Have you heard? The rom com is back! Hallelujah! Netflix has led the charge this year, with two of its most successful original releases ( To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Set It Up) cracking the formula and becoming instant classics of the genre. Meanwhile Book Club, featuring a dream elder stateswomen cast of Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen, was a box office hit and Crazy Rich Asians became the top-grossing rom com of the past 10 years.

This is all excellent news as my writing partner Sarah Breen and I sit down to adapt our book Oh My God, What A Complete Aisling for the big screen. Our Aisling has been described as "the Irish Bridget Jones" and my God those are big shoes (or knickers) to fill. Who among us has not clutched a glass of chardonnay to their bosom while keening along to "All By Myself", inspired by Bridget and her shambolic ways?

Bridget taught us that being a bit of a shambles is quite alright, and we've learned many a lesson from these other rom com queens too...

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We all know that plastic pollution is a global problem requiring drastic action. Last month's BBC One documentary Drowning in Plastic, which explored the environmental damage caused by single-use plastic bags, straws, food packaging, wet wipes and more, was so distressing it brought some viewers to tears.

So it's vitally important that we inform ourselves as much as possible about how we as individuals are contributing to the plastic pollution epidemic. Since the vast majority of us do our food shopping in supermarkets, it's helpful to know how effectively (if at all) these retailers are cracking down on their plastic footprints.

A new report by Greenpeace and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) reveals that UK supermarkets have more than 59 billion pieces of single-use plastic passing through their stores every year – an astonishing and unacceptable figure.

The report also ranks 10 of the UK's leading supermarket chains on their plastic policies using four yardsticks: their commitment to reducing single-use plastic, commitment to eliminating non-recyclable plastics, willingness to influence suppliers to reduce their plastic consumption, and transparency.

Iceland comes out on top with an overall score of 5.7 out of 10. The report states that the frozen food specialist "has shown the most ambition in committing to eliminate own brand single-use plastic packaging".

At the other end of the table, Sainsbury's places 10th with an overall score of just 3.2 out of 10. Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket chain, which has recently started paying some customers to return plastic bottles, places fifth.

Below, check out the full rankings with each chain's score out of 10.

1. Iceland (5.7)

2. Morrison (5.3)

3. Waitrose (4.7)

4. M&S (4.6)

5. Tesco (4.5)

6. Asda (4.3)

7. Co-op (4.2)

8. Aldi (4.1)

9. Lidl (4.1)

10. Sainsbury's (3.2)

The report recommends that supermarkets work towards "a significant increase" in their use of reusable packaging if they're to help consumers cut back on plastic consumption. In general, the report says, retailers currently "have a greater focus on recycling than [plastic] reduction".

Responding to the results, the EIA's Senior Ocean Campaigner Sarah Baulch said: "It is abundantly clear that we cannot simply recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis, and yet this remains the priority area of focus for many major chains. Retailers must pioneer new ways to reduce their plastic footprint across the entire supply chain."

Baulch adds: "Waste from the UK impacts wildlife and communities around the world and it’s high time that supermarkets move beyond incremental change and fundamentally rethink their relationship with single-use plastic packaging."

Though the report definitely features some positive news – for instance, three-quarters of respondents said they support the government's proposed plastic bottle deposit return scheme – it's hard not to feel our supermarkets could be doing more. After all, one Dutch grocery chain has already introduced plastic-free aisles into its stores. The aisle's 700 or so items are stored in glass, metal, cardboard, or biofilm, a plant-based material which can be composted.

How long will it take for a UK supermarket chain to follow suit?

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For many of us, Monopoly is a board game synonymous with childhood holidays. Stuffed full of Christmas lunch, games could drag on for hours, with one family member always seeming to sneak a few notes from the banker on the sly. If this player was you, own it – we won't judge.

But a new version of the game supposedly aimed at millennials doesn't quite conjure the same warm and fuzzy vibes. "Forget real estate," Monopoly for Millennials says on its box, "You can't afford it anyway." Um, thanks?

So instead of challenging us to accumulate property like traditional Monopoly, the millennial edition encourages players to collect as many experiences as possible. These include going to a meditation retreat, crashing on a friend’s sofa and dining at a vegan bistro.

Players can choose to navigate the board not as an iron or top hat, but as a hashtag or crying emoji.

On the back of the box, the game's mascot Rich Uncle Pennybags is shown taking a selfie while holding a takeaway coffee – one of the reasons we can't afford flat deposits, obviously – and listening to music on his earphones.

On Twitter, the response to the game hasn't exactly been enthusiastic.

I swear millennial monopoly is the most condescending game ever created. We’re broke, it’s not our fault, leave us alone smh @Hasbro pic.twitter.com/5vdmRQJOOv

— Morgan (@morganlizzie95) November 14, 2018

so... the boomers ruin the economy for millennials, then mock the resulting hardships they've incurred. remind me which generation is more entitled 🤨. way to go, @Hasbro . https://t.co/WdyNpQfM8n via @theavclub

— Angie Ocasek (@Asarmie6) November 15, 2018

Next, Monopoly for Baby Boomers: where you buy property for below value price, only people of color go to jail, and when you pass “Go” you get to complain about Millennials!!! pic.twitter.com/Nb8vSl79AW

— Jon (@jknit135) November 12, 2018

As a millennial who loved playing Monopoly, I'm disappointed @Hasbro made this garbage. A game that profits off the backs of millennials while simultaneously mocking them? Must have been a Baby Boomer in charge of making it. https://t.co/8I3DGarLGx

— Mike Bowers (@THEMikeBowers) November 13, 2018

A new board game from @Hasbro -- Monopoly for Millennials. What do you think of it? #SocialSip

Here's more info: https://t.co/e6veqOFr1G

I think it's pretty offensive and uses stereotypes to make fun of millennials but I am a millennial so I'm probably too close to the issue. pic.twitter.com/0FIqmEEr4k

— Amanda Peterson (@_AmandaPeterson) November 14, 2018

So Monopoly for Millennials seemed like a good idea, but the more I read about it the more I find it offensive and stereotypical. You can’t buy property in the game because ‘You Can’t Afford it Anyway’ #WakeUp11https://t.co/EmrZPpyEcI

— Juliana Valencia (@NewsJValencia) November 14, 2018

Millennial Monopoly is really just an un-funny joke.

Primarily in that it's just restating things people say about Millennials but attaching it to a board game. It's the definition of a lazy joke.

— Senstaku (@johnabates) November 17, 2018

There’s a new monopoly game for millennials but you don’t buy property you buy experiences (concert tickets, etc) the news even said something about sleeping on a friends couch.. does anyone else find this offensive??

— Erica Ward (Tudor) (@mER1CA_) November 16, 2018

The game is currently for sale in the US from supermarket chain Walmart priced at $19.82 – a figure which looks remarkably like the year in which the first millennials are often said to have been born.

Monopoly's manufacturer Hasbro has defended the new edition in a press statement, telling Fortune: "We created Monopoly for Millennials to provide fans with a lighthearted game that allows Millennials to take a break from real life and laugh at the relatable experiences and labels that can sometimes be placed on them.

"With many of us being Millennials ourselves, we understand the seemingly endless struggles and silly generalisations that young Millennials can face (and we can’t even!). Whether you are a lifestyle vlogger, emoji lover or you make your ‘side hustle’ selling vegan candles, Monopoly for Millennials is for you!"

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Ivanka Trump often finds herself in situations where she's the only woman, or one of few. This is partially because her father's administration is so heavily male (and white), and partially because most government officials still tend to be men. (Although women, especially women of colour, made historic strides during the 2018 US midterms.)

On Wednesday, Ivanka celebrated the passage of the BUILD Act, aimed at investing in developing countries, and once again found herself at a table surrounded by male members of Congress. We spoke with body language expert Patti Wood, author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma, who analysed the part of the conversation where Ivanka talks about how the bill will contribute to global women's empowerment. (See video below.)

"Very few people are really intently listening to her, which is interesting," Wood told Refinery29. "Maybe during a couple of moments, but they're being polite. They're not leaning forward, or aiming their bodies toward her." This might suggest that they don't think she's an expert on the subject, but it could also be a sign of the formality of the situation — Wood said that you could interpret this type of response in more than one way.

