Actress, writer and wonder woman Rosie Day tells us about the book she has recently written and curated launching on the 14th of October. Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon features 30+ essays from women on tons of great topics like consent, racism boundaries, periods, peer pressure, self-doubt and more.
First off, how are you and how is your 2021 going?
I think like most people it’s had its ups and downs. It’s lovely getting back to work and seeing friends – but part of me is a real homebody, so not so secretly, I did enjoy a bit of lockdown on my sofa under a duvet!
Can you tell us about your career so far, and what inspired you to write and curate Instructions For A Teenage Armageddon?
I’m an actor and writer by trade, but always play teenage girls, so spend a lot of time in their headspace – as weird as that sounds! I’m an ambassador for an amazing teenage mental health charity called Stem4, so I see first-hand the difficulties young girls are going through. 1 in 4 teenage girls in the UK and US self-harm, and have low self-esteem, this statistic really shocked me and was the catalyst to try and write something that might help young girls feel empowered.
Can you talk us through some of the topics in the book?
I wanted the topics to cover all aspects of being a young woman, an all-encompassing guide – so topics include everything from consent, boundaries, mental health, skincare, style, stress, friendships, peer pressure, periods, activism, and more. It also has sections that include active tips to help young women, and kick-ass profiles of women that everyone should know about.
What was the process like for selecting the women who penned the letters for the book?
I’m lucky that a couple of the wonderful women are friends or people I’ve worked with before, who I called upon first and said ‘what do you think about this idea I’m doing, tell me if this is silly and a pipe dream’ to which no one said it was thankfully! Then everyone else were women who I really look up to. Be it through their work, their activism, and just being a generally brilliant woman. We wanted it to be as inclusive as possible, and we also have some real experts in their fields dispensing advice.
Why do you think it’s so important that young women understand their worth earlier on in life?
Because it feeds into everything you do as you grow. Every choice and decision you make. You don’t even realise it, but your worth and how you feel about yourself dictates everything in life. I have really low self-esteem and looking back, there are situations where I should have asked for more but felt I didn’t deserve it. Or stood up for myself but was too scared to. We need our girls from a young age feeling empowered and like they can do anything.
What do you hope are the main takeaways after reading the book?
I hope that readers feel that they’re going to be okay. That they’re going to get through whatever they may be going through and whatever life throws at them. That they have the power to do whatever they want in life, and can achieve anything.
How will you be advocating and celebrating International Day of the Girl on Monday 11th October?
By launching the Teenage Armageddon website and Instagram (@teenagearmageddon)! We have lots of amazing empowering content, advice and stories of incredible girls to share. And we want to shout as loudly as we can about how brilliant girls are.
How do you juggle each aspect of your career, and decide when you should be writing/performing/acting?
I probably should buy a diary – I often forget what I’m meant to be doing! But usually, everything fits around my acting commitments and writing really feeds into acting I’ve found. It’s all story-telling of some sort. I think if you do multiple things it’s important to give each of them enough energy and time. But usually, other people tell me what, where and when – it’s a bit like being a permanent child!
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently shooting a movie which is a musical biopic, playing a very iconic entertainer – I can’t say who it is just yet!
What does your perfect weekend look like?
Now that I’m older, I love an overnight stay away. My favourite I’ve done was Lucknam Park near Bath. So probably a trip there, with afternoon tea and then a swim in the spa and a lovely quiet dinner. Alternatively, a trip to Paris – Paris is always a good idea!
What do you always carry with you?
I sadly don’t even own a handbag. So the obvious answer is my phone. And worry. I wish I didn’t but I worry about everything.
What would your last ever meal be?
All. The . Pasta. Probably Spaghetti Bolognese and garlic bread. I want to personally thank whoever invented garlic bread. Especially with cheese. And then Ben & Jerry’s phish food!
What is one positive piece of advice you could give to our audience?
What is for you, won’t go by you. Your journey is your own, and you have to try and enjoy it. Otherwise, what’s the point in life if not to have fun?
Everything We’re Reading for Book Club October to December
When it’s dark at 4pm and once again, you find yourself trying to tolerate eggnog, that’s your cue to embrace the joy of missing out, fire up the Kindle and demonstrate just how unbelievably good you are at doing nothing.
Cancelling social plans for winter? Groundbreaking.
When it’s dark at 4pm and once again, you find yourself trying to tolerate eggnog, that’s your cue to embrace the joy of missing out, fire up the Kindle and demonstrate just how unbelievably good you are at doing nothing.
There’s a bunch of iconic protagonists defrosting as we speak, so add these books to your basket asap and tell your pals that if it’s not pjs, mulled wine and tear-jerking acknowledgements, you don’t want it. With a reading list like this, how could they possibly be mad?
First up, Paula Hawkins is back to make October a spooktacular affair with her brand new thriller, A Slow Fire Burning, then there’s a feel-good festive romance from Mandy Baggot to get you in the Christmas spirit and for December, we’ve got the second instalment of The Magpie Society series to keep you entertained during those lazy hazy Betwixtmas days.
See what we mean? It’s the trio of jomo dreams. If you need any further persuasion to read along with us, keep scrolling for the juicy blurbs.
October – A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
After four years since her last novel, the author behind the global phenomenon The Girl on the Train is back with her highly anticipated new thriller. A Slow Fire Burning explores the way no tragedy happens in isolation. Expect a dark plot, intensely believable, human characters and explosive gasp out loud twists.
‘What is wrong with you?’
Laura has spent most of her life being judged. She’s seen as hot-tempered, troubled, a loner. Some even call her dangerous.
Miriam knows that just because Laura is witnessed leaving the scene of a horrific murder with blood on her clothes, that doesn’t mean she’s a killer. Bitter experience has taught her how easy it is to get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Carla is reeling from the brutal murder of her nephew. She trusts no one: good people are capable of terrible deeds. But how far will she go to find peace?
