Preloved Designer Fashion Online Business For Sale

Fashion designer website and Stock

Shirley Yanez

2026-07-23T07:17:00.0000000 2026-07-23T07:47:30.1370000

Premium E-Commerce Business Opportunity: www.rescuelux.com

Curated Pre-Loved Luxury Platform. An exceptional turnkey opportunity to acquire a fully operational, high-end online boutique specializing in pre-loved designer fashion. Built on a highly optimized Shopify infrastructure, this business features an expertly curated, authenticated catalogue of rare collectibles and investment pieces from the world's most coveted fashion houses.

Executive Summary Platform: Fully customized Shopify storefront optimized for high-ticket conversions.

Inventory Focus: Hand-picked, authenticated luxury collectibles.

Core Brands: Balmain, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), Louis Vuitton (LV), and more.

Business Model:

Sustainable luxury resale (circular fashion) with high profit margins. Target Audience: Affluent eco-conscious consumers, luxury collectors, and fashion stylists.

Value Proposition & Asset

Overview 1. Ready-Made Premium Brand Identity Launching a luxury brand requires months of design, curation, and trust-building. This business eliminates those barriers. It offers a sophisticated, minimalist aesthetic that mirrors the digital flagship stores of top-tier fashion houses, instantly establishing authority and trust with discerning buyers.

2. The Curated Stock Catalogue Unlike bulk consignment sites, this platform focuses strictly on high-end, hand-picked collectibles. Scarcity Value: Features rare, vintage, and limited-edition pieces that appreciate over time. Brand Power: High-demand inventory from Balmain, Gucci, YSL, and Louis Vuitton ensures consistent organic search traffic. Every piece is selected for its excellent condition and investment value, allowing for premium pricing.

3. High-Performance Shopify Infrastructure Seamless Checkout: Integrated with premium payment gateways. Mobile Optimized: Designed for a flawless shopping experience on smartphones, where over 70% of luxury e-commerce traffic originates. Scalable Tech Stack: Built-in SEO frameworks, inventory management systems, and automated email marketing flows. The Strategic Advantage: Why Communities Need Amplification Platforms.

In the modern digital landscape, owning a beautiful storefront is only half the battle. High-end businesses and independent creators need specialized ecosystems to cut through the noise of mainstream social media. Platforms like Poopsnoop fill a critical market gap by providing a dedicated space for communities to share, market, and discover what people are actively selling, doing, or making. Why Peer-to-Step Discovery Platforms are Essential.

Targeted Visibility: Mainstream algorithms penalize organic business posts. A dedicated community platform ensures your business is seen by highly intentional users looking to buy, collaborate, or support. Trust and Authenticity: Luxury consumers thrive on word-of-mouth recommendations. A community-centric platform fosters transparent peer reviews, building the social proof necessary to close high-ticket sales. Cross-Pollination of Audiences: By participating in a shared marketplace community, a pre-loved luxury business instantly gains exposure to complementary audiences—such as independent sustainable designers, artists, and creators.

Reduced Ad Dependency: Instead of spending thousands on unpredictable PPC ads, businesses can leverage community hubs to build authentic, long-term relationships with clients who value craftsmanship and sustainability. Growth and Scalability Potential.

Consignment Expansion: Easily pivot or expand into a managed peer-to-peer consignment model. Live Commerce: Utilize the Shopify setup to launch live-stream shopping events for new drop collections.

Global Shipping: The lightweight, high-value nature of luxury goods makes international scaling highly profitable. This business is perfectly positioned for an entrepreneur, influencer, or investment group looking to enter the booming multi-billion-dollar luxury resale market with little development downtime.

For more details contact Rescuelux.com

My Story In The Daily Mail : How I Lost My Fortune And Bounced Back

Here are some of my tips of how I recovered from homelessness after reaching rock bottom

Shirley Yanez

2026-07-16T06:18:00.0000000 2026-07-16T06:37:56.2730000

Author, life coach, fashion entrepreneur, even tech entrepreneur, yes, but I never imagined Journalist too. Never say never, I just got my first article published in The Daily Mail

I lost the fortune I worked for all my life overnight, my marriage fell apart and I was homeless. Then I got back on my feet in my 50s

By Shirley Yanez

Luxuriating in a marble bath in my suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel, I reflected on how far I’d come.

I grew up one of six children in a two-up, two-down house with a tin bath and an outside toilet on a council estate in Leicester. Back then, luxury was getting your turn in the bath before the water went cold.

But I’d worked my way out of poverty, getting a job in financial recruitment, eventually setting up my own headhunting firm and becoming a millionaire in my 40s.

Now here I was, sinking into expensively perfumed bubbles, enjoying the trappings of that success. I’d spent the day shopping on Rodeo Drive and my designer purchases – vintage Chanel jewellery, yet another Hermès handbag I’d paid thousands for, a Versace silk shirt and a Gucci dress that would join so many others I’d probably never get round to wearing – were strewn across the bed in the room next door.

After a short-lived marriage in my 30s, where I’d discovered I couldn’t have children, I’d recently married an American I’d known for just six weeks. Convinced I was starting an exciting new chapter, I had moved to Los Angeles to be with him.

Little did I realise that the bubble would burst on my exciting new life just three months later.

This was the year 2000. I’d sold my business in the UK and put all my cash – around half a million pounds – into the booming dotcom stock market, watching my portfolio climb to dizzying heights. At its zenith it was worth as much as £6million and I was renting a vast house overlooking Manhattan Beach, next door to Michelle Pfeiffer. I didn’t need to work in any conventional sense because my investments were working for me.

Then the dotcom bubble burst. The market crashed and within days the value of my investments collapsed to nothing. Almost overnight, the fortune I had built through years of hard work disappeared.

At the same time, my whirlwind marriage fell apart. Marty, who was five years younger than me, was very good-looking, a manual worker who drove a truck, with no wealth or status, which is exactly what appealed to me. I wanted someone from a background like my own; someone who wasn’t obsessed with money, who I could build a ‘real’ life with.

But as the money disappeared and I was forced to give up that amazing house for a small, rather grim one-bed flat far from the beach, Marty went the same way. I was left alone, wondering how I was going to keep a roof over my head.

I began selling off the life I’d built, piece by piece. Over the next five years everything of value I’d had shipped over from the UK went: my artwork, jewellery, the classic two-seater Mercedes I adored, the handbags I’d once been so proud of along with rails of designer clothes.

At the height of my success, I’d paid £10,000 for a Chanel handbag. When I came to sell it, desperate for money to buy food, I got around £900. When you’re struggling, you don’t get to hold out for the right buyer; you take what you can get.

Meanwhile, I tried to start again in LA, pitching a TV show about art and looking for ways to make money. But this was a city built around image and youth. I was in my late 40s by then and, no matter how hard I pushed, nothing took off.

Eventually, everything that could be sold had gone. Unable to pay my rent, my landlord told me to leave.

I remember standing there with my mobile on its last bit of battery, no credit left, no money, no family nearby and no idea where I was going to sleep. Then a free local paper was pushed through the door. Leafing through it, I spotted a small advert for a homeless shelter.

It felt like the very bottom of the ladder, but I had no other options, and so I made one last call to the minister who ran it before my phone died.

I spent the next two weeks in that shelter, surrounded by people whose lives had been far tougher than mine – gang members, men and women with no family to turn to, people who truly had nothing.

It was frightening, but it was also the point where something in me shifted. Sitting there, I realised how easy it is to find yourself at rock bottom. One or two bad decisions, a bit of bad luck, and you can end up somewhere you never imagined.

But I also realised that, unlike many of the people around me, I still had something precious: hope. I had skills and people back home I could call on.

I picked up the phone to my former business partner in the UK – the most humbling call I’ve ever made – and asked for help to get home. I admitted everything had gone, and he sent me a plane ticket.

In 2005, I arrived back in Leicester with nothing. I went back to exactly where I had started and began again, sleeping on my older sister Lynn’s sofa. She didn’t judge me or lecture me. Her kindness brought me right back down to earth and reminded me what really mattered.

