Latest news with #JessCartner-Morley
The Guardian
31-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Birthstone rings, luxury loungewear and a genius overnight bag: what you loved most this month
Never has the term 'fool's spring' been more fitting. When the sun came out early in the month, many of us began to prepare for the summer that felt just around the corner. Hundreds of you, like me, bought the most genius overnight bag for the weekends away that were surely about to happen, and the perfect nail colour for the new season. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. But let's be real: it's not summer yet. A fact evidenced by just how many of you were also buying practical raincoats, stay-in-all-day satin pyjamas and – less glamorously – microwave rice cookers. Here are the Filter recommendations you loved the most this month. Anyday Hennriette Point£49 at John Lewis Jess Cartner-Morley declared the pilates pump to be 'the new ballet flat' in her style essentials for March – and so many of you seem to agree. 'Something about the way a ballerina flat leaves the top part of my foot flat lacks grace, visually,' said Jess. 'I've found the solution in a new genre of ballerina/Mary-Jane hybrids, with a strap across the top – like the socks people wear at pilates, hence the name.' Sistema rice steamer £7.99 at Amazon We were as surprised as anyone when this £11 microwave rice-steaming bowl managed to hold its own in our recent rice cooker group test. 'Using its suggested ratios and timings, my basmati emerged after 15 minutes with individual fragrant grains, with no starchiness or chalky middle,' said our reviewer Joanne Gould. It also performed well for sushi and brown rice. It's no YumAsia for complete rice perfection, but if you're nervous about cooking rice in a pan, this is a great starting point. It does get incredibly hot, though. Antler Essential overnight bag£125 at John Lewis £125 at Antler This bag 'has had complete strangers stopping me in the street and on the Eurostar platform recently', said Cartner-Morley in her March style essentials. 'The clever thing … is the integral back strap, which allows it to slide over the pop-up handle of your wheeled suitcase. This keeps it sitting securely on top of your luggage without everything falling over in chaos when you try to buy a coffee or get on to a train.' It also fits easily into a luggage rack or under the seat in front. Fussy natural deodorant£10 at Fussy With more and more of us wanting to cut back on plastic, it's no surprise so many of you loved Anita Bhagwandas's roundup of the best refillable beauty products. And especially popular was this refillable deodorant from Fussy. 'Unlike many 'natural' deodorants, it genuinely works,' she wrote. 'Choose your recycled plastic case, and pick from several scents (I'm obsessed with Parma Violets) to create your own bespoke deodorant.' Nails Inc Turks And Caicos Beach nail polish£8 at Amazon Not only do 'cappuccino-coloured nails look great with everything', said Cartner-Morley in her monthly style essentials, but also the 'shade is subtle enough that if – like me – you're not exactly a dab hand on the DIY, a few application wobbles won't show'. Rains unisex long jacket£71.50 at John Lewis Scandinavian label Rains 'is one of the brands I reach for whenever the weather takes a turn', says Ellie Violet Bramley in our guide to stylish raincoats. 'Its long jacket has seen me through countless soggy commutes, playground trips and walks in the woods.' It's machine-washable, too. Stacking family birthstone ringFrom £21.60 at Etsy This sentimental gift idea was popular for Mother's Day, but it would also make a lovely gift all year round, for mothers and friends alike. 'If in a few years, my now three-year-old decided to give me one of these, her birthstone nestled next to mine, I can guarantee I would melt,' said Bramley in our gift guide. Satin pyjamas£34.90 at Uniqlo Lounging around must have become much more glamorous around the country after hundreds of you bought these satin pyjamas from our Mother's Day gift guide. They even have pockets, so they're practical too. Smol laundry capsulesFrom £6 for 24 at Smol We've been overwhelmed with responses since we asked in this newsletter for your tips on cutting down on plastic. So many of you told us how much plastic you'd saved by switching to Smol refillable cleaning products, and now many more readers have cottoned on to this as well. Thank you so much for sending in so many great tips – read below for more we've received. From smash-proof cases to updates: how to make your smartphone last longer The best cordless vacuum cleaners for a spotless home: 10 tried and tested favourites Is the Simba Hybrid Pro mattress worth the hype? I slept on it for three months to find out Always roll your clothes! 13 travel packing hacks to save you space and money – according to seasoned travellers 'Reminds me of sun cream': the best (and worst) supermarket coconut milk, tasted and rated It's been nearly 11 years, but I can still remember the number of bouquets that filled my flat after the birth of my daughter. Don't get me wrong: I love flowers. But in those magical, insane early weeks there are, with hindsight, other gifts that could have lightened the load a little. A week's worth of meals, for example; or a care package filled with treats. Someone did buy me the Mother's Balm from this Neal's Yard trio though – a moisturising treat for my skin. Don't forget the new mums in your life. Hannah BoothEditor, the Filter Feel like you need that extra bit of help waking up in the morning now that the clocks have gone forward? Our expert Sasha Muller tested 10 of the best coffee machines for the Filter – having reviewed them for the past seven years, he knows his way around a drip tray. Not interested in a machine, but want tastier coffee? He's also given us all the kit you need to make great coffee at home – and what not to waste your money on. Our article on how to use less plastic resonated with you, and you've been writing in to tell us all the ways you're cutting back on your consumption. Libby Hutchings told us how she switched to plastic-free baby products for her two young children. 