Table of contents for Issue 689 in Grazia

‘I think it’s MISOGYNIST to say it is misogynist to write about bad women,’ said Gillian Flynn, author of best-selling novel Sharp Objects, the TV adaptation of which is now showing, episode by episode (‘olden-days style’) on Sky. Like Amy Dunne of Flynn’s Gone Girl, Sharp Objects’ lead character, Camille Preaker, is ‘bad’ – messed up, unreliable, traumatised and tricky. As a result, Flynn is getting royally duffed up on social media – accused of, among other things, perpetuating misogynistic notions – which is entirely reasonable, because, as you’re well aware, All Women Are Wonderful. Fragrant, reasonable, righteous and kind; noble, intelligent, loyal and brave. Horribly suppressed by the patriarchy. Beaten down through millennia of oppression and objectification and wolf-whistling and toxic masculinity. But now – finally, triumphantly! – fighting back.…

PHOTOS: EYEVINE, SHUTTERSTOCK PLANET PHOTOS LIBERAL DEMOCRAT MP Jo Swinson was home in Scotland last week caring for her newborn son when she conscientiously checked on a series of knife-edge votes taking place in Westminster over Brexit. As she had given birth to baby Gabriel just 20 days earlier, she was taking advantage of the practice of ‘pairing’. As she could not attend Parliament, a Tory MP who was on the opposing side of the argument had agreed not to take part in the vote as well, to cancel out their votes. But to her initial astonishment and then anger, she realised the Tory she’d been paired with, Brandon Lewis, had voted after all, helping Theresa May (above) win by just six votes. Tory Chief Whip Julian Smith came under…

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, SPLASH, INSTAGRAM WHEN JUSTIN THEROUX and Jennifer Aniston flew their friends, including Courteney Cox, Chelsea Handler, Tobey Maguire and Jimmy Kimmel, to an £8,000-a-night villa in Bora Bora to celebrate their honeymoon in 2015, they described it as ‘special’. But for the parents of Carmel Musgrove, it proved to be the start of a long and emotional journey they’re still fighting today. Just days after Jennifer and Justin left the French Polynesian island, Carmel (the assistant to Jen and Justin’s friend, producer Joel Silva) was found dead there. An autopsy showed that she had cocaine, marijuana and alcohol in her system and investigators concluded that she drowned while swimming. But her parents, Ronald and Ann, insist questions remain over the murky details of her death. Last year, they…

THEY’RE THERE, taunting you, every time you open your wardrobe. Or perhaps they’re bundled into bags under the bed, weighed down with well-meaning intentions. Out of sight but not forgotten, new research says British women hoard an average of 22 items with the tags still on. The volume of these fashion foundlings is overwhelming, inciting wardrobe rage and tearful trying-on sessions that result in the oft-bandied untruth, ‘I have nothing to wear!’ So you resort to your old faithfuls – the 20% of your wardrobe that is worn 80% of the time. You obviously forgot to visualise three outfits you could already make with your newbie purchase before you swiped your card and it goes without saying you’ve missed the returns window… But what now? Taking revenge on shopper’s remorse…

PHOTOS: SPLASH, SHUTTERSTOCK Dive head first into the accessory trend of the summer. Face jewellery is having a major moment. Forget Kylie and Travis, summer couple style goals will always be Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg. Know this name: Julie Pelipas. The Ukrainian fashion director is our summer city style muse. Be a trophy dresser. Louis Vuitton-clad Natalia Vodianova just outshone the actual World Cup. Be crafty. Homespun dye-techniques get a haute rethink for Pre-Fall ’18. Get shady. Chanel’s launched e-commerce in the UK, starting with an eyewear edit.…

ALTHOUGH THE TERM ‘anti-ageing’ is on its way out (we’re not falling for that scaremongering lingo any more), it’s clear that we all still want our skin to look its best. Studies show 28% of women under 25 regularly worry about the signs of ageing, increasing to 42% between the ages of 25 and 34*. But how many of us know what actually causes our skin to age, what accelerates the process and, vitally, how to prevent it? Collagen is the body’s main structural protein, keeping everything propped up and plump, firm and radiant. The bad news: it naturally starts to decline as soon as our early twenties. ‘Anything that accelerates the breakdown of collagen or impedes the production of new collagen will speed up this natural process and prematurely…

