Table of contents for Issue 909 in Grazia

Hands up if you're as excited as me about the return of And Just Like That? I've spent years dissecting the dynamics of Carrie and co with more energy than I'd like to admit. And I've always thought Miranda's character the meatiest. We've watched her grapple with divorce, single parenting, climbing the corporate ladder – and then coming down from it all together, her sexuality… and she's done it all while being a stead-fast, solid friend to a group who, let's face it, can be sometimes chaotic and flawed. So hearing cover star Cynthia Nixon's take on how Miranda's found her groove and her fan base is a delight. On page 38, she talks about the show's success, plus how she's tried to use her voice off-screen too to counter…

1. Up OPRAH Apparently, the new Pope got starstruck on spotting her in the crowd after his inaugural mass, when she shouted ‘Chicago!’ at him. 2. New in MOMTOK Lynchpin of The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives, season two of which just kicked off. (BTW, is it just us, who hears it as ‘Montauk’?) 3. Non-mover THE VANDERPUMP REALITY TV DYNASTY It only just occurred to us to google whether Lisa Vanderpump (of Vanderpump Rules) is related to ‘Vanders’ Vanderpump (Made In Chelsea) and: AUNT AND NEPHEW, PEOPLE! 4. Up DANNY DYER His film Marching Powder arrives on streaming services, just as he wins a Bafta and season two of Rivals starts shooting (huzzah!). 5. Non-mover BEN SHEPHARD'S ABS Newly defined for the cover of Men's Health and his 50th…

ALEXA CHUNG Perennial It girl Alexa Chung opted for a signature slip dress, an oversized coat and stilettos, taking it as far as va-va-voom flower show dressing goes. We're sold. THINK OF IT as fashion's great migration: the moment a see-and-be-seen event becomes too popular, ie, mainstream, the style set moves on, flaunting their suave get-ups at a new soon-to-be hotspot. All hail the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which turned out to be the not-so-hushed-up gettogether for the best dressed this year. In all fairness, south west London's gardening extravaganza has always been a white-hot centre for the upper crust, royals (and those who'd like to be one), admiring the latest in botanical excellence. But now the celebration of all things floral has become its own fashion microcosm. Boasting looks…

DENIM SHORTS: two words that inspire trepidation in even the most hardened fashion professional. They conjure images of uncomfortable, largely unforgiving Daisy Dukes, long the foundation of every festival outfit going. However, it's time to banish that thought and prepare to embrace fashion's new favourite portmanteau: jorts. Otherwise known as jean shorts, this season's longer, chicer, more grown-up style is all the rage. Google searches have spiked in the last week alone, while designers from Saint Laurent to Stella McCartney have served up a pair for summer 2025. Whether they're bang on the knee, a shade below, or more of a longer shin-length culotte, the key is in the fit: they're looser, more forgiving and surprisingly easy to wear. They are also ripe for dressing up or down, pairing brilliantly…

THE YEAR IS 1994. Four Weddings And A Funeral is in cinemas, Anna Friel's gay kiss is making waves on Brookside and every stereo is playing Always & Forever by girl group Eternal. Louise Nurding is Eternal's breakout star: women want to be her, men want to be with her. She went solo the following year and, by 1996, her debut album, Naked, had gone platinum. In 1998, she married footballer Jamie Redknapp and the Nurding era was over: enter Louise Redknapp. ‘It was so innocent back then,’ she says with that girl-next-door grin. ‘There was no social media. No comment section. There was the odd pap, but you were pretty much left alone, whereas now you have to keep feeding the socials to be relevant.’ Unlike a lot of…

Then here's how to handle it… By psychotherapist and divorce coach Eve Stanway 1. Say the unsaid. Often, it's not just about their partner – it's the fear and helplessness behind the frustration. Say, ‘I feel concerned for you,’ rather than pushing your sibling to act. 2. Step back to stay close. If every conversation ends in an argument, you can say, ‘I love you, so I am going to stop talking about this for now.’ Boundaries will protect your bond. 3. Let go of control. Unsolicited advice can often sound like judgement. Instead of, ‘You need to leave,’ try, ‘How does this relationship feel for you right now?’ 4. Keep the door open. If things fall apart, your sibling needs a safe place to land. Be the person who…

IT USED TO BE a flex name-dropping a designer when someone complimented your outfit (double points if the piece was old enough to be archival (‘Oh this? It's Prada 2008.’) Nowadays, however, it's just as chic to reply, ‘It's high street.’ This is because, stealthily, it's become a decidedly elevated destination. Humble? Forget it. The high street is now haute. In April, COS invited guests to Athens, taking over the Dionyssomarble Quarry, hewed from the very same marble used to create the city's most famous landmark: the Parthenon. Alexis Foreman, digital creator and creative consultant, was blown away. ‘The quarry was stunning and a really unusual location for a show,’ she tells Grazia. ‘I do expect an elevated experience with COS, but what did take me by surprise were the…

