Table of contents for Issue 629 in Grazia

Is your vote on 8 June set in stone? Or are you, like many, left wondering which party actually speaks for you? Elections are as cynical as they are idealistic. And, in years past, the female vote has been a core target (remember the ‘Mumsnet election’ of 2010?). But this election? As Anushka Asthana explores on page 29, there’s a good reason you might feel you’re in voter no-man’s land. Talking of vote-splitting, this week fashion has delivered some Marmite trends – from the return of velour to the beret and ‘fluffy feet’. See page 38 to decide which side of ‘fab’ or ‘farcical’ you come down on… We also show you, on page 30, how to nail ‘stormcore’ (aka, laugh in the face of our ‘summer’ weather) and bring…

WITH THE V&A’S exhibition, Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion, opening on Saturday, the question we’re asking is this: if the Spanish couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga was the ‘master’ of his time, could we say the same of the Georgian designer Demna Gvasalia who took the reins of the house in 2015? Gvasalia, who also runs the Vetements collective, where he produced the £900 step-jean and transformed the humble hoodie into a boiling-point must-have, has also made his considerable mark on Balenciaga. Demna’s Balenciaga is the reason why the puffer jacket went mainstream, the ski pant, the jewelled stiletto, the multi-floral dress, outsized crystal earrings and those thigh-high Spandex boots – as worn by the Kardashian clan. He is probably the most influential designer working in fashion today. And certainly the most disruptive. One…

Cream highlighters look suitably shimmery rather than slippery when buffed across cheekbones with a sponge. A carefully placed smudge of this weatherproof pencil along the lashline or across lids will stay in place despite a downpour. High-shine lips come courtesy of this thick glossy oil which, believe it or not, won’t have your hair stuck in it. Fake the rain with a splash of wet-look gel to create a sleek and sexy slicked-back pony. Or wear hair down for a more daring take. A swipe of this under the brow bone and at the inner corners of eyes has a brightening effect that fakes 40 winks.…

TAYLOR SWIFT DOESN’T DO things by halves, does she? This time last year, she was gearing up to take her relationship with Tom Hiddleston on a world tour, complete with ample photo opps and its own line of merch (who could forget Tom’s ‘I ♥ TS’ vest, much as we’re sure he’d like us to?). Now it seems she’s swung to the other extreme, and is conducting her new relationship with the kind of covert measures MI6 would deem OTT. Multiple sources confirm that Taylor has been dating 26-year-old Brit actor Joe Alwyn for months – and has been going to great lengths to keep their romance secret. One insider said, ‘Taylor has totally fallen for Joe, who she was introduced to by Gigi Hadid after they did a Vogue…

Photos: Instagram.com/@reallyree, reallyree.com NATURAL. That’s how we’re supposed to look, isn’t it? According to this season’s catwalks, flawless skin and the merest hint of mascara or blush is the only acceptable look. That’s fine if you’re a Hadid or Kardashian but, if you’re like me, and not in love with your pigmentation or pores, it’s totally terrifying. Even before I was a beauty blogger, I loved the ritual of applying layers and layers of product, with high-coverage foundation and concealer taking centre stage. I still take a ‘more is more’ approach, and for me it’s not about appearing bare-faced – I want to look heavily made-up. I’m not ashamed of it. But thick foundation, heavy contouring or thickly lined brows do lead people to make judgements about you. They assume…

NEVER BEFORE HAS THERE been a US President with such openly hostile views on women, from his action on abortion rights to the words he’s used to describe us – ‘pig’, ‘dog’, ‘disgusting’, ‘slob’. And so, we’ve had the Women’s Marches across the world, but now a new breed of women are uniting against him with one of the oldest female bonding rituals out there: witchcraft. Yes, really. Witches are having a moment. Hip NYC witchcraft store Enchantments made an appearance in Girls , Katy Perry has been tweeting about the Hindu goddess Kali, a witch feminist icon, and there’s a reason Rihanna’s new track W.I.T.C.H also stands for Woman In Total Control of Herself. When model Grace Hartzel’s Met Gala look was described as a ‘red-carpet witch in Christian…

LET’S JUST GET THIS out there – I love bodies. I smile when I spot freckled skin, fleshy arms and hairy chests. I love curves on a long torso and wonky toes. I admire big noses and bottoms with a bit of life about them. The human body has always fascinated me, from its basic functions to its resilience during physically and mentally tough times. I respect everyone else’s bodies. But my own? That’s a different story. About 18 months ago, while laying out my towel on wooden slats as the dry heat of a German sauna prickled across my skin, my story began to change. Until then, my relationship with my body had always been volatile. There was a reason I dodged showers at the gym and hid behind…

