Editor's letter

Who else is ready to pack their winter coats and boots away? As the days get longer and slightly warmer, I’m certainly ready to trade in my faux fur for something a little more cheerful.

This issue is full of new spring fashions. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would have noticed the influx of loungewear, ranging from comfy knitwear and sweats to full-on head-to-toe tracksuits. We’ve selected our favourite pieces to make the decision easier for you (page 16). Continuing with the relaxed lifestyle trend, we have featured our favourite neutral and pastel pieces to keep you looking and feeling fantastic all spring long. If you need a complete clothing makeover, we’ve made a handy guide featuring 12 spring essentials that can be mixed and matched to help create a capsule wardrobe.

I love hearing about new businesses that share an eco-friendly ethos. Turn to page 34 to read about four local business owners who are getting creative with the Earth in mind.

The pandemic has made us think about how we exercise. With gyms being closed, we have had to turn to other forms of fitness, including running and cycling. Many women cite anxiety and nervousness for not wanting to try a new sport, so we spoke to three females from sporting backgrounds. Laura Riley, Amy Lambert and Chloe Bougourd explain why they love sports, how they got involved, and why you should try something new.

For our cover, I Spoke to Nikki Zachariou, founder of UberEdge Dance Company, about empowering women through dance and hoping to break down the equality barriers when it comes to confidence (page 24).

Trying to put the dark, miserable days behind us, we focused our fashion editorial around bright, bold colours to offer a bit of optimism during the current climate. Mark Stephenson photographs Taye Boakye-Yiadom, from page 28. For our beauty editorial, Steph Whitehead and Kate Morrison create five ‘70s inspired looks on model Elisha Hiller, photographed by Mark Stephenson (from page 45).

Moving on to interiors, we’ve picked our favourite furniture and accessories for a stylish and practical home office space – perfect for those who continue to work from home. Blush tones and natural décor also feature heavily. You can find more trends and inspiration from page 65.

Throughout the magazine, you’ll also find articles on decluttering your mind, the benefits of crystals as well as beetroot recipes - perfect for the spring weather.

Sophie Wilkinson @sophlwilko