Inhaltsverzeichnis für Issue 666 in Grazia

1 WHITE OUT THINK SEQUINS are resigned to party season? Wrong. Zara’s all-white look is fit for spring. Top, £49.99, skirt, £49.99, both Zara (zara.com) 2 PEAR DROPS PEARLS ARE having a cool-girl renaissance. These drop earrings are the perfect starting point. £90, Carousel Jewels (carouseljewels.com) 3 WIDE STRIDES ANOTHER AMAZING collection of reinvented basics from Uniqlo U’s artistic director Christophe Lemaire. Wear these must-have chinos with cool kittens. £34.90, Uniqlo U (uniqlo.com) 4 PLANET SPRITZ SPRAY YOURSELF with Kenzo World Eau de Toilette, £55, for a burst of sparkling pear and intense peony balanced with powdery iris and gentle almond blossom. Fresh, floral and flirty. 5 SLICK AND STRUCTURED A HANDS-FREE cross-body is essential in any bag-drobe. This modern structured style is perfect for work and play. Bag, £315,…

IRELAND will hold a referendum on ABORTION in May, and I’m feeling all sorts of things. Hopeful, because I’ve wanted this for over two years, ever since Claire Hunt, Grazia reader and abortion rights activist, yanked me into the campaign by tweeting me to remind me Irish women must travel to the UK to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Worried, that having got to this miraculous point, the vote might not go in our favour, because… referendums, eh? Confounded again that Irish women have been denied this cornerstone right for so damn long. I don’t do preaching. I don’t do dogma. I don’t think I’m definitively right about anything, really; I’m a flawed piece of humanity, a mess of half-baked notions, half-buried prejudices and social media-dictated morality. But I am certain of…

PHOTOS: REX, GETTY HAVE YOU EVER done that sharp intake of breath – or worse, been the victim of it? We’re talking about the audible gasp when you meet someone for the first time and they’re unrecognisable from pictures you’ve seen online. You’ve experienced IRL Shock – and it’s becoming more common. Last week, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons revealed that, in 2017, there were 8% fewer plastic surgeries. Among women, there was an astounding 44% drop in face and neck lifts, 20% fewer eyelifts, a 31% fall in browlifts and liposuction was down 29%. Surgeons suggest it’s because we’ve all realised it’s less painful – and considerably cheaper – to use filters and apps such as FaceTune to make ourselves ‘look good’ (read: younger, line-free, thinner) on…

TASTEFULLY NUDE Everyday wardrobe basics deserve to be worn well. Just because a look has to fulfil daily duties doesn’t mean it has to be dull. Which is why it’s so important to have good foundations – Triumph’s Amourette Charm in Nude is key to making ‘everyday’ look ‘exceptional’. The balconette bra in floral lace is padded and has wider straps for perfect support, while these Tai briefs have soft trimmings for all-day comfort. ON-TREND IN BLUE To nail a look, you have to dress from the inside out. There’s no point investing in a killer outfit if your breasts aren’t supported or your briefs ride up! Triumph’s Amourette Charm in Ocean Blue – one of this season’s key colours – will give your underwear an injection of fun while…

AESOP: AESOP.COM. ALLIES OF SKIN: CULTBEAUTY.CO.UK. AMELIORATE: AMELIORATE-SKINC ARE.COM.DANIEL GALVIN JR: DANIELGALVINJUNIOR.COM. ESCENTRIC MOLECULES: ESCENTRIC .COM.ESPA: ESPASKINC ARE.COM. FREDERIC MALLE: FREDERICMALLE.CO.UK. GUY MORGAN: GUY-MORGAN.COM. LE LABO: LELABOFRAGRANCES.COM. LORE ORIGINALS: LOREORIGINALS.COM.MALIN GOETZ: SPACENK.COM. MR SMITH: MRSMITHCO.COM. PERRICONE MD: SHOP-BEAST.COM. REMINGTON: UK.REMINGTON-EUROPE.COM. ULTRASUN: QVCUK.COM IT’S TIME TO renounce our claim to the bathroom shelf. Male interest in comprehensive grooming routines is on the rise, with the worldwide grooming market predicted to almost double to $29.14 billion between 2012 and 2024. But don’t fret, our perfectly curated shelfies aren’t under threat because the sleek, chic and ever-practical unisex beauty industry is thriving. ‘Beauty brands are adapting to be less gender-targeted,’ says Fiona Firth, buying director at Mr Porter. ‘You just have to take a look at the simple and refined packaging appearing across…

