Innehållsförteckning för October 2023 från Platinum

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new... editor! Hello, I’m Katy and it’s both a pleasure and a privilege to be editing Platinum, taking the reigns from the lovely Sally Saunders, who did a stellar job with this monumental magazine at short notice. She did great work and I’m excited to be handed the batton to continue where she left off. This issue has a bit of a “digital detox” theme running through it. There’s no denying that smartphones have infiltrated our lives – for better and worse. I know my phone has affected me in terms of struggling to fall asleep if I’ve been looking at it too close to bedtime, and I’m not alone; our feature by Jo Dunbar explores the rise of screen…

Are you a creature of habit? If so, join the club. My favourite gas ring is on the front left of my hob; I always sit in the same chair at the head of the kitchen table; I’ve used the same perfume (Knowing by Estée Lauder) for more than 20 years and the same toothpaste (Euthymol) for even longer; I drink just one tea and one coffee (instant) a day and always sleep on the left of the bed at home or, if I’m away somewhere, the side closest to the loo. These, according to a recent survey, are just some of the habits we’re happy to admit to. Best not to dwell on those we are reluctant to reveal. But unlike some of the 2,000 people questioned, I don’t…

Four years ago I was on top of the world! Aged 50, I’d just sold my business, and I was a single mother to grown-up kids who’d moved out. I was ready for a guilt-free Thelma and Louise-esque adventure where I could tick off everything from my bucket list, starting with Mount Kilimanjaro and Everest base camp. I’d worked hard my whole life and now felt I’d earned some unapologetic “me time”. With my periods still regular, I was deliriously ignorant of the oncoming perimenopause that would soon have a huge impact on my life. An impact that would eventually lead my friend Sam Simister (above, right) and I to create GenM – The Menopause Partner for brands including M&S, Co-op, LK Bennett, Holland & Barrett and many more. It…

Florrie & Bird Hampshire-based handbag owner Louise Bowie set up her online shop Florrie & Bird (florrieandbird.co.uk) in 2021, and since then her designs have been flying off the shelves. Committed to finding suppliers who are eco conscious, she stocks high-quality leather goods that will last you a long time. ● Khaki Green Leather Sling/Bum Bag, £33. The material of this bag is so soft and smells of gorgeous leather. Spacious enough to fit lots in, when slung over the shoulder the bag is ideal for when you want to be hands free. In my eyes, it’s a complete winner! ‘Slung over your shoulder, this bag is idea for being hands free!’ Olive & Frank A family-run fashion brand set up in 2020, Olive & Frank (oliveandfrank. co.uk) is run…

Hydrolysed, heat-stable bovine collagen from grass-fed cows. Contains 80g vitamin C per serving for better skin, digestion and immune function. 3 for vegans…

A few years ago, I was filming a piece in Scarborough on quitting smoking. I had a machine called a spirometer, which measures lung function, and this particular device also calculated lung age from the results. I met a couple in their 60s. She had never smoked, but he had been a life-long heavy smoker having started in his teens. He was 65 but his lung age was 86. I asked how that made him feel, expecting him to be shocked, but he seemed totally unmoved, telling me he wasn’t surprised given the thousands of cigarettes he had smoked in his lifetime. I then asked his wife to have a go on the machine. At age 60, her lung age was 72! Her husband’s demeanour changed in an instant and…

Do you find yourself forgetting things? Are you a little more anxious than you used to be? Do you fly off the handle for no good reason? Do you ache everywhere? Do you just not feel quite yourself anymore? Welcome to perimenopause. For the past three years, I have been trying all manner of natural approaches, and a few that are most certainly “out there”. Now I’ll be sharing them with you in these pages. Let me begin with my worst symptom and also favourite subject: epic wind! As a busy working mum, the only time I get to myself is in the car, waiting for the kids. Pick-up, however, coincides with the exact time wind starts to backslide out of my backside, as my body attempts to digest lunch,…

