Indholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2025 i Platinum

It’s our new Spring issue! That’s right, Platinum now comes to you not 12 but 13 times a year! We’ve added a whole extra issue bringing you more fashion, food, beauty, travel and inspiring real-life reads. And with it being spring, what better way to get into the season than with a spring clean, prompted by none other than queen of clean and tidy herself, Marie Kondo (page 82). We’ve also got a bumper selection of spring fashions for you too, in beautiful blues and gorgeous greens – who says they should never be seen?! – from our Fashion Insider Gail Rolfe (page 20) and across our main fashion pages (18 and 24). Staying with the green theme, Valentina Harris brings us three more of her Italian-inspired recipes focusing on…

The ultimate highlight of being on Dancing on Ice has been working with my partner, pro skater Mark Hanretty. He’s such a nice guy and a great coach. The show has been such a positive, joyous little bubble. I exceeded my own expectations, both in terms of how I’d do and how much I’d enjoy it. I felt totally energised by skating, as if I was 10 years younger, because I had more energy than normal. Obviously, there was anxiety doing a show like that and trying to learn the routines so quickly, but I loved it more than I ever thought. It changed me physically too – my thighs, bum and waist have changed shape! I’ve lost weight and definitely feel more toned. Skating is a good workout! When…

You might see the word journalling and think, “Nah, that’s not for me”. Maybe it dredges up uncomfortable memories of writing essays at school. Well, you can relax: because journalling is nothing at all like writing an essay. Think of it rather as a precious opportunity to have a conversation with yourself. It’s a way to allow your thoughts and feelings to tumble out onto a page, with no fear that anyone will judge you for any of it. Or mark you out of 10. Your journal is a safe space for you to spew out the dark stuff that you might be reluctant to reveal to another human being. It allows you to process the events you’re going through and empowers you to work through challenging experiences. It helps…

Raspberry Bakewell breakfast muffins These were a very popular breakfast muffin or snack on our first gut-health course. They can be easily made gluten-free and are very easy to eat! We’ve adjusted them slightly to make them more of a summer Bakewell-flapjack-muffin. Makes 12 ● 2 tbsp ground flaxseeds● 6 tbsp water● 180g oats (use gluten-free for GF version)● 50g flour (use gluten-free flour for GF version)● 160g ground almonds● 1 tsp baking powder (use gluten-free for GF version)● 1 tsp baking soda● 150g coconut oil● 150g maple syrup or date molasses● 1 tsp vanilla extract● 1 tsp almond extract● 20g flaked almonds● 125g punnet of fresh raspberries1. Preheat the oven to 160°C fan/350°F/gas 4. 2. Mix the flaxseeds with the water in a small bowl and leave to sit…

As gardeners we spend a lot of our time looking ahead, not being able to wait for the next exciting event to happen in our garden. You’ll know by now that I like a good plan, so it will come as no surprise when I tell you that there are things that need doing now that will benefit your garden, not just for spring but for the rest of the year too. We get lots of sunny and warmish days at this time of year, so there is no excuse! YOUR SPRING CHECKLIST DIG PRODUCTIVE AREAS For those of you with space to grow veg, this should now be starting to fill up as planting and sowing outside picks up at pace. Therefore it is important to complete the cultivation…

SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 128 CODEWORD Each letter of the alphabet has been replaced by the same number throughout this grid. Use the decoded letters given to work out the identity of other letters and fill in the grid. The alphabet list and reference grid will help you to keep track of the letters you’ve decoded. CELL BLOCK Fill the grid by drawing blocks along the gridlines. Each block must contain the number of squares indicated by the digit inside it. Each block must contain only one digit. WORDWHEEL You have ten minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the wheel. Each word must be three letters or more and contain the central letter. Use each letter once, and no plurals, foreign words or proper nouns…

JANE MOORE The Loose Women presenter on the mental health boost of a well-needed spring clean. ADELE PARKS MBE Bestselling author Adele rounds up her top new reads, plus an extract from her latest novel. LOUISE MINCHIN The TV presenter and author is thankful to be able to run, even when laid up with injury. SUZY GLASKIE Health coach Suzy reveals why journalling your thoughts can be better than therapy. DR DAWN HARPER The author and GP takes a look at what centenarians do to live long and healthy lives. NICK HAMILTON Gardening guru Nick sets out his checklist of outdoor jobs for a super spring garden. DOTTIE MONAGHAN Platinum’s beauty editor this month shares the best cleansers for skin. VALENTINA HARRIS Cook and author Valentina welcomes in spring with…

