Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2025 i Platinum

September has always felt like a secret new year – all sharpened pencils, shiny new shoes, and the seductive pull of fresh stationery. Honestly, is there anything more full of hope than a new notebook and a second stab at starting again? Our September issue is for anyone standing at the edge of a new chapter. The summer will soon be over, you’ve lived, you’ve loved, you’ve lost your cool (and your keys), and yet here you are. Resilient. Brilliant. Still going. So this month, let’s raise our faces to the sun and start walking in the direction we want to go next. In Heart and Soul, we get gloriously real about the stuff that makes us human: love, loss, reinvention, courage. Keris Fox shares how Harry Styles (yes, really)…

Q What’s the biggest life lesson you’d share with your younger self? I would say, remember that, at the end of the day, giving love and being loved is all that really matters. Whether that is love for your family, the love of great friends, love for your work and the positive impact it will have on others, and love for yourself, faults and all. When things get busy or uncertain, boil it back down to love. Other than that, always believe that you are enough. Have lots of fun. Q What keeps you up at night? Perimenopausal hot sweats! My husband refers to me as “the furnace” in bed – and not for the right reasons. I’m back on HRT to help manage the oestrogen fluctuations so I’m hoping…

Coming from a long line of strong, long-living women, I have always taken my good health for granted. My single mother, who grew up during World War II and remembers taking a gas mask to school, held little truck with days off lessons unless I was either projectile vomiting or my leg was hanging off. Understandable I guess, because a sick child at home meant arranging a babysitter with money she didn’t have, or taking the day off herself in an era when workplaces weren’t as cuddly-feely as they are now. So most of the time, even if I was feeling a little under the weather, I was taught to just push on through and this mindset remains with me to this day. ‘But you’re never ill,’ my children would…

‘You’re never too old to chase your dreams, to follow your dreams,’ Sara Davies, MBE, beams at me. It’s something Sara believes with every fibre of her being and she’s got proof. ‘I had an amazing woman, Carla, that I invested in on Dragon’s Den earlier this year. Her business is Good Wash Day – hair towels for women with curly hair. She had the idea in her 40s, went to business school, and launched her business at 51. I remember her saying her teenage boys were just so proud of her, just for going for it.’ Sara grins. ‘I loved her. She’s one of my favourite investments. She’s absolutely killing it. She won at the Marie Claire Awards this year for best hair product!’ It’s clear that Sara, 41,…

For me, going on a summer holiday is about getting away from it all and possibly having someone to wait on me for a change. But most importantly, it is to really be stirred. At this time in my life, I still go away with my darling daughterlings, but I too need a break from being Mum. Whilst the teens lap up the waves or beach boutiques for their trip tick-list, I find my midlife vacation thrills come from all the gorgeous places we stay in or visit. Enjoying and exploring the décor newness is my choice of personal retreat. The rich scenery, stylish villas, old-town charm, tropical greenery, shoreline settings and each and every vernacular design and detail. The tiles. The antiques. The patterns. The colours. Hands up who…

If summer had a flavour, it would be citrus: bold, bright, and unapologetically zingy. Bursting with colour, crunch and that unmistakable lip-smacking freshness, these four joyful recipes from recipe book Zest are a celebration of cooking that lifts the spirits as well as the palate. Whether it’s the beetroot and mango lettuce cups (hello dinner party showstopper), or a sunshine-soaked pan of oven-roasted hake with citrusy greens, every dish sings with vibrant, feel-good flavour. There’s also a stunning spring barigoule with zingy gremolata and a key lime pie that’ll have you going back for seconds. Possibly thirds. So roll up your sleeves, grab the limes, and add a splash of joy to your summer table because it’s time to pucker up and cook happy. Salt-baked heritage beetroot & mango lettuce…

Let’s get real – swimwear shopping can feel a little daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. The key to poolside confidence isn’t about having the “perfect” body – it’s about finding styles that celebrate the one you have and creating looks that make you feel utterly fabulous the moment you step out into the sunshine. So whether you’re booking a beach break, heading to a spa day, or just planning some well-earned garden lounging, here’s your ultimate guide to swimwear that fits, flatters and empowers. Swimwear that elongates and enhances your curves If you’re looking for swimwear that lengthens the body or creates sleek, streamlined proportions, these styles work wonders – no heels required! 1 ONE-SHOULDER SWIMSUITS This is my swimwear shape of choice. The asymmetry draws the eye…

