Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 5 i Cosmopolitan Australia

What is your word of the year? 1. Your most important New Year’s resolution is to: a Finally get through your towering TBR pile.b Book a weeks-long holiday to Europe for the summer.c Start a junk journal to celebrate every joyful little moment. 2. If you had to choose one holiday destination for 2025, it would be: a Impossible to choose just one. The bucket list is long.b Visiting your best friend who recently moved abroad.c Anywhere with crystal-hued waters and a comfortable sunlounger. 3. You’ve just wrapped up a stressful day at work and are racing to meet your girls for a drink. You: a Feel jittery and rushed, even though you’ve been looking forward to this all week.b Feel energised and ready to buy a round of spicy…

Threesomes sound hot in theory, but in practice? They can be complicated and filled with miscommunication, awkward vibes and post-play emotional fallout. Whether it’s a long-time fantasy or a spur-of-the-moment idea, bringing a third into the mix requires more than just enthusiasm – it takes boundaries, communication and a solid game plan. From figuring out who to invite (and how to find them) to handling any unexpected emotions that might pop up mid-play, we’ve got expert-backed advice to help you navigate your first threeway. Setting boundaries Before diving in, talk it out. “Create agreements, not rules,” says somatic sexologist Lillie Brown. “Rules tend to be imposed and can feel pretty gross. This is a co-creation, and everyone’s voice needs to be heard.” That means having an honest conversation with your…

I moved to London to chase my dream of working in luxury fashion. Somewhere between late nights at the office and overpriced cocktails, I met Tom – a Chelsea boy who practically lived at my local pub. He was one of the most attractive men I’d ever seen. Tall, with a posh accent and a perfect jawline. When our eyes locked at a house party, I knew exactly where the night was going. A few drinks in, we were making out in the corner. I reached into his pocket, grabbed his phone, typed in my number and left without saying a word. It was on. Tom moved fast. Too fast. After two weeks, he asked me to be his girlfriend, despite only recently getting out of a long-term relationship. The…

A friend of mine once said – boldly and without a hint of doubt – that a woman can’t move through this world without having a warped relationship with her body. To be a woman feels like being stuck in a washing machine’s spin cycle. Love yourself, don’t love yourself that much, care about your appearance, don’t put too much value in it, don’t be this, don’t be that. It’s dizzying, and you’re left a little suffocated and wrinkled. When the concept of ”body neutrality” was coined about a decade ago, it offered a glimmer of hope for what our relationship with our bodies could be. “Body neutrality, to me, means when you're indifferent about your body, neither love it nor hate it, but appreciate what it can do and…

Belkin Stage Auto-Tracking Stand Pro with DockKit Say goodbye to awkward angles and hello to pro-level content! The Belkin Stage Auto-Tracking Stand Pro follows your every move (literally) with 360° rotation and a 90° tilt — perfect for a flattering FaceTime, action-packed videos and livestreaming. Smooth, quiet motors = no distractions, and with five hours of battery life, you’ll be ready for your close-up for as long as you need. $249.95 Women Travel Solo by Lonely Planet Your ultimate travel BFF is here. Whether you’re backpacking through Europe or sipping cocktails in Bali, Women Travel Solo has all the tips and tricks you need to make solo travel safe, fun and totally empowering. Pack light, but don’t leave this behind. $35.99 Fire & Ice Facial at La Belle Cosmetics Glow,…

DON’T BE BLUE Over the past three decades, Bluesfest has established itself as one of Australia’s most famous music festivals. While it’s best known as the country’s premier event for blues, folk and indie artists, over the years it has become genre-agnostic, and international acts like Hozier, Lionel Richie and even Kendrick Lamar have graced its stages in Byron Bay. Sadly, this year will mark the event’s swan song, festival director Peter Noble announced last August. Bluesfest will go out in style, though, with Crowded House, Missy Higgins, Ocean Alley, Kasey Chambers, Vance Joy, Hilltop Hoods and former Cosmo cover star, Tones And I (among many others) on board to give it the send off it deserves this Easter. AUSTRALIAN FASHION WEEK BOUNCES BACK Following the exit of long-time sponsors…

Bradley Simpson The Panic Years Tour will be on our shores this May Singer, songwriter and frontman of The Vamps, Bradley Simpson, will be making a triumphant return to Australia with his debut solo tour. The 29-year-old felt motivated to transition into a solo career and is now embarking on an exciting new journey. Bradley’s signature new sound is the perfect blend of indie-rock, Americana, ’80s synth and pop psychedelia. Gracie Abrams The Secret of Us Tour is finally hitting Australia and New Zealand Off the back of her debut Aussie show in January 2024, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams will return to Australia (and perform her first shows in New Zealand) with The Secret of Us Tour in April and May. Debuting at No.1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and…

Have you ever stood shoulder to shoulder with a woman in a bar’s bathroom and they’ve looked at you and said the magical words, “What perfume are you wearing?” Like being given a gold star on your school report, being told you smell really, really good by a perfect stranger says so much more than just “nice perfume!”. It’s a signal that we had our shit together enough that day to spritz our favourite perfume. It’s a little pat on the back, telling us we have good taste. And if we really want to deep it (we do), it tells the world that we considered all the factors that make perfumes smell unique on each person – such as skin pH, and whether we’re oily or dry – and know…

Saddle up There’s something about the ease and convenience of a saddle bag that just stays winning. From luxe leather options to suede staples, these are the everyday options we’re loving right now…