Spring is one of my favourite seasons, bringing us hope as it lifts us from the doldrums of winter and offers the promise of an imminent summer. But there’s one thing I’m not so fond of once the crocuses start to poke through… the expectation that we should all indulge in spring cleaning. I have friends who absolutely love it and their homes are spotless, completely free of dirt and clutter. It’s almost like mindfulness to them. In fact, they don’t restrict their passionate polishing, scrubbing and dusting to just spring; they do it with gusto all year round. Most of them have had this predilection passed on to them from their equally clean-keen mothers. A clean gene if you like. ‘My mum always said there’s nothing better than a…

If your skin glows an unwelcome shade of red or becomes sore and puffy after using skincare products, you are one of the 44 per cent of Brits who suffer from allergies, according to Allergy UK (allergyuk.org). It doesn’t matter how pricey your beauty product is, if you’re allergic to one of the ingredients, you’re going to have a skin flare-up. The good news is beauty brands are recognising this issue and now have top quality ranges that are fragrance-free for sensitive skin. ‘We have conducted research that demonstrates evidence of a direct link between topical application of skincare products and the development of food allergies,’ says Dr Celia Zubrinich, allergist and immunologist at Monash University and Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. Concerns regarding the presence of food and fragrance allergens…

I am often struck by the difference in chronological and biological age. I have several octogenarian patients who are living independently and are both mentally and physically well and, sadly, several who are 20-30 years their junior but who are barely able to leave the house. When I wrote my book Live Well To 101, I met centenarians from all over the UK and Europe who were living life to the full into their second century. I heard some amazingly diverse stories. Some had been brought up in extreme privilege, others so poor that they walked barefoot to and from school. But what struck me most was not their differences. It was the things they had in common. They were born pre-motorcar and had continued to move in later life.…

Moving to London in 1988 from Co. Kilkenny in Ireland, life got pretty wild, pretty quickly. I was 18 and working for Bank Of Ireland by day, then at night at Vince Power’s iconic Harlesden music venue The Mean Fiddler, where legendary artists like Kris Kristofferson, The Pogues and Paul Weller performed. Coming from a small town where nights out were usually a disco in the town hall, the London lifestyle was a different world. I was a regular at The Wag Club, Soho’s famous nightspot frequented by everyone from David Bowie to Madonna. I also loved raves in east London. At that time, the culture of acid house was exploding with the rise of bands such as The Prodigy, The Shaman and Underworld. After landing a job as an…

We are nothing if not creatures of habit. We choose a sunbed on day one of a holiday and go back to it time and again. It’s no different in the wine world. Many wine drinkers cleave to familiar names like Bordeaux and Tuscany and rarely, if ever, venture further afield. But while the French and Italian giants of the old world have dominated the global wine market for centuries, the landscape is rapidly evolving as a growing number of emerging wine regions capture the palates of modern wine lovers with their unique grape varieties, innovative winemaking techniques and exciting flavours. These regions, some of which are actually historical wine-producing regions that for one reason or another have been overlooked, are now becoming more popular, offering competitive alternatives for adventurous…

‘My spring staple’ Michelle Ford, 55, Surrey ‘This is my go-to V-neck sweater for spring. It’s light enough for warmer weather and the cornflower blue is always a calming, friendly colour. It’s several seasons old – good old Marks & Spencer – as I’m trying to have a more sustainable approach to my wardrobe. It’s paired with navy trousers by Cabi that go with anything and are super comfortable. I’ve found M&S to be a great place to buy a pop of colour. I also love Kettlewell Colours, and colourful bags from Sarah Haran that liven up any outfit and can be endlessly accessorised with tassels and décor strips. ‘An absolute staple for me during spring weather, so that I can throw it on if the temperature drops, is a…

