Latest news with #NewLook
Daily Record
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
New Look summer dress that 'gives dreamy vibes' is so popular it's selling fast
Get those romantic vibes for summer with this midi-length dress that's a hit on social media. Dresses are an absolute must for this time of year. With their airy and comfy design, they can be worn pretty much all season long. And with the UK set for its first heatwave of 2025, we'll be looking for an opportunity to wear one pretty much anywhere, especially if it's to any outdoor activities such as picnics in the park or BBQ's in the garden. One dress that seems to be one of the biggest hits of the season on social media is New Look's Cream Chiffon Rose Print Ruffle Cut Out Midi Dress. In fact, it's so popular that it is selling out fast online. Retailing at £49.99, this "pretty" frock has garnered glowing reviews on Instagram after it was styled by fashion influencer @imhollyfrances who recently showed how it could be worn to summer picnics, long walks and much more in the sunshine. With fancy dresses being in demand right now, especially since we are in peak summer wedding season, it's no surprise to hear it is fast selling out, with sizes six to 22 still available, but many are showing as only a few items left. Cream Chiffon Rose Print Ruffle Cut Out Midi Dress Product Description There's quite a few features that make the retailer's midi-length dress quite a scene-stealer. From its romantic floral print, ruffle trim and cut out detail, it's the ultimate outfit that will make anyone feel like the main character in a rom-com. Crafted from a lightweight and flowing chiffon material, this cream, pink and green dress is perfect for hot, humid days. It's finished with a flattering empire line waist, a classy V-neckline and a concealed side-zip, while full-lining ensures it won't be see-through. With scorching temperatures for parts of the UK on the horizon, a sleeveless design may be better suited for some shoppers, which is why we have also spotted this ASOS Design Floral Print Midi Dress with a cut-out detail for £48. Fashion fans can also make a few savings on similar designs over at Coast, with the retailer's Printed Cut Out Long Sleeve Midi Dress offering a similarly romantic design for £34, down from £69, saving 51 percent overall. With New Look's Chiffon Rose Print Dress selling fast, it's easy to understand why shoppers can't stop heaping praise on the "pretty" design that they say is giving" dreamy vibes." While there are no current reviews for the midi-length dress on the fashion retailer's website, it has attracted attention on Instagram when New Look re-shared the influencer's post with the caption: "Picnic season." One shopper swooned: "Such a gorgeous dress." A second enthusiastic shopper commented: "Eeek dreamy vibes!" Someone else simply added: "Omg so pretty." As of writing, we have not yet spotted any negative reviews or feedback for New Look's summer dress, but we do know that the cut-out detail may not be ideal for everyone. For that reason, the Cream Vintage Floral Print Chiffon Maxi Dress may pose a more suitable alternative. Fashion deal of the week Fashion fans looking for a dress that will standout at all their summer events will need to hear about this one from Roman. The high street chain's Royal Blue Rose Print Button Detail Maxi Dress, hailed as "perfect for the warmer seasons", is now on sale for £35 after being dropped from £48 - saving 27 percent overall. With its "stunning" all-over rose print and modest midaxi length hemline, this particular frock will look perfect at any fancy occasions this season. Since it offers a bold design, we'd advise pairing it with nude-coloured heels and neutral accessories. The flowy, comfortable woven fabric and short sleeves make it an ideal airy choice for when the temperatures rise again. It also features a chic V-neckline, alongside a shirred waistline that will 'cinch' in the figure for a flattering effect. Complete with buttons down the front, the high street firm also advises pairing its £35 sale dress with a denim jacket on those summer days when the weather is a little bit chillier. Beloved for its vibrant and bold style, one five-star review read: "One of the five-star reviews read: "This dress is amazing. I've had so many compliments. "Lovely Silky material, floor length and such vibrant colours and so easy to just wash and wear. Suitable for weddings and occasions or just perfect for holidays and summer days. A real head turner... Love it." Someone else added: "Another pleased purchaser wrote: "Just love this dress, lovely colours, beautiful material, perfect for my upcoming holiday."