Retinol The ultimate collagen catalyser. Start low and go slow, applying at night only – retinols can break down under UV rays and become ineffective; they can also cause irritation when used at the same time as other actives, such as vitamin C. Try: Skin Rocks Retinoid 1, £65 Azelaic acid An anti-inflammatory great for those prone to breakouts who want to temper redness and smooth. Apply after your vitamin C in the morning. Try: Naturium Azelaic Acid 10%, £22 Gentle exfoliants A post-cleanse add-on that decongests clogged pores and smooths skin. Look for low percentage glycolic acid formulas or salicylic acid and use twice a week. Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, £35 LED therapy An at-home version of the clinical-grade masks used by derms, LED therapy can boost…

WE'VE FINALLY ACCEPTED the universal truth: there's no point investing in lengthy and expensive skincare routines if you're skipping the most essential product for long-term skin health – SPF. We also know that wearing facial SPF daily (yes, even on dull and cloudy days, or when we're WFH by a window) is the most effective way to protect our skin from premature ageing. Up to 80% of visible skin ageing is caused by UV exposure, after all. But let's be honest: SPF and make-up haven't exactly had a dream-team reputation. Old-school formulas were thick, greasy and even ghostly. They pilled, left a white cast and didn't play nicely with foundation. ‘They just weren't formulated with make-up wearers in mind,’ explains pro make-up artist Lisa Potter-Dixon. The result? We hated wearing…

The last book I read… Ancient Futures by Helena Norberg-Hodge. She's in her seventies now and has spent decades living in Tibet with an indigenous community, and that's what this book is about. It's extraordinary – and so is she. The last film I watched… I like documentaries. The last one I watched was The Biggest Little Farm about a couple setting up a farm in California. The last song I listened to… Cuckoo Song by Cosmo Sheldrake. The last accessory I wore… My Silhouette glasses. I think glasses are a great opportunity to show more of your personality and express yourself. The last beauty product I finished… My go-to Ilia foundation. The last holiday I went on… Skiing with friends in Italy. We stayed in a log cabin in the mountains,…

Women are twice as likely as men to need time off work due to stress, depression or anxiety. Those over 55, who ‘juggle menopause, ageism, sexism and caregiving‘, are the worst hit, according to analysis of Health and Safety Executive labour force data. Is it any wonder there's a gender stress gap? We know women carry the lion's share of the mental load – the invisible tasks required to keep a household and family running – with studies showing that women in heterosexual relationships still do the bulk of housework and childcare. Adding the gender pay gap, hormonal changes and societal expectations to that creates a ticking timebomb for women's mental health. Something needs to change – and fast.…

Cynthia nixon (who, it must be said, is such a Miranda) does not sugar coat it when I ask her how the mood is among liberals in New York right now, living under Trump 2.0. ‘It's terrible. It's very hard to even say: how are you?’ She shakes her head, lists a few things she is newly concerned about this week (‘Like, why would we need a Department of Education? Ha!’), then tells me about a few of the things she is trying to do about it. Just before we meet, she and her wife, education activist Christine Marinoni, threw a benefit for the Democrat Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani at their house. It was co-hosted by Sarita Choudhury, her co-star in And Just Like That, and Nixon's The Gilded…

1. BEACHY BEADS Whether you're beach or boardroom bound, get into the ‘more is more’ spirit and pile on pendant necklaces and strings of crafty looking beads to add instant interest. 2. BAGS OF ENTHUSIASM It's time for the great handbag handover. Switch out trusty leather totes in favour of elevated basket bags (note Jacquemus’ asymmetric fringing), statement stripes and slouchy raffia for arm candy that's equal parts practical and sartorial. 3. THROW SHADE Pray for the sun to stay and equip yourself with the perfect shades. Choose from obnoxiously oversized cool-girl D-frames (a fashion favourite) or the neat oval styles that have taken over our Insta feeds. 4. FEET FIRST This season's sandals of choice are a techy, fuss-free flip-flop and a wearable take on gladiator flats in suede…

AFTER A resounding success in 2023, Emporio Armani and Our Legacy Workshop reunite once more for a summer collection that draws on classic Armani pieces and the brand's vast fabric archive. Waistcoat, £240, Emporio Armani X Our Legacy Workshop WHO NEEDS a lucky charm when you can have diamonds, right? Or even better, combine the two? De Beers’ new high jewellery collection, Talisman Line, gives the luck-bringing proposition legs, working rough yellow diamonds and round-brilliant white diamonds into heirloom pieces. Sold. Necklace, price on request, De Beers VERSACE PROMISES us a sensuous summer, courtesy of its La Vacanza collection, expertly modelled by Grammy-winner Sabrina Carpenter. All we need now is to hang on to the sunshine – please, please, please. From £70 THE ELDER Statesman – aka the maker of…