I signed on for benefits and had to survive on around £80 a week. I felt ashamed and carried an enormous sense of failure. I had once been a millionaire, staying in luxury hotels and shopping on Rodeo Drive. Now I was queuing to explain why I had no income.

Eventually I was given housing benefit and managed to rent a tiny cottage. Finding work was tough. In my early 50s, with a background as a high-flying entrepreneur who’d been a millionaire, the Jobcentre staff didn’t quite know what to do with me. I was overqualified for receptionist or sales assistant roles but for a while I did work as a temp answering phones for £10 an hour.

Then I was assigned to someone at the Jobcentre who specialised in unusual cases like mine. He saw that I was an entrepreneur at heart and I was given a £300 business loan. I used it to build a fashion venture that eventually became my brand, Venus Cow.

My only qualification was that I had been a shopaholic who bought clothes all over the world. But I understood how women wanted clothes to fit and set out to create the perfect pair of black leggings. Made in Britain from cotton that was thick enough not to become transparent and designed not to create a muffin top.

It took six years to develop the design and fabric, protect the idea and get the product right. The business finally began to take off in 2018. Then Covid struck and disrupted everything again – but Venus Cow survived and is doing well.

I haven’t regained the millions I once lost and I still rent a small but beautiful cottage in the countryside. But I don’t need marble bathrooms or Chanel handbags to prove I have succeeded.

And should I make a great deal of money again, I intend to give it to charity. I have already lived the millionaire lifestyle. I know it doesn’t necessarily make you safe or happy.

Now 70, I’m back on my feet and thriving. I remain an entrepreneur, as well as working as a life coach and author, but I have never forgotten how quickly everything can disappear.

That rebuilding didn’t happen overnight. It was built on making every pound count, and finding ways to look and feel like myself again on a very tight budget.

I had to change my mindset around money completely. If you’ve always cared about how you present yourself – as I have – the hardest thing about having no money isn’t just paying the bills, it’s holding on to your dignity and sense of self.

These are the money rules I live by now – the practical steps that helped me go from living on the dole to being financially sound once again:

Rule 1: Audit small comforts

When I hit rock bottom, I couldn’t afford vague budgeting. I had to see, in black and white, where every pound was going.

* Track everything for one week. I wrote down every spend – wine, coffees, snacks, magazines, online ‘bargains’ – no rounding down, no pretending it didn’t count.

* Total the ‘comfort’ spending. Seeing that weekly figure was a shock. It wasn’t the rent or the bills that were sinking me, it was the comforts I’d told myself I deserved. Cut them fast, not slowly. I quit smoking, alcohol and takeaway coffees in one go. You might not need to cut everything but do choose at least one or two and stop for 30 days to assess the impact on your finances.

* Redirect the savings with purpose. I treated that freed-up money as untouchable: it went on rent, food and arrears – not new treats. It feels brutal at first, but you’ll be amazed how quickly you adapt.

Rule 2: Move your body for free, every day

I couldn’t justify a gym membership but I didn’t want to give up on my health, so I set a rule to move for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, no excuses.

* Keep it free and simple. For me walking was my go-to, but there are plenty of free YouTube exercise tutorials that allow you to work out in your own living room.

* I stuck to the same time every day. If it rained, I put a coat on. If I felt low, I walked slower, but I still moved my body.

* Focus on your head, not your waistline. I used those walks to process what had happened and to tell myself: ‘This isn’t permanent.’ As you get moving you can use that time to mentally rehearse job interviews, plan meals or simply switch off from your troubles and breathe.

In a few months, your mood, sleep and confidence start to shift – and it won’t cost you a penny.

Rule 3: Treat food as fuel, not comfort

When I was living on £80 a week, food had to keep me alive and functioning, not numb my feelings.

* Shop at the right time. I went to the fruit and veg market as stalls were packing up, when prices dropped to almost nothing. In supermarkets, I went straight to the yellow sticker reduced shelves and own brand basics.

* Build a short ‘survival menu’. I rotated a handful of meals – jacket potatoes with beans and cheese, omelettes with frozen veg and simple soups from cheap vegetables.

* Cook to the bargains, not your cravings. I looked at what was reduced first, then decided what I’d eat. You can do this too by asking yourself, ‘What’s cheap today?’ rather than, ‘What do I fancy?’

Rule 4: Be clever about beauty

I still cared about how I looked – it just had to cost next to nothing.

* Swap salons for training schools. I found local hairdressing colleges and training schools where students need models to get cuts, colour and blow dries. They charge a fraction of salon prices, and it’s all supervised by tutors.

* Create a £0 skincare routine. Each morning, I ran an ice cube over my face – that’s it. Over time my skin felt tighter and fresher. And I used what was already in the kitchen: avocado skins on dry, cracked areas; grated orange peel with a little oil as a body scrub.

The goal isn’t to look expensive. It’s to look like someone who still respects herself, even when her bank balance has fallen through the floor.

Rule 5: Shop where the rich get rid, not where they splash the cash

Losing money taught me to fill my wardrobe with other women’s expensive mistakes.

* I stopped going to designer shops and started going to charity shops in wealthy areas and car boot sales near affluent neighbourhoods.

* Set strict spending rules: take cash only, decide your maximum spend before you go in and accept that when the money’s gone, you’re done.

* Know what you’re looking for. I kept an eye out for quality fabrics (wool, silk, cotton), classic cuts I could wear for years and items with the tags still on – and there were plenty.

* Enjoy the hunt, not the haul. I treated it as treasure hunting, not shopping therapy. Even now, I’d rather wear a £10 charity shop blazer from a rich postcode than a £300 one I can’t really afford.

Rule 6: Protect your dignity with small daily standards

Losing status can make you feel invisible, but I refused to disappear.

* Create a ‘minimum presentation’ list. Put on a proper outfit, do your hair, apply a bit of make-up. If I had the Jobcentre or a difficult appointment, I made more effort, not less. This wasn’t to impress them - it was to mentally support me.

* Your standards might include painted nails, ironed shirt, polished shoes. Pick a couple and keep to them no matter what. Those tiny acts don’t change your bank balance, but they quietly protect your self-respect – and when you’re trying to rebuild your finances that matters far more than your bank manager will tell you.

Shirley’s autobiography, Waterfall Down, is available on Amazon priced £11.99.

Thanks To The Editors at The Daily Mail For This Opportunity

Jane Eyre Black and White 1943 Movie

Vintage black and white Hollywood movie

Shirley Yanez

2026-07-15T08:02:00.0000000 2026-07-15T08:20:00.9070000

The 1944 classic Jane Eyre is a brooding cinematic triumph. Orson Welles brings a towering, shadowed intensity to Mr. Rochester, perfectly contrasting Joan Fontaine's luminous reserve. It's a masterclass in gothic romance, swirling with deep chiaroscuro shadows and passionate, haunting tension. Why Vintage Black and White Cinema Captivates Me.

There is a profound magic in classic, monochrome storytelling. Stripped of colour, the films rely entirely on light, shadow, and subtext. This allows for a deeper, more atmospheric engagement where the imagination weaves its own colours into the frames. The Masterful use of deep contrasts and long shadows evokes an emotional resonance that feels intimately tied to the human condition, perfect for ghost stories and gothic romances. Theatrical Presence: Without flashy digital effects, these films pivot on sharp dialogue and magnetic performances, demanding that actors—like Welles—radiate sheer star power to command the scene.

Timeless Universality: The absence of era-specific colour palettes gives black and white films a mythical, dream-like quality. They bridge the gap between reality and fantasy, allowing the core themes to shine through with striking clarity. For me, this love affair with monochrome is deeply personal, rooted in the flickering glow of a 1950s living room. As a small child, I sat beside my mother, captivated by the fierce screen presence of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Joan Fontaine. These women were architects of their own fates, navigating romance with a sharp, almost masculine steeliness that refused to bow. Watching them, I wasn't just consuming stories; I was absorbing a blueprint. Decades later, I look back and recognize that the unapologetic way I handled love, independence, and resilience as an adult was quietly forged right there in the shadows of those magnificent women.

