A little optimism never hurt anyone, so we’re embracing the 2021 style trends we can’t wait to wear out of the house looking our chicest, and most stylish selves- if there were ever a time for manifesting, it’s now!

The Zoella team have many shared loves (GBBO, the Duke’s spoon, takeaway pizza, the list goes on) but style is the subject in which our personal tastes are truly revealed. Ranging from the Insta obsessed chocolate brown trend to faux leather, corset tops to cottagecore everything, this week’s edit shares an insight into high street our saved baskets and the looks we’ll be wearing as soon as we’re able to send a “pub?” text.

Zoe

I’ve told myself that the minute we can start socialising or going anywhere or doing anything, I’m going to totally re-discover my wardrobe all over again because at the moment I am living in loungewear and old Pj bottoms. One trend I’ve loved is the cottage core trend. Cute countryside boots, shackets and frilly blouses. Farm life chic. Especially since going on a daily walk is the only thing we can do at the moment!

*And Other Stories, Wool Blend Scalloped Sweater, £85 

*And Other Stories, Hunter Original Tall Wellington Boots, £100 

*And Other Stories, Ruffled Collar Cotton Denim Shirt, £55 

*ASOS, & Other Stories felt bucket hat in beige, £29 

 

 

 

 

Lareese

I love how spending more time at home has made us all re-evaluate the functionality of our wardrobes. Over the last year, I’ve definitely given more thought to what I’m buying and why I’m buying it. I’m way more likely to buy easy to wear staples that work for me on an everyday basis over a flash in the pan trend piece nowadays: trenches, blazers, elevated loungewear and versatile items I can team with anything. Streamlining what I already have and investing in pieces that are well-made is really where I’m at with my life right now, so I think functionality and longevity is the way to go for 2021!

*And Other Stories, Oversized Wool Blend Shirt, £85 

Trouva, Le Bon Shoppe Her Socks In Matcha, £12

*And Other Stories, Wool Blend Plaid Blazer, £135 

*ASOS, Mango belted trench coat in beige, £89.99 

*Hush, Theia Slim Leg Joggers, £49 

*Revolve, Marshmallow Faux Fur-Lined Sandal, £127 

Danielle

I’ve put a spending ban on buying ANY more loungewear in 2021. Although tempting, the money is much better suited to buying actual outdoor clothing when I finally have people to see! I’ve gone for this period-inspired “corset” fitted top that’ll be a great “jeans and a nice top” pick. This oversized blazer for when we’re back in the office and going to meetings. Some new blue denim with a looser fit, and this beautiful biscuit sweater vest I can wear over shirts or t-shirts when it’s warmer!

*ASOS, ASOS DESIGN rib fitted corset top with ultra-wide neck in black, £20 

*Arket, Oversized Wool Hopsack Blazer, £135 

*H&M, Rib-knit sweater vest, £19.99

*H&M, Mom Loose-fit Ultra High Jeans, £17.99 

 

Maddie

I am still really loving how loungewear has gone from being something you restrict to wearing on your days off where you would see NO ONE to being front and centrepiece staples. Talk about a zero to hero story, here we are, it’s 2021 and a comfy co-ord is just about the absolute most stylish thing in your wardrobe. So many brands are doing this look really well but Me & Em and H&M are really showing just how versatile loungewear really is and I’m here for it.

*ME+EM, Mixed Media Tapered Jogger, £115 

*ME+EM, Snap Detail Jersey Trouser, £125

*ME+EM, Velour Palazzo Pant, £125 

*ME+EM, Velour Sweatshirt, £85 

*H&M, Knitted joggers, £24.99 

*H&M, Cotton hoodie, £19.99 

Charlotte

I’m on a bit of a spending ban at the moment because I know I’ll be grateful for the extra pennies if we make it out of lockdown and can make fun plans, but I am honestly OBSESSED with the chocolate brown fashion trend lately and want to add everything to basket. Even though it’s having a big moment now, it is a really versatile neutral shade so it might actually stand the test of time in my wardrobe if I did pick up a couple of items. It seems I’ve already persuaded myself of the inevitable … Hurries off to ASOS

