Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2018 i ELLE Australia

THIS ISSUE OF ELLE IS SPLIT INTO TWO VOLUMES REPRESENTING TWO ASPECTS OF WOMANHOOD TODAY: THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. IT’S FOR THE TIMES YOU WANT TO TAKE CHARGE, BINGE›WATCH THE HANDMAID’S TALE, TRIUMPH OVER A HEAVY LIFTING SESH, LISTEN TO CARDI B, NAIL YOUR GLITTER LIP, AND STOMP AROUND IN AN OVERSIZED HOODIE AND SAINT LAURENT PLATFORM BOOTS. THIS WAY IN FOR THE MOST DARING FASHION, A DEEP-DIVE INTO SEX IN 2018, OUR INTERVIEW WITH EMILY RATAJKOWSKI, A WOMAN WHO MAKES NO APOLOGIES AND TAKES NO PRISONERS, AND THE WORD “CUNT” PRINTED 14 TIMES. SORRY, 15. Enjoy the issue,…

Boxy suits, wide-leg trousers and cool-kitsch accessories turn textured tweed and wintry checks into anytime staples. But how do you freshen up a time-honoured pattern? With white pieces – crisp tanks, tailoring and shirting are the perfect check mates.…

Fresh from a break-up with her boyfriend, a despondent Lucy takes a sabbatical to Venice Beach, dogsitting her half-sister Annika’s “diabetic foxhound” Dominic while Annika and her hippie investor husband attend Burning Man. After joining a love and sex addiction therapy group (the members of which she largely can’t stand) and then Tinder, Lucy meets a merman, and the romance that ensues is nothing short of wryly comical. We’d expect nothing less of So Sad Today essayist Melissa Broder and her darkly shrewd humour. The Pisces ($29.99, Bloomsbury Circus) is out July 1 This is the latest instalment of the ELLE Book Club, where each month we recommend one read we know you’ll love. For a chance to win a copy of this one, head to ELLE.com.au/win…

“I didn’t realise there would be photos. Stupid, really. I’ve seen police reports following sexual assault many times and there are often photos. But I wasn’t mentally prepared for these photos. The victim had been gang raped and tortured. I knew that. I also knew that during the rape, she’d had cigarettes extinguished on her naked, vulnerable body. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the impact of seeing first-hand the photos of her burns and other injuries. Throughout my career as a journalist, I’ve spoken to hundreds of sexual-assault survivors, including a number of gang-rape survivors. These days, I report almost exclusively on sexual assault and I consider it a great privilege to bear witness to the strength and courage of so many survivors. But the stories are deeply…

“FEMINIST? IT’S NOT A TERM I FIND PARTICULARLY USEFUL THESE DAYS. I’M A FEMALE POLITICIAN, I’M A FEMALE FOREIGN MINISTER… GET OVER IT.” The year was 2014, and this was a sound bite from Julie Bishop, then the highest-ranking female member of parliament. At the time, Bishop’s statement caused a stir – after all, there’s no denying that Bishop has been the beneficiary of feminism – but just four years later, it seems less outrageous than simply… outdated. In less than an Olympic cycle, women in government – and everywhere, really – have gone from “it’s not part of my lexicon” (which Bishop went on to say in the same speech in 2014) to “I’m proud to call myself a feminist,” as fellow Liberal Kelly O’Dwyer said at an International…

A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WAS EMAILING MY EDITOR AT ELLE. We were discussing the now-infamous article on the Babe website which, in case you’ve been holidaying on a remote Greek Island for the past six months (so lucky, hate you), detailed a contentious sexual encounter between comedian Aziz Ansari and a woman they called “Grace”. It alleges that their date became “the worst night of [her] life” when Ansari initiated foreplay at his apartment and then failed to pick up on the “non-verbal cues” of discomfort that Grace was putting out. The article went live not long after TheNew Yorkershort-fiction piece Cat Personexperienced a rare, and still ongoing, moment of virality. In it, 20-year-old Margot has a fling with 34-year-old Robert – their flirtation culminates in Margot realising she…

We roll jade across our foreheads to stave off wrinkles. We keep amethyst at our desks so we can stay calm during workplace drama. We decorate our homes with quartz geodes because they look good and, well, it’s 2018 – if you’re not down with crystals, you’re in the minority. And for those with exceptional dedication to harnessing their spiritual energy, there’s also a growing world of crystal sex toys to explore. Vanessa Cuccia is the pioneering force, having launched Chakrubs, a line of sex toys made from natural crystal, in 2012. The range of wands, plugs and eggs is crafted from crystals that look as good on display as they can make you feel – think rose quartz, carnelian and black obsidian. Cuccia says the perfect molecular structure innate…

BIG LOVE LARGER-THAN-LIFE JACKETS, TROUSERS AND SNEAKERS IN WINTRY HUES ARE GUARANTEED TO MAKE A STATEMENT. DADDY COOL Complement oversized silhouettes with equally big “dad” sneakers. > STYLE SQUARED Heritage colours and prints feel fresh in boxy blazers. IN THE HOOD In colours that are so wrong, they’re right, the sporty anorak becomes a new staple. FORCE OF NATURE PAIRED WITH STRIPES, CHECKS AND PASTELS, WEATHERPROOF PIECES HAVE NEVER LOOKED SO CHIC. PLASTIC FANTASTIC Stark black and hot pink get a right-now finish in super-shiny PVC.…

The myriad benefits of coconut oil are well-known, but just like Apple and its many, many iPhones will attest to, we always want more. “I loved how versatile coconut oil was but it didn’t moisturise enough for me. So I combined it with all of my favourite plant oils and butters and started experimenting,” says Meredith Baird, who was a raw-food chef researching coconut oil for a cookbook before she created natural bodycare line Nucifera. The result of the experimenting? “The Balm is a culmination of everything that I love and that has worked wonders for me, so I wanted to share,” Baird says. It’s more buttery in texture than pure coconut oil but feels just as lush and compatible with skin. And Baird suggests using it for just about…