Innocent or guilty, everyone is damaged. Some are damaged enough to kill.
Look what you started.
November – One New York Christmas by Mandy Baggot
All we want for Christmas is a reading marathon, punctuated with a box of mince pies. Enter Mandy Baggot’s love letter to New York, a cosy romance guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit and have you feeling like you’ve seen the city sights with your very own eyes. Yep, the descriptions of The Big Apple are that good.
Will this Christmas romance be just for the holidays?
Lara Weeks is heading to New York with best friend Susie for the Christmas trip of a lifetime.
A festive break in the snowy Big Apple visiting the tourist hotspots, not to mention the shopping, seems like the perfect way for Lara to get over her ex-boyfriend. Or maybe make him so jealous he begs for a second chance.
Enlisting the help of gorgeous actor, Seth Hunt, doesn’t quite go to plan, but there’s something about him that has Lara wishing for a different kind of happy ever after…
December – The Magpie Society: Two for Joy by Zoe Sugg and Amy McCulloch
After one hell of a cliff-hanger in One For Sorrow, the chilling conclusion to the number one bestselling series The Magpie Society is finally here.
A deadly disappearance A race against time And, at the eleventh hour . . . A shocking revelation
Audrey and Ivy, determined to bring their fellow student Lola Radcliffe’s killer to justice, find themselves in the middle of another mystery when a friend disappears in suspicious circumstances.
Their only clue is a mysterious card left by the enigmatic Magpie Society. With time running out and the police baffled, Audrey and Ivy must delve deeper than ever into the dark secrets that their school is hiding.
But someone is playing a deadly game. And to beat them, Audrey and Ivy have to start rewriting the rules…
Every Cute Piece of Loungewear You Need to Binge Netflix in This Autumn
From Future Self to Skims, H&M to Reiss, there's something for neutral, colourful, cosy and breathable loungewear lovers alike, and all there's really left to say is SORRY to your bank balance ...
Sigh- summer is fin, our socialising battery is running seriously low, and as the weather cools, the desire to stay home with a takeaway and Strictly Come Dancing on a Saturday night increases, and we’re kinda not mad about it. Our past lockdown tired selves are quite possibly screaming into the void right now, but turns out getting dressed up every day isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and we’re heading into the new season ready to practice balance, compassion and self-care in giving our bodies what they really need.
Netflix is evidently on the same page, as our ‘to watch’ list is looking seriously juicy lately, and with that comes the need for mood lighting, the perfect snack selection and of course, the comfiest of loungewear for the ultimate relaxation experience. Whilst our collection of elasticated waistband garms increased tenfold in 2020, there’s no harm in giving a little update to these well worn and trusty pieces, and the gems of the high street and our fave online shopping destinations have not disappointed.
From Future Self to Skims, H&M to Reiss, there’s something for neutral, colourful, cosy and breathable loungewear lovers alike, and all there’s really left to say is SORRY to your bank balance …
Zoella Book Club September 2021: Reviewing Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Keep reading to see how the team rated the latest masterpiece from one of the greatest contemporary novelists of our time.
Bookworms everywhere be buzzing because Sally Rooney is back with a truly readable bang.
It’s Rooney’s first outing since she became a global literary phenomenon with Normal People (the greatest love story of all time IMO) and Conversations with Friends, and she’ll be excused for keeping us hanging because her latest work is just as chef’s kiss as her last best-selling tomes.
In the most anticipated new release of 2021, Beautiful World, Where Are You explores the lives of four friends in Dublin.
Alice, a novelist, meets Felix, who works in a distribution warehouse, and asks him if he’d like to travel to Rome with her. In Dublin, her best friend Eileen is getting over a break-up, and slips back into flirting with Simon, a man she has known since childhood.
Alice, Felix, Eileen and Simon are still young—but life is catching up with them. They desire each other, they delude each other, they get together, they break apart. They have sex, they worry about sex, they worry about their friendships and the world they live in. Are they standing in the last lighted room before the darkness, bearing witness to something? Will they find a way to believe in a beautiful world?
Keep reading to see how the team rated the latest masterpiece from one of the greatest contemporary novelists of our time.
Danielle
I was a huge lover of the Normal People TV series (who wasn’t though) but I actually hadn’t read any of Sally Rooney’s work up until now. I always heard interesting reviews, people would say she’s a different kind of author, stating facts, sometimes a bit removed from the story, so I was intrigued to see what that meant and why she was so popular.
I chose to listen to BWWAY on audible which was lovely as you get the beautiful soft Irish accent blessing your ears! It’s narrated by Aoife McMahon who does a wonderful job at separating the voices for each of the four main characters, it really helped me visualise and understand the plot. For the first couple of chapters, I couldn’t stop picturing Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal as every bloody character but it didn’t take long for new faces to form and have me falling in love with each of them in different ways.
The way Sally writes descriptions is so interesting, they’re made up of lots of short factual statements without much metaphor but somehow they very quickly fill your mind with a specific picture. It’s such a simple technique you almost start thinking you could write a book yourself, but that’s the beauty of genius: making something very difficult look easy! Sally Rooney is the absolute master of dialogue, and I could listen to her characters have conversations all day long, even when I’m chomping at the bit for them to tell each other how they really feel – which is something that comes up quite a lot in BWWAY.
The plot is more of a snapshot into 4 people’s lives, rather than a story with a beginning middle and end, which I believe is common in Sally’s work and it’s absolutely fine by me, I ended the book feeling privileged to have been able to peek into their lives, and wish them all the best for the future, however fictional that is!