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
I drank 4 bottles of wine a day after getting dumped, not even AA or a broken face could stop me…a call changed it all
MY world fell apart on New Year's Eve 2008 when my fiance of six years told me he didn't love me anymore. I moved out of his flat that we shared the next day - heartbroken and lost. I didn't know what to do with the emotional pain, so I drank. Advertisement 7 Amy now, having been sober for six years Credit: supplied 7 Amy's relationship with alcohol was a desperate coping mechanism Credit: SUPPLIED My relationship with alcohol quickly shifted from something social to a desperate coping mechanism. Nights were spent in a local pub with friends, and bottles of wine consumed with my mum Caroline until the anger or sadness passed. I wouldn't go out sober. Drinking felt essential. It gave me confidence, made me feel fun. But things began to spiral. I lost my job at New Look not long after. Someone had complained I smelled of alcohol. Advertisement READ MORE REAL LIFE STORIES That part wasn't upheld - but instead of seeing it as a warning sign, I used it as justification. I told myself it was their fault I'd lost my job. It didn't stop me drinking - I drank more. In the jobs that followed, mainly in retail, I'd count down the hours until I could get home and pour a glass of wine. I was high-functioning enough that no one really knew. Or, at least, no one said anything. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous By 2015, I started hiding bottles of booze. That's when I knew, deep down, that something wasn't right. But I convinced myself it was no one else's business. I was living at my mum's while saving to move to Cambodia. I drank 7 bottles of vodka & 30 glasses of wine a week- I smashed teeth & was fired for being drunk, the booze broke me A friend had told me it was really nice and I thought a change of country might change me. But one night I came home from drinking, and my mum had lined up all the empty booze bottles on the kitchen side. There were about 15. Advertisement She had found them shoved at the back of my wardrobe. I still remember the look on her face. There was no shouting - just quiet heartbreak. Moving to Cambodia on my own in 2016 gave me total freedom - but it also gave me a deep sense of loneliness. I was teaching English as a foreign language to young children, and lived with a woman from New Zealand in an apartment in Phnom Penh. But my behaviour didn't change. One night I'd ended up at a casino with a group of men I'd met in a bar, phone dead, no way for anyone to reach me. Advertisement My housemate panicked so called my mum. I thought they were overreacting. That was my mindset. I hoped coming back to the UK after a year would fix me - but even on the flight back, and drinking a beer at the airport, I knew it wouldn't. 7 Amy once drank so much she fell and fractured her face Credit: supplied I got my own place, which meant there was no one around to see what I was doing. Advertisement My mum tried to talk to me gently about it sometimes, and I'd make these half-hearted promises to cut down. But the truth is, living alone made it way too easy to carry on. Then came Christmas 2018 when I was 38. I was working in a pub, and after one of my shifts, I drank way too much. I ended up drink-driving home. I don't even remember doing it. My colleagues were so concerned they called the police. But again, I didn't see the danger - or my own responsibility. I blamed them. In my head, I was the victim. I never went back to that job but I also didn't drive again until I got sober in 2019, so a part of me knew. Advertisement What to do if you think are an alcoholic IF you're struggling with alcohol addiction, the most important thing is to recognise the problem and seek support - You don't have to face it alone. Seek Professional Help GP or Doctor – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options. Therapists or Counsellors – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies. Rehab or Detox Programmes – If physical dependence is severe, medically supervised detox may be necessary. Consider Support Groups – A well-known 12-step programme that provides peer support. – A science-based alternative to AA, focusing on self-empowerment. By the end, I was drinking between three and four bottles of wine a day. That had become my normal. I didn't even think it was excessive - it was just what I needed to get through the day. I stopped going out as much because it was easier to drink at home. When I did go out, I'd usually end up black-out drunk. I'd fall over, lose my keys, wake up in places I had no memory of ever going. It became too risky, too unpredictable. So I started choosing the sofa, a bottle - or four - and my own little bubble of self-pity. Eventually, I couldn't do anything without a drink in me. I needed at least two glasses of wine just to get ready for work because my hands would be shaking so much. Advertisement I isolated myself a lot because I was trying so hard to hide what was really going on, as I didn't want to face questions from friends or family. I wasn't in a romantic relationship during that time. But I was promiscuous. I had a lot of one-night stands, thinking they'd somehow make me feel better. They didn't. I'd wake up filled with shame and self-loathing, and then use that as another excuse to drink. 