On July 16, 2023, with my trainers still on my feet, I ran into the breaking waves of the world-famous Bondi Beach, Sydney, on the east coast of Australia. Why? Because 77 days earlier I had dipped my feet into the surf at Cottesloe Beach, Perth, on the west coast, signifying the start of my running odyssey: an attempt to become the fastest woman to run across Australia. Believe it or not, becoming a long-distance runner hadn’t always been my aspiration. As a young girl I wanted to be a ballerina, and I trained up to five days a week. However, after experiencing my first official “long” run (3km) for a school cross-country race at age 13, I was hooked. I made the cross-country team and fell in love with…

I’ve recently been exercising a bit more – four days a week rather than three – and have also increased my strength training, which is making me feel amazing! It’s so important to include strength training, especially in midlife. Working out is great for your bones, heart, mental health and so much more. I also love doing yoga on Sundays, which is the last exercise session of the week and the best way to start a Sunday as it helps me physically and mentally to unwind and focus on the coming week. My life is hectic but when not at work my favourite way to relax is to walk. I love walking and I don’t really care where I’m going – I just enjoy being out in nature. Women often…

GAIL ROLFE Gail unveils the latest catwalk trends plus how best to wear them. DR DAWN HARPER Dr Harper shares reasons why it’s good to give up smoking. HEATHER JACKSON Menopause champ Heather introduces herself and why she founded GenM. ADELE PARKS MBE Prolific author Adele rounds up her favourite new reads this month. JANE MOORE The Loose Women presenter chats about habits and her recent holiday. JOANNA HALL WalkActive coach Joanna shares how to improve your walking posture. DOTTIE MONAGHAN Platinum’s resident make-up artist Dottie shares her fave new finds. SUZY GLASKIE Health coach Suzy shares some simple steps to improving your health today. ELIZABETH JOSEPH Our ‘Menopause Guineapig’ talks excess wind and how to get rid of it!…

Adele Parks MBE is the author of 22 bestselling novels and is hoping Just Between Us (not out at the time of going to press) will be her 23rd hit! She writes compelling, twisty, psychological thrillers that are popular all over the world. Adele has sold 4.75 million books in the UK and is translated into more than 30 languages. Keep in touch with her at instagram.com.adele_parks. The Stargazers by Harriet Evans (Headline Publishing Group, £16.99) Harriet Evans writes big, sweeping, epic novels about glamourous but damaged families who are at once aspirational and horrifying. Which makes her dark, dramatic stories utterly compelling. Set in the 1970s, we meet Sarah who has spent her entire life trying to bury the issues of her childhood. Her vast but crumbling family home…

If you are reading this column then it hopefully means that, like me, you have more than a passing interest in dressing well. Ergo, that might indicate you are interested in what the latest trends will be this new season. Of course, critics and naysayers will argue that the frequent merry-go-round of new trends is a ploy to make us spend our money. But they are missing the point. For centuries there has always been an innate fascination with fashion that shows no signs of abating. We all have to wear clothes, so why not enjoy them? Clothes and accessories can be a glorious distraction, enhance wellbeing and create a feel-good factor. Fashion allows you to assume a limitless variety of personas: with a swift change of outfit your identity…

As we wave goodbye to summer, it’s not just your wardrobe that needs to change. Cooler weather and sun-parched skin means a rehaul of your beauty and haircare routines as you prepare for the new season. Let’s start at the beginning with my top tips: CLEANSE Summer strips moisture from skin and hair so show both a little extra TLC by applying non-H2O based products. Water is in fact drying to the skin so look instead for cleansers that contain oils: rose oil, evening primrose oil, squalene, avocado oil etc. LAYER UP Just as you would layer more clothes on at this time of year, the same rule applies to your face and body. Nourishing eye creams, face oils, and moisturisers rich in vitamins C and D and hyaluronic acid…

