanship in different fields. The store itself is lovely, just the sort of space we’ve been looking for. All the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fit.
Photo Courtesy of Sophie Hulme.
It’s been almost a decade since you launched the brand. Has it grown in the way you’d hoped? We celebrate 10 years next year, in 2018. When I showed my first collection to retailers at a trade show all those years ago, I had no set idea of where the brand would go, or how it was going to evolve. Then women responded to what we were doing – when the Albion sold out in that first season, it was an incredible feeling. I personally, and we as a brand, have learnt so much, it’s been incredible. Throughout we’ve stayed true to what we believe in: putting women first and creating beautifully designed bags which are made to be carried in every area of a woman’s life. I am really proud of what we’ve achieved; I’m looking forward to the next 10 years…
Can you tell us about the latest collection and the personalisation service? Our latest collection, which launches at Burlington, is Sophie Hulme through and through – incredible leather, no unnecessary details; focussing on quality materials, clean lines, function. We’re aiming to work with veg-tanned leathers where possible – it gives the palette a beautiful subtlety.
The personalisation service is an exciting launch, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. It really chimes with the brand, I think – I always see bags as something very personal, a private space to keep things.
The main method of personalisation is leather letters, which we have developed. They’re created by compressing layers of leather until they are very solid and then laser-cutting them into letters. They’re fused to the leather via a technique which makes them part of the surface of the bag. Respecting the quality of this amazing leather that we work with is very important to me – these letters really put the materials in the spotlight.
Photo Courtesy of Sophie Hulme.
How would you describe the Sophie Hulme customer in 2017? One of the most exciting moments in the history of the brand was when I got on the number 19 bus and there was this woman sitting there on the top deck, on her way to work, with one of my bags on her lap. That’s our woman: she’s you or me. She knows herself, she knows her style. We’re not about imposing a trend or a look, we’re about using beautiful materials, expert craftspeople. Our client comes to us because we make bags which work for her life. She wants something beautiful, functional, that she can carry every day — pieces which will hold all her things, that she’ll still be carrying in 10 years' time. She’s probably independent, interested; she respects good design.
Your bags steer clear of being overtly trend-led. From "see-now-buy-now" to the boom of Instagram, how have changes in the industry since you first began affected your brand and approach? The thing that’s nice about our brand is that we’ve always done our own thing. As you say, we aren’t trend-led, so in a sense, changes in the industry haven’t really altered our course. Sure, we’re on Instagram, we have Facebook. But social media doesn’t govern the way we run our business. We move with the times; we look at what is happening in the industry, but then we carve our own path through it. To me, the interesting thing about the way the industry has changed is that it places so much more power in the women – they have more choice, they can be more discerning. We’ve always encouraged that so I think it’s all really positive. Ultimately, we continue to do what we set out to do: make great bags, using great materials, always with one eye on that woman on the number 19 bus.
The Sophie Hulme Personalisation Boutique is located at 64-65 Burlington Arcade, London W1. Monday to Saturday: 10am – 6pm, Sunday: 12noon – 5pm.
The good news is, it’s nearly Christmas. That means (hopefully) you’re on the home stretch before you get to lie horizontally on the sofa, watching a comfortingly familiar film and eating whatever you want.
Unfortunately, before then, you’ve got to get through what people like to call “Party Season”.
Party Season is made to look very glamorous in magazines and on television adverts; it features people like Twiggy and Erin O’Connor meeting Mark Owen and Gary Barlow for some festive drinks in a stunning location. In reality, as most of you know, Party Season is Jim from accounts wearing a tie round his head and demanding that the staff at All Bar One allow him to use the table as a stage for his rendition of "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day".
Basically, the cold hard truth is that you’re probably going to spend December feeling hungover and under the weather, desperately looking for something, anything, to make you feel better.
One thing that’s becoming more popular to treat hangovers are vitamin drips – or "drip and chill" as they were called on the increasingly silly Made in Chelsea a few weeks ago. They appeared on the scene in 2013 but, as the supplement industry has grown, so has their popularity.