For fans of classic cinema, film buffs agree that the 1944 adaptation brilliantly captures the stormy, windswept essence of Charlotte Brontë's original prose. You can easily explore this ⁠Jane Eyre 1943 Details on IMDb to see how the masterpiece was constructed.

Do You Really Get A Five Star Experience On a Jet Two Package Holiday?

El Fuerte Hotel Marbella Spain

Shirley Yanez

2026-06-17T06:40:00.0000000 2026-06-17T06:50:48.1930000

We are all different and expect different things when we book a holiday. This is why platforms like Trip Advisor and other review sites often fail when delivering customer reviews.

I have been lucky in my life to have experienced true 5 star hospitality but I have also made many mistakes by listening to marketing and influencer reviews and chosen hotels and holidays that have not lived up to the hype.

In this current environment we are all suffering through a cost of living crisis so when I booked my current holiday I knew it would probably be the only holiday I would have until the end of the year. I decided to push the boat out when I saw Jet Two offering a five star package to El Fuerte in Marbella.

I was wary because I have experienced supposed five star packages through travel companies before and to be honest it hasn’t worked out but this looked particularly good.

The flight and Jet Two were not bad. You get what you pay for. It all went smoothly.

I had done my research outside of Jet Two’s marketing and the reviews for the hotel including one from Stylist Magazine by Felicity Thistlewaite offered a complimentary stay with her family in exchange for a freebie and everything pointed to a five star experience.

In my personal view, first impressions either make it or break it.

On arrival at the hotel, the reception area and check-in is not the first point of call. It is the concierge desk, so you find yourself asking them the questions about your stay that they are unable to answer. You then get taken into a separate area for checking in where you are offered a welcome drink and seated with a hotel representative.

We had booked a room with twin beds as I was not travelling with my lover but my business partner. I had sent an email ahead of time and was told the hotel had replied stating we would need to upgrade to the next level if we wanted twin beds. Unfortunately I did not receive this email so we were stuck with a double bed and no compromise unless we paid to upgrade.

The receptionist didn’t handle my concerns or the fact I hadn’t received the email. She was closed off and in full sales mode, stating clearly you get what you pay for.

As our conversation went on it soon became very clear unless we paid more money we were going in the cheap rooms allocated to Jet Two package customers, with no twin beds and basic use of the hotel facilities.

It turned out also that the promised rooftop infinity pool for adults only was not available and Jet Two made no mention of this in their marketing.

After a good 30 minutes fighting a dead end with no other options, we said we would look at the room. On the way to the room our first impression was a feeling of stress and disappointment. This was not looking like a five star experience for us.

We didn’t even really notice anything about the hotel, we were thinking we were going to have to move.

When we arrived in the room it confirmed this holiday was never going to satisfy what we believed we’d paid for, for a 5 star experience.

The room wasn’t big enough to swing a cat. It had a small double bed, a tiny open plan bathroom with a shower, no bath, a small window, no view and a claustrophobic feeling that was suffocating.

The decor, sheets and furniture were amazing and the room would have been perfect for a young couple on their first luxury holiday but not for two middle aged women who had requested twin beds and a bath.

It was back to arguing on the phone, explaining our issues and asking to speak to the general manager.

We sat in reception waiting as she was on a break until the Guest Relations Manager arrived with a huge smile and a very sympathetic, caring ear.

We explained the situation and she could see our first impression of El Fuerte was not how they wanted anybody to feel about their lovely hotel.

She went into overdrive producing a complimentary upgrade to a room that would satisfy our needs, twin beds, a bath in a separate bathroom with a partial sea view and a terrace.

This action changed everything. As beyond the first impression truly lay the five star experience we were expecting.

So the answer to the question can you really book a five star package through a travel company is simple. Yes but it probably is going to leave you feeling like you are in the cheap seats unless you upgrade.

This hotel is amazing. The staff are attentive, welcoming and cannot do enough for you. The breakfast experience is exceptional with everything you could imagine from freshly squeezed orange juice served at your table on arrival to the best homemade waffles ever tasted.

The setting on the terrace with red striped comfy furniture and umbrellas. beautiful ocean view and lush colourful flowers and plants make you feel like you are in heaven.

The sun loungers are well spread out, really comfortable with huge luxury towels, call bells on every table and a wonderful adults only swimming pool and bar service.

The lunch at Levante Restaurant again on the terrace is beautifully presented and delivered under the watchful eye of Fernando the hotels exceptional restaurant manager.

We had an early dinner at the hotel’s beach restaurant Soleo and our experience was lifted to a new height. The food, the view, the staff and the whole experience left us wanting to return to recreate it the next day.

The hotel once we overcame the first impression is a hidden gem right in the centre of Marbella old town, within easy walking distance of many shops and other places to eat but to be honest when a hotel gets it right you don’t want to leave. You have everything you need and this hotel delivers just that.

In my opinion as a seasoned 5 star traveller I would suggest to a hotel like El Fuerte, if they are going to offer inferior accommodation to lower paying customers (this holiday was not cheap by the way) it would be better to keep everyone on the same level. Trying to mix the two to reach a wider audience, which I understand is necessary in this current economic climate, is a mistake.

El Fuerte Or Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella and La Cabane Beach Club - One click and destiny is changed

When using a travel site a warning, once booked there is no going back

Shirley Yanez

2026-06-09T07:36:00.0000000 2026-06-09T08:23:29.5500000

I had a fixed budget for a week of 5 star luxury on the Costa Del Sol, I’ve been to Los Monteros before a lot over the years, a home away from home. The Costa del Sol is one of the easiest destinations to get to from the UK where wall to wall sunshine is usually guaranteed and you can easily disappear and reemerge refreshed and rejuvenated, exactly what I like from a few days away.

Los Monteros is a glamorous old school luxury property that has hosted the likes of Sean Connery, Antonio Banderas, and King of Spain Juan Carlos in the past. The hotel has gone through some tough times, has been closed for some time but has been revitalised with a €50 million dollar refurbishment I have been eager to re experience. La Cabane the exclusive beach club now owned by Dolce and Gabbana is a reason to go on it’s own, with daily entry costing up to $450 euros per bed, and in high demand throughout the summer season the beach club once owned by Los Monteros, (now a completely separate business) the Los Monteros hotel concierge hold a block of priority reservations for guests for an amazing rate of just €100 per bed per day.

The other option was El Fuerte another 5 star property with great credentials, a Clarins Spa, outdoor daily yoga classes, beach front dining at Soleo where the food looks spectacular, a beautiful modern refurbishment through the vision of Chilean interior designer Jaime Beriestain. A striking interior featuring bold red and white signature stripes on loungers and restaurant interiors and umbrellas, reminding me of a fabulous property in Marrakesh El Fenn where the interiors are worthy of note. I never stayed at El Fuerte but the pictures look incredible and the reviews are pretty good too, described as a serene haven for grown ups. Sounds like my kind of place.

This property is actually on the beach in the centre of Marbella and walking distance from Marbella old town, Los Monteros a 10 minute uber away a place I know well and love to meander, shop, eat in the evening, so this was appealing to me. I have already snooped about Puerto Banus Market, and Estepona Market in the Marina, both open on Saturday mornings and places I cannot wait to return, for me two of the best Spanish markets I have ever been to for very high quality designer dupes from the African continent.

Which to choose, I scrolled through countless reviews on Trip advisor but nothing pointed me towards one over the other. It’s always been a problem for me not knowing the profile and tastes of an individual reviewer, what else they like. For my budget I could get 9 days at El Fuerte and explore the unknown or for the same price get 7 days bed and breakfast and experience somewhere I have loved with the private Beach Club La Cabane, think Puente Romano or The Marbella Club exclusive boutique luxury accessibility.