Main photo: Patrick Demarchelier. Additional photos: Marco Vittur. Charlotte Tilbury: charlottetilbury. com. Erno Laszlo: lookfantastic.com. Mario Badescu: beautybay.com. Santa Maria Novella: Piccadilly Arcade, London (020 7647 3000). Tory Burch: debenhams.com. Tracie Martyn: net-a-porter.com From her famous flats to fit kit and now fragrance, Tory Burch, 50, has built a multimillion-dollar empire, all the while raising three sons. She tells Grazia what keeps her sane… What was your starting point for the new addition to your fragrance line, Love Relentlessly [1, £88]? It all started because of my parents and their wonderful love for one another. My father used to take out ads in the local paper to write to my mother. These began when he was urting her, and they continued long after. e would sign them off ‘Love Relentlessly’.…

GREEN RICOTTA PANCAKES WITH TOMATOES & HARISSA Serves: 6 (makes 18 pancakes) Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 20-30 minutes 24-36 cherry tomatoes on the vine (about 4-6 per person) 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for frying 150g baby spinach 3 large eggs, separated 150ml milk 150g plain flour ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 3 spring onions, finely chopped 225g ricotta 15g flat-leaf parsley, chopped Unsalted butter, for frying Greek-style yogurt Harissa (ideally rose) Extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle 1 Preheat your oven to 180ºC/160° Fan/ Gas Mark 4. Toss the tomatoes in the oil in an ovenproof dish. Season, then roast for 15-20 minutes, until the skins are just bursting. Remove and set aside. 2 Meanwhile, put a pan over a medium heat,…

FARGO RETURNS After picking up and dusting off Kirsten Dunst for season two, Fargo returns with a less exacting task in the form of Ewan McGregor, still high from the success of T2 Trainspotting. The Coen brothers’ film has provided a rich seam for TV – just one imaginary town with mysterious happenings and a solid cop squad. Even more exciting is the presence of David Thewlis. It’s a keeper. Begins Sunday, 9pm, Channel 4 HOLY AFFAIRS Thewlis’s old beau Anna Friel is back on the box this week too, in Broken, a drama examining austerity Britain, based around a Liverpool Catholic church and scripted by the frankly brilliant Jimmy McGovern. Our parish overlord is Sean Bean, keeping one keen eye on the collection plate and the other on his…

Meanwhile, Emma has agreed to mentor Paris Jackson after the pair swapped numbers at the MTV Movie & TV Awards. According to an eye witness, ‘Paris rushed over to Emma’s table during an ad break and gushed about how inspired she is by her work. She was a huge fan of Harry Potter growing up, and was thrilled when Emma offered to be on hand with advice, now that Paris has moved into acting. They swapped numbers and Emma blew her a kiss before Paris ran back to her table.’ Speaking exclusively to Grazia after their introduction, Paris said, ‘I love her, and it would be great to work with her in the future. She’s my role model.’ Paris has already appeared in Fox drama St ar and is making…

Cristóbal Balenciaga was known as the ‘master’, not only for the way he pushed fashion forward through his exploration of avant garde shapes, but for his exceptional tailoring skills and the elaborate underpinnings that remained invisible to anyone but the lucky wearer of one of his creations. With its new retrospective, the V&A pays homage to those striking visuals with a collection of beautiful pieces. But it is the glance beneath the surface that’s so revealing, literally, as X-rays of dresses show the hidden corsetry, construction and even dress weights that ensure the fabric would fall just so. These images taken by contemporary artist Nick Veasey in an articulated lorry converted to a mobile X-ray unit are strikingly beautiful. Technology has been embraced elsewhere by curator Cassie Davies-Stodder and her…

“ ONCE, POLITICIANS were starry-eyed about engaged female voters, who they believed held the power to tilt elections. Closely fought battles between Labour and the Tories in 2010 and 2015 had strategists banging at the doors of glossy magazines and online forums, hoping to reach this elusive part of the electorate. And yet, how different things feel in 2017. This time, eyes are focused on the older, white working-class communities across swathes of England and Wales, whose long-held disaffection with establishment politics helped blow the lid last June. When the Prime Minister talks of ‘ordinary working families’, it is perhaps the people who marched to the polling stations to strike their crosses next to ‘leave’ she is thinking of most. That is why May’s central message is to ask voters…

