27 Aug, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
1Rebel opens brand new site on London’s King’s Road – and we have an exclusive discount
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Many of you may have heard of the fitness space 1Rebel, and if you haven’t you may have been living under a rock, or you just haven’t stumbled across the workout franchise.
Well, 1Rebel has changed that as it is expanding the workout space, and is set to open a new studio on London’s King’s Road.
The King’s Road site will mark 1Rebel’s 12th studio, which is pretty impressive.
1Rebel King’s Road is set to open its doors on September 17, which will see two of its most popular workouts available to book, including Reshape and Reformer. Reshape is a combination of treadmill intervals combined with strength training, but in a fun space that feels like you’re in a nightclub. While Reformer is a dynamic Pilates class – hence the name.
1Rebel is also unveiling a brand-new rooftop space where its signature Reset class will now take place. This latest opening introduces a unique wellness experience too, allowing guests to enjoy a post-workout sauna and cold plunge on the rooftop — all while taking in panoramic views across Chelsea. It’s a fresh way to unwind, reset, and soak up the skyline.
Divine.
To mark the new opening, 1Rebel is offering a brand new deal to encourage fitness enthusiasts, fans of 1Rebel, and those who have never attended a class to give it a whirl. 1Rebel is running a limited time offer that allows customers to book three sessions for just £35. The deal is available from August 27 until October 1.
However, if the Chelsea location is too far for you, but you’re keen to sample a class and see what the hype is about, 1Rebel is also running a deal giving customers three sessions for £49 with access to any UK location – but this is only for newcomers.
The expansion is just the start of a trio of openings. October will see the opening of 1Rebel Leadenhall, and by the end of the year 1Rebel aims to bring 1Rebel to Clapham. It’s safe to say 1Rebel has come a long way since it first launched in 2015, with sites popping up in London as well as other areas across the globe. So, watch this space.
If you’re craving the high-energy playlists from a night out, but you’re in your wellness era, 1Rebel has you covered.
So, with days to go until the grand reveal, book your trio of classes here.
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27 Aug, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Map reveals England’s gonorrhoea hotspots — with one London borough crowned ‘clap capital’
Earlier this month, the UK became the first country in the world to roll out a vaccine for gonorrhoea.
The breakthrough jab has been shown in trials to cut the risk of infection by more than 50% and is being hailed as a major milestone in sexual health.
Given diagnoses have more than doubled in the past decade and reached record highs in 2023, it’s severely needed — but there are a few regions where it’ll prove especially vital.
To highlight where the vaccine could have the biggest impact, Condoms.UK analysed NHS data to uncover England’s top gonorrhoea hotspots, with one London borough taking the unwelcome crown.
In the City of Westminster, 749 diagnoses of gonorrhoea – otherwise known as ‘the clap’ or ‘drip’ – were recorded last year per 100,000 people.
With a population of 211,500, that translates to 1,586 Westminster locals overall. However, it’s also home to one of the country’s largest STI clinics, 56 Dean Street in Soho, so non-residents who head to the city centre location for testing may be skewing the figures somewhat.
Next on the list is Islington, with 724 cases per 100,000 people, while Archway is third but has a far lower prevalence at 397 cases for every 100,000.
Outside the capital, Liverpool has the highest rate of any regional city, followed by Nottingham and Manchester. All three are university hubs with large student populations and busy nightlife scenes, which may contribute to increased transmission rates.
Major cities like Newcastle and Leeds also feature in the top 10, but seaside resort Blackpool also makes the list, proving that smaller towns are not immune to the spread of infection.
Towns and cities in England with the highest gonorrhoea rates
- City of Westminster: 749 cases per 100,000 people
- Islington: 724 cases per 100,000 people
- Archway: 397 cases per 100,000 people
- Liverpool: 302 cases per 100,000 people
- Nottingham: 290 cases per 100,000 people
- Manchester: 276 cases per 100,000 people
- Croydon: 229 cases per 100,000 people
- Newcastle upon Tyne: 210 cases per 100,000 people
- Blackpool: 210 cases per 100,000 people
- Leeds: 188 cases per 100,000 people
Source: Condoms.UK
What are the symptoms of gonorrhoea? Everything you need to know
Gonorrhoea symptoms usually start around two weeks after infection, but they can lie dormant for months, or you could even be symptomless.