*ASOS, Femme Luxe long sleeve ruched detail mini dress in chocolate, £25 

Prettylittlething, CHOCOLATE ASYMMETRICAL JERSEY THONG BODYSUIT, £12 

Na-kd, Satin Bow Hairclip, £7.95 

*Abercrombie & Fitch, Vegan Leather Mini Puffer, £170 

Holly

For someone who has no plans for the foreseeable future, I’ve become uncharacteristically interested in fashion trends. I’ve planned so many outfits for when we’re out of lockdown and one trend that I hope is still around is pastels. I’ve got my eyes on a few items for when we’re out but they’re a bit bolder than I’m used to, so we’ll see if I’m feeling daring. I’ve even purchased some pastel nail polish to feel my pastel vibes everywhere I go.

*ASOS, ASOS DESIGN 3 piece suit blazer in pink gingham, £44 

*Converse, Converse Color Chuck 70 High Top, £90 

*New Look, Pale Blue Ribbed Knit High Neck Top, £15.99 

*New Look, Pale Blue Leather-Look Camera Bag, £13.99 

Argos, Barry M Rainbow Reload Nail Paint Gift Set, £17.99 

 

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For our January book club, we had the absolute honour of reading and savouring every last word of Matt Haig’s glorious and beguiling bestseller, The Midnight Library. With lockdown 3.0 proving the hardest of all the restrictions yet, this poignant and perspective-shaking triumph of a novel couldn’t have landed in our laps at a better time.

Never have we read a novel that amalgamates the rock bottoms of reality with the soaring and infectious highs of the imaginary so effortlessly.

Here, the team share their glowing reviews of what has been one of our top book club reads so far – I think we are all in unanimous agreement that this book has the power to heal hearts & save lives.

Purchase The Midnight Library through Bookshop here.

Lareese

I’m of the view that Matt Haig’s writing should be prescribed. The way he verbalises every shade of human emotion is revolutionary and what he’s done with The Midnight Library is no exception. He’s crafted a story that strikes a tender balance between the real and the imaginary, resulting in a genre-busting novel that manages to oscillate between reality and escapism, much like its protagonist. The central themes of regret, second-chances and ‘what ifs’ are beautifully materialised in Nora Seed and her catalogue of other lives. The Midnight Library’s message is a poignant and essential one; the willingness to live is always a story worth telling and where there is life, there is infinite possibility. Matt Haig is a storytelling wizard and for as long as we have books, he must continue to write them.

Would you recommend? I’m a Matt Haig evangelist, so it’s a resounding yes from me
Rating: 5/5

Holly

This is probably the most stressed I’ve been writing a book review because I feel like I won’t be able to do it justice. Midnight Library is one of my favourite books I’ve ever read. At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it, the first few chapters were quite triggering and after having a bad start to January I very nearly didn’t prevail. But as soon as the Midnight Library took over, I was hooked. I read the whole thing in about 3 days.

I’m not really one to have regrets, I believe everything happens for a reason and the midnight library instilled that in me even more. That being said, it’s inevitable to have some regrets and this actually prompted me to reach out to someone and resolve an issue from a few years ago.

The whole thing is based around the character Nora and how she’s unhappy in life, and what she would change if she could. She has the option to see what her life would be like if she made different decisions, and how every decision has a knock-on effect on your life.

If I had to say one thing I wasn’t a fan of was the bit with Hugo and the science behind the midnight library. I understand why it was necessary but the whole book is so personal to Nora, I feel like it wasn’t as peaceful when it brought other characters into her story.

I would say the Midnight Library was genuinely life-changing, and I kind of hope this is really what happens when you die. I feel like this weird weight I didn’t even realise I was carrying has been lifted. Big praise for Matt Haig!