With both trips planned in different windows on my laptop I selected Kimpton

Los Monteros but actually booked El Fuerte. And because it was through a travel site the mistake wasn’t rectifiable, clearly stated in the terms and conditions no changes, no refunds.

It’s an easy mistake to make. It made me laugh how one click can change your destiny entirely. I wasn’t disappointed I just thought it was meant to be.

Nabla Lipsticks Get 5 stars Across 5 Categories

What makes a great perfect Nude lipstick: Ethics, Colour, Price, Packaging and Durability

Shirley Yanez

2026-06-07T09:22:00.0000000 2026-06-07T09:58:32.1670000

I think it’s fair to say no one epitomises the “lipstick effect” more than I.

I wear my lipstick everyday. Not in bed as some women may attest to, but it goes on as part of my routine, a habit I live by, (and have maintained over 5 decades) I don’t leave the house without it, I reapply several times a day and as a result I go through lipstick faster than any other make up or beauty product I purchase.

Before I start best to say what makes the perfect nude lipstick for me. I don’t like purple, peach or coral in my nude and anything too brown is out too. I also don’t like anything too light, beige or chalky in tone or texture. It has to be a pinky nude, always Matt, but I like moisturising and most importantly and most difficult to find, a lipstick that stays on.

And with so many on the market to pick from it’s amazing I haven’t found it yet, until maybe now. The holy grail of nudes is a combination of three lipsticks from Nabla.

I have said on here before I am always in search of the perfect nude lipstick and whilst I have reviewed and snooped about a few, Pat McGrath, Louboutin, Hermes and have tried every lipstick known to woman from well known to emerging brands available in Selfridges Harvey Nichols and Harrods in my younger days, I recently went a little darker with a new shade from Dior, I have yet to throw on the towel and say that’s it, this is the one. Maybe I just like the hunt.

That said I want to tell you about three different lipsticks I have just purchased I love from Nabla.

Nabla is make up a brand I stumbled across online and was so impressed with their all natural approach to make up and beauty and their cruelty free and vegan credentials I decided to shop without seeing and trying up close in a store setting, something I prefer.

When the three products selected arrived, my Matt Pleasure lipstick in Milky Nude, my Beyond Blurry Lipstick in Nuvola a new shade and my Nabla X Mr Daniel Beyond Blurry Lipstick in Dani (designed to prep and blur the lips of all imperfections before applying lipstick it only comes in two colour choices) I was super impressed with them.

Nabla even included a clear handbag pouch (value £14 for free) to keep the lipsticks together and stop them getting lost in my bag, a very nice touch.

The lipsticks were £25.00 each the lip primer £24.00 so compared to brands in Selfridges where I pay over £30 for a lipstick, and £36 for a Matt Trance Lipstick from Pat McGrath.

If you care about presentation and packaging these lipsticks don’t disappoint, the Matt Pleasure lipsticks come in a white casing whilst the beyond blurry lipsticks are delivered in a pearly pink casing. The beyond jelly option which is a sheer, glossy lipstick I didn’t try, I like Matt, comes in a signature black casing making it easy to distinguish which is which.

I love these lipsticks, so much I got them out at lunch to show a friend. I was raving so voraciously she snapped a few pictures for me to share with you all.

Next on the list is the Cupids arrow Stylo at £19.50 if you buy from Nablo Cosmetics, cheaper, as low as £15.00 if you shop around.

The best thing about this Stylo it’s not just for lips but for eyes or face or too, multi functional and versatile product. It’s a creamy texture you can easily blend with your fingers or a brush, and then it sets, for long wear and an impeccable result over time.

This was something I found with the lipsticks too, I have been applying in the morning and finding when I go to reapply at 11.00am no need it’s still there. Even when I’d finished lunch the other day I went to the bathroom and would always reapply my lipstick. I did out of habit but it wasn’t necessary. These lipsticks really stay put.

Dolce, Prince, Mango and Psatha My Favourite Bars and Cafes On Kamari Beach Santorini

Visiting Kamari Beach The Bars On The Promenade are the most expensive

Shirley Yanez

2026-05-25T07:25:00.0000000 2026-05-25T08:04:21.0500000

Kamari Beach Santorini Greece whilst a quiet town compared to the capital Fira or the most well known tourist area of Oia Village world-famous for its iconic white and blue architecture, domed churches and breathtaking sunset views it offers a relaxed vibe for tourists and an ocean front “strand” running parallel to Makedonias (Macedonia St)

It’s here where you’ll find all the bars and cafes.

The four best ones I tried were Dolce, Mango, Prince and Psatha.

When I visited it was the start of the season, May, and it wasn’t busy. The takeaways for me were how hard hit the island’s economy has been and whilst this area of Santorini has potential to be truly spectacular the clientele and people watching was sunburnt Brits on holiday. Had it not been for the black volcanic beaches and spectacular Aegean sunsets I could have been in Skegness.

I don’t drink very much, one cocktail and a glass of wine with diner on special occasions but I did go in search of a decaf expresso martini, I know I prefer without the caffeine these days too and a refreshing gin and tonic.

My first observation is there’s a problem with flat tonic on Santorini. After four or five attempts in different places I gave up. The tonic wasn’t fizzy. The first place I tried I actually sent the drink back until I realised it wasn’t an isolated incident.

Santorini is famous for its winery tours. The island's wine cooperatives offer expansive multi-level terraces with jaw-dropping, unobstructed caldera views but this didn’t trickle down to the wine served in the Kamari Beach bars, I am not going to point any bar out specifically but I did try reds and whites in different places and for me they were all undrinkable.

I stuck with the Expresso Martini my signature drink. The best one I had was in a sports bar/cocktail bar Dolce on Panagias Myrtidiotissas Street at the intersection with the Kamari promenade. This spot was one of the busiest, played the best music Luther Vandross, Mary J Blige; had the most obliging and best looking servers and mixed the best Expresso Martini (even though it wasn’t decaf).

Next door on the Promenade is the Mango bar offering a happy hour and 2 for 1 cocktails. Here the Martini wasn’t so good, very very sweet and I couldn’t get the wine, a glass of red down.

I ordered dessert and the waffle that arrived, laden with warm chocolate sauce, a crumbly biscuit crumb and creamy vanilla ice cream made up for the drinks. It was the best dessert I ate on the island. It’s a great bar with loads of potential, I imagined had it been my place, instead of working so hard to drag in passers by off the strip a practise I found very off putting, I’d be more inclined to use reverse psychology, rent a good looking crowd to get the party started and let curiosity do the rest. In a few weeks I am sure these spots will be packed but whilst I could see great potential were pretty dead when I visited. They are also quite expensive, a couple of drinks and dessert will cost you anywhere between €35 and €50 euros, service is not included.

A smaller “more Greek” bar further along Psatha I enjoyed. I didn’t eat dinner but the pizza coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled absolutely delicious. Behind is the Sunshine hotel so travellers with back packs milled in and out and locals sat around tables drinking coffee, chatting and laughing. It felt the most “Greek” the service was very friendly and accommodating, it was my first “gin and tonic” experience but I tried to order a gin and tonic in three of four different places and they were all the same. In one place the bar tender didn’t know what it was and offered me a “sex on the beach” instead which probably creates a picture of the clientele visiting the area. It’s rustic.

The last bar to mention is Prince, which is probably the most inviting visually. It’s large and very modern architecture with comfy couches and potted palms was appealing and although the playlist wasn’t to my taste, more Mediterranean vibes, think belly dancing music it was one of the bars in Kamari Beach that attracted the most people. Usually a good sign.

The service was great, Eugene our waiter was very accommodating and as he got to know me definitely warmed up. He worked hard to find a wine by the glass; the best wines served by the bottle. He didn’t succeed with the reds, I opted for white in the end. All I can say if you are used to drinking good wine try a local beer instead.

Again the dessert was the highlight at Prince. The banana split, served in a sundae glass, with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and nuts was the perfect accompaniment to watching a spectacular sunset.

