I have been a working mum for the past 13 (almost 14, gulp) years and every day is still a (literal) school day.
Guilt? Check.
Chaos every morning? Check.
Continual sense of being mildly out of control? Check.
Teddy / football/ other projectile regularly aimed at my head? Check.
And yet, I feel unbelievably grateful that I GET to do it all too. (This was my takeaway from Ellie Taylor in episode 1 of our new Mother Lovers Club podcast who told us to reframe “ I have to” to “I get to” and I have to say it really works).
One of the things @alixkwalker1 and I found through our time working together as we became parents was that offloading to a friend, and learning from them too, makes this experience about 1000 times easier. So this week we asked some working mum friends of Stylist to share their ultimate tips for keeping it all together and there are some absolute GEMS in there that it’ll be “borrowing” immediately”.
Would LOVE to hear your advice too. What is your best tip for making it all work?
Thanks to @harriet.davey and @tomgormer for throwing that teddy bear gently (and the beautiful styling, Harriet!), @sarahbrickphotography for being so speedy and putting all of us at ease and props to @alixkwalker1 who quite literally juggled work and parenting by bringing her beautifully behaved youngest on set. Total super star 🌟
(And YES, yes we have have put ourselves on the cover)
Link in bio. Oh and this gorgeous red suit is @sezane
This Devil wears @malenebirgers_world@boss@andersonsbelts@christianlouboutin and a hint of @uniqloeurope
What a privilege to be shot by @rankinarchive to celebrate the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2. @tdwp2
A dream of an evening. Rankin. Photo shoot. Champagne. Two hours watching a dream of a film. After party at the National Portrait Gallery. All whilst challenging my inner Miranda Priestly.
That’s all.
Today the Stylist team took a class outing to see our incredible Lessons That Matter initiative projected onto the HUGE screens of @outernetglobal .
The objective of Lessons That Matter is simple: we want to give girls and women the tools to navigate our ever-more complex world to ensure women take up the space they deserve.
Exclusive research from our insight agency
Think Stylist, released on International Women’s Day, reveals that women not only think it’s essential to unlearn some of the lessons we were taught growing up (people pleasing, I’m looking at you) but that it’s imperative to start teaching girls from a young age about caring for their mental wellbeing, taking up space, rebuilding from failure, rejecting perfectionism and so much more.
But where to start? Never one to do things
by halves, @alixkwalker1 and her incredible editorial team had an idea… they would ask high profile women to share their life lessons, then they would turn these into credible lessons that could be taught to young people. The result? THREE incredible covers and SIX lessons re-created in the magazine, online, in video on YouTube and as downloadable lesson plans (created with the help of an army of teachers) that are already being used as resources schools.
The icing on the cake? A showcase for the next fortnight in the Now Trending space of the Outernet enabling thousands of people to discover these lessons for themselves. We are absolutely determined to get these lessons out there… which is why you might also spot us popping up elsewhere next week , but we need your help, too.
Help us spread the word by taking the
lessons, passing them on, telling a teacher, school or community group that they exist or by letting us know what else you need. Because this is just the beginning for us.
This project pretty much epitomises our
purpose at Stylist: to help women (and girls) with the content and events we create. Being able to make an impact like this is what gets us out of bed in the morning and I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible team who worked around
the clock to pull this off. Team Stylist - the best 💜 (All useful links in bio)
5️⃣0️⃣ tickets left! 💨
Join us for a Brilliant Breakfast this International Women’s Day. Tickets linked in bio.
The vital funds we raise will help the @kingstrust support more young women to launch the future they want, with the skills and confidence they need to get into work - and soar.
🔸Organiser and host @stalbansmums
🔸Panel host @lisasmosarski
🔸Panel @fionawade1@bron_com@suzyreading@coconutpalm__
🔸Sponsor @trinderhair
We can’t wait to welcome you!