Rating out of 5: 5/5
Would you recommend? Absolutely, it’s another HIT
Lareese
“What’s it like, is it good?!” a woman bellowed over to me and my glass of wine as I sat immersed in the world of Sally Rooney’s brain at 4pm on a Friday afternoon. “I can’t put it down. I mean, it’s Sally Rooney!”
I then walked round the corner to see the familiar bright blue cover spread in the eager palms of another. It’s a fact, Rooney is the very best kind of millennial catnip. Maybe it’s because we know that whatever story she commits to the page, it’s guaranteed to get us ruminating about life in a way we can’t run away from.
No one does it like Rooney and BWWAY is further evidence of that. In what is perhaps her most philosophical and brooding novel yet, it asks pertinent questions, both big and small about what it means to be a mere visitor on planet earth. Small in scope, the story follows four characters as they muddle their way through their late 20s/early 30s looking for the beauty in a rather hopeless world but realising that whatever horrors unfold, be it the climate crisis or capitalism, love, sex and relationships are forever the key pillars of our existence.
Admittedly, the political rants between Eileen and Alice were often lost on me but it was the people that captured my attention, as is often the case with Rooney’s books. There’s a scene in a church when Simon traces Eileen’s knuckles during mass and it’s this quiet choreographed intimacy coupled with her trademark detached narrative that sets her writing apart IMO. The tension between the two is pure poetry.
The queen of dialogue does it again (sans speech marks this time) and I think I’m going to say it’s my second favourite read of the year so far, hot on the heels of Claire Fuller’s Unsettled Ground.
Rooney enthusiasts won’t be disappointed… and the Rooney sceptics? Well, they’ll need to hurry up and get a grip now won’t they!
Rating out of 5: 5/5
Would you recommend? Breaks into chants of “Rooney, Rooney, Rooney!”
Darcey
I haven’t actually read any of Sally Rooney’s work until now (shameful, I know). However, of course, like the rest of the UK, I watched Normal People and adored every minute of that series. I should have read Normal People, but I’ve always found it difficult reading something I know the plot and ending too, something I should work on maybe seems like an attention span issue ha!
I switch between reading books, to using audible, this time I went with audible and really enjoyed the narration of this book by Aoife McMahon and her beautiful Irish accent, which of course gave me Normal People vibes too.
Beautiful World, Where Are You was another lovely novel written by Rooney, focusing on the lives of a group of young adults, navigating relationships and adult life in general. I really enjoyed learning about the friendship between Eileen and Alice, as they argue and debate topics like capitalism, socialism, consumerism, religion and more. I feel like this is very current conversations many people have.
Of course in Rooney style there were some steamy scenes, nothing to erotic though. I guess my only faults is as the same as Normal People, it’s a story which has no real ending, which is common for Rooney but I do enjoy a real juicy plot and ending in a novel. I also found that the characters were quite progressive in some aspects, but in other areas not so much, Felix for example and his behaviour, I get having a character like that, buuuuut there’s no outrage to his behaviour.
All in all I’d recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of Rooney’s work!
Thin knits, gilets, turtlenecks, trench coats and hoodies, layering is an indecisive dresser's dream, with the option to mix, match and marry up your fave pieces to create a curated cocktail of a look that exudes cool-girl chic.
In the words of Shrek (a one-liner ICON if we ever did see one), ogres have layers, onions have layers, and as it turns out, so do we as soon as the month of October hits and the weather cools enough to warrant a PSL before work every day. It’s called self-care, look it up.
Thin knits, gilets, turtlenecks, trench coats and hoodies, layering is an indecisive dresser’s dream, with the option to mix, match and marry up your fave pieces to create a curated cocktail of a look that exudes cool-girl chic. We’re stepping it up this season as the first autumn since 2019 when socialising is properly on the cards. Embracing trends such as shackets, collared polos, leather trench coats, the humble grandad vest and knitted co-ords galore to really step up the style game, inspire stares in the street and ‘omg where did you get that?’ comments over bottomless brunch.
It’s hard being as much of an autumn style icon as the cast of Gilmore Girls, but someone has to do it!
Zoe
When it comes to layering as the autumn months roll in, I love the transitional stage where you can still wear something typically “summery” but with a long sleeve t shirt or roll neck underneath and some chunky black boots to activate the autumn. I love a silk slip dress for this, and if you need some extra layering, throwing on a cropped oversized jumper always works well here too!
Now I have to say summer is my favourite season for dressing so I’m always a tinyyyy bit upset when the autumn rolls around, but as long as it’s still semi-warm enough for skirts without tights (aka the actual devil) then I can just about manage. I’m obsessed with everything Saturday by Megan Ellaby make and their amazing printed roll necks are a layering dream- if I could have one in every colour I seriously would.
Having said I don’t love cool weather dressing, I do have a bit of a thing for nice jackets and my coat collection is somewhat out of control, however, it doesn’t feature a trench so I feel like this needs to be my next purchase.
I live for autumn dressing! Give me all the layers, coats, knitwear and gilets over summer clothes any day. For between-the-seasons styling, you can still get the wear out of your dresses by layering them up with an oversized blazer or a collarless jacket and boots, then when it starts to get a bit chillier dial up your winter warmers and introduce your belted wrap coats and woolly textures.
One of the best places to shop for layers that is often overlooked is Uniqlo. For me, they’re the OG basics brand and everything I’ve bought from there is always great quality and a really lovely shape. You can never go wrong with a mock neck long sleeve, which is like a turtle neck but not as restrictive and a bit more flattering. This can be worn over a vest and under a flannel or cardigan – which by the way, I think will be bigger than ever this winter.
