Table of contents for Issue 704 in Grazia

1 CLASSY CO-ORD DO THE DOUBLE with this matching roll neck and ruffle midi in a playful print. Top, £90, skirt, £160, Ganni (ganni.com) 2 SAFE FOR WORK THESE TAILORED trousers with button detailing will be your new best friend for the 9-5. £280, Pinko (pinko.com) 3 COMING UP ROSES DID YOU KNOW you blink around 10,000 times a day? That’s tiring work. Revive weary eyes with super-luxe Dior Prestige Le Micro-Serum De Rose Yeux, £140. 4 HAUTE TOTE IT’S BEST KNOWN for fine jewellery, but Cartier also does a fine line in luxury bags. Prepare to get carried away. £1,740, Cartier (cartier.co.uk, from 30 Nov) 5 FACE VALUE THIS CLASSIC watch is the ultimate investment buy – think diamonds on a champagne face. £3,170, Tudor (tudorwatch.com) 6 PRETTY IN…

I’m fake-asking, I already know. You, madam, are wearing too much. So am I. So were 90% of the women on my bus this morning; and 90% of the women who Uber’d it. If I walked out on to the streets of London, right this moment: my eyeballs would be besieged by leopard! Coats and maxidresses and jumpers and hats; gym leggings and brollies and phone cases and scrunchies! I would not be able to see straight, for the literal spots in front of my eyes! We’ve overdone the leopard, loves. At some point between spring’s glorious realisation it was fine – necessary, even – to wear touches of that most brashly luxe of fabric design on a casual, everyday basis; and now, when a cursory glance through your knicker…

As far as invites go, they don’t come grander than one to Buckingham Palace to pick up a damehood. It’s an honour befitting your best-behaviour swag: a grown-up handbag and sophisticated shoes. But when Emma Thompson – who we already love for so many reasons – turned up at the Palace last week, she did so in a Stella McCartney trousersuit and box-fresh Stan Smith trainers. It felt modern, relevant and, crucially, her. The most surprising thing of all? We weren’t even surprised. A few years ago, the idea of wearing your trainers anywhere but the gym was alien, but now they’re part of the establishment. Emma’s tailoring and trainers pairing is indicative of the luxury ‘rules’ relaxing. Dame Emma – for services to women’s feet everywhere this party season…

AS CHRISTMAS invitations go, it’s most definitely up there; last week it emerged that Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria, has been personally invited by the Queen to join the royal family for the three days of festivities at Sandringham. It’s an unprecedented move by the royals – Kate Middleton’s parents, Carole and Michael, have never even stayed in the main house, let alone been invited for Christmas dinner. Royal insiders last week told Grazia the bold move is the Queen’s way of ‘embracing Meghan’s family’. ‘The Queen wants Meghan to have her mother there, especially as she is pregnant.’ So the big question is, what can Doria expect on her first visit to Sandringham House, the Queen’s estate in Norfolk? ‘A strict timetable, a large number of outfit changes and a…

DID ANYONE ELSE see this coming? Er, that would be a no then. Last week, British comedian Jack Whitehall and Hollywood actress Kate Beckinsale were spotted on a date at A-list Los Angeles restaurant Craig’s – before heading to the Blind Dragon karaoke lounge, where they were seen kissing in the corner. The source who spotted them on the night said, ‘They were like a pair of loved-up teenagers.’ A source close to Kate told Grazia that Jack, 30, and Kate, 45, have known each other for some time because they move in the same circle in Los Angeles. While Jack is relatively new to the Hollywood scene, Kate has lived there for about 15 years with her daughter Lily, 19, whose father is actor Michael Sheen. It was actually…

WATCHING MY mother-in-law cuddling my newborn son and planting a kiss on his forehead, I was suddenly overwhelmed with such intense grief that I stumbled out of the room, clutching a hand over my mouth to stop me from crying out. My own mum had died from breast cancer when I was at university. By the time I was pregnant with my first child, 14 years later, the pain of losing her had subsided to a dull ache that I only felt at certain milestones – when I turned 30, and again, on my wedding day. But aged 36, holding my little boy Jago in my arms renewed that raw anguish of the days and weeks immediately after her death – and nothing could have prepared me. It’s not an…