📆 Friday 6 March - 9-11.30am
📍 @cosyclub_stalbans
Karen, Trinder Hair Studios & The Kings Trust Team
#stalbansmums #brilliantbreakfast #kingstrust #internationalwomensday #harpendenmums
A little over 16 years ago, on a seemingly average day at work, I got a phone call that would come to change the entire trajectory of my career.
“We’re planning to launch a new women’s magazine and I wondered if you’d be interested in applying to be the editor?” said Phil Hilton, then editorial director of Shortlist Media.
Was I interested? Hell yes.
I’d long been a fan of Shortlist, not to mention the brilliant minds behind it, and the chance to launch a magazine that would genuinely reflect the women who would read it was an opportunity I had to go all-in for.
Multiple interviews, tasks, and hoops jumped through later (including some serious tests of my banter skills), I landed the job of my dreams, and on a sunny Wednesday morning in October 2009 we launched @stylistmagazine . The rest, as they say, is history.
Except that’s not where this story ends.
Working for Mike Soutar — editor-turned-Shortlist Media CEO (and future business power pal of Alan Sugar’s) — opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking. Suddenly, I was learning how to use the creativity we thrive on as editors to build a powerful and sustainable business. EBITDA was discussed alongside flatplans, editorial purpose poured into P&Ls. It was a training ground like no other.
Today, I’m incredibly proud to share that I’m stepping into the role of Managing Director of The Stylist Group — the multi-platform media business that grew out of the magazine I launched all those years ago.
I will always be grateful that I picked up the phone that day (was call screening even a thing back then?) and to the exceptional colleagues I have worked alongside to make Stylist the much-loved brand it is today. A special thank you will always go to my champions — @philhilton43 , @mike_soutar , @dolphin.ella and @rebecca.miskin — for the support, belief and opportunities along the way.
What a way to start 2026 (and also an excellent opportunity to share my 2019 timehop again)
The opening of Choose Gifts at 245 Regent Street kicked off this week with a dreamy @stylistmagazine VIP members event. Of course this meant delving into the treasure trove of fashion and beauty pieces for sale at up to 70% off.
Here Stylist Magazine’s Editorial Director @LisaSmosarki shares her favourite picks (hello @rixo donated by @byrotation , @tods and @jonesroadbeauty 😍)
What makes Choose Gifts really special is that 100% of what you spend will go straight to our grassroots partners supporting displaced communities across the world. Every purchase will make the world a better place.
You can find Choose Gifts upstairs at 245 Regent Street every day until Christmas Eve. We’ll be stocking up with more designer goodies over the next few weeks.
Shop with love this Christmas 💜
Why is it so hard to say something nice about yourself out loud? I found writing and posting (shudder) this cover so incredibly hard to do and I have rewritten that statement more times than I care to reveal whilst my inner shitty committee helpfully runs through of all the put downs people could respond with by daring to claim I’m optimistic or fun! But we know that self love and self belief are power tools when it comes to looking after your own mental health and in rising up against those trying to put us down, and we all need to be better at saying these words of positivity out loud. Starting today.
Which is why for Stylist’s November issue, we decided to flip the script. Enter: the Love Yourself Project.
Last month, in a pop-up photography studio at our biggest event of the year, Stylist Live: The VIP Edition, we asked over 400 Stylist readers one simple, but radical, question: What’s your favourite thing about yourself?
The answers in this issue are moving, reassuring and are a small act of rebellion in a world that is desperately trying to push women down. Feeling proud to be who we are unlocks the strength we need to push back.
Read the issue today and share your favourite things about yourself with the hashtag #stylistselfloveproject
Photography @sarahbrickphotography
Photography assistant @kyraclement #
@stylistmagazine
Oh and for those asking, gorgeous suit is @meandem ❤️
Stylist Live: The VIP Edition 2025 is WRAPPED. 2 days, 2000 people, 500 cover photos, 36 workshops, 16 catwalk shows, 7 talks, 1 stand up show, 2 singalongs, beaucoup de Mirabeaus = one rather shattered but proud team. Going to have a little nap now.