PHOTOS: MARCO VITTUR. BOBBI BROWN: BOBBIBROWN.CO.UK.CHANEL: CHANEL.COM. DIOR: DIOR.COM. L’ORÉAL PARIS: BOOTS.COM. MAC: MACCOSMETICS.CO.UK. NARS: NARSCOSMETICS.CO.UK. NYX: NYXCOSMETICS.CO.UK FORGET THE age-old trick of applying white kohl covertly along the waterline to ‘open’ eyes – the latest white liner looks are louder, bolder and cooler than ever. Spotted on the S/S ’18 catwalks, from Laura Biagiotti to Ulla Johnson, make-up artists sketched stark white lines above and below the lash line for a pop of drama – the ultimate twist on a classic liner look. Need more convincing? Bella Hadid, Rihanna and Margot Robbie have all gone over to the light side at recent events. Make-up maestro Naoko Scintu (who created Bella’s look) swears by ‘using white on the eyes to instantly freshen up any make-up look’. ‘It’s great because it…

PHOTO: @THEDRONEMAN One of the northern beaches and on the Southern Pacific Ocean coast, ‘Curly’, as it’s known by the locals, is a great place to catch a wave, but also to soak up the sun. Very much a locals’ hangout, it’s got a laid-back vibe with an uncrowded beach and chilled cafés. Eat at Cooh Organic Café ( cooh.com.au ) or go Mexican at Muchacha ( muchachamexican.com ). For great views, walk across the headland to Dee Why beach – it takes about 20 minutes.…

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES Something In The Water Catherine Steadman (£12.99, SIMON & SCHUSTER) Newly-weds Erin and Mark seem to have a perfect life – but when he loses his job, the cracks begin to show, and they decide to take a dream honeymoon in Bora Bora. While scuba diving, they discover something in the water – and agree to keep it a secret. So why, as the book opens, is Erin digging a grave? This sharp, speedy thriller – actor Catherine’s debut novel – has received the highest accolade: Reese Witherspoon chose it as one of her book club reads and is set to make it into a TV show. Read it now and pretend you picked it up first.…

THE OPENING SCENE of Sacred Games sets up a startling few seconds in honour of its title. ‘You believe in God?’ runs the ominous voiceover, as a goat is flung from the top of a tower block in Mumbai, landing bloodied at the foot of schoolchildren. ‘Well, God doesn’t give a fuck.’ Blimey. Sacred Games was a 2006 best-selling novel by Vikram Chandra. Its clever weaving of a browbeaten good cop haplessly wending his way through the city’s police service against a culture of routine corruption and mob rule gripped India and sold to the globe. This Netflix adaptation feels like it should do exactly the same brisk business for the portal as Narcos, the Columbian export with which it has most in common. It’s artful, fast, violent, sad and…

WE ♥ LOVE ISLAND Two weeks ago, I escaped from an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. My world has been dark, and I’ve been left penniless and unsure what to do with myself. Then, as a diversion, my best friend introduced me to Love Island. At 37 and reasonably intelligent, I felt guilty about spending hours watching a 20-something Adonis running round after equally gorgeous women. Then I read Polly Vernon’s take on the show (16 July). Thanks, Polly, for making me realise it’s OK to watch this lot fumbling through all the dating mistakes. Love is never easy, but I’ll never give up on finding the real thing. SB PHOTOS: MARCO VITTUR LONELY AT THE TOP Regarding Theresa May’s an isolated figure (23 July), how dare you try to…

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES AS THE X FACTOR auditions kicked off, any doubts about the musical qualifications of new judge Ayda Field, 39, were firmly realigned when we witnessed how her chemistry with husband Robbie Williams, 44, will make great TV. We’ve already been obsessing over their LA life, thanks to the couple’s Instagram Stories addiction, which often sees them doing fun skits from the sofa. So what else will make the pair a good addition to the line-up alongside One Directioner Louis Tomlinson and Simon Cowell? She’s an actress, so has legit tips on performance, but she’s also been getting a larger-than-life superstar to do the washing up for 12 years, so she’ll be adept at handling egos. And all that will certainly help justify their rumoured £10 million deal.…

A new study of heterosexual newly-weds found that 43% of husbands ‘misperceived’ how often their wives climaxed. Unsurprisingly, most thought they made them orgasm far more than they did. But the poor fools aren’t totally to blame; how are they to know when so many of us fake it in the bedroom? If we let them roll off us – after a very average experience – with the valiant pride of a soldier returning from war, we’re only doing ourselves a disservice. Sure, we don’t want to bruise any egos, but if we fake it they won’t know to do it differently next time. So let’s be vocal about what works for us. We need more honesty in the bedroom.…