PHOTOS: LEA CSONTOS/STOCKSY UNITED. “I FIRST HELD HER AFTER TWO DAYS – HER ANKLE WAS THE WIDTH OF MY THUMB” I AM CURRENTLY living a double life. Two weeks ago, I gave birth, but I don’t have my baby. Instead, she is looked after by others; amazing nurses, doctors, but not me. I’m a mere spectator. Rather than the cooing of family and friends, her soundtrack is the electronic bleeps and whirrs of machines. Instead of floppy cuddles and those gorgeous newborn snuggles, she is more familiar with latex gloves and tiny needles. The weirdest thing is that I wake up in my bed every morning and almost forget that I’ve had a baby (stab of guilt one) – before I clock the big yellow breast pump on my bedside…

GET BUSY DOING NOTHING! When was the last time you were bored? So bored your mind wandered and you dreamt up wonderful, ridiculous ideas? Was it years ago, before you started reaching for your smartphone the second life gets a bit dull? Us too. Last week, Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig said our phone addiction means we’ve lost the capacity to be bored and this is damaging our creativity. ‘You need to reach a level of boredom to make anything,’ she said. So this week we’re reading How To Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price (£12.99, Trapeze) and resisting the urge to reach for a mood-dictating object 24/7. Embracing boredom and giving our imaginations a chance – who knows where it will lead?…

AS SHOWBIZ REUNIONS go, it seemed a marginally less likely prospect than Brangelina renewing their vows. When the Spice Girls announced that ‘the time now feels right to explore some incredible new opportunities together’, it followed months of vehement denials from Victoria Beckham’s camp. Among them, last March, she said: ‘There won’t be a reunion. We’re still very close, but I think you need to know when it’s time to actually say, “That was great, we achieved a lot,” and everybody moves on.’ In November, following another round of rumours, a rep for the fashion designer and erstwhile pop star insisted, ‘The constant stories about Victoria taking part in alleged Spice Girls activity is nothing more than tabloid nonsense.’ Her reticence to indulge talk of a reunion was supported by…

MAIN PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): GALLERY STOCK. HAVE YOU EVER left a GP’s surgery with a feeling in your gut (not linked to your ailment) that you’ve been dismissed – knowing you’re going to have to go back again just to be taken seriously? You’re not alone and, more importantly, you’re not imagining it. This month, a study* found women are three times more likely to die following a heart attack than men. Not for any physical reason – but because doctors fail to prescribe women the same treatment as for men. There’s even a term for it: Yentl syndrome, a phenomenon that male doctors are twice as likely to ascribe female pain to psychological causes, and half as likely to prescribe adequate pain relief. In the US, women have…

SHE’S PREVIOUSLY described him as her ‘backbone’ and attributed her legendary work ethic to his example. But, last week, Gigi Hadid was said to have been left ‘shattered’ after her father Mohamed was accused of rape by model Miranda Vee. Writing on Instagram, Miranda claimed that Mohamed attacked her after an introduction by his close friend Paul Marciano – the Guess co-founder who model Kate Upton recently accused of sexual harassment. ‘I met with Paul at his apartment where he sexually harassed me & after that passed me on to his friend Mohammed,’ Miranda wrote on Instagram. ‘I thought it was a professional meeting but it was just me, him & champagne where he date raped me. Last year, when I tried to speak out about it they made me…

PHOTOS: FLYNET PICTURES. SHOPPING: EMMA GOLD HAVE YOU EVER fallen in unrequited love with a top/skirt/trousers? You love it in theory; but in reality you just don’t have a clue what you’d actually wear it with. If only you had a personal stylist to tell you what to pair with what. Well, now you have, sort of. The trend for bundling (aka, selling items in kits, or full looks) is gaining momentum, with fashion brands trying to entice loyal customers. Leading the charge is Wardrobe.NYC, the brainchild of stylist and Australian Vogue fashion director Christine Centenera and designer Josh Goot, which sells haute essentials – perfect black tailoring, white tees, etc – that come in four- or eight-piece capsule ‘wardrobes’ rather than individual pieces. Elsewhere, there’s fitness brand Outdoor Voices,…