"The two men next to her [Sen. Chris Coons from Delaware, a Democrat, and Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Ed Royce, a Republican from California] have their hands folded on their paperwork," Wood continued. "It's a more closed body language posture."

As for Ivanka's behaviour, Wood noted that from a media-coaching point of view, she could be speaking with a lot more confidence, especially given that women's economic empowerment is one of her chief subjects.

"She's making a choice to have hair in her face, which is a feminine, sensual signal, and that's interesting," Wood said. "But hair in your face also means you're not quite fully proud of what you're saying. She could also speak louder and with more confidence, and have memorised what she's saying. Spending time reading takes away some of her strength as a speaker and as a woman."

At an event to mark the passage of the #BUILDAct @Ivankatrump outlined how the new U.S. Development Finance Corporation will be a a key component of a new White House initiative on global women's empowerment. pic.twitter.com/kOGJO7OzC4

— Devex (@devex) November 15, 2018

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We all daydream about quitting our jobs to travel the world. But it wasn't until recently that it morphed into an actual trend, with millennials using hardcore budgeting techniques to achieve the adventures of their dreams. Of course, the rest of us can't help but be envious, which is why when people do manage to pull it off, the story can become newsworthy. Not to mention garner a substantial social media following.

Chanel and Stevo — the couple behind popular travel site and social media brand, How Far From Home  — are one such story. In 2015, they sold their belongings, packed their bags, and headed off on a yearlong adventure. Almost four years later, the pair is still travelling, now professionally. We caught up with the duo to chat about the good times and the bad, what they're doing when the cameras are off, and the most surprising thing about their unconventional lifestyle.

How long have you been travelling professionally?
We left home with four bags (after having sold all our other belongings) on March 2nd 2015, so we’re coming up close to our four year anniversary of leaving (wow!) The initial plan was to take a sabbatical for one year, but after around 9 months we got our first client, and so from there we managed to turn the sabbatical into a lifestyle.

A lot of people probably wish they could quit their lives to pursue a dream, but for many it never becomes reality. How did you decide to take the plunge?
Chanel has always wanted to travel, so it was a dream of hers from the start. Stevo was a little hesitant to just "pack up and go" as it would mean putting his career on hold (not something he was comfortable doing). Then we both attended the Design Indaba conference in Cape Town and watched Stefan Sagmeister (the New York-based, Austrian graphic designer) give a talk about "the power of time off." He explained how he closes his entire agency every seven years to take a year off to reboot, recharge, and get creatively inspired. He made it sound like taking a break would actually be a good thing for the career. So we got back home to Johannesburg and decided to do it. What followed was a year-long planning exercise, looking for ways to travel on a budget (we ended up doing a lot of volunteer work and some dog sitting in our first two years). We also stopped shopping, stopped spending frivolously, and saved every cent we could, selling our cars and furniture and then heading off a year later.

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A post shared by How Far From Home (@howfarfromhome) on Nov 4, 2018 at 3:14am PST

Was there a specific moment or reason you decided to go all in?
I think straight after seeing Stefan’s talk, we were so inspired that we said, "We’re 29 years old, no mortgage yet, no kids yet...what do we have to lose?" We told ourselves that if it didn’t work out for whatever reason, we’d just come home and get our jobs back, or look for new jobs. But we stuck to our extremely strict budget every month in that first year (sometimes sharing meals, sometimes walking for five kilometres because we couldn’t afford a taxi) and we just made it work. We both count ourselves VERY lucky that we managed to document the journey in a unique way (with our photo project on Instagram, counting each kilometre travelled and tracking it by writing the number on a chalkboard) which earned us some recognition in the industry (getting featured by Instagram to their 70 million users at the time) and from there our community grew, interest grew in our journey, and from that we managed to turn ourselves into a travelling agency.

What's changed since you first started How Far From Home?
Wow, a lot. Although we’re still fairly frugal, we’re definitely able to enjoy travel more, now that we have clients. We’re no longer sharing meals. Our style of travel also evolved over the almost-four years. In the first year we were hungry to see it all, and we did it on a really tight budget. We did a lot of volunteer work (working at a husky lodge in Norway, a campsite in Sweden, and a dog training facility in Italy) and we didn’t get to do a lot of the big sites since we couldn’t afford to.

For example, we travelled to Athens, but couldn’t afford the entrance fee for the Acropolis. After getting our first couple of clients, we began traveling with a different purpose — it wasn’t just about counting kilometres and documenting our journey on Instagram. We had work to do (again). We traveled further, worked hard, and our photography improved. Then into year three we were full-blown travelling photographers and filmmakers with clients from all over the world. Now we travel for work — we’ve only really taken two or three "personal" trips this year, where we chose the location and booked ourselves an apartment. The rest has been client work — we go where our clients need us to go, and we’re there shooting 24/7. We still manage to enjoy the travels, although it’s no longer about doing it for fun like it was in the first year — now it’s about improving our craft as a travelling agency and servicing our clients. We’re also evolving with our skills and interest, spending a lot more time on video work and interactive social campaigns like with our Instagram Stories.

Is there somewhere you consider a home base? How often, if ever, do you go back there?
At the moment the closest thing we have to a "base" is Stevo’s aunt’s house in Austria. Luckily she has the space to host us every few months, so in between the client gigs we’ll go back, unpack for a couple weeks, sleep A LOT, eat the amazing Austrian food, edit the work from the previous trip, and plan and book the next trip. Most of our year has been like that.

Is it possible to pick a favourite trip?
Aaaaah one of the toughest questions after having seen SO many amazing places around the world. There’s definitely a few that stand out:

Our first volunteering gig in Norway. We made friends there and they took us up to see the North Cape. We drove from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. (as it was the midnight sun) and ventured out into this barren landscape, with nothing but purple skies and reindeer. It was surreal.

We absolutely loved everything about Japan when we visited there during the cherry blossom season last year. The culture, the food, the nature...everything. We can’t wait to go back there.

Namibia surprised us so much (especially since it borders our home country South Africa...we had to travel so far to realise that this gem was just across the border). For a landscape photographer it really is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Jordan also blew us away with the scenery and hospitality. This has to be our favourite work gig.

Special mention to Banff National Park in Canada, the Dolomite mountains in Italy (where we got engaged last year), and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, as all three were some of the best memories.

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A post shared by How Far From Home (@howfarfromhome) on Sep 7, 2018 at 5:14am PDT

What is one thing that fans would find surprising about your current lifestyle?
That we’re not really where we say we are on social media. We always have to be one or two weeks ahead, as we have to edit our Stories and photos ahead of time, so even though it may seem that we’re in Qatar, for example, we’re already in Austria editing work from Ethiopia.

How long does it typically take to get the perfect shot?
To be honest, we don’t know if we have the perfect shot until we get back to our computers and edit and process everything. When we’re out shooting, we just go crazy — shoot, shoot, shoot, try a different angle, shoot, try a different pose, shoot, sometimes change the outfit, shoot. It’s all a whirlwind and it’s so quick because we have jam-packed days where we’re up from 6 a.m., sometimes 4 or 5 a.m., and then we go the whole day shooting photos, videos, Stories, and then we get back in the evening and dump everything onto a hard drive, then shoot again the next day, sometimes only looking at the content we shot a week later when we’re on the plane or at our next destination. Then we sort and go through it all to see what we got. It’s risky, but since there’s two of us, we always manage to pull something off.

What happens when the cameras are off? What are some of the more difficult moments that we don't see?
If it were up to us, we’d spend all our free time sleeping. I don’t think anyone realises just how exhausting this lifestyle can be — we feel like professional sportsmen. We’re working, sometimes seven days non-stop, then we jump on a red eye flight (which we don’t sleep on — for some reason we both can’t sleep on planes...you’d think we would’ve mastered that after 151 flights, but no). We’re constantly adjusting to climates, time zones, altitudes, cuisines, even water.

Our bodies definitely take a beating with this lifestyle and the only thing that helps is rest, so we try sleep as much as we can (even if we’re in a beautiful new place — we’ll still give ourselves a few days of doing nothing before venturing out). Of course, it also isn’t easy — arriving in a new place means first finding it, learning the public transport system with heavy bags, then trying to find a grocery store to get somewhat settled in, making sure the SIM card works so we can use Google Translate to get what we need, exchanging for the new currency, and then hopefully the apartment we have has a good, clean bed. It’s always a surprise, and every single place is different, so every two weeks or so, we’re going through this. And if we’re on a tight deadline, there’s no time to rest once we eventually get settled — we’re editing and posting content, and pitching to new clients, invoicing old work, booking the next trip....it’s constantly on the go!