EMILIA WICKSTEAD SHOPPING: SOPHIE HENDERSON. PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, BACKGRID IT’S OFFICIAL: the yellow dress is happening. But, don’t take it from us, instead look to the world’s most photographed women for proof that yellow is now fashion gold. Sartorial déjà vu? A little. It was just last year that the yellow dress twirled into our collective consciousness, thanks to La La Land and Beauty And The Beast. Then the Insta-set took notice, culminating in it being rebranded Gen Z Yellow (aka the new Millennial Pink) only a few weeks ago. But a few weeks is a lifetime in fashion and now the punchy primary has grown up. It’s out with frills, froth and fancy and in with streamlined cuts, sleek silhouettes and an all-new sophistication. The Yellow Dress 2.0 (YD…

IT FEELS LIKE WE talk about women’s earnings a hell of a lot more than we talk about men’s and yet, somehow, men are still out-earning us. Just last week, a Government document predicted that today’s best-paid male graduates will earn up to £38,000 more than their female counterparts by the time they pay off their student loans in 30 years’ time. New BBC pay figures showed 12 men out-earn the top woman, Claudia Winkleman. Progress is bitterly slow. Fast-forward 217 years – which is how long the World Economic Forum believes it’ll take to close the gender pay gap – and it’s easy to imagine women like us sitting in driverless cars still bemoaning the injustice of it all. But perhaps we’re part of the problem. Because if the…

While there’s always a way to turn those yet-to-be untagged items in your wardrobe into treasures, there is a method to stop them taking up space in the first place. Once I get a new purchase home and unpacked, I hang it outside my wardrobe, so when I plan an outfit it’s right in front of me. Seeing it as I’m getting dressed every day prompts me to either make it work or gives me the impetus to return it. Of course, you need to actually make it back to the shop within 28 days – but this one month in the holding pen will help free you of that unwanted clutter for good. Alexandra Fullerton is a stylist, writer and author of ‘How To Dress’ (£14.99, Pavilion)…

SUITS YOU New season, new suit. Tailoring always looks effortlessly chic – try oversize styles this season and pair with white shoes for a modern twist on workwear. STYLE IT UP Tuck your cardi into your trousers and roll up your sleeves. Switch up your footwear, from slides to chunky-soled loafers. DOUBLE UP Wearing double prints shouldn’t work – but it does. Note the longer-length jacket and midiskirt – all go for next season. BE BOLD Make a statement in this scene-stealing high-street coat. Wear it with everything, everywhere and watch heads turn. SLIP IT ON Wear your understated slip dress now with sandals – and with knitwear and cowboy boots come autumn. WEATHER THE STORM Embrace the unpredictability of the season and style up your look with the chicest…

Diet is key for healthy skin that can handle itself in the face of adversity (aka free radicals and stressful situations). So what should you be eating for healthy skin from the inside out? Oily fish such as salmon and mackerel are sources of omega 3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation, ease acne and keep your barrier healthy and skin supple. Nuts like walnuts and almonds help reduce inflammation and are packed full of fatty acids, as well as antioxidants including vitamins E and C. Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, a nutrient that the body converts to vitamin A to help defend the skin from the sun. Broccoli is packed full of vitamins A, C and beta-carotene to protect the skin from oxidative damage. Tomatoes contain some of the highest levels…

BELIEVE US WHEN we say we’ve witnessed a game-changer in the fragrance world. Last week, H&M became the first high-street store to release a collection of 25 perfumes all in one go. The brand worked with leading perfume house Givaudan and perfumer Olivier Pescheux (responsible for many Diptyque scents and Paco Rabanne’s best-selling 1 Million) to produce the range, whose average cost is £24.99. Think of it as a walk-in wardrobe of scent. ‘Like fashion, scents are a great way of expressing yourself and experimenting with your personal style,’ says Sarah Wallander, H&M’s beauty concept designer. The 25 perfumes are divided into three scent sections: The Singles are simple, single-note smells (Pear and Vanilla are two stand-outs); The Reveries are eau de toilettes that evoke places and times (neroli and…