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, PA PHOTOS. T-SHIRT: CULT – CULTURE – SUBVERSION EXHIBITION FROM 9 FEBRUARY – 6 MAY AT THE FASHION AND TEXTILE MUSEUM (FTMLONDON.ORG). BRUTA: BRUTA.EU, CHAOS: FROM £220, SHOP.CHAOS.CLUB. T-SHIRTS FROM £40, FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY, DOVERSTREETMARKET.COM Cringe at Valentine’s Day – then use it as an excuse to coordinate with your loved one. (Thanks, Bruta) Say something! The Fashion and Textile Museum’s new exhibition is a reminder of the power of a protest tee (hint: Katharine Hamnett still rules). Tech-cessorise! Chaos’s collab with artist Rose Wylie is a phone case game-changer. Celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Dog with Dover Street Market’s limited-edition T-shirts. Anoint Saoirse Ronan as the queen of red-carpet dressing this awards season (and go see Lady Bird immediately).…

FASHION ASSISTANT: EMMA GOLD TOTES Classic carryalls are revamped for now in woven checks and luxe leathers. The added bonus? These high street heroes don’t break the bank. MODERN MINIMAL Proof that minimal doesn’t mean boring, spring’s fuss-free bags are super-charged with playful touches – think unexpected shapes and off-kilter colours. CRAYOLA BRIGHTS Postbox red! Royal blue! Buttercup yellow! Subtle is out, statement shades are in. A punchy pop of colour is an instant outfit energy boost. NATURALS Not just for the beach, the humble basket bag is elevated to luxe new levels. Linen, raffia and raw edges impart an effortless mood. LOGO Pledging your allegiance to your favourite label has never been easier, with shout-it-out branding splashed all over handbags and backpacks.…

FOR MANY OF US , an altered state of consciousness is reached by binge-watching Love Island while mainlining Maltesers after too many espresso martinis. But for a growing niche of wellness-obsessed women, it means turning to psychoactives traditionally used for ancient ceremonial or recreational experiences, such as micro-doses of LSD and ayahuasca (both very much illegal, we should add). So why are people using mind-bending, hallucinogenic drugs for therapeutic purposes? And should we be dusting off our ‘just say no’ placards, or looking for a legal alternative to recreate the high? ‘Reliance on technology and the strains of city life mean mental and emotional health issues are rife in our modern era,’ explains Ruby Warrington, founder of lauded cosmic lifestyle platform The Numinous and author of Material Girl Mystical World.…

SIGRID IS SITTING on the edge of her chair, a wide smile on her make-up-free, freckled face as I rattle through a list of her achievements over the last 12 months. There was her feminist hit last year, Don’t Kill My Vibe , written after she was belittled in a recording studio by male music executives. A performance at Glastonbury that had critics predicting she’d headline the festival one day. Praise from Lorde, who put Don’t Kill My Vibe on her public Homemade Dynamite Spotify playlist, as well as Annie Mac, who has called Sigrid ‘literally the perfect pop star’. When we meet, she’s still amazed at being named BBC Music Sound of 2018 in January. That’s all despite having only released five (admittedly very good) songs to date. Her…

PHOTO: LARS HANSEN/THELICENSING PROJECT, JASON PULMAN IT WAS ONLY when I screwed everything up with a man I’d been seeing for less than a month that I realised I was lovephobic. He was handsome, kind, a demon in the sack, and made my heart beat so fast I had a panic attack. In the last 20 years, every time I’ve fallen in love it has ended in disaster. And, this time, I liked the guy so much, I suddenly became convinced he’d dump me. So I caused a pointless argument over text, as if on purpose to make sure he did. I’ve not heard from him since. Now, six weeks later, I curse myself for having acted in such a self-defeating and stupid manner. But it’s not my fault. I…

PHOTOGRAPHS: HAARALA HAMILTON SICHUAN PEPPER Once found as part of Chinese five-spice powder, today Sichuan pepper is a popular stand-alone ingredient too. Chefs love it for the tingle it leaves in the mouth, but it also has an interesting flavour and aroma that’s rather like a lemon but peppery at the same time. It is actually not a peppercorn, though, but the small, round black berry of the prickly ash tree that’s been dried. Packed full of different minerals, antioxidants and nutrients, it works brilliantly in sweet and savoury dishes. Find it in the spice aisle in most supermarkets. MELT-IN-THE-MOUTH STARTER RICE PAPER DUMPLINGS WITH SICHUAN Feeds: 4 Preparation: 15 minutes Cooking: 15-20 minutes INGREDIENTS 1 large sweet potato 1 spring onion, finely sliced 20g edamame, finely chopped 100g smoked…

