For anyone who isn't familiar with Julia Restoin Roitfeld, her name has long been synonymous with the world of fashion. As the daughter of one of the fashion industry's most prominent and respected editors, style is in her DNA. Her mother, Carine Roitfeld, was Editor-in-Chief of French Vogue for a decade, meaning Julia spent her formative years front row at fashion shows, immersed in the world of fashion.
I first came across Julia nearly 20 years ago, when she was one of the most stylish and recognisable faces front row at London Fashion Week. If a designer was looking to invite the coolest names in fashion, Julia was always on the guest list. What was already clear to me at the time was her innate sense of style, no doubt inherited from her mother, but also her determination to carve out her own path.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Shortly after the birth of her daughter in 2012, Julia launched her own website, Romy and the Bunnies, a personal blog dedicated to parenting, style and motherhood. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with brands ranging from Hervé Léger to The Outnet. Today, with a top-secret jewellery collaboration in the pipeline, most of her time is devoted to being a mother of two. In her spare time, Julia writes her blog, Less Is More, a space dedicated to the art of shopping less but better, and making the most of the pieces you already own.
Unsurprisingly, Julia's wardrobe features a lot of black, much like her mother's. She credits attending one of the few schools in Paris with a white and grey uniform as having a lasting influence on her now-muted colour palette.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
While most of her days are spent wearing jeans and comfortable shoes to navigate the London Underground and keep up with her young son, her wardrobe still includes her trademark black stilettos and a black pencil skirt with thigh slit. Even her idea of "comfortable shoes" includes a pair of Maison Margiela kitten heels and her favourite sixties-inspired block heels from French label Carel, which she owns in several colours. If there is one consistent theme to Julia's approach to dressing, it's this: when something works, buy it again. She even admits to owning the same three-piece suit from The Frankie Shop in four different colours.
Although her wardrobe consists predominantly of black and white, unexpected accents of colour stand out, from a lilac Sleeper dress to a camouflage cargo jacket by Saint Laurent. Rather than chasing trends, Julia focuses on wearing pieces that suit her and stand the test of time—a philosophy reflected throughout her wardrobe.
Perhaps most surprising of all is Julia's admission that she isn't particularly interested in handbags. In fact, she'd happily leave the house with nothing more than her keys and phone. That doesn't mean, however, that she hasn't invested wisely in her collection. A common thread among her bags is timeless designer styles with subtle monograms. One of her best travel tips is using her Louis Vuitton clutch both as an evening bag and as a toiletries pouch when travelling, allowing her to pack surprisingly light. It's just one of the many practical tips she shares, including how she manages long-haul trips to Tokyo with nothing more than a carry-on suitcase.
When I met Julia for the first time to film her episode of Anatomy of a Wardrobe, it quickly became clear that her approach to style is every bit as considered as her wardrobe suggests. In an industry driven by trends and the constant pressure for newness, Julia takes a more measured approach, championing thoughtful purchases, timeless pieces and making the most of what she already owns—a philosophy that feels particularly relevant today.
With thanks to The Broadway, a landmark development moment from St James’s Park. Apartments starting from £1.6 million.
Shop Julia's wardrobe:
Chloé
Gelso Oversized Blazer - Light Taupe Melange
Gianvito Rossi
Gianvito Rossi Sofia Metallic Thong Sandals
AGOLDE
Gelso Waistcoat - Light Taupe Melange
Gelso Pleated Trousers - Light Taupe Melange
Prada
Prada Canvas Pumps
Louis Vuitton
Trio Toiletry Pouch
Maison Margiela
Maison Margiela Faded Check Wool Skirt
ME+EM
Elevated Shirt
Saint Laurent
Franciane 105 Leather Platform Sandals in Brown
FRAME
Low Rise Straight Low-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans
Carel
Peche - Platinum Laminated Leather Slingback Mary Janes
Fragrance’s latest obsession takes root surprisingly close to home: the back garden. While the great outdoors has inspired perfumers for centuries, this new wave of scents draws on familiar scenes and aromas, including dew-dropped English meadows and the spoils of your allotment’s vegetable patch and herb garden.