“We live in a world where people are being told to eat five fruit and veg a day, but with increasing pressure on their time, they’re finding it difficult to look after themselves properly,” says Dr. Dan Robinson, a GP for Push Doctor, explaining that people are turning to things like vitamin drips as “shortcuts” to improve their wellbeing.
There are currently vitamin drips that claim to target any number of different problems, from ageing to low energy, jet lag to hangover. In London, there are even some on offer for skin lightening. Which is beyond depressing.
Unfortunately, according to Dr. Dan, when it comes to hangovers, these vitamin drips aren’t going to do all that much. Although he admits that receiving IV fluids in a medical environment and getting some rest while the drip happens could “technically reduce the duration of a hangover,” the vitamin intake isn't going to help.
“When you receive a large amount of vitamins like this, your body can’t use them all and there’s nowhere to store them, so they’ll be passed out in your urine,” he warns. “You’ll basically be peeing money away!”
“On a more serious note, though,” he continues, “in some cases too much of a single nutrient can pose a genuine health risk. For example, too much vitamin A can be poisonous.”
Surely anyone administering drips must have a medical licence, though, right? Nope. “Most of these drips are done without a doctor present and certainly won’t have been prescribed by a GP,” warns Dr. Dan. “If you read the small print on the websites that sell drip and chill services, you might notice disclaimers telling you that they can’t guarantee their medical information is ‘true, accurate, complete, current or non-misleading! That should really set alarm bells ringing!” In fact, he says, some further serious side-effects include risk of infection from the needle – especially if it’s not been done by a doctor. He also warns of allergic reactions to the content of the drops. “Each clinic is different,” he says. “However, I wouldn’t recommend drip and chill to anyone I cared about.”
With vitamin drips costing upwards of £150, depending on the clinic or service, it’s a huge amount to pay for something doctors don’t recommend. “There are definitely cheaper ways to get your vitamins,” says Dr. Dan. “Why not start with buying an apple?”
Essentially, Dr. Dan’s main takeaway is that vitamin supplements aren’t the magic answer to all our ailments. “There is no substitute for a healthy balanced diet,” he says. “If you find it hard to achieve this, then taking a multivitamin is an option, but it’s not as good as getting these nutrients naturally.”
So sadly kids, it looks like dripping and chilling isn’t your way to a hangover-free December. Instead, you’re probably better off drinking lots of water in between your bevs, and avoiding Jim from accounts like the plague.
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Welcome to Money Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking a cross-section of women how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period – and we're tracking every last penny.
This week, we're with a couple who met 4-5 years ago (depending on who’s counting) and since then have lived separately, together and on the other side of the world. They’ve spent a lot of money (and had a lot of fun) on dating, holidays and travelling adventures. In doing so, they've also learnt how to save, too – via joint bank accounts and savings accounts. They've recently stepped into the next stage of “adulting” and become homeowners, which is scary, exciting and deceptively expensive.
The couple have a shared savings account, which they use to pay for the “sensible” things, and their bank accounts for “fun” money. They also split “sensible” outgoings evenly, and aim to split “fun” outgoings evenly, too – call it Going Dutch.
Occupations: Art Director and Designer Industries: Creative Ages: 33 and 29 Location: London Salaries (separate and combined): £40,000 + £45,000 = £85,000 combined Paycheque amounts per month: £2,629 + £2,673 Number of housemates: Zero
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: Mortgage £641.67 each = £1,283.34 in total Loan payments: Student loans paid off Utilities: Council tax £161, Internet £30, Gas & Electricity £60, Water paid annual Transportation: We both have bikes and try and cycle to work 3-4 times per week to save money, unless we have work meetings where we need to be smart. At the weekend it's mostly walking, or an Uber. Phone bill: £18 + £18 Savings: £1,000 + £1,000 per month to pay for building work and house DIY we are in the middle of. Other: Gym membership £18 (each), Spotify £9.99 (each), Netflix £7.49, Adobe £45 Insurance: House insurance £20 (each) and life insurance £20 (each) is part of buying a house and getting a joint mortgage.
Available to spend for the month: £747.03 + £737.43 = £1,529.43
Day One
Her
6.30am: Working from home today but I have some freelance work to finish off and send out so still get up early. But first coffee free.
10am: Porridge and banana breakfast, also technically free.