As I was sitting in a coffee shop the other day, I overheard two women chatting about a friend who had recently had a cosmetic procedure. One said, ‘Ooh, Jane had her eyes done’. Her friend replied: ‘No way! Did she need it, or was it purely vanity?’ That exchange stuck with me. It made me think about vanity and why we use the word in such a derogatory way. I sat there stirring my coffee, wondering quietly: am I vain? Probably. I care about how I look. I have good lighting in my bathroom and too many skincare products. I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit choosing profile pictures. I care about how I come across – in words, in photos, in rooms. But is that vanity,…

The first time I experienced empty nest syndrome it came as a huge shock to my system. I wasn’t prepared for the sense of loss I would feel when my eldest daughter, Mia, left home to go to university. Walking past her open bedroom door and seeing her bed made and the floor clear made my heart ache. Who knew that I would miss not just her but her mess too? It felt like a vacuum had opened in my life that I couldn’t fill and for weeks I woke up with what felt like a dull sense of grief pressing on my chest. I wish I had known how I would feel as I could have prepared better for it. I had assumed that I would be fine; she…

Kate Battrick Kate, stylist and Platinum’s fashion editor, started her fashion career in 1985 at Elle magazine, and at 63 she is a die-hard fashionista. ‘I love the joy clothes can bring and in this month’s magazine there is a lot of fashion fun on the grid as well as stylish edits throughout the sytle section.’ From p89. Paula Hines Paula is a London-based yoga teacher, writer, and author of Rest + Calm. Specialising in restorative yoga, Paula recommends the best reads for rest on p32. ‘Reading can be your first step to inspire deep rest this summer,’ she says. Dr Claire Kaye A career and confidence coach, and founder of #CareerInspiration, a social media series spotlighting inspiring women, Claire is an expert in helping us make brave decisions. ‘Decision…

SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW by Cathy Bramley (£16.99, Orion) This emotional novel is heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting. Six months on from the loss of her daughter, Magnolia’s heart isn’t anywhere near healing. When she finds her daughter’s travel journal, Magnolia decides to honour her life by setting off on the gap year trip that 23-year-old Brontë had dreamed of taking. As Magnolia’s travels take her further from home, she finds the space to recall the dreams she had when romance and freedom were on the cards, and comes to understand that life always has new beginnings. • One to take you on an emotional journey OUR LAST RESORT by Clémence Michallon (£16.99, Elliott & Thompson) Fifteen years ago, Frida and her brother Gabriel escaped from a chilling cult. They used…

WHY 70 IS THE NEW 50 Ditch the slippers and walking stick. Today’s 70 is all about Pilates and power moves. A new report from the IMF (International Monetary Fund) reveals that ageing has had a glow-up. Researchers studied 41 countries and discovered that today’s 70-somethings are cognitively sharper than ever. In fact, someone aged 70 in 2022 had the same mental acuity as a 53-year-old in the year 2000. And it’s not just brainpower on the rise. We’re stronger, more flexible, and breathing easier too. Grip strength, lung function and agility are all improving. Frailty is out. Functional fitness is in. What’s behind the shift? According to the IMF’s Bertrand Gruss and Diaa Noureldin, it all comes down to four golden Ws: wealth, wellness, work and who you know.…

My rebellious streak has been a double-edged sword – sometimes it gets me into trouble but sometimes it leads me to exactly where I need to be. But if there’s one thing it’s good for, it’s proving people wrong. So when Joe Wicks, the nation’s favourite PE teacher, became the face of lockdown fitness, I decided to do something that might surprise him – I set out to prove that his 90-day transformation challenge wouldn’t work. It was 2020, the year of lockdowns, remote working, and home workout videos. I was already feeling uncomfortable – I am only 5'1" and weighed 11-and-a-half stone. My weight had been up and down over the decades but now I was perimenopausal too and I knew I had to change bad habits which had…

A month after separating from my husband of 22 years, I flew alone to Los Angeles to see Harry Styles in concert. In LA, I shared a hotel room with fandom friends also mostly in their fifties. I had breakfast with a group of women I’d got to know on a forum for older fans of One Direction. The minimum age to join was a sobering 25, but there were plenty of other members who, like me, were more than double that. I ordered my first ever Uber to meet two more fan friends for coffee and then went on to have dinner with women I knew through my 15-year career as an author. We were all midlife women who had also fallen for Harry. In the previous six months,…

