EDITOR’S LETTER
I always find the September issue slightly disconcerting. When you’ll be reading this, shops will be starting to fill with autumn’s new fashions, yet we are more likely to be wearing swimsuits than shearling. And although there’s a definite ‘back to school’ vibe (even more so this year, when many places of work and learning will finally be reopening their doors), right now, most of us are taking some much-needed time out – even if it’s just in our back gardens. Yet, whatever you’re looking for in this moment, I hope we have it covered. On page 14, we introduce the five key trends of the new season, and from page 69, some of our favourite models showcase the designers’ best offerings, too – each picture was shot at home, in a ‘lockdown shoot’ masterminded by Red’s fashion director Oonagh Brennan. In beauty, we discover a gentler mood, with a pared-back approach to skincare on page 88, and a less-is-more mindset when it comes to make-up, on page 84. On page 94, Dr Ateh Jewel writes about the new hair products designed to nurture texture, curls and coils.
Feeling out of kilter at work? The Comeback Plan on page 44 should provide some useful advice. Worried about money? On page 50, one writer describes how she paid back £10,000 of debt. Want to feel more powerful? Turn to page 34 for assertiveness lessons from a former dominatrix!
The highlight of this issue for me, is our cover star Corinne Bailey Rae, interviewed beautifully on page 28 by Arielle Tchiprout. Not only have her songs become anthems, but her positivity in the face of great personal and cultural challenges is a reminder of the power of optimism. ‘Hope has been a big feature in my life,’ she says. ‘If you don’t have hope, you don’t have anything.’
It’s a philosophy I subscribe to, too.