Woman & Home

Woman & Home a brand new attitude.

Woman & Home1 min read
Editor’s LUXE FOR LESS
Welcome to May’s issue of woman&home, and we have something to celebrate because spring is finally here! It’s felt like a long time coming, hasn’t it? This month, Fiona Bruce adorns our cover – and what a beautiful cover star she is. Fiona’s career s
Woman & Home1 min read
Meet Our Contributors
KATE SILVERTON, journalist turned child therapist, shares the ‘soul alignment’ she enjoyed with her late father, on page 63. Do you swear? If so, how often? Starting out as a cub reporter, the language in the newsroom was pretty fruity, with the F-wo
Woman & Home2 min read
Woman & Home
HANNAH FERNANDO Group editor and Group celebrity director Staff emails: firstname.surname@futurenet.com Editorial Group creative director Phil Attaway Group chief sub editor Emma BadgerCelebrity editor (maternity leave) Anna MathesonActing celebrity
Woman & Home2 min read
Join The Conversation!
As a 54-year-old struggling with menopause, ageing parents, grown-up children and looking after grandchildren, I picked up w&h and found it so helpful and informative. I am not alone! My goal now is to put myself to the top of the pile – you can’t lo
Woman & Home1 min read
It’s all ABOUT YOU!
Add your pictures by hashtagging #womanandhomestreetstyle or email wandhstreetstyle@futurenet.com to join in. ■
Woman & Home7 min read
‘I’VE HIRED A NIGHT CLUB DJ for my 60th!’
Thirty seconds into her woman&home interview and Fiona Bruce is almost speechless. ‘No. Is it?! Oh my gosh, I think it is! Oh my God!’ she splutters, mid-mouthfuls of halloumi salad. She’s struggling to digest the opening query: How does she feel abo
Woman & Home4 min read
Mental health MATTERS
For years the stigma attached to mental illness meant that many had to suffer in silence. While there is still work to be done, today the subject is becoming less of a taboo, thanks to women like Dame Emma Thompson, Shirley Ballas and Dame Kelly Holm
Woman & Home7 min read
FAMILY Secrets
Rachel Watkyn OBE, 52, lives with her husband, Steve, in Crowborough, East Sussex, and has three grown-up stepchildren. As my father lay dying, he told me about a box of secrets hidden under his bed that would answer any questions I may have about my
Woman & Home3 min read
Kathy Lette
I can’t cook. I use my smoke alarm as a timer. I once went to the corner store and asked for a ‘pinch of nutmeg’ and a ‘clove of crushed garlic’, so it’s no wonder I find throwing a dinner party more gruelling than a samurai initiation. I’ve tried, I
Woman & Home5 min read
Let’s Do The TIME WARP!
Yana Prendergast, 50, creates personalised embroidery. She lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband Andrew. When I was working as a reporter for a local newspaper, I had to attend a jive dancing course for a feature. I loved it, and the outfits the
Woman & Home3 min read
Two hearts ONE DUTY
Few royal couples have stood the test of time like Queen Elizabeth II and her loyal husband, Prince Philip. Their 73-year union was one for the history books until their sad deaths some 17 months apart in 2021 and 2022. But their timeless love story
Woman & Home4 min read
Friends RE-CURATED
There are friends who make you smile, then there are the ones who make you laugh until you are snorting, wheezing and wiping your mascara away with a table napkin. They are A-listers, the keepers. As life rolls on, with all its 50-something pressures
Woman & Home3 min read
‘Health Is Far More Important THAN HOW I LOOK’
What are you like first thing in the morning? I’m pretty good. I get terrible anxiety and that’s the first emotion I feel when I wake up, but I choose to use that as a motivator. The first thing I do is clean my face, etc, put in my hearing aids, tak
Woman & Home3 min read
Ask Anna
Q My son, who is in his 20s, has autism and is struggling to find his way in life. When I listen to my friends talking about their offspring going off to study, travel the world or start new careers, I admit I feel fed up and jealous. How do I snap o
Woman & Home5 min read
REIGNITE your PASSION
When was the last time you had sex? With many of us feeling exhausted by the daily demands of life, physical intimacy with our partners can easily slip down our priority list. We may not have the drive and desire any more, or perhaps we simply feel w
Woman & Home5 min read
WHAT THE !@#% Is Wrong With Swearing?
Swearing is having a moment… Honestly, it’s bl**ding everywhere. Wicked Little Letters has Oscar winner Olivia Colman in the middle of a potty-mouthed poison-pen mystery. Last year’s revelations at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry laid bare former government
Woman & Home4 min read
Remembering RAPH
I’m in an airport bar in Houston, Texas, and I’m falling apart. Three hours ago, I was in a rented apartment, researching a story I was working on. But now, suddenly, unthinkably, I’m on my way to South Africa, and I need a drink, urgently. When the
Woman & Home4 min read
Menopause RESCUERS
Suzie Boudier, 51, and Myriam Djellouli, 51, are the founders of health and beauty business Minerva Wellness. Both from Bromley, Kent, Suzie is a single mum to Saskia, 20, and Sofia, 19, while Myriam lives with husband Dan and their sons Axl, 13, and
Woman & Home3 min read
The Climate Crisis: What Can YOU Do?