I’m going for the ‘walking my dog in the countryside’ vibe today. I think a hoodie paired with a gilet is perfect for Autumn and the transition to cooler weather. Especially for someone like me who can be quite warm all the time, so a gilet is a perfect middle-man until the winter coats come out the wardrobe. This green gilet from ASOS is unreal, in my basket ASAP! I’ve paired it with some black leggings (I’m channelling muddy paws) and these chunky knee-high boots which look perfect for stomping around in and can definitely be worn with so many different Autumn/Winter looks.
We caught up with hair stylist Harriet after she took the plunge to go freelance and also start a new business helping to educate others in the industry post lockdown!
First off, how are you and how is your 2021 going?
I’m good thank you, my 2021 is going well so far, different to what I thought but that’s not a bad thing. The last 6 months I have worked much less and made more time for myself which has been awesome. Now I’m throwing myself back into work for the rest of the year but still with a good balance!
Can tell us about your hair journey, and how you got into the industry?
Sure, I’ve been hairdressing for the last 12 years, I started out when I was 14 years old when my school opened a hair salon so students could have an insight into other industries while doing their GCSE’s. I totally fell in love with it and coming from a family of many hairdressers I was kind of always going to end up being a hairdresser too.
I worked my way up in my first salon from the Saturday girl to the senior colourist then upped and moved to London when I was 20 years old where I studied to become a colour specialist and over time learnt how to become an educator. Throughout the last 12 years I have been on many different hair teams, entered lots of competitions and taken part in anything and everything so I could continue learning, meet like-minded people and build my profile. In May last year, I took the plunge into being my own boss and have since opened 3 small businesses.
Your Instagram is packed full of tips and tricks, when did you start creating content online?
I have been posting my work on Instagram since August 2013, at the time I had just qualified and was looking to build a clientele so I started sharing my salon work and very quickly I built up a strong base. I started treating Instagram more like a business when I moved to London over 5 years ago, again sharing my work to attract clients and to show brands what I was up to and eventually changing the direction of my page slightly to attract students for the education I was teaching. In the last 18 months, I would say I have become more focused on creating content to grow my businesses as the online world has very much gone that way. Social media has played a huge part in my career, I’ve made friends and connected with people from all over the world and it’s helped to open many doors.
The beauty industry has a reputation for having long days and few days off, how do you work hard whilst still keeping your mental health in check?
At the start of this year I decided this year was the year that I was going to focus more on myself and for the first time ever start actually looking after myself by creating healthier routines, learning to cook and being kinder to myself….. I’ve always wondered when I would become a yoga person haha. In my previous job that I was in for 4.5 years I worked 6/7 days a week for most of the time I was there and I don’t regret doing so because of the experience and growth I gained career-wise but my mind and body massively suffered.
The hair industry can be bad for that, young stylists thinking they have to work every hour under the sun to get somewhere. Well, I believe that things have changed and especially since covid-19, everyone’s starting to appreciate and respect self-care more and wanting a better work-life balance. Throwing myself into work had always been my survival mode which I now realise since taking time out, I also started seeing a therapist at the start of this year and it’s the best thing I have ever done. I’m finally looking after myself properly, eating the right things, exercising, not overworking and now in turn I’m performing better in my work life. Mental health should be spoken more openly about online and when I’m ready I will share more about my journey and what I’ve learnt on my platform to hopefully help towards taking that sigma away in the hair and beauty industry.
How did you take the leap to go freelance as a hairstylist and what tips would you give someone looking to do the same?
Last year I had originally planned to take a complete timeout from the salon life, to travel on the way to Australia and then settle there for a year or two. I wanted to work for a salon that potentially specialised in cutting and take things in a new direction; yes, I love colour, I really love colour. But my cutting had taken a backseat in London, and I wanted to refocus on that again. Covid-19 was a complete curveball, as it was for everyone, but I had to change all my plans – change literally everything. I hadn’t yet reached my final day in my old salon, and actually went into lockdown employed. This gave me space, and obviously financial security being furloughed, which meant I was able to spend time really thinking about where I wanted to go next now that everything had changed. If I’m honest, I was actually completely burnt out going into the first lockdown. Having that downtime, for the first time in 10 or 11 years of being in the industry, forced me to pause and really acknowledge the effect that working so hard had had on my mental and physical health.
Having that downtime, for the first time in 10 or 11 years of being in the industry, forced me to pause and really acknowledge the effect that working so hard had had on my mental and physical health. Harriet
It gave me time to think about moving forward, but also about how I could continue at a pace that was good for me. That’s how the decision to go freelance came around; I realised that I need to be more in control of my own life. I already knew that I wanted a big change, having planning to move countries, so the scariness of going freelance probably didn’t hit quite so hard. My advice to anyone considering going freelance would be to really do your research into everything involved, not everyone is ready for freelance life and it’s definitely not as easy as you think. Firstly, you need to be a well-established hairdresser at the top of your game with a clientele and secondly, there is soooo much admin involved, but I must say there are more pro’s than con’s and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. My friend has actually just written a book all about freelance life and everything you need to know, it will be released soon so keep an eye on her Instagram @freelancer_beauty_book_ to find out more!
Obviously, the last 18 months had been really tough on the industry, how did you manage not seeing clients for so long, and what kept you going?
What a crazy crazy time the last 18 months has been, I still don’t think it has actually sunk in what we are living through. Our industry has taken a real hit and in the first lockdown, it kind of felt like a break for everyone for the first couple of weeks before we realised that our industry wouldn’t be opening for a really long time. As I’ve just previously mentioned I went into the first lockdown employed and came out self-employed so that time for me to plan my new business was what kept me going, knowing I was working towards something exciting and towards seeing my clients again!! Then in October 2020 myself and my business partner Anneliese Hesse started our own hair academy – Humankind Hair which kept us insanely busy over the following months and lockdowns!