7 On one occasion, Amy ended up driving herself home, drunk Credit: supplied Advertisement 7 Amy with a black eye after a fall when drunk Credit: SUPPLIED In the summer of 2018, I experienced what should have been a rock bottom moment. That was when I fractured my face after a fall while drunk. But it wasn't. Not yet. I had to stop drinking for eight days while I was on antibiotics. But, the following week I celebrated by drinking again. A reward. I knew then I was in trouble. I went to my first AA meeting in January 2019. I was drunk when I went. I don't even remember much about it, but that was the first time I admitted something was wrong - even if I wasn't ready to deal with it yet. Advertisement Alcohol and addiction had affected my confidence, my sense of self, my ability to trust my own thoughts. I stopped making plans for the future. I lived day-to-day, hour-to-hour, bottle-to-bottle. It robbed me of time. And, it impacted my health - my body was exhausted, my hands shook, I sweated constantly, my anxiety was through the roof. But I didn't care - my main concern was hiding the truth, from others, and most importantly, from myself. I told lies. I lived a double life: the version I showed the world and the one that sat at home pouring another glass. 7 Amy called the Samaritans for help Credit: supplied The moment it all stopped wasn't loud or dramatic. It was May 2019, and I passed out at work working as a store manager of a retail shop. I was drinking all day, every day - even at work. When they found me unconscious, I felt pure shame. But still not surprised. Advertisement At the same time, I was also in therapy, trying to cope without actually telling my therapist I was still drinking. Years of buried pain came up - heartbreak, my parents' divorce, the fallout from my cancelled wedding. I had no idea how to cope. So I drank more. But, that day, something cracked. I didn't want to live like this anymore. But I didn't want to die either. I'd been given the number for the Samaritans, and I called them. That call saved my life. After that, I rang my mum and told her I needed help. My mum suggested rehab. And four days later, I was in. Now, I've been sober for six years, since 8 May 2019. Advertisement If I'm honest, I haven't found my recovery that hard - not in the way people expect. I accepted very early on that I just couldn't drink. I loved rehab. I soaked up everything. I started going to 12-step meetings and worked through a programme. The real shift came in October 2020, when I finally shared on social media that I was in recovery. I was tired of pretending. And the outpouring of love and 'me too' messages flipped something in my mind. Maybe I didn't have to hide. That's when I began helping others - and helping others helped me. That's how it works. 7 Amy now helps others get sober Credit: supplied Advertisement On the outside, the changes are obvious - I look healthier, I show up, I've built a business. In 2022, I decided to write a book to help others. Even when I got sober, there weren't enough stories that talked about the identity crisis, the grief, the rediscovery, the unlearning, the rising. I wanted women to know they weren't broken. Drinking has been normalised, glamourised, romanticised to the point where not drinking makes you the weird one. Advertisement But here's the truth: you don't need alcohol to have fun, to fit in, or to survive the day. And once you realise that, once you live that - you start to see the lie for what it is. About Amy... Amy Deards is a She guides them to uncover their true power, build unstoppable confidence, and create lives so bold and fulfilling they never want to escape. It's about transformation, freedom, and living on their own terms.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
I drank 4 bottles of wine a day after getting dumped, not even AA or a broken face could stop me…a call changed it all
Amy lived life as a functioning alcoholic for over 10 years until a humiliating incident at work made her feel 'pure shame' BOOZE HELL I drank 4 bottles of wine a day after getting dumped, not even AA or a broken face could stop me…a call changed it all MY world fell apart on New Year's Eve 2008 when my fiance of six years told me he didn't love me anymore. I moved out of his flat that we shared the next day - heartbroken and lost. I didn't know what to do with the emotional pain, so I drank. Advertisement 7 Amy now, having been sober for six years Credit: supplied 7 Amy's relationship with alcohol was a desperate coping mechanism Credit: SUPPLIED My relationship with alcohol quickly shifted from something social to a desperate coping mechanism. Nights were spent in a local pub with friends, and bottles of wine consumed with my mum Caroline until the anger or sadness passed. I wouldn't go out sober. Drinking felt essential. It gave me confidence, made me feel fun. But things