Editor's letter

HEALTH KICK

For this magazine, I wanted to focus on wellness. We’re coming out of the summer and into the autumn, a time where many struggle with mental health as the darker nights and colder days creep in.

Kicking off the wellness feature is Gemma Dawkins. Gemma is a Mind-Body therapist who takes a holistic approach when it comes to health. Turn to page 51 to read about eastern vs western medicine. Trudi Roscouet continues the conversation on the Menopause this issue, discussing the signs, symptoms and solutions (page 52). The diary of a sober sister continues, but with a look at wellness in general - Michelle O’Connell shares her thoughts on sea swimming (page 55). Turning to page 56, Harriet Rouse talks about her running experience, explaining that once she let go of her school-related exercise trauma, she started to run, not to compete but for herself. Following the wellness theme, Christian Gott shares three healthy recipes that are nutritious and easy to make (page 64).

For the cover, I spoke to Carlene Todd. Carlene was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2018 after having symptoms for over 18 months. After six months of chemotherapy, she was declared cancer-free, but she was miserable when she looked in the mirror due to hair loss. After researching natural remedies, Carlene started to use a homemade treatment that helped her hair grow back thicker and stronger than before. With the encouragement of friends and family, Carlene launched Malva. To date, she has sold over 15000 bottles. You can read the full interview on page 40.

In the fashion section, you will find all you need for the season ahead, including cosy knits and the must-have coat. Trends include black and white, hot pink and luxe leather. Mark Stephenson photographed Rosie Moore for our layering editorial, whilst Steph Goncalves shows us how to do animal print in our Wild Night Out editorial, shot at Ce Soir.

As always, I hope you enjoy reading this issue.

Sophie Wilkinson @sophlwilko