Can you tell us about the Humankind Hair Academy?
We have a mission:
For humans in our industry to be treated equally, with kindness,
consideration and respect. We adapt everything we teach to suit all
hair types for all humans. Our courses are for kind humans.
Be human. Be kind. Be both.
Myself and Anneliese Hesse have been friends for years, have worked together previously and both love education, we are literally the opposite of each other but that’s exactly why we work so well. The real idea behind Humankind for both of us was creating something really special, and offering the kind of education that we have both always believed in. We launched in October 2020 and within 36 hours, our courses were completely sold out. Crazy, I know. Sadly for us, lockdown intervened and restrictions meant that we had to rethink our whole business plan, and make the terrifying decision to take Humankind Hair online into total alien territory.
The real idea behind Humankind for both of us was creating something really special, and offering the kind of education that we have both always believed in.Harriet
We invested what money we had into studio lighting, webcams, Zoom accounts and all the equipment we needed to make it as good as we wanted it to be – the phrase ‘all the gear, no idea’ springs to mind! But jokes aside, this in itself was a massive risk, as a new freelancer I fell through the gaps of government funding, so I had to give this absolutely everything I had. We spent hours getting techy and learning about online education, as well as practising the colour too, so we could offer a higher level of education.
Now we are back to running our education in person, online and in salons around the UK which is a dream. Myself and Anneliese are huge fans of travelling and once the world opens back up again properly we plan on taking Humankind Hair Academy overseas to anywhere that wants to host our education and at the same time we plan on taking time out on those trips to explore ourselves, experience different countries and cultures.
Congratulations on your recent win for the ‘IT Girl’ award at the creative head mag most wanted awards, what would your top tips be for the other stylists wanting to get their name out there and network?
Aww thank you so much, winning ‘IT Girl’ was 4 years in the making and a lot of hard work went into not only writing my entries but also into every aspect of my career to have something to write about. My biggest advice would be to throw yourself into everything you can, take up every opportunity you can, enter competitions, audition to be on teams and just surround yourself with like-minded people. Lastly, remember that success doesn’t happen overnight, you do need to work really hard but at the same time make sure you enjoy the journey!
What are you currently working on or what’s next for you??
I’ve got a really busy couple of months ahead with education, which feels like life is getting back to normal as we’ve been limited to teaching online for so long. We have just launched a new course with Humankind Hair called ’The Science Of Curls And Coils’ in collaboration with expert and trichologist Tatlyn Grant, which we are really excited about, it’s going to be amazing. I’ve also got some really exciting education dates coming up teaching for L’Oréal Professional up and down the country, as well as lots of projects with BaByliss and BaByliss PRO. The plan is to keep splitting my time between looking after my gorgeous clients in the salon, educating and having time out for myself.
What does your perfect weekend look like?
Well, my favourite day of the week is most definitely Sunday so it needs to be done right. Starting with a lazy morning in bed, followed by spending time with friends or family exploring somewhere new. If I’m in London then I do love visiting Brick Lane market and Columbia Road flower market, which is such a typical East London Sunday. Then I’d be ending my weekend with a face mask in the bath for the ultimate chill, you just can’t beat it!
What do you always carry with you?
I’m totally guilty of styling my hair on the go, especially on long train journeys so I always have my BaByliss cordless straightener with me!
What would your last ever meal be?
A roast dinner with a huge Yorkshire pudding and lots of extra gravy. I’m actually allergic to gluten… it makes me fall asleep so I would happily have anything gluten for my last meal!
What Is one positive piece of advice you could give to our audience?
There is nothing more powerful than believing in yourself, go out there and do whatever makes you happy!
We may have shed a tiny tear when saying au revoir to the summer that never was, but if there's one thing we can get excited about as October hits it's the prospect of jackets and layering GALORE.
We may have shed a tiny tear when saying au revoir to the summer that never was, but if there’s one thing we can get excited about as October hits it’s the prospect of jackets and layering GALORE. It’s one of life’s tiny pleasures- along with taking your bra off at the end of the day or sinking into a hot bath. Putting a jacket on for the first crisp morning of the year really does signify the change of seasons, a fresh start and all the back to school vibes we’re craving as very (very) mature students (of the world).
Shackets had a big moment in 2020 and we’re thrilled to share that the obsession continues this season as the perfect interim style staple for both Autumn and Spring when an extra layer is needed for your hot girl walk and coffee run requirements. With the best offerings from Topshop, Zara, Arket, Skinnydip and more, keep scrolling to get seriously inspired ahead of your next haul.
Digital Detox Series: Painting with Louise Mulgrew Designs
Keep reading to see how the team discovered their inner artist, got to grips with colour wheels and unleashed their creativity with the wonderful Louise Mulgrew.
In the final part of this month’s Digital Detox series, we’re swapping wifi for watercolours and picking up our paintbrushes with Brighton-based illustrator and card publisher, Louise Mulgrew.
Louise started painting animals for the first time after a trip to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage in Nairobi. She continued to grow her portfolio and develop her hand-drawn characterful style, selling her animal illustrations at local markets and fairs. In 2016, she showed her first collection of greeting cards at Spring Fair and five years on, her very first Furry Friends collection is still her best-selling range.
Now stocked in Waitrose, John Lewis, Waterstones, Fenwick and Paperchase, Louise Mulgrew Designs is an award-winning eco-friendly paper empire, supplying over 400 independent shops in the UK.
Keep reading to see how the team discovered their inner artist, got to grips with colour wheels and unleashed their creativity with the wonderful Louise Mulgrew.
To see more of Louise’s animal-loving work, you can find her over on Instagram at @louisemulgrew or visit her website here.