Do you spend time apart while travelling?
Nope. It’s 24/7/365. We’ve had two nights apart since departing in March 2015 (when Stevo had a bachelor party). This in itself is also quite stressful, but somehow we’ve made it work...and it’s been the best test of our relationship ahead of our wedding in Feb 2020.

Do you think you'll ever go back to the 9-to-5 life?
We honestly can’t say. There’s days where we’re screaming (maybe even crying) saying, "We need to stop this...let’s just go back and have a routine for sanity’s sake" (normally when we’ve had delayed flights or long-haul flights with no sleep for 36 hours), but then there’s days where it’s just the two of us in the most beautiful national park, and it’s 2 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon and we think, "We could never do this, we’re so lucky." We know for sure that this current lifestyle isn’t sustainable, so we’ll need to stop eventually, but we haven’t quite decided what kind of lifestyle will replace this one. We know we want dogs, and possibly a family in a few years, so we’ll need to settle somewhere, but where, when, and doing what, are still undecided.

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A post shared by How Far From Home (@howfarfromhome) on Dec 31, 2017 at 6:21am PST

How do you plan your trips? When do you find time to plan?
80% of our trips now are for clients, so it’s wherever they need us to go. We have to find time to plan whilst on the go, so while Steve edits a client video, Chanel will be looking at flights. While Chanel is editing images, Steve will be reading hotel reviews to find the best spot.

What is the best part of your current lifestyle? The worst part?
The best: Being able to see so many incredible places around the world, with the most important person in the world.

The worst: Not having our own bed, with a dog waiting for us.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to travel more?
Live with less. Stop buying things you think you need, and save all your money to collect experiences. There’s definitely ways to travel on a budget, and spending all your money on exploring the world is the absolute best gift you can give yourself. Go learn about the world, meet new people, try new foods, and collect those memories.

You can also take our online course or read our ebook if you want help planning a big trip like ours (and need tips for budget travel).

Any recommendations for our readers looking to book a big trip in 2019?
It feels like the travel industry is BOOMING and more and more people are travelling. There are so many more tourists everywhere we go, so our recommendations would be:

Try and take your leave off-season, because the influx of people will be less and you won’t be fighting for a crowd-less photo, or for a good Airbnb.

Don’t go to the most popular spots — visit somewhere you’ve never heard of and be the first (or one of the first) to discover it.

Try go close to home if you can’t afford the long-distance travel. So many of us venture really far when there are amazing places just a few hours away.

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In the words of the inimitable Diana Vreeland: "I’ve never met a leopard print I didn’t like." That says it all really; the goddess of fashion, the queen of camp, knew that there’s something indescribably alluring about a good leopard print.

Few prints manage to be both the stronghold of nans — found on dressing gowns and quilty slippers from Freeport in Fleetwood for four quid, at which Nan would scoff and say, "They’re only three in Morecambe, we’re leaving," dashing your dreams of snagging bargain Rocha by John Rocha from the discount Debenhams — as well as the must-have of the fashionable set, who never really go a season without a good leopard print.

Yes, it has been very much on the trendar (trend radar) in 2018, but think about it; the most stylish people in your life are guaranteed to have something leopard print. In fact, almost everyone in your life has something leopard print. It’s as essential to style happiness as the perfect day heel boot, a brilliant black winter coat, a really stunning dildo.

Why though? One might argue that it’s pretty. But it’s actually not; in its classic form, it’s kind of off-beige and polka dotty, which isn’t a combo that usually denotes pretty. I reckon it’s because there’s something quite sexual about wearing the print of an animal that is so sleek, so stunning, so athletic, such a hunter, while being able to stick proudly to your anti-fur stance. It’s carnal, it’s nature, it’s sex, but cruelty-free.

I’m not saying I want to fuck a leopard but I am saying it’s about animal instinct. And so, because it’s my job as a gay person, and thus someone who understands the sexual codes and the camp countenances of clothes because, I dunno, I was born this way, here is a definitive list of what your leopard print says about you.

Pre-order Tom’s debut book, Diary of a Drag Queen, here.

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"Oh my god! Do you see that? Did she mean to do that? Shit." I sigh, struggling to contain my frustration. This is the third, maybe fourth question I've been asked mid-episode of Killing Eve. I’ve already pretended not to hear my mate’s first few interruptions so, for the sake of our friendship, I take a deep breath, suppress my side eye and put on my least sarcastic tone of voice. "I don’t know. I’m sure if you keep watching, you’ll probably find out."

She seems pacified, for now. I nestle further into the sofa and try to reimmerse myself in the terrifyingly glamorous world of Villanelle. A scene passes, tension mounts and I hold my breath in anticipation of what’s going to happen when Eve and TV’s best-dressed assassin finally come face to face. But of course, that deliciously orchestrated moment is shat on as soon as I hear rustling. She’s gone for the fucking Starburst, hasn’t she?

Now, before you tell me that I’m an awful person with low tolerance levels, or that I need to get off my high horse and let people live, hear me out. I bloody love a snack. There’s no better companion to a late-night TV sesh than a packet of sweets, crisps and dip, and a probably-bad-for-you-but-tastes-delicious fizzy drink. Or wine. And I’m no monster. Of course I encourage the same pleasures in my dear friends. But all affection is thrown out the window if I can hear you chewing. Lip smacking, saliva swashing and unwarranted teeth grinding cut through me on a good day. Ruin my intimate moment as Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh’s trusty mediator and I might just have to cut you out of my life. Lol, but seriously.

Ruin my intimate moment as Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh’s trusty mediator and I might just have to cut you out of my life. Lol, but seriously.

I wasn’t always this way. I have fond memories of sitting around the TV, chatting away with friends and family in my younger (and less agitated) years. But times have changed. I have changed. And I kind of blame Netflix for it.

A whole new world of entertainment was quite literally thrust into our hands and with so much choice and so little time, it’s no surprise that our viewing habits started to shift. With the rise of streaming we’ve seen the downfall of shared time in front of the telly, and more of us (grown-ups included) are retreating to our smart devices to binge-watch solo. If the number of people with their eyes glued to their phones as they attempt to navigate trains, pavements and coffee shops is anything to go by, I’d say we're all pretty into it, too.

Last summer, Ofcom research revealed that 45% of people now watch a programme or film alone every day, while nine in 10 watch alone every week. It also found that at least half of us are watching TV in the bedroom now. All of a sudden, what was once the default way to socialise at home has become one of the most intimate and isolating moments of our days – in bed, barely clothed with a strategically positioned pillow tower and the duvet half on and half off. Dorito dust on your chin, unidentified crumbs on your chest and nothing but the cool blue glow of your laptop screen to light your otherwise pitch-black bedroom. No interruptions and no one to answer to. Dreamy, don’t you think?

What was once the default way to socialise at home has become one of the most intimate and isolating moments of our days – in bed, barely clothed with Dorito dust on your chin

Don't get me wrong, there is a time and place for social television. Great British Bake Off? Please, let's discuss how ridiculous the hazelnut dacquoise technical challenge was. X Factor (back when it was good)? I would love nothing more than to speculate whether Louis Walsh intentionally chose an awful song for that act. But this type of weekly programming that actively invites banter with those around you is dwarfed by the intense (but brilliant) drama genre that has only become more competitive over the years. And by that I mean the type of meaty programme that should be talked about, not over.

Call me a spoilsport, but I want to figure out whodunnit on my own. The mid-scene announcement that "she's telling him something in code, I bet that's how he's gonna die" kind of ruins the catharsis of the big reveal later on. Adjusting to Netflix's method of consumption – on your own and at your pace – has tuned me out of the reality of communal telly. Now, whenever I dip my toe back into the far more sociable waters of prime TV, I can barely sit through it. I love my friends and I adore spending time with them. But when it's time to tune into Clique or The Little Drummer Girl, everyone really needs to leave me TF alone.

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This week, we must slow down in order to speed up. Last Friday, Mercury went retrograde for the third time this year. Have you secured your online accounts? On the bright side, we’re finally feeling those winter aesthetics, thanks to Venus going direct late last week.