It may sound odd if you’re partial to saccharine gourmands, but when scents like rosemary, rhubarb, and tomato are translated into olfactory form, they’re transformed. There’s an earthy groundedness, but also a sweetness, and if the composition leans herby, it can be invigoratingly botanical. There’s a freshness that’s nuanced, textured and completely transformative—they’re familiar, but with a hint of the surreal.
It reflects a broader shift, too: As a society, we’re becoming increasingly green-fingered. Research facilitated by Greenpeace, through freedom of information requests, found that the number of people waiting for an allotment space has almost doubled in the last 12 years. The charity chalked it up to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as a desire to combat the mental load of climate change, and the cost of living crisis.
Niche perfume houses have been tapping into the movement for a while. First there was Loewe with its release of the now-iconic Tomato Leaves Candle in 2020. Next, Officine Universelle Buly released an extensive collection on the theme, The French Gardens, inspired by an antique collection of 18th-century botanical seeds and seedlings purchased by co-founder Ramdane Touhami. The six resulting fragrances feature unconventional, verdant notes of Scandinavian redcurrant, Peruvian tomato, Andean verbena and Ulu basil.
But this summer, the trend hit the mainstream. Just last month, Jo Malone debuted its limited-edition veggies collection: a trio of colognes evoking ripe beetroot, butternut, and carrot, with home products inspired by green tomato vine and tomato leaf.
(Image credit: Jo Malone London)
So why now? “We’re seeing a shift away from fragrances that feel overly polished or overtly sweet, towards ones that feel alive and transportive,” explains the founder of niche, luxury fragrance brand, LUMIRA, Almira Armstrong. “Garden-inspired fragrances capture that beautifully. They evoke crushed herbs, warm leaves, citrus trees and sun-soaked greenery, creating the feeling of stepping into a living landscape rather than simply wearing perfume. People are craving authenticity and a stronger connection to nature. These fragrances feel restorative, sophisticated and quietly luxurious… They tell a story through atmosphere rather than obvious florals or gourmand notes.”
They’re also exceedingly wearable, adds Cherry Cheng, founder of fragrance brand Jouissance. “Green, aromatic, and vegetable notes tend to feel inherently genderless because they're rooted in nature and tend to sit outside traditional ideas of masculine and feminine perfumery.”
Most of this category taps into the everyday, so expect notes of tomato leaf, basil, mint, rosemary, thyme and cucumber. But there are others that evoke a mood, like sun- or rain-drenched grass, overgrown orchards, warm earth, and freshly cut greenery. These compositions rely heavily on familiar notes of petitgrain, neroli, vetiver and moss; they are just used differently. “They’re not meant to smell literally like vegetables,” Armstrong notes. “Instead, they recreate the freshness of stems, leaves and herbs warmed by the sun.”
These scents create a feeling of stepping into a living landscape rather than simply wearing perfume.
Almira Armstrong
Of course, we’ve also been drawn to these fecund scents because of the unprecedented heatwave that has gripped most of Western Europe. As the temperatures rise, people naturally gravitate towards fragrances that feel cooling, airy and refreshing, adds Armstrong. “Green notes, aromatic herbs and citrus all create that sensation without feeling heavy. Summer also heightens our memories of gardens, fresh produce and time spent outdoors,” she says. “Scent is closely connected to memory, so fragrances featuring basil, tomato leaf or citrus can instantly transport us to long lunches, Mediterranean holidays or afternoons spent in the garden.”
Ahead, the best, most invigorating, garden-inspired scents to shop this summer.
Officine Universelle Buly
Eau Triple Indian Cucumber and Syrian Mint
This water-based perfume features notes of Indian cucumber, Syrian mint, white musk and iodine essences.