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For women, keep an eye out for telltale signs like yellow or greenish discharge, burning when you pee, pain in your abdomen, and bleeding between periods.
In men, it can cause sore testicles, fluid or discharge coming out of your penis and burning when you pee.
The STI is spread through unprotected sex – including oral – and can affect the eyes and mouth as well as the genitals.
Oral gonorrhoea symptoms include a sore or itchy throat, difficulty swallowing, swollen glands in the neck, and sometimes redness or white spots in the throat or mouth, while gonococcal conjunctivitis may present as redness, pain or discharge in the eyes.
Although some strains are more resistant than others, most can be treated with a simple course antibiotics, so visit your GP or local sexual health clinic if you’re concerned.
In terms of the vaccine, Bexsero (4CMenB) innoculations are currently being offered to people at highest risk of gonorrhoea – primarily men who have sex with men who have had multiple sexual partners and a bacterial STI in the last 12 months – but clinicians can also offer it to other patients if they’re assessed to be similarly vulnerable.
Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, said: ‘This vaccine is already used to protect against Men B and is proven to be effective against gonorrhoea, preventing the spread of infection and reducing the rising rates of antibiotic-resistant strains.
‘That is why it is so important that everyone eligible takes up the offer through sexual health services alongside existing jabs for mpox, hepatitis A and B, and HPV, helping to ensure we keep each other safe.’
Even if you’ve had the vaccine though, it doesn’t eliminate your risk of contracting gonorrhoea entirely, so you should still use condoms and get regular STI tests.
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27 Aug, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
I’m an intersex woman — here are 4 facts you probably don’t know about me
‘I am female,’ Jackie Blankenship says. ‘That’s the only body I know.’
The mum-of-one, from Michigan, USA, was raised as a girl and identifies as a woman.
But when she four years old, her parents were given a rare diagnosis: Jackie was actually ‘genetically male’ with XY chromosomes.
The now 40-year-old has complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), defined by the NHS as a condition which affects the development of a person’s genitals and reproductive organs.
Those with CAIS will have XY (male) chromosomes — and may have internal testes — but their genitals will appear female because their body does not respond to testosterone.
It took time for Jackie to come to terms with her condition, saying she ‘didn’t really face it’ until she was in her 30s.
Now, she’s on a mission to educate people about being intersex, and shares information on her TikTok page, @mrsjackieblanks. She even became the first ever intersex Miss America.
Jackie says: ‘It took age and maturity to talk really candidly. I get comments that I’m hoodwinking my husband or that I’m a man.
‘People don’t understand it, we are taught so little about how our bodies work. We’re only told black and white of male and female.
‘For the most part people are very intrigued.’
With so much misinformation about androgen insensitivity syndrome, here are four surprising facts about the condition.
What is androgen insensitivity syndrome?
Androgen insensitivity syndrome affects the development of a person’s genitals and reproductive organs.
It is a genetic alteration, passed along the female line.
People with AIS will have XY (male) chromosomes, but the body doesn’t respond to testosterone either fully, or at all.
There are two types of androgen insensitivity syndrome.
- Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) — the diagnosis that Jackie has. In this case, testosterone has no affect on sex development, and so genitals are entirely female. Most children with CAIS are raised as girls.
- Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) — where testosterone has some effect on sex development, so the genitals may not be as expected for boys or girls. A penis may not form or is underdeveloped. This means PAIS is usually noticed at birth.
Source: NHS
It’s not always obvious when someone has it
When Jackie was born, there were no visible indicators of her condition.
While those with PAIS may not have genitals as expected for a boy or girl, most people with CAIS appear as female. ‘I looked like any other little girl,’ Jackie said.
However, Jackie’s mum is from a big family, and actually has some siblings with CAIS. Therefore, when she was four, they decided to get her tested.
A diagnosis was confirmed, but Jackie was nine when she learnt the truth, as her mum explained she ‘wouldn’t develop like her sisters.’
‘I took it well I think,’ says Jackie. ‘I didn’t understand the impact it would have on me. I never really asked questions. But doctors told my parents we wouldn’t want to tell anyone. They really scared my mum and dad. There was a lot of fear and secrecy around it.’
As she got older and her friends started to go through puberty, she started to notice the differences more, recalling: ‘Everyone was so stressed about having a period and where and when it would happen. I felt relieved. I didn’t understand why women have periods.’