Would you recommend? Definitely
Rating: 5/5

Charlotte

I love Matt Haig on social media and find he’s genuinely one of the few people who discuss mental health that really resonates with me and feels to make sense, possibly because we’ve shared a lot of the same experiences. I was so excited to give The Midnight Library a read because of this and it did not disappoint! I loved Nora from the off and really saw parts of myself in her as I definitely struggle with regrets and ‘what ifs’ on the daily. Her character felt entirely real to me from the start and the intricacies of her life were portrayed with such depth and detail that I was invested in her story and felt genuine empathy for her.

I normally go for quite ‘realistic’ books that I can picture myself in so I was a little apprehensive that The Midnight Library would feel far fetched and lose some of its poignance for me, but I was so wrong! The Midnight Library is everything I think the world needs and it gave me a lot of hope, even though it is a work of fiction. I think the messages between this book’s pages would offer comfort and love to anyone that reads it, and I’m so glad to have learnt so much from this story so early in 2021- it’s had a huge impact on my mindset!

Would you recommend? 1000000%
Rating: 5/5

Danielle

The Midnight Library has been on my TBR pile for a while so I was extremely pleased to finally tuck into it this month. Boy did this one did not disappoint, it’s quite frankly everything people say it is and more. A beautiful story told so well it’ll have you contemplating every aspect of your own life and how you live it. I haven’t read something with any fantasy/sci-fi elements in for ages and it was such a delight to escape somewhere so magical every night of my dreary January. I don’t tend to hand on to regrets but I’m a bit of a daydreamer so this book really spoke to me (as I’m sure it does everyone) but it’s just so brilliantly relatable. I can see myself picking this up every few years to remember the lessons I learnt, please read it!

Would you recommend? To everyone!
Rating: 5/5

Darcey

I absolutely love Matt Haig and have been a massive fan of his work and as him in general ever since reading ‘Notes On a Nervous Plant’ a few years ago. After seeing so many great reviews for ‘The Midnight Library’ I was worried that my expectations were so high that it wouldn’t quite reach them, well, it exceeded my expectations. I don’t think anything I write will be enough to explain just how great of a read it is, basically everyone should read this!

As someone who can spend to much time worrying if I’ve made the right decisions in life, analysing mistakes I’ve made in the past filled with regret (over the smallest things, as usual!), this book really spoke to me! It made me really reflect on my own life, while simultaneously being super invested in Nora’s other lives and the journey she was going on!

I recommend everyone to read this book, it has honestly changed my mindset and especially in these hard times, I think it will help a lot of people.

Would you recommend – Absolutely!
rating out of 5: 5/5

Here’s a reminder of the blurb.

Between life and death, there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?”

A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well-lived, from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How To Stop Time.

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe, there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig’s enchanting new novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.

Purchase The Midnight Library through Bookshop here.

It seems a particularly cruel twist of fate that the heart, even in the throes of a paralysing break-up, insists on soldiering on. If anything, it loves harder. With every bottomless unrequited beat, it looks for old lovers long after they’ve gone – in song lyrics and sunsets, in patches of perfumed bedsheets; even the silence between long drives and the sky. Everything seems to belong entirely to them. It’s a special kind of scorpion sting and even a super strength salve won’t touch the sides. It’s cathartic at best, gut-wrenching at worst and the collateral damage is far-reaching.

Somewhere between the hours of phone calls, texting until your giddy thumbs hurt, laying on chests and placing every soul-baring card on the proverbial table. It. All. Comes. Crashing. Down. And the crippling emotional comedown ensues.

How can someone go from being the earth, the sun, the moon and the stars to being a total stranger; anonymous matter floating out there somewhere in a parallel universe?

You know every little thing that makes them who they are. Every scar, every flaw, every imperfection (yes, Bridgerton quotes will get us through this) but in some twist of fucked up fairytale fate we were never briefed on, they’re cut from the plot never to be seen again and you’re left clutching the beloved proof copy, wondering where it all went wrong.

Welcome to Heart Break City.

We won’t lie to you, it’s a shithole. But listen, it’s a path well-trodden and you’re not about to lay down roots here, you’re merely passing through. Hold onto that thought.

Should you get a little lost while you’re out there finding your way around and tripping over ugly landmarks, here’s a pocket map full of key coordinates, so you can always find your way home. We have every faith you’re gonna make it.