Jo Malone London
Velvety Butternut Cologne
A woody gourmand, this fragrance has notes of smooth butternut, ginger, warm tonka bean and patchouli.
D.S. & DURGA
Steamed Rainbow
Created to evoke what a real rainbow might smell like, this scent includes notes of red mandarin, blue almond flower, indigo grass, violet, vapours and vetiver.
Jil Sander
Salt
This perfume conjures the fluidity of water, with upcycled cardamom, CO2 extracted vanilla and lavender sourced from France.
Perfumer H
Dandelion Eau De Parfum
Inspired by perfumer Lyn Harris’ childhood, this green scent captures the memory of balmy afternoons in childhood, spent blowing the seeds off the top of dandelion stalks.
Byredo
Night Veils Casablanca Lily Extrait De Parfum
A homage to the flower that flourishes in the night, Casablanca Lily opens on gardenia and plum, before carnation and Indian tuberose come to the fore.
Maison Margiela Replica
From the Garden Eau De Toilette
This scent draws on master perfumer Olivier Cresp’s memories of spending his childhood outside with his father, and features notes of tomato leaf, mandarin, and patchouli.
D.S. & DURGA
Coriander Eau de Parfum
Incredibly fresh, this perfume celebrates the humble coriander plant, with supporting notes of juniper needle, geranium, clove stem, and clary sage.
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As Victoria Starmer left Downing Street, stage left, on Monday morning, you couldn’t help but see the smile on her face as one of relief. Ever since her husband assumed the role of Prime Minister, every outfit she’s put on has been reported on and even highlighted as part of a pay-for access scandal (Labour donor Lord Ali had as it turned out, paid for her Me + Em haul). Walking into that viper’s nest, where you will be painstakingly scrutinised in the hope of finding fault, is an unenviable prospect, no matter how prestigious your new address might be. Mrs Starmer left Downing Street wearing Karen Millen, chastened perhaps by two years of headlines.
Marie-France van Heel wearing the Victoria Beckham Edith Dress (was £850 on Farfetch.com, now £620) (Image credit: Getty Images)
And so it was when Marie-France Van Heel stepped out of the car at Buckingham Palace that you felt an inevitable intake of breath, a new woman in a new dress, fresh meat for the rubber-necks to pick apart.
For what it’s worth, my first thought was “move over Pippa Middleton, her bum looks amazing in that.” Then I noted the tell-tale cut of a Victoria Beckham dress, the gently-ruched-style with loose sleeves that she’s made a lucrative signature piece. A demure length, a flattering neckline in a pretty summer-y colour. A proper British designer—smart!—but, oh god, they’re going to go after her for the price of it (£850).
A woman who, through her own hard work, can clearly afford to buy her own clothes, from wherever she wants—shouldn’t we champion her agency and success? Are we just jealous? Must we be so predictably reductive?
Van Heel was of course instantly pilloried, with comments over the fit of her dress which curved over her small tummy. Her body being of more interest than the fact that this new high-profile representative of our country is a Cambridge-educated marketing director, who sits on the boards of charities, mother of three, who some 16 years ago, as a carrier of the BRCA1 gene, underwent a double mastectomy in order to lessen her chances of developing the breast cancer which killed her sister at 39. A woman who, through her own hard work, can clearly afford to buy her own clothes, from wherever she wants—shouldn’t we champion her agency and success? Are we just jealous? Must we be so predictably reductive?
But, given the lifestyle-section reaction to her husband’s appointment, there was little more to expect. Endless click-bait has been churned out debating the ‘health’ ramifications of the “Burnham belly”, spinning off into fitness and diet tips for how to get rid of your dad-fat. I know we want equality, but extending body-shaming to men feels somewhat to miss the point.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
We live in a hyper-visual age, inundated with excessive amounts of imagery of which the demand for perfection is so high that we are happy to be seduced by AI influencers, selling us their ‘wellness’ tips and tricks. The fleshy reality of human bodies is hidden from us in the age of social media, perhaps that makes us more accusatory when confronted with the figure of a 56-year-old woman, who is not asking us to get ready with her, or showing us a skincare routine, but simply accompanying her husband on the biggest day of his career.