IS TRUMP’S IMPEACHMENT ON THE HORIZON? We seem to be inching ever closer to Donald Trump’s impeachment after a string of controversies (as per) last week. In his typically mature fashion, he responded by complaining that ‘no politician in history has ever been treated more unfairly’. GIRL GUIDES VLOG THEIR WAY INTO THE 21ST CENTURY Forget baking and knitting, Girl Guides have introduced badges for skills such as app design, coding and vlogging. The organisation is asking girls to share their suggestions on social media under #BadgeGoals. STUDENT WHO STABBED EX-BOYFRIEND COULD AVOID JAIL BECAUSE OF ‘EXTRAORDINARY TALENT’ Oxford medical student Lavinia Woodward, 24, who stabbed her ex-boyfriend in the leg, could be spared jail as the judge decided it would be a travesty to prevent ‘this extraordinary, able, young…

OUR PANEL REBECCA GONSALVES Grazia’s acting fashion news and features editor is drawn to the simple things in life – good jeans, crisp shirts and classic coats – all the better to show off a statement shoe. @R_gonsalves JOHN CRACE The Guardian’s Parliamentary sketch writer and author of the Digested Read, who year after year has been mysteriously overlooked for the title of best-dressed man in Westminster. JENNIFER CONNELLY REBECCA SAYS: Imagine being cool enough to pull off the motorcycle mechanic look, as reimagined by Nicolas Ghesquière. Jennifer looks sleek and chic, whereas I’d end up channelling Corrie’s Kevin Webster. ★★★★✩ JOHN SAYS: Captain’s Log, Stardate 42073.1. The new uniforms for the USS Enterprise are going down a storm – although the electric-blue jumpsuit plays havoc with the teleporter. ★★★✩✩…

Photos: Adam Katz, Getty Images, Luke Dyson DESERT STORM WHAT Dior Cruise Collection show and after-party WHERE Calabasas, California WHO Jaime King, Juno Temple , Rihanna Dior took 800 VIPs into the desert for its Cruise show, followed by an after-party with a guest performance by Solange. The party even continued the next day with brunch, where Juno Temple caught up with Jaime King, and Chiara Ferragni took selfies with the animals. Who knew alpacas had joined the fashion set? APPY CHAPPY WHAT The launch of new gay dating app Chappy WHERE Phonica Record Store, Soho WHO Ella Eyre, Thom Evans, Lottie Moss, Ollie Locke, Henry Conway London’s gay elite queued around the block for the launch of Ollie Locke’s new business venture – a gay dating app. Looking dapper…

Photos: Jason Lloyd-Evans, Marco Vittur. H&M: hm.com. L'Oréal Paris: boots.com. Maybelline New York: boots.com. Omorovicza: omorovicza.co.uk. Rodin: libertylondon.com Where we spotted it Backstage at Jason Wu, where fiery two-toned lips ruled the runway. Why we love it A bright lip makes an excellent entrance, and paired with slicked back hair, it has a super-cool edge as well . Ways to wear it For a defined mouth, line lips before applying a bright tangerine to the top lip, and a vivid poppy to the bottom. Wear with a sheer foundation to emphasise your pout.…

Photos: Marco Vittur 1. LOVE AT FIRST SWIPE Givenchy’s limited-edition summer bronzer is here! Suitably large, scrumptiously scented and delightfully embossed, Les Saisons Floral Edition Healthy Glow Powder , £44, seems too pretty to use. Please do though. debenhams.com 2. EAU YEAH Juicy Couture’s latest olfactory offering Majestic Wood, £89, is housed in a decadent bottle that hints at the sexy, oriental melange of sweet tonka, amber, musk and patchouli within. Spray liberally for sass and spiciness. selfridges.com 3. WATER BABE Dior’s seriously hard-working HydraLIFE Deep Hydration Sorbet Water Essence, £49.50, is designed to flood skin with moisture, boost radiance and minimise pores. Expect plump, supple, bouncy skin. dior.com 4. COCONUT CRAZY Marc Jacobs’ coconut water-infused primer is a regular sell-out, and we predict similar success for the new Dew…

Photos: Rex, Thomas Alexander JENNY CROALL Grazia’s production editor ★★★✩✩ Dean’s great-grandfather fled the Russians in 1914, settling in Vienna, while his grandfather escaped the Nazis to make a new life in London. Through their compelling stories, Dean draws pertinent parallels to today’s migrant crisis and our attitudes to those fleeing persecution. I found the drawing of comparisons at times a bit laboured, but the excerpts from the diaries are fascinating and Dean asks important questions about our humanity and compassion. CLARE PENNINGTON Grazia’s acting senior picture editor ★★★★✩ We like to employ a lot of pomp and circumstance when we talk about the past in the UK – but we’re not very good at remembering what actually happened. Dean’s book traces lines between his grandfather (a refugee in 1939),…

