Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i Platinum

I always think the end of one year and the beginning of another is an invitation – a gentle, hopeful invitation to begin again. But before you answer the invitation, I think it’s wise to take a minute. Because no matter how the past year has gone and whether it’s been joyful, exhausting, heart-opening or heartbreakingly hard, it’s good to pause to take stock. A moment to look back and ask, quietly: What mattered most? What do I want to carry forward? And what (or when?!) can I finally lay down? For me, that reflection happened in France at a menopause retreat (p113). Five days to think, cry, laugh, sleep, and untangle myself from the noise. I came home clearer about what I don’t want and, more importantly, what I…

Q What’s the biggest life lesson you’d share with your younger self? Trust your intuition more. Too many times it has screamed at me and I’ve overridden it because it wasn’t telling me what I wanted to hear. Before my wedding, for instance, it was shouting at me not to go through with it, and I went through with it because I didn’t want to lose face. And it was a disaster. My intuition had every right to gloat, ‘Told you so.’ I listen to it so much more these days and marvel at how accurate it is. It’s bordering on the psychic sometimes. Q What keeps you up at night? The dark side of having a vivid imagination is that my brain clings onto EVERYTHING. So however tired I…

Meet Sue Wesby, 58 Two years ago Sue completely changed her life – she lost 5 stone and started a new business as a property developer. Spending a lot of time on building sites means she lives in dark, casual clothes – but she’s now bored of her look and wants to make the most of her new figure. STYLE CHALLENGE Being older has changed the way Sue dresses. She constantly worries about wearing clothes that are too young for her. This makes her scared to experiment and try new things in fear of others’ judgement. Despite having lost weight, she sticks with what she feels is safe. She wants to feel more elegant and fashionable but doesn’t know how. NICKY’S STYLE ASSESSMENT Sue has the most incredible hourglass shape,…

‘I’ve always believed style should be fun and a little bit fearless …and for me that usually means a splash (or more) of leopard print, layered gold jewellery (I like to say I channel a bit of Mr T!), and a swipe of red lipstick to pull everything together. Those little style signatures give me confidence and make even the simplest outfit feel like “me”.’ Get the look The fashion department at Platinum are big fans of coloured sequins; they feel sophisticated and grown-up, and wearable for day to night. This is the perfect outfit for a Christmas lunch or party. Here’s how you can recreate Alice’s look. Alice’s top tips for style confidence: 1 Be consistently active: I stick to my 16:8 fasting, keep moving with weights and hit…

Hello to the new year, a time when many of us start thinking about making resolutions to better ourselves and our surroundings. What about you? This year, I’ve decided to embark on fulfilling some home style goals, centred around giving my place a décor shake-up that aligns with my evolving tastes. It’s not just about changing the scheme, but transforming it into a space that resonates with the inner me. I want my environment to feel uniquely mine – a sanctuary where I can relax and find inspiration daily. I’m starting small (read that, ‘very’) to ensure that the process is manageable; perhaps I’ll take it nook by nook. There is nothing worse than making creativity a chore or overwhelming; instead I want to savour the beauty of each mini…

The river at Alet-les-Bains sparkled in the late afternoon sun as I stood beside it, gripping a smooth pebble in my palm. Around me, five other women, all somewhere between 48 and 62, prepared to do the same. We’d each been asked the question that would shape the days ahead: ‘For your next midlife chapter, what do you want to let go of?’ When my turn came, I whispered, ‘Take that, people pleasing,’ and tossed my stone into the rushing water. It was day one of the holistic retreat for midlife women who wanted to create some space to figure out what next. Like many women at this stage of life, I’d been feeling a little... off. Fatter than usual, weary from broken sleep, my mood was erratic and my…

Rick Stein Celebrated chef, restaurateur, author and TV presenter, Rick Stein CBE is famed for his award-winning Cornwall restaurants, and his love of seafood and coastal flavours. With over 30 TV series and 25 cookbooks to his name, he shares his recipes for festive party nibbles that pack a punch. (p102) Keris Fox Keris is a romcom novelist and midlife money coach who helps women rewrite their financial stories with humour and heart. Living by the sea with her two sons, she’s on a mission to swap scarcity for abundance, starting with her year-long money makeover. (p81) Rachanaa Tulsyan ‘You really can recover after divorce,’ says trauma liberation mentor and transforming hypnotherapist Rachanaa, who reports from the front line (p44). Founder of The Sovereign Circle, she supports women to rebuild…