3pm: Working from home breaks up routine, late lunch and starving = Sunday's homemade leftover soup.
7pm: As we were away at the weekend, Monday is ‘Big Shop day’ (exciting!). We generally buy our own lunch supplies (different dietary requirements) and split essentials. Again, ‘sensible’ and ‘fun’. But there is always an argument over who buys the toilet roll – mostly because neither of us wants to carry it home. £23.55
Total: £23.55
Him
It's Monday. Brrr. Cycling to work helps me avoid all potential coffee shop joints on the way to the studio and the cost of public transport.
12.30pm: Monday lunch is always super quick due to the start of the week workload, Veggie Pret it is. £4.80
6.20pm: After being a Sensible Sue all day I decide on the way home "THIS WILL BE MY PACKED LUNCH WEEK" so hit Sainsbury's and muster up some ideas for the week. £19.20
Total: £24
Day Two
Her
6.30am: 30 min run and circuits before work.
8.15am: Porridge and banana breakfast.
1.15pm: Lunch of leftover homemade soup + coriander. £0.59
1.40pm: Feeling really in need of coffee. Leave to go and find coffee. Forget it is half term holidays. Abort coffee mission. Remember that I’m reading a book about ‘Getting Your Shit Together’, buy a 2018 diary online to be more organised for next year. £9.98
6.30pm: Tube to central London for my friend's launch party. £4.80
10.30pm: Three glasses of free prosecco, one gin & tonic my friend bought for me, late-night Mexican salad £7 (BF paid), late Tube home. £3.90
Total: £19.27
Him
8.20am: Toxic Tuesday is upon me and with the promise of an early week school night out, I walk to the studio. This means a fancy coffee is needed; well, more essential than needed. £2.40
3pm: My packed lunch makes me feel I've conquered life but afternoon snack for Mr Fatty takes place at a generous 80p a hit. Breaking the bank. Oops, online shopping o’clock! Buy new T-shirt. £12
6.45pm: An evening round of drinks in Soho hits me but that packed lunch totally makes me feel like I've 'deserved to do what the hell I want tonight'...right? £12
9pm: TfL £3.80
10pm: Dinner £15.70
Total: £46.70
Day Three
Her
7.30am: 30 min run and circuits before work.
8.30am: Porridge and banana breakfast with coffee.
1.45pm: Delicious and satisfying Greek salad packed lunch.
6.15pm: Tube to south London for dinner at friend's house £4.80. You can’t turn up empty-handed, stop at Sainsbury’s £6.30. Late Tube home £3.90. Starting to actually realise how much transport adds onto a 'cheap date' when it’s too far to cycle.
Total: £15
Him
8.15am: Hump day. But the promise of another evening out. Rebellious. Another essential coffee takes place on the walk in. £2.40
12.45pm: A scrumptious Bel Air health hit for lunch takes the toll on my Monzo... the only thing that's good about knowing how much you spend in such detail is the glorious colour of that card. £6.40
6.10pm: Evening drinks with a friend could have got out of hand – luckily we head back to his after a bottle of red to drink for free. Everyone loves a free drink, right? Shit, I totally forgot to make packed lunch. I've failed at life, again. £26
Total: £34.80
Day Four
Her
7.30am: 30 min run and circuits before work.
8.30am: Porridge and banana breakfast with coffee.
12.30pm: Homemade salad lunch.
1pm: Tube into central London for meeting and research trip. £4.80
6pm: It’s raining sideways and I need to do a meeting debrief. Costa coffee is the nearest, soya cappuccino £2.90. Work as quickly as possible to escape the beige and brown interiors.
6.30pm: En route to visit friend and her new baby. I am starving from early lunch. Humous and falafel snack pot £1.50. Take mum, minus new baby, for a drink. Two proseccos. £9
9pm: Train home. £2.40
Total: £20.60
Him
8.15am: How my plan to make lunch for myself fails me again I'll never understand. Maybe the escape from the office at lunch is just too tempting for my ever-sleepy brain. Oh wait, IT'S THURSDAY – this means we're only 48 hours away from the weekend, which means it's 204% coffee morning. £2.40
1.10pm: Lunch offers soup... £4.20
9pm: ...but dinner = pizza. Fatty wins yet again, but no alcohol takes place – a rare event, which will surely cause my downfall on Friday night. £9
Total: £15.60
Day Five
Her
Day off!!! It’s super sunny – feeling smug to have booked this day off.