A BABY IS A BLESSING How sad I was to read ‘I wished my daughter was a boy’ (8 May). Back in 1989, when I gave birth to my beautiful daughter, I was thrilled. I was similarly thrilled to have four more babies: boy, girl, boy, girl. I was shocked, however, that people asked if my husband was disappointed at not having had a son first. As if I was a ‘failed’ wife. I’d hoped that times had moved on, but apparently not. It’s hard to believe that a baby’s gender still disappoints people. Dawn SEEING BOTH SIDES If it is true that Brad was a drug taker and alcohol drinker (Angelina: ‘I won’t be silenced’, 15 May) since leaving college, as he says, then shame on both of them…

Photo: Jeroen W Mantel/Mondadori Photo GEMINI 22 May – 21 Jun As you look back, you’ll realise that certain people have been suggesting you need to make a completely fresh start in one particular area of your life. This week’s New Moon is opening up your mind to the idea of leaving one set of circumstances behind you as you make your way towards something new and completely different. Will the transition be easy? Not necessarily. But will it be worth it in the end? Definitely. CANCER 22 Jun – 23 Jul Put to the back of your mind a morbid fear regarding responsibilities you avoid. You’re underestimating how much this attitude can cost you in terms of rewards. And you’re exaggerating the problems you might…

1. UP A ZIZ ANSARI Oh, the joyous revelation that season two of Master Of None is up on Netflix! Aziz Ansari: redefining cute, one binge-watch at a time. 2. NEW IN DRAKE’S COUSIN JALAAH Took Drake to her prom last week. Also took her actual boyfriend, who wore a rose-gold sequin tux that matched her gown. We really like Jalaah’s style* . (*all senses of the word) 3. UP PADDY CONSIDINE Sexy sexy star of The Ferr yman, a play so damned good we ran out of swear words trying to explain how much we loved it to other people. And we don’t even really do theatre… 4. NEW IN CHEVY ROUGH Trainer, mental-health campaigner, breakout star of last month’s BBC doc Mind Over Marathon, oh, and : raging…

Photos: Getty Images, Instagram/@emmawatson, Katy Forrester/Coleman Rayner Kate Wills reflects on the new feminist rules of engagement In many ways my proposal story is as clichéd as they come – the sunset, the ring, the bended knee, the emotional ‘yes’, the champagne. Except it was me who was crouching awkwardly on Hampstead Heath, and my boyfriend Sam who was doing the affirmative blubbing. Well, actually, that ended up being both of us. Telling people that I was the one who decided to put a ring on it provokes all kinds of reactions – from laughter to confusion to Girl Power fist pumps. Because despite some loosening of the many sexist traditions around marriage, our culture still pervasively pushes the boy-asks-girl engagement story. Preferably with a sparkly rock and a flashmob…

Photos: Getty Images I KNOW THREE GIRLS INSIDE OUT. It's been over four years in the making - and I've seen it many times over. But somehow, when a show is broadcast it takes on a life of its own, and watching it last week, when you know millions of people are also watching it with you, is a strange experience - half sheer terror and half excitement. You want to know what people think, yet you don't, because more than anything you care about the people in it - especially the victims, the Three Girls the title refers to - and hope you've done them and their story proud. We started research in 2013 with Maggie Oliver, the inspirational detective who worked for Greater Manchester…

Photos: Shutterstock, Stocksy I’ve fallen out with a mate. I still do this occasionally; it’s more common among grown-ups than we pretend. Life tests friendships: hidden incompatibilities are exposed with age, value systems diverge, loyalty is challenged in unlikely ways. Friendships falter, sometimes irrevocably, and then… I move on. I think this is smart; though I could also be an oversensitive friend-dictator with crazy high standards who ditches mates like last year’s denim. To establish if I am awful or incredibly wise, I should like to share with you what I consider the arch crimes against friendships. Friend Criminal Archetype #1 is the one who loves to immortalise your nights out with a joyous drunken joint selfie, which she’ll post in celebration of your friendship… Only, hang on; she appears…

Photo: bettybhandari.com  I’VE JUST FINISHED what I consider to be a pretty impressive rendition of A-ha’s Take On Me (a very tricky song – Morten Harket’s range is criminally overlooked) to a packed room. I’m high up on a stage, in a full-length frock and I’m expecting rapturous applause. Instead, what I get is a very angry boyfriend (ex now, not as a direct result of this but it’s possibly a contributing factor) storming the stage, throwing me over his shoulder and carrying me off in a very inelegant fireman’s lift. But not before I’d also used my encore to shout into the microphone how much I thought the bride’s dad looked like a handsome Nigel Havers. Welcome to the start of my career as the World’s Worst Wedding Guest.…