began to spiral. I lost my job at New Look not long after. Someone had complained I smelled of alcohol. Advertisement READ MORE REAL LIFE STORIES CLEAN SLATE I was a middle-class girl then became a crack addict, I even set myself on fire That part wasn't upheld - but instead of seeing it as a warning sign, I used it as justification. I told myself it was their fault I'd lost my job. It didn't stop me drinking - I drank more. In the jobs that followed, mainly in retail, I'd count down the hours until I could get home and pour a glass of wine. I was high-functioning enough that no one really knew. Or, at least, no one said anything. Advertisement By 2015, I started hiding bottles of booze. That's when I knew, deep down, that something wasn't right. But I convinced myself it was no one else's business. I was living at my mum's while saving to move to Cambodia. I drank 7 bottles of vodka & 30 glasses of wine a week- I smashed teeth & was fired for being drunk, the booze broke me A friend had told me it was really nice and I thought a change of country might change me. But one night I came home from drinking, and my mum had lined up all the empty booze bottles on the kitchen side. There were about 15. Advertisement She had found them shoved at the back of my wardrobe. I still remember the look on her face. There was no shouting - just quiet heartbreak. Moving to Cambodia on my own in 2016 gave me total freedom - but it also gave me a deep sense of loneliness. I was teaching English as a foreign language to young children, and lived with a woman from New Zealand in an apartment in Phnom Penh. But my behaviour didn't change. One night I'd ended up at a casino with a group of men I'd met in a bar, phone dead, no way for anyone to reach me. Advertisement My housemate panicked so called my mum. I thought they were overreacting. That was my mindset. I hoped coming back to the UK after a year would fix me - but even on the flight back, and drinking a beer at the airport, I knew it wouldn't. 7 Amy once drank so much she fell and fractured her face Credit: supplied I got my own place, which meant there was no one around to see what I was doing. Advertisement My mum tried to talk to me gently about it sometimes, and I'd make these half-hearted promises to cut down. But the truth is, living alone made it way too easy to carry on. Then came Christmas 2018 when I was 38. I was working in a pub, and after one of my shifts, I drank way too much. I ended up drink-driving home. I don't even remember doing it. My colleagues were so concerned they called the police. But again, I didn't see the danger - or my own responsibility. I blamed them. In my head, I was the victim. I never went back to that job but I also didn't drive again until I got sober in 2019, so a part of me knew. Advertisement What to do if you think are an alcoholic IF you're struggling with alcohol addiction, the most important thing is to recognise the problem and seek support - You don't have to face it alone. Seek Professional Help GP or Doctor – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options. – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options. Therapists or Counsellors – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies. – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies. Rehab or Detox Programmes – If physical dependence is severe, medically supervised detox may be necessary. Consider Support Groups Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – A well-known 12-step programme that provides peer support. – A well-known 12-step programme that provides peer support. SMART Recovery – A science-based alternative to AA, focusing on self-empowerment. – A science-based alternative to AA, focusing on self-empowerment. Local Support Groups – Many communities have groups tailored to different needs. By the end, I was drinking between three and four bottles of wine a day. That had become my normal. I didn't even think it was excessive - it was just what I needed to get through the day. I stopped going out as much because it was easier to drink at home. When I did go out, I'd usually end up black-out drunk. I'd fall over, lose my keys, wake up in places I had no memory of ever going. It became too risky, too unpredictable. So I started choosing the sofa, a bottle - or four - and my own little bubble of self-pity. Eventually, I couldn't do anything without a drink in me. I needed at least two glasses of wine just to get ready for work because my hands would be shaking so much. Advertisement I isolated myself a lot because I was trying so hard to hide what was really going on, as I didn't want to face questions from friends or family. I wasn't in a romantic relationship during that time. But I was promiscuous. I had a lot of one-night stands, thinking they'd somehow make me feel better. They didn't. I'd wake up filled with shame and self-loathing, and then use that as another excuse to drink. 