10.30am: Meet friend for trendy breakfast and coffee; we haven’t been able to catch up for over a year. £15.30
12.30pm: Train to Kew Gardens to meet Mum. Forgot to bring water bottle from home – new water £0.90. Entrance to Kew Gardens free as Mum has membership. It's awesome and autumnal. Stop for pot of tea. £2
6pm: Looking at amazing plants is thirsty work – take Mum for a glass of vino to say thank you! Two glasses and peanuts £13. West London always feels expensive.
7.30pm: Train back east for friend's birthday £4.50. Two G&Ts for me and birthday boy. £9.20
12am: Accidentally walk past BF's friend's new cocktail bar – it would be rude not to. Two Negronis (BF pays – free?!).
Total: £44.90
Him
8.20am: TFIF. Today is going to be GREAT. Another walk to work and yes... you guessed it... another coffee of joy. But hey, it's Friday – throw in a croissant, mate. £4.80
12.15pm: After a night off the booze, another healthy lunch is needed in preparation for a boozy Friday 30th birthday. £6.40
6pm: Post-work drinks. £12
7.30pm: On to dinner at the birthday finished with cocktails at a friend's new bar = all the drinks. £40
Total: £63.20
Day Six
Her
8.30am: Wake up for life coach appointment. Tired and a tiny bit hungover so buy a coffee en route. Oat milk cappuccino £2.40. Bus to appointment £2.20. Saturday life coach £62.50 (but paid for all in bulk last month).
12.30pm: Meet boyfriend and builder to check in on the building work we have been saving for. Nothing to report.
1.15pm: I am starving because all I have had is coffee. Stop at Sainsbury's for snacks: sushi, etc £3.65. Get Tube to head to exhibition. Exhibition is sold out for next three hours – I hate the fact that you can’t do anything cultural spontaneously in London anymore. On the plus side we’ve saved £15 each. Decide to mooch around Shoreditch instead, looking at new stores and all the nice things. Couldn’t resist earrings that I saw months ago and they still have £15. Another coffee (BF pays, free?!).
4pm: Meet friends for afternoon pub drinks. Guinness and wine £9.90. I have more drinks bought for me from friend and BF. Everyone seems to be celebrating payday – it’s not mine yet!
Total: £33.15
Him
11.45am: Good morning hangover, good morning walk around town. TfL £4.20
2pm: Coffee needed £5.50. Think I'm noticing a trend with this coffee thing.
5.20pm: Afternoon pub drinks £12.60 followed by snack £4.50 and dinner £28. Wrap me up for an early night and hopefully a productive Sunday... I really need to cut the coffees.
Total: £54.80
Day Seven
Her
8.45am: 20 min circuits to start Sunday off and celebrate a free extra hour of sleep.
10am: Homemade breakfast with coffee.
1pm: East London Sunday stroll to meet friends. Opt for pint of soda in pub as it's free.
4pm: Everyone else is hungry for lunch but luckily still full from breakfast. (I might have stolen some of my BF's chips.)
5.30pm: Stock up on basic extras to make packed lunch for the beginning of the week – technically I can add this to next week's budget, right?
7pm: Dinner at home also free. Also, no-booze Sunday.
Total: £0
Him
Autumnal chill day is here. Breakfast at home followed by a Sunday walk to the flower market equates to ultimate chill. Fish and chips for lunch £11.30 followed by a slow walk home and dinner in means Sunday WINS on the cheapest day of the week. Unbelievably, no coffee was consumed in the making of this day.
Total: £11.30
The Breakdown
Food/Drink: £44.59 + £105.30 = £149.89 Entertainment: £31.20 + £88.50 = £119.70 Clothes/Beauty: £15 + £12 = £27 Travel: £30.90 (it all adds up when you have a week without cycling) + £8 = £38.90 Other (or should we say Significant Other): Coffee = £22.80
Total: £121.69 + £236.60 = £358.29
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