Jackie then had to undergo surgery aged 15 to remove her testes due to a small risk that they can become cancerous if left in place throughout adulthood.
According, to the NHS, this procedure happens after puberty because the testicles produce hormones that help girls with CAIS develop a normal female body shape without hormone treatment.
It stops you from growing body hair
‘I don’t grow any body hair or public hair,’ Jackie explains.
This is because intersex people can’t respond to testosterone, which is the primary hormone that triggers body hair to grow during puberty.
She adds: ‘I don’t have pubes, and I don’t have underarm hair. I’ve never shaved my underarms a day in my life.’
Yes, you can still have sex — with a little help
It’s simply not true that people with CAIS can’t have sex, but some assistance is typically required.
Aged 18, Jackie was told she would need ‘vaginal dilation therapy’ (usingsmooth plastic devices with a flat or rounded tip in various sizes to widen and lengthen the vagina) or surgery if she wanted to have sexual intercourse.
She says: ‘I was born with a blind pouch — my vagina doesn’t have a cervix — instead it’s like a little pouch.
‘Some women have an almost fully formed vagina but many of us have an inch of depth. You dilate at home to create a vaginal canal.’
Jackie went through a year of dilation therapy, but still so young, she says it was ‘traumatic’.
‘I didn’t know what kind of sex I would be having,’ she adds. ‘I didn’t know what I wanted in that department. I felt a lot of pressure to be ready.’
Back then, Jackie says the focus was on ‘normalising her body’ for a future male partner, although she was told they’d ‘never know the difference’.
Although she now can have sex, she has to stay sexually active to avoid her vaginal canal from contracting.
People with AIS are generally infertile
Jackie is a mum to a nine-year-old daughter, Greenleigh. However, as she doesn’t have ovaries or a uterus, she’s completely infertile, meaning she can’t have biological children.
Speaking on her TikTok channel, she shared that she was eight or nine years old when she learnt she would never have children, but along with her husband, Jim, 37, always wanted to be a parent.
After briefly looking into adoption, the pair were able to have their daughter after Jackie’s sister, Danielle Martin, 38, offered to carry a baby for her.
The group went through three rounds of IVF using an egg donor before Greenleigh was eventually born.
‘I went to all the appointments,’ Jackie says. ‘It was the best way to be a part of the experience.’
She adds: ‘I went through a lot to be a mum… the road was not easy.’
Those who have PAIS may retain some fertility.
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27 Aug, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Therapist shares four green flags that 'show a relationship has longevity'
The green flags could be helpful indicators that a relationship is progressing along the right tracks
27 Aug, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
We’re officially sorted for autmn as M&S drops £75 Barbour-inspired wax jacket
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Marks and Spencer has had many of us in a chokehold over the checked short trench coat, which has yet to launch online (though when it does we will be sure to let you know).
But we have found another ultra chic, and practical, short jacket to see you through the autumn and winter season from the high street retailer. Introducing the Waxed Look Short Utility Jacket.
M&S’ Waxed Look Short Utility Jacket caught our attention as it is almost identical to Barbour’s Classic Beadnell Waxed Jacket that fetches £249.
M&S Waxed Look Short Utility Jacket
Made from a cotton and polyamide blend, with an acrylic polyurethane coating to achieve the waxed finish. The lining has been crafted from polyester and cotton lining, and it boasts a cord collar. It has also been crafted using M&S’ signature Stormwear technology that makes this a weatherproof garment essential for winter. Better yet? It's available in UK dress sizes 6 to 22.
M&S has crafted a stunning jacket that is perfect for all occasions, and, more importantly, the autumn/winter and transitional seasons.
The Waxed Look Short Utility Jacket is a short length jacket that is ultra versatile. Don’t be put off by the word “short” in the title as it’s not a cropped jacket, but falls to the hips, so it is still flattering and provides the necessary coverage and warmth when the temperature drops. The length also sits beautifully whether you are wearing shorts, midi skirt, a dress or jeans.
The M&S Utility Jacket has been crafted from a cotton and polyamide blend, while the acrylic polyurethane coating offers the waxed finish, similar to the iconic Barbour Beadnell Waxed Jacket.
The M&S design also features Stormwear technology, which is essential when it comes to outerwear as it provides protection from the elements and makes this outerwear piece a reliable weatherproof staple to keep you warm and dry.