7 On one occasion, Amy ended up driving herself home, drunk Credit: supplied Advertisement 7 Amy with a black eye after a fall when drunk Credit: SUPPLIED In the summer of 2018, I experienced what should have been a rock bottom moment. That was when I fractured my face after a fall while drunk. But it wasn't. Not yet. I had to stop drinking for eight days while I was on antibiotics. But, the following week I celebrated by drinking again. A reward. I knew then I was in trouble. I went to my first AA meeting in January 2019. I was drunk when I went. I don't even remember much about it, but that was the first time I admitted something was wrong - even if I wasn't ready to deal with it yet. Advertisement Alcohol and addiction had affected my confidence, my sense of self, my ability to trust my own thoughts. I stopped making plans for the future. I lived day-to-day, hour-to-hour, bottle-to-bottle. It robbed me of time. And, it impacted my health - my body was exhausted, my hands shook, I sweated constantly, my anxiety was through the roof. But I didn't care - my main concern was hiding the truth, from others, and most importantly, from myself. I told lies. I lived a double life: the version I showed the world and the one that sat at home pouring another glass. 7 Amy called the Samaritans for help Credit: supplied The moment it all stopped wasn't loud or dramatic. It was May 2019, and I passed out at work working as a store manager of a retail shop. I was drinking all day, every day - even at work. When they found me unconscious, I felt pure shame. But still not surprised. Advertisement At the same time, I was also in therapy, trying to cope without actually telling my therapist I was still drinking. Years of buried pain came up - heartbreak, my parents' divorce, the fallout from my cancelled wedding. I had no idea how to cope. So I drank more. But, that day, something cracked. I didn't want to live like this anymore. But I didn't want to die either. I'd been given the number for the Samaritans, and I called them. That call saved my life. After that, I rang my mum and told her I needed help. My mum suggested rehab. And four days later, I was in. Now, I've been sober for six years, since 8 May 2019. Advertisement If I'm honest, I haven't found my recovery that hard - not in the way people expect. I accepted very early on that I just couldn't drink. I loved rehab. I soaked up everything. I started going to 12-step meetings and worked through a programme. The real shift came in October 2020, when I finally shared on social media that I was in recovery. I was tired of pretending. And the outpouring of love and 'me too' messages flipped something in my mind. Maybe I didn't have to hide. That's when I began helping others - and helping others helped me. That's how it works. 7 Amy now helps others get sober Credit: supplied Advertisement On the outside, the changes are obvious - I look healthier, I show up, I've built a business. In 2022, I decided to write a book to help others. How Did I Get Here: Building A Life Beyond Alcohol wasn't just about sharing my story - it was about telling the truth. Even when I got sober, there weren't enough stories that talked about the identity crisis, the grief, the rediscovery, the unlearning, the rising. I wanted women to know they weren't broken. Drinking has been normalised, glamourised, romanticised to the point where not drinking makes you the weird one. Advertisement But here's the truth: you don't need alcohol to have fun, to fit in, or to survive the day. And once you realise that, once you live that - you start to see the lie for what it is.
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
I drank 4 bottles of wine a day after getting dumped, not even AA or a broken face could stop me…a call changed it all
MY world fell apart on New Year's Eve 2008 when my fiance of six years told me he didn't love me anymore. I moved out of his flat that we shared the next day - heartbroken and lost. I didn't know what to do with the emotional pain, so I drank. 7 7 My relationship with alcohol quickly shifted from something social to a desperate coping mechanism. Nights were spent in a local pub with friends, and bottles of wine consumed with my mum Caroline until the anger or sadness passed. I wouldn't go out sober. Drinking felt essential. It gave me confidence, made me feel fun. But things began to spiral. I lost my job at New Look not long after. Someone had complained I smelled of alcohol. That part wasn't upheld - but instead of seeing it as a warning sign, I used it as justification. I told myself it was their fault I'd lost my job. It didn't stop me drinking - I drank more. In the jobs that followed, mainly in retail, I'd count down the hours until I could get home and pour a glass of wine. I was high-functioning enough that no one really knew. Or, at least, no one said anything. By 2015, I started hiding bottles of booze. That's when I knew, deep down, that something wasn't right. But I convinced myself it was no one else's business. I was living at my mum's while saving to move to Cambodia. I drank 7 bottles of vodka & 30 glasses of wine a week- I smashed teeth & was fired for being drunk, the booze broke me A friend had told me it was really nice and I thought a change of country might change me. But one night I came home from drinking, and my