It’s been a rough week. So, some much-needed respite via the annual Marc Jacobs dress code – the John Lewis Christmas advert of the fashion industry. To celebrate the launch of his resort collection, the American designer is having a bash. And, as per, it involves a dress code whose gnomic screed – currently doing the rounds on social media – is always fun to dissect, especially in the current mood. Last year’s was inspired by excess and Studio 54, and suggested guests arrive by horse. This time, there’s a focus on the 1980s (like his collection).

Fashion-wise, it’s in the ether, but what else can we lear

Excellent question, Caroline! I’ve been thinking about this a lot, especially since the publication of the latest issue of Vogue, which proudly proclaims itself to be a “model-free zone”, in which clothes are photographed – as editor Alexandra Shulman explains – “through a more real filter”. We’ll return to those claims later, but the point here is that this clarifies the real/non-real divide in fashion: “Non-real women” are models and “real women” are not models. I’ve been pondering long and hard over who this dichotomy insults more: the models with the insinuation that they’re fake women, or the non-models with the overt suggestion that they’re barely e

What began as an effort to save a few precious bucks became a career option for a mother, far removed as she was from the world of glitter, sequins, twirls and pirouettes!

When the time came for her to invest in some skating costumes for her five-year old daughter, Gail Johnson realized how time consuming and how expensive the whole exercise was - back and forth trips for fittings and letting outs, matching sequins and baubles with fabric etc. It began to tie her more closely with the sport and its culture. She felt that the whole costume thing was a rip-off on most parents.

That was nearly 30 years ago!

Today, Johnson is sitting in the midst of

Fashion week may be have become the light source for an eye-opening number of human peacocks, but the escalating hysteria outside the venues, as street-style bloggers (barely) dodge cars in an attempt to shoot someone’s Lurex train, has created a new tribe of low-key dressers whose message is: “I’m wearing what I wear all the time, and I didn’t bankrupt myself to do it.”

This trend coincides with a feeling, increasingly voiced by retailers and even CEOs, that the sums demanded by some luxury labels have got out of hand. It’s one thing for original design and exceptional quality to cost a small fortune. But the lack of transparency in the pricing structure of mas

Going to the GP can be a stressful experience: the phone’s engaged for ages, the receptionists are scary as hell and securing an appointment this side of Christmas can be tricky. Then you sit in the waiting room and read a sign that says you should only discuss one thing with the doctor and make another appointment if you have multiple problems. And you only have a 10-minute slot to tell your story, be examined, agree a plan and ask any supplementary questions.

Many patients feel hurried by this short time frame, especially elderly people who may take several minutes just to walk into the room and settle down. And it’s a tough ask for doctors too; in 10 minutes

Leggings have become very popular in the fashion world and it is easy to pair them with just about any outfit. There are various types of leggings in the market but there are some things that you need to consider when you are making your choice.

One of the main factors is the color of the leggings. Dark colors are the most popular but is also possible to find something in a lighter color. If you are looking for something that will make you look slimmer, you should consider getting them in black. Brown and gray are also popular because it is easy to match them with different outfits. Make sure the colors you choose can match with the outfits and accessories you h