Get layering ‘On a rug is a coffee table and on that is something else,’ says Linda. ‘We also use a lot of different fabrics, such as Thai linen, antique leather and mohair, along with trim and piping details.’ Choose rich colours ‘I’ve never used beige or grey, and black only occasionally as a contrast,’ says Linda. Mix patterns ‘It’s challenging to get it right, but the outcome is worth it.’ Avoid overhead lights Instead, use a mix of floor, table and wall lights. ‘Together they create a warm atmosphere and lighting this way also makes people look better,’ says Linda. Inject some brass ‘We love brass at Soho House, it is so nice and warm, and the more you use it the better is looks.’ Invest in a classic…

We Have Always Lived In The Castle Shirley Jackson (£8.99, PENGUIN MODERN CLASSICS) The Blackwoods are outcasts, after other family members were killed by poisoning. Constance, who was acquitted of the murders, is now a recluse, while sister Merricat faces the wrath of the locals on her trips into town. When a cousin visits, their delicate ecosystem is disturbed irrevocably. The Prestige Christopher Priest (£8.99, ORION PUBLISHING) In 1878, two magicians begin a bitter battle that will come to define their lives. But at the heart of both of their methods is a dark secret that will bring them huge fame, but terrible consequences. You can also watch Christopher Nolan’s masterful adaptation of the story, with Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale. Little Fires Everywhere Celeste Ng (£7.99, LITTLE BROWN BOOK…

PHOTO: AUGUST, NETFLIX What do we need to know about OITNB season six? ‘It’s a lot about truth, survival and reinvention. There is no more Lichfield Prison and we’re being hauled off back to maximum security. It’s new bunks, new guards, new inmates. I feel we get our best responses from the viewers when we are upset and that’s what is going on – watching them adjust again, finding their new tribes and where they belong.’ The show doesn’t shy away from politics – would you like it to tackle Trump? ‘Our show opened the doors for a voice for women of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities... all current events. I don’t think there is one stone that can go unturned. Plus, we’re in prison so who is to stop us…

THIS SINGLE LIFE I empathise with Amy Nickell about dating as a single parent (23 July). When the guy you’ve been seeing for months, who knows you have a child, dumps you because ‘you’d be perfect if you didn’t have a kid’, it hurts. I’ve also met men who admit to only dating single mums until a childless woman comes along, and plenty who think it’s fine to cancel a date an hour before, after you’ve spent two days sorting out childcare and logistics. Never mind the men who see single mothers as being ‘desperate’. I’ve stopped dating as I’ve grown tired of having to convince a man that I’m worth being with when I have a child. The right man would know already. Katja…

1 NEW IN CHER IN A BLONDE WIG Singing Fernando, in the trailer for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Aka some things we didn’t know we wanted, until we saw them happen. 2 UP THE TRUMP BABY BLIMP Having ‘done’ London protests, is apparently headed off on a world tour, in the style of an inflatable Bieber. First stop, a New Jersey golf venue favoured by its flesh-and-blood muse. 3. UP RIHANNA IN A BLONDE WIG On her Instagram Stories last week; possibly inspired by Cher, possibly not, who can say? (Well, Rihanna can, presumably.) 4. NON-MOVER LEO ON A BEACH Playing volleyball, in a T-shirt, while all around him flaunted abs and stuff. He’s embracing middle age so well. 5. NEW IN ALESHA DIXON FT JORDAN BANJO Freshly…

PHOTOGRAPH DAVID YEO MAKE-UP: CELINE NONON AT TERRI MANDUCA AGENCY USING KIEHL’S. HAIR: DESMOND GRUNDY AT TERRI MANDUCA AGENCY USING TIGI COPYRIGHT CARE ‘YOUR BABY IS already one of the most loved and luckiest in the world. Enjoy it all.’ The Instagram note came from a new IVF mum. I was touched. In my and Charlie, my husband’s, eyes, the little girl growing inside me isthe most loved in the world. We’d been trying for a baby for three-and-a-half long years when we found out we were expecting in February, after one round of IVF. But this message made me wonder: would I treat my baby differently, because her conception had been so difficult and emotional? Could the ‘most loved’ tag be a burden, an intensity by which I will…