“IF YOUR HAIR IS SHINY, YOUR SKIN LOOKS GOOD. IF YOUR HAIR IS DULL, IT DOESN’T” You can send a text message by talking to your wrist, you can outsource plenty of boring things to a sassy robot named Alexa and you can even switch on the lights in your house without being in the same postcode. The future, as they say, is now. And your beauty regimen hasn’t been neglected in this technological smartening-up either. Dyson spent almost $100 million on research and development for the Supersonic hairdryer. The goal? To outsmart hair. “Hair has a fantastic memory. Every time you injure it, it records the damage,” says Rodney Sinclair, professor of dermatology at the University of Melbourne. “There are only so many times you can injure it before…

A cocktail of acids that moisturises sounds like fake news, but don’t worry, there’s no hoopla here. Yes, acids are excellent exfoliators and too much can result in dry, flaky skin, but get the combo just right and that exfoliation clears the way for deep hydration in one single step. Look for a formula that contains AHAs and BHAs to improve clarity and rid lingering dead skin cells, plus sodium hyaluronate to moisturise and plump up the skin barrier so hydration is locked in. It’s one step with an excellent rate of return.…

“Estée Lauder’s Double Wear foundation is my favourite because I don’t like to cover my complexion. Technique is important: I never put foundation on the nose. If your nose is bare, people think you have no makeup on. It creates an optical illusion of plumping.” 1. Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 25, $58, ESTÉE LAUDER, esteelauder.com.au “I de-pot every lipstick and put them into little palettes, then I label everything. A good kit is one that is organised. The important thing is to keep it clean. I hate when products look dirty – it drives me crazy. And everything I love ends up being limited edition, so I stockpile my favourites.” 2. Acrylic Stacking Case, $3.95, MUJI, muji.com/au 3. Empty Lip Palette, $14, BEN NYE, scottysmakeup.com.au “Glitter has…

HOW IMPORTANT IS BEAUTY TO FASHION? Beauty and fashion are an extension of one another. You can tell a story with what is on your face as much as through the clothing you’re wearing on your body. WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR THIS COLLECTION ORIGINATE? I wanted to put together a collection that would be a vehicle for colour but also something that felt very special, so I had the idea of calling it Strange Flowers. Of course, flowers are consistent around my work and my idea of femininity. I’m interested in that kind of language of femininity – flowers and the complexity of them, the beauty, the delicacy, the strangeness and sometimes the poison. WHAT ELSE WERE YOU INSPIRED BY FOR THE COLLECTION? When I was a child, my…

DYSON The Dyson Supersonic is unlike any other hairdryer. With its unique V9 digital motor and Air Multiplier technology, it dries your hair quickly while preventing extreme heat damage. The motor has also been moved to the handle, making it easier to manoeuvre and perfect your style. $499; dyson.com.au JEAN PAUL GAULTIER One look at the leggy bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier’s Scandal fragrance and you know it’s going to offer a real kick. It combines notes of fresh honey, gardenia, blood orange and patchouli to create a deliciously creamy scent that’s as pretty as it is powerful. $98 for 30ml; myer.com.au A’KIN Give fragile, winter-ravaged hair some extra love with A’kin’s Moisture Rich Lavender & Anthyllis Leave-In Conditioner. The highly concentrated treatment is enriched with antioxidants, amino acids and…

GEMINI may 22 – jun 21 YOUR ASTROLOGY OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO VALUE YOUR KNACK FOR DIVERSIFICATION – WHICH CAN BE A BIG ADVANTAGE IN THE OFFICE. ALTHOUGH THE ARRIVAL OF ECLIPSE SEASON WILL DEFINITELY SHAKE UP YOUR PRIORITIES, YOUR INHERENT DEXTERITY WILL AFFORD YOU THE ABILITY TO ADJUST SWIFTLY TO ANY MAJOR CHANGES. LATE IN JULY, MERCURY’S STATION RETROGRADE WILL MOTIVATE YOU TO RETHINK THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY YOU’RE SPENDING ON DAY-TO-DAY TASKS IF YOU PLAN TO STRATEGICALLY TACKLE LONG-RANGE CAREER ASPIRATIONS. CANCER jun 22 – jul 23 JUNE BRINGS A NEW SEASON, AND WITH IT COMES A FOCUS ON YOUR DAILY AFFAIRS. THE SUN’S ENTRANCE INTO CANCER ON JUNE 22 WILL MAKE YOU CONSIDER THE CURRENT BALANCE OF GIVE-AND-TAKE IN YOUR LIFE. BUSINESS…

PLUCKED FROM RELATIVE OBSCURITY, Conner Ives had the sort of 2017 that no PR could have engineered. First, there were the custom pieces stylist Jacob K (whose show credits include Balenciaga and Versace) requested to shoot on model Edie Campbell, photographed by British legend Tim Walker for i-D. Then, there were the creations commissioned by one Rihanna Fenty. But the cherry on top was when Adwoa Aboah shunned major design houses to wear Ives’ work to the Met Gala. Oh, and did we mention he’s only 21? His romance with fashion began in his home town of Bedford, New York, a picturesque American suburb. He describes being “bothered with aesthetics and craft” from an early age. “For me, the love of fashion was always there. I inherited a lot of…

THERE ARE THREE RULES FOR BEING A NEW-SEASON MINIMALIST: 1. You don’t necessarily need to be “classic”. Trend-driven pieces can still become elegant wardrobe staples. 2. Make friends with your tailor. Even high-street pieces look a million dollars when they’re custom-fit. 3. White isn’t just a tone, it’s a way of life. Shirts, trousers and accessories in shades of pearl, cream and chalk-white inject a feeling of clean-sheet freshness into any outfit. Just look at the pieces on this page (and read on for more minimalist must-haves).…