Get into an ambitious mood on Sunday morning when the moon moves from Pisces to Aries. On Monday, Mars and Jupiter square, lighting a fire under us and adding to that sense of momentum from the moon. On Tuesday night, the moon enters Taurus, reminding us to pace ourselves.

When Thursday arrives, allow yourself to relax when the moon spends all day void-of-course, not quite in Taurus and not quite in Gemini. Void-of-course moons are a time for stillness — if you try to do anything too grand or ambitious during one of these periods, your efforts may be wasted. Instead, spend this time recharging your emotional batteries. By Thursday night, the moon will move into communicative Gemini. Any ideas that you wanted to share earlier in the week will be better received on Friday and Saturday. You’ll feel inspired to speak on the 22nd when the sun makes his way into Sagittarius. Let your passions guide you!

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Can I subscribe if I use Outlook? Yes. Using the webcal link above, you can add the calendar to Outlook.com or an Outlook desktop client.

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Although the Age of the supermodel may be long gone, it’s still possible for a model to break through (and maybe drop her last name). But she has to be everything: a face, an activist, an actor, a creator. While it seems easier than ever to achieve fame thanks to social media, the offline world of modelling is as competitive as ever; auditions are endless and days are long. And it’s what makes someone like Adesuwa Aighewi stand out.

She’s 26 years old, 5’10”, and though she speaks with an American accent, is of Nigerian, Thai, and American descent. In the modelsphere, she’s the whole package, and has become ubiquitous on runways, editorials, and more. But, ultimately, she’s just like you and me.

Bespoke jumpsuit; Tory Burch Tory Sport Ruffle Sneaker, available at Tory Burch; Vintage jewellery.

Despite a global pedigree, Adesuwa, now stationed in New York City, is American by birth – thanks to her mother’s ingenuity and determination to give her kids every opportunity. For her two sons and Adesuwa, she travelled from Nigeria to Maryland to give birth, guaranteeing all of her children birthright citizenship, and then back to Africa to raise them. When Adesuwa was 13, her older brother died and her family moved back to America for good; it changed the course of her life forever. After skipping a few grades, she enrolled at the University of Maryland to study medicine when she was 16. “I wanted to make sure that my parents didn’t feel so sad he was gone, so I spent years trying to be him. Everything he would do, I would try to do,” she tells Refinery29. Her brother had hopes to become a doctor; Adesuwa stifled her desire to study art and enrolled in chemistry, pre-med. “In the first semester, my teacher called my parents in and said, Hey, I think your daughter is depressed. Because I never talked about my brother dying. We were so close, we were like twins.”

By trying to be her brother and not herself, in a sense, she sunk deeper into depression and, after a brief internship at NASA, she eventually switched gears. “The idea of depression to an African father doesn’t make sense. Mental illness in the black community is like a unicorn; there’s no word for it,” she says. According to Adesuwa, death happens so frequently in Africa that reacting to it is considered indulgent, a first-world privilege. “My dad was just kind of like, get over it. To be like, I’m depressed, I need to go see a doctor or I’m really tired from work so I’m gonna take a day off — that kind of thing doesn’t happen in Africa because everyone is trying to survive.” When she was 19, a junior in college, her friends sent her photos into a modelling agency. Unlike some models, Adesuwa’s ensuing career paced like a slow-burning candle. The photos worked and gained her a few test shoots. Then came what she calls the “weird-stuff-for-free” gigs.

Thom Browne coat; Vintage jewellery & shoes.

“On my first job, they paid me the same amount of money for one day that I was making all summer doing research [on HIV/AIDS and global warming]. So, I thought I should try it out,” she says. Though they’re “tight” now, Adesuwa claims her parents disowned her several times and still don’t understand modelling. “They were like, ‘Okay, you want to be stubborn? Go ahead. But when you’re poor, come back home.’ My mom’s worries were that if I was so poor that I had to become a waiter, I had to come home. To them, modelling was like Playboy.” But, to Adesuwa, modelling was a chance to say goodbye to her brother and hello to herself. “I thought I could take the time to figure out who I was, and who I wanted to be, since my brother passed. And since I didn’t want to be a doctor anymore, it was a cool way to make money and figure myself out.”

Then she nabbed Target and some editorials in independent magazines. But then Chanel and then Vogue. And then the cover of Numéro, the cover of i-D, and the cover of T. Now, you’re better off trying your luck at finding a runway Adesuwa isn’t on than logging all of her show appearances. So, is she famous? Compared to the rest of us, yeah. But Adesuwa knows progress is gradual. And she plans to keep it that way.

“Some girls take off quickly, but they don’t last. Fashion is insane. Nobody outside can understand it until they get in. Imagine you’re in school, you just graduated, and then you’re going on three flights a week, not sleeping. You never have an ‘off’ day. If you feel sad and don’t feel like being bubbly, too bad — there are no days like that. You always have to be on-point,” she says. She notes she’s witnessed more than one mental breakdown on jobs. “It’s not normal what we have to do. Some of these girls are as young as 16; as a kid, you’re treated as an adult and they hold you to the same standards as an adult, so they don’t realise that’s a fucking child they’re putting clothes on. It’s a really bizarre world.”

Thom Browne top and bottom; Vintage jewellery and boots.

She reached her own breaking point while leaving the No. 21 show in Milan last season. A pair of raw leather shoes had peeled the skin off the back of her foot. As she lined up to walk again, this time for the finale with her shoe “overflowing with blood,” she mentally prepared herself to walk with the same amount of aggression — the shoe still digging into her skin. “As soon as we got off the runway, I ripped the shoes off, ran to find my driver outside, put a hoodie over my face, because I was crying and didn’t want anyone to see, and street photographers are chasing me,” she recalls. Adesuwa knew some of the street style photographers personally, so she politely asked them not to take her picture. “They don’t care,” she insists. One woman continued to follow Adesuwa to her car, trying to get the shot she needed. She did — and she published it.

That unfortunate incident aside, Adesuwa refuses to let the pressures of her industry break or compromise her. “I’ve been a bad bitch this whole time. I didn’t change.” she explains.

In addition to modelling, there are a few other things that make Adesuwa tick. She’s on a mission to destigmatise America’s interpretation and views toward Islam (for the record, she’s Buddhist), to promote unity and art and Africa, and she’s got a lot to say about diversity in fashion. All of this means books, film, and more. She’s working on a children’s book about a young Nigerian boy who sets out on a year-long journey through the desert, rivers, and the bustling city of Lagos in search of his family, too. Her directorial film debut Spring In Harlem, focuses on the beauty — not race or religion — of Muslim women. She shot her friends in traditional Islamic garb, including hijabs, walking through the streets of Harlem. The short was released via LOVE and saw Adesuwa steaming hijabs at 5:00 am (“Do you know how goddamn hard it is to steam polyester?”). The experience taught her the technical side of her job, giving her a real appreciation for all that goes into photo and film shoots “Everything I would want on set, I did. I was like, I’ll never be a brat on set ever again because this shit is hard.”

Thom Browne jacket; Louis Vuitton boot.

“I’ve never dreamed in film before, only books and letters,” she says. Fashion crosses hairs with music and film, and Adesuwa plans to take full advantage of her platform. “I remember the first time I was on a set where I met a female director. And I was like, That’s so sick! Like, I could be her. I could have a voice without being judged. Because everything I have a passion for is in Africa. All the woes I experienced in Africa — those things to me seem so tiny compared to all of the problems that I’m aware of. ”

Though she has no problem checking her biracial privilege, and uses film as an outlet for that, Adesuwa sees the flaws in fashion’s current diversity push, too — specifically in designers of colour. “It’s starting to get a bit redundant. There are changes here and there, but I don’t think there are significant changes in terms of the ratio of talk versus action,” she says. “In fashion, yes, there are more black people on the runway these days but I think it’s based on monetary value. People are realising what the black dollar is and its value. That’s why you see Virgil [Abloh] at Louis Vuitton — people are realising that black people make the culture and the culture is what sells.”

“The people who are benefitting from the changes need to put other black people on [their teams] and not just beef with themselves,” she says. ”Virgil should hire more black designers and realise that we’re there because we’re worth it — but take the opportunity to help your fellow brethren shine, too. Because we are the culture — we’re the ones people steal things from.” It’s the kind of criticism Abloh has heard before.