P.S. YOU’RE THE WORST by Chloe Seager (£9.99, Harper Collins) I really enjoyed this warm, laugh-out-loud novel, even while I was cringing for Becky, the queen of poor choices. Becky is only 29 but already feels she’s being left behind and not hitting the right life-beats in terms of relationships, accommodation or career. Then she gets news that makes her think she’s going to die imminently. She books a ticket to Bali and drunkenly posts letters to all her nearest and dearest revealing too many home truths. It’s not pretty. She doesn’t die and has to face the consequences. • Compassionate and will make you howl with laughter. SMALL ACTS OF RESISTANCE by Anita Frank (£20, HarperCollins) I’m a fan of Anita Frank’s beautiful, evocative prose, which she combines here…

I have always been a strong believer in the adage ‘Prevention is better than cure.’ And never more so than as I get older and see friends and family face challenging diagnoses, many of which could have been avoided if action had been taken earlier. So, I underwent some tests recently that I would like to share. ASSESS YOUR HEALTH I was offered a Bluecrest Wellness Health Assessment at the end of last year. Bluecrest describe themselves as the leading health intelligence company in the UK. They provide 15,000 clinics held in 400 sites across the UK. The company was set up in 2012 and claims to have done well over half a million health checks since their inception. My appointment lasted 30 minutes, during which time I was weighed…

If you’ve ever caught sight of little red veins snaking across your cheeks or nose – those pesky, thread-like capillaries that make your skin look permanently flushed – you’ll know how frustrating they can be. No amount of concealer or foundation seems to disguise them for long and a couple of glasses of red wine in and your blush takes on a new level of intensity. Enter Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), the quietly brilliant treatment that’s loved by skin specialists and tweakment devotees alike. Red veins are caused by a mix of things, genetics, too much sun, hormonal changes, extreme temperatures, even lifestyle habits like alcohol or smoking. If you’ve got rosacea or sensitive skin, you’re more prone to them. In other words, most women over the age of 50…

DATING DILEMMA Mina Kumari, 57, a body confidence coach, lives in Slough. She lost her husband, Amit, in September 2021. @minakumari_bodyconfidencecoach I met my husband Amit through an introduction when I was 17, and we were married when I was 18. Growing up I wasn’t allowed to date, so I have never actually dated. For 35 years, we shared a wonderfully happy marriage, raising two daughters together. I became a mother at 20, and family life was everything. After losing Amit, friends encouraged me to try dating again. A couple of friends set me up, but one man seemed to want a mother for his kids, and another – a widower – was intimidated by my independence. The idea of dating felt daunting. I know I don’t want to be…

My career began in Torquay, in the corner of a hotel dining room. I was a little girl, barely tall enough to reach the keys, but there was a battered old piano sitting there, and I was obsessed. Every morning of that holiday I made a beeline for it, banging away to the despair of other guests. When we got home, my mum insisted we buy a piano. My dad groaned – we lived in a tiny house, there was no room for such a bulky instrument, and he worried about the neighbours. But Mum won the battle, and an upright piano arrived. From that moment on, it became my entire world. Most children have to be nagged to practise; I had to be physically dragged away to eat, sleep…

It’s amazing to see how designers channel their talents into their own spaces. With day jobs being responsible for everything from haute couture to home design, how they create and configure their own spaces is like living within their art. Their décor decisions within homes, from historical gems to modern marvels, are all designed with passion and flair – a mix of moods, colours, patterns and textures full of style and personality. Looking at world-renowned designers together, each bringing unique chic to their interiors, one can see the end goal about a home isn’t just about one look; it’s about spaces with integrity, instinct and character. Whether newcomers or icons, they all lend inspiring stories to their own interior places. Designers often create enchanting spaces for themselves. They test ideas…

‘There’s a high likelihood that over the Christmas holiday you’re going to have to produce what I jokingly refer to as nibbles,’ says Rick Stein. ‘I don’t often make judgements about what anyone cooks when I’m in their house – most of the time, good conversation matters more than the food. ‘But,’ he admits, ‘I do notice if the nibbles aren’t great, probably because, like everyone else, I’m hungriest when these are being served.’ This holiday season, the king of coastal cooking is on a mission to elevate your party plate – no bland blobs on cucumber here. ‘Canapés should box slightly above their weight,’ he says. ‘They need to be vividly flavoured to succeed.’ From crisp mini brioche toasts with whipped feta, figs and pickled walnuts to zingy filo…