All the bars serve food, if you want to enjoy dinner by the sea and based on the desserts and lunches I enjoyed the food is definitely a highlight. For vegans and vegetarians loads of options too. I was recommended to go to Voodoo bar for happy hour which had a lively night club scene, and also Love Boat if you like Kareoke. Both looked fun but not my style.

Vlavianos Transfers travelling In Style Affordably On Santorini

Reliable Friendly Affordable Luxury Driver Kristopher In Santorini

Shirley Yanez

2026-05-20T04:37:00.0000000 2026-05-20T05:16:22.6430000

If you need a driver on the Greek island of Santorini Kristopher Vlavianos of Vlavianos Transfer has got you covered. From your trip too and from the airport, to guided tours around the island, help finding secluded spots to sunbath and water sports, jet ski, water ski, water boarding and parasailing or getting your hen party, stags or bridal party out and back safely and in style.

Riding around in a large Mercedes 10 seater, with fluorescent blue lighting at night, comfy leather seats, electric windows and doors, climate control and a table for enjoying a cocktail on the go and having a chauffeur at your disposal to take you safely home when the party’s over is a luxurious “in celebrity style”affair . Vlanianos Transfers really delivers on the affordable VIP transport experience.

And a truly personal and caring service. When I left personal belongs in Kristopher’s vehicle, the hotel called him and my things were returned and on the hotel reception the next morning.

The fees are reasonable. €10 euros around the local vicinity of Kamari Beach a little more if you go further a field to the capital Fira. Vlavianos Transfers are happy to quote fees in advance whatever your needs and numbers. Tipping is appreciated but not expected.

We used Vlavianos Transfers at the beginning of our vacation and found his service to be so good we used him throughout our entire stay on the island whenever we needed to get from A-B. The island of Santorini is volcanic, lots of hills so short distances that would normally be easily walkable, the humidity, windy conditions and heat make arduous and tricky if you don’t want to arrive windswept and sweaty. Kristopher has no problem driving short distances so you can arrive at your destination relaxed and comfortable.

Contact Kristopher +30 6978 549 083 to book your luxury transport on Santorini.

Tamarix Del Mar Suites Santorini Deliver Hospitality Excellence On Every Level

I have stayed in the best hotels all around the world and Tamarix can challenge them all

Shirley Yanez

2026-05-16T07:30:00.0000000 2026-05-18T07:20:53.0970000

How can I describe the heaven that awaits you at Tamarix Del Mar Villas and Suites in Kamari Beach Santorini?

It is a truly luxurious and peaceful hideaway where serenity and genuine hospitality awaits from the moment you push open the large wooden door. You’d could never imagine what lies in side and you’d never find out about Tamarix villas and suites, a 5 star boutique hotel with only 19 rooms unless someone you know and trust had already been.

We were greeted by Zena a seasoned hotelier and expert in the art of hospitality and Constantina who offered warmth and efficiency in equal measure to get us checked in and ensure everything ran seamlessly.

That feeling when you are being effortlessly looked after without fuss or ceremony.

The lunch we enjoyed poolside was delicious, the produce fresh and tasted like tomatoes just plucked from the vine and feta and olives no one does better than the Greeks. Even the chips tasted better than anywhere and the freshly made lemonade and gorgeous mix and match ceramics makes you feel like a guest in someone’s home, that someone has great taste and the highest of standards, but easy and effortless like the best is just where they live.

The rooms have everything you could ever want. The crispest of white walls, beautifully appointed with mirrors, a hair dryer, an iron, luxury linens, down pillows, matelasse coverlets,

handmade arts and crafts furniture, wicker buffets and colourful throw pillows, books, a DVD player, a private terrace and a roof top hot tub with a spectacular ocean view.

You’d never want for anything.

We awoke to bird song, the place is spectacularly quiet the guests stylish, respectful and discerning. Everyone is clearly loving the energy in Tamarix villas and suites. The feeling is palpable.

It’s not an air B and B, it’s not a big 5 star hotel. It’s personal and yet tasteful, massages and spa treatments booked with 24 hours notice, sauna, fitness gym and indoor pool all available to be enjoyed at your leisure.

If you are looking for a lively bar and a party scene this is not the place for you.

It’s a luxurious home from home a villa, with individual pool side cottages, the scent of magnolia and jasmine arches permeates, whilst the bougainvillea climbs the milky walls, the whole place set with the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, a short walk to the volcanic beach, the promenade, restaurants, cafes, cocktails and shops.

I have done my best to describe what awaits you at Tamarix Villas and Suites but it’s the kind of place you really have to experience for yourself to understand how unique this beautiful hideaway actually is.

Beverly Hills Housewives season 15 Bravo A Descent from the Pedestal

Bravo TV series

Shirley Yanez

2026-04-27T08:28:00.0000000 2026-04-27T09:28:25.3000000

This series for me has definitely pivoted from aspirational "lifestyle porn" to a gritty, high-stakes soap opera about starting over.

The Real Divorcees of Beverly Hills: A Descent from the Pedestal.

Season 15 has officially stripped away the last of the "Housewife" veneer. We are no longer watching the glamorous side of 90210; instead, we are witnessing a "Decent into Reality" as the diamonds lose their shine.

The show has shifted from showcasing luxury to a dark competition of who can endure the most painful divorce. Between Kyle’s fractured home life and Dorit’s public unravelling with PK, the cast members aren't competing for the best party anymore—they’re competing for the most sympathy in the wreckage of their former lives.

The "Real" in the title finally feels earned, but not in a fun way. These aren't housewives; they are bitter, feuding former friends who seem to relish in each other's downfalls. The glam is gone, replaced by legal filings and cold shoulders. If you’re looking for the aspirational Beverly Hills of old, you won’t find it here. This season is a raw look at what happens when the truth finally catches up to the image.

The transition from "Diamonds and Rosé" to "Depositions and Restraining Orders" is complete. What used to be a showcase of opulent estates and $90,000 sunglasses has devolved into a grim race to the bottom. We are watching a group of women who have replaced their "lifestyle goals" with "litigation goals," each seemingly desperate to prove that her heartbreak is the most profound and her legal fees the most astronomical. The "lifestyle" we’re seeing now isn't one of aspirational wealth; it’s the messy, realistic aftermath of lives built on fragile foundations. The Birkin bags now feel like shields used to deflect from the crumbling marriages and fractured friendships within. Instead of the playful banter and light-hearted "receipts" of earlier seasons, we get cold, calculated strikes intended to cause maximum reputational damage. There is a palpable bitterness that hangs over every dinner party—a sense that these women aren't just fighting with each other, but with the version of themselves they can no longer maintain. They aren't housewives; they are survivors of their own crafty insincere behaviour, navigating a descent that is as fascinating as it is uncomfortable to watch. The mask hasn't just slipped; it has shattered, leaving us with a Beverly Hills that is less "shining city on a hill" and more "car crash you can't look away from."

The Richards-Kemsley War: A Race to the Bottom

Nowhere is this descent more apparent than in the total annihilation of the friendship between Kyle and Dorit. This isn't just a "rift"—it’s a brutal, televised divorce of two women who have spent years curated as a package deal. The most jarring part of this season’s "Decent into Reality" is watching them weaponize their crumbling marriages against one another. Kyle’s sarcastic reunion quip to Dorit—"I’m not in the same financial position as you, I’m sorry"—wasn't just a read; it was a tactical strike on Dorit’s biggest vulnerability. For years, they competed for who had the most enviable husband; now, they are competing for who has the most justified reason to be "done".

Kyle has pivoted from the supportive sister-friend to a "strategic sniper," painting Dorit’s post-separation behaviour as "manic" and "erratic" on camera while claiming it’s out of "concern". Meanwhile, Dorit has fully shed the "token idiot" persona Kyle tried to pin on her. She is lashing out with a raw, pulsing energy, accusing Kyle colluding with PK through Mauricio to control the narrative.

The finale made it clear: there is no "healing" left here. When Kyle begged Andy to "make her shut up" during the reunion, it became the ultimate metaphor for their relationship. They aren't trying to save a friendship; they are trying to bury each other under the rubble of their former "perfect" lives. This isn't the Beverly Hills we signed up for, but it’s the most honest these women have ever been—even if that honesty is ugly, bitter, and deeply uncomfortable to watch.