THE SHAPE OF WATER Nominated for an incredible 13 Oscars, Guillermo del Toro’s dark fantasy romance stars the wonderful Sally Hawkins as the mute custodian of a top-secret laboratory, who befriends a captured water-based creature. With support from Michael Shannon and Octavia Spencer, it’s an overwhelming story that stays with you long after leaving the cinema. Out Wednesday COACH MAKERS ARMS Need a last-minute romantic option? Get cosy in Marylebone’s newly renovated Coach Makers Arms. Grab a ‘Spicy Coach’ cocktail at underground bar The 72, then snuggle up at one of the hand-crafted leather booths with something hearty from the traditional seasonal British menu. thecoachmakersarms.co.uk GOSPELOKE AT HOXTON SQUARE BAR & KITCHEN ‘Sister Act meets Top Of The Pops,’ say the Gospeloke organisers. OK, we’re in. Essentially what it says…

The Hotbed Launching on Valentine’s Day, The Hotbed Collective’s podcast promises to tackle the biggest taboo subjects in sex and relationships, including in-depth interviews and even setting ‘homework’ for listeners to carry out in their day-to-day lives. The School For Dumb Women Still unsure of who the Rothschilds actually are, or whether the moon really does control the tides? The School For Dumb Women discusses the subjects that everyone’s pretty sure they should already understand, but truly have no clue about. PHOTOS: JAMIE DREW Unpopped A new BBC podcast by journalist and author Hayley Campbell, where she welcomes three guests to analyse pop culture and key moments, such as RuPaul’s Drag Race and the time the Spice Girls met Kathy Acker.…

GISELE HAS AN Intimissimi moment TOM BRADY MIGHT HAVE missed out on his fifth Super Bowl, but Gisele is still on a winning streak, fronting lingerie label Intimissimi’s new campaign, which is inspired by empowered women. So, what exactly does that look like to the Brazilian super? ‘A woman who lives her truth and is confident,’ she tells us. intimissimi.com F IS FOR FUTURE – as seen by Fendi TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY of F is for… Fendi (a communication platform run by Millennials, for Millennials), the brand has gathered together six young street artists from around the world to paint the word ‘FUTURE’ in six different languages on the roof of its Rome HQ. The artwork has also been made into genderless tees. £290, fendi.com/fisfor TROUBLE IN squad…

INSPIRED TO ACT I treated myself to Grazia on Tuesday and couldn’t believe it when I opened it straight up at the School of thought article about needing to get out of a job but struggling with confidence issues (5 Feb). Last week, I was turned down for promotion for the second time in the same department for different reasons. It’s not necessarily bullying but onlookers are now complaining as everyone knows I’m the best person for the job. Anyway, after being shocked/upset/angry I decided yesterday to get myself a mentor and turn this around. Thank you! Cara…

1 NON-MOVER NAOMI CAMPBELL Wading in on the side of the grid girls, who marched against their expulsion from Formula 1. ‘I’ve never found it offensive and I’ve walked on that grid many times,’ she said. We err on the side of the grid girls, too. 2 NEW IN JOEL KINNAMAN Star of Altered Carbon, which is new on Netflix and utterly brilliant (if you’re the kind of person who adored the original Blade Runner – and why wouldn’t you be?). Joel is handsome and routinely naked. 3. NEW IN KERRY AND LEE ‘KURTAN’ MUCKLOWE Stars of BBC Three’s This Country, back soon for a second series, because there is a God after all, and he likes how Kerry’s mum says ‘tomato’ (inside joke). 4. NEW IN MONA CHALABI Statistician,…

‘MILDLY TERRIFIED’ is how 33-year-old actor Tessa Thompson likes to feel when she’s filming. ‘I’m looking for projects that scare me,’ she says. After a decade of not-so-inspiring parts, ‘I promised myself I would break new ground with my next role.’ First came racial satire Dear White People, then a critically acclaimed performance in Creed with Michael B Jordan. And then the daunting task of joining a well-established superhero franchise, playing the booze-soaked, bisexual and all-round badass warrior goddess Valkeyrie in 2017’s Thor: Ragnorak. Her decision to stop playing it safe paid off: she’s nominated for the A-list-launching EE Rising Star Award at this week’s BAFTAs (Tom Hardy and Kristen Stewart were once recipients). ‘I’m blown away by the other nominees [which include Oscar-hopeful Timothée Chalamet] – it’s inspiring just…

