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River Island has heard our cries for designer looking fashion staples, from clothing to footwear and accessories, and delivered in abundance.

From the Jacquemus-style bag to the Hermes-esque sandals, the high street retailer has delivered some seriously good premium-looking alternatives. 

We pride ourselves on checking River Island’s new drops regularly, so you don’t have to. One new release that has piqued our interest, because we think it looks much more expensive than its £34 price tag, is the Mesh Hybrid T-Shirt Midi Dress. 

Sheer skirt and dresses are all the craze and have been for a few months. We have also noticed that most of the fashion firm who wear a see-through skirt layer an oversize T-shirt over the top, which achieves a relaxed and effortless finish.

After much research, it seems the ‘It’ crowd typically turn to Dissh for the sheer or lace layer with an oversize top layered over, but we think River Island’s Mesh Hybrid T-Shirt Midi Dress is a fuss-free (and more affordable) alternative.

Mesh Hybrid T-shirt Midi Dress

Crafted from 100% cotton, this hybrid design features an oversize around neck longline T-shirt and a sheer mesh skirt. It comes in white and black variations, both available in XS to XL sizes.

BUY NOW FOR £34

The Mesh Hybrid T-Shirt Midi Dress has been crafted from 100% cotton, which is lightweight and breathable, it also lends itself to the louche and oversize style of the look. 

The hybrid design combines an oversize round neck t-shirt with short sleeves and a dropped shoulder, with a midi length mesh skirt. Now we know what you’re thinking, the sheer skirt will expose everything, but River Island has already anticipated this and designed this two-in-one creation to provide the necessary coverage. 

The t-shirt element of the dress is longline, or rather mini length, as it falls half way down the thighs. 

Of course you can layer a neutral slip underneath, or opt for high rise bikini briefs to wear underneath to cover your modesty – though we hope you would be wearing your undies regardless. 

This dress comes in two colours, including white and black, which can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Pair with ballet pumps and an oversize denim jacket for weekends spent at your local pub sipping on a rose with your besties after a long week, alternatively go over board with bold accessories, a metallic clutch bag and thong kitten heels or slingback heels for an elevated but effortlessly chic outfit. 

The dress is available in sizes XS to XL, though if you are in between sizes, or want a more louche fit, we recommend to size up. 

For £34 you simply can’t go wrong.  

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Coleen Nolan advises a reader whose son is getting married this year, and she thinks he is making a terrible mistake

If you’re feeling a little bit lost and in need of some general life advice, fear not, as one woman has shared the things she wishes she knew at 25, that she now realises a decade later

Earlier this month, Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly announced that private UK prescriptions of the weight loss drug would be increasing in price by 170%.

As of September 1, a month’s supply of the highest dose of the weight loss drug will jump from £122 to £330, potentially taking annual costs from £1,586 to a whopping £4,290.

News of the rise sparked a nationwide shortage, as the estimated 500,000 people across the country estimated to pay out of pocket for Mounjaro (which is also available on the NHS) rushed to stock up.

Healthcare professionals shared concerns patients may be pushed towards unsafe methods of obtaining the jabs, with some warning it could lead to a surge in black market sales.

According to a freedom of information request by Chemist4U, 18,300 illegal weight-loss and diabetes medications were seized by Border Force at Heathrow between June 2024 and June 2025 — an issue this price increase is predicted to exacerbate.

‘We’re likely to see more and more people turning to unregulated sellers because the medication may be cheaper,’ said the company’s head of pharmacy, Jason Murphy. ‘Many of these sources distribute counterfeit versions of Mounjaro, which pose serious risks to your health.’

According to the prescriber, counterfeit jabs may include harmful ingredients or other medications, while some don’t actually contain the active drug, tirzepatide. Purchasing from an unregulated source may also violate drug laws, landing you with a fine or even criminal charges.

If you can no longer afford Mounjaro, Jason recommends speaking with your healthcare provider about an alternative GLP-1 option like Wegovy (which is unaffected by the rise) instead of taking matters into your own hands. If you are tempted to switch to a cheaper supplier though, these three key signs can help you spot – and steer clear of – dangerous fakes.

Cost

While it’s probably not the news you want to hear, Chemist4U says: ‘If the cost of the medication seems too good to be true, it most likely is.’

Do your research on what other providers are charging, and avoid any that seem suspiciously cheap.

Source

‘Wegovy and Mounjaro are prescription-only medicines, and they can only be issued by specialised medical professionals after a consultation,’ Jason explains.

Regulated providers are required to assess factors like your medical history and weight, but unlicensed sellers – typically operating on social media and in salons – often skip this step, risking patient safety.

For peace of mind, check that the pharmacy you’re buying from is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before you commit.

Appearance

The third indicator to look out for is the appearance of your Mounjaro pen, which Jason says should ‘come in well-designed packaging with clear, high-quality printing and branding’ and ‘feel solid and well made’.

On the contrary, fakes may have spelling mistakes, blurry printing, incorrect logos, and feel cheap and flimsy, with flaws like uneven colouring, rough edges or loose parts.  

A particularly important thing to look out for is a unique serial number, as counterfeits either won’t have one that matches the manufacturer’s records or won’t have one at all.

And finally, Jason adds: ‘A real pen should contain liquid that is clear and colourless. Unknown substances in fraudulent pens can be cloudy or tinged with colour, a dead giveaway that they are fake.’

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When Nicole Cutler was flying from California to Massachusetts in May 2021, she felt her ears pop.