Bespoke shirt.

Adesuwa is one-of-a-kind, and she credits that somewhat to her deepest love: “In Nigeria, we don’t think in a community mindset; we don’t have one thing uniting us, like television where we’re all watching the same shows and wearing the same clothes. There’s none of that. Everybody is an individual.” But Adesuwa does see herself as part of a much larger picture. And while she lives her life in pictures, her mind is in space — dreaming, formulating, drawing a world in which things like fashion, race, politics, and religion don’t collide but coexist.

As she readies herself for a Chanel fitting, she embarks on an unfinished, pragmatic thought about realising her biggest, most ambitious plans: “It’s like, why am I here? What is my purpose? Is it really posing? People say I’m paving the way in fashion. But what is that — ‘paving the way in fashion’? Nobody really cares about what ideas you have unless you have accolades. And the fastest way to get that is through American fame, so here I am.”

Her ultimate end game and destination, she says, is far from the runways of New York, but it’s where, with some hard-earned recognition and money, she wants to continue her work in cinema, art, and humanitarian efforts. “Nigeria is so nostalgic for me because that’s the only place I’ve ever felt is home,” she says, smiling and, one could imagine, envisioning a future beyond mere supermodel-dom.

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As the number of acres ravaged by the wildfires in California increase, even more alarming numbers are on the rise as nearly 1,300 people are missing and at least 79 are confirmed dead.

California’s deadliest wildfire on record, the Camp Fire, has killed at least 76 people and destroyed 9,800 homes and 149,000 acres. The fire is 55% contained as of Saturday evening.

The number of people missing in the Camp Fire grew on Saturday from 1,011 to 1,276. Butte County coroner Kory Honea told CNN that investigators have been working to get a comprehensive list missing people since the fires first erupted on 8th November. He also added it is unclear if any of the names on the list are duplicates.

The Woolsey Fire is 78% contained as of Saturday morning and has killed at least three people, according to CBS. The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management said several communities will have to be "completely rebuilt."

As of Friday, 47,200 of the 52,000 total people evacuated were still displaced, per NBC News. Companies such as Airbnb and several non-profit organisations have been tirelessly coordinating relief efforts for those displaced, and firefighters have been working to contain the fires.

President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction with how the fires have been handled and blamed forest mismanagement for the blazes, visited the state on Saturday. "Hopefully this is going to be the last one of these because it was a really, really bad one," Trump said while standing in a charred mobile home park.

In the last month alone, California firefighters have put out more than 500 fires, reports CNN. Brian K. Rice, the president of California Professional Firefighters, said in a statement, “The president’s message attacking California and threatening to withhold aid to the victims of the cataclysmic fires is ill-informed, ill-timed and demeaning to those who are suffering as well as the men and women on the front lines.”

This story was originally published on November 17, 2018; additional reporting has been added.

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A report last year found that one in four young women in the UK has experienced mental health problems. Meanwhile, high-profile figures including Lady Gaga and Prince Harry are using their platforms to raise awareness of mental health issues on a global level.

We're getting better at talking about mental health, but a lingering stigma remains, especially at work – where our desire to "act professional" at all times can cause us to bottle up problems that could be shared and treated.

So it's definitely time to get behind a new campaign urging the Prime Minister to improve mental health support in the workplace.

An open letter signed by more than 50 business leaders from companies including PwC, Royal Mail and WH Smith calls on Theresa May to amend Health and Safety legislation so that employers are required to provide mental health first aid on exactly the same level as physical first aid.

"Success will ensure employees across the country can access a trained staff member to receive initial support and guidance if they are dealing with a mental health issue at work," the letter states. "Success will ensure every employee has the right to a mentally healthy environment. Success will mean we can finally break the stigma of mental health in the workplace."

The campaign spearheaded by Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA)  is actually calling on the Prime Minister to implement changes she has already promised. Her election manifesto included a pledge to "amend health and safety regulations so that employers provide appropriate first aid training and needs assessment for mental health, as they currently do for risks to physical health".

"The change in legislation we are calling for will establish a baseline for protecting mental health in the workplace, ensuring no one is left behind," MHFA's Chief Operating Officer Fionuala Bonnar said in a statement.

"This is just one part of improving approaches to workplace mental health, but it represents an important step forward. Ensuring that first aid support is there for the millions of people who struggle with their mental health every year will make a big difference to how we all think about our health as a whole."

The open letter points out that there is a sound financial basis – as well as the obvious moral one – for improving mental health support in the workplace. Mental health problems at work cost the UK economy nearly £35 billion last year, the Centre for Mental Health has said.

MHFA is also urging people to sign a petition (which has already been delivered to Downing Street with more than 200,000 signatures) to make it compulsory for companies to have a mental health first aider at work.

The petition's creator Natasha Devon sums up the situation pretty much perfectly when she writes: "By making it easier for people to talk about their mental health at work and by training colleagues on site who know where to point people to get the help, we could dramatically improve the mental well-being of the country."

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Timothée Chalamet, our collective boyfriend, is having an incredible 2018. His new film, Beautiful Boy, may earn him a second Oscar nomination, and he’s even reuniting with Saoirse Ronan and Greta Gerwig for an adaptation of Little Women. It’s safe to say that he’s experiencing peak fame — but surprisingly, his strangest fan encounter occurred before he became a household name. And it involves...feet.

Chalamet stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Friday , where he regaled us all with the unusual tale. It happened when he was starting out as an actor and on the cast of Homeland.

“Someone came up to me on the street,” begins Chalamet, “and says, ‘I really hope there’s some new shots of your feet this season.’” Colbert, as puzzled as the rest of us, asks him, “What were your feet in?” to which Chalamet doesn’t have an answer. His feet were not in anything.

“I don’t know,” he says, acknowledging that “it’s a thing.” “People wanting to see your feet?” asks Colbert, and it becomes obvious that the two are dancing around the unspoken sentiment: this fan was probably a foot fetishist.

Yes, feet are a thing. Still, no matter what sort of sexual kinks people are into, it’s not cool to project that onto people who aren’t consenting, let alone a minor. Chalamet was 16 when this occurred and, ostensibly, not looking to unwittingly turn on this fan with shots of his feet on Homeland.

Chalamet handled this situation with grace and humour, saying “no judgment” to this person’s comment. And fans got the shot they wanted anyway — Chalamet, a lifetime New York Yankees stan, showed off his brand new Yankees kicks. No judgment, indeed.

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After my first job at MTV working as a music programmer, I can't stop trying to matchmake people with music they might like. So, I wrote a book calledRecord Collecting for Girls and started interviewing musicians. The Music Concierge is a column where I share music I'm listening to that you might enjoy, with a little context. Get everything I've recommended this year on Spotify, follow me on Twitter or Facebook, and leave a comment below telling me what you're listening to this week.

Normani & 6LACK "Waves"

"Thank god for the weekend," Normani sings, opening "Waves." The line is accompanied by a beat that sounds like a more raw version of what The Weeknd himself might be drawn to. That raw edge isn't wasted as she uses it to rough up her usually smooth delivery while singing about a shitty relationship. Throw this one on your playlist for that moment when you're in between a peak and a valley in your own relationship, or just on the verge of a breakup.

Karen O & Danger Mouse "Lux Prima"

I am forever fascinated by my queen Karen O, but this track is wayyyyyyyy out there. It's the debut from their collaborative album, coming in 2019. The duo say they wrote it while in search of a place more than a sound and once you hit play that actually makes sense. It's got roots to Pink Floyd's sweeping, dramatic sound to nicely fit any exploration, be it interior or exterior. Take a listen, and add a little wonder to your life.

Lauren Jenkins "Maker's Mark and You"

I normally shy away from country songs that put a brand of booze (or drinking at all) in the title; it's a cliche that not a lot of people have anything worthwhile to add to. But this track from Lauren Jenkins is musically so damn good and, well, pure that I was immediately drawn to it. Her breathy delivery of the word "Maker's," cooed almost in a whisper, is not the typical rumination on alcohol. Way to take something so very, very old and make it new again.