It’s all very well to scream ‘patriarchy!’ when women are compounded by the rigid beauty standards we cannot expel ourselves from, but in reality it is often other women appraising and admonishing each other when it comes to fashion.
As much as we might say we dress for each other, rather than men, we also hack into each other when we feel someone has transgressed the red lines of how we insist women should appear in public. Small, obviously. If your body has shape that should be smoothed down and covered appropriately. No visible belly-shape, please! No breasts outlined in a bra! Hair must be perfect, makeup there, but not too there. We complain about being forced to live in this aesthetic straitjacket of expectation, but sometimes it is there of our own volition.
If we want impressive, inspiring women to take up space in the public eye, we seriously need to rethink how we treat them once they are there.
If we want impressive, inspiring women to take up space in the public eye, we seriously need to rethink how we treat them once they are there. Are we all but one awkwardly angled photograph away from being viral hate-bait? We admonish celebrities for being too thin or too fat to the point that the slither of space we allow bodies to exist in is forever shifting. An impossible space to fit. No one can win this game, and aren’t we all just exhausted by playing it?
We might cry to be seen as we are, irrespective of our bodies, but we still fail to give ourselves or each other that same grace. If we want to be taken seriously as people who do things other than get dressed, we might just need to back track on the back chat.
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There’s a story that, as women, I think many of us know far too well.
It might be one we’ve lived ourselves, one shared, or one we’ve never quite found the words to explain. A story about changing a route, changing a workout, or changing how we show up in a space because something—or someone—made us feel uncomfortable.
Today, this story starts with a number. In an exclusive first look, Marie Claire UK reveals new Sport England research showing that 86% of women aged 16 to 34 have experienced harassment or intimidation while exercising in the past three years.
Read that again.
We’re not talking about one woman having one uncomfortable interaction in a changing room. Nor an awkward moment that someone has brushed off as “probably nothing”. It’s a pattern of experiences that are shaping how women move, in spaces that are supposed to make them feel stronger.
The report also reveals that 43% of women aged 16 to 34 who don't currently use gyms or leisure centres say concerns about sexual harassment have directly influenced their decision not to attend. Among women who do use these spaces, 62% say they have changed their behaviour after experiencing or witnessing harassment or intimidation. At the same time, one in ten have stopped using a workout space permanently following an incident.
The findings arrive at a time when women’s participation in fitness is quite literally booming: 7.6 million women now routinely take part in fitness activities—1.4 million more than 2021—with Gen Z leading the charge through strength training and gym-based exercise.
The message is crystal clear: women want to be in these spaces. The question is whether those spaces are making women feel safe enough to stay.
New Sport England Research Confirms a Worrying Barrier to Entry for Women: Not Feeling Safe
Sadly, these numbers aren't just statistics: they're the lived reality of millions of women worldwide.
The new Sport England research asks a simple question: how safe do women actually feel in gyms, leisure centres and other places where we’re supposed to be getting active and feeling safe doing so?
The answer is uncomfortable. Only 46% of women aged 16 to 34 believe these spaces are as safe and welcoming for women as they are for men. Let that sink in for a second. Fewer than half of us walk into a gym believing we’re on equal footing before we’ve even picked up a dumbbell.
Only 45% think enough is being done to tackle harassment and intimidation.
If you’re 16 to 24, the concern is even greater. The generation driving the current gym boom is also the generation most worried about what might happen when they get there.
And the numbers go on.
(Image credit: Future Magic Creator)
If you’ve ever hovered at the edge of the weights area pretending to stretch while you work up the courage to walk in, the figures probably won't surprise you.
But that's what's most worrying. According to the research, 78% of women aged 16 to 34 have experienced non-verbal harassment: the staring that lasts a little too long, the lingering nearby, the man who seems to follow from machine to machine without ever technically saying anything. It’s awkward to explain, even harder to report, and very easy for someone else to brush off, which is exactly why so many women end up second-guessing themselves instead of the behaviour.
