Fairlady Mar/Apr 2025

I don’t often ‘skew for anxiety’, as someone put it the other day (which I believe means being anxious), but I do find the fact that Facebook no longer employs fact-checkers – and that X/Twitter hasn’t been doing so for ages – pretty alarming. Without proper journalists, newspapers or other publications of record, facts don’t only matter less than opinion, but they actually cease to exist in the public forum. Which means sooner or later we’ll all be part of Meghan Markle’s somewhat murky world of ‘my truth’ and ‘your truth’. And if none of that ‘truthiness’ is based on fact, how can we ever talk about anything? It’s no longer a discussion; it’s just blasting ‘truths’ at each other. I’m all for everyone having the freedom and the responsibility…

Write to flmag@fairlady.com – and remember to put the word ‘Letters’ in the subject line. WINNING LETTER I’ve been meaning to write this letter for a very long time, to tell you and your team how much your magazine has meant to me – particularly the stories about motherhood, and specifically about losing a child. My second child was stillborn in October last year. It was devastating. Yet something beautiful bloomed from my grief: a profound appreciation that nothing is a coincidence, and that the only way to make sense of heartache is to find meaning. I felt it was no coincidence that you had stories about mothers losing their children – stories that spoke to the heart and soul of me. Stories about signs, about connections, and about finding…

Join A SPECIAL GROUP OF FAIRLADY READERS TO GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AND GIVEAWAYS. Do you need more than a bimonthly fix of FAIRLADY? If your answer is a resounding YES, we have just what you need. Our weekly newsletter – delivered directly to your inbox – will help you stay in the know. Here’s what you can expect every month: • Be part of the FAIRLADY book club for the ultimate guide to good reads – and the wines that go best with them. • Take a peek at the stories we can’t stop talking about. • Read reviews of products we’ve given the once-over in Test House to help you choose items that suit your needs and your pocket. • Get the lowdown on the fashion and beauty picks…

A BREEZY CRIME DRAMA If you’re looking for a police procedural you can binge without overthinking, High Potential is just the ticket. Kaitlin Olson stars as Morgan, a spunky single mom of three who works as a cleaner at the local police department. Her life takes a turn when she accidentally solves a case after knocking a file to the floor. Turns out Morgan is a ‘high-potential intellectual’. This isn’t just about being smart; it’s about having a mix of genius-level creativity, a photographic memory, and obsessive tendencies that let her see solutions where even seasoned detectives draw blanks. Enter Adam Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), the grumpy and, of course, handsome detective. He’s less than thrilled when his boss decides to make Morgan a consultant for the homicide department. The ‘civilian…

Vanessa Carreira Coutroulis Mother of four, pastry chef, former Miss South Africa ‘I would say that I’m a style chameleon; there isn’t one style that defines me. It can be absolutely anything: sporty, casual, demure, glamazon, rock’n’ roll, urban cowboy… all based on my mood.’ 'I like to think that what ties all of my looks together is a classic sense of elegance'. Maye Srouji CEO of local womenswear brand mille collines ‘My style is eclectic, ever-changing, and deeply connected to my mood or the phase of life I’m in. I don’t follow trends; I gravitate towards timeless, joyful pieces that resonate with me and can live in my wardrobe for years.’ ‘I’m drawn to silhouettes that strike a balance between comfort and understated sensuality.’ Gina Mosley co-owner and managing…

Vanessa Carreira Coutroulis ◗ Which item in your wardrobe gets a lot of wear? My white wool Gucci coat in a classic trapeze cut. It’s an absolute heritage piece that elevates any outfit I wear it with. I know my girls will fight over it one day when I’m gone. I also love a leather skirt stolen from my mother’s closet! I’m mad about leather, and I’ll be on the lookout for a mulberry hued leather pencil skirt this season. I think that a deep burgundy shade is a perfect autumn neutral. ◗ Where would you go shopping for a pair of heels and a special-occasion dress? For heels, I’d go to Aquazura. I love elegant, strappy sandals that elongate the leg, or a classic court with an unexpected twist. And…