Ayanis "Wait A Minute"

Yes, please draw me in with your vocal callback to the New Jack swing gem "Too Close" by Next and then hit me with a song I cannot get out of my head, Ayanis. This is the template that Diddy built in '95. It's nice to see a woman using it in 2018 and finding a way to make it new and exciting.

Rosie Carney "Zoey"

Be careful: this haunting track may follow you around for days after you press play. Rosie Carney is an Irish singer/songwriter, as her style will make obvious immediately. It's written as an ode to her mother, who stepped into the role of caretaker when her grandmother became ill with dementia. A story that personal can't be told without a lot of love and care. And those etherial harmonies you hear on this track come courtesy of Lisa Hannigan, a fellow Irish woman who spun off a solo career after a time backing up the Irish ballader Damien Rice.

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Whether you're obsessed with fashion or not, your personal style is part of your DNA, and the clothes you wear have the power to alter your mood and confidence. Two Refinery29 staff members, Georgia Murray and Jess Commons, have very identifiable personal styles: Jess dons head-to-toe black every day, while Georgia has a penchant for loud colours and floral dresses.

We challenged them to reconsider their style choices, to trade in minimalism for maximalism and vice versa, dressing each other for five days. Jess would have to wear colour and clashing prints while Georgia would wear nothing but black. How did they get on? Scroll down to see...

On their personal style...

Georgia, fashion and beauty writer: I’ve worn prints and colours for most of my adult life, from floral midi dresses to paintbox-bright outerwear, and retired the all-black look when I moved away from my teenage emo phase (what a time). I adore Gucci’s maximalism under Alessandro Michele, and anything vintage or inspired by the '60s and '70s is right up my street. I’ve always admired people who wear head-to-toe black – there’s something so restrained, sleek and adult about it – but I’m a baby who apparently needs constant visual stimulation, whether it’s prints and postcards all over my bedroom walls or my multicoloured wardrobe. I think my penchant for loud clothing definitely gives me confidence and lifts my mood. I’m nervous about looking like a pallid Victorian child in all-black but excited to see what having a uniform of sorts does to my relationship with clothes.

Jess, health and living editor: This summer, I bought a blue skirt with red polka dots on it. It was very nice – all silky and ruffly and Ganni-esque. Very on trend if I do say so myself. And I wore it a grand total of one time. Why? Because it wasn't black. Save for a few items I've been forced to purchase for weddings, my entire wardrobe is black. Go into my saved items on ASOS and find a sea of black material. Look at the fashion brands I follow on Instagram – black and all black.

I didn't plan to be like this. I don't think I'm doing that thing that Gok Wan tells women who wear all black they're doing – blending in. I don't want to blend in, I just want to wear black all day and pretend I'm Swedish. Or Rizzo from Grease. I was not looking forward to a week of wearing Georgia Murray-approved clothes.

Day One

Georgia wears vintage coat, ASOS dungarees and rollneck. Jess wears Topshop coat and jeans, and ASOS rollneck.

G: First things first, deodorant and black clothes are not friends. I spent 10 minutes with a baby wipe getting that white stain out. Note to self, put antiperspirant on after you get dressed in the morning. I am feeling this outfit, but I would’ve gone for denim dungarees, a Breton top and red lip. I sneakily wore a pearl hair slide to alleviate some of the darkness, but when I arrived at work our editor said it was very much cheating. Damnit. I also feel like a burglar.

J: Things did not start off well – my colourful outfit allocated for today had totally disappeared this morning. It turns out that this was because it was SO un-Jess-like that my boyfriend had assumed it belonged to my friend and moved it to our spare room.

The reaction in the office is a little unnerving. "You look so different!" our editor Gillian shouts at me about three times during the day, and it's true: Every time I catch myself in the mirror, I do a double take – it's amazing how off-kilter you can feel when you don't recognise yourself in the mirror. Especially on a Monday. I don't like this experiment at all.

Day Two

G: I’m into this look as it’s pretty much what I wear (frilled dresses, rollnecks, boots) but in black. I do feel like I’m wearing the same outfit as yesterday though... The joy of wearing different prints and colours is that every day feels like an opportunity to play, but all-black feels like a uniform I’m wearing purely because humans have to wear clothes in public. I like how my hair colour pops against the black though.

Georgia wears Oliver Bonas dress, Grenson boots, and H&M rollneck, all her own. Jess wears Kitri dress and her own boots.

J: Little bit more comfortable in this dress. When I do wear (black) dresses, this is more my style, midi-length and with a cool (I like to think) twist (I love the ties on this one). The compliments on my dress keep me going throughout the day and all I had to do was wear it. Great return for minimal investment.

I host a panel in the evening and although I feel more exposed than I normally would speaking in front of 50 people on account of all the colour, I muddle through and have a mild success. No one laughs at me and calls me a fraud so I guess maybe I don't look that weird?

Day Three

Georgia wears Acne hoodie and Raey dress (courtesy of Matches Fashion). Jess wears House of Holland dress.

G: This is the most un-me outfit ever! Is it quite Jedi-like? I feel like I’m doing fancy dress rather than wearing an outfit. This hoodie is so comfy, though, like wearing my duvet to work, which is a bonus. I went to a breakfast to celebrate Danish brand Stine Goya’s 10th birthday this morning and looked around at everyone’s brightly hued floral dresses with longing. I do, however, feel cooler than I do normally, which is totally me internalising the view I have of sleek monochromatic fashion people. In reality, I am deeply uncool.

J: "Holy shit" my boyfriend says when I put this dress on in the morning. "Let's be honest," his mum (who's staying with us) says. "It's a nice frock, but it's not for going on the Tube." And she's right. This dress has an actual train which, while fabulous, is not London Overground-friendly. I feel very uncomfortable as I walk into the office, like I've got drunk and raided a very rich person's dressing-up box, then gone about my everyday life. But by midday my colleague has pointed out that I'm humming. By our photoshoot mid-afternoon I'm running around the park, frolicking in the leaves with all the exuberance of a sorority girl on her first pumpkin spiced latte of fall. It's highly unlike me. And I reckon it's the dress.

Day Four

Georgia wears Topshop blazer, Rixo neck scarf, Jess's skirt and T-shirt, and her own boots. Jess wears Ninety Percent T-shirt and Acne trousers and jacket (courtesy of Matches Fashion).

G: Okay, I am feeling this! I never, ever wear skirts, but this silky number is super flattering and with a T-shirt layered on top it feels more grungy. I love this velvet tux blazer, and I topped it off with a neck scarf for a little more flair. I had an important brand presentation this morning, so needed to look professional but 'me' enough to feel confident. 10/10 would wear again.

J: I LOVE this suit. I feel like I'm very important indeed. People in the office keep coming up to me and stroking my arm. Which is totally understandable. This is the most luxurious velvet I've ever felt in my entire life. During the morning, I have to give a presentation to a bunch of important people in a room that's hotter than the sun. And I find the suit's one flaw: it's HOT. With regards to the mustard colour though – when the colourful clothing in question is this good, I don't care how bright it is. I'm wearing the hell out of it.

Day Five

Georgia wears Topshop blazer, COS trousers, her own Converse and rollneck. Jess wears her own trainers, Madewell dungarees and Allude top.

G: I look like a vicar. That scene in Friends where Monica and Chandler meet the mother of the child they want to adopt, and she mistakes Monica for a vicar? That's what I look like. Gimme a white collar already. I'm totally over this swap now, I just want to wear my nice floral puff-sleeved dresses, my bright, fluffy Shrimps coat and my leopard print shirts. Sigh.

J: Nah, Georgia's gone too far with this one. I look like an on-duty children's TV presenter. I feel like people expect me to care about things. I feel like I should be really happy and perky and enthusiastic when in reality I'm a little hungover and it's raining outside. I wish I were in black.

The verdict...

G: Look, I understand the attraction of wearing all black. I get it, I do. Simplicity, understated chicness, a don't-give-a-fuck attitude to dressing. But I love clothes. For me, fashion isn't about seasonal trends, it's about opening the dressing-up box and deciding which version of yourself you want to be today. My colourful, frilly, textured, sometimes ridiculous clothes are fun. They lift my mood, they give me confidence, and they allow me to be silly and creative.

How many times have I squealed with delight at an electric blue mock-croc coat? A ruffled '70s prairie dress? Every time! A black rollneck and black silk trousers? Never. This week has taught me (a fashion writer who thinks about fashion all the time) just how much what we wear impacts our self-esteem, confidence and sense of identity. Now, let me at my much-missed wardrobe.