TRY: A PERSONAL UNIFORM The brand’s blouses, pants and dresses offer the same super-luxe understatedness and just-right volume. TRY: WENDELBORN Its modern take on the classic suit gives Jil Sander’s covetable tailoring a run for its money. TRY: TOTÈME Think future-classic pieces you’ll wear season after season. E…

THE DAY AFTER MY 21ST BIRTHDAY, MY MUM ANNA DIED. It remains a defining moment of my life. But among the tears and torture that came with saying goodbye to her, something brilliant happened that day: I gained four, totally fabulous new members in my family. “Friends are the sisters I was meant to have” This famous four began as friends. We met during the first week of university and bonded over a mutual love of Missy Elliott and Malibu-and-pineapple mixers. But in that moment of great grief came the need to hold those close even closer, and as an only child from a single parent family, they were there. They held me on that sad day in July, sat next to me dressed like Alaïa heroines in sculptural black…

They say a friend is someone who knows all about you… and still loves you. But science has confirmed that a friend is actually someone who knows all about you because, actually, you’re pretty much the same person. New research by cognitive scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles shows we have more in common with our mates than eerily similar Netflix queues – those similarities go right to the core of us, in fact, to our brain waves. By studying brain scans of friends’ responses to different videos, scientists saw that close friends had incredibly congruent reactions – so much so that eventually, the researchers could tell who the friends were based on the scans alone. Lead researcher Dr Carolyn Parkinson says the results show that friends process…

Winter is the perfect excuse to park the high-shine shimmer and focus on the complexion finish that matters – your natural one. “A translucent second-skin finish is timeless,” says makeup artist Victoria Baron. “There is an effortlessness to simple, hydrated, luminous skin. The Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation gives coverage and evens the complexion while maintaining natural texture and glow.” As illustrated on these pages by actress Phoebe Tonkin – who wears ultra-soft knitwear by Barrie, the century-old Scottish manufacturer that is owned by and supplies cashmere for Chanel – skin looks best when it radiates health from within. Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation SPF 25, $91, Chanel, 1300 242 635…

YOU’D NEVER SABOTAGE a training program with a heavy smoking habit, right? But there’s a surprise offender that could be just as detrimental to your workouts (and health). The everyday cleaning products tucked under your sink can have the same suffocating effects on lung function. A study recently published in the American Journal Of Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine links toxic cleaning products to a greater risk of developing breathing and lung problems. Over 20 years of research proved that, in the long run, consistent exposure to cleaning chemicals is likely to cause significant damage to lungs — equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes a day. Even if you only break out the toilet cleaner once a fortnight, wouldn’t you rather use something that doesn’t require you to hold your breath?…

Luxuriating for hours in the tub used to be the domain of royalty, but these days it’s resonating with particularly woke overachievers, too. Tom Ford, who famously declared he plunged his well-groomed body into a bath four times a day, is now a little busier but still makes time for one – at 4.30am. He enjoys soaking while sipping a chilled espresso (because he likes his baths hot, but his drinks cold). Actress Emma Watson makes time in her hectic Hollywood schedule for at least one bath a day, though she’d prefer two or three. But baths aren’t all about wanton time wasting. Immersing yourself in warm water up to your neck has been shown to lower blood pressure, along with many psychological benefits. Plus, there’s always the option of…

STEP ONE Apply an eye serum like Advanced Génifique Light Pearl for a wide awake look and reveal smoother skin. The sheer lightweight consistency absorbs quickly yet is surprisingly hydrating, plus it cleverly diffuses light to mimic a full night’s sleep. STEP TWO Lightly dab on Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Eye Crème to fight signs of fatigue, fill in fine lines and treat dark circles. The creamy yet light formula sits beautifully under makeup. STEP THREE Want radiance in seven days? This powerhouse serum has earned cult status for good reason. Apply it all over to address everything from fine lines to wrinkles, radiance, clarity and texture. Brightening ingredients make your complexion glow-y, while moisturisers leave skin feeling immediately softer and smoother. NEED CONVINCING? VISIT YOUR NEAREST LANCÔME COUNTER FOR…

FROM INSIDE THE WALLS of stylist and designer Romi Weinberg’s white-on-white home, you could easily forget that there’s a bustling Sydney, and a twinkling harbour, right outside. The crisp colour palette combined with raw, natural elements gives this family home a distinctly Mediterranean flavour – the kind that would not be out of place on the Greek Island of Mykonos. Meanwhile, the giant green palm fronds that fill the window frames as you gaze outside may make you think you’re in sun-soaked California. It’s an international aesthetic that’s influenced by Weinberg’s own wanderlust. “My favourite thing to do when I travel is buy things for my home. I love collecting interesting things from around the globe and I’m almost never back on board [the plane] without something precious covered in…

GEMINI may 22 – jun 21 APPRECIATION FOR A SOUND BODY AND MIND WILL FAN YOUR DESIRE TO ACQUIRE MORE PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS THROUGHOUT JUNE AND JULY. THOUGH A CHANGE IN HABITS MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO MAKE SPACE FOR A BIT OF TRANQUILLITY, OPPORTUNITIES TO TURN YOUR NEST INTO A RESTORATIVE ENVIRONMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PRESENT THEMSELVES IN THE COMING WEEKS. BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THE RIGHT LOCATION IS ONLY PART OF THE PICTURE – IT’S THE CULTIVATION OF YOUR MENTAL LANDSCAPE THAT WILL PROVIDE THE SANCTUARY YOU LONG FOR. CANCER jun 22 – jul 23 SELF-CARE AND EMOTIONAL AWARENESS ARE A MUST AS A NEW YEAR OF YOU BLOSSOMS DURING THESE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. BEFORE YOU CAN SHED THE SKIN OF THE OLD YOU AND STEP INTO A…

