YOUR JANUARY LIST: Fitness tips, Influencers to follow and Claudia Winkleman's style
Do you love or hate January? Over the years, I've grown to rather like this month and the chance it gives to rest and reset after the hectic whirl of December (although I am not looking forward to the early alarms next week). The key is 'no pressure' whether that applies to going out, what you choose to wear or maybe starting a slightly healthier regime - the mantra (for me) is very much reset rather than 'new me' with little tweaks to make the dark days of winter as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. With that in mind, I turned to Jen Brown, the fabulous founder of Meet You at the Barre, an amazing platform rooted in barre but also offering strength-based workouts ideally suited to midlife women. Jen is wonderful, witty and has excellent taste in music, which makes her classes just that little bit different from the rest.
JEN'S TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED
- Start small - like really small. Something you know you can achieve. 2 x 20 minute workouts per week for example.
- Schedule them into your diary and ring fence the time like you would an appointment at the doctor's.
- If you miss a workout, don't sweat it. Just get back to it as soon as you can Everyone falls off the wagon, it's the getting back on that counts.
If you like the idea of trying an online Barre class, Jen offers a free 7-day trial here and also has a free 30-minute Spice Girls class here.
10 INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW THIS MONTH
There is so much noise on Instagram, it can be easy to lose track of the people worth following. Here are some of the accounts I'm loving at the moment...
Books: It has to be @NatashaPoliszczuk, one of my oldest friends, but also an experienced Books Editor and reviewer of books.
Food: @jemimas.table offers simple, balance recipes for delicious healthy eating.
Fashion: So many to mention, but @styledbymrsj, @thefashionlift, @chloelovestoshop, @stylebyclairelopez and @wearsmymoney are all favourites.
Make Up: Two here - @genevieveturley is hilarious (and a make up artist), whilst @HannahMartinmakeup is the queen of gorgeous tutorials.
Life: For books, make-up, travel and clothes, @missamandalamb is fabulous.
THE GENIUS OF CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN'S TRAITORS' STYLE
Whether you watch The Traitors or not (and you should, you really, really should), you will undoubtedly be aware that Claudia Winkleman's wardrobe arguably makes bigger headlines that what's happened at the round table. The perfect blend of gloss (the hair), fashion (kilts and oversize collars) and layering (just perfect inspiration for this time of year), Claudia's outfits also look incredibly comfortable and unusually for prime time TV not for the male gaze. These are outfits that are very much for women - flat chunky boots, oversize knits, covered up cleavages, long coats and gorgeous attention to detail paired with beautifully painted nails and expertly applied make up. Claudia's groomed, yet accessible look provides winter inspiration to us all, showing new ways to wear a rollneck, skirts and shirts.
Soft, cosy and loose rollnecks and ruffle collared shirts are a big part of her style appeal and our Laura rollnecks in grey or navy are the perfect way to get her look (and stay warm this winter). Super soft with elongated, buttoned cuffs, their clever side split lets you easily tuck or not tuck depending on what you wear them with.
And perfect for layering, our Evie ruffle collar shirt is the ideal piece for wearing under a knit (it looks great under the Orla mohair-blend knit or Marnie chocolate knit). And then in spring/summer, on its own layered with jewellery.
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