The Guardian — Life & Style • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

Does central London really need another fancy Italian restaurant? Well, yes, apparently it does … Does the area around Sloane Square in central London really need another fancy, Italian-leaning restaurant that serves up tortellini in brodo and veal Milanese?

Well, yes, apparently it does. One Saturday lunchtime late last year at Martino’s was hectic even in the delightful reception area, where we were waiting to check in a coat with the elegantly uniformed front-of-house ladies.

All the tables in this hot new all-day brasserie were booked and busy, and plenty of walk-ins were champing at the bit for cancellations. Actually, “delightful reception” is not a phrase I’ve often uttered, or even thought, but this is a Martin Kuczmarski restaurant, so the small things tend to add up to a larger picture – this cocoon-like holding pen keeps would-be queuers away from the diners.

The Guardian — Life & Style • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

Counselling should help, but it sounds as if you need to slow down and give yourself time to grieve I am 37 years old, happily married and have two children, who came along quickly after we got married in my late 20s. I instantly fell in love with them.

However, I wasn’t really emotionally or practically ready, and developed postnatal anxiety. I’ve always cared about the climate crisis , and since after having kids, and knowing it will affect their lives more than mine, I became motivated to make changes.

We live a very “green” life. Continue reading...

The Guardian — Fashion • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

Designer uses naturally dyed ‘fevvers’ in her collection for Paris fashion week Stella McCartney is trying to save the world, one feather at a time. Or rather one “fevver”, a new plant-based product that has the look of a feather without the bird, which made its first ever appearance at the designer’s spring/summer show in Paris.

“It’s weird to me that feathers being plucked from a bird are seen as delicate in fashion,” said McCartney backstage at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. “I’m trying to show that you can still have the theatre of fashion without the animal compromise.” Continue reading...

The Guardian — Fashion • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

All eyes were on the Northern Irish designer’s debut – not just to reinvent Dior, but to jolt fashion itself out of its slump It was the biggest Paris fashion week moment in years. There were two best actress Oscar winners in the audience (Mikey Madison, Charlize Theron) and the daughter of a third (Sunday Rose Kidman Urban) on the catwalk.

There were so many K-pop stars that the teenagers of Paris had packed out the Tuileries gardens from dawn. The French first ladies Brigitte Macron and Carla Bruni, both embroiled in news-making storylines of their own, chatted in the front row.

The film-maker Luca Guadagnino designed the stage set around an upside-down glass pyramid directly invoking the Louvre, that shimmering icon of modern Paris. Continue reading...

The Guardian — Fashion • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

Spiritual home of Audrey Hepburn re-establishes itself as serious player in red carpet dressing On the very same day as Taylor Swift, Sarah Burton entered her Showgirl era. For her second outing as Givenchy designer, Burton turned up the volume with collars dripping rhinestones over collarbones, luscious peach maribou feathers, a pocket-rocket cocktail dress in lipstick red leather, and Naomi Campbell in a tuxedo jacket worn open over a barely-there lace trim bra.

Burton has been at Givenchy less than a year, but Alexander McQueen’s long-term right-hand woman has already established a new identity for the house and for herself. Givenchy, the spiritual home of Audrey Hepburn and the little black dress, has an immaculate bloodline of glamour that runs from Paris to Hollywood, but it is a relative minnow as a business.

The Guardian — Fashion • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

‘Nicest man in fashion’ reconciles couture roots with streetwear era, while Celine shows French-girl chic with an American tone New names at Dior and Chanel have generated the most noise at this Paris fashion week, but it was Balenciaga’s debut that brought the media storm with a front row coup: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, making her first European appearance in three years. On Saturday night in Paris, Dior, Chanel – and Lauren Sanchez, who also attended the show – were all outdone for razzle dazzle.

Continue reading...

The Guardian — Fashion • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

Exfoliating, plumping and hydrating, the best products will leave your skin glowing without costing a fortune Lactic acid – always the bridesmaid for the more hyped glycolic acid – is my first choice of alpha hydroxy acid for all manner of reasons. It exfoliates without stripping or stinging (its bigger molecule size makes it particularly well tolerated by even sensitive skins), can stimulate collagen and ceramide production to firm, plump and protect mature skins, has antibacterial properties for more problematic ones, and binds with water to keep every type more hydrated.

Lactic also imparts an unmistakable glow to the complexion and deflakes rough areas brilliantly. I’ve always loved it, but have rarely been so spoilt for choice.

The Guardian — Fashion • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

Natural, fresh and cool. Linen is your ideal summer companion Blue stripe dress, £79, arket.com Continue reading...

The Guardian — Fashion • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

It is a little weird that beauty culture is convincing people to surgically saw off their facial skin and sew it back on tighter Tell us: what are the best and worst gifts you’ve ever received? Dear Ugly, I’m 36 and I don’t need or want a facelift – but lately I feel like I’m being made to want a facelift.

Is it weird that facelifts are becoming normalized for women my age, or am I being too judgmental? Why is this column called ‘Ask Ugly’?

How should I be styling my pubic hair? How do I deal with imperfection?

The Guardian — Fashion • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

From preppy to polka dot to secondhand, neckties are all the rage. Our menswear expert shares his favourites, and the rules for wearing them well • The best men’s suits under £400 Neckties are having a moment.

Spotted all over fashion week, from the runways (Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Jonathan Anderson’s debut at Dior ) to the front row ( Daniel Craig , Robert Pattinson, Lennon Gallagher), they’re also popping up on TikTok and Instagram. However, if you’re not a celeb or someone who does regular GRWM TikToks, trussing up in one (when it’s not mandated in the dress code) may feel a little too much of a statement.

With the right styling (ie avoiding looking like you’re cosplaying Don Draper), though, a tie can give your look extra punch in all the right ways. Continue reading...

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