1. Let yourself grieve the relationship

Grieving is an essential part of your healing and as much as it feels vulnerable, scary and unbearable to sit with the pain, letting your feelings do exactly what they need to do to serve you through this funky kind of loss is self-defence on a whole new level. This isn’t something you have to get over within a matter of months, control or push through in order to make it back to normality and no matter how relentless, intrusive and potent your negative thoughts feel, remember they aren’t facts.

2. Take ownership of your loss

It feels a lot like the absence and loss is acutely connected to the other person but it’s not, it’s entirely yours and there’s a powerful lesson there. You sit with the pain, you get to feel it intensely and fiercely, you own it and actually, it has very little to do with them. Take them out of the equation and what you’re usually left with is this feeling of total abandonment. Sure, you feel lonely but that doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of finding love again. You’re right where you need to be and as treacherous as the path may seem right now, a lovely glade full of daffodils, ducks and plenty of dick will turn up. You’ve just gotta get through those rotten brambles first.

3. Focus on perspective

A mantra to live by: no relationship is a waste of time. Reaching a point of acceptance within your loss is a breakthrough moment when you feel like you’ve got a lifetime membership at The Broken Hearts Club.

4. Wean yourself away

There’s nothing like a last seen notification to send you over the edge. Why do we do it to ourselves? Mute and block their social media, delete their number, archive photos do whatever you have to do to stop your fingers going there. Weaning yourself off them isn’t easy but distraction is a welcome tonic. Tell your friends exactly what you need from them, fill the void, get a dog, cut your hair, watch that tv series they thought was stupid. Use this time to indulge in all the things YOU want to do.

5. Reconnect with yourself

Loving someone else so hard often means losing sight of your needs in the process. Being single means no more compromise, no more meeting someone else’s needs before your own or answering to anyone but yourself.

Your couple radar will be on high alert and while it may seem like the whole world is drunk in love, soon you’ll begin to notice the solo lovers of the universe; too busy romanticising the f**k out of their lives to give their relationship status a second thought.

6. Write it in a letter, babe

Let it all out by writing a letter as if you were going to send it. Just don’t actually ya know, send it. Sometimes the chaos of heartbreak can leave us feeling like we’re trying to come to terms with a hundred messy parts, knotted together like a shoddy £3 necklace we won at the arcade. We need closure, hun and writing a letter is one way to get it. Tell them how angry and hurt you are, relive the best bits, let your tears mix with the ink and then when you feel like asking for them back… take your pretty little matches to it.

7. Hit play on the tragic playlist

John Legend, Taylor Swift, Westlife – they’ve all joined us in the bath tub of doom before. Wallow with the tear-jerking greats for as long as you need to then when you’re done -usually when your face contorts and your forehead feels like a breeze-block but no actual tears come out, like a cruel variant of cystitis reserved only for the consciously uncoupling folk – stick on some Ariana Grande and rise from the ashes.

8. Put judgement in the bin

If a fling’s what you need, you go do that. Sometimes meeting a new penis or vagina is exactly what you need – just don’t use all those textbook rebound moves to numb the pain because you’ll be back on the bathroom floor with a bottle of cheap plonk that tastes a lot like vinaigrette before you can say Kama Sutra.

Have you been there, done that, got the tear-stained t-shirt? How did you remedy your broken heart?

Instagram savvy brands such as Dora Larsen and Womanhood are paving the way for comfort + colour + cuteness in the knicker department, offering a range of styles, coverage and contemporary designs that fit the priorities of modern women. Summed up so perfectly by Womanhood founder Tanya Robertson, “it’s no longer about choosing between comfort, style or designs that only cater to the male gaze”- we couldn’t agree more!

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So, January was trash then.

Here’s to making the most of Feb-roo-ary or ya know, just tolerating it, having 18 breakdowns a day and pinning all your hopes on that one nice candle you spent £45 on because that’s where we’re at right now.

PS it’s fig scented isn’t it.