There’s no doubt our planet is in trouble. Last year, CO2 levels were at their highest for more than two million years*. The impact is felt in devastating wildfires and floods. At least one million of the world’s estimated eight million species of pl
Woman & Home3 min read
‘Dad Gave Me The Confidence TO TRY NEW THINGS’
So, I may have been a mature bride and worldly wise at the age of 40, but here I felt like my dad, Terry’s, little girl again – and I am so grateful to my friend, Sim, for capturing us in this moment. I was a little late getting married, as my husban
Woman & Home2 min read
The GREAT ESCAPE
✢ Stick to simple silhouettes such as an A-line skirt and a Bardot neckline for easy, elegant dressing. ✢ Tap into the utility trend with a khaki skirt. The shape adds a feminine feel while an elasticated waist ensures all-day comfort. ✢ Ballet flats
Woman & Home1 min read
Ageless Denim
Whether you’re a fan of the figure-hugging skinny or roomy wide-leg, jeans are as diverse as ever, ensuring there’s a cut for everyone. The classic trucker jacket has evolved to cover a plethora of silhouettes, from a polished blazer to quilted bomb
Woman & Home2 min read
Dress Up Your Basics With A Standout Jacket
We all have a front-row seat to the Golden Age of Couture this spring. The New Look series on Apple TV+ focuses on the post-World War Two life of French designer Christian Dior (played by Ben Mendelsohn), with Juliette Binoche as Coco Chanel and Glen
Woman & Home8 min read
Scents To Suıt YOU
Smell is our most powerful sense. One sniff of something we love, or hate, can immediately send us to a different time and place, depending on our deeply held memories. Perhaps this is the reason so many of us wear fragrance that reminds us of happy
Woman & Home2 min read
Skincare That Works
The brand is known for its Cleanse & Polish, so we were intrigued to see how Liz Earle Superskin Advanced Nourishing Cleansing Balm, £39, boots.com, measured up. Very well, it turns out. It has a botanical scent and is packed with nourishing ingredie
Woman & Home2 min read
Q&A
I’m always on a quest to find a mascara that doesn’t smear or flake halfway through the day. My love of cream eyeshadows makes this even more of a challenge! But I’ve found it in Victoria Beckham Future Lash Mascara, £32, victoria beckhambeauty.com.
Woman & Home4 min read
Are We Being POISONED By PLASTIC?
Did you know that we eat a credit-card sized amount of plastic each year? While most Brits already realise plastic isn’t good for the environment, it appears the fish in our oceans aren’t the only victims. Everyday routines from cooking to drinking c
Woman & Home3 min read
Health NEWS
Hit a dry spell in the bedroom? Getting it on with your other half could bring big benefits this spring, such as increasing your immunity, and lowering stress and blood pressure, while improving heart health. It can also help turn back the clock, as
Woman & Home5 min read
How To FEEL GOOD Naked
You’re standing naked in front of the mirror. You start to dance. Do you feel joy at your amazing body or are you cringing at your wobbly bits? Chances are it’s the latter. And you’re not alone – only one in 10 of us are happy with how we look in our
Woman & Home2 min read
You’re Too Clean
Do you shower twice a day without fail? Or maybe you deep-clean your home several times a week? While a spotless environment can protect you from nasty bugs and infection, overdoing it might mean you’re not exposed to enough good bacteria that helps
Woman & Home5 min read
Your HEALTH
✢ Unsafe sex✢ Alcohol allergy✢ Checking moles Q I recently came out of a 15-year marriage and, after having had too much to drink two nights ago, I had unprotected sex with a man from work. I’m worried, what should I do? A There are two issues her
Woman & Home4 min read
Your HEALTH TABOOS sorted
Got a body issue that makes you cringe inside? Been avoiding getting medical advice because you feel uncomfortable broaching the topic? You’re not alone. Almost 40%* of UK women say they feel awkward talking to a professional about their intimate hea
Woman & Home3 min read
WHY YOUR CAFFEINE HABIT Isn’t All Bad News
I expect you’re reading this with a little trepidation. Perhaps you’re thinking I’m going to suggest we beat ourselves with the holistic stick and stop our caffeine intake in its tracks. How could I? [slurps coffee], that’s unnecessary… and cruel! Re
Woman & Home5 min read
Italian CLASSICS
Meaning ‘crazy water’ in Italian, this dish gets its name from the watered-down wine broth originally made by Neopolitan fishermen. Serves 2 • Ready in 25 mins 2tbsp olive oil½ bulb fennel, cut into thin wedges2 whole sea bass, gutted(250-300g each)
Woman & Home5 min read
FAST & FRESH
For noodle lovers, this one is ready in a flash, a hearty and filling stir-fry that won’t disappoint. Serves 2 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 20 mins 180g flat rice noodles2tbsp groundnut or vegetable oil50g peanuts1 large chicken breast, cut into smallchunk
Woman & Home3 min read
Low-cal TREATS
We’ve used Greek yogurt to make a creamy, but zingy dessert. Serves 4 • Prep 15 mins • Cook 15 mins, plus chilling Zest 3 lemons80ml fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)175g caster sugar20g low-fat spread3 medium free-range eggs, beaten, plus 1 extra