‘A year ago there was a restructure at work and I hate my new boss. I am now stressed every day and at weekends, and I feel like I just can’t take it any more. Also, I want to work fewer days – I am conscious at 60 of being more tired than I was. My husband says just leave but it seems a crazy leap. I will still need to contribute to our finances, though our outgoings have dropped a lot. I have some savings, but with a small pension pot I am wary of dipping into them. Also, I am scared no one will want to hire me again because of my age. I would actually like to take a month or two off to just clear my…

Ever dreamt of adding a splash of Italian rustic style into your home and elevating your living space with the charm reminiscent of the vineyards or lemon groves? Or what about the sophisticated décor found in an elegant palazzo with marble and terrazzo tiling and frescos. Whether you’re a seasoned decorator with years of experience under your belt or stuck in a rut with rooms needing some midlife oomph, the book Hidden Homes Of Southern Italy by Marta Galli is brimming with secret Italian design ideas that’ll inspire your creativity and excite your senses. With a flair for the timeless and an eye for detail, it is a beautiful read with page after engaging page of the enchanting world of exquisite home schemes, south Italian style. Rather than take a…

Hello Platinum-istas! Getting straight to the point, we are hoping you love the new fashion pages. Do you feel lifted up, fashion wise? Have we created inspiration for you to invest in yourself – and your wardrobe – each time you turn the page? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and if there’s anything you’d like to see in the fashion pages, fire away. Let me know – after all, I’m all about being bolder. Now, back to the business of great style. I don’t know about you, but the moment I see a hint of next season’s clothes appearing in the shops, I’m either about to hot-foot it off on holiday – or the British summer has finally arrived! With that in mind, I say let’s celebrate the sunny…

Can we ever get enough of Sarah Jessica Parker — or her alter ego, the ever-iconic Carrie Bradshaw? When is too much ever too much? Apparently never. With her fearless mix of colour, print and texture, Carrie’s enduring style continues to inspire. And at 60, SJP herself is living proof that true fashion knows no age limit. Now you can emulate one of the standout outfits Carrie wore in the latest series of And Just Like That. She pairs a striking purple drop-waist skirt (see – it’s not just the fashion team talking about this trend!) with a printed blouse. It’s a simple formula that’s easy to adopt – and effortlessly chic. We’ve scoured the high street to bring you our top picks to recreate the look...…

Now here’s the thing: I’m not a fan of Botox. I’ve tried it a few times in my forehead with varying results. Sure, it’s nice to see those lines smooth out, but I have very expressive eyebrows, and I hate the feeling of not being able to lift them. It’s personal. I know plenty of people who have it regularly and look fantastic. I’m just not one of them. So, on a recent visit to New Life Aesthetics for a general consultation, when I was asked why I don’t have Botox, I said simply, ‘It doesn’t work for me’. I explained why, and Mo Ashraf (pictured), founder of New Life Aesthetics replied: ‘But have you tried it on your lower face and neck?’ This completely surprised me. If I don’t…

Noted & noteworthy September’s quiet magic – the pause between the pages By now, the skies are quieter. The swifts are long gone, and blackberries are fat on the brambles. There’s a hush to the hedgerows – like the countryside knows it’s winding down. September still brings sunshine, but it’s a softer, golden kind. A time to put the kettle on, reach for a cardigan, and breathe in the calm before autumn kicks up her leaves. Mindful moment September is the soft start. It’s a time of fresh notebooks, new pencils and Sunday roasts making their comeback. There’s still light in the evenings, but the air carries a little crispness. Don’t rush into routine just yet – savour the in-between. MUST-WATCH SERIES History unlocked The stunning scenery of the islands…

It’s astonishing to me how lucky I’ve been – because it is luck; of course it is!’ says Celia Imrie, beaming, as she holds up the Raindance Icon Award she picked up in London the night before. With her signature pink lipstick and boundless energy, it’s hard to believe this woman has clocked up over 50 years in the business. Celia, 73, is quick to shrug off any praise but the truth is, her career is one most actors would dream of. From sitcoms to Star Wars, she’s done it all and nailed it every time. You’ll have seen her in Bridget Jones’s Diary, Calendar Girls, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and even flying a fighter jet in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. She’s got a Top 30 single under…

