Red UK

Rachel Cooke reflects on the complexities and beauty of friendship, on page 34. MY FAVOURITE BOOKSHOP IS… Barter Books in Alnwick, Northumberland: the British Library of secondhand books, and a very good place for a coffee to boot. Angel Cordova-Todd assists on our main fashion story, on page 71. MY FAVOURITE BOOKSHOP IS… Libreria in Spitalfields, London. I dream of having a reading nook at home and it fills that gap. Helen Normoyle judges our perimenopause awards, on page 146. MY FAVOURITE BOOKSHOP IS… Daunt Books in Marylebone. I love bookshops because of the serendipity involved – you never know what you’ll find as you browse.…

One of the best things about Red (and, yes, I know I am biased) is how much great stuff there is to read inside. It’s the feedback we receive most from you, too (thanks!). But in this issue, I was also struck by how varied our content is – it’s just crammed full of interesting, insightful, useful and emotionally intuitive features. Whether that’s identifying our deepest fears in life (yes, the really big ones) and offering tools to navigate them, as psychotherapist Anna Mathur does on page 40, or recognising the inertia we feel when decorating a new space and getting advice on where to start from the experts, via Bella Evennett-Watts, in First Things First on page 106. I learned so much about London’s 1980s punk scene from Christobel Hastings’ brilliant…

Straighten your collar and shine those stacked loafers, this autumn is no time for dawdling. This season, a slack attitude refers not to a behaviour, but a mood – inspired by With Nothing Underneath. Known for its cult-status shirts, now the brand is bringing us ‘The Rampling’, its first tailored trouser (named after founder Pip Durell’s style inspiration, Charlotte Rampling). Available in both black and navy, made from 100% wool, with front pleats and a casual insouciance, these slacks are autumn’s answer to effortless styling for workwear blazers or weekend knits, as well the perfect pairing for With Nothing Underneath shirts (naturally). Straight to the top of the class, and into our wardrobes……

An inspector calls Channel your inner super-sleuth; elegant capes, leather trenches and detective duster coats are repeat offenders when it comes to perennially smart outerwear. Making a dynamic duo for everyday wear (just match your skirt to your coat), as well as a partner-in-crime for killer evening dresses, these are the coats that never clock off. Go outdoors Embrace an adventurous spirit when battling the elements; practical parkas, bomber jackets and check coats show their refined side with a hearty dose of tweed, shearling and suede in a natural palette. Hello, sailor Fashion’s faithful crew of Crombie, duffle and pea coats are pulling rank and joining forces with smart tailoring and gossamer-thin fabrics. Finish with gilded accessories to execute this modern seafaring trend with military precision. In the faux Ladylike gets a little edge when prim cardigans…

Introduce the trend with a statement bag for an easy pop of interest Try a pair of leopard-print trousers with an oversized grey cashmere sweater and a khaki jacket – it will be your off-duty go-to…

CRUZ WEAR Luxury Italian label Geox solves all your winter dressing dilemmas with a brand-new season of contemporary classics, fusing fashion and function to deliver stylish must-buys. Its water-resistant wool camel coat with cosy padded lining is top of my wish list. As well as a line of preppy separates, the brand continues its collaboration with celeb sisters Penélope and Mónica Cruz, and highlights include a silver grey bouclé coat, belted maxi parka and quilted leopard-print cape. GET SHORTY More practical than a skirt and more interesting than trousers, knee-length leather shorts will bring a twist to winter dressing. Pair with riding boots and soften with a romantic blouse. CRYSTAL MAZE Braid & Bow has the twinkliest selection of statement hair accessories, all at amazingly affordable prices, and I am stocking up! It’s hard to…