PHOTOS: INSTAR IMAGES, COLEMAN-RAYNER NEXT TIME YOU complain about your nightmare neighbour, spare a thought for Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux. Over the last few months, the lawyer living next to the couple’s New York apartment has accused them of harassment and animal cruelty; before that, Justin sued him for bullying, ‘tyrannical conduct’ and intimidation. Now, their feud has deepened further. In new court documents seen by Grazia, Justin has claimed that the couple’s neighbour, Norman Resnicow, has been spying on their Greenwich Village home and taking photos through their windows. A pyjama-clad Norman was even caught on camera, filming them from his deck. The situation must be particularly galling for Jen, who has the name ‘Norman’ tattooed on her ankle in memory of her beloved late dog (true story!).…

IF THE WORD perm makes you think of that Cher-meets-Madonna poodle frizz prominent in the ’80s, fear not. Today’s poster girls are Emma Stone and Jaime King – both of whom ventured to the curl side by getting perms last week – and cool-girl actors Julianne Hough, Lola Kirke and Mandy Moore. Add in the fact that salons are seeing an increase in demand – Hershesons even has a perm menu – and the new imperceptible perms are more of an ‘I woke up like this’ wave, and you’ve got the ultimate must-try treatment. ‘The modern perm is much softer,’ says Tom Cruickshank from Neville Hair and Beauty in London. ‘It’s more about movement, adding volume and a soft curl, rather than the “bubble” look we associate with perming.’ If…

FASHION ASSISTANT Charly Suggett HAIR Adam Garland at Eighteen Management using Hair by Sam McKnight HAIR ASSISTANT Sunao Takahashi MAKE-UP Nancy Sumner at Eighteen Management using Chanel Neapolis: New City and Blue Serum Eye CASTINGS AND BOOKINGS ASSISTANT Chloe Medley MODELS Stephanie Omorojor and Britt van der voort at Elite BALLY bally.co.uk BURBERRY burberry.com CÉLINE celine.com CHANEL chanel.com DIOR dior.com DOLCE & GABBANA dolcegabbana.com ELIZABETH AND JAMES elizabethandjames.us FENDI fendi.com GABRIELA HEARST gabrielahearst.com; matchesfashion.com GIORGIO ARMANI armani.com JACQUEMUS matchesfashion.com LOEWE loewe.com LOUIS VUITTON louisvuitton.com JOSEPH joseph-fashion.com LEMAIRE matchesfashion.com MARGARET HOWELL margarethowell.co.uk MING YU WANG mingyuwangnewyork.com NINA RICCI ninaricci.com PRADA prada.com SACAI sacai.jp THE ROW net-a-porter.com TIBI tibi.com VALENTINO valentino.com VICTORIA BECKHAM victoria beckham.com WANDLER net-a-porter.com WOLFORD wolfordshop.co.uk…

EAR CANDY FRUJHW WHHQy-ZHHQy VWXGV DQG VXEWOH VOHHSHUV, WKLV VHDVRQ OHW yRXU GDQJOy ELWV PDNH D ELJ, EROG, EHDXWLIXO VWDWHPHQW. TKLQN VKRXOGHU-VZHHSLQJ WDVVHOV DQG GHFDGHQW GLDPDQWé – IRU QLJKW, IRU GDy, IRU ZKHUHYHU yRX IDQFy! PASTEL POWER LHW yRXU fiQJHUV – DQG WRHV, LI yRX’UH EUDYH HQRXJK WR EDUH WKHP! – GR WKH WDONLQJ Ey SDLQWLQJ yRXU QDLOV LQ VSULQJ’V KRWWHVW FRORXU – SRZGHU EOXH. KHHS LW PDWWH IRU XOWLPDWH LPSDFW. HEAVENLY HANDS HHFWLF FLWy OLYLQJ FDQ SODy KDYRF RQ KDUGZRUNLQJ KDQGV – JLYH yRXUV D PXFK-QHHGHG WUHDW Ey PDVVDJLQJ GDLOy ZLWK ULFK, OXxXULRXV KDQG FUHDP. GRUJHRXV! ANIMAL MAGIC AOZDyV D fiHUFH IDVKLRQ IULHQG, OHRSDUG-SULQW JRW D ZKROH QHZ OHDVH RI OLIH RQ WKLV VHDVRQ’V FDWZDONV. DRIVING FORCE IW’V JRW WKH ORRNV – EROG, VWyOLVK, FRPSDFW. IW’V JRW WKH IHDWXUHV…