At the end of last year, I was approached by BlueCo Healthcare to join their team providing digital weight management services across the NHS, insurance and the private sector. I was initially uncertain. I was anxious that online services might allow the wrong people to access these drugs. Several zoom calls later and after reading tomes of protocols, I felt confident that this is an ethical company providing a high-class service and I am now part of the team. It is certainly a very needed provision. I was speaking at The Primary Care Show earlier in the year when I presented some rather frightening statistics. When writing my last book, Live Well To 101, in 2018, I included a chapter on weight and type 2 diabetes. At the time of…

As soon as my son was born, I felt that primal urge to protect him from harm. I put childproof hinges on the cupboards and soft protective covers on the sharp corners. I checked on him in the night when I heard him moving around in his cot. Later, I would fight battles for him with the school and when he became an independent teenager, I couldn’t rest until I heard the click of the key in the door to indicate he was home safe. When he went to university, I worried about knife crime, being mugged for his iPhone, getting in a car with a drunk driver, or being coerced into taking drugs. I never worried about him walking into a field one summer night and killing himself. When…

Elizabeth Hawthornthwaite uncorks the truth about organic wine, what it really means, why it’s booming, and whether it’s worth the switch. Not too many years ago, putting the word organic on a wine label would actually lower the price by around 13%. Can you believe it? But then influential voices from Jamie Oliver to The Soil Association started educating us about what’s really in our food and drink, and people began paying attention. Today, demand for organic wine is at an all-time high. According to Grandview Research, the global organic wine market was valued at $9.8 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $21.5 billion by 2030. Despite that impressive growth, organic wines only account for just over 3% of total still wine sales, so there’s plenty of room…

STYLE DILEMMA Jackie’s shape has totally changed, and she’s stuck in a style rut, something that most of us have faced at some point in our lives. She used to be more adventurous with what she wore but feels very conscious of her bust and tummy, and tends to wear loose baggy tops most of the time to cover up. NICKY’S STYLE ASSESSMENT Jackie’s dilemma is something I come across all the time and the instinctive reaction is always the same – cover up and hope no one will notice, but that only serves to make you feel worse about yourself. My challenge is to uncover Jackie’s waist to balance her proportions and make her feel taller and slimmer. STYLE SOLUTION Jackie is a strawberry or inverted triangle shape, which…

Ladies, it’s time to get your legs out. There’s no such thing as being too old – or not having the “right” legs for shorts. I spent years avoiding them, self-conscious about my knees. And honestly? What a waste of time. Shorts are having a serious fashion moment this season, and it’s time to embrace it. And here’s the twist: not all shorts are, well, short. From tailored to oversized, structured to slouchy, the styles this season are anything but basic. And when it comes to styling? There’s no short-age of ideas (we couldn’t resist). Yes, even denim has grown-up with this season’s “jort”. Not sure where to start? To make things easy, we’ve put together three gorgeous looks you can shop straight off the page. Going red Bold yet…

We’re excitedly working our way through all the products that have been sent in for the 2025 Platinum Magazine Beauty Awards. Almost every day sees the launch of a new wonder product or tool, existing ones having a revamp, or an old forgotten favourite popping up again. At Platinum we never underestimate the importance that skincare, haircare and makeup play in our everyday lives and how getting it right or wrong can affect our confidence and mood over the day. That is why I’ve put together an incredible panel of expert judges to bring their expertise to testing out haircare, skincare, make-up, fragrances and gadgets. And 2025 sees an even larger panel of experts but with some familiar faces. This year’s panel includes a group of Platinum readers as well…

No little girl grows up dreaming of becoming an escort. A sex worker. A whore. Keep that in mind. It’s a job, right. A lot of people do difficult work, and many don’t like their jobs. That’s a fact about being an adult. We suck it up for a myriad of reasons. Maybe because we can’t think of anything else to do. Or we don’t believe there is anything else we could do, as we don’t have qualifications, or opportunities, or simply the energy to draft a new CV. We do however have rent or mortgages to pay, electricity, gas, and the lure of the local pub that sells a really average Chardonnay. So, we need to make money. From time to time, miners, couriers, sous chefs, debt collectors, refuse…