Table of contents for April 10, 2024 in Stylist

I have a friend and colleague who is so brilliant, so smart, so wise and so fair that I would follow her anywhere. She leads with empathy and kindness under immense pressure, gets the absolute best out of every person around her, can make tough decisions quickly and preempts the disaster around the corner that no one else has considered. “You should get into politics. I genuinely think you could make a change,” I told her last month. “Absolutely not,” she replied with a grimace. “Politics is a scary place to be a woman.” And the terrifying thing is, she’s not wrong. Last month we were all enraged when it was revealed that the Conservative party’s biggest donor, Frank Hestor, had said that MP Diane Abbott “should be shot”. Openly, I…

ENTERTAINMENT Swap awkward icebreakers for deeper connection with these nosy dinner party card games TO PLAY WITH NEW PEOPLE This game from the world’s most famous relationship therapist, Esther Perel, is designed to help us become better storytellers – both while we’re playing and when we’re having organic conversations out in the world. Once you’ve answered prompts like ‘A risk that changed my life’ and seen the chats they can spark, we defy you to reach for small talk ever again. (£32, estherperel.com) TO PLAY WITH A PARTNER We’re Not Really Strangers’ couples edition is a fun way to bypass the day-to-day stuff and get into the nitty gritty of a relationship. Expect reflective questions like ‘What assumption did you make about me that turned out to be true?’…

TRAVEL Start packing: three Stylist  staffers share their travel tips for 2024’s must-book city breaks BORDEAUX Stylist’s Emma Nicklin heads to the French city of Bordeaux, where she discovers so much more than its famous vines To many, when you say ‘Bordeaux’, images of lush vineyards, grand chateaux and hearty reds spring to mind. The city is at the centre of one of the most renowned wine regions in the world (it produces over 400 million litres a year), which makes it a huge draw for those looking to sample some of the world’s best bottles. However, Bordeaux has so much more to offer and is perfect for a weekend getaway, whatever you’re into. The city is easily reached at just a 1.5 hour flight from London (or 2.5 hours from Paris via…

all the need-to-know news from executive fashion director kitty mcgee Pastel tailoring is the fresh spring wardrobe update you didn’t know you needed. On the catwalks we saw structured, dusty pink double-breasted blazers and tailored shorts at Gucci; relaxed pale blue jackets styled with tonal wide-leg trousers at Proenza Schouler; and mid-blue single-breasted blazers at St Agni. On the high street, John Lewis’s blue suit and Whistles’ peppermint three-piece have captured the mood, while Savannah Miller’s label Vivere has got great dusty pink suits. Be bold and opt for head-to-toe tailoring, toned down with a sporty zip-top, trainers and a nylon cross-body. Jacket, £159, Whistles (whistles.com) Top, £35.99, Mango (shop.mango.com) Bag, £14.90 Uniqlo (uniqlo.com) Jacket, £1,495, Boss (hugoboss.com) Trousers, £168, Reiss (reiss.com) Swatch have just launched their latest art-inspired watch collection, in collaboration with Tate, featuring artists including Matisse, Miró and…

address: 185 fleet Street, London EC4A 2HSEmail: firstname.lastname@stylist.co.uk Editorial Director Lisa Smosarski Editor Alix Walker Creative Director Matt Phare Digital Content Director (on maternity leave) Felicity Thistlethwaite Acting Digital Content Director Ellen Scott Deputy Editor and Photography Director Tom Gormer Executive Editor, Digital Jazmin Kopotsha Design Art Director Jessica Lockett Designer Esme Marsh Designer Natalie Cooper Contributors Elena Christoforou, Richard Lee Fashion & beauty Executive Fashion Director Kitty McGee Fashion Director Lucy Reber Beauty Director Hanna Ibraheem Beauty Writer Aidan Milan Fashion Assistant Soraya Gaied Chortane features Entertainment Director Helen Bownass Features Director Meena Alexander Features Editor Hannah Keegan Senior Writer Amy Beecham Features Writer Holly Bullock Writer Shahed Ezaydi Production Group Production Director (on maternity leave) Jenny Tregoning Acting Group Production Director Emma Nicklin Sub Editor Steven Cowan…

MUSIC With madcap style, no-filter humour and one hell of a voice, CMAT is nudging country music into a new era. Stylist’s Holly Bullock meets the fresh face of 2024’s breakout genre In CMAT’s world, Have Fun! is both a song title and a rallying cry. The past six months have seen the Irish musician, whose stage moniker stands for Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, go from niche country-slash-indie darling to what she jokingly describes as an “international pop sensation” – and she isn’t far off. A Graham Norton performance late last year kickstarted a stellar run, with a sellout European and US tour, a Brit Award nomination and an interview with Elton John – even a spot on the Off Menu podcast to discuss her love of French butter. “I had my…