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, MARCO VITTUR. CLIVE CHRISTIAN: CLIVECHRISTIAN.COM. DS & DURGA: LIBERTYLONDON.COM. GLOW BAR: GLOWBARLDN.COM. NEOM: NEOMORGANICS.COM 1. Clive Christian Addictive Vision In A Dream Psychedelic Perfume, £525. A green oriental fragrance with fresh notes of kaffir lime and apple peel winding down to smoky incense, cinnamon, sandalwood and cedar to transport you to another plane. 2. DS & Durga Spirit Lamp Candle, £58. Conjuring a tea service at a psychic’s colonial parlour, the scent has notes of hot metal, peach water, bohea tea and coconut milk. 3. Glow Bar Elixirs Super Happy Supplement, £32.50. Packed with a joyful blend of adaptogens to keep you feeling upbeat and focused. 4. Neom Scent to Calm & Relax Complete Bliss Reed Diffuser, £38. Infused with 14 essential oils all chosen specifically to…

PHOTOS: ED MILES Q ‘I recently had a drunken kiss with a friend, after which we realised how much we like each other. The trouble is, he’s the ex of one of my best friends. They had a serious relationship a few years ago, but she is now happily living with a new boyfriend. Even so, it feels wrong. How do I tell her?’ ELEANOR SAYS: Human relationships are messy, aren’t they? In an alternate universe, this kind of thing might be prevented by magnetic force fields that hum into existence if we ever try and cross the exes-of-friends threshold. Alas, that ain’t reality. But would we want it to be? You’re going to have to have an awkward conversation with your friend, of course. Despite moving on with her…

PHOTO: @SENNA RELAX Sveti Stefan, Montenegro Surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea and with 15th-century stone villas perched atop craggy cliffs, this lovely island, connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of pink sand, is one of this Balkan country’s most iconic – and Instagrammed – sights. A resort for the rich and famous (Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren...) for decades, it fell into dereliction after the break-up of Yugoslavia. Then, 10 years ago, the island was restored and renovated to become a stunning Aman resort. Only open in the summer, it’s fabulously romantic – book in and you can walk along the cobbled streets and soak up the sea views from the terrace of your suite. aman.com…

THE MYSTERY ‘S’ at the beginning of SMILF stands for ‘single’. Frankie Shaw is no ordinary MILF. At the start of an illustrious acting career, which included a breakout role on Stephen Merchant’s misfiring HBO series Hey Ladies, the Bostonian talent became pregnant. Some of her experiences raising a kid single-handedly on the tawdry road to stardom have been transposed on to the character of Bridgette Bird (played by Frankie), a new antihero for our times. Bridgette’s world is not a comfortable one. The SDILF to her SMILF is Rafi (Miguel Gomez), a boyband-ish Latino fully conversant with executive streetwear, also a year in recovery. His unfeasibly hot new girlfriend is Nelson Rose (Samara Weaving, on the Margot Robbie road to cover stardom after her turn in Three Billboards…). Her…

Departures: A Guide To Letting Go, One Adventure At A Time Anna Hart (£13.99, SPHERE) Part memoir, part travelogue, part advice guide, part get out there and have an adventure motivation, don’t read Anna Hart’s De partures if you’ve not got any annual leave left to play with. Travel journalist Anna takes us through 13 destination-based chapters that tackle a number of subjects (from heartbreak holidays to backpacking treks), but all discuss the transformative power and importance of travel and experiencing new things while being humorous, emotional and useful.…

Eat Pray Love Elizabeth Gilbert (£8.99, BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING) A book so well-known that the title’s become common parlance (‘The trip was very eatpraylove, y’kno?’). But if you’ve seen the Julia Roberts movie and never read Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir, give it a go. Following her travels after a heartbreaking divorce, it tells the story of her journey back to happiness. Shantaram Gregory David Roberts (£10.99, LITTLE BROWN) This 944-page tome may look a bit intimidating – but it’s an incredible memoir. An armed robber and heroin addict, Gregory David Roberts escaped from an Australian jail in the 1980s and headed to India, where he became many things – from a money launderer to a Bollywood actor. The Beach Alex Garland (£8.99, PENGUIN BOOKS) If you’re going for full ’90s nostalgia, The…

PAY ISSUES ARE COMPLEX Grazia View (5 Feb) suggests that male BBC presenters taking a pay cut is good for progress on the gender pay gap. I disagree. The gender pay gap has arisen from a number of factors, such as women being more likely to work part-time and in lower-paid, caring professions, having the burden of childcare coupled with a lack of flexible working options, etc. In the BBC’s case, it is also because society still holds the male voice in higher regard, hence men have been able to demand higher salaries. Let’s be clear: the BBC is a unique example, as we’re talking about the use of licence fee funds. The BBC has not acted illegally (an equal pay issue) but does have a gender pay gap (smaller…