Sparkle, shine and splendour
Looking for the perfect present? Treat a loved one to a red subscription. turn to page 126 for our great offer.
The wonder of Christmas never fails to delight me, whether it’s July, when we attend the press days, or September, when we write this issue. By November, I am deeply ensconced in Christmas carols, party dresses and eggnog recipes. For me, the season is a mixture of embracing old traditions along with discovering new ways to bring the magic, which is the spirit with which we bring you this Christmas issue. Take our Style pages – while we’re still very much loving a bit of sparkle, it could now be in the form of a lamé jumpsuit or sequin trousers, or instead you could celebrate in technicolour with Anna Mason’s fabulous fuchsia moiré two-piece, as seen on the cover.
We’re getting a beauty update, too – while most of us probably wore Rimmel Heather Shimmer first time around, those 1990s shades now feel modern and cool again. In Just One Thing on page 107, we explore how a creamy brown manicure or a slick of terracotta lipstick can instantly transform your party look.
On getting Christmas-ready, don’t do anything until you turn to page 42, where we’ve gathered expert advice on everything from how to keep your tree alive to what to have ready-wrapped in your cupboard for an unexpected gift-giver and the best way to cure a festive hangover. The inspiration keeps coming in our marvellous Living section, from page 129, which is a bounty of seasonal joy, with recipes from Héloïse Brion (roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries and feta are on my must-cook list), striking Christmas decor and simple craft ideas, gorgeous gift wrap and everlasting Advent calendars, and last but not least, our tried and tested pick of the best Champagne!
And because we know the holiday season isn’t all tinsel and bliss, we’re sharing Sali Hughes’ sage advice for Christmas post-divorce on page 46, some ideas on how to combat loneliness on page 54 and a report on ‘grey area’ drinking (the fuzzy middle ground, which includes ‘just one more’ and ‘one too many’) on page 182, along with 24 ways to feel calmer and brighter on page 178.
Finally, it’s with great pleasure and pride (and a lot of hard work from Red’s brilliant print and digital teams) that we bring you our annual Small Brands Gift Guide from page 29. It started with an Instagram shout-out and ended with the submission of thousands of beautiful products for our editors to choose from. It’s our commitment to supporting small businesses, for whom the landscape is ever more challenging.
While we know this year everyone is spending more cautiously (it’s why we have included the piece on page 62 about how to give back without putting more pressure on your finances), we also want to encourage buying less but better, shopping small and allowing these
incredible businesses to thrive.
Wishing you much joy,