EDITOR’S LETTER
Anne-Marie Curtis reflects on honesty and inspiration
I first encountered the force of nature that is Chrissy Teigen on Twitter, with her candid and hilarious posts on everything from politics to stretch marks. I immediately warmed to the model and entrepreneur, and it turns out I wasn’t alone – everyone at ELLE feels the same way. When the internet can seem like an overwhelming place, Chrissy makes it feel that much more welcoming. She is honest, smart, relatable and her own woman – which makes her the perfect cover star for our January issue. Best of all, in person she’s as likeable as she seems online, as you will find out when you read her interview on page 1O4. One thing that really struck me was her view on the positive effects of the internet: how it has helped her find her voice and the community of friends she has made – it’s a timely reminder of the good it can do.
In the spirit of Chrissy-style honesty, many of us have a complicated relationship with our breasts, and I am definitely one of them. From being an AA cup aged 13, when all my peers were boasting ‘proper-sized’ ones, to suddenly waking up in my twenties and realising I was, ahem, a 3ODD, I discovered all the often-unwanted attention and wardrobe issues that go along with that. Add two children and many years to the mix and I’ve learned to live with them – I even actually quite like them. Pandora Sykes’ brilliant piece on page 92 looks at the women inspiring us to rethink our relationship with our breasts, from the artist making beautiful boob pots to Chidera Eggerue, who started #saggyboobsmatter. ‘There are myriad words for boobs – and myriad breasts to match,’ she writes, ‘yet so few are included in the cultural conversation.’ It’s a thoughtprovoking, inspiring read.
In fact, there is a lot to be inspired by this month, from Lena De Casparis’ excellent report on the women changing the political landscape around the world on page 88 to Shannon Mahanty’s interview with Josh O’Connor on page 85. Starring as Prince Charles in The
Crown, he was on THE ELLE LIST 2O18 and is a phenomenal talent. Oh, and don’t miss Lauren Cochrane’s piece (page 53) on renting her wardrobe for a week. Ever since we devoted our September issue to sustainability, the ELLE team has been trying to be more mindful of what we buy and how we shop. So when we heard predictions of a boom in the fashion rentals market (projected to be worth more than £1.4bn by 2O23), we knew we had to try it out. It gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘generation rent’.
At a time when we are reconsidering our relationship with what we buy, it seems fitting to celebrate the lasting impact of a fashion great. Some 26 years on from his seminal grunge collection for Perry Ellis, Marc Jacobs has reissued 26 of the looks – and I for one intend on investing in a piece or two. On page 13O, he reflects on how the spirit of grunge lives on today.
Whatever you do, don’t miss our edit of the best beauty products in the world right now. I often find myself craving a make-up bag update at this time of year, which makes our International Beauty Awards on page 135 – judged by ELLE editors around the world – perfectly timed. Plus, on page 141, beauty director Sophie Beresiner looks at how the wellness world is stretching beyond fitness to consider long-term health.
Finally, you might notice this issue has a bit of a tech theme. That’s not an accident. Tech is part of all our lives, so it’s important that we cover it, too. So on page 72, you can read about the women shaping the tech industry, from Sharmadean Reid, whose app Beautystack is changing how we book beauty treatments, to Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, who runs an organisation encouraging young women into STEM careers. And on page 81 you will also find our first regular tech report The Download, bringing you all the products, apps and social accounts to follow now.
Inspiring, informative and fun – what more could you want as we start a new year? I hope you enjoy the issue as much as we have loved putting it together. Happy reading!