'I used cloth nappies with my now five-year-old, and I'm now using them with my six-month-old. While I bought a lot of them new with my first, I also bought several secondhand and, with proper care, have been able to use the same nappies this time. The extra laundry isn't that bad and any stains come out in the sun! Once we're done with them I'll sell them on to others as they'll have loads of life left in them. And we use cloth wipes instead of wet wipes: they're much kinder to delicate skin as well.' And Elise Rayner emailed to tell us how she avoids plastic in her food shopping: 'I use my local refill shop for lentils, stock powder, porridge oats and chocolate raisins. I only buy plain yoghurt in the largest tubs to avoid the small pots. If there's a glass option instead of a plastic option, eg mayonnaise, I buy the glass. Cheese from the cheesemonger wrapped in paper.' Have you ever been surprised by a brand or retailer going above and beyond on customer service? Maybe they repaired an ancient raincoat for free or brought a much-loved kitchen appliance back to life with a new part. If so, let us know by emailing us at thefilter@
The Guardian
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
A century of chic: the best Chanel-style jackets to rival the real thing
This year marks 100 years since Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel first unveiled what would go on to become one of the brand's most coveted pieces: a tweed jacket. Or, as my colleague Jess Cartner-Morley called it last month, the Little Boxy Jacket. Soft and untailored, Chanel's original boucle jackets were a rejection of the corseted silhouettes that were fashionable at the time. A century later, the brand continues to riff on the style – most recently with pastel-coloured and pearl-adorned versions down its couture catwalk. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. However, with prices starting from £2,000, they are a wardrobe staple most of us can only dream of. However, there is some good news: this spring, the high street has several iterations that could almost be the real thing, at more affordable prices. Here is my pick of the best. £49.99 at New Look New Look's baby blue offering is the most affordable of my selection and would look chic styled with a slim polo neck and white tapered jeans. Add a thin gold chain belt through your loops for a fun but wearable Y2K update, or go full-on Cher from Clueless and invest in the matching skirt as well. £350 at Me + Em At first glance, the ochre tone of this jacket from Me + Em may seem tricksy to incorporate into your wardrobe, but trust me when I say it will elevate all your basic jeans and T-shirts. I'm a fan of the chunky military-style white buttons, which balance out the neatness of the round collar and boxy shape. Style it with a classic white shirt, blue jeans and heeled courts: very soft power. £185 at Sézane This style from the cult French brand Sézane is made from wool rather than boucle or tweed and is more like a substantial cardigan than a jacket, perfect for those of us who prefer something a bit roomier and less restrictive. I love its retro-inspired trim and crochet buttons. Its softer lines will work well with loose-fitting dresses, laid-back trousers and classic jeans. One of my favourites. £360 at Essentiel Antwerp For something with real personality, invest in this velvet-trimmed Essentiel Antwerp jacket. Embellished with pearls and four patch pockets, it has hook-and-eye fastenings, so it is less structured and more like a blazer than some other styles. Perfect for the weekend over a thin, soft knit and relaxed jeans. £130 at Mint Velvet This navy double-breasted jacket from Mint Velvet has a bit of a military feel. I'm a fan of the high collar and extended cuff, details that make it feel quite tough and practical. You could throw it on with any outfit, from jeans to a jumpsuit. Wear it to the pub or the park – it has versatility in spades. £99 at Monsoon Yellow is having a bit of a fashion moment so tick two trend boxes at once and invest in this lemon jacket from Monsoon. It doesn't have to be all about afternoon tea and petit fours: pair it with blue denim, wide-leg beige chinos or a camel-knit skirt and it will work for the office as well as for the weekend. Just add some chunky metallic jewellery for a final style flourish. £62 at Next With sizes going up to a UK 26 in its tall range and a UK 20 in its petite, this jacket from Next works for all shapes and sizes. Its longer cut will give more coverage over the hips and, unlike cropped styles, will flow perfectly over dresses – ideal for a wedding. Equally, its length invites you to add a belt and cinch it in at the waist for pairing with wide-leg trousers. A really smart buy. £89.99 at Mango Looking for a jacket that's a bit more fashion forward? Try this blue and creamy yellow frayed-edge style from Mango. The colour combination requires a bit more thought if you're going to wear it with more than a white T-shirt, but its pastel lightness actually works well with darker colours. I would opt for a navy stripe shirt or maybe a coffee brown collared knit underneath. With sizes going up to a 4XL (UK 26) it's among the high street's more inclusive styles. £69 at Marks & Spencer This navy and white tweed jacket from Marks & Spencer has a fringe trim, modern silver buttons – and is lined. You could pair it with jeans and metallic ballet pumps, as pictured, for a relaxed, but smart look. But I'd also wear it with wide-leg linen trousers and slingbacks for spring garden parties. Runs from UK size 6 to 24. £349 at LK Bennett It doesn't get more classic than this offering from LK Bennett. Made from black-and-ivory Italian tweed with four patch pockets and a contrast trim, you can even buy a matching tweed corsage in a nod to the famous camellia that Chanel has often added to its own boucle jackets. It comes in an array of colours (mint green! Pink!), but I'm a fan of this salt-and-pepper style: pair it with black, or lighter neutrals like cream or putty pink. Melanie Wilkinson is the Guardian's styling editor