J: After this week, I have realised that I do wear black as a defence mechanism. And it's an incredibly childish one: wearing colour means you look like you've "tried", like you've put thought into your look, which therefore means you "care". Somewhere along the way I fell into the bratty teenager mindset of thinking it's cool not to care, which of course is not true at all. Who's happier? The person dancing like a fool in the middle of the room without a care in the world or the person leaning against the wall, watching in disdain? That's me. I'm the idiot.

Am I suddenly going to start wearing colour? Probably not. For starters, I can't afford me a whole new wardrobe and besides, I've got a style thing going now. I like how I look in black, regardless of the emotional reasons behind it. What I will try and do though is check myself, and remind myself that actually, it is very cool to care indeed.

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A few weeks ago we wrote about women who paid reduced or no rent for alternative living situations. One person who got a lot of attention was Clarissa, 23, who, at the time, lived in a Christian community house in Bristol, paying £475 (all included) a month. You guys were so interested in her living situation that we decided to find out more about how it all worked.

As told to Colette Earley.

I moved into a community house in Bristol in August 2017 and lived there for about a year. There are a number of these houses in the city, overseen by various churches, which is how I discovered community living in the first place – I was part of a small church called Love Bristol.

My house was made up of five people. We were all young but in terms of life experience, it was a real mixed bag. I was 23 when I moved in and the youngest in the house – that is, until one of the couples had a baby! That’s the beauty of communal living. You get to meet all of the different, wonderful people who come and go.

We lived among a network of other houses which were all just a few minutes away from each other. It was really common for residents to move between houses and I often used to visit this massive house in the Hotwells area of Bristol where everyone was in their early 20s. The atmosphere there was amazing. At Christmas, they would host a huge party with dancing and mulled wine, and we all congregated in the largest room to sing carols. The energy in the place was incredible.

The focus of living in a community house is to grow as an individual while building strong, long-lasting connections with others. It is like a family – we supported each other, we explored our faith, we worked as a unit through the ups and downs. People tend to think that living in a house like this would be totally regimented, but the everyday things we’d do were the same as any other normal houseshare. We’d hang out together, watch films and go to the pub. It’s just more intentional, with a big focus on personal development. The only scheduled thing was one house meeting every Monday. It was a priority, but it wasn’t the end of the world if it was missed. The point was to go over general house bits, then spend some time with each other. We’d spend time praying for each other, or reading the bible and having discussions about it.

One of the best things was how much time we spent working with the local community, trying to be a force for good for Bristol. Once a month, we’d make sandwiches to feed the homeless and a nearby house would make soup, then we’d go out into the street and distribute it. We also hosted for Nightstop, a local charity that helps to get young people off the streets. We welcomed lots of people in from different faiths and it was really cool to meet and chat with them all. Regardless of beliefs, community is something everyone can get involved with and feel a part of.

The relationships I built in the house are really special to me. Sam, a few years older than me, was like a big brother. He made me laugh and teased me, but was always there to listen when I needed it. Larissa was the mum of the house and she took me under her wing, and brought me Lemsip in bed when I was poorly. She had two kids and would often invite me to have baby cuddles in her room. She taught me about the things she was passionate about, like feminism, gardening, motherhood, faith. It took a little longer to get to know her husband, Jack. We didn’t tend to hang out one-on-one, but I appreciated his wicked sense of humour.

The house is open to visitors and having friends over is really encouraged. I got to know quite a few of my housemates' friends and vice versa. It was really lovely and very social, although some nights we’d end up with a very crowded dinner table. I could find it difficult having to make conversation over dinner if I was tired or grumpy though.

I’ve been with my boyfriend, Eden, for six months. He spent a lot of time in the house with me when I lived there, which everyone was totally fine with. We never slept in the same room – we’ve decided to wait to have sex and if you’re trying not to sleep together, why make it harder for yourself? I know it sounds old fashioned, but it’s something I’ve given a lot of thought to and I believe we shouldn’t blindly accept the beliefs we’re brought up with, but I’ve made this decision and I believe it to be the best for me. On the topic of sex, obviously the Christian teaching is to wait until you’re married – but it wasn't a taboo topic for us to discuss. As a house, we always had very open and honest conversations. The community is nonjudgmental.

Emotionally, the house was really good for me. Naturally, I’m a bit of an introvert and when I first moved in I suffered from anxiety. My house leader, Claire, was really wonderful, keeping an eye on me and supporting me wherever possible. Community living also helped me to be more self-aware and have more control over my emotions. I learned that my mood can make or break a room and have a knock-on effect on those around me – and that’s been an invaluable lesson.

I made the decision to move out to my own place in Bath recently, mainly for a change, less commitment and more independence. Moving out has been a big adjustment. I’m used to it now, but for the first few weeks, I was very homesick. I have really fond memories of my year in my community house – it’s a very fun way to live and I’m so pleased I tried it. I feel like I really grew up, both in character and maturity, and most of all, I was never, ever lonely.

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If you have excessively oily skin, chances are you've tried everything to combat it: acids, mattifying primers, oil-free foundation – the list goes on. One oily skin 'tip' that is currently doing the rounds in the skincare sphere has proven to be a concern to dermatologists, though...

In a bid to stop the daily oil slick, you might have come across information that suggests your overly oily complexion could be a result of dehydration. Dehydrated skin lacks water or moisture (resulting in tightness, fine lines and dullness to name a few symptoms), and some experts argue that this kickstarts our skin into producing more oil to compensate. Cue a number of people shelling out on expensive facial oils and occlusive moisturisers to counteract the shine, only to find their skin is getting oilier or breaking out. So what's the truth?

"Oil production and skin hydration are two separate things," dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth told R29 when we asked whether dehydrated skin really produces more oil to make up for a lack of moisture. "It’s a myth and it's something we dermatologists see all the time. Often, people come into clinic and I ask them to run through their skincare routine and they tell me they’ve been using oils to hydrate, even though they’ve got really oily skin and spots. It is really interesting."

What causes oily skin, then? "It’s all about the settings on your sebaceous glands and everyone is different," continued Dr Wedgeworth, something consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto expands on: "Much of it is genetically controlled. We 'inherit' the size of our sebaceous (oil) glands but other risk factors for oily skin include exposure to humid climates, ethnicity and conditions with elevated androgen (male) hormones such as PCOS." Dr Mahto continued: "People are referring to two different things here. Dehydration is a lack of water in the skin (or increased water loss through the skin barrier), which can occur due to using harsh skincare products and air conditioning, for example. But there isn’t any evidence that oily skin is due to dehydration or lack of water, which is what dehydration really means."

So there we have it – there isn't really a link at all. Instead of plying your already oily skin with facial oils and heavy creams, here's how to minimise oil production effectively.

Retinoids

Research has found that topical retinoids (vitamin A) visibly reduce pore size. Larger pores have a tendency to produce larger amounts of oil. Try REN's Bio-Retinoid, £45, or Clinique's new Fresh Pressed 0.3% Retinol Booster, £30, which comes with vitamin C.

Niacinamide

Otherwise known as vitamin B3, niacinamide regulates oil production, according to Dr Mahto, which means it also minimises congestion in the skin, which can lead to breakouts. Kirsti Shuba, skin pro and founder of Katherine Daniels, also rates niacinamide for its ability to improve the skin's barrier, which reduces water loss and therefore prevents dehydration. Dr Mahto recommends a minimum strength of 2% in topical products.

Salicylic acid

If your skin is super oily, you might experience pesky blackheads, but topical salicylic acid exfoliates the surface and penetrates pores to dislodge the paste-like mixture of oil and dead skin cells that can cause them. If you're using any kind of acid, always apply sun protection during the day, as they tend to increase skin sensitivity.

Oral drugs

Dr Mahto explains that isotretinoin (aka Roaccutane), spironolactone (a female-only, off-label pill) and the combined pill are all oil-reducing options if topical products aren't working for you. You should discuss them with your GP or a qualified dermatologist.