Noted & noteworthy January’s Nature Marker - The Quiet Resilience of Snowdrops They push through frozen earth like tiny miracles in white. Long before daffodils make their showy entrance, snowdrops remind us that hope doesn’t need fanfare. Spot them in churchyards, along woodland paths, or even on your neighbour’s lawn – a small, defiant sign that light always finds its way back. What’s on: Fresh starts & sparkly spirits Cultural pick-me-ups for post-festive days: exhibitions that lift, and events that make winter weekends something to look forward to. TERRIFYING TV A ghost story adaptation from Mark Gatiss has become a real Christmas treat, and this year – the eighth for Gatiss – we are promised a nightmarish tale. It’s the inter-war era where, for 15 years, Roger Winstanley has been…

Hello, Platinumistas! It’s getting cold out there. So, it feels like the right time to talk all things coats. How many of you own a black winter coat? How many of you wear the same coat all winter long? A winter coat is far more than a practical shield against the chill. It is the first thing people notice when you arrive, and often the one item that makes the strongest impression before you’ve even spoken a word. No matter how fabulous your outfit is, your coat is the outer statement – the piece that announces you. What does your coat say about you? The right coat can elevate even the simplest outfit. A pair of jeans and a jumper takes on instant polish when topped with a sharply tailored…

Christmas lunch Make a statement this party season with a plush velvet suit – the epitome of festive luxury. Layer it over a silky lace-trim camisole for a touch of understated sensuality. Look stylish while the elasticated back on the trousers keeps you feeling comfortable all day long. Christmas party Nothing screams Christmas like head-to-toe red. ’Tis the colour of the season – timeless, and a standout. A jumpsuit is ageless and elegant; layer under red faux fur and finish off with red heels to keep the festive colour centre stage. New Year’s Eve The metallic sheen of the dress instantly shouts celebration and glamour. The tie detail helps define a waist and adds a sculptural touch. Finish with the cascading crystal earrings and metallic platform heels, comfortable enough to…

Our taste in fragrance changes over time, just as our skin, hormones, and lifestyle do. As oestrogen levels fall and testosterone rises, our body chemistry shifts, subtly altering how perfume sits and lingers on the skin. Think of it not as losing your old signature, but as an invitation to discover something new, exciting and uplifting. Fragrance is memory in a bottle. One whiff of CK Eternity takes me straight back to my first photoshoots in 1980s Miami, all sunshine and energy. Dior Poison, on the other hand, transports me to a less glamorous scene: my sister smashing a bottle in our shared bedroom, the scent hanging around for months! MAKE A SEASONAL CHANGE Switching your scent seasonally is a brilliant way to refresh your style. ● Winter: Reach for…

1 She has been honest about pain Nigella has faced personal loss, illness and heartbreak from an early age – but never hidden how much it hurts. She’s spoken openly about the grief of losing loved ones too young, including her mother, sister and first husband John Diamond to cancer, and the pressure of single parenting. ‘A loss doesn’t magically go away,’ she has explained. ‘The wound is always there, but it’s not as raw. And it is not linear – you go up and down; some years can be harder. You don’t know why it is that you can be plunged into lowness or why some things don’t upset you.’ She has rebuilt her life with strength and dignity following a messy divorce from second husband Charles Saatchi,…

They say: new year, new you. Sounds easy peasy, doesn’t it? Like something you might read in a recipe from one of the many “easy” cookbooks that are out there. This month’s column is inspired by one of those books, which happened to be a recent gift. At this moment, you might be thinking that the book I received was Mary Berry’s Mary Makes It Easy, or perhaps Sabrina Ghayour’s Persiana Easy. Nope. I opened the present and saw none other than Gwyneth Paltrow herself. I was now the owner of her cookbook, It’s All Easy. However, what was interesting – and also came all too easily – was my reaction: I smiled my biggest smile, thanked the person profusely and flicked through the pages enthusiastically before ending with a…

Platinum’s editor Suzy Walker invites you to create your very own community of book lovers and start a Platinum Book Club. There’s such magic in gathering together, sharing stories and seeing how one novel can spark so many different thoughts and feelings. For me, it’s about connection, community, and the joy of discovering new perspectives. As Editor-in-Chief of Platinum, I’m hoping to encourage you to start your own book club with your friends (or if you’re trying to make new friends – to put the call out for people to join you). Our vision is to create a network of local book clubs around the country – in real life. Every season, we will choose one book and get our chosen author to set us some questions – creating our…