Lareese says…
After the questionable masterpiece I created with Sophie Tea Art earlier this year – it was meant to be a heart, looked suspiciously like a butternut squash – I didn’t have a whole lot of faith in myself, ha. Alas, true to form, I fluffed up my colour wheel approximately 0.4 seconds into Louise’s class by drawing one too many segments. We needed 12, I had 14. Where do I go from here if not downhill? Poor, poor Louise, trying to teach me must have been a real career-low for her. My technical ability (or lack thereof) aside, I love the sense of calm that ensues when you’re playing with paint and working on paper. It’s such a treat to be screen-free which is what this activity is all about, after all!
For this workshop, we were using gouache which is an opaque watercolour paint. Starting with the colour wheel, Louise taught us how the primary, secondary and tertiary colours work together. Once we’d cracked that, some of us better than others (woe is me), we had a go at painting some leaves and flowers, experimenting with various brushwork techniques, creating a colour wash for backgrounds, using dry brushes to build texture, blotting and using extra water to push the colour around the page to create a mottled effect. At this point, I wish I could redeem myself and tell you that I smashed this part of the class but I think we all know that foliage requires significantly more skill than colouring in a wheel. Louise made it look truly effortless, even painting petals upside down like the pro that she is. I’m in awe.
To bring this self-deprecating tale to its close, I love painting, it just doesn’t love me back and I’m quite gutted about it because I would like nothing more than for this to be a reciprocal romance. I kept looking over at Holly’s beautifully neat berry branch creations and wishing I could have such control over the way my hands behave when holding a paintbrush. I have to say though, from a digital detox perspective, dipping into your watercolours is the ideal activity to drag you away from your phones and laptops, especially with Louise at the helm. I dread to think how much more damage I would have done if I had digital distractions to contend with as well, haha. I’m forever grateful she didn’t task us with hedgehogs or elephants for our first go. Big thank you to Louise for having the patience of a saint to teach us (read: me) and for sharing her expertise with us. What a babe!
Charlotte says…
I was a little apprehensive going into this workshop as my art skills certainly leave a lot to be desired, (quickly realised after our workshop with Sophie Tea earlier this year) but I was pleasantly surprised both by how smoothly Louise guided us through the session and my final leafy results! I’ve never worked with gouache before but follow a few illustrators and designers who do and so was super intrigued to be giving it a whirl as a newbie. To my delight, I found it far more workable than either watercolour or acrylic and it seemed to hit a happy medium of buildable and opaque when used dry and more glossy and with the ability to create a light wash when adding water. First, we created a colour wheel to learn the basics of colour theory and how to create a range of shades from the main primary colours, and although this whole experience was supposed to be relaxing I found myself oddly stressed about making my wheel ‘perfect’ or as neat as possible. I had to take a step back and remind myself that you cannot dictate the outcome of creative and mindful tasks and that the aim of these activities is the detox from our screens and do something different with our minds! I think once I was able to let go of expectations and just enjoy the process a bit more I eased into it and really appreciated the challenge of trying something new.
Louise is so knowledgeable and a fantastic teacher who was extremely patient given the fact I apparently cannot follow simple instructions and messed up my colour wheel approximately 200 times, and learning from her was a real privilege! Her work is so gorgeous and even picking up a few tips, tricks and techniques that she uses in her daily practice was so insightful and left me feeling far more confident about picking up a paintbrush in the future.
Although I initially found the workshop a bit overwhelming (perfectionist tendencies alert), the time totally flew by and I left feeling like my brain really had an opportunity to time out and totally focus on the task at hand. As much as I love yoga and find it can really chill out my brain, I find my mind can still wander, whereas the concentration required in learning something new and focusing on something tangible was a real tonic.
Danielle says…
I’m often left feeling a bit deflated post craft session as I’m simply terrible at most arty things but I really enjoy the actual doing part and taking my mind off the stresses of the world! The last time I painted was when we had Sophie Tea give us a tutorial for one of her infamous hearts and I was actually pretty proud of what I produced, so I went into this one with a bit more of an open mind!
Instead of just going straight into the deep end with attempting to paint a bunch of flowers Louise let us play with the paints and try making a colour wheel. This was such an interesting process as she really taught us how to make so many colours by just using primary red, blue, yellow and white. I know that probably sounds obvious and something we learnt at school but I really enjoyed learning about making so much with so little! The paints we used were Gouache and they felt like a combination between watercolour and acrylic, this meant if it started to ‘run out’ or dry up we could just add a bit of water and it would start flowing nicely again. There were so many effects you could use that looked so pretty when dry, I always think watercolours are really hard to get them where you want them whilst still keeping that lovely translucent effect but with Gouache you can manipulate them much more easily.
Painting is such a good DDD activity because you have something tangible to work on that you can see come to life is the best distraction to the digital world. Plus now I know I only need to buy 4 colours, it’s much cheaper than expected!
Darcey says…
It felt so good to be getting arty again as it’s something I did quite often in education as I did textiles at A-Level and then a fashion degree, and although I love art it’s one of those things I don’t make the time for (terrible I know). I’m no Picasso, but art is fun and it’s nice to create something with your own hands which is one of a kind!
Louise was so lovely and creates such beautiful artwork, so I was really excited to get such an intimate masterclass with her. We started off by creating a colour wheel, apparently not as easy as one would think. I was missing a segment (maths wasn’t my strong point), it started off looking like a real mess, not the best circle I’ve ever seen. This was such an interesting process though, I have never learnt almost the art of creating so many different colours and the science behind it. By the end my lopsided circle didn’t look too shabby, I was actually quite impressed with my colour wheel ha!