This jacket also features a polyester and cotton lining, and a contrast cord collar, which is a nod to the premium label.
The M&S Utility jacket boasts a regular fit, whereas the Barbour version is slightly more tailored and fitted for a feminine silhouette.
Barbour Classic Beadnell Waxed Jacket
Crafted from cotton with a Sylkoil wax outer, cotton lining with a tartan print and Barbour’s iconic logo embroidered on the pocket. It features a contrast textured collar and two patch pockets – and available in UK sizes 4 to 22.
The Barbour version has been crafted from Sylkoil waxed cotton outer, which makes this a weatherproof staple, and a durable design you can rely on year after year.
The Beadnell Waxed Jacket also features a cotton lining with the brand’s signature tartan fabric interior, which you can glimpse if you fold over the sleeves. This layer not only adds insulation, but is super comfortable on the skin too.
Of course, no Barbour coat is complete without the corduroy collar, which this design features. Plus, it has a storm fly fastening at the neck, as well as a zip-front fastening to keep any draughts at bay.
The patch pockets are deep enough to hold your valuables, while the moleskin lining provides added warmth to keep your fingertips toasty on those brisk winter mornings.
The Barbour jacket is slightly longer in length than M&S’s jacket , as it falls just below the bottom for extra warmth and coverage.
The M&S jacket is available in navy blue and khaki green, while the Barbour original comes in the iconic olive green hue.
What we love about both fashion designs is how versatile they are. Pair with denim jeans, trainers and a T-shirt for the transitional period between summer and autumn, or layer a chunky knitted cardigan and heavy duty boots come the winter months.
Considering the M&S Utility Jacket fetches £75, which is a saving of £174, it’s a no-brainer which jacket we are opting for.
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27 Aug, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
From shirts to accessories, these are the fun fish-themed pieces we’re obsessing over
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What do you get when you combine a playful retro colour palette, with beach-ready materials and fabrics, and vintage tinned fish motifs?
The answer is the latest big microtrend – the Sardine Girl Summer aesthetic.
Oozing retro Mediterranean charm, the craze was primarily born out of STAUD releasing their beaded Tommy bag in the kitschy and colourful Staudines design. In fact – in May 2025 – it was the bag responsible for a 300% increase in searches for “beaded sardine bag”.
Don’t fancy splashing just shy of £300 on this beautiful – yet pricy – bag? Yeah, us too. But thankfully, heaps of our favourite high street brands have also now hopped on the fun fish-themed hype. So, it’s sardines all-round this summer!
From oversized graphic tees and textured crochet knits, to beaded bags and whimsical seaside accessories, these are some of the best bits and pieces we’ve found on the high street for fellow admirers of the Sardine Girl Summer aesthetic.
Miss Selfridge Oversized Sardine Stripe Back Print Graphic Tee
With its oversized fit, relaxed dropped shoulders, and statement print of a vintage tin of sardines on a striped red background, there’s a lot to love about this laidback graphic tee. Throw it on over a bikini and you’ve got a casual poolside fit.
Oliver Bonas Marlin Yellow & Red Fish Hair Clips Set Of Two
Designed in playful shades of pink, red, and yellow — and complete with black enamel detail – these fishy clips will add a playful touch of seaside charm to any summer hairstyle.
New Look Cream Fish Print Textured Puff Sleeve Midi Dress
Boasting a picnic-ready print of fish and fruit, this cute cream midi dress will look lovely with sandals or trainers. The perfect day dress, we’re big fans of its flattering empire-line silhouette, and flowing A-line skirt.
ASOS Design Knitted Tank Top with Fish Embroidery
With its crochet fabric, and boat neck fit with tie straps, and statement fish embroidery, this tank offers a slightly more muted and coastal take on the vibrant #sardinecore aesthetic.
Oliver Bonas Doris Fish Charm Beaded Layered Necklace
One of these necklaces is threaded with tonal green, blue, and pearl beads – and complete with an engraved fish charm – while the other is a shorter simple gold chain boasting a hammered pendant and faux pearl bead.
Damson Madder Chlo Shirt in Holiday Print
Designed to be paired with the matching shorts for an effortless co-ord look, this easy pull-on shirt truly deserves a spot in your suitcase. Crafted from a breathable organic cotton-linen blend, it’s a true warm weather staple.