So when women say they’ve changed how they use the gym, they’re really not being “dramatic”. 62% have changed their behaviour after experiencing or witnessing harassment or intimidation. And the changes are painfully familiar: 29% avoid dressing in a certain way, 29% avoid going at certain times, and 29% avoid areas of the gym that usually have more men.
Perhaps the statistic that says the quiet part out loud: 43% of women aged 16 to 34 who haven’t used a gym in the last year say concerns about sexual harassment influenced that decision.
The details are in the data. They reveal not just how many women feel unsafe, but the small, everyday decisions they are making because of it. But numbers can only take us so far. To understand what this really looks like, we spoke to the women who've experienced it firsthand.
(Image credit: Future Magic Creator)
"I Changed My Workout Before I Changed Gyms"
What’s particularly striking is that while the data shows just how widespread these experiences are, many women were still reluctant to come forward and share their stories. But perhaps that isn’t so surprising. These moments can be difficult to explain, easy to dismiss, and often leave so many questioning whether what happened was “bad enough” to talk about in the first place.
But whether it’s a comment shouted across the street, unwanted eyes in the gym, or simply the feeling of being watched, the impact is real. The real issue is that these experiences are so often reduced down to “just” something: just a comment, just banter, just an awkward interaction, despite the research showing that they can shape whether women feel able to exercise freely at all.
Ally Head, Senior Health Editor at Marie Claire UK, knows that feeling all too well. During lockdown, while training for a 37-mile ultra marathon, she experienced something that would go on to change the way she approached running forever.
"It was peak lockdown, and I was banking a training run when it happened. Alone, on a deserted street in central London, a man backed me down an alleyway, shouting abuse and squaring up to me."
"I’ve never felt fear like it. For what felt like an eternity but was probably a minute, I genuinely didn’t know what he was going to do next. Eventually, he backed off, and I made it home—physically unscathed, but mentally shaken up."
"Sadly, it wasn’t an isolated incident. Catcalling, heckling, and unsolicited comments all seem to be part and parcel if you’re a woman who moves her body in public. I've experienced it on the street, in the gym, and in parks."
"It took years to rebuild my confidence—I still haven’t run with both headphones in, and I still rarely wear my hair in a ponytail or plait, in case someone were to grab it."
"In the aftermath, I found myself doing what so many women do: interrogating my own behaviour instead of his. Were my shorts too short? My top too revealing? Had I taken an unsafe route? It took time to understand that I wasn't the problem—and I should never have been made to feel like I was."
What this research exposes is a sad fact: that too many of us are treating safety planning as part of our workout routine—and we’ve become so used to it that we barely bat an eyelid.
In 2026, I shouldn't have had to feel afraid to exercise. Safety concerns shouldn't be a barrier to entry for women wanting to workout.
Ally Head
We Need Safer Spaces to Move—So What Happens Now?
The fitness industry’s latest answer to women’s safety concerns is often female-only spaces. And while many women genuinely value them, there’s an uncomfortable question attached to their popularity: isn’t it worrying that we’ve had to create a separate space all in the name of avoiding harassment while exercising?
Women shouldn't need their own corners of the gym. They should feel comfortable—and safe—enough to workout in exactly the same spaces men do.
Yet sadly, the Sport England research shows women don't have the luxury of simply deciding whether they want to exercise. Instead, we're having to decide how to make exercise feel manageable. From the time we consider working out, we're having to avoid certain spaces, carefully choose what to wear, and pick which moments we choose to ignore, rather than challenge, because we don’t want the situation to escalate.
We’ve become so accustomed to these adjustments that they've started to look like normal gym behaviour rather than a response to feeling unsafe.