We used a paint throughout called Gouache, firstly does anyone else just love the sound of that? I have a feeling I like it so much because it sounds like ganache hahaha. This paint had such an interesting texture, it was gooey and thick, but add a touch of water and you have a watercolour, super cool and versatile! We practiced our leafy strokes and Louise taught us all these different techniques to create our own masterpieces. We all had a good go at making some floral designs and the whole team made lovely art. I really enjoyed this DDD activity, art is such a brilliant way to distract your mind and take you away from screens, even for 30 mins. I have felt so lucky to do this Digital Detox Series and absolutely will be implementing this into my daily life, I think taking time every weekend to step away from it all, even for an hour, is my goal moving forward!
We’ve Joined Depop! Shop the Zoella Team’s Wardrobe
With the start of a new season, the team were looking for ways to declutter our wardrobes responsibly and part with the items that no longer spark joy - come through, Depop!
No doubt you’re already familiar with the wonderful world of Depop – the Instagram-meets-eBay fashion app changing the way we shop for the better.
Carrying fashion behemoths like Balenciaga and Gucci to the cool-girl brands and faithful high-street names, you can peruse the virtual Depop rails and discover second-hand, vintage and designer gems at the click of a button, and from the comfort of your own couch. Huzzah!
Not only is it considerably more convenient than battling your way through the infamous Zara queues of a weekend, it’s also a more conscious way to get your hands on the labels you love to wear, giving items that are destined for landfill a second lease of life.
Having a clear out no longer requires multiple sweaty trips to the charity shop or organising a car boot at 7am on a Sunday. Whether it’s too big, too small or never worn before with the labels still intact to prove it, selling your once-loved items on Depop is a great hassle-free way to recycle your outfits and give the clothes that already exist in the world their due wear.
As a platform, Depop operates in much the same way as Instagram, with an incredibly user-friendly interface that makes scrolling for outfits outrageously easy – sleep, eat, Depop, repeat, kinda easy. You can follow your favourite sellers and view their wares in a feed, much like Instagram, with hashtags to help filter your search. Not sure what you’re looking for? You can browse by category, check out the trending ‘what’s hot on Depop’ items and utilise the My DNA function to see personalised recommendations based on your style to save you the legwork.
Alongside its commitment to circular fashion, Depop champions entrepreneurial spirit and has given smaller, independent creators a platform to launch their very own fashion brands, so if you’re in the market for a dress no one else will be wearing, Depop’s got the scoop on one of a kind wares, as well as the up-and-coming names and trends to watch out for.
To set up shop and start selling your garms, all you need is a mobile number, an account name and a PayPal account and you’re good to start listing your lewks. Simply upload your snaps, write an appropriate description to go with your product (you can go as catchy and clickable or as product focused as you like) name your price and build your empire.
With the start of a new season, the team were looking for ways to declutter our wardrobes responsibly and part with the items that no longer spark joy – come through, Depop!
Featuring brands from All Saints to H&M, Zara and Nobody’s Child, you can browse the Team Zoella page and get snapping up some pre-loved ‘fits that didn’t quite get the wear they deserve with us (lockdown really did that).
Click through the gallery below and come and join us over on the app. Got a question about any of our items? Feel free to drop us a PM by clicking the envelope on our shop page. Happy thrifting, fellas!
Charlotte’s Wardrobe
My online shopping habits have been a little intense since socialising became a thing again in 2021 so being able to find on-trend and new clothes at a cheaper price on Depop has been such a lifesaver! I love following my favourite influencers to be one of the first to see when they upload the clothes they no longer wear anymore and have managed to get some absolute steals in the past from doing so. Depop shops and small businesses thriving on the app also have a special place in my heart for helping me find super unique and special items that no one else has, and I love the individuality Depop encourages.
I’m normally a bit of a hoarder when it comes to selling my own clothes and keep a lot of items ‘just in case’ but I actually feel incredibly free when I finally let something go and leave space in my wardrobe for something new and more ‘me’. It can be hard to part with items that have a sentimental value, but it feels really fulfilling being able to give them a new lease of life with someone new and helps me feel like I’m doing my part in helping clothes have a longer lifespan.
Lareese’s Wardrobe
I’ve recently rediscovered the magic of Depop after signing up for a personal account years ago. I’m excited to clear some space in the wardrobe, safe in the knowledge that these items will continue on with their journey, passing from person to person just as it should be.
I’ve still got a lot of love for these clothes, some of which I’ve barely had the chance to wear but in the interest of streamlining the wardrobe for an autumn spruce up, I’m begrudgingly rehoming them, so they’re guaranteed to get the wear they deserve. The leopard print dress from Zara is such an easy dress to throw on with Converse for workwear and layer up with tights, a leather jacket and boots in winter. The H&M check shacket is also a firm fave for in-between-the seasons dressing but with various lookalike prints in my possession (when I like something, I tend to really overdo it), I need to part ways with at least one of them. Depop to the rescue! It feels incredibly satisfying to upload your bits and bobs knowing it’s going to land straight in the hands of someone who will love and enjoy it all over again. Landfill: 0, Planet: 1.
Darcey’s Wardrobe
I’ve been using Depop for a really long time and have always loved it for selling clothes I no longer wear/can fit in! I’m selling a handful of bits which range in price, mainly all of it doesn’t fit me anymore but is such great quality still so deserves a loving home. I find dresses are my worst offenders for wearing once and never again, so I thought I’d list a few of those on here and see if it takes anybody’s fancy!
Danielle’s Wardrobe
I’m a complete Depop novice so I’m really excited to see how the platform operates and start a new secondhand journey with my wardrobe! I’ve always found vintage shopping harder as a size 20, but I’ve already found tons of garments that look great on the app already
I’m selling a few bits I’ve bought new and never worn because they just didn’t suit me, a brand new leopard print peplum top I love and keep thinking it might fit me one day, spoiler alert: it won’t! A light pink silk shirt I’ve loved for a while that I think deserves a new home, and a dress I’ve worn so many times for Christmas and New Year parties that I’m hoping will fund this year’s dress of the season!
6 Skincare Routines to Inspire Your Next Beauty Haul
From dry to acne-prone and oily to combination, there's a range of routines, cult products and must-haves amongst us large enough to occupy a small Boots store- our Advantage Points are truly off the charts.
Here at Zoella HQ, we are skincare fiends- face mask fanatics, cleanser crazed, oil obsessors, and there’s little we love more than a thorough and relaxing skincare routine at the end of a long day at work (read: wondering how we can reintroduce Regé-Jean Page into our content calendar). From dry to acne-prone and oily to combination, there’s a range of routines, cult products and must-haves amongst us large enough to occupy a small Boots store- our Advantage Points are truly off the charts.
Honourable mentions go to CeraVe, Glossier (pink pouch crew unite) and La Roche-Posay who hold a special place in our hearts as ‘can do no wrong’ brands that always have our back when our complexion is feeling chaotic. 2020’s lockdown saw little reason for us to spend our £££ (current bank balance can no longer relate) and many of us turned to skincare as both a mindful self-care activity and a means to fill those long, drawn-out evenings. As such many of us have nailed our routines and found the ride or die products that are simply chef’s kiss- that’s one good thing to come out of lockdown, eh!
Keep scrolling to shop the skincare essentials we would be lost without.
Zoe
I’ve been absolutely loving the “then I met you” cleansing balm and am almost done with my second tub! I usually like to use a balm to remove makeup or SPF and then I’ll go in for a second cleanse with my Oskia renaissance cleansing gel which has been a firm favourite for years. I tend to mix up my serums and toners but I’m currently loving “heroine” by PSA for my toner. A solid re-purchase every time I run out is the Peter Thomas Roth water drench hyaluronic cloud gel eye patches which are so refreshing and hydrating! I keep them in my fridge.
I haven’t refreshed my makeup in months, my brushes are balding and you wouldn’t want to smell my spoolie, let me tell you. I’m hitting pan on everything, squeezing out the final blobs of my foundation but skincare – skincare is a different story. Unlike doing my makeup, I look forward to my skincare routine, especially in the evening. There’s nothing a double cleanse and a good twilight pamper can’t fix. Right now, I’ve got some faithful favourites on the go like the Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser (I love this stuff) and the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum which I repurchase as soon as I’m out. Then after reading good reviews, I caved and bought the Sunday Riley CEO Glow because I feel like my face needs some vitamin c right now and the Khiel’s activating treatment which is v refreshing in the morn.
This is currently what my morning routine looks like, I decided to try out some more reasonable priced serums as I find a roll through them quite quickly and I’m more likely to use it every day if I don’t feel like I’m pouring money down the drain, or into my pores in this case. I kick things off with the Cerave hyaluronic acid cleanser, always a good staple! I then blast on toner with cotton wool to have me feeling extra clean, highly recommend Scientia products and their tonic is so satisfying to squirt out. I’ll then use The Ordinary Buffet and The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid, no particular order, so feel free to tell me if one should go before the other. I recently purchased this moisturiser from Paula’s Choice as I liked what it offered and enjoy a pump, and I have to say I’m really enjoying the silky feeling it leaves on my skin without being sticky. I finish with some tanning water every other morning, especially while it’s sunny, so my face matches the tan on my body. My absolute fave is he Jamie Genevieve Utan CBD tanning water, the lavender scent brings a sense of calm to my skin.
My makeup routine stays very much the same throughout the year but skincare is the part of my routine in which I go to town and tend to switch things up. I’ve repurchased the La Roche Posay Serozinc spray a couple of times now and although I can’t say I notice a crazy difference when using it or not, I really enjoy how refreshing it is (especially during the summer) and love using it after a hot shower. The Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is a bit of a cult classic and is probably my favourite make-up removing cleanser at the end of a long day- it leaves my skin feeling super duper clean and hydrated. Highly recommend!
I was introduced to Scienta Beauty via Zoella and their Rescue Mask is one of the best I’ve ever used. I love trying CBD skincare and I would repurchase this one in a flash. Finally, this serum from Beauty Bay’s own range is surprisingly great and so affordable. I really want to try more of their range!
I LOVE skincare and I really have tried everything, so my firm faves have been really put to the test. Cerave foaming cleanser for oily skin is so good and if there are any other fellow oily people out there looking for something new, you need to try this! Cerave’s moisturiser is fantastic as well, it can be used on your face and body too. The Inkey List Vitamin C serum is the best one I have tried so far, but it’s strong so if you have sensitive skin use carefully as it will tingle! Mallows Beauty Enzyme Peel Mask is vegan and SO GOOD, if you have acne honestly give this a go it has such amazing results and has been really great for acne scarring especially for me. Lastly, I had to include my fave SPF the La-Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF50, I wear it all year round due to using a lot of acids/exfoliants etc on my face which means I need to protect it every day (we should all wear SPF on our face every day though reallyyyy), also sits well under makeup!
I recently left my whole makeup bag in Cornwall and insisted I could cope without it for a few weeks… Skincare is a whole other thing and there are a couple of products that I genuinely NEED. The first one being my eye cream. Estee Lauder advance night repair eye is a repeat x10 product for me and I honestly have never found another eye product that comes close to it. I would probably look 500 years old without it. A good cleanser is also essential and I have a couple that I really rate, Cerave hydrating cleanser is my current favourite, it works so nicely and is so affordable which is great for a wash-off product. I have a couple of treatment products that really help protect my skin which I’m becoming more and more conscious about, the Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants firming treatment and the body shop SPF 50 I would also include in my essentials.