IF THE CRUISE collections, which happen once a year in May between the ready-to-wear shows, are a chance to expand the reach of a brand as well as the minds of the audience, then Louis Vuitton didn’t disappoint. It’s the far-flung fashion game; the further you’re flung, the more incredible the experience, goes the thinking. And so when Louis Vuitton, bastion of French luxury and originally founded as the ultimate travel brand with its steamer trunks, luggage and so on, puts its mind to it and flexes those mighty resources by flying in 600 guests from 25 countries to a show venue one hour from Kyoto, well, it’s impossible not to be impressed. But before we get to the show – and the superb collection – at the Miho Museum,…

BRUSH IT OFF Dr Bronner’s, the master soap maker, has released a new range of organic toothpastes, £ 6.49. Choose from peppermint, cinnamon or anise for a delightful, low-foaming brushing experience that is fluoride-free and devoid of artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, or sweeteners. Photos: Stocksy, Instagram/@yolkegirl, Trunk Archive. Dr Bronner: drbronner.co.uk. Liberty London: libertylondon.com/uk. Lululemon: lululemon.co.uk. Noisli: noisli.com. ONE LDN: oneldn.com. Sundays: sundayslondon.com. Yolke: yolke.co.uk FIND FOCUS From falling asleep to getting your concentration in gear, our always-on brains can find it hard to switch off. Noisli is a background noise app that might be the answer. The clever sound generator plays a combination of white noises to suit your needs – from productivity (rainfall, railway) to relaxation (crackling fire, lapping ocean). They help to lower blood pressure, slow your…

Photos: LMK Media, Capital Pictures ‘Please don’t judge us,’ implores John Rayburn (Kyle Chandler), the most outwardly stable of Bloodline’s core sibling make-up, along with brothers Kevin and Danny, and sister Meg. ‘We’re not bad people, but we did a very bad thing.’ Bloodline began in 2015 as a murder mystery that felt somewhere between a Florida holiday website and the inner workings of the mind of Lana Del Rey. In this, its third season, the Rayburns’ story will find its conclusion. If you’re looking for something to fill the gaping dramatic chasm left by Big Little Lies, Bloodline is it. If you haven’t started from season one yet, you’re in for a treat. Firstly because, well, let’s not hide our blushes here: Kyle Chandler is just really, really fit.…

1. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: SALAZAR’S REVENGE Jack Sparrow is back for yet another instalment of Disney’s huge film franchise, joined by Orlando Bloom, Javier Bardem and Brit fave Kaya Scodelario. Out Friday 2. LANA DEL REY, LUST FOR LIFE The fifth studio album from the American songstress is more classic Del Rey, including lead single Love. Out Friday 3. THE WORLD OF ANNA SUI In the first retrospective of an American fashion designer in the UK, this exhibition showcases over 100 looks from Sui’s archives. 26 May-1 Oct; ftmlondon.org 4. RADICI Charcuterie, wood-fired pizzas, pasta and desserts to die for (try the chocolate aubergine cake) are all on offer at this authentic Italian in Islington – a new launch from chef Francesco Mazzei. radici.uk…

THE UPLIFTERS I loved Choose your cheerleaders (22 May). After reading it, I spent a while mentally putting my friends into each group and I felt very fortunate to have friends in each one. I could also see how I think different friends might categorise me – and how I sometimes play different roles for different people. It made me think of another category: ‘The Uplifters’. I’m 40 but most of the team I work with are in their twenties. Their energy and ambition coupled with their love of a social occasion makes them a source of much fun, inspiration and laughter. They remind me of myself in my twenties and provide a brilliant cultural barometer of how things change and keep me in touch with the world through their…

Photos: Collection Christophel, Xposure CAT DEELEY, 40 We ask the TV presenter to take an exclusive selfie – and reveal all Who is your best friend? My husband [Patrick Kielty]. He makes me laugh. If I’ve got something that I’m monkey-minding about, I can shut the monkeys up with a Kielty bullet to the head. What’s your biggest regret? When Patrick and I got married, my grandfather was ill and my mum asked me for a wedding video. He died before he saw it. The good thing is we love it and, after two glasses of wine, Patrick and I put it on like a pair of losers. What’s your biggest extravagance? My garden in LA. We have lanterns and a great big table, a cactus garden and a pool.…