Colour and texture bring enormous comfort: colour pleases the eye, while texture pleases our sense of touch. Even if you aren’t making major changes to your home this autumn, there’s still plenty you can do to give it a refresh. Blue is synonymous with coastal interiors. It reflects the blue of the water and – sometimes! – the sky. Each year, colour trends change and Pantone, the master colour mixers, set a hue for each year; 2023 was all about Viva Magenta, a deep pinky-red; 2020 was the turn of Classic blue, which is still a good one to create a coastal vibe and pairs well with Pantone’s upcoming, 2024’s pale orange shade (the word “peach” is avoided, but rather “apricot crush”). Whatever it’s called, it’s perfect for autumn, reflecting…

Despite being a transition that will directly affect half of the world’s population, menopause is considered by many to be the last taboo in modern society, particularly in the workplace. This means that many employees with menopausal symptoms suffer in silence, with many being forced to pause or even end their careers. The UK workforce is ageing and, according to the Office for National Statistics1, menopausal women are the fastest-growing demographic in the workplace. But with 48 symptoms of menopause – physical, as well as emotional and psychological – “the change” can have a huge impact on comfort, confidence, and productivity in the workplace. What makes this even worse is that, for many, this transition comes at an age when they are reaching the highs of their careers. With studies…

‘I trekked the Himalayas!’ Jane Buckels, 66, from Grosmont, Monmouthshire, was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s at age 57 but has since gone on to climb mountains both at home and further afield. I was always a fairly active person in good health, enjoying gardening, DIY and walks. My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his 60s but, looking back, he had symptoms from his mid-50s. Late diagnosis meant medication wasn’t as effective. So, when I started having similar problems, I was keen to get checked out. My symptoms included getting lost when visiting locations for my job as a Property Compliance Officer. I’d also find myself turning up with the wrong paperwork and could only give general answers, where previously I’d quoted details from memory. I was diagnosed with…

I worked out that if I live to the national average (early 80s) I’ve got about 20 years left! I don’t want to reach my 80s feeling that life is difficult, so my health has gone right to the top of my priority list. Earlier this year, I was told I had osteopenia – the precursor to osteoporosis, which tends to attack women with a smaller frame, particularly those who are post menopausal. So for that I take a high-grade vitamin D supplement to help with calcium absorption and regulate bone turnover. I also do weight-bearing exercises to strengthen my bones. When I’m just around the house or out for a walk, I’ll stick 5kg weights on my ankles and might also wear a weighted vest to give myself a…

Find all pieces at thebiascut.com. Turn to page 92 to read the inspiration behind the boutique and why it’s making in the fashion world!…

I had no background in fashion – it was a passion but not something I thought I’d do for work. I studied law at Cambridge and became President of the Cambridge Law Society; I’d realised I didn’t want to be a lawyer, but I enjoyed the business side of law and leading the society. So, someone suggested I consider going into business instead. It was one of those lightbulb moments. But, if I was going to get into business, it needed to be something I enjoyed. I thought, “What do I love?” – the answer was fashion! I wanted to do something that made a difference. Fashion can have an amazing impact but it can also have a detrimental one. I started thinking about my mum; we both shared a…

It’s a long-held popular belief that the millennial generation are forever glued to their smartphones, constantly scrolling and unable to function without checking in on social media. However, research has revealed that the baby boom generation is equally dependent on smartphones, so is it time to put down the mobile tech? According to Nielsen data published by The Economist in the United States, Americans over 65 spend almost 10 hours a day in front of screens – an increase of seven times what it was in 2018! By contrast, the younger millennials have upped their smartphone usage by less than an hour a day over the same timeframe. So, if more of us are reliant on handheld technology, that means increasing numbers of us could be experiencing the health issues…

My journey to helping people back to health is not a conventional one. I’d always been interested in holistic health, but ended up following a very different career path. Straight after university, I landed a job in PR and spent many years working within the food industry. That gave me first-hand insight into the manipulation that persuades us to buy products that are, in fact, disastrous for our health. I initially loved working in PR but the stress started to take its toll. In my early 30s, I was struggling to juggle a relentlessly stressful agency job with looking after my young children. My weight plummeted, I was hit by all manner of weird ailments, and I suffered burnout. On hitting 40, I knew that I had reached the end…