TIFFANY BAKKER @TIFFBAKKER The New York-based Australian writer never gets tired of hearing about the creative processes of talented people. This issue, she chats to cover star Emily Ratajkowski about family, feminism and being fearless (see p44 of the Bold volume) On my playlist: Cardi B (I live in the Bronx and she’s a Bronx girl!) and any Aussie sports podcasts. I’m a sports nut, particularly AFL. On my reading list: I’m reading Carrie Fisher’s The Princess Diarist. She’s one of my favourites – no writer makes me laugh the way she and Nora Ephron do. It saddens me to think we won’t get any new material from them. On my to-do list: Trying a Taiwanese restaurant in the East Village called Ho Foods. It only serves beef noodles and…

MIQUELA SOUSA (@LILMIQUELA) INSTAGRAMS much like other people do. She posts selfies – captioned with references to binge-watching Queer Eye 2.0 and videos on @ifyouhigh – photos with friends in pastel-pink brunch settings, and enjoying a slurpie after “Beychella”. In fact, with 1.1 million followers, she’s doing Instagram better than most people. The thing is, she’s not actually a person. Though she looks (and posts) like a regular 19-year-old, if you look closely, you’ll see that super-smooth micro-fringe is digitally rendered, because Miquela is a CGI – a computer-generated influencer. She’s not an anomaly either – take Ronnie Blawko (@blawko22), and the “world’s first digital supermodel” Shudu Gram (@shudu.gram), who shot to fame after Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty account regrammed her wearing one of its lipsticks. British photographer Cameron-James Wilson, who…

IT’S LITTLE WONDER THAT WHEN DIOR’S Maria Grazia Chiuri and makeup artist Peter Philips faux-tattooed tender words by poet André Breton onto models for SS18 couture (one translated to: “In the beginning it is not a matter of understanding, but of loving”), it was a celebrated fashion statement rather than a radical act – around one in four Australian women have been inked (moreso than men), and most of those have more than one tattoo. Female tattoo artists are also on the rise. In 2010, around one in six were female, and while there’s no current hard stats, Kitty Hellessey from Melbourne’s Rites Of Passage tattoo festival (ritesofpassagefestival.com), estimates female artists – both local and international – make up about a quarter of the event. That hasn’t always translated to…

BOLD TONES, TEXTURED FABRICS, EXAGGERATED SILHOUETTES… to be a new-season maximalist takes the courage to start with just one. A colour you wouldn’t ordinarily try but makes your eyes appear brighter. A dress that is impractical for work but is excellent dance-floor garb. An accessory that wouldn’t quite make “classic wardrobe item” status but hits new records for “where did you get that?” queries. Why take the risk? Because it’s fun with a capital F. Still not convinced? Take a look at this Calvin Klein 205W39NYC coloured suit and boot combo – it makes us feel nostalgic and modern and like we’re ready for a good time. And you’ll find more great examples in the pages ahead. OTHER SURPRISING SUIT COLOURS BOLD BLAZERS AND TROUSERS IN COLOURS THAT WILL TAKE…

KELLY O’DWYER & AMANDA RISHWORTH When O’Dwyer was first elected to parliament, she was shocked to meet a doctor who couldn’t apply for a National Health And Medical Research Council grant because she worked part-time (she had a young family). O’Dwyer appealed to the (male) Minister in charge of the council – to no avail. O’Dwyer then crossed the floor to form the Parliamentary Friends of Women in Science, Maths and Engineering with ALP MP Amanda Rishworth. Together, they successfully lobbied the NHMRC to change grant rules for part-time workers. ABBEY D’AGOSTINO & NIKKI HAMBLIN As competitors in the 5,000m race at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Abbey D’Agostino (from the US) and Nikki Hamblin (from NZ) ended up finishing last together – while hugging. During the race, Hamblin accidentally fell,…

REALITY BYTES The closest thing we’ve found to replacing New York magazine’s Sex Lives podcast, which tragically concluded in 2017, this unflinchingly honest one talks sex, relationships and dating in the digital age. TURN ME ON Hosted by a married, polyamorous couple, this podcast encourages an open dialogue about sex, as well as addresses a range of topics from pleasure to sexual assault through listener sent-in questions. KINSEY CONFIDENTIAL Bite-sized and scientifically minded, this podcast sees sexual health researcher Dr Debby Herbenick answer the questions you’ve always wondered about but never had the balls to ask.…

Phrases like heterosexual and homosexual only came into play in the late 19th century, with the term bisexual appearing even later. Around that period, Western society got very fixed on analysis, labels and defining things. It’s when we started to talk about psychiatric conditions and started thinking about what’s “normal”. Before that, we didn’t really have words to describe distinctions between orientations. It was understood that such people existed, but it wasn’t necessarily a thing that someone would be actively discriminated against for (things weren’t rosy for gay people, but that idea of a label has been a cultural shift). But increasingly, heterosexual and homosexual are becoming more flexible as we add in a lot more in-between points on that sexual spectrum. Labels can feel useful for the people who…

CONSENT ISN’T A QUESTION. IT’S A STATE. It isn’t like a light switch that turns on or off. And it’s not like there’s this one thing called “sex” you can consent to anyhow. “Sex” is an evolving series of actions and interactions. You have to have the enthusiastic consent of your partner for all of them. Even if you have your partner’s consent for a particular activity, you have to be prepared for it to change. – JACLYN FRIEDMAN, CO-EDITOR OF YES MEANS YES! THE SOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS does not begin with women torching men for failing to understand their “nonverbal cues”. It is for women to be more verbal. It’s to say, “This is what turns me on.” It’s to say, “I don’t want to do that.” And,…