mum had lined up all the empty booze bottles on the kitchen side. There were about 15. She had found them shoved at the back of my wardrobe. I still remember the look on her face. There was no shouting - just quiet heartbreak. Moving to Cambodia on my own in 2016 gave me total freedom - but it also gave me a deep sense of loneliness. I was teaching English as a foreign language to young children, and lived with a woman from New Zealand in an apartment in Phnom Penh. But my behaviour didn't change. One night I'd ended up at a casino with a group of men I'd met in a bar, phone dead, no way for anyone to reach me. My housemate panicked so called my mum. I thought they were overreacting. That was my mindset. I hoped coming back to the UK after a year would fix me - but even on the flight back, and drinking a beer at the airport, I knew it wouldn't. 7 I got my own place, which meant there was no one around to see what I was doing. My mum tried to talk to me gently about it sometimes, and I'd make these half-hearted promises to cut down. But the truth is, living alone made it way too easy to carry on. Then came Christmas 2018 when I was 38. I was working in a pub, and after one of my shifts, I drank way too much. I ended up drink-driving home. I don't even remember doing it. My colleagues were so concerned they called the police. But again, I didn't see the danger - or my own responsibility. I blamed them. In my head, I was the victim. I never went back to that job but I also didn't drive again until I got sober in 2019, so a part of me knew. What to do if you think are an alcoholic IF you're struggling with alcohol addiction, the most important thing is to recognise the problem and seek support - You don't have to face it alone. Seek Professional Help GP or Doctor – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options. Therapists or Counsellors – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies. Rehab or Detox Programmes – If physical dependence is severe, medically supervised detox may be necessary. Consider Support Groups Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – A well-known 12-step programme that provides peer support. SMART Recovery – A science-based alternative to AA, focusing on self-empowerment. Local Support Groups – Many communities have groups tailored to different needs. By the end, I was drinking between three and four bottles of wine a day. That had become my normal. I didn't even think it was excessive - it was just what I needed to get through the day. I stopped going out as much because it was easier to drink at home. When I did go out, I'd usually end up black-out drunk. I'd fall over, lose my keys, wake up in places I had no memory of ever going. It became too risky, too unpredictable. So I started choosing the sofa, a bottle - or four - and my own little bubble of self-pity. Eventually, I couldn't do anything without a drink in me. I needed at least two glasses of wine just to get ready for work because my hands would be shaking so much. I isolated myself a lot because I was trying so hard to hide what was really going on, as I didn't want to face questions from friends or family. I wasn't in a romantic relationship during that time. But I was promiscuous. I had a lot of one-night stands, thinking they'd somehow make me feel better. They didn't. I'd wake up filled with shame and self-loathing, and then use that as another excuse to drink. 7 7 In the summer of 2018, I experienced what should have been a rock bottom moment. That was when I fractured my face after a fall while drunk. But it wasn't. Not yet. I had to stop drinking for eight days while I was on antibiotics. But, the following week I celebrated by drinking again. A reward. I knew then I was in trouble. I went to my first AA meeting in January 2019. I was drunk when I went. I don't even remember much about it, but that was the first time I admitted something was wrong - even if I wasn't ready to deal with it yet. Alcohol and addiction had affected my confidence, my sense of self, my ability to trust my own thoughts. I stopped making plans for the future. I lived day-to-day, hour-to-hour, bottle-to-bottle. It robbed me of time. And, it impacted my health - my body was exhausted, my hands shook, I sweated constantly, my anxiety was through the roof. But I didn't care - my main concern was hiding the truth, from others, and most importantly, from myself. I told lies. I lived a double life: the version I showed the world and the one that sat at home pouring another glass. 7 The moment it all stopped wasn't loud or dramatic. It was May 2019, and I passed out at work working as a store manager of a retail shop. I was drinking all day, every day - even at work. When they found me unconscious, I felt pure shame. But still not surprised. At the same time, I was also in therapy, trying to cope without actually telling my therapist I was still drinking. Years of buried pain came up - heartbreak, my parents' divorce, the fallout from my cancelled wedding. I had no idea how to cope. So I drank more. But, that day, something cracked. I didn't want to live like this anymore. But I didn't want to die either. I'd been given the number for the Samaritans, and I called them. That call saved my life. After that, I rang my mum and told her I needed help. My mum suggested rehab. And four days later, I was in. Now, I've been sober for six years, since 8 May 2019. If I'm honest, I haven't found my recovery that hard - not in the way people expect. I accepted very early on that I just couldn't drink. I loved rehab. I soaked up everything. I started going to 12-step meetings and worked through a programme. The real shift came in October 2020, when I finally shared on social media that I was in recovery. I was tired of pretending. And the outpouring of love and 'me too' messages flipped something in my mind. Maybe I didn't have to hide. That's when I began helping others - and helping others helped me. That's how it works. On the outside, the changes are obvious - I look healthier, I show up, I've built a business. In 2022, I decided to write a book to help others. How Did I Get Here: Building A Life Beyond Alcohol wasn't just about sharing my story - it was about telling the truth. Even when I got sober, there weren't enough stories that talked about the identity crisis, the grief, the rediscovery, the unlearning, the rising. I wanted women to know they weren't broken. Drinking has been normalised, glamourised, romanticised to the point where not drinking makes you the weird one. But here's the truth: you don't need alcohol to have fun, to fit in, or to survive the day. And once you realise that, once you live that - you start to see the lie for what it is.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Brait plans exit from New Look amid UK fashion struggles
Investment holding group Brait is actively exploring exit options for its stake in UK fashion retailer New Look. Image: Bloomberg Investment holding group Brait is actively exploring exit options for its stake in UK fashion retailer New Look, it said on Wednesday, as the underperforming asset continues to weigh on its portfolio amid a broader strategic reshaping following its 2024 recapitalisation. New Look, once a significant pillar in Brait's investment lineup, now comprises just 3% of its total assets, down from 7% a year earlier. The decline reflects continued weak trading in the UK's embattled fashion retail sector, which has been plagued by consumer caution, price discounting, and shifting demand patterns. Sales at New Look fell by 4% year-on-year while gross profit declined by 3%, according to Brait's year-end results for the period ended March 31, 2025. A capital injection of £30 million (R730m) was recently announced in an attempt to support the retailer's transition to a more digitally focused model. 'To offset regulatory inflation and align with a more digitally focused model, the company initiated a significant restructuring across the business,' Brait said in its results . "Exit options for the business are being explored, while the transition from offline to online channels continues to progress." Brait's equity holding in New Look is also set to fall sharply. Once the recapitalisation is finalised, Brait's diluted equity stake will decline to 8% from 17.2%, further diminishing its exposure to the brand. The investment's unrealised carrying value dropped to R485 million at the end of March 2025, nearly halving from R982m a year earlier. Despite the drag from New Look, Brait reported a modest improvement in its net asset value (NAV) - Brait's key reporting metric - buoyed by better performances from core holdings such as Virgin Active and Premier, as well as progress on its balance sheet restructuring. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Brait's NAV per share rose 6% to R3.06 on a like-for-like basis compared to March 2024, following the completion of a broad recapitalisation package in August last year. That included a R1.5 billion rights offer, partial repayments and maturity extensions of its convertible and exchangeable bonds, and the extension of its revolving credit facility. The company reported a R1.378bn reduction in debt over the period, aided by bond buybacks and improved operational cash flow from its investments. Post year-end, Brait further reduced its liabilities with a £10m repurchase of convertible bonds in April 2025, bringing post-balance sheet available liquidity to R838m. From an IFRS perspective, Brait posted diluted earnings and headline earnings per share of 5 cents, a turnaround from a 13-cent loss per share in the prior year. Virgin Active Virgin Active, which accounts for 62% of Brait's portfolio, continued to recover strongly, posting a 13% increase in revenue to £212.5m and a 45% rise in year-to-date Ebitda to £35.8m. During the reporting period Brait made significant investment in the existing estate and new clubs and club refurbishments to drive higher membership engagement and yields. Premier Foods, the group's fast moving consumer goods arm, grew revenue up by 7% at R19.9 billion, while Ebitda rose 15% to R2.4bn. Brait said investment has continued across key operating units with annual capex of R726m mostly on bakery upgrades. BUSINESS REPORT Visit:
