EDITOR’S LETTER
The September issue is a funny time in the magazine world – we’re talking about autumn trends and setting new intentions with a ‘back to school’ state of mind, but you’re probably (hopefully!) reading this on a sunlounger somewhere, fully immersed in the sunshine and a slower pace of life. Yet it’s in these moments – when we press pause on our everyday life – that we actually find the time to reflect on where we are, where we want to be going and how we’re going to get there. It’s also the perfect occasion to find a little inspiration to spur us on the way.
I hope there’s spades of it in this issue, starting with our cover star Helena Christensen. We were lucky enough to shoot the model and photographer at her home in Upstate New York (page 36). Hers is quite possibly the dreamiest house I’ve ever visited and has made me want to throw everything I own away and start again, buying only vintage pieces that are ‘unique and peculiar’, like she does. It wasn’t only her decor that impressed me, though. I also loved her determination to be ‘constantly evolving, open and curious’. For more aesthetic ideas, look no further than What To Wear Now on page 82, Red’s fashion editor-at-large Nicola Rose’s take on new-season dressing (I’m investing in high-waisted cords and a leather midi skirt) and beauty editor Alexandra Friend’s musings on The Hair We All Want on page 106 (Californian waves and a Parisian fringe? I’m in!).
And then of course there’s career, because there’s nothing like a two-week holiday to make you debate whether your work-life balance is out of kilter. For that, we have Red Smart Women Week (see page 64), our five-day festival of masterclasses, networking and boot camps to help you rewrite your future and get the job (or lifestyle) you truly want. Many of the articles you’ll read in this issue will be brought to life from the 18th-22nd of September (book tickets now at smartwomenweek.co.uk). We hope to see you there!