Bank Holiday weekend and I'm in Lidl . I can never think of anything I want to buy, so I wander aimlessly with a basket, ending up with dog food, a grapefruit, fizzy water, apples. There's no holiday weekend splurge for me, no BBQ food, salty snacks or sweet treats. Standing in line for the tills behind a family with two groaning trolleys, I say, out loud: 'How can you possibly eat all that?' Because food is still anathema to me. The common belief is that anorexia is a young woman's disease. You either tragically die or, given time, you come to your senses. What people rarely consider is what happens when you don't recover. Those of us who were raised in the 1960s and 1970s, an era of Twiggy and Nimble bread, calorie-counters and One-Cal fizzy drinks, are now reaching retirement age and beyond - and many of us still struggle with eating disorders.
Summer chic is easy with a shot of espresso: It's the last colour you think of when the sun shines, but brown is hot this season
Deep chocolate, espresso, chestnut - whatever elegant name you'd like to bestow upon it, dark brown is the shade to be seen in this summer. If, like me, when it comes to neutrals you steer clear of brown, allow me to introduce you to 2024's take on it. This isn't muddy brown or Brownie uniform brown, it's the shade Sabrina Carpenter sings about in the ubiquitous hit of the summer: Espresso. This glamorous, deep chocolate is softer than black, pairs perfectly with gold accessories and, while you might think of it as an autumnal colour, it was all over the SS24 catwalks. Loewe, Tom Ford, Hermes and Fendi all had a noticeably chocolatey hue, and the High Street duly took note. So, too, did Hollywood, as Daisy Edgar-Jones dazzled in a dark brown Vivienne Westwood dress on the red carpet last week. Here's our guide to adding some espresso elegance to your summer wardrobe...
Femail style and beauty
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- Life's little luxuries: Brooches
- Our tweakment expert reveals the one place getting filler will REALLY make you look years younger
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THE ROYALS
'Every day is so special with you': Princess Beatrice and Edo Mapelli Mozzi share a kiss in unseen photo from their wedding
Prince Andrew's eldest daughter, 35, married the property developer in 2020 and yesterday the couple celebrated four years since tying the knot. Posting on Instagram for their anniversary, Edo, 40, shared a never-seen-before photograph from behind the scenes of their wedding (left). He also posted a picture of their wedding venue - the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Beatrice's childhood family home in Windsor Great Park.
Kate shows off stylish new earrings at Wimbledon
Kate Middleton made a very fashionable return to public life once more on Sunday, joining her daughter Princess Charlotte for a day out at Wimbledon tennis. Kate was as radiant as ever in a purple £1295 bespoke dress from Safiyaa - and even added a pair of brand new earrings for the occasion. She opted for the sterling silver and gold Sabine Hoops (pictured) by British independent jeweller By Pariah - a London-based sustainable brand.
No going solo for Letizia: How Spanish Queen has spent the month supported by King Felipe and her daughters during public outings as they put on united front amid explosive 'affair' claims from her ex brother-in-law
At the start of this month, the Queen's former brother-in-law Jaime Del Burgo caused shockwaves again when he claimed that he is still in contact with the mother-of-two in an interview with Argentinian newspaper Clarín. Since the latest bombshell claims, the Spanish Royal Household has put on a strong united front - with Letizia, 51, having not been pictured undertaking a solo outing since June 25. Instead, the glamorous Queen has been surrounded by her family during engagements, appearing alongside her lookalike daughters, Infanta Sofia and Princess Leonor , or clinging onto her husband's arm. Most recently, Letizia and Felipe, 56, dazzled in black tie as they attended an awards ceremony in Madrid on Thursday evening.
Moment King Charles snaps at an aide to help out after Queen Camila struggled to get her coat on while battling wind and rain in Jersey
Queen Camilla struggled to get her coat on as she battled wind and rain while undergoing engagements in Jersey on Monday - before a concerned King Charles asked at an aide help her out. The royal, who will turn 77 tomorrow, was meeting members of the public in St Helier as part of a two-day visit to the Channel Islands with her husband King Charles. At one point the royal couple fankbraved the rain and strong winds as they watched a military parade. But after popping up a perspex umbrella, the Queen struggled to get her arm through her coat.
Unseen childhood picture of Princess Diana's nieces
The twin daughters of Charles Spencer and his first wife, Victoria Aitken, who spent their childhood between Constantia, South Africa , and their family's estate.
Like father, like son! Prince George adorably mirrors his father William's animated gestures at the Euros - after learning to take his cues from Dad while growing up in the spotlight
The young royal, who attended the nail-biting match with the Prince of Wales, 42, was twinning with his dad as he witnessed Spain 's 2-1 victory in Berlin. Both had their hands on their face at the same time, and were pictured wincing as they witnessed England's defeat (top left). Elsewhere, the duo were even seen adjusting their ties - as they sported matching outfits - at the exact same time. And it's not the first instance where the pair were spotted channelling one another, with the ten-year-old often seemingly looking to William for guidance on social cues over the years. Top right, at Trooping of the Colour in June. Bottom left, at the Ashes last year. Bottom right, at a football match together. Centre, William with George in 2015.