1 Praise yourself for making it through the bleakest January on record. Your lips, your bank balance, your wine supply, it all dried up

2 Thank your lucky stars you don’t have to sit in a restaurant surrounded by couples murdering the Lady and the Tramp spaghetti scene this year

3 Or share your tiny desk with all the humble brag office flowers

4 Decide that lent is in fact an energy vampire and you’ve given up enough over this last year so it ain’t happening, sorry big man

5 Act shook when your dad sends another V Day card from your secret admirer. He is nothing if not committed

6 Consider what kind of warped existence we’re living in now that we’re being told washing our dirty plates is good for our mental health. WELL, my mind is about to have a f**king whale of a time with this lot

7 Make an ex-boyfriend collage. And by collage, we mean dart board. Hours of fun.

8 Honour National Pizza Day the only way you know how, by deep-throating a 12 incher in the bath. Doughiness is next to godliness.

9 Start hugging trees on your government approved daily walk. The base of a grand oak is all the wood I’m getting rn

10 Burst into flames at the very mention of banana bread. We don’t do that here

11 Eat so many pancakes you perspire maple syrup

12 Realise that it’s nearly your one year in joggers and no bra anniversary. Congrats to my fave couple

13 Sign off a work email with, best wishes Lady Whistledown because nothing matters anymore

14 Cry because the whole of Instagram is either in Dubai or parading their piss poor beautiful fucking snowmen

15 Complete Bumble. That’s a wrap folks!

16 Cook yourself another tasteless dinner – could be Covid, could just be a symptom of @me

17 Place a bid on an ugly orthopaedic computer chair… three lockdowns later and you’re finally putting your posture before your Pinterest aesthetic

18 Watch another serial killer documentary to distract yourself from the doom and gloom

19 Raise a toast to wet Feb, Amazon abstinence, getting dressed, everything gets a toast these days

20 Find yourself alone, naked and eating an orange in the shower. The epitome of unbridled joy

With life whizzing by at lightning speed, even in a National lockdown, it can be difficult to give the good bits their due thanks. The phone call from your sister, your cup of coffee in the morning, your orgasm at lights out or the heartbreak anthem that’s getting you through – all these small feats when realised in a few simple sentences of thanks can be enough to turn a funky day into a spunky day. Which bring us onto our month of love and daily gratitude exercise!

Gratitude is an inside job and much like any self-care ritual, it’s something that we can get a great deal out of if we tend to our own wellbeing patch little and often, rather than letting the weeds run amok.

One way to check in with yourself and make sure you’re soaking up those daily wins is by practising thankfulness. Sure, it may sound a bit woo-woo but the benefits can be transformative.

Whether you want to take 5 mins to reflect on your blessings before you hit the hay, or you want to start your day right with a good soul-deed, we want to encourage you to use those sweet daily victories to bolster your mind and cultivate a full and thankful February.

Here are 28 daily prompts to help inspire your gratitude practice. Don’t forget to tag us in your posts so we can flood social media with all the feel-good vibes & bright sides!

1. One thing you look forward to in the morning…
2. A book you’re grateful for reading…
3. Write down a happy memory…
4. Three positives to come out of lockdown…
5. One thing about winter that makes you happy…
6. Talk about someone who made you feel understood recently…
7. What is a personality trait you’re proud of…
8. One thing you love about your job or student life…
9. Where is a place you travelled to that felt like home…
10. Three things you love about where you live…
11. A tv series you’re grateful for…
12. A song you always turn up on the radio…
13. Something that made you laugh today…
14. What gave you comfort today…
15. Give your body a compliment…
16. Fave part of your evening routine…
17. Think of something someone said that resonated with you…
18. Something you’re looking forward to this weekend…
19. How is life today, better than one year ago…
20. Something you accomplished today…
21. Something you’re proud of yourself for…
22. What is something or someone that helped you out today…
23. One thing that made you smile today…
24. What activity makes you feel calm…
25. What is challenging you, how is this helping you to grow…
26. Write about a person you’re grateful for…
27. Something you hope to accomplish tomorrow…
28. What makes you happy to be alive…