SEND NUDES Inspired by ‘90s lip trends, these liner duos are a genius way to cheat supermodel lips. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Contour Duo, £22 GLOW UP A limited edition oil that glazes lips candy pink. Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil in Pink Pop, £33 POWER POUT A bold, coral lipstick that delivers a shine-laden finish and SPF 30 protection. Kiko Milano Gleam & Care Lipstick SPF30, £15.99 JUST BALMY The collab you didn't predict, these shea butter and vitamin E balms are a handbag staple. Augustinus Bader x Sofia Coppola – The Lip Balm Duo, £65 FLIRTY FLUSH Tap this whipped cream-to-powder formula across lips for a velvety wash of colour. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge Velvet Matte, £32 SLEEPING BEAUTY Raspberries and matcha make for a nourishing mask (almost)…

I INTERVIEWED Nicola Peltz Beckham two and a half years ago, officially to promote her role in 2023's Welcome To Chippendales – actually because I wanted dirt on her alleged falling out with her in-laws, David and Victoria Beckham. Things had seemed rocky between them in the six months since Nicola's wedding to their son, Brooklyn. Rumours swirled that Victoria wanted Nicola to wear one of her designs as a wedding dress, while Nicola opted for Valentino Couture; that Becks pulled Brooklyn to one side, telling him, ‘We don't do this in our family’; that Brooklyn wanted an out from Clan Beckham. I had wanted to know everything. In the year after my interview, there appeared to be a family rapprochement – multiple smiley Instagram posts, group appearances on the…

Couple goals No bones about it, no one does it like Rihanna and A$AP Rocky. Whether it's a date night, the Met Gala or the step and repeat on La Croisette, we mere mortals can only aspire to their levels of swagger. All hail fashion's truest power couple. Shrug it off You don't want to miss that short spring window in which you can still wear your favourite leather jacket. Zoë Saldaña made a case for haute high-low dressing, pairing her Saint Laurent gown with a leather bomber. Kinky boots Thigh-high boots on the Cannes red carpet? Leave it to Alexander Skarsgård – now dressed by Harry Lambert – to flip the script on the subversive footwear, slipping into Saint Laurent leather waders. Tinseltown meets Riviera Bringing a soupçon of…

A COUPLE OF YEARS ago you couldn't move for brands launched by famous faces. So huge was the business of celebrity-backed beauty that for a while it outstripped the rest of the beauty hall. According to Statista, in 2023, sales of celebrity beauty brands in the United States grew by almost 58% compared to an 11% growth for the overall beauty category. But more recently the bubble seems to have burst, or at least shrunk. ‘We've reached a tipping point,’ says Rhea Cartwright, brand consultant and ex-head of beauty at Liberty London. ‘In 2025, a celebrity face might launch a brand, but it won't sustain one. Consumers are more informed, more selective and far less swayed by star power alone. In a market this saturated, efficacy, authenticity and brand clarity…

I'M ALMOST 30, I desperately want a baby, and the algorithm knows it. Every scroll through Instagram is awash with friends’ Greek island honeymoon reels, baby announcements and adverts that read: ‘How to freeze your eggs for free’. It sounds too good to be true, until I see the fine print: you can freeze your eggs for free if you donate half of them. Freeze-and-share schemes sound simple and sisterly – a clinic will cover one (eye-wateringly expensive) cycle of egg freezing and two years of storage if you agree to donate half your eggs. According to the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA), the average cost of freezing is £3,350, medication costs between £500 and £1,500, and storage up to £350 per year. The clinics’ language is often syrupy,…

YOU KNOW THE old fashion aphorism, the one about taking one thing off before leaving the house? I don't believe in it (apologies, Madame Chanel). In fact, right now I believe that we should advocate for the contrary: add something else, stack on another necklace, stop whispering and shout instead. Why? Because everything around us is beige. Or, to be brutally honest: boring. After the last few years of perfecting our minimalist wardrobes, this new imperative of throwing all sartorial caution to the wind may feel jarring. It is. But don't you feel like we're drowning in a sea of algorithm-dictated sameness? Uniformed in our identikit oversized tailoring? Care more about looking like a 1990s Cindy Crawford arriving at Heathrow airport than injecting our wardrobes with a dose of personality?…

1. THE DOUBLE CLEANSE DOUBLE CLEANSING started gaining traction in the early noughties. Caroline Hirons (then a rising talent in the blogger sphere, famed for her no bullshit approach to beauty) waxed lyrical about it and, a few decades later, we're all at it. The aim is to melt away the big stuff – SPF, make-up, grime – with your first product before whipping away any remaining traces with a refreshing rinse-off cleanser. There was a lot of hype around oils and butters a few years ago but, as long as you're breaking down the process into two considered steps, rest assured you're ticking the boxes. ‘You can remove your make-up with a micellar water, a dedicated make-up remover or a cleansing oil, then use a foaming cleanser to wash…

MULCH AT THE READY, it's time to (Monty) don the gardening gloves. Whether you're already fully immersed in #allotmentlife, enjoy tending to a small-but-perfectly-formed window box or simply want to see what all the fuss is about, getting your gardening gear in order is step one. Think chic wellie clogs (a surprisingly sartorial winner for 2025) and even chicer secateurs – courtesy of Japanese garden tool institution Niwaki – that'll ensure you and your shed look the part, regardless of whether or not you know your garden hoes from your hose.…