I've got your back: Moment Sophie places supportive hand on Prince William as they leave Buckingham Palace balcony
This is the moment the Duchess of Edinburgh put her hand on Prince William's shoulder in a display of comfort following their appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony during today's Trooping the Colour.
RUSTLE UP
- Sun-blushed tomato chicken Kiev This variation on the usual chicken Kiev has a delicious tomato filling. It is decadent but well worth trying. Serve with a green salad.
- My traditional steak and kidney pie A good steak and kidney pie is a wonder to behold. It's best to start preparing this the day before
- Carrot cake with orange buttercream and walnuts This is made extra special by the addition of dates, which give it a slightly Middle Eastern flavour
- Chocolate fondants People are scared about making these, fearing they won't achieve the melting chocolatey middles, but once you get the timing right, fondants are really easy to do
Core blimey
- French apple rose tart Apples and pears as you've never eaten them before
- Slow-cooked pulled pork wraps with apple salsa Core blimey: Slow-cooked pulled pork wraps with apple salsa
- Bramley & butternut squash soup with gorgonzola cream Apples and pears as you've never eaten them before, in a savoury tray bake
- Poached pears with blackberry drizzle and hazelnut shortbread Poached pears with blackberry drizzle and hazelnut shortbread
masterful meals
- Masterchef 2008 champion James Nathan's pea and white truffle soup with Parmesan galettes
- Masterchef 2014 Champion Ping Coombes's nasi goreng with sambal belacan
- Masterchef 2010 champion Dhruv Baker's cherry and hazelnut chocolate roulade
- Masterchef 2016 champion Jane Devonshire's roast pheasant with a chestnut and cider cream sauce
BEST BUYS - The smartest way to shop online
DON'T MISS
The outfits that left broken hearts in their wake: As Maya Jama steps out in her revenge dress following Stormzy split, how A-list women have taken aim at their exes through killer looks
The Love Island presenter, 29, turned heads in the stunning lace two-piece as she enjoyed a night out with the girls in Ibiza (right) - but she's not the first celebrity to send a not-so-subtle message to her ex. The term 'revenge dress' was coined in 1994 when Princess Diana (inset) wowed the world in an LBD which she wore to a charity event at the Serpentine Gallety in Kensington in 1994. Since then, women around the world have showed off their best looks in revenge dresses including Jennifer Aniston, Britney Spears and Ariana Madix (all pictured).
MailOnline Discounts - Editor-approved fashion & beauty deals
BEST REAL LIFE
Lavender farm slams influencers for LYING DOWN on plants and says TikTokkers are 'killing 25 year old flowers' by posing for social media snaps
A lavender farm has slammed influencers users for 'killing their plants' by lying down on them for social media photos. Hitchin Lavender in Hertfordshire shared a video to Facebook showing how plants have been destroyed by visitors who sat or laid down in the fields. In the emotional post, the farm said that plants that take '10 years to grow' are being destroyed in '10 seconds' by people hoping to get the perfect selfie on the farm. 'Lavenders take years to mature. In 10 seconds hundreds of our bushes (the majority of which are between 10 and 25 years old) are being killed by some visitors wanting to sit on them..?' they said in a post.
TRENDING NOW!
The rise of the fit and fabulous 50+ club! How the likes of Penny Lancaster, Elizabeth Hurley and Amanda Holden are proving age is just a number as they flaunt their bikini bods
They're nearing their sixth decade - and yet these British and American stars are proving age is just a number as they continue to be fit and fabulous in their fifties. Leading the celebs who are rolling back the years is Penny Lancaster : Mrs Rod Stewart , 53, wore a racy slip of a bikini as she holidayed with her extended family on a £50million yacht in Sardinia this week. Thanks to the likes of Penny, as well as her equally glamorous celeb counterparts, such as Heidi Klum , 51, Liz Hurley , 59, and J.Lo, 54, there's no question that you don't have to hang up your bikini any more when you pass a certain milestone. This is certainly true for the likes of Amanda Holden , 53, and Davina McCall , 56 who don't look a day over forty with their smooth complexions and incredible physiques. Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the famous faces aged 50+ who aren't afraid to showcase their stunning bikini bodies - and here's how some of them do it...
MORE MUST-READS
The high street deals you where you can still get a lunch bargain: As Pret ditches its subscription, how Leon offers a five coffees a day deal while Costa, Starbucks and Greggs all have their own loyalty schemes
The Club Pret subscription service may be over after four years, but there's still plenty of healthy competition when it comes to finding cheap sandwiches, barista-made drinks and even a cheeky lunchtime takeaway. Here, FEMAIL rounds up some of the best offers...(Pictured from left: Poundland's meal deal, Leon's subscription plan, Itsu cuts prices before closing)