Woman & Home South Africa

it’s all about you!

For a generation of women who grew up listening to Madonna, with the rebelliousness and break-boundaries attitudes of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, going against the norm and creating new social landscapes seems quite natural. For years, marketers advertised products to older women using only younger women in their campaigns, as though the very women they were trying to reach were irrelevant. Thank heavens that is finally changing.With the rise of a new group of 40-plus, economically powerful women who demand to be counted, companies selling products aimed at them are increasingly becoming real about who they are talking to. And why not? We’re a group of women who are holding centre stage, have money to spend, and aren’t afraid to invest in ourselves – a marketer’s dream, right?…

meet our contributors

ADELE PARKS, the multimillion-selling women’s fiction author, writes about how she bounced back from divorce on page 42. My beauty lifesaver is... YSL Top Secrets All-in-One BB Cream, an all-round miracle worker. Love it! My pampering treat is... A massage, which I keep promising myself I’ll treat myself to once every couple of months. In reality, it’s more like one or two a year! Health and wellbeing writer SHARON WALKER explores ways to feel more joyful on page 28. My beauty lifesavers are... The Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation, and Obagi Medical SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion, which is non-greasy and just perfect for everyday use. My pampering treat is... A week – or weekend – at a well-being retreat. It’s the ideal nurturing detox for women. …

‘i feel like i’ve been reborn’

We’ve come to know UK TV presenter Davina McCall, 51, as a master of family reunions on Long Lost Family, and the champion of transformations on This Time Next Year. Bubbly, clever and kind, Davina puts people at ease and reels us in time and again. Away from the screen, she’s passionate about keeping fit, and many a fitness fanatic will have tried her workout routines on DVDs like Fit in 15 and Toned in 10. Her latest, Davina: Power Box & Tone, is out now. Over the past two years, life for Davina herself has changed dramatically, following her divorce from her husband of 17 years, Matthew Robertson. But she seems happier than ever, and has a genuine sparkle in her eyes as she laughs through the w&h…

ask me anything

What is your greatest fear? Dying before my children are old enough to look after themselves. What trait do you most deplore in yourself? I always see the other side of an argument, even if I don’t agree with it, which is really annoying. What is your desert island essential? Adidas. No, bubble bath. No, it would be some Garnier Ambre Solaire. I’ll stay on brand! [Davina became a Garnier ambassador in 2004.] What is your most treasured possession? Anything that my sister gave me. [Davina’s sister passed away in August 2012.] Which women inspire you the most? Dawn French. I know her a bit, but I would love to know her more. She’s a gorgeous human. Kate Bush, for making me cry and feel so much with…

‘perfume and make-up play a bigger part in our lives than we sometimes acknowledge’

(PHOTOGRAPH ©TOBY COULSON/TELEGRAPH MEDIA GROUP LIMITED 2017) Fifteen years ago, they discontinued my perfume. I couldn’t believe it. I went back to the counter to check, but there was no mistake. I heard right the first time. Must de Cartier II was no more. The assistant was a faded Elizabeth Taylor type, one of those weary, older makeup artists who never managed to trade the face that fate gave her for the lovely life it was made for. I think she must’ve spotted how upset I was because she said, “They always stop making the beautiful scents. I don’t know why.” She reached behind her and produced a bottle. “This one is the nearest to yours, love.” Spicy and heady, it was a nice perfume, but it wasn’t mine.When…

new for you

FEEL-GOOD FASHION H&M’s latest Conscious Exclusive collection, made using sustainable materials, is a playful mix of occasion wear and everyday pieces that pack a punch. It’s all in the details – think dramatic ruffles, sequins and pleats, modern cuts and bold prints. I adore this printed jacket, R2 999, 32 to 42 (above).Out mid-April at H&M Sandton City TREAT YOURSELF If you’re as obsessed with bags as I am, you’ll be equally enchanted with Bvlgari’s unusual but luxe statement leather bags. Their Serpenti Forever shoulder bag, with its quilted-effect matelassé pattern and iconic snakehead closure, stole my heart. From a selection at Picot & Moss ONE OF A KIND 14 Facets jewellery features diamonds in their roughest form, and we’re enthralled by the idea! Each…