The beauty of slipping into a dress lies in its simple, effortless ease. A dress comes with none of the awkward sartorial struggles that are involved when searching for matching tops and bottoms. It’s a one-stop outfit with an uninterrupted silhouette that can look instantly polished, refined, svelte, and pulled together. Automatically assumed to be utterly feminine, dresses can surprisingly come with a sleek, masculine edge. So, there should be a style to suit everyone. In the warmer months you need only to add the shoe or sandal of your choice, maybe a pair of earrings or necklace, and perhaps a cardigan or stylish jacket for when the sun sets. Throughout the autumn, winter and early spring, a fine Merino wool close-fitting jumper or long-sleeve T-shirt work as the perfect…

1 The mind-skin connection More women than ever are suffering from unexplained bouts of sensitive and unbalanced skin, which could be brought on by stress and worry. And so, brands are increasingly looking at bringing the mindfulness element of self-care into skincare. “Skin-journalling” apps (like TroveSkin), already popular in the K-beauty market, could become the norm. And formulas that enhance your wellbeing, such as those containing adaptogens – think stress-modulating ashwagandha, calming reishi or energising ginseng – will be popular. ‘Beauty routines will evolve to align with our fast-paced lifestyle, with products to support healthy sleep, energy levels, and overall wellness. Brands that can seamlessly combine beauty with wellness will capture the attention of a growing demographic that views health and beauty as interconnected,’ says Zoe Boikou, founder of…

In recent years, “intermittent fasting” has taken the medical world by storm, as if to imply that it is a new discovery. Although the scientific evidence to support it may be new, the practice itself is not. Fasting is one of the most ancient healing practices in human history, and it remains part of virtually every major religion in the world. The benefits of fasting were documented as early as 600 BCE in the first Ayurvedic texts – specifically, the Sushruta Samhita. More recently, studies show that the nutrient deprivation achieved through time-restricted eating protocols like intermittent fasting have significant improvement on chronic conditions, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and cognitive decline, all of which are closely linked to ageing. When we look at the physiology of consumption, we…

With the invigorating sense of renewal that arrives with the springtime, as the grey days of winter recede and take their gloom away with them, just everything begins to respond to a new awakening, and so it is with food. Everything looks, smells and tastes different. I feel like I have plodded on through this rather hard winter, cooking a lot of lentils and other pulses, sometimes but not always combined with a small amount of meat or game, and I have really tried to make the most of the joys of root vegetables and thick, nourishing and very tasty soups. The cold weather, short days and the disquieting state of world affairs have often made me feel like hibernating, but the promise of cooking something warming, comforting and healthy…

During the 90s, I worked in London in investor relations and no two days were alike. I was always juggling things because the goalposts were constantly moving, and my sleep was impacted as a result. I started going for massages to help, but when my regular therapist became ill, I went for an aromatherapy massage instead. I couldn’t believe the difference the extra drops of oils made: my stress levels melted away and I had the deepest sleep for a good week and a half. After another aromatherapy massage worked wonders, I decided to sign up to a month-long weekend course on aromatherapy to learn more. I remember thinking I was bonkers at the time because I worked such long hours and my weekends were sacrosanct. But after my first…

PLATINUM EXPERT Adele Parks MBE Adele Parks MBE is the author of 24 bestselling novels, including number one Sunday Times Bestsellers Just My Luck and Lies Lies Lies (read an extract on p126). Her latest, First Wife’s Shadow, is a twisty psychological thriller about love, jealousy and greed, and is out now in paperback. Adele has sold over 5.5 million books in the UK editions. She is dedicated to spreading the love of reading and is proud ambassador of The National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency. She loves hearing from readers so keep in touch with her via X @adeleparks, and at instagram.com/adele_parks. THE LAST DAYS OF SUMMER by Sarra Manning (£22, Hodder & Stoughton) Spring is coming and I know we are anticipating the summer, far from thinking…

I have had a reminder this month what a precious gift it is to be able to choose to run. One of my best friends, who took up running in lockdown and fell in love with it after years of asking me why on earth I did it, has just had a serious ankle injury. The irony is that it wasn’t a running accident but an innocuous trip over a pavement that caused the damage, and it is likely to take months for her to recover. I have a massive amount of sympathy for her, not just for the pain she has been through, but also because it is incredibly frustrating not being able to do the thing you love. All I could offer to her as words of comfort…