That is exactly what This Girl Can and Sport England want to change. Claire Edwards, Head of Campaign Activation at Sport England, says the biggest takeaway isn't just the scale of the issue, but what responses revealed. “The fact that 62% of women changed their behaviour after experiencing or witnessing harassment or intimidation underlines how much women want to be in these spaces. They're adapting themselves to be able to stay within them.”
But there is a limit to how much adapting women can be expected to do. As Edwards explains: “Constantly having to make these adjustments will become exhausting and ultimately push women away from being active in these spaces altogether.”
The answer, she says, is not asking women to shrink themselves—it’s creating environments where they no longer feel they have to.
That is where Safer Spaces to Move comes in. Developed by This Girl Can and ukactive, the resource hub provides gyms and leisure operators with practical tools, training, policies, and guidance to help prevent harassment, respond appropriately when incidents happen and build trust with their members.
Creating Environments Where Women and Girls Feel Safe
It's not all bad news, and there are also signs of progress. Since the launch of Safer Spaces to Move, more women are reporting clearer codes of conduct, processes and information about where to go for support at their fitness centres.
For Edwards, the ambition is simple: “To create environments where women and girls feel safe, welcome and confident to be active.”
For all the uncomfortable truths in this research, there is hope. What should give us genuine optimism is that women aren't retreating from fitness—far from it. We're showing up in record numbers, community in tow. We're taking up space in weight rooms, signing up for running events, learning to lift heavy, and proving that the desire to move, train and feel strong is not the issue.
It's clear that the fitness and health sector is stepping up and leading the way on women’s safety—but there is so much more to do to ensure all spaces are safe and welcoming.
If this research achieves anything, it's this: we need to stop treating women's safety calculations as an inevitable part of exercise, and start treating them as a problem that can—and should—be designed out of the experience altogether.
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Like seemingly everyone else in the country, I have a love-hate relationship with the current heatwave. I’ve come to the conclusion that I do, in fact, enjoy very hot weather —just not in the UK. So naturally, my mind has been wandering more and more towards last-minute holidays and the capsule wardrobes that go with them.
Rather than squeezing myself onto a sweaty tube car, I crave languid strolls down sleepy cobbled streets and the French Riviera: settings where printed dresses, linen separates and minimalist sandals can truly come into their own. The summer sales are in full swing, and as a cost-conscious shopping editor, it’s my favourite time to shop. Season-friendly clothing, accessories and swimwear at a fraction of the price? Yes, please. But please don’t misunderstand me: I would never encourage you to buy something just because it's discounted.
My rules for sale shopping are simple: only buy something if you would have purchased it at full price and can also see yourself wearing it in multiple outfits. That way you can really savour the discount with no post-spend guilt in sight. Though these selections might be perfect for a last-minute holiday, they have been carefully selected for their timelessness and longevity—a blend of classic and on-trend pieces to see you through multiple years and holidays to come.
Oh, and the fact that most of these holiday picks are on sale is not even the best part. The Marie Claire team have curated an edit of vouchers to get you even more money off the selections below—I know, I know, we shouldn’t have. So keep scrolling to shop the fashion sale picks worthy of a luxury European resort, and don’t forget to click through to our voucher pages for extra discounts. Happy Shopping.
18 Holiday-Ready Pieces on Sale Right Now:
Alémais
Georgie printed dress
This floaty Alémais dress was made to be showcased on a Greek island. Save even more with one of our Mytheresa discount codes.
Aspinal of London
Kiran Sunglasses
I’m a fan of the wide design of these Aspinal sunglasses. You can’t go wrong with a neutral tortoiseshell frame, especially at 60% off. Save even more with one of our Aspinal discount codes.
Tod's
Raffia tote bag
A raffia tote will see you through multiple summers to come. This one from Tod’s is achingly elegant. Save even more with one of our Harvey Nichols discount codes.
All Saints
Eshe Baggy Fit Satin Trousers
With their balloon shape and cream satin finish, these trousers are the perfect mix of on-trend and timeless. Save even more with one of our All Saints discount codes.