PHOTOS: MARCO VITTUR,BALLET BEAUTIFUL 2018. KORA ORGANICS: NET-A-PORTER.COM MARY HELEN BOWERS BALLET BEAUTIFUL FOUNDER KORA ORGANICS NONI GLOW BODY OIL, £53 I discovered this during my third pregnancy and it changed everything. My skin had become increasingly sensitive and dry with age (I’m told due to loss of collagen and consequently elasticity), so I began moisturising excessively to try to counteract it. I struggled to find anything nourishing enough, so I moved on to organic body oils from health food stores. Still, nothing quite hit the spot, until I was recommended this. I applied it all over my body from the neck down and my skin felt softer almost immediately, which is quite a remarkable thing. I loved how quickly it sunk in and, unlike other oils I’d tried in…

“THERE’S ALREADY A WAITING LIST FOR SUMMER FRIDAYS’ JET LAG MASK” FROM THE FACE MASK that sent Instagram into overdrive to the US imports that have finally made their way across the pond, meet the latest beauty brands and buys that have attained cult status. Be warned, you’ll want the lot. J-ONE Korean actress Ha Ji-won created J-One to streamline the 12-step Korean skincare routine (which can take 40 minutes). Apply Black Jelly Pack [1], £36, nightly to hydrate and plump skin with actives and antioxidants while you sleep. COMMODITY Commodity has impressed niche fragrance fiends with its minimalist approach to bath and body products. The scents are unisex, cruelty-free and were imagined by 11 master perfumers from around the globe. For your best-smelling soak, try the skin-softening Bergamot Bath…

HERITAGE TOMATOES These tomatoes are traditional varieties that have been bred over many generations, making them tastier than your usual shop tomato. They tend to be sweeter and vary in colour from an almost fluorescent yellow through to dark and speckled green, some taking on several colours and patterns. The endless varieties and colours make a bold statement in cooking, meaning they are a favourite among chefs everywhere. Here’s how to use them at home… FIND ANNA AT ANNABARNETTCOOKS.COM AND INSTAGRAM @ANNABARNETTCOOKS HERITAGE TOMATO CARPACCIO Feeds: 4 Preparation: 15 minutes Cooking: 5 minutes INGREDIENTS 10 heritage tomatoes in a good variety of colours, very finely sliced into rounds Dressing: 4 generous glugs of rapeseed oil 1 clove of garlic, grated 4 tsp of sundried tomato paste 2 tsp of sumac…

SHE STOLE THE SHOW This exhibition by Kelly Anna – whose prints have been worn by the likes of Beyoncé and Cara Delevingne – merges art, fitness and culture. It explores the constant pressure and self-doubt we all find ourselves under. The Book Club, London, until 4 November; wearetbc.com THE LEOPARD BAR AT THE RUBENS If you, like us, believe that leopard print is now a neutral, this new bar near Buckingham Palace is for you, complete with leopard-print carpet, furnishings and a statement bronze leopard sculpture by South African artist and jeweller Donald Greig. Champagne never tasted so sassy. rubenshotel.com NASHVILLE MEETS The free London music festival returns to Canary Wharf, hosting the hottest names in country music, including Rod Stewart’s daughter, Ruby, as part of duo The Sisterhood,…

Women And Power Two things we like. Kirsty Wark fronts this National Trust podcast marking 100 years of female suffrage. The five-episode series lifts the lid on NT archives and uncovers seldom-told stories of maids, mill-workers, politicians and even royalty who campaigned to change the world. Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History Gladwell journeys through the overlooked and misunderstood. Re-examining an incident from the past, he asks whether we got it right the first time in our assessment – and whether some things deserve a second chance. The Amazing Maya Angelou The BBC hosts this world premiere audio drama series of Maya Angelou’s autobiographies, exclusively dramatised by Radio 4, starting with I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.…

IT GIRL Annabelle found dead ‘WIFE’ AND MUSE to Alexander McQueen, the socialite Annabelle Nielson, 49, was found dead last week at her Chelsea home. The model, regarded by Kate Moss as her ‘sister’, had battled addiction throughout her life, but had become a children’s author and star of reality show Ladies Of London. SHOP SUMMER in style FANS OF REFORMATION, rejoice! The LA-based sustainable brand has joined forces with Browns to create the ultimate summer collection. Expect flirty dresses, relaxed denim and retro-inspired swimwear minus the annoying import taxes. From 26 July; brownsfashion.com BEYONCÉS tangerine dream BEYONCÉ’S SUPREME style run continues. Performing in Paris this week, Queen Bey took to the stage in the zesty tangerine taffeta gown from Valentino’s recent knockout couture collection. Epic. MADONNA keeps it in…