STITCH UP Contrast stitching doesn’t just apply to utility denim. Now, all the workwear classics come elevated with a thread of contrasting colour. The light stitching against dark jewel colours subtly frames you and outlines small details on the waist belt or pockets. We’ve seen it on the catwalk at Marni, Bottega Veneta and Akris. So, take note and update your look with cotton jumpsuits, dungarees and structured work jackets. SPOT CHANGE Leopard print may be the king of animal prints – and a brilliant alternative neutral – but get ready for jaguar. With its even larger rosette markings and luxier appearance, it’s just as easy to wear head to toe or as small accents. SWEET TREAT Think of autumnal shades as a delicious addition to enrich your wardrobe staples.…

WHAT GIORGIO Armani doesn’t know about eveningwear isn’t worth knowing. With over 40 years’ experience in the fashion industry, the designer is a go-to for some of the most prestigious women on the red carpet: Cate Blanchett, Lady Gaga, Nicole Kidman and Jodie Foster are just a handful of the leading ladies who have fallen for Armani’s confident, considered breed of glamour. But you don’t need an Oscar nomination to embrace the world of Armani. This season the designer unveils a new eveningwear capsule collection, Giorgio’s, inspired by the atmosphere of the ‘members only’ evenings at the Armani/Privé Club in Milan each Thursday – and we all have access. So what to expect? Pared-back prevails; a black satin and cady dress with long sleeves and plunging neckline, for instance, exemplifies…

LIKE EVERY COSY cashmere jumper, roaring log fire and hot chocolate before it, a bath – that forever faithful friend you call on after a long, stressful day – is as comforting as it gets. ‘We’re hardwired to feel comforted by warm water because we start our lives in the womb,’ says Suzanne Duckett, author of Bathe: The Art Of Finding Rest, Relaxation And Rejuvenation… ‘Studies show that we unconsciously take warm baths to eliminate feelings of being alone and to, more consciously, alleviate stress and anxiety.’ So make bathtime the boujiest it can be with the best bubbles, lotions and potions out there. DREAMY CREAM Sumptuously creamy and scented with summery, citrusy smells of Jamaican amyris and iris, Maison Francis Kurdjian’s Amyris Femme Scented Shower Cream (1), £55, leaves…

UNDER PRESSURE Thank you for Why imaginary deadlines are holding us back (5 Nov). I’m rapidly approaching 35, the age where Carrie Bradshaw loses it in SATC, and the age the helpful tabloid press screams that a woman’s fertility is ruined and that one might as well buy thermal underwear and be done with it. We are just about to start IVF, and every other day there is an article about the NHS refusing to fund for women over 34. Your article reminded me to breathe. Clare TIME SPENT WITH ME As a woman in my early twenties, it feels as though I always have to be doing something – working/socialising/exercising/dating (‘Sometimes I’m so lonely it hurts’, 29 Oct). To do nothing feels like failure. To hear others are experiencing…

Last week, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative vice-chair, said one of the reasons there are fewer female MPs is because women can take up to two years weighing up the pros and cons before standing, while men can make the decision in 48 hours. So maybe we should all act more like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 29, who, just 10 months ago, was a cocktail waitress, and last week made history by becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the US Congress with an astonishing 78% of the vote. Her triumph against the odds is a rallying call to women everywhere: whatever you fear may be beyond your reach, just go for it.…

EVEN THERESA MAY looked bemused as she was given the rock star treatment at an event last week. The atmosphere fizzed as the Prime Minister crossed the room, the crowd of women surging forward, keen to shake her hand. And when she spoke, there were whoops and cheers. ‘There is quite a buzz,’ she said to Grazia , grinning. May had invited more than 100 female politicians from around the world to Downing Street to mark 100 years of women getting the vote. Later this month sees the centenary anniversary of women being allowed to stand for Parliament – and a year from now will mark the 100th anniversary of Nancy Astor becoming the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons. ‘I knew from a young…

ATTENTION! THIS WEEK Zara unveils a new capsule collection, set to rival its mainline and excellent TRF ranges for dominance in your wardrobe this winter. As the name suggests – give or take a couple of vowels – ZARA SRPLS draws on the codes of our favourite off-duty goto: surplus-style clothing. (Side note: could the future of the high street be to move away from faster-than-lightning trends and towards something with more longevity? SRPLS would suggest that shift might already be happening.) So what to expect? Large utility pockets, technical fabrics, plenty of khaki and a dash of camo. The outerwear is particularly strong; seek out bomber jackets, parkas and long-line cargo jackets in satisfyingly thick fabrics that look much more expensive than they really are. Of course, there’s an…