FASHION This spring, comfort is queen and no outfit is complete without the perfect pairing of flat shoes  and statement socks. Stylist’s fashion director Lucy Reber styles us from the ground up BUSINESS PARTNERS These sheer socks in the colour of the moment will elevate classic black leather shoes for warm-weather work days. Wear them with slim-leg tailored trousers that finish on the ankle to add a pleasing pop of colour to monochrome looks. Shoes, £135, Guess (guess.eu); socks, £17, Cos Atelier (cos.com) OFF-DUTY DOUBLE ACT Speckled socks look great with a textured material like suede, so buy a stash to wear with your Birkenstocks. I’m wearing this cotton-silk mix pair slouched down for insouciant cool all summer long, then swapping for cosier cashmere socks when the temperature drops. Shoes, £380, Birkenstock 1774…

For more interiors inspiration, go to stylist.co.uk/homestylist See in spring with shades of chambray and cornflower House number, £46, Mud Australia (mudaustralia.com) Cushion, £15, John Lewis (johnlewis.com) Bin, £80, Brabanita (habitat.co.uk) Paint in shade Lulworth Blue, from £31, Farrow & Ball (farrow-ball.com) Stand mixer, £499, Kitchen Aid (kitchenaid.co.uk) Trinket tray, £140, Smythson (smythson.com) Seeds, £3, Herboo (herboo.com) Toaster, £99, Hay (earlofeast.com) Lamp, £39, M&S (marksandspencer.com) Hot mitts, £40, Our Place (fromourplace.co.uk) Plate, £35, Henry Holland (henryhollandstudio.com) Mug, £5, Flying Tiger (flyingtiger.com) Vase, £38, Anthropologie (anthropologie.com)…

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DRINKS Mini versions of our favourite serves are the new thoughtful way to drink. Stylist discovers the best small orders from London to Manchester Less is more: the mantra can apply to our 13-step beauty routines, how many accessories we wear and now, it appears, our drinking habits. As we grow increasingly sober-curious, swapping martini trees, pints and pitchers for no-and-low drinks that offer a buzz or some social lubrication without the unwelcome after-effects, our favourite bars are taking note, offering scaled-down versions of classic sips. The new wave of minis offer all the style, substance and Instagram allure of a round of palomas at Hacha, but without the hefty price tag – or the hangover. They’re a chance to sample the kind of inspired concoctions you couldn’t…

HONEST CAREER NOTES ON STRIVING, FAILING AND FINDING FULFILMENT Rachel, 28, is Barbie’s official wardrobe stylist at Mattel HQ and part of the creative team behind the @barbiestyle Instagram account. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner and their dog Most people don’t believe that my job Is real. I dress Barbie for her social channels and also for special projects like billboards and commercials – my office is her closet. There are thousands of tiny pieces in it for me to choose from, a mixture of trendy garments and archived pieces that were sold with older dolls. I like to keep her style a bit funky: using oversized silhouettes, different colour palettes and current visual references. It’s a fun challenge at such a small scale. MY WORKING DAY STARTS AT 8AM.…

FLOWER POWER Thanks to a new bunch of luxury florists offering blooms that look real and last forever, faux flowers have shot to the top of our shopping lists Neutral tones A hesitation with buying artificial is often sustainability – they are, after all, made of synthetic materials. But if you love the lift of fresh flowers, it’s better to invest once and invest well. A sculptural spray of timeless greens and neutrals, like this bunch of eucalyptus, skimmia, pittosporum and Canterbury bells, are a smart choice. Stems sold separately or as part of the Spring Splendour arrangement, from £11 (thefauxflowercompany.com) Power peonies Seen cradled in the arms of The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White and laid on every seat at Carolina Herrera’s most recent show, bright pink peonies are the floral It girl of…

Testing the tips, trends and latest launches in the world of wellbeing We ask the experts to spill the beans on its potential benefits Sitting down with a fresh cup of coffee is one of life’s little joys. But nowadays, more and more people are giving it up in a bid to cut their cortisol levels, improve sleep and boost their energy using ‘natural’ interventions. But coffee isn’t just tasty – it can offer numerous health benefits. Studies have shown that regular coffee consumption can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, and it also contains vital nutrients such as vitamins B2 and B3, and magnesium. Then there’s the positive impact it can have on gut health: “Coffee can stimulate the gastric juices, which can help in the digestion of foods,”…