Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2025 i Platinum

January is often a time we pay more attention to our health and wellness, and our cover star Susannah Constantine is definitely doing that, with her focus on exercising, getting out into nature, and looking after her gut (page 12). She’s also feeling more confident and self-assured now in her early 60s, and she appreciates the importance of relationships and family – she and her hubby will be celebrating 30 years of marriage in 2025! Our columnist Jane Moore has also been celebrating as her daughter’s wedding was earlier in 2024 – read about Jane’s dress debacle and how it had a happy ending (page 10). Jane also celebrates 25 years of Loose Women this year – a huge congratulations to her and the rest of the team! If you’ve…

The UK government has a legal commitment to reach net zero by 2050 and, of course, we all have our part to play in that. My heating is on full whack at the moment, so that’s not on message and, equally unhelpfully, I’m still driving a petrol car. But when it comes to “fast fashion”, I’m trying to do my bit by buying far less of it. I have always been a fond frequenter of charity shops but, when it came to my daughter’s wedding in Barcelona, I decided to push the boat out and hire a slightly more high end “mother of the bride” outfit from one of the many rental websites available*. After all, former PM Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie is a regular customer of such sites. She…

At this time of year many of us won’t blink an eye at slipping on that sparkly dress or accessory. Yet you may run for the hills if I were to suggest adding a little shine to your beauty routine. But glitter, shimmer or sparkle are not reserved for those in their teens or early 20s; they can be worn at any age and for any occasion if applied correctly. Glitter technology has come a long way – most are now biodegradable and wash off easily. So if you love to shine, this is the perfect time of year to sprinkle some sparkle – to your make-up, beauty routine or just your bathroom shelf. WAYS TO GLOW The eyes have it. Always use a primer, especially on the eyelid area…

January is often the month that many people decide to be “dry”. It is something that I have subscribed to over the years. To be honest, like most of us, I have usually over-indulged in December, so the first week feels good, the second week I feel quite virtuous, the third I might be starting to wobble, and by the fourth I am looking forward to February! But what I find most interesting about going dry is not so much my reaction, but the reaction of those around me. If you lose weight or give up smoking, your friends and family will do all they can to support you and encourage you to keep at it. When it comes to abstaining from alcohol, the opposite is true. Those of you…

You’ve probably attempted the “New Year, New You” approach to getting on top of your wellbeing. And you’ve probably discovered that it’s a passport to feeling worse – not better – about yourself. So let’s ditch any notion of undergoing an overnight reinvention of your entire life. I’ll wager that you don’t need to arm yourself with reams of knowledge either. The fact is that most women who come to me for help already know exactly what they should be doing for their wellbeing. It’s just that they’re not doing what they know. And they resent themselves for not doing it. They feel powerless, inept and worthless. The good news though, is that we can break out of that pattern with something far more powerful than any amount of knowledge…

LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE JANUARY 1, LONDON (LNYDP.COM) This vibrant event sees over 10,000 participants from around the world marching, dancing, and performing through the streets of London to celebrate the arrival of the new year. Kicking off at midday on January 1, the route starts on Piccadilly and travels down Regent Street, through St James’s, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, and Whitehall. Since 1987, the event has also raised more than £2 million for London charities, through the London Boroughs’ Competition. Spectators are welcome to line the streets and enjoy the celebrations for free, or you can purchase seated grandstand tickets from £65 through ticketmaster.co.uk.…

Adele Parks MBE is the author of 24 bestselling novels, including number one Sunday Times Bestsellers Just My Luck and Lies Lies Lies. Her latest novel, First Wife’s Shadow, is a twisty psychological thriller about love, obsession, jealousy and greed. Her novels are popular all over the world and have been translated into over 30 different languages. 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 Twitter @adeleparks or instagram.com/adele_parks. HAVOC by Christopher Bollen (£16.99, HarperCollins) Eighty-one-year-old Maggie Burkhardt has chosen to weave a different path in her later years. After the death of her husband and the tragic loss of her daughter Julia, she…

Oh my goodness, I have never seen anything like it: an endless expanse of aquamarine water packed with translucent pale pink and purple jellyfish floating in a mesmerising primordial soup. It would be a wondrous sight to behold if I was safe at home sitting on the sofa watching a David Attenborough documentary, and I wasn’t in fact trying to swim through it and trying in vain to stop spider-web like tentacles wrapping themselves around my wrists and ankles and bumping off my face. I knew that the Scilly Swim Challenge was going to be a tough event for me, but it was challenging in ways that I hadn’t expected. And for one of the first times in my life, when I found myself surrounded by stingers with no obvious…

LOUISE MINCHIN The TV presenter and author tackles jitters and jellyfish in the Swim Scilly Challenge. SUZY GLASKIE Health coach Suzy shares her advice for making, and keeping, lifelong habits. VALENTINA HARRIS The cook and author shares her favourite festive leftovers recipes. ADELE PARKS MBE Bestselling author Adele rounds up her six favourite new reads for us this month. NICK HAMILTON Gardening guru Nick set out his checklist of outdoor jobs for the month of January. GAIL ROLFE Our fashion expert creates style with sparkle in glam New Year’s Eve looks. JANE MOORE The Loose Women presenter on why it’s better to choose second-hand when clothes shopping. DR DAWN HARPER The author and GP suggests ways to maintain a healthier approach to alcohol. DOTTIE MONAGHAN Platinum’s beauty editor reveals the…