■ ‘One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.’ ■ ‘Find people who’ll make you better.’ ■ ‘The only limit to the height of your achievement is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them.’ ■ ‘Failure is an important part of your growth and developing resilience. Don’t be afraid to fail.’ ■ ‘When they go low, we go high.’…

PHOTOS: CATWALKING.COM, JUERGEN TELLER, SHUTTERSTOCK. ROLAND MOURET: PROVOKE, ATTRACT,SEDUCE, BY ROLAND MOURET AND ALEXANDER FURY (£72, RIZZOLI) Grab a cult bag. Shrimps has teamed up with MatchesFashion.com to release the hit Antonia bag in limited-edition colours. Pump up the volume. Shoulder pads are back in a big way. Literally. Go grunge. Marc Jacobs is reissuing his seminal 1993 Perry Ellis collection. Pre-order plaid, slips and cardis now. Genius. Step into Roland Mouret’s Galaxy. The French designer is the subject of a new tome exploring his inspirations. Get the festive feels. Burberry’s new campaign film stars, among others, M.I.A, Naomi Campbell and her mum. Say hello to yellow. Alek and Adwoa make the case for the punchy primary just in time for party season.…

CALLING ALL PARTY PEOPLE – the most glamorous season of the year is nearly upon us. And that can only mean one thing – it’s time to dress up and be even more fabulous than usual! Need inspiration? In The Spotlight, L.K.Bennett’s beautiful new partywear collection, combines the sophistication of the 1930s with the disco decadence of the 1970s, to dramatic effect. Think luxe glittering gowns in a rich palette of opulent jewel tones and feminine silhouettes reminiscent of the heady nights of Studio 54. Leopard print, sequins, gems and tactile textures – velvet, silk, suede and faux fur – all have starring roles, while heritage prints and bejewelled accessories make scene-stealing statements. So what are you waiting for? Step into the spotlight. It’s your time to shine. Grazia readers…

TRIPLE TREAT The ultimate does-everything bag In delicious cognac visetos leather, the three-in-one Trilogie is a piece of design brilliance. The roomy sports-luxe backpack features a front pouch that detaches, transforming into a clutch or shoulder bag with chain strap. It’s the sort of bold approach fashion insiders have come to expect from the German brand. #BagGoals. £995, 16 Conduit St, London W1S 2XL; uk.mcmworldwide.com…

1. Try a tux ‘A tuxedo on a woman is particularly seductive.’ 2. Take one thing off before you leave the house ‘One piece of advice I always give to women is that before they go out for an evening, they should take a quick look in the mirror and ask themselves whether there is anything they could remove. It may be the key to looking more elegant. Excess is often a way of disguising personality. Far better that the personality shines through.’ 3. Never overdo it ‘Make-up should be natural, not excessive, and a gown should not reveal too much of the body. 4. Team a gown with pared-back accessories ‘A long gown worn with the right accessories – flat shoes for a fluid stride and a small, refined…

PHOTO: AGATA PEC. LOUIS VUITTON: LOUISVUITTON.COM…

SALTED CHOCOLATE CARAMEL TARTS * FIND IT AT OLIVERKAYPRODUCE.CO.UK. PHOTOS: CHRIS COURT, CON POULOS Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 200g shop-bought thick caramel or dulce de leche 4 x 8cm round shop-bought pastry cases 100g dark chocolate, melted 1 teaspoon vegetable oil sea salt flakes, for sprinkling METHOD  1 Divide the caramel between the tart shells and spread until smooth. 2 Place the chocolate and oil in a small bowl and mix to combine. Spoon the chocolate mixture over the caramel and smooth the tops. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until just set. Sprinkle with salt to serve. RECIPES EXTRACTED FROM MODERN BAKING BY DONNA HAY (£30, FOURTH ESTATE) SMASHED PAVLOVA WITH MULBERRIES AND ROASTED RASPBERRY JAM Serves: 8-10 INGREDIENTS 225ml egg white (about 6 eggs, but measure carefully), at room temperature…