The brushes-versus-fingers debate has been a longstanding one among makeup artists, but using brushes with skincare was a novelty once reserved strictly for professional treatments. Not anymore. Three new masks come with their own applicator, dialling up the efficaciousness and luxe factor of the already ritualistic moment in your regimen. “Applying your mask with a brush means less mess – you won’t waste product by getting it all over your hands,” says Sydney-based skin therapist Diandra Politano. “Plus the light massage pressure assists with lymphatic drainage.” Kat Burki’s Restorative Dual Acid Peel refines pores and hydrates using a one-two punch of glycolic and hyaluronic acid that glides over skin with a soft bristle brush — an important step to ensure the potent actives are evenly distributed. Glamglow’s new #Glittermask GravityMud…

1. LIP SERVICE The cult buff now has a sweet, addictive cherry scent. If you wear lipstick (especially matte), a lip scrub will quite literally change your life. 2. THE GOOD OIL An all-natural blend that you can slather on solo or squeeze into your standard moisturiser to boost the soothing, reparative benefits. 3. GET THOSE HOLIDAY FEELS If you’re feeling the winter blues, this combo of pear, passion flower and tonka somehow inexplicably adds up to spray-on sunshine. Douse liberally. 4. PERFECT 10 The lazy girl’s answer to self-care Sunday. Potent soothing, hydrating and brightening ingredients help to repent skin sins and get you prepped for Monday makeup in a speedy 10. 5. BRONZE METAL Most eyeshadow palettes have at least one dud shade. This is not most palettes.…

“It blends seamlessly into my skin and looks so impossibly natural; it really does look like my skin but better.”CHERRYKISSES13 When it comes to the all-important matter of foundation, Lancôme is getting real – real about the women who wear it, and the way they want their skin to look and feel. First released in 1997, the brand has made-over its iconic, industry-leading Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation to suit modern women and what we want today. Now available in an impressive 40 shades, it’s never been easier to find your perfect colour match for a velvety, radiant and natural-looking finish, no matter what the season. Or use the extensive range for sophisticated custom contouring that’s sure to make a statement (both on and off social media). And the…

THE NEW COACH FRAGRANCE IS FEMININE, BUT STILL UNEXPECTED. The floral notes are not overpowering or stuffy, and it feels sophisticated in a cool way. I’ve been wearing it every day and it just gets more and more interesting. And peonies are my favourite flowers, so I’m drawn to it because of that, too. I associate so many memories with different fragrances. When a scent is yours, you just know. I SWEAR BY KEVIN MURPHY. I love Staying Alive because it’s lightweight and leaves hair soft and untangled. I can spray it on the roots and it doesn’t make my hair flat. And Bedroom Hair is a great multi-tasker. It’s a good one to have in the travel bag. I ROUTINELY GO FOR FACIALS at my dermatologist’s office and they…

I’VE BECOME A BUTT WOMAN. As with most new obsessions – Korean sheet masks, Mari Andrew illustrations and turmeric lattes – I blame Instagram. There are 21 million posts tagged #girlswholift on the platform, and I reckon I’ve scrolled through at least two million of them. These posts show – mainly – women in their twenties and thirties, heavy barbells atop their shoulders, squatting, dead lifting, hefting the barbell towards the roof. Sometimes they’ll bench press a weight heavier than me. They look majestic. As confident as a Silicon Valley tech bro with an idea for an app that’s “the Uber of libraries” or something like that. As tough as a toddler being sleep-trained. They look like complete bad-asses. They look, in short, like the woman I want to be.…

MIAVANA MADAGASCAR Only accessible by helicopter, Miavana’s 14 luxury villas have private pools and butler service, and the property is surrounded by white sand, crystal blue waters and coral reefs. timeandtideafrica.com/miavana MAHALI MZURI KENYA With only 12 “tents” (these are less like the pop-up variety, and more akin to luxury villas), this Sir Richard Branson-owned Kenyan safari stay is situated on a private reserve. virginlimitededition.com/mahali-mzuri SINGITA SWENI LODGE SOUTH AFRICA Sitting within Kruger National Park (one of Africa’s largest game reserves), and on the banks of the Sweni River, guided safari walks, game drives, spa treatments and stargazing are all on offer at this super-luxe retreat. singita.com/sweni-lodge…

SHAKHTY CAVES Located in the Kurteskei Valley, the cave walls are lined with incredible red pigment drawings that date back around 8,500 years. MEVLANA YAKUB CHARKI MOSQUE This striking turquoise-tiled mosque holds up to 150,000 worshippers and is located in central Dushanbe. GARM CHASHMA These pretty hot springs sit around 2,300 metres above sea level. Locals and tourists dip in the sex-segregated pools and slather themselves with the spring’s healing mud.…

THIS ISSUE OF ELLE IS SPLIT INTO TWO VOLUMES REPRESENTING TWO ASPECTS OF WOMANHOOD TODAY: THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. IT’S FOR THE TIMES YOU WANT TO DO GOOD, BINGE-WATCH THE CROWN, GO FOR A LONG, SLOW WALK, LISTEN TO ADELE, WINTER-PROOF YOUR SKIN AND SHIMMY INTO A SILK SLIP AND PAIR OF BALENCIAGA’S BEJEWELLED SLIPPERS. THIS WAY IN FOR OUR GUIDE TO RESTRAINED CHIC, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD FRIEND IN 2018, EMILY RATAJKOWSKI IN SOME OF THIS SEASON’S MOST GORGEOUS FASHION AND THE WORD “ROMANCE” PRINTED 55 TIMES. Enjoy the issue,…

Christopher Kane’s graduate collection of bandage-tight stretch-lace dresses won the eye of Donatella Versace, who immediately offered him a job. Phoebe Philo began customising her clothes after receiving a sewing machine as a 14th birthday present from her parents and got her big break as first assistant to Stella McCartney at Chloé. After dropping out of New York’s Parsons School Of Design, Alexander Wang launched his eponymous label – a knitwear collection based on six unisex silhouettes – at the age of 21. At age 12, Louis Vuitton’s Nicolas Ghesquière announced he wanted to be a designer, taking up an internship with French designer Agnès B at age 14. Dion Lee debuted at Australian Fashion Week for spring/summer 2010 at age 23 after graduating from Sydney Institute of Technology the…