Woman & Home2 min read
Food EDIT
Meet the eco-friendly Hokan bowls Hokan (meaning ‘safe keeping’) was created by Alistair Donald, who swapped the leaning towers of cling-filmed bowls and plastic boxes for a plastic-free solution that can be used to cook, bake and serve, then store a
Woman & Home2 min read
New Looks For YOUR HOME
Keen to refresh your home? We’ve chosen three looks for spring that are easy to work into existing neutral schemes. Try a statement French Fancy-inspired cushion on a cream sofa; a hint of Nordic blue on your bed with a woollen throw; or warm, earth
Woman & Home3 min read
ESCAPE To The COUNTRY
This idyllic chocolate-box cottage dating back to the 1700s was, at first glance, not the ideal choice for a family of five. At the time Ailsa and Ben Richards – and their three children Hebe, Cecilie and Kit – viewed it, it only had two bedrooms. Bu
Woman & Home1 min read
Shop The Shoot
✢ Warm up a neutral scheme with shades of terracotta orange and cornflower blue. Stick to the more conservative blue for furniture, while using the vibrant orange for soft furnishings and accessories. ✢ Mix and match vintage furniture with contempora
Woman & Home4 min read
Plants for FREE
With some basic equipment, the magic of nature and a little patience, you can fill your garden – for free. Propagation is the growing of plants from a parent plant, either by taking cuttings, growing from seed, dividing bulbs or layering techniques.
Woman & Home5 min read
Sarah Raven’s GROWING GUIDE
Planting and arranging pots is a simple act that can lift the overall mood of your garden. Having started my career as a florist, I love that they’re like a flower arrangement in intensity, yet able to provide colour and joy for much longer. Here at
Woman & Home3 min read
Flower FRENZY
Visitors to the Tarlings’ quintessentially English cottage garden cannot fail to notice that the small plot is teeming with flourishing plants: the neatly ordered raised beds are bursting with colour and variety. Their 18th-century cottage, with its
Woman & Home6 min read
Feel-good RETREATS
THE USP A chance for newbies to dip their toes – quite literally – into the cold-water immersion trend at a cushy country house hotel just outside Bath. The practice is said to boost your immune system and energy levels, improve mental health and aid
Woman & Home3 min read
The Chelsea Flower Show TRENDS TO TRY IN your garden
Water, and how we use it, features at Chelsea this year, with designer Tom Massey and architect Je Ahn’s collaboration on what water management could look like in the future featuring in their WaterAid Garden. Ideas to take home are resilient plantin
Woman & Home5 min read
Marvels of MALTA
In silence, we descend into the dimly lit halls of the Hypogeum. Carved columns stretch down from ceilings, ghostly chambers pockmark walls – all of it hewn from subterranean limestone by ancient hands, 6,000 years ago. Our small group pauses to take
Woman & Home5 min read
May’s BOOK CLUB
My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes (£22, HB, Penguin) We love Marian Keyes for her humour, relatable style and wisdom – all of which are present here. When Anna leaves her fabulous beauty PR job in New York to return to Ireland, people are confused
Woman & Home3 min read
In Conversation With DAVID NICHOLLS
Author and screenwriter David Nicholls won international recognition with his bestselling novel One Day, which was made into a major Netflix series earlier this year. Twenty years since publishing his debut novel, Starter for Ten, David’s novels have
Woman & Home3 min read
GOOD to KNOW
The actor and author, 58, lives in the Cotswolds with his filmmaker wife Jessica, their children Harrison, 12, and Lana, eight, and dog Stevie. I get up at 6.45am, put on my gym clothes and meditate for a few minutes before doing the Five Tibetans ex
Woman & Home2 min read
Take FIVE
The Giver by Lois Lowry I read this book at eight years old and it changed my understanding of reading forever. Not only did it move me to tears and fill me with hope, it also shocked me. There’s a moment when a character experiences colour for the f
Woman & Home2 min read
Puzzle BREAK!
Read down the letters in the shaded squares to spell out an English actor (7,5). 11 A large body of people who share the same culture, and inhabit a particular country (6)12 Daily edition (9)13 Topics (6)15 Idea (7)16 Ornate (9)17 Strikes (4)18 Baffl
Woman & Home2 min read
Your STARS
21 MAY – 20 JUNE The 26th is time to celebrate when Jupiter, planet of luck and abundance, enters Gemini for a year. An expansive influence, watch your waistline and online shopping. Call 0905 789 4152* and choose weekly, monthly and yearly updates
Woman & Home2 min read
The ROYAL REPORT
Popularity polls, and who is the most popular royal, can be an interesting (or irritating!) talking point. However, there is a serious issue behind the headlines. The public’s support, and thus taxpayer’s money, ensures the survival of the monarchy.

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