When news broke in spring that Susannah Constantine had survived life-saving surgery, she was inundated with calls from concerned friends. ‘People were ringing me up and saying, “Are you still alive?”,’ says Susannah, who was rushed into theatre last May after being diagnosed with arteriovenous fistula – a rare, abnormal connection between an artery and a vein. For months, she had endured symptoms including pins and needles and pulsatile tinnitus in her ears and while surgery created a 10 per cent chance of stroke, paralysis or brain haemorrhage, not taking action would have tripled the risks. ‘I had no choice,’ continues the former host of BBC style makeover show What Not To Wear. ‘If I’d been younger, it would have been more concerning but I’m 62 now. I just took…

Upcoming events REBALANCE BATH FESTIVAL OF WELLBEING JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 16, BATH (welcometobath.co.uk) Start the new year as you mean to go on with three weeks of feel-good activities in the heart of Bath. Celebrating its third year in 2025, ReBalance Bath seeks to brighten up those dark winter days with a variety of health and wellness-boosting activities, including mindfulness and motivation sessions, exclusive hotel and spa packages, and fun for all the family. LONDON ART FAIR JANUARY 22-26, ISLINGTON (londonartfair.co.uk) Featuring over 120 leading modern contemporary galleries, the London Art Fair brings together a huge collection of work by leading artists from Britain and across the globe. Taking place at the Business Design Centre, there will also be an inspiring programme of talks, tours and workshops, exploring both…

‘Love all the features’ ‘I have bought Platinum regularly for years and enjoy the fact that it covers fashion suited to my age group, rather than being targeted towards 20 and 30-somethings with thin-waisted, pre-menopausal figures. ‘I loved the article about hair length. To cut or not, a real conundrum, but personally I’m keeping my hair longer to hide my jowls! I would particularly like to see an article about at what age one should stop colouring one’s hair and how to technically achieve a flattering grey or white colour, rather than my natural, but unattractive and ageing, salt and pepper. ‘I have less than two years before I reach 70, so articles on health and mobility issues for your upper age range would be gratefully received! Although I love…

No matter how many events you attend over the years, soirées that lack a precise and distinct dress code can still feel a little daunting. Especially when the host jauntily drops the words “casual chic” or “elegant casual”. With only those words as a guide, the decision-making can be challenging. Everyone will have their own take on what to wear, but always remember that the only thing that matters is that you are comfortable, feel confident and look happy. Dressing up should be fun, not a chore. And it is a great opportunity to create a new outfit from things you already own, or have a mood-lifting shopping spree. These days it so easy to indulge in style on a very small budget. I believe you cannot go wrong, whatever…

Here in the UK most winter days are not sunny or snowy, but filled with grey skies and squally showers. The months after Christmas can feel endless, and many of us struggle with the lack of sunshine and constant drizzle. Winter can feel like a test of endurance. So, how can we make it more joyful? ● Lean into hibernation. Take your cue from nature, and allow yourself to rest, reflect and replenish your energy levels. ● Prioritise sleep. Get to bed early and enjoy the simple pleasure of a hot-water bottle. Turn off any screens at least an hour before bed. ● Dress for the weather. Wear warm, comfortable clothing. A good pair of thick socks, thermal underwear and a favourite jumper or cardigan make cold, wet winter days…

Orange, chocolate & watercress muffins These muffins are delicious for a celebratory festive breakfast, dinner or teatime, though perhaps leave off the frosting first thing in the morning! Makes 10Prep 20 minsCook 25-30 mins – if frosting, add 15 mins For the muffins ● 125g watercress● 50g butter● 175g sunflower oil● 250g caster sugar● 3 medium free-range eggs● 310g self-raising flour● 30g full fat or semi-skimmed milk● Finely grated zest of 1 orange● 100g chocolate chips For the frosting ● 100g butter● 250g icing sugar● 3 tbsp orange juice 1. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with 10 paper cases around the outside, leaving the two middle holes free (I typically cook my muffins this way as frequently the middle ones don’t cook properly). 2. Put the oven on at 180°C.…

Fashionable areas of Manhattan come and go faster than a New York minute, but the string of beach-front villages known as The Hamptons, along the Atlantic shores of Long Island, never seem to go out of style. The holiday destination of choice for stressed-out New Yorkers, The Hamptons should be added to your city break for a near-perfect travel combination. Even if you haven’t been to The Hamptons, you probably know the area from TV and film. The mega-wealthy, and mega-dysfunctional, Roy family kicked back there in TV series Succession, while it was also the setting for The Affair, and for Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey’s indie romance in 2004’s Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. While you might think endless white-sand beaches are summer-only stops, going off season means you…