LET’S GET FLEXIBLE As a mum who’s experienced similar treatment to those in your feature on maternity discrimination (5 Nov), I’m increasingly infuriated by the archaic 9-5 office-based working model. Along with equal pay, isn’t this something we should be looking to change? Wouldn’t it be great if all employees could work a certain number of hours a week, at a time and place that suits them? What an amazing impact that would have on the economy, as talented working mums would be able to get back to work and people without children could enjoy other interests, free from the pressure and prejudice prevalent in the workplace today against anyone who isn’t there all day, and joining in every team activity. Claire…

DIAL UP YOUR razzle dazzle MOVE OVER LBDs, Ashish’s new 14-piece, sequin-swathed collection for Warehouse is bright, bold, bedazzling – and brilliantly blingy in all the right ways. A guaranteed way to make an entrance. From £35, warehouse.co.uk SMELLS LIKE… an Insta photo op MARILYN MONROE famously slept in Chanel No 5 and nothing else. Now, this week, you can pose (fully clothed) next to giant versions of the brand’s new red bottles in five London shopping districts: Bond Street, Covent Garden, Spitalfields, Berkeley Square and Duke of York Square. KERBY APPEAL New Moss to know NOTE THIS NAME: Kerby Jean-Raymond. His brilliant label Pyer Moss – renowned for its celebration of black culture in America – was announced as the winner of the 2018 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund last week…

PHOTOS: BACKGRID, GETTY, INSTAGRAM/ADELE, AISLEYNE1 1. UP IDRIS People’s Sexiest Man Alive 2018, which everyone knows isn’t as good as a number 1 spot here! We met him once and can attest to the sexiness. (We gave him Nurofen. True.) 2. UP JOSÉ An unexpected last-minute turnaround in a Manchester City match against Juventus last week restored José to his swaggering best, which is how we lust him most. 3. NEW IN SALIM/MICHEL Of The Little Drummer Girl (BBC One). Unlikely as it seems, we find ourselves as drawn to the man Becker (Alexander Skarsgård) is impersonating as we do the sexy Skarsgård. 4. UP AISLEYNE HORGANWALLACE Former finalist in Big Brother, now a talent of no fixed portfolio; last week, reminded us that she had once kissed Jack Whitehall…

PARTY SEASON IS imminent. If that leaves you intimidated rather than excited, then you’re not alone. Control underwear and heels, war paint and blow-dries – it’s enough to exhaust you before you’ve even left the house. But what if it was, well, easier? In Hollywood last week, Natalie Portman and Nicole Kidman suggested perhaps it can be. Attending the Deadline Contenders event, they opted not for cocktail dresses or LBDs, but for blue jeans and a jacket: Nicole in a double-breasted white tux (near identical to a look she wore earlier this month) and Natalie in a check blazer. The appeal of this power pairing lies in its versatility and ease (which should be the goal for any outfit). ‘As women, we are always thinking of ways to make our…

IN THIS CRAZY modern world, in which luxury fashion encompasses everything from Prada’s giant paperclip to Moschino’s plastic-bag dress – what room is there for innovation? Plenty, judging by Jimmy Choo’s latest venture. In an inspired move as we head into winter, the shoe brand has just launched the world’s first self-heating boot, with a temperature-controlled insole operated from your phone. ‘Wearable technology is still in its infancy, but I’m always keen to explore innovation,’ says creative director Sandra Choi. ‘We asked ourselves: what tasks would you have your shoes fulfil? Heating seemed like the ultimate luxury.’ Charged with trying them out for the day, I can only ask: where were Voyager boots in winter 2016, when I, supposedly a vibrant Millennial woman, got such cold toes that I developed…

The Innovator Valérie Messika, founder, CEO and creative director of Messika VALЙRIE MESSIKA, the glossy Parisian founder of fine jewellery house Messika, doesn’t do a chauffeur-driven commute. Rather, her preferred mode of travel is to hitch a ride on the back of a motorbike whenever she can. ‘I don’t want to waste time in traffic,’ she says with a matter-of-fact smile. PHOTOGRAPHS EDWIN S FREYER That constant drive to be on the go has helped her propel Messika, which she founded in 2005, to its position as one of the most formidable forces in the fine jewellery world. Last year, the house turned over €100m – two years ahead of forecasts – and today it is stocked in over 400 locations worldwide. There are plans to open boutiques in London,…