River Island
Green Asymmetric Placed Print Top
Pair them with this printed top to inject some colour. Save even more with one of our River Island discount codes.
H&M
Broderie anglaise co-ord
This broderie co-ord makes the perfect lightweight beach cover-up. Save even more with one of our H&M discount codes.
Hobbs
Shona Linen Dress
Add a headscarf and you'll be channelling a full Audrey Hepburn vibe. Save even more with one of our Hobbs discount codes.
Fitflop
Gracie Leather flip-flops
A pair of simple black flip flops will take you through city and beach life in style, and these are cushioned for secret comfort (hello long walks by the coast). Save even more with one of our FitFlop discount codes.
Karen Millen
Sheer Skirt Maxi Knit Dress
This Karen Millen dress features subtle sheer detailing—perfect for sunset drinks. Save even more with one of our Debenhams discount codes.
Kate Spade
Wave Thin Bangle
There's nothing more Grecian than a chic white dress and a stack of bangles. Save even more with one of our Kate Spade discount codes.
COS
Linen Barrel-Leg Trousers
COS have some of the best basics around, and these white linen trousers have a gentle barrel cut, making them feel more current. Save even more with one of our COS discount codes.
Steve Madden
Tracie Heels
Jelly heels have been hailed the unexpected it-shoe of the season, and this black pair is an elegant take on the trend. Save even more with one of our Office discount codes.
If you're looking for statement swimwear, you came to the right place. Save with one of our Selfridges discount codes.
Whistles
Blue Linen Elasticated Short
Linen shorts are a summer staple, and I’m drawn to the soft coastal hue of this pair. Save even more with one of our Whistles discount codes.
ZIMMERMANN
Printed Cotton Pareo
Pareos are everywhere right now. Aside from being the perfect beach cover-up, you can also wear it as a top, scarf or over jeans. Save even more with one of our The Outnet discount codes.
Reiss
Denim Sleeveless Waisted Midi Dress
A dress you can wear on holiday and easily back at home. Save even more with one of our Reiss discount codes.
Topshop
Linen wide leg trousers
I’d pair these statement striped trousers with a graphic tee and simple black flip flops for an easy off-duty look. Save even more with one of our ASOS discount codes.
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Few haircuts have achieved first-name status.‘The Rachel’ arrived in the early seasons of Friends, when Rachel Green’s shoulder-skimming explosion of layers became almost as famous as the character herself—and launched a thousand salon appointments in the process. Even today, the millennial style continues to inspire fresh interpretations—the latest being Gigi Hadid’s glossy, swishy reinterpretation. Her longer layers, sweeping face-framing sections, and softly curved ends retain the bounce that made the original so appealing, minus the ’90s cosplay. As her hairstylist, Dimitris Giannetos put it on his Instagram post, “I wanted to create the updated version of the C-cut, giving Gigi some Love Layers (aka heart shape layers)!” So how can we recreate this new take on a classic? I asked leading hairdressers Samantha Cusick and Jay Birmingham to explain how to wear the style now.
While the original relied on short, visible layers and a bouncy, rounded blow-dry, the new interpretation is altogether subtler. “The modern Rachel is all about softer glamour,” explains celebrity hairdresser Jay Birmingham. “The original was built around short, choppy layers and lots of volume, whereas today’s version is sleeker, longer and much more wearable. The layers are more blended, the movement is softer, and the finish is glossy rather than fluffy.”
That distinction is what makes the revival feel fresh. Rather than reproducing Jennifer Aniston’s haircut section by section, the aim is to capture its buoyant, face-framing effect. “It’s less about recreating a ’90s hairstyle and more about capturing that effortless bounce and healthy-looking shine,” says Birmingham.
Cusick believes the resurgence also reflects our renewed appetite for ’90s beauty, along with a broader shift towards haircuts that create movement. “We’re obsessed with volume, with movement, with that lived-in layered quality that looks effortless but is actually really considered,” she says. “The original Rachel had all of those things; it was just styled in a more structured, high-maintenance way for the time.”
