EDITOR’S PICKS
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WEAR You can happily Zoom in Labeca London’s cute cashmere romper.
EDITOR’S LETTER
W
ell, we haven’t got off to a great start to the year, have we? But as viruses pay no heed to new years and thus perceived new beginnings, why would we have thought it would have been any different. Right back to March last year, then, without the weather, the birdsong or the wide-eyed sense of the unknown. How shall we shine a light through the weeks ahead? By doing what we always hope to do – bringing you, our readers, pages of escapism, of blissful adventures to go on once more, of health hacks to keep you at the top of your game and stories about anything other than that most pernicious of topics: Covid-19 (or even, dare we mention it, American democracy). First up, we’re probably all watching a lot more TV. Bridgerton seems to have caused quite a sensation (I have yet to watch it), but I’m vicariously enjoying (is that the word when dealing with a serial killer?) BBC1’s The Serpent. Just seeing those traffic-fumed streets of Bangkok or the odd snatch of powdery beach and cerulean sea makes me yearn for exotic shores far from Blighty. Not to
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64 mention all those fantastic over-sized sunglasses. We, of course, boast one of its stars, the gorgeous Ellie Bamber, as our cover girl this issue, Seventies style firmly ditched in favour of Chanel, for whom she is an ambassador. The rising star tells Harriet Compston the travails of learning Thai and why she’s unafraid to delve the darker recesses of the human character (p64). The country house estate’s role in history has shifted anew. It is slowly – and excitingly – being reborn as a protagonist in the critical story of sustainability. Amy Wakeham meets the landowners who are making their resources vital once more to the local community and beyond (p90). While we all wait for the population to be vaccinated and some semblance of normality to return, January is a great way to up your own health game – what else is there to do? When I can, I’m booking an ayahuasca trip in a Mexican desert with Behold Retreats – I definitely want to find a legal higher plane. You could also try going barefoot like Gywnnie (bit cold though at the moment) or join the wondrously motivating Aimee Victoria Long on Zoom for her Body Beautiful Method training sessions (I’m counting on her to transform my biscuit laden frame). For these and 23 other ideas, turn to our annual C&TH A-Z Guide to Wellbeing on page 75. For those who are pining for the slopes, Felix Milns brings you the best new openings, and advises on where to stay once restrictions lift (you may even make this season with a bit of luck, p105), and I find out why @countryandtown the Finns are just so /countryandtownhousemagazine /countryandtownhouse damn happy (p115).
PLANT It’s cold out there, so bring the greenery inside with Jonathan Adler’s beautiful planter.
READ A fantastic debut to devour on a cold winter’s eve tucked up by the fire.
RUN Real running pros love On Cloud trainers and these ones are fully recyclable.
10 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | January/February 2021
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