The only thing blaring through my headphones until about a month ago was music. Now, it’s podcasts. While they have been around for some time, podcasts have become quite a phenomenon in recent years. The momentum continues to grow with more listeners tuning in and more podcasts saturating the market. The good podcasts are a little harder to find with every podcast catering to what it seems like every type of person in the world. Whether you’re on the way to somewhere or waiting between lectures, podcasts are the perfect company. And if they’re done well, you feel right there with the presenters. Here are five of my favourite lifestyle and fashion podcasts.

ONE // The BoF podcast (a.k.a. Business of Fashion)
The Business of Fashion, or the BoF for short, is like The Economist equivalent for fashion. They publish business-related news about fashion, providing insight into issues among the industry as well as movement within top brands.

In their podcast, they interview industry professionals from former models, Liya Kebede, to famous designers, including Katherine Hamnett and Alexandre Mattiussi of AMI. Their podcasts provide listeners with insight into their guests’ lives – how they grew up, what attracted them to fashion and where do they see the industry going, to name a few. Their guests relate to the current affairs in the fashion industry, keeping you in the know of what’s going on and who the key players are.

Fave episode: Derek Blasberg's plans for YouTube / Marco Bizzarri on China's Role in Gucci's $10 Billion Plan.

TWO // Table Manners with Jessie Ware
This has to be one of the funniest podcasts I have ever listened to. Between singer Jessie Ware, her Mum and a celebrity guest who sit around Jessie’s kitchen table; they have me in stitches. They have a good natter about everything under the sun from work and what's going on in their lives to their favourite dishes. Which has me dreaming about delicious food for the rest of the day. You can also catch the dirt on your favourite celebrities.

This podcast is very raw from the chair scraping on the floor to cupboards opening and closing and the rattle of crockery, all of which makes it feel like your right at the table with them. 

Fave episode: Stefflon Don.

THREE // Feminists Don’t Wear Pink
…and other lies. Scarlett Curtis, author of Feminists Don’t Wear Pink and Other Lies, a collection of essays from empowering activists, actresses and influencers featuring Adoah Aboah and Saoirse Ronan. Scarlett brings the book to life in her podcast interviewing inspiring women about what feminism means to them and why it matters. As well as what feminist lies they’ve heard/ been told. Despite feminism being perceived as a heavy topic, this podcast is incredibly light, insightful and throws out all the pre-conceived notions you know about feminism.

I’ve just started reading the book and I love it already. It’s all about what feminism means to these women and the relationship they have with it. I’ll probably do a review on it when I have finished reading it.

Fave episode: Saoirse Ronan.


FOUR // The Sunday Social
Is blogging dying? What’s life like after Love Island? Why is the media transfixed with trans women? Lifestyle blogger and YouTuber Lucy Moon encourages the conversation around pop culture trends in music, film and entertainment. Lucy brings guests – from fellow bloggers, YouTubers, authors and love island contestants- to feature in her episodes.

This podcast is a little more intellectual than Table Manners and more serious than Feminists Don't Wear Pink but it's great nonetheless. Lucy speaks very fluently and smartly on the subjects. I think the Sunday Social is aptly named as it's the kind of conversations you can imagine having over a relaxed Sunday breakfast. The kind with a cup of coffee and a newspaper in front of you.

Fave episode: Is blogging dying?

FIVE // Fashion No Filter
Camille Charriere and Monica Ainley, both fashion journalists, give a behind the scenes glance at how the industry operates. Useful if you want to know more about one of the world’s exclusive industries. In a recent episode, the duo interviewed Eva Chen, head of fashion partnerships at Instagram. She has been popping up on a lot of the vlogs and articles I tend to read. She, in short, is the go-to girl at Instagram keeping up you up to date and aware of algorithms. On top of that, she has one of the most impressive CVs, climbing her way to the top national magazines before moving over to Instagram. 

Fashion No Filter keeps fashion at the focus of the podcast, discussing topics that very much at the centre of the fashion world.

Fave episode: Behind the Instagram Algorithm with Eva Chen.




I have wanted to do a review on a beauty subscription box for ages! I can’t tell you what has stopped me but you’ll have to excuse me for being a bit late to the party. Not only am I late to the Glossybox party but I will be reviewing September's box (Back to School edition) when it's now November. Great time keeping, Aoife.

What is Glossybox?

Glossybox is a beauty subscription service based in the UK and I think they have it in a few other countries too. Each box will cost you £10 plus postage. Every month they release a new box featuring five select products that are worth over £50. Some are miniature sizes and other full sizes. Occasionally these boxes come with a theme such as September had a Back to School theme and October has Halloween.

Products inside:

Your Facial Mini Scrubber- I love this! I have been using it for a couple of weeks and my skin is glowing! It is much smoother and my skin is looking clearer and purified. Facial brushes/ scrubbers are set out to lift away dead skin cells and encourage blood flow to the face, hence my newly found glow. The perk of the Your Facial is that the writing on the label will come off when it's time to replace it which I think is a really good idea because it's something I'm always forgetting.

Grow Gorgeous, Scalp detox- This is the product that I am most excited to try. I have heard of exfoliating your scalp before but never did I think I would do it. This is the mini-size version with the full 190ml costing £28. It smells gorgeous and reminds me of a Percy & Reed Conditioning mask I used to have. I have yet to try this out but I'll let you know how it goes.

Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes- I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I found a pack of wet wipes in the box. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting from a beauty subscription box. But never less, wet wipes can prove quite helpful especially since this pack is small. Perfect for slipping into your bag.

Bang beauty, Brow Cream in Milk Chocolate- Personally, I would not trust myself with a brow cream. The texture is very creamy, as you'd expect from a brow cream. The only thing is that it wasn't as soft as I thought it would be and you have to dig a little to get some product out. The shade is a little dark but I like the end result just the same. The product also comes with a mini angled brush for application. 

Karl Lagerfeld lip liner- I don't really wear much on my lips so lip liners are more of an occasional thing when I do. This is the first lip liner I have used that isn't a pencil. It's a gorgeous deep pink colour and it's soft and creamy to apply. Unfortunately, I think it's a tad too dark and pink for me.

Beauty Pro, Bubbling Cleansing Mask- Face masks are a godsend. Honestly, the most perfect invention. I once did a bubbling face mask with my friend and it was quite a fun catastrophe. When you first apply the face mask, it looks like any other sheet mask. But then it starts to foam. And before you know it, you have two inches of foam coming out of your face!



Final thoughts:

I quite like the idea of receiving a parcel every month with a bunch of goodies inside. Even though you are buying it, you don’t know what you are going to get so it’s a bit of fun opening it. Plus, the box itself is adorable and very aesthetic. 

Is it VFM? In some ways it is, the products inside are collectively worth over £50. That's five times as much as you pay for the box! On the other hand, they may supply you with products that you won't use or never intended to buy. Personally, I'd see what other boxes are selling and look at other reviews before taking the plunge. I love the concept of a beauty subscription service but GlossyBox can be a little gimmicky.


What do you think of beauty subscription services?

Love,  Aoife x