What to Ask for at the Salon
The words ‘The Rachel’ may conjure a very specific image, so arriving armed with a reference to the longer, contemporary version is sensible. The most important point to communicate is that you want movement while preserving weight and fullness through the ends. “I’d ask for long, seamless layers that create movement without taking away too much weight,” advises Birmingham. “Soft face-framing pieces around the cheekbones or jawline will open up the face while keeping the overall look elegant and modern.” The layering should blend into the haircut rather than create obvious steps. “The beauty of this cut is that it should move naturally, so the layering needs to feel invisible rather than obvious,” he adds.
“The OG version was very much built for thicker, straighter hair, where you could get that signature volume and flick”, explains Cusick. “The 2026 version works with so many more hair types because the layering technique has evolved significantly.” That’s why the modern Rachel can be adapted to a much broader range of hair types than its predecessor. Layers remove bulk and encourage movement in thick hair, while naturally wavy textures lend themselves particularly well to the softer, undone finish.
Fine hair requires a more restrained approach. Too many layers can leave the ends looking sparse, so maintaining density is more important than chasing dramatic volume. This also makes the cut a compelling option for midlife hair that has become finer, drier or less dense.
“This style is actually brilliant for midlife hair because it creates the illusion of movement and fullness without relying on lots of short layers,” says Birmingham. “I’d recommend keeping the layers longer and softer to maintain density through the ends, while using styling techniques to build lift around the crown.”
Cusick agrees that precision matters: “On finer hair, you do need a skilled hand because you want to add layers that create movement without removing too much weight, but when it’s done right, it’s incredible.” Very curly hair can also carry the shape, although its layers must be positioned with shrinkage in mind. A stylist experienced in cutting curls will be best placed to tailor the look.
How to Create The Modern Rachel
Charley before and after styling her hair (Image credit: Future, the_blonde_editor)
The secret to Gigi’s finish lies in balancing root lift with smooth, glossy lengths. Begin with heat protectant (my go-to is always Moroccanoil Perfect Defence, £28, then work in small sections, directing the hair away from the face. Allowing each section to cool before touching it helps the shape last longer. “My biggest tip is to style the hair away from the face, then let each section cool before brushing it through gently with your fingers,” says Birmingham. “That gives you soft movement rather than overly defined curls.”
A blow-dry brush or air styler will create the initial lift, but a straightener can be used to refine the shape, bend the face-framing sections and smooth the ends. I used the new ghd Sculpt Styler, £369, which promotes shine and discourages frizz thanks to its fancy Heat-adapt technology. I have layers but usually they just blend in, this allowed me to add intentional cool-girl kinks through the front sections and mid-lengths. “That face-framing quality that made the original so iconic is still completely there, but it's softer, more undone, as Cusick says, “more like your hair just fell that way rather than something you carefully constructed. You’re not trying to recreate that very polished ’90s flick; you’re taking the spirit of it and making it feel like 2026,” she explains. I’ve recently discovered Cécred's Heat Activated Silk Glaze, £32, and it's a game-changer for creating a glass-like finish and almost locking in the style you’ve created. I’ve been using JVN Hair Perfect FlexHold Strengthening Flexible Hairspray, £27, to give hair extra gravitas and keep tufty flyaways in check. If the ends of my hair are starting to look a little worse for wear, Virtue’s Healing Oil, £44, is a godsend at keeping flicks looking the chef’s kiss.
The main pitfalls are over-layering, excessive teasing and ends that have been curled too deliberately. As Birmingham puts it: “Today’s version is all about healthy-looking hair with effortless bounce and natural movement.”
Since writing this article, I have found myself wearing this new version of The Rachel more and more. With its flattering face-framing pieces, fullness-enhancing layers and glossy finish, it simply looks like very good hair. It doesn’t feel like a retro haircut enjoying a brief revival; it feels current, wearable and actually, really easy to achieve, and suitable for everyone.
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