Home
How to get rid of a musty smell in your wardrobe
The stale smell is a sign of moisture and still air, not a lack of fragrance. How to clear it properly, keep it away,…
The archive
Journal
109 pieces on clothes, rooms, books, food and the ordinary business of taking up space.
Style
How to break in new shoes without blisters
Do the wearing-in at home, in short stretches, before the shoes have to carry you anywhere. And learn to tell stiff shoes from shoes…
Style
How to pack a carry-on for a week
A week away with only a cabin bag is less about willpower than planning: one colour family, two pairs of shoes, and clothes that…
Notes
Why does nobody reply to invitations any more?
Unanswered invitations have become normal. What silence costs the person hosting, and why a clear no is often the kinder reply.
Relationships
Some people never ask a question back
You share your news and they wait for their turn. Why one-way conversation is so tiring, why it is not always selfishness, and the…
Food
How to host a relaxed dinner party
You do not need to be a confident cook to give a good dinner. You need a plan that does most of the work…
Beauty
How to make perfume last longer
Why fragrance fades, and what actually helps: concentration, skin, where you spray, fabric, storage, and why you stop smelling your own perfume.
Notes
You are allowed not to want a fuss on your birthday
Not wanting a party is not sadness, ingratitude or a problem to be solved. A quiet birthday you chose is still a celebration.
Relationships
Going to a wedding alone is not a consolation prize
The plus-one assumption treats single guests as a gap in the seating plan. Going on your own can be the better evening, and it…
Books
How to start a book club that lasts
Many book clubs fade within a few months, and it is rarely the books. The few decisions that keep one going, settled before anyone…
Style
What to wear to a funeral
Dark, plain and comfortable is the usual answer, but not the only one. How to dress for a funeral, from the family’s wishes and…
Home
How to make a rental feel like home without losing your deposit
You can make a rented home unmistakably yours without a single drill hole. What to change, what to ask first, and how to leave…