...and remember to moisturise

Just because your skin is producing extra oil, doesn't mean it's lacking in water. In other words, don't forgo the moisturiser entirely. Instead, swap clogging creams for light, oil-free products (the same goes for foundation) that combine the above topical ingredients. Dermatologists rate Medik8's Balance Moisturiser, £45, and La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Duo+, £11.62, for hydrating skin without contributing to shine.

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Dear Parcel,

How are you? Where are you, I should say. I hope you don’t think I’m being melodramatic, writing this. But I thought it might help me work through some stuff, you know? The feelings. All the yearning, all the feverish anticipation and building tension between us. All those confusing mixed messages you’ve been sending. All the times I’ve been unavailable, because I’ll admit I have. Too caught up at work, or in the shower, or asleep. I’m sorry, really I am.

But I still want you. Or rather… your dress, I want your dress. It’s what’s inside that counts, and what’s inside you is a dress that I think might make me look like early '90s Michelle Pfeiffer. Maybe. On a good day. In dim light.

Oh Parcel. Despite the agony, I know in many ways this is the best bit, because you haven’t been able to disappoint me yet. We’re suspended, you and I, in a kind of magical feedback loop of hope and delayed gratification. The longer I wait for you, the more vivid and grandiose my fantasies become. I dream of the two of us, out together, being admired by everyone who sees us. You, altering my life for the better in a thousand small ways. Helping me be the woman I’ve always wanted to be. Together, in my head, we will be an unstoppable team. Once I have you, I tell myself, I probably won’t need anything else.

The moment I got your message I dropped everything – quite literally, halfway to the till in Tesco Metro – and I ran, like a fool, hoping you’d still be there. Waiting for me, just like you promised. But no. Like the fabled ships passing in the night, I’ve missed you again. And on the doormat, a wretched note with four words that break my heart.

"Sorry you were out."

Sorry doesn’t cut it, mate. What about my hopes and dreams? What about that dinner thing I wanted to wear this dress to tomorrow? What about the fact I clearly ticked the box for signature release and accepted all responsibility for you being left in a hedge? WHAT ABOUT ME?

Look I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be so emotional. I shouldn’t have let myself get carried away; it’s just that I thought you were special. I really believed that you might be… The One.

I know! So naïve! It’s just your photos looked so good online, and there was an offer for free P&P, and I got a discount code that actually worked after typing '[POSH SHOP] DISCOUNT CODE' into Google, which never happens. Or maybe it does to other girls, but not to me. I guess I just told myself it was meant to be.

This is going to sound really needy, Parcel, but what the hell – I’ve already told all my friends about you. I’ve bought new underwear for you. That’s how sure I was. But now all I have is a council tax bill, a fistful of pizza delivery leaflets and this stupid bit of card, taunting me. My neighbours are probably laughing about it behind closed doors. "There goes Lauren again! Poor thing just can’t seem to hold down a parcel."

At times like this, I can’t help thinking about... Dave. Things were never like this with DPD Dave. He always texted – sometimes a little too much if I’m honest ("It’s been despatched! It’s on its way! You’re delivery no.32 out of 457!") but at least I knew where I stood. Which was not, by the way, in the hall with my coat on for an hour, waiting to leap out like a Dobermann and yell "STOP WAIT I'M HERE, GIMMEE!" before you go and stand me up. Again.

I’m just going to say it. I think you have a problem with commitment. Or maybe doorbells, I dunno. Either way, I went through all this with Yolanda from Yodel and Hermes Harry, and frankly I respect myself too much to go there again. I don’t need you, okay? I know the shouty note I taped to the letterbox asking you to PLEASE WAIT IN THE PORCH OR GO TO LINDSAY AT NO. 47 might tell a different story, but I honestly don’t. And, fine, sending five @ tweets to your customer service account with a row of cry-face emoji might not exactly be playing it cool, but I’d had some wine and I just wanted to feel like someone was listening, y’know? I regret nothing. Not even the quick and dirty Boohoo I ordered at 1am and hid under the bed so my flatmate didn’t judge me. Just to take the edge off.

Let’s be real for a second; there is a big difference between a parcel I will put on trousers to open the door for, and a parcel I will go to the north London Royal Mail delivery depot for. Do you know what that entails, mate? I’m not sure you do. It’s on an industrial estate. It’s in the middle of nowhere, down a road so long that by the time you get to it, grumpy and dehydrated, you wonder if you might have walked to Buckinghamshire. Last time I went to the north London Royal Mail delivery depot, I needed the loo so badly by the time I got there that they let me use their staff toilet and then have a little rest for 10 minutes in the warehouse. That Parcel wasn’t worth it (return code 6, doesn’t suit me) and I’m beginning to think you won’t be worth it either.

You think I’m going to go to the depot for you? You’re that arrogant? You think that just because I’ve dreamed up a whole life for us together, I’m prepared to chase you all over town like you’re the effing Golden Snitch of the online shopping world? Because if you do, you’ve got another thi-

omg. Was that? Doorbell!

It’s HERE! You’re here! It’s you! I take it ALL BACK! I knew you wouldn’t let me down, Parcel. You’re finally in my arms and I’m never letting you go. You’re beautiful! You’re everything I hoped you’d be!

You’re… you’re… oh. You’re a bit weird on the hips, actually.

Back in the bag you go. It was fun while it lasted.

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One of our all-time favourites for affordable trend-led pieces, Zara is launching a capsule collection just in time for a winter wardrobe refresh. Available from 15th November, Zara SRPLS embraces a utilitarian aesthetic, championing rebellion and counterculture.

For SRPLS, resistance translates to oversized, loose-fitting designs in a military palette of khaki, black, grey and white. The aesthetic is on par with the utility trend we saw on the SS19 catwalks; think Givenchy's loose military suiting, Fendi's khaki palette and the boiler suits spotted at Alexachung and Acne.

So how are we styling the collection? We'll be layering the blueish-grey silk shirt dress with tights and knee-high boots; pairing animal print trousers from the menswear edit with a French tucked jumper and fresh trainers; and throwing the classic black peacoat over just about everything the winter weather demands.

But what we’re most excited for is the collection's inclusive sizing, which runs from XXS to XXL for both women and men. Currently, Zara lacks dedicated curve and petite ranges, with most womenswear available from XS to XL. So by extending sizes for SRPLS, we're hoping this is the brand's move towards greater inclusivity. Click through to see the best pieces from the new collection.

The 50-piece collection is available exclusively at Zara.com, with prices ranging from £19.99 to £400.

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In September, Hedi Slimane presented his first offering as Celine's new artistic, creative, and image director to mixed reviews. Not content with dominating the conversation in womenswear, the designer now has his eye on menswear. WWD is reporting the French fashion house will show during Men's Fashion Week Paris this January. Slimane (formerly of Dior Homme and YSL) showed a few select menswear items during his debut show during Paris Fashion Week, alongside the women's collection of leather jackets, skinny jeans, and sequins.

An exact date for the show hasn't been announced yet, but a spokesperson tells WWD that the brand is in talks with the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode to lock in a time and place. There is also some speculation Slimane will present a few women's pieces, too. If this move is approved, Celine will join the likes of Givenchy, Balenciaga, Gucci, Maison Margiela, and Stella McCartney, who each have co-ed shows on the calendar. WWD noted that LVMH (Celine's parent company) is making a major push into the menswear market. Along with Celine, there is more of a focus on men's clothing at Givenchy, and new designers at the helm of Louis Vuitton and Dior.

While Slimane's first Celine collection felt more like a crash landing than a new chapter in the brand's celebrated story, come January, we're hoping for more of distinct voice that adds something new, rather than a poor attempt at repeating history.

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There are two very different types of cold weather. The first is the type where you're forced to dress practically, but you can still get away with showing a bare ankle or be decently comfortable in a V-neck sweater, sans scarf. Those are the brisk-but-sunny days when you can embrace the chill and still look cute in the process. But later in the season, we experience a type of cold that doesn't screw around. Every inch of skin needs to be covered to protect ourselves from that subzero windchill and it hardly matters what's under your puffer, because no one is going to see it.

Those are the moments you'll need to pull out the big guns, but it doesn't mean you have to dread getting dressed. One of the most practical places to start is with your winter boots. The modern day snow boot is both warm and versatile and can still look chic. We've rounded up a few options that check both boxes. Ahead, find a ton of protective footwear that will protect your street style cred, too.

At Refinery29 UK, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 UK may earn commission.

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