But what followed wasn’t that relief that frequent fliers will be familiar with. Instead, it was silence — she’d suddenly lost her hearing.

‘When my husband tested an AirPod in my right ear and turned it up to the max, I couldn’t hear anything,’ she says.

In a shocking twist, the 28-year-old discovered she had a brain tumour the size of an avocado — and she’d been living with it for a staggering 15 years.

‘When I was told I had a brain tumour, it was the scariest moment of my life,’ Nicole, from Boston, recalls.

‘My whole body shut down, it was the scariest thing you can ever imagine, especially when you’re 22 years old.’

After being diagnosed, Nicole realised that going completely deaf wasn’t the first sign something had been wrong.

‘I was very clumsy growing up,’ she explains. ‘I had broken bones, I have vertigo, and I was losing my hearing.”

But after the incident on the plane, the finance worker booked herself an appointment with an audiologist who sent her for an MRI scan.

‘I had a hearing test, but I couldn’t hear anything,’ she says. ‘My MRI results showed that I had a tumor the size of an avocado pressing on my brain. It was a scary moment — I just wanted to get home to my family.’

Nicole had an operation on July 27, 2021 to remove the mass, but after 12 hours, doctors were only able to remove half of it, as it was wrapped around her facial nerve.

The tumour and subsequent surgery affected her movement, and she became paralysed on the right side for six months — unable to walk and move her right arm.

‘I lost all my balance,’ Nicole adds. ‘I lost my motor function in my right hand, and my face was paralysed on the right side for six months.

‘After I recovered, I went into outpatients where I went to facial therapy, speech therapy and physical therapy for two months.’

Following the operation, a biopsy revealed Nicole had a large acoustic neuroma — a benign tumor that grows on the hearing and balance nerves.

Due to the loss of mobility in her face, Nicole had a second major surgery, a major nerve graft, in August 2024.

It involved taking a nerve from her left foot and leg and putting it on her face. ‘Doctors removed the sensation nerve from my left foot and leg in hopes of rebuilding my smile,’ she explains. ‘That meant learning to walk again for a second time.

‘I also had to go to facial therapy, and had a completely new smile.’

Doctors have said if Nicole’s tumour grows again, they’ll remove it all. But the young woman hasn’t let her health journey slow her down.

After her first surgery, Nicole made a pledge to run all six major marathons across the world for brain tumor awareness.

She ran the Boston, London, Chicago and New York Marathons and is planning on running the Berlin Marathon in September to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity.

‘I may never get my full smile back, but I’m learning to smile fully with my heart,’ Nicole says. ‘And with each procedure, each mile, and each moment, I’m slowly, steadily working to bring back what was lost.

‘This journey has been brutal. I’ve lost parts of myself — physically, emotionally, spiritually — but I’ve also found something deeper: strength, purpose, and a powerful sense of community.

‘I’m not just running for myself. I’m running for the entire brain tumor community, for patients facing impossible decisions, for survivors rebuilding their lives, for researchers fighting for a cure, and for families who’ve lost someone they love. 

‘I’m fighting for all of us.’

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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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Next is really upping its fashion game in recent months, and we are not complaining as it means we can shop uber stylish staples that look premium, but for less.

Case in point is Next’s Bowler Bag, which we think is the spitting image of Alaia’s Le Teckel shoulder bag. Not only does Alaia’s bag keep selling out, but it comes with a hefty £1,900 price tag, which we can’t justify splurging on – not that we nee

Next Bowler Bag

Made from a polyester fabric with a PU coating, and a recycled polyester lining, which makes this bag a durable design. The bowler bag features long shoulder straps, which you can wear over the shoulder or hold in your hand. It measures 13cm in height, 30cm in width and 9cm in depth. Available in chocolate brown and stone hue.

BUY NOW FOR £32

The Next Bowler Bag boasts the same rectangular shape and two long straps as Alaia’s popular design. 

However, eagle eyed shoppers will notice the Next Bowler Bag is slightly taller, but not as wide. To get technical Next’s bag measures 13cm in height, 30cm in width and 9cm in depth, while the Alaia original is 10cm in height and depth and 33cm in width, though we think the Next version appears to look deeper. 

The bowler bag has been hugely popular over the last few months as it offers more space inside for all your essentials – and then some. Plus, the longer shoulder straps means you can slip it securely over your arm without it getting bunched up with your layers, especially in Winter. 

The Next design has been crafted from polyester and boasts a PU coating, which looks similar to the real leather design of Alaia’s creation.

ALAIA Le Teckel Branded-Tag Leather Shoulder Bag

Crafted from 100% leather, this rectangular bag boasts a bowler bag shape. It features two long shoulder straps, and a zip fastening. Inside you will find one main compartment, as well as a card section. It measures 10cm in height, 33cm in width and 10cm in depth, while the handle drop is 26cm.

BUY NOW FOR £1,900

Both bags feature the two straps, which can be styled over the shoulder, held in your hands, or even as a clutch bag with the straps folded over the bag. The pair also feature a zip fastening to ensure your valuables are safe from wondering hands. 

It’s unknown if the Next design has pockets inside the main compartment, but Alaia’s bag features a subtle card slip. 

Next’s Bowler Bag is available in two colours including chocolate brown and ‘bone’, which is a cream tone. 

Let’s not forget the Next bag retails for £32, so you could buy both colourways for much less than the cost of Alaia’s bag, and still have change. 

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