Next Red Fish Graphic Knitted Tank
With its retro sweater vest silhouette, bold tomato red material with contrasting white trims, and detailed fish motif, this tank ticks pretty much every single box in the Sardine Girl Summer checklist.
Anthropologie Fish Icon Stretch Bracelet
Whether you're jetting off somewhere tropical or heading out in the city, these Siri climber earrings are your shortcut to standout style. With polished floral layers cascading from lobe to shoulder, they’re a statement piece that does all the talking – secured with a classic post fastening for easy wear.
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26 Aug, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
This £65 M&S leather jacket is the ultimate autumn staple — here’s why you need to buy it now
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Marks and Spencer is having a real moment right now. It’s like, what cyber attack?
There are a number of fashion staples that are going viral on social media and selling out due to wildly popular demand, such as the short checked trench.
But there’s another jacket we need in our closet this autumn and it’s the M&S Faux Leather Lacquered Harrington Jacket.
M&S Faux Leather Lacquered Harrington Jacket
Crafted from polyurethane with a soft polyester lining, this jacket nails that crushed patent leather look without the stiffness. It’s got all the hallmarks of a classic Harrington-boxy fit, dropped shoulders, cropped length and a sharp collar. Available in UK sizes 6 to 22.
The Faux Leather Lacquered Harrington Jacket boasts the signature features of a classic Harrington jacket, such as a short length, sitting nicely on the hips, as well as a relaxed boxy fit, zip front and collar.
The typical Harrington may come in black, khaki, checked print or burgundy red, but M&S has elevated the look with the burgundy lacquered finish, which is almost like a crushed PVC – though not as stiff or too shiny.
This stylish jacket also features two large front pockets, dropped shoulders and a button fastening on the cuffs if you want to cinch up the sleeves.
This design has been crafted from polyurethane with a polyester lining, which offers warmth, coverage and protection from light rain.
M&S’ Harrington is ultra versatile and can be worn in the daytime and night. Pair with barrel leg jeans, a white T-shirt and grey cardigan and ballet pumps for the days when it’s a little more mild out. Alternatively, team with black leather trousers, a satin shirt, and heeled boots for an evening out.
This jacket comes in UK dress sizes 6 to 22, but sizes are selling out fast. Shoppers have yet to leave a review, but the website states over 100 other shoppers are eyeballing this jacket.
For £65, we think this M&S Harrington Jacket is a steal, especially considering the cost per wear we anticipate you will get out of this design.
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26 Aug, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
After a year, Fat Face’s viral £69 sell-out dress is finally back in stock
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Fat Face caused a huge stir when it launched the Adele Midi Dress, which sold out due to popular demand last summer.
So, we were pleased to see the milkmaid-inspired dress make a return this summer. If you missed out the one-and-done dress last year, or want to stock up on more colours, now is the prime time to do so.
Fat Face Adele Black Midi Dress
Made from lenzing ecovero viscose, cotton, and linen fabric blend. This design boasts a V-neckline, and square neckline, which means you can wear two ways. It also features 3.4 length puff sleeves, a button front fastening, shirred body, and floaty midi skirt.Available in four colours, including black, red, plum and orange. It also comes in UK dress sizes 6 to 18, though sizes are selling out fast.
The Adele Midi Dress is a super versatile design, and not least because it has a V-neckline and square neck, which means you can wear this staple two ways; either style with the V-neckline at the front of the dress, or at the back for more coverage.
This easy breezy dress has been crafted from a fabric blend of lenzing ecovero viscose, cotton and linen, which is a recipe for a lightweight, breathable and comfortable dress that is perfect for any heatwave.
The design features ¾ length sleeves, which can be cinched up to create a short puff ball sleeve.
The upper body of the dress features an elasticated and shirred upper to provide a secure fit, which contrasts the loose A-line skirt that falls midway down the calves. It also features button details on the V-front side. But the detail we really love are the side pockets – who doesn’t love a dress with pockets?
This fashion staple is available in four colours, including black, red, plum and orange, though certain colours are sold out or available in limited sizes.
This versatile dress can be paired with ballet pumps, sandals, and trainers for casual off-duty days, or to the office. Alternatively, style with thong kitten heels, or wedges, for a more glamorous evening out.
The dress fetches £69, but when you consider the numerous ways to style it, you will certainly get your cost per wear out of this staple.
Don’t just take our word for it, as Fat Face customers have been singing the praises of the Adele dress.