Today we launched @thevillagebystylist - a new community for women who also happen to be mums.
It’s an idea @alixkwalker1 and I been kicking around for years - ever since we became mums, somewhat unsurprisingly, and started talking non-stop about how ever-changing challenges come at you thick and fast. What we want to do is create a space with this new brand where we can explore what it means to be mums together - and it’s all about us, not our kids, for once!!
This first edition is free to read, just head to stylist.co.uk
And if any more evidence was needed that as a mum *I get ir* I’ve added a photo of where I am writing this post to you. After a very long day in the office I am now sat outside a train station near my house so I can finish this off then be present when I walk through the door. Proof, if ever needed, that Mums get shit done. Even sitting in the cold outside suburban train stations.
Huge thanks to our contributors on this debut issue for your brilliant articles @mother_pukka@sophieberesiner@digitaleditor_felicity@franfbrown@harriet.davey@annamathur@kaydee2810@shahedezaydi@helenrollerskates@otimabuse
We’re pleased to introduce you to the latest member of our family:The Village by Stylist, our new digital magazine.
As mums we regularly face new challenges, question our identity or ambitions, make compromises or tough decisions and of course navigate infinite parenting conundrums that those who don’t walk in our shoes might not quite understand.
But having a village changes things. The knowing nod, the I-see-you meme… the group rant, the hive-mind knowledge. Rash pictures sent, CVs looked over, bodies compared, and lack of perfection normalised. The greatest gift of all.
Stylist's Editorial Director Lisa Smosarski talks about why it’s so needed, and how her experiences as a parent helped shape the magazine.
Stylist Live: The VIP Edition is your ultimate luxury day out, a chance to indulge, learn, and be inspired on our new workshop stages.
Taking place across two days on 18-19 October, at Exhibition White City in West London, this year everyone gets the VIP treatment!
With every ticket, you’ll enjoy: ✨ A luxury goody bag worth £250+ with full sized products from Medik8, Trinny London, Oslo Skinlabs and more ✨ A bookable workshop on the Create, Make or Grow stage (schedule coming soon, bookings open 1 October) ✨ Inspiring main stage talks with big names (Elizabeth Day, Ravneet Gill, Emily Atack and Dr Julie Smith just announced) ✨ A premium prize from the Wheel of Dreams ✨ Autumn wardrobe inspiration from the Stylist Live catwalk with Tu ✨ A curated cocktail selection ✨ A delicious meal from Pho ✨ Tasty snacks & drinks from the Tuck Shop ✨ Immersive experiences with our brand partners ✨ Complimentary roaming treatments — from hand massages to tarot readings
This is your moment to reset, connect, and enjoy the very best of Stylist.. Gather your friends and secure your place now via the link in bio.
We can’t wait to welcome you!
We couldn’t think of a better guest to kick off the ‘What the Media Want’ podcast than @lisasmosarski - the powerhouse behind one of the UK’s most influential women’s media brands!
From her early days as a junior writer at Bliss to leading Stylist, Lisa has seen the media landscape change first-hand - and she’s sharing what that really means for PRs and brands today.
In this episode, she talks about: ✨ How Stylist grew into a multi-platform brand reaching 4M+ people each month ✨ The pitching mistakes she sees all the time (and what makes a pitch stand out) ✨ What Stylist is genuinely looking for in products, experts, and story ideas ✨ Her journey navigating the shift from print to digital, social, and now TikTok
If landing coverage in national titles is on your to-do list - or you just love hearing the stories behind the brands you admire - Lisa’s insights are gold!
Episode 1 is now live on Spotify, Youtube and Press Loft - tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at what the media really wants 🎧
#prtips #interiorspr #londonpr #pr101 #mediarelations #mediapitching #stylist #journalist #pressloft #publicrelations #prmadesimple
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