1. A NOT-TOO-SKINNY BELT To loop through denim, pants and cinch in blouses, brown or black leather belts are at their most useful at a three-finger width. 2. A CINCHED-WAIST SMOCK Take a sack dress in an earthy tone, add a voluminous sleeve or flowing hem, and finish with a statement waist tie. Wear daily. 3. A ROLLNECK Find a texture you love, be it cashmere, cotton or wool, and purchase accordingly. Swap black for a new-season hit of powder-blue, cream or rust. 4. ARTY MINI HEELS Patent leather or military detailing honour the ’90s renaissance, while the ankle height and kitten heel plant them firmly in 2018. Wear with wide-leg trousers and boxy blouses. 5. A NATURAL-COLOURED SUIT Worn together or separately, a trouser suit in sand or stone…

Reading about the slew of sexual-assault allegations that emerged post-#MeToo, novelist Jennifer Weiner had a surprising take. “I realise,” she wrote in The New York Times, “how lucky I am that so much of my sex ed came from Harlequins.” Harlequins – you know, romance novels published by Harlequin Mills & Boon, the ones with half-naked men and swooning women on their covers – taught Weiner as a teenage reader “that sexual pleasure was something women could not just hope for, but insist upon”. “Romance novels,” she declared, “made me a feminist.” Bodice rippers, as romance novels are often nicknamed, are having a renaissance. While the world is figuring out how to move forward from horrific allegations of sexual assault against many powerful men, and how to reconcile the fact…

“FRIEND-JACKING” MAY BE A BUZZ term, but it’s also an old-as-time variety of social snub. The cold, hard facts: at one point in your life, it’s likely you’ve introduced two friends who end up being closer pals with each other than they are with you. Don’t get me wrong, introducing friends who hit it off can be satisfying; it’s nice to be the epicentre of a social gang. But the warm, fuzzy feeling doesn’t always last. Before you know it, it’s Friday night and your iPhone is collecting dust. Your only messages are from Vodafone and your mum. Where are your friends? After unsuccessfully rousing any of them with pseudo-casual texts about grabbing drinks, you get the lonesome bus home. You conclude they must be working late – or they’ve…

THEY’RE UNDERSTATED, CHIC AND CONSIDERED THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, so it’s no wonder we have a long-standing obsession with the Scandinavian lifestyle. First we cottoned on to hygge (the Danish philosophy of creating and embracing comfort and contentment), next came lagom (the Swedish focus on moderation and balance) and now it’s all about sisu – the Finnish attitude of resilience. Modern life focuses on pace: rushing to work, racing through the day’s to-do list and trying to tick all the boxes in record time. Our lifestyle requires tenacity in all facets, and our skin needs resilience to perform at its optimum level, too, especially in winter. “The skin is the largest organ we have,” says Melbourne-based skin therapist Valli Shubere. “I’ve found it’s often very misunderstood and neglected…

chromotherapy COLOURS CAN ELICIT AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE (yes, millennial pink, we’re talking about you), so it’s little wonder that chromotherapy, or colour therapy, is a popular element of professional spa treatments for our crystal-loving, rainbow latte-swilling generation. Ali Taggart from Sydney’s Elevating Health employs the technique in her Crystal Light Bed Therapy ($110 for 60 minutes, elevating-health.com.au). “A crystal light bed sits above a massage table, with each of the crystals aligned to a corresponding chakra,” she explains. “Light pulsates through each of the crystals, set and coloured according to the chakra. Each experience is different – some people feel tingling, butterflies or hot or cold sensations in the sites of injuries. No two sessions are alike, apart from the deep sense of relaxation you experience afterwards.” We’ve tracked down…

ARTY HEEL, THROWBACK COLOURS AND A SLINGBACK: join the It-shoe revival. Take offbeat colour (mustard and forest green), mix it with checks and retro wallpaper prints and you’ve reached the pinnacle of cool in a single heel. Add matching socks and watch the look hit cult status. What to wear them with? Classic cream trousers and tonal stripes are the worthy wardrobe heroes.…

MINDY KALING RIHANNA  The Mindy Project creator and writer uses RiRi’s “Run This Town” to fire up her team. “The guys on my team think she’s just super hot and intimidating. [I] feel inspired by it because everyone is into it.” ANNE HATHAWAY  Rihanna performed when Hathaway hosted Saturday Night Live back in 2013, her third go on the show (which only a dozen other women had done). HELENA BONHAM CARTER  The Les Miserables and Alice Through The Looking Glass co-stars clearly share a penchant for out-of-the-box roles. SANDRA BULLOCK Despite both having nabbed a SAG Award (Bonham Carter for The King’s Speech and Bullock for Crash), both come from a line of talented female role models: Bullock’s mum was famed opera singer Helga Meyer, while Bonham Carter’s grandmother was…

IT’S HARD TO THINK OF A WORD THAT’S MORE SHOCKING THAN CUNT. Rarely said aloud – unless it’s as abuse – it’s a word almost guaranteed to cause discomfort. Even as we were talking about this story at ELLE, some of us still couldn’t say it out loud. But why? What is it about the word that inspires so much queasiness? Understandably, many women aren’t exactly keen on being called a cunt, when the word basically translates to “I hate you so much I can’t think of a more offensive way to insult you.” In an episode of 30 Rock, Liz Lemon goes on the warpath, looking for a colleague who called her a cunt. Tina Fey later revealed the story was inspired by something that had happened to her…

