Styled too, by Selena Gomez, Hailey Baldwin (Bieber), and Rihanna to name a few, the spotlight shines upon the satin slip this festive season, so if you add this to your Christmas List, Santa may just slip it under your tree. But don’t doubt, whether you opt for this one in a midi, the longer skirt can naturally flatter the curve of your hips, ensuring you may not flash too much sparkle on the dance floor, though may just cling to the skin in all the right ways to give a little tipple of your figure. Or is the mini more your preference? In that case, let the satin slip move as you groove, drifting as you dance, spitting sparkle as much as the tree-topping star. In a hybrid of sultry sheerness, paired with the fullness of the flow-y feel, the satin slip dress glides onto the figure in the time it takes to kiss the seal of a