Is Demi Moore The Perfect Anti-ageing Ambassador?

Lancôme new advertising campaign

Shirley Yanez

2026-04-24T08:42:00.0000000 2026-04-24T09:32:11.6200000

I had to write this today because, quite frankly, I’ve seen it all now.

We are officially living in a world where the message and the mirror no longer match — and no one seems to question it. A major Hollywood actress delivers a powerful, unsettling performance in a film warning us about the dangers of chasing youth, the obsession with reversing time, and the psychological cost of altering ourselves to meet impossible standards… …and then appears as the face of an anti-ageing serum campaign. Pause for a moment. Let that sink in.

We are being told, in one breath, “this path is damaging, unnatural, and dangerous” — and in the next, “buy this product and chase it anyway.” It would be funny if it weren’t so deeply damaging. Because this isn’t just about one celebrity or one campaign. This is about the culture we are all participating in. A culture where appearance is prioritised over authenticity. Where ageing is treated like a flaw to be corrected. Where “influence” is often nothing more than well-packaged insecurity sold at scale. Influencers — those modern-day role models — present a version of life that is filtered, curated, and carefully edited. Effort is hidden. Cost is concealed. Reality is airbrushed. And what’s left? A polished illusion that quietly tells millions of people: *you are not enough as you are.* That message lands.

It lands in the minds of young girls comparing themselves to impossible beauty standards. It lands in women who begin to see natural ageing as failure. It lands in anyone who starts to believe that happiness, confidence, and worth are something you can purchase — layer by layer. And here’s the irony. The more we chase this “perfect” version of ourselves, the further we move away from feeling whole. Because no serum, no filter, no procedure can fix a mindset that has been conditioned to feel inadequate. The internet — brilliant, powerful, transformative — has also become one of the most dangerous tools for mental health when left unchecked. Not because of what it is, but because of how it’s being used. Comparison has become constant. Validation has become external. Identity has become performative. And we are consuming it daily, often without question.

So perhaps the real issue isn’t the actress, or the brand, or even the influencers. It’s us. Our willingness to buy into it. To aspire to it. To measure ourselves against it. Because the moment we stop believing the illusion, it loses its power. The moment we stop funding it, it starts to disappear. Ageing is not a problem to be solved. It is a process to be understood, respected — even embraced. And confidence? That doesn’t come in a bottle. It comes from self-acceptance, from discipline, from how you live — not how you look. So maybe it’s time to wake up. To question what we’re being sold. To challenge what we’re being shown. And to step out of a system that profits from making us feel less than. Because the real anti-ageing solution isn’t external. It’s learning not to age your mind in a world that constantly tells you you should.

Is she a "bad" ambassador then?

It depends on what you value:

If you want honesty: She may fail as an ambassador because she represents a result that a cream alone could never achieve.

Andrew Tate Grooming The World Or The Architect of a Global Illusion?

TV documentary BBC

Shirley Yanez

2026-04-08T08:36:00.0000000 2026-04-08T08:56:33.1530000

Andrew Tate: Master Manipulator or Just Another Empty, Lost, Lonely self Proclaimed Misguided Misogynist? I watched this documentary last night and although it was shocking, once again it exposed just how sad and ridiculous social media and the world has become, so here is my take on the situation and I hope young Men will finally wake up and small a rat.

Let's STOP pretending this is complicated. This Isn't Masculinity. It's a Grift. The Dealer of a Dangerous Dream and The Man Who Taught Boys to Hate Women

What we are witnessing with Andrew Tate is not revolutionary thinking. It is not masculinity. It is not even particularly original. It is performance. A loud, carefully constructed performance built on the oldest, laziest idea in the book: That women exist to be used, controlled, and monetised.

We've seen this story before. Men chasing money, power, and excess, convincing themselves that domination equals success. The difference between Tate and figures like Jordan Belfort is not the underlying mindset - it's the packaging. Belfort, for all his chaos and addiction, eventually owned his behaviour. He exposed it. He didn't pretend it was noble. Tate, on the other hand, wraps exploitation in the language of empowerment but the truth? It turns out, Tate is just another sad lonely male influenced by a much older sad lonely dangerous manipulator called Iggy Semmelweis.

And that's what makes it dangerous? Because this isn't just about one man. It's about a system. A network. A brand. A machine that understands exactly how to tap into the insecurities of young men - loneliness, lack of direction, financial pressure - and convert those feelings into attention, loyalty, and ultimately, profit. Call it what you want - "The War Room," "Hustler's University," or something else entirely. At its core, it follows a familiar pattern: Create insecurity. Amplify it. Then sell the solution. You are not rich enough. Not respected enough. Not desired enough. But follow me - and you will be.

This is not guidance. It is marketing. And like all effective marketing, it sells a dream that is just out of reach - close enough to believe, distant enough to keep you paying. The tragedy is not that figures like Tate exist. The tragedy is how many young men are listening. Hundreds of thousands across the world are being drawn into an ideology that reduces relationships to transactions, women to assets, and self-worth to status. And here's the uncomfortable truth: This doesn't make men stronger. It makes them more disconnected. Because if you build your identity on control, you will always fear losing it.

If you build your relationships on dominance, you will never experience real connection. If you measure your worth through money alone, you will never feel like you have enough. This is not empowerment. It is a cycle. And like all cycles built on ego and insecurity, it feeds itself. There is also something else worth questioning - something often overlooked. How much of this is real. How much is performance? Because the modern influencer is not just a person - they are a product.

An influencer, by definition, shapes behaviour, attitudes, and decisions through perceived authority or lifestyle. And in Tate's world, that influence is amplified through spectacle: wealth, women, power, control. But strip away the performance, and what remains? Is it wisdom? Is it integrity?

 Or is it simply another man playing a role that keeps him relevant? Young men deserve better than this. They don't need fantasies about controlling women or extracting value from relationships. They don't need overpriced courses promising shortcuts to wealth and status.

They need truth. They need role models who teach discipline without cruelty. Strength without domination. Confidence without arrogance. And success without exploitation. Because if you really want to understand what women value - what creates attraction, respect, and connection - it will never be found in manipulation or control. It will be found in character. In emotional intelligence. In consistency. In integrity. The things that don't sell as easily online - but matter infinitely more in real life. So let's be honest. This isn't a revolution in masculinity. It's a business model. And like many before it, it profits most from the very people it claims to help. Young men are not the problem. But they are being sold one and it is time the truth was laid bare. Both Jordan Belfort and Andrew Tate have ended up in prison and are NOT the free radical thinkers they sell to the masses, so you make your own minds up.

Ladies of London New Reign Or Blue Bloodbath?

TV series London's elite social scene

Shirley Yanez

2026-04-04T10:23:00.0000000 2026-04-04T10:48:49.7400000

A Glossy Illusion That Misses the Mark

Ladies of London promises a fascinating glimpse into London’s elite—blue blood aristocrats, ambitious American expats, and glamorous international socialites moving through one of the most iconic cities in the world. On paper, it should be irresistible. In reality, it falls flat.

The biggest issue is how scripted it feels. Instead of offering an authentic window into high society, the show comes across as overly produced and carefully staged. The conversations lack spontaneity, the conflicts feel manufactured, and the overall tone struggles to convince.

It’s hard to connect with something that doesn’t feel real. Lady Emma Thynn made history in 2013 when she married Ceawlin Thynn, the 8th Marquess of Bath, becoming the first woman of colour to marry into the British aristocracy. She seems to be the best addition to the show because she works hard and has plenty to say without being bitchy or unkind but the rest, ruin it for me. I find them truly shallow and even the fashion misses the mark.

Having spent time in London and experienced elements of that world first-hand, I can say the true upper classes carry a quiet confidence and subtlety that simply isn’t captured here. If anything, the real thing is far more understated—and likely a little embarrassed by this exaggerated portrayal.