WHATEVER YOUR PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ARE ABOUT EMILY RATAJKOWSKI, you can drop them right now. “No matter what we look like, all women are put into stereotypical boxes really quickly. I’ve definitely experienced that. I mean, most profiles written about me are like, ‘We’re so surprised she’s smart!’” says Ratajkowski, rolling her eyes. “On one hand, I get that it’s natural instinct to have an idea about someone, but also, fuck you.” On a recent chilly morning in New York, the 27-year-old model and actress lobbed in for lunch, pitch-perfect in wide-leg black pants, a camel coat and white tank top, at a favourite neighbourhood restaurant near the Tribeca loft she shares with her new husband, film producer Sebastian Bear-McClard. The couple, who married in a surprise ceremony in February after…

CHALLENGE THE “LIKEABILITY PENALTY” WHEN YOU HEAR A WOMAN BEING CALLED “BOSSY” OR “AGGRESSIVE”, ASK FOR SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF THAT BEHAVIOUR. “REALLY? I HAVEN’T SEEN EMMA BE AGGRESSIVE. WHEN WAS SHE THAT WAY AROUND YOU?” DON’T LET WOMEN UNDERMINE THEMSELVES SPEAK CONFIDENTLY AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. RELATED: BELIEVE YOUR OWN HYPE. (SPOILER ALERT: MEN DO.) AMPLIFY IN THE OBAMA WHITE HOUSE, WOMEN IN SENIOR MEETINGS ADOPTED THE STRATEGY OF “AMPLIFICATION ” – WHEN A WOMAN MADE A POINT, OTHER WOMEN WOULD REPEAT IT AND GIVE THE ORIGINAL SPEAKER CREDIT SO MEN COULDN’T CLAIM THE IDEAS. GIVE A NUDGE WHEN THE H.R. TEAM AT GOOGLE SAW THAT ITS PROMOTIONS PROCESS WAS FAVOURING MEN, A SENIOR EXEC STARTED EMAILING “NUDGE NOTES” TO WOMEN WHEN NEW JOBS WERE POSTED OR…

Google “G spot” and you’ll receive more than 200 million results – most claiming to help you find or master that elusive sweet spot and achieve incredible orgasms, unimaginable pleasure and, in some cases, female ejaculation. But new research out of Melbourne’s Austin Hospital suggests the G spot is a myth – and it’s not the first time experts have claimed this hard-to-find pleasure centre is actually non-existent. There has been debate over its existence ever since talk of the G spot (named after German gynaecologist Ernst Gräfenberg) began in the ’50s. In the recent study, researchers performed anatomic dissections on 13 females, aged 32 to 97, and found “no macroscopic structure other than the urethra and vaginal wall lining in the location of the putative G spot”. Lead researcher…

Writer and philosopher Carrie Jenkins – the host of podcast Labels Of Love and author of What Love Is And What It Could Be – successfully navigates her open relationship on a daily basis. But she says not everyone has mastered the balance, or transparency, often required. “I still find it common for people to tell me they’re in an open relationship but nobody else can find out because of their job/children/family/community, etc. There’s a huge mismatch now between how common open relationships are and how rare it is for an open relationship to be anything other than a secret. This is a vicious cycle: the stigma incentivises secrecy, but the secrecy reinforces the stigma by giving the impression that open relationships are weird, strange, rare things that ‘other’ people…

WELCOME TO THE NEW POWER DRESSING…

Fantastical, glittery lips have long been a catwalk mainstay — which, let’s be honest, was the perfect place for them. A runway show lasts around 10 minutes, and that’s about as long as it takes those twinkling bits of mica to become forever embedded in our jumper, our coat and the upholstery of an unsuspecting Uber. Until recently, glitter was best left in the hands of a backstage pro — but now it’s more user-friendly than ever thanks to Dior’s novel new glittery gloss, Dior Addict Lacquer Plump. “It’s very exciting,” says Dior makeup’s creative and image director Peter Philips, who came up with the product. “We wanted it to have all the benefits of a lip gloss and a lipstick – nurturing, hydrating and long-lasting – with a glitter…

“Lancôme’s Teint Idole Ultra Wear is my go-to foundation because of its texture, long-wearing benefits and the diversity of the range [there are 40 shades]. When I need a full-coverage matte base, I use the foundation on its own. It helps absorb unwanted oil, maintaining a matte long-wear finish from day to night. For a more radiant look, I mix in a few drops of Lancôme Custom Glow Drops to boost luminosity, creating a more natural texture and giving you a second-skin finish.”…

Forget the traditional spray – the latest perfume incarnations are revolutionising the way we get our hit of fragrance. Byredo’s collection of soaps means you don’t have to pick a favourite scent out of its cult buys – just lather up either Bal D’Afrique, Gypsy Water or Mojave Ghost according to your mood and enjoy the subtle scent that infuses on the skin. Fashion designer Jason Wu’s signature fragrance also comes in the form of a rich and nourishing body cream, which melds with the heat of your skin to release the scent throughout the day. Kenzo’s clever new compact brings a whole new meaning to toting your perfume with you – it houses a perfumed jelly that makes applying a treat. Or try a quick spritz of Gucci’s new…

“So happy with this foundation! So smooth and blendable. Smells so beautiful and fresh. It stays matte all day and is completely buildable.” BABYG “I found it very easy to colour match just using the colour chart, when colour matching even in person is usually tricky. The shade I selected was a perfect match and blends seamlessly into my skin.” ANNETTE81 “The Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation was amazing! Although I didn’t think it could, it delivered on its claim to be retouch-free, shine-free and transfer-proof for 24 hours.” RAYHE “I have received so many compliments from wearing this foundation, and I’m amazed how well the colour that I selected actually suits my skin and complexion perfectly.” SERENAAMY “It’s full coverage yet doesn’t look like a mask like many…

