From the editor
I – like many of you, I’m sure – can’t wait for Christmas. Cosy nights down the pub, lazy duvet days, the excuse to buy something far too glam for the other 11 months of the year and, tbh, a few extra days off work. [Hi to my boss if you’re reading this. I love my job, but I also really love my sofa, okay?]
But one common theme emerged when we were putting the cover for this issue together: I realised I’m not the only one who is kinda ready for a smaller, less frantic and altogether chill-er festive season than years gone by. One where quality time with my very nearest and dearest matters much more than a packed social schedule that will leave me in a hungover heap crying at the It Feels Like Christmas scene in The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Well, the next generation of alcohol-free drinks aren’t just sans booze, they actually promise to simulate that tipsy feeling, minus the morning-after hangxiety. Yeah, we were sceptical, too – so we put them to the test for you on p45. Feeling that ‘I’ve definitely over-booked myself’ dread? Learn how to cancel your plans without p*ssing anyone off (p58). Ready to break up with your heels and confess your undying love for flats? You’re not the only one (p37). Loading your queue with every festive film going? We sat down with the star of Netflix’s Falling For Christmas, the one and only Lindsay Lohan, who opens up about her life in the spotlight on p66. And, for the nights you do want to go big, we’ve got you covered – from how to perfect the glossiest lips, to the partywear just screaming to be danced in (on your bed or in the bar).
So, go forth and have the Christmas and New Year’s Eve that feels right for you, not the one you feel pressured to have.