The ick – it happens fast. One second, you’re into someone; the next, you’re watching them chase after a bus, and suddenly, you never want to see them again. It’s a gut-level reaction; a moment of cringe so strong it flips attraction into second-hand embarrassment in an instant. Dating apps have made meeting people easier than ever, but they’ve also given women a front-row seat to the worst of modern dating – bare-minimum effort, emotional unavailability and men who think “fluent in sarcasm” is a personality trait (immediate ick). It’s a gut-level reaction, a moment of cringe so strong it flips attraction into second-hand embarrassment in an instant But does the ick always mean the end? Sometimes, it’s a sign of a deeper incompatibility. Other times, it’s a knee-jerk reaction…

You know those evenings when you need something quick and easy, but also hot and delicious? Because, like, winter? This crispy gnocchi with romesco hummus is the perfect recipe to have up your sleeve for easy weeknight dinners or cosy Sundays on the sofa Crispy gnocchi with romesco hummus Ingredients 1 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra to spray/drizzle 35g panko breadcrumbs1 tbsp dried mixed herbs500g gnocchi100g cherry tomatoes, quartered Small handful parsley, roughly chopped, to serve For the romesco hummus 200g chickpeas, drained and rinsed 100g roasted red peppers from a jar90g sundried tomatoesJuice ½ lemon 1 garlic clove1½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp tahini1 tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp ground cumin Method 1. Preheat oven to 210°C (190°C fan) or gas 6/7 and line a baking tray…

Making ”connections”, going to networking drinks and ”reaching out” to contacts … anyone else just throw up a little in their mouth? While professional networking might do wonders for your career, the idea of putting yourself out there with strangers (heck, even people you know) to further your trip up the professional ladder can be more nerve-racking than meeting a Hinge date for the first time. This explains why many of us steer clear. The awkward Aussie in us simply cannot. In fact, according to a recent Cosmo poll, 77% of readers don’t feel comfortable networking and only half of you have ever attended a networking event. On the other end of the spectrum? Enter Los Angeles. Now that’s a city that knows how to network without shame. Ordering your…

1 Functional body care We vow to make 2025 the year we stop neglecting our limbs and show our body the same love we do our face “Brighten” and “tighten” are two words at the top of our body-care bingo card for 2025, and this creamy body butter from Sunday Riley promises to support us in both goals. It’s pumped with a blend of shea, murumuru and cocoa butters for rich hydration, plus oat lipids to soothe angry skin, and vitamins B5, B6, E and niacinamide to help boost radiance. Of course, the hero ingredient is a stable form of vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) to help brighten lifeless-looking skin. Spritzing a perfume can do a lot of the heavy lifting in making you feel ready to face the world, but…

By this point, you’ve definitely seen a tradwife come across your social feeds. Watching their videos is like getting slingshotted into the past. Clad in 1950s-style aprons, newborns strapped to their chests, these women make cereal and snack crackers from scratch while embodying ultratraditional gender roles. “The man, he is the provider, the main breadwinner … the woman, the wife, she is a homemaker … she does the cooking and the cleaning,” declares Estee Williams (@EsteeCWilliams) to her more than 190,000 TikTok followers in one video. Taken collectively, #tradwife posts like these read like a pre–Feminine Mystique guide to middle-class white womanhood – one that’s attracting a growing number of younger, unmarried women eager to try out the lifestyle for themselves as stay-at-home girlfriends, or SAHGs. Perhaps the sheer size…

Ah, sexual chemistry. Some call it the spark that lights a fire, and others say it’s the glue that holds a relationship together. Whether it’s an instant, lightning-bolt connection or a slow-burn attraction that grows over time, sexual chemistry plays a unique role in relationships. But is it truly make or break for long-term love? What is sexual chemistry? “Sexual chemistry is never purely physical,” explains Nicole Colantoni, dating expert for eHarmony. “It’s a complex interplay of emotional, intellectual and physical attraction, often rooted in a subconscious sense of desire, curiosity and emotional safety.” For some, intellectual or emotional connection can outweigh physical attraction. Shared values, humour or even a deep conversation can create that all-important spark. But according to Nicole, that spark is often a mix of projection, infatuation…

Jordan was raised in a Southern Baptist household in America’s North Carolina, where she was expected to attend church multiple times a week, accept Jesus Christ as the way to salvation and honour her father and mother. That last point was right there in the Ten Commandments. So when she made the decision to stop talking to her dad, the choice stood in defiance of the lessons of her upbringing – but that was kind of the point. Jordan was tired of being told that women should submit to men, a belief ordained by her community. She was done obeying. At first, despite the fights they’d have about religion and politics, Jordan held back from completely severing ties with her dad. But after one last explosive phone call, Jordan, now…

Styling a gallery wall can be tricky, especially when you’re considering the room layout, lighting, space or a specific colour palette. If you’re aiming for a more organic, natural look with your favourite pieces, I believe that focusing less on perfection leads to better results. For a collection of small to medium artworks, it’s best to incorporate a mix of colours and textures to give the wall a sense of life. Varying the sizes and shapes of the pieces creates movement, preventing the arrangement from feeling too uniform or static, which can happen if all the artworks are framed identically or are solely on canvas. To add depth, consider adding reflective elements like mirrors or resin pieces. I’m experimenting with this approach while working on my own gallery wall! Including…