Switch up your everyday essentials to give lashes a little TLC French brand ApotCare has a unique approach to skincare: it borrows ophthalmic medicine techniques to create products suitable for the most sensitive skin types. Now it’s charting new territory cosmetics, while also staying true to its health-focused philosophy. The brand’s new liquid liner and mascara are laced with nourishing vitamins to condition lashes and promote growth, all while delivering dark pigment and a sexy, fluttery set without compromise.…

IF THE IDEA OF HEADING TO YOUR GYM’S WEIGHTS ROOM FILLS YOU WITH DREAD, HEED BICKFORD’S ADVICE. “FIRST, REMEMBER THAT NOBODY IS GOING TO DENY OR GIVE YOU PERMISSION. YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO YOURSELF. YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO EXIST IN THAT SPACE. SECOND, HAVE A PLAN BEFORE YOU GO IN THE BUILDING. WRITE DOWN YOUR TRAINING FOR THE DAY, AND KNOW WHAT ORDER YOU WANT TO DO YOUR WORKOUT IN. PURPOSE WILL GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE AND THE DETERMINATION TO PUSH FORWARD EVEN WHEN YOU MIGHT FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE OR INSECURE.”…

CONSIDERING A KEPT MAN I’m in no way a traditional woman. I don’t mind being the breadwinner and go-getter in my marriage. I make a very generous salary and take pleasure in my career. Yet I struggle with feeling that I always “wear the pants”. You see, a man taking care of me also turns me on. My husband is kind, generous, loyal, tender-hearted and quite handsome. But he is also timid and not one to speak up or act quickly. He’s good at what he does, but unlike me, he’s not career-driven. He comes home from work feeling demoralised and burned out, and he lives for the weekends. His financial contribution is such that it doesn’t really affect the quality of our lives. We’ve now moved into our first…

Thanks to the likes of Givenchy and Valentino, belt bags have moved from the waists of sports-luxe sorts to hyper-femme fatales. The beauty of this one, besides its buttery leather/ suede exterior and brushed-gold hardware, is the ability to use the bag sans belt, too. Whether it’s sitting on your hip or cross-body, pair it with the prettiest piece in your wardrobe for clever contrast.…

Consider it street-style’s most unexpected accessories update: pearl earrings, once the property of prim Upper East Side society types, are making a comeback. Thanks to these tastemakers (plus the godmother of cool, former Céline designer Phoebe Philo), they have had a complete rebrand without ditching their twin-set-and-tea roots. A classic round pearl stud is always a wise investment, but a more modern take involves natural drop shapes, oversized pieces and gold detailing. Try them paired with this season’s statement checks (see model-of-the-moment Adwoa Aboah, above), jewel-toned tailoring or a simple trench, à la Scandinavian street-style darling Pernille Teisbaek (above left). Cool girls really do wear pearls.…

Sometimes it occurs to me – during a 2am search for a vintage Dior maillot, or a passive afternoon hunt for the boots that might get me through another winter — that I shouldn’t be doing this alone. Don’t I need a friend in the next stall, the body and life to which I’ll compare mine? Shopping online was common by the time I turned 20 and ubiquitous a few years later, but there was a time when I could map the emotional milestones in my life by what I bought, and where, and who saw me half-naked as I tried on a thousand versions of myself. Clothing was the first way I defined myself in my small town, hoping to signal to the rest of my life that I…

DISTANCE RARELY MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER. I know this because I live in New York, thousands of miles from the friends I grew up with in London – including Cassie, who has been my best friend since the age of three. But I also know this is true because one researcher* recently followed 151 students throughout their first year of college to see how their relationships were affected by distance. The conclusion was clear: “Nearly a third of participants no longer considered their best friend from high school to be their best friend at the end of their first year in college.” But the findings weren’t all completely bleak. Here’s what I’ve learnt about the factors contributing to the success or failure of a long-distance friendship… “When a friend…

YOU KNOW THE SAYING “NO PAIN, NO GAIN”? I’ve always considered that my exercise rule of thumb. I live in New York, where my normal workouts involve being shouted at by a trainer while doing burpees, my heart rate outpacing the BPM of most dance music and copious amounts of sweat dripping off my body. I was a card-carrying member of the HIIT movement, going to spin-class bootcamp twice a week for cardio, then strength training with a personal trainer. This regimen, which meant I slept better at night and could fit into my skinniest jeans, had plenty of intensity. But instead of it feeling cathartic, I would leave each class feeling depleted. Recently, my HIIT training came to an end after I pulled a thigh muscle during a Pilates-hybrid…

Taking the fast-track to chill town in our modern high-tech world sometimes requires you to look back – like, way, way back. Spas around the world are drawing on ancient history to dream up new treatments. At One & Only Palmilla in Mexico’s picturesque Los Cabos (oneandonlypalmilla.com), you can visit the hotel’s resident shaman for the Temazcal Treatment (from $167 each for a group session of 120 minutes). A temazcal is essentially a sweat lodge and this is recreated with heat, steam and medicinal herbs designed to detox the mind and body. If you fancy a cleansing steam without the use of your passport, Victoria’s Maiaveda (maiaveda.com.au) has a plethora of ayurvedic rituals on its extensive treatment list, including the unusual Yoni (meaning, yep, vaginal) Herbal Steam ($110 for 60…

Dark circles and fine lines are the top two complaints women have when it comes to their eyes. And life, these days just tends to exacerbate the situation: staring at screens; rubbing your eyes after back-to-back meetings; 6am beach bootcamps (sun damage, people) … A comprehensive eye-care routine is essential if you want to stop people asking you why you’re tired all the time. Lancôme’s new Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Eye Cream has been designed to protect this delicate area, lessen the effect of dark circles and smooth fine lines to make you look more awake. Highly concentrated in probiotic fractions, it’s being applauded for its ability to reduce the appearance of dark circles in just one month. (In a consumer test, 100% of women said they saw improvements**). The…