Karen gushed: ‘Love the new option of buttons one side and original square neck on other. I love the buttons on the front and love that it’s now not got the frilly hem. I do have two old style ones, but may get another new one! I’m a dress size 14/16 in fat face but went down to 14 this time and it fits perfectly.’
Denise added: ‘Perfect fit. Well made and looks fabulous on’, while Magee weighed in: ‘A stylish vibrant colour well fitted dress! The material is good quality in this very versatile dress. Thank you Fat Face another wonderful winner.’
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26 Aug, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
New Look’s suede trainers have an uncanny resemblance to Prada’s sneakers for £700 less
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New Look is a longstanding high street retailer we have long relied on for chic staples to see us from season to season, year after year.
Over the years, the fashion label has gone above and beyond to bring us designer-inspired fashion pieces, including an alternative to Jacquemus dress and Molly-Mae Hague’s sell-out tank top.
The latest luxury looking item we have spotted at New Look are the Tan Suede Lace Up Trainers, which made us double take because they look almost identical to Prada’s Suede Sneakers.
New Look Tan Suede Lace Up Trainers
Crafted from a split cow suede fabric on the outer, with a rubber sole, thick foam cushioning and heel to toe padding, these shoes deliver optimal comfort. They boast contrast laces, a flat sole and round toe, which are ultra versatile. Available in two colourways, including tan and leopard print, as well as UK shoe sizes 3 to 9.
New Look’s Tan Suede Lace Up Trainers have been crafted from a split cow suede fabric, with polyester lining, and polyurethane insole, while the sole has been created using thermo plastic rubber.
These flat trainers also boast heel to toe padding, as well as flexible padding for a comfortable fit. Plus, it is fully cushioned with a thick foam lining, which makes for a durable pair of trainers.
New Look’s trainers feature seam detail on the outside, as well as contrast white laces, which is what makes these trainers look very similar to Prada’s premium footwear design.
Prada’s Suede Sneakers have been made using calfskin fabric, it also boasts leather inserts, as well as a leather-covered insole, and a rubber sole measuring 20mm. Of course, Prada trainers would not be complete without the brand’s iconic Prada Milano logo on the front of the trainers.
Both designs also feature a round toe, and flat sole, which are all the craze of late. New Look and Prada’s trainers both come in two colours, but it is the tan hue that is most similar to the designer alternative. Prada has also created a stone colourway, while New Look has a leopard print design, which will complement any outfit.
The main difference, aside from the visible logo, is the price tag. New Look’s trainers fetch for £39.99, while the designer original costs £730.
We would style both trainers in the exact same way, with a pair of wide leg jeans and a white T-shirt layered under a cardigan. However, they are also perfectly paired with shorts, midi skirts and summer dresses.
If there’s anything we can attest to, it’s that New Look’s footwear are ultra comfortable, and are perfect for hours of wear.
But we are not the only fans of New Look’s Tan Suede Trainers, as fellow shoppers have a soft spot for the design too.
One reviewer – who goes under the name Caro15 – shared: ‘Love the fit and brown is the new trend for the autumn.’
While Emilia7 added: ‘Lovely trainers, so comfortable and real leather.’
Considering the price and close semblance to Prada’s trainers, it would be rude not to stock up on New Look’s trainers.
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26 Aug, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
I paid £62,851 for excruciating height surgery to make me 6-foot tall
‘It’s brutal. You can’t think of the pain, you need to think six foot.’
This was how Hugo Ramirez made it through height surgery, which took him from 5’9 to 6’0.
But the three inches the Miami attorney gained isn’t enough, because he’s planning to go back for a second surgery to reach the lofty height of 6’3.
While many men desire to be taller in the belief it’ll give them better dating prospects, for Hugo, being 5’9 (average UK height) meant he felt he’d had to work harder to be noticed in the workplace, compared to taller men.
‘I’ve been married for 13 years and my wife didn’t want me to do this, but at work, people that are 5’9 have to compete,’ he tells Metro’s Just Between Us podcast.
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‘You see a guy walk in at 6’1 and it’s tough. We have to [try harder to] stand out, whether it’s in court or a business meeting because when a six
foot person walks in that door, that’s who everybody looks at.
‘There’s a lot of out there that got really good positions because of their height.’
He also admits his motivation was ‘vanity’ because he doesn’t want to be seen as average.