In contrast, shows like The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills manage to strike a better balance. They’re dramatic, yes—but there’s an edge of authenticity, a rawness that makes the personalities and tensions feel believable. That grit is what keeps viewers engaged.

Ladies of London, by comparison, feels polished to the point of being hollow.

What could have been a rich, intriguing exploration of culture, class, and personality instead ends up feeling like a performance—glossy, but ultimately forgettable.

A missed opportunity in a city full of real stories waiting to be told. There is so much more to London that would make this TV series truly amazing but the producers need to get real, maybe.

The Manosphere Psychological Warfare Stop Feeding The Machine

TV documentary Netflix

Shirley Yanez

2026-03-29T08:47:00.0000000 2026-03-29T09:57:43.2000000

A 70-Year-Old Life Coach’s Take on Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere. Everyone seems shocked by Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere—the outrage, the misogyny, the bravado. But if you look a little deeper, past the surface-level horror, what Louis actually did was something far more powerful.

He exposed the truth.

The “manosphere” is often described as a network of male influencers talking about fitness, business, and self-improvement. And yes, some of it sits comfortably in the mainstream. But at the edges—where this documentary rightly focuses—you find something far more troubling: a performance-driven world built on insecurity, manipulation, and profit.

As a 70-year-old life coach, I didn’t watch this with shock.

I watched it with my eyes open. Because what I saw wasn’t strength—it was vulnerability disguised as dominance.

Young, angry, easily influenced boys are not a difficult audience to capture. Nor are young women seeking validation, exposure, or a quick route to attention through platforms like OnlyFans. Put the two together, and what you have is not empowerment—but exploitation. And these so-called influencers?

They are not leaders. They are salesmen. Multi-level, algorithm-driven salesmen cashing in on a deeply unhealthy social media culture.

If you watched closely—without reacting emotionally—you may have noticed something revealing: many of these men looked uncomfortable, even embarrassed, by the very words coming out of their mouths. Take Myron Gaines, for example. At one moment, he’s posturing as the embodiment of alpha masculinity—yet when Louis interviews him, he’s standing there holding a pink poodle, only to quickly hand it away, as if softness might expose him. His girlfriend quietly reveals he’s not the same man off-camera—lifting the curtain on the performance. Because that’s what it is. A performance.

Even his assistant, briefly caught off guard, began to reveal the mechanics behind the scenes—how setups are designed to humiliate young women—before being quickly silenced. This isn’t authenticity. It’s theatre. And more importantly—it’s not the path to success these men claim it to be. Real success, real wealth, real self-worth—these things come from discipline, integrity, and hard work. Not from shouting over women on livestreams or manufacturing outrage for clicks.

Louis did something very clever. He didn’t attack. He observed. And in doing so, he allowed these men to expose their own delusion. Perhaps the most telling moment came towards the end, when one of the younger figures—so confident online—was suddenly reduced to something far more familiar when his mother stepped in, grounding him in reality. In that moment, the illusion cracked completely. Because behind the bravado is not power. It’s fear. And here’s the bigger issue.

This isn’t just about a few controversial influencers. This is about the ecosystem that enables them.

Platforms like Meta and Google continue to profit from content that is divisive, abusive, and psychologically damaging—because outrage drives engagement, and engagement drives revenue. And while we worry about physical threats in the world, we are overlooking something far more insidious: Psychological warfare.

A slow, steady drip of content designed to divide us, distort reality, and erode self-worth—especially among the young.

So my advice is simple. Get off the phone. Stop feeding the machine. Because these influencers only exist because we give them attention. Remove the audience, and the performance ends. Remove the revenue, and the “power” disappears. And perhaps then, we can start rebuilding something real. Because this—what we’re watching now—is not strength. It’s a warning.

Ragdale Hall Health Spa Leicestershire

Health and Beauty spa

Shirley Yanez

2026-03-12T08:47:00.0000000 2026-03-12T09:31:45.3830000

I recently visited Ragdale Hall Spa for a much-needed relaxation break. As it isn’t cheap, my expectations were naturally quite high. I booked a package that included bed, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and one treatment per day. The building is impressive, set in the Leicestershire countryside and as you drive up, you are greeted with a warm welcome that makes you feel like you are booking into a five star experience.

The positives first. The staff and overall organisation are very good. From the valet-style car drop-off, to the restaurant service, everything runs smoothly. Most of the staff are very young and perhaps a little inexperienced, but they are genuinely warm, polite, and clearly trying their best, which I appreciated.

Unfortunately, there were a few things that took away from the experience for me. The spa area was extremely busy. Despite signs everywhere asking guests to keep noise to a minimum, the chatter was constant, which made it difficult to relax. I sat in the thought room for some meditation and sadly ended up having to listen to the thoughts of two ladies who couldn't stop chatting about their holiday in Spain. The sauna was also very noisy and more like a social club than a relaxing experience. I had to queue for the outdoor thermal pools which were hogged by the same women for over 40 minutes so I gave up on that.

My treatment—a back massage—was pleasant enough, but not memorable enough to inspire me to book another. The food was plentiful and well prepared, though not particularly healthy as you might expect from a spa setting.

The décor also felt quite dated and, at times, reminded me more of a retirement home than a luxury spa. The bedroom had three single beds, was very sparse and not what I was expecting in terms of charm and luxury. The carpets throughout could do with being replaced, along with the plastic plants and flowers throughout.

The heating throughout the building was very high, and the pool itself was so warm it was difficult to swim comfortably, so this added to the feeling of a retirement home.

When we went to the Twilight Bar for a pre-dinner drink, it was extremely busy, and the young bartender wasn’t sure whether they stocked non-alcoholic gin. The champagne we ordered was unfortunately not great—flat and fairly ordinary for the price. They include a service charge at the end of my stay which I was happy to pay because the staff deserved it.

Would I return? Sadly, probably not. I can absolutely see why many people enjoy Ragdale Hall, and the staff work very hard, but for me the experience felt overcrowded and somewhat overpriced for what was offered. I don’t mind paying for quality, but the overall atmosphere felt more commercial than relaxing.

Waterfall Down Book Shirley Yanez Autobiography

Some memoirs tell a story. Waterfall Down dismantles one.

Shirley Yanez

2026-02-27T12:03:00.0000000 2026-02-27T12:44:19.7500000

In this lyrical and unflinching account, Shirley Yanez does not simply invite us into her life—she escorts us behind the velvet rope of power, glamour, and illusion, and then quietly switches off the lights. What remains is not the spectacle, but the human being standing alone in the dark, forced to discover who she is without the scaffolding of status.

Yanez writes with the rare authority of someone who has lived at both extremes of visibility. She begins in deprivation, dismissed early as unintelligent and destined for smallness, only to rise into the intoxicating inner circles of wealth, celebrity, and influence. The world she enters is electric—nightclubs humming with excess, proximity to powerful men, royalty, and cultural icons, and the seductive belief that access equals safety. Her prose captures this ascent with hypnotic clarity, revealing how easily reinvention can feel like salvation.

But Waterfall Down is not a story about arrival. It is a story about collapse.

The true power of this memoir lies in its descent. When the illusion fractures, Yanez does not look away. She takes the reader with her—through loss, erasure, and ultimately into homelessness in East Compton, where identity itself dissolves. The fall is not presented as punishment, but as revelation. Stripped of everything that once defined her, she confronts the deeper question beneath all transformation: who are you when there is nothing left to perform?

What makes this memoir extraordinary is its emotional precision. Yanez writes without self-pity or ornament. Her voice is clear, reflective, and quietly fearless. She exposes not only the external systems of class and power, but the internal hunger that drives us toward them—the universal longing to belong, to be safe, to matter.

There is also profound irony woven throughout the narrative. The very world that promises elevation becomes its own form of exile. The very access that appears to grant freedom quietly demands surrender. Yanez does not condemn this world; she reveals it, and in doing so, reveals herself.