WHEN ONE DIAMOND ISN’T ENOUGH, TRY 296. WITH OVER 2,000 HOURS OF WORK, THIS NECKLACE IS THE ULTIMATE SHOWPIECE VAN CLEEF & ARPELS’ GEMOLOGISTS KNOW THEY’VE FOUND THE RIGHT DIAMOND only WHEN IT MAKES THEIR HEARTS FLUTTER – WE SAY YOURS WILL TOO AS ICONIC AS A CHANEL JACKET, AS DAZZLING AS A COUTURE GOWN, THE PLUME WATCH – ALL 1,393 DIAMONDS OF IT – IS BEYOND TIMELESS BULGARI bulgari.comCARTIER cartier.co.ukCHANEL FINEJEWELLERY chanel.comDE BEERS debeers.co.ukDIOR dior.com GUCCIgucci.com LONGINESlongines.co.uk MESSIKAmessika.com OMEGA omegawatches.comPATEK PHILIPPEpatek.com POMELLATO pomellato.comROLEX rolex.com TAGHEUER tagheuer.co.ukVAN CLEEF & ARPELSvancleefarpels.com DIGITAL OPERATOR Zach Clapham FASHIONASSISTANT LillianSesiguzel TALENTDIRECTOR Holly ScottLidgett CASTING ANDBOOKINGS ChloeMedley HAIR StephenLow MAKE-UP NatsumiNarita using NARSMANICURIST SophiaStylianou at Frankusing CHANELLe Vernis in Ballerinaand CHANEL La CremeMain Texture RicheMODEL Carla Ciffoniat IMG…

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, STEFANO GUINDANI Lady Gaga ‘Not only does she possess an incredible musical talent, she is also a true fashion phenomenon.’ Jessica Chastain ‘Jessica is one of my favourite actresses. I love her personality, as well as the way she wears my dresses on the red carpet. I imagine her wearing an unusual coloured gown, nothing more, as her intensity and radiant glow enlighten everything.’ Cate Blanchett ‘Cate is one of today’s most talented actresses, in both theatre and film. Her integrity and commitment to her work is reflected in the powerful intensity of her performances. In addition to her natural talent, she has an innate sense of style that makes her unique. She is a contemporary woman, capable of being fragile yet strong, icy yet sensual; her…

Adwoa Aboah Known for her trademark short hair and freckles, Adwoa, 26, is a supermodel of the new age. STICK TO A REGIME It might be one of the oldest pieces of advice in the beauty rule book, but Adwoa takes no prisoners when it comes to her routine. ‘I always make sure I take off my make-up,’ she says. ‘I’m really strict because my skin is up and down all the time.’ She swears by a brilliant cleanser (one of her favourites is Dr Barbara Sturm Cleanser [ 4 ], £40), a hydrating serum and a moisturiser ‘that isn’t too heavy’. ‘Dr Sturm also does this amazing moisturiser that contains your own blood. It’s really good,’ she says. GLOSS OVER The triumphant comeback of gloss continues, and doesn’t Adwoa…

THE TV ADAPTATION of Elena Ferrante’s wildly successful, resoundingly amazing novel My Brilliant Friend – the first in her quartet of Neapolitan novels – opens with a mobile phone ringing, lighting up a black screen. The light it casts, much like the shadowy recesses of communication that Ferrante is interested in, dapples out across the picture. If you are looking for a thoughtful, stylish television fix, you’ve found it. A stern woman in her sixties with a classy silvery bob and voluptuous bookshelf answers the call. Her friend has gone missing. She resolves to tell her story, to write it down, not so much as a mawkish tribute to her lost friend, but as a contemplation of the cruelty of life itself, the twists and turns it throws at you,…

WHILE THE Spice Girls’ 2019 tour has been a touch overshadowed by Victoria Beckham’s refusal to rejoin the group – and the little business of Mel B’s claims that they have a ‘love-hate relationship’ – Adele last week reminded us what the band’s reunion is all about: girl power. After the tour was officially announced last Monday (the group shared a parody video of themselves singing Spice Up Your Life), Adele posted a throwback snap of herself as a young fan, posing in her bedroom against a wall plastered with Spice Girls posters. ‘Ha! This looks how I feel right now! I AM READY,’ she wrote alongside the photograph that shows her fist-pumping in delight. Adele has previously spoken about her adoration for the band: ‘It was a really big…