Hugo had the surgery in Vegas at Limbplastx, after making a pact with a colleague to get it done – although that work friend backed out at the last minute due to concerns about being able to take care of his children.
But, since he’d already paid £62,851 for the surgery, Hugo thought ‘I’m going to do it anyway’.
He explains the process involves being put to sleep and having the surgeons use a hammer and chisel to break your leg bones sideways.
‘It’s almost like a laser cut. It’s very, very thin. It’s not like they shatter it,’ he says. ‘When they break it they put a rod from your hip inside your femur, all the way down.’
This rod, known as an intramedullary nail is magnetically controlled, and whenever the body generates new bone to heal, the magnet separates to force your body to grow yet more bone, which in turn makes you taller.
As a result the limb can be extended by one millimetre per day or one inch per month – and the whole process takes about three months.
‘You’re left with a tiny little scar,’ Hugo adds. He had the operation on his femur, although they can operate on both the tibia and femur at the same time.
The Miami local explains he opted to do his tibia separately because he’d only gain five inches in total if he did them both at the same time.
‘Your tendons, ligaments and skin can only stretch so much at a time,’ Hugo explains. ‘Five inches didn’t sound good to me, so I’d rather just deal with the pain and do it the right way.
‘Everybody’s tall these days, they’re 6’3 or 6’4 – I want to be 6’3, that’s the perfect height.’
When it comes to recovery, which he says that re-learning how to walk with his new legs was the ‘hardest part’.
‘Imagine you’re getting your legs stretched and you have no more muscle,’ he describes. ‘I’m really big on top so I was wobbly because my body was heavier on top than on the bottom. Leaning how to walk all over again was a nightmare.’
His wife had to help him to the bathroom and to shower, even just to get out of bed.
‘You cannot do this by yourself,’ he adds. ‘You definitely need a partner or at least a housemate or nurse to take care of you through the whole process, because there are going to be times you’re going to say “man, why did I do this”.’
He stayed at the ARIA Resort & Casino where he had someone transport him to and from physical therapy. Apart from that, he was bed bound because he wasn’t supposed to put weight on his legs.
‘You’re supposed to not do much of anything for those three months,’ he explains. ‘You’re supposed to be good boy and stay at home.’
By the third month, he was so bored that he went against medical advice, risking injury by getting on a yacht.
For six months he walked with a limp, but after the muscles in his legs got stronger, he felt himself balancing out.
What is it like to date as a shorter man?
Height is often a source of contention when it comes to men dating, with six foot often being the benchmark for what is considered desirable in society.
This isn’t helped by height filters on apps like Hinge, Bumble and Tinder which allow people to filter out men or women who are too short or tall for their liking.
James Cullen previously shared his experience of dating as a short man with Metro, branding his 5’8 height as a ‘shortcoming’.
‘Growing up, I was always vastly under-average for my age height-wise, so being referred to with some derivation of ‘small’ or ‘little’ was so common it almost didn’t even register,’ he said.
‘Now, all of my romantic mishaps have revolved around the fact I am short. I see the dating game like riding a rollercoaster – everyone under a certain height is banned and it doesn’t matter if you’re just under the cut off or you’re barely on the chart.
‘After three successful dates, one man once told me that our pictures didn’t look good on Instagram because of the height difference – and I never heard from him again.
‘Another had to stand, alone, at the back of a cabaret show while I elbowed my way forward just to see the stage. I returned at the end to find he had already found someone else – someone taller – to speak with while I’d been clapping away at the front.
‘And if I had £1 for every time I’d been ghosted after answering the inevitable “how tall r u” question on dating apps then I’d have enough money for the surgery that lengthens your shins.’
Now he’s fully recovered, Hugo has no regrets and is already happy with his new height.
He reveals on the Just Between Us podcast that a successful judge in Houston had never paid attention to him before, but when he walked into the room at six foot tall, she immediately came and introduced herself.
‘It took me being six foot to realise who I was,’ he adds. There’s also perks when it comes to taking pictures with his wife, too.
‘She’s 5’7 and she wears these six inch heels, so she was always taller than me,’ he says. ‘Now, we’ve switched it and I’m taller than her.
‘In life [it feels like] men always have to be taller than the person he’s dating or married to.’
To catch the whole interview with Hugo and for a hot debate on whether height really matters, listen to the full episode of Just Between Us, wherever you get your podcasts.
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