Waterfall Down ultimately becomes something far more meaningful than a memoir of excess or survival. It is a meditation on identity, illusion, and the courage required to rebuild a self from nothing but truth. It reminds us that falling is not the opposite of rising—it is often the beginning of becoming real.

This is a memoir that lingers. Not because of the names or the glamour, but because of its honesty. Because in the end, Waterfall Down is not about losing everything. It is about discovering what cannot be lost.

Raw, elegant, and deeply human, Shirley Yanez has written a story that does not ask for admiration. It asks for recognition. And once read, it is impossible to forget.

Bacchanalia Mayfair A Romantic Greek Tragedy Or Triumph

Caring Greek Restaurant in Mayfair

Shirley Yanez

2026-02-15T07:51:00.0000000 2026-02-15T09:53:16.5300000

I have a confession: I loathe Valentine’s Day. The roses, the prix-fixe panic, the performative romance under the glare of marketing pressure. Surely love deserves more imagination than a single sanctioned Saturday in February? Every day should be special. I normally opt out entirely.

And yet, this year, I found myself stepping into the splendour of Apollo’s Muse at Bacchanalia in Mayfair — a Greek-inspired temple to indulgence — fully prepared to roll my eyes.

Instead, I found myself looking up. And up. And up again.

Because whatever one thinks about Valentine’s Day, Bacchanalia understands theatre. This isn’t merely lunch — it’s spectacle. Our sitting ran from noon until 3pm in an intimate private room of just ten tables, creating an atmosphere that felt exclusive rather than chaotic. Candlelight flickered against grand Greco-Roman interiors. Live music drifted through the space — a pianist, harpist, and vocalist weaving something genuinely romantic rather than saccharine. It was lush without being loud.

Now, the honest part: the food was plentiful — generous portions, beautifully presented — but if you came purely for culinary revelation, you might find it pleasant rather than profound. This particular experience wasn’t about gastronomic fireworks. It was about immersion. The complimentary Valentine’s dessert was a sweet flourish, the wine excellent, the service warm and attentive without hovering. The £100 minimum spend per person feels less about the plate and more about the production. And what a production it is.

Bacchanalia reimagines the ancient ritual of feasting with imagination on a grand and glorious scale. It is a feast for the senses — décor that stuns, music that softens, lighting that flatters, and a room that encourages people to relax into indulgence. It creates a world apart from grey London pavements outside. Even a Valentine’s sceptic like me had to concede: if one must “do” the day, this is how you do it. Would I suddenly become a February 14th convert? Let’s not get carried away. But for those who long for escapism — who want romance dialled up to cinematic levels — sway this way.

At Bacchanalia, Valentine’s Day feels less like obligation and more like an invitation to step briefly into myth. I would go back, especially to the private invitation only late night bar but probably not to the main restaurant for just the food, although it must be experienced once because everyone has different tastes and needs.

The Chancery Rosewood Hotel Grosvenor Square London

London Luxury Hotel Mayfair

Shirley Yanez

2026-02-04T09:07:00.0000000 2026-05-01T09:39:31.4970000

The Chancery Rosewood & Rooftop Bar — Style Without Soul (Yet)

Set inside the former US Embassy on Grosvenor Square, The Chancery Rosewood is, without question, an impressive reinvention of a historic landmark. Architecturally, it’s grand. The scale is ambitious. The intention is clear: to create a new cultural and social hub that blends heritage with contemporary luxury.

I was genuinely excited to experience it.

Before dinner at Carbone, I chose the Rosewood Rooftop Bar for pre-dinner drinks, expecting atmosphere, energy, and that intangible “London magic” that great spaces sometimes hold. Instead, I was surprised. Entry requires a £100 minimum spend per person, which immediately sets high expectations. The views are indeed beautiful — sweeping and cinematic — but the atmosphere was strangely flat. Quiet. Disconnected. A little lifeless.

The drinks were good. Well made. Thoughtfully presented, with olives and elegant details. The staff were extremely attentive — almost overly so — eager to please, trying very hard to create warmth in a space that hadn’t yet found its own rhythm.

And that, I think, is the issue.

The hotel itself is vast and pristine, but it still feels uninhabited. Unsettled. More like a beautifully staged set than a living, breathing place. It reminded me of some of the enormous, immaculate hotels in San Francisco — impressive to look at, but emotionally distant. Interestingly, the coffee shop downstairs felt far more alive. Relaxed. Human. More connected. It had the energy the rooftop lacked.

Would I spend £1,400 a night to stay here?

Honestly — no.

Not yet.

Luxury is not only about design, price, or prestige. It’s about atmosphere. Soul. How a place makes you feel. At the moment, The Chancery Rosewood feels cold rather than captivating. I believe it has enormous potential. With time, character, and a more accessible approach — especially reconsidering the rooftop’s minimum spend — it could become something special. Right now, it’s beautiful… but unfinished in spirit. And that matters.

Carbone Restaurant Grosvenor Square Amazing Atmosphere

New York Style Italian Restaurant London

Shirley Yanez

2026-02-04T08:38:00.0000000 2026-02-04T08:54:06.3970000

Last night, I went to dinner at Carbone, Grosvenor Square — and if I’m honest, I arrived slightly sceptical.

Lately, so much of nightlife has felt… flat. Predictable. Disconnected. The spark that once made cities like London feel electric sometimes seems harder to find. So I wasn’t expecting much.

I was wrong. From the moment I walked in, something shifted. The energy. The atmosphere. The sense of occasion. Carbone reminded me what great hospitality really feels like. Located in the heart of Mayfair, this iconic New York institution has landed in London with confidence and style — reviving the golden-era Italian-American spirit with generosity, theatre, and warmth. From the flawless service to dishes like their legendary Spicy Rigatoni Vodka and Veal Chop Parmesan, everything felt intentional. Elevated. Alive.

But more than the food, it was the feeling. People talking. Laughing. Connecting. A room that felt present, not distracted.

A reminder that great social spaces still matter. It genuinely resurrected my zest for going out, for being sociable, for enjoying what cities are meant to offer.

We mustn’t lose this. London has always been one of the world’s great cultural and social capitals — not just because of its buildings or brands, but because of its energy, diversity, and human connection. When it all comes together like this, there is nothing quite like it anywhere else.

If you haven’t been yet — it’s worth every penny.

Last night was proof: London is still very much alive.

The food is plentiful and delicious with a true taste of New York. The staff were happy, engaged, not fake and great fun. The atmosphere was alive and although expensive, it was worth it. Great wine list is a bonus.

L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Filler Glass Skin Hybrid Serum-Moisturiser

Face serum

Shirley Yanez

2026-01-22T07:33:00.0000000 2026-01-22T09:45:02.0470000

My skin has never looked this good—I'm obsessed!

I was sceptical at first, but L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Glass Skin Liquid Cream has completely transformed my routine. The hybrid serum-moisturizer feels like a luxury—lightweight yet intensely hydrating, sinking into my skin without any greasy residue. After just a few days, my complexion looked *plumper*, smoother, and had this unreal glow—like I’d just stepped out of a K-beauty spa.

The 100-hour hydration claim isn’t an exaggeration. Even by day three, my skin still felt supple and dewy, not tight or dry like with other products. The blend of hyaluronic acids and vitamins (Cg, B3, B5) works like magic—fine lines look softer, my skin barrier feels stronger, and that dull winter fatigue? Gone. The glass skin effect is real—people keep asking me if I’m wearing highlighter! I saw a visible skin transformation that Intensely hydrates, visibly replumbs skin, smooths lines, boosts glow, brightens skin's appearance, and helps repair the skin barrier.

Pair it with the Hydrogel Glow Mask for an extra boost, and finish with the SPF Aqua fluid—it’s a fool proof routine. Worth every penny. I am not normally a fan of these high street, over marketed skin care products, especially from brands like L'Oréal but this one is really amazing. You can purchase it from most places that sell beauty products but at the moment it is sold out, so I guess this speaks louder than anything else. It is not over priced at £17.99 but you can get it cheaper if you shop around.