Life Style

Scudding over deserts, fording rivers, conquering mountains - never has the call of the wild been so heavily evoked by the motorcycle industry as in 2024.Reflecting the booming UK adventure bike market - and helping drive it - the industry has become wilderness-obsessed. No wonder, with adventure bike sales accounting for 20 per cent of sales this year, up from 18.6 per cent in ’23 when 21,272 were bought, according to the Motor Cycle Industry Association, as riders dream of breaking out of the rut and exploring pastures new.It might seem a far cry from London but the machines are proving popular with city riders too, even if - with their knobbly tyres, tall suspension and battered panniers – the machines resemble caged beasts hemmed in by traffic.What surprises many city-dwellers is that ...

Few people know London’s second-hand and vintage scene as well as Bay Garnett. The author and fashion stylist is the city’s best-known ‘thrifter’ — and a major advocate for sustainable style. So who better to guide you on how to shop smarter this Christmas? From the charity shops worth rooting around in, to the better-for-the-planet boutique and indie labels to know — and how not to shop — these are Bay’s rules for finding truly unique gifts.Take heed and you’ll be top everyone’s nice list for 2025...If I’m staying with people then I make a real effort to get them something great, because I think it makes them feel special. I try to buy them vintage because then it’s a one-off. It’s always a gamble but if it’s a good friend it usually pays off and they’re likely to love it! So it might b...

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Every evening at 7pm, the monastic bell that once summoned the monks to prayer, is rung over the terraces. This is designed to encourage hotel residents, by then quite possibly on their second cocktail, to pause for a moment and reflect on their day. Everyone is then given a small glass of Amaro, the basil liqueur made by the Capuchins and still made in the hotel kitchens, while Andrea Boccelli booms out Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah on the loudspeakers. Source link

Shopping for a make-up maven, a Sephora teen, or that family member that just looks perfectly-put-together all the time, but don’t know where to start? We’ve whittled down the best of the best in beauty gifts, used on repeat by our editors — plus the new launches we’re excited about from cult beauty brands.Hershesons The Great Hairdryer - with sleek and shine kitHershesonsAs well as adding a chic pop of colour to your dressing table, London salon Hershesons’ hair tools punch well above their weight for the price. This super compact hairdryer will wow the beauty lover in your life for its speed, precision and feather-lightness. Get them the sleek and shine kit, which comes with the the brand’s brilliant Zhoosh Foam, large Pro Blow Dry Brush, Pocket Brush and section clips included, so they ...

And if you want to be warm inside, outside and all over but still looking very “fashun”, you can nab yourself a mohair hood from Arket, (£28, arket.com). We lose a lot of heat from our heads because they’re full of blood vessels, which sit close to the surface, hence why you bleed a lot if you get hit on the head. Protecting your cranium is therefore essential when aiming to retain heat, plus no one likes having cold ears. It might feel a little bit like you’re playing one of the sheep in the school nativity, but your ears will thank you. Source link

Christmas is approaching fast, and with it, a whole lot of stress — and a whole lot of rubbish. The festive season is one of the most wasteful times of the year. There’s the discarded trees and the mountains of wrapping paper that come with the mass unboxing of presents on the Big Day. It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to doing your bit for the planet. Fortunately, it’s possible to be green without going out of your way to make it happen — all it takes is a bit of preparation. Here’s how.Re-use your wrapping paper Nick Ansell/PA WireTraditional Christmas wrapping is on the way out — and rightly so. Most of it isn’t even recyclable, which means that tonnes of the stuff ends up in landfill every year. Fortunately, the internet abounds with eco-friendly alternative wrapping,...

There is precedent for this: in 2019, Flo, a popular period and fertility-tracking app, was embroiled in scandal after allegations surfaced that it shared sensitive user data with third parties, including Facebook and Google, without proper user consent. Despite its promises to protect user privacy, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that Flo was transmitting intimate health details, such as pregnancy statuses and menstruation cycles, to analytics and marketing firms. In the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v Wade in the US, the controversy led to many American women deleting period tracking apps, amid anxiety that their data could be used against them in future criminal cases in states where abortion has been criminalised. Source link

What to give the man who seems to have everything for Christmas? Well, there is one thing which has thus far evaded David Beckham, despite being on his list year after year. It is of course, a spot on the New Year’s Honours list — or, more specifically, a knighthood. By now, it has become something of a national running joke that the 49-year-old former England captain has had a years-long campaign for his place amongst the knights of the realm. Brand Beckham has long been a hyper-public supporter of the monarchy, turning up to a host of royal events and famously queuing for 13 hours to pay his respects after the Queen’s death in 2022. And then, in 2013, a series of expletive-filled emails from Beckham were leaked, which slammed the Honours Committee which rejected him, as a bunch of "unapp...

Welcome to The Bigger Life Festival – where every session opens a door to possibility, every expert offers practical insights, and participants are inspired to take meaningful steps toward their goals.Starting January 27th, 2025, we're inviting you to explore the art of living well. Through carefully curated live online sessions, you'll delve into health, lifestyle, personal growth, and career development – each one designed to inspire and provide actionable tools to create your bigger life.Looking for a thoughtful gift idea? Treat someone to the inspiration and tools they need to make 2025 their best year yet with a Bigger Life Festival Pass.The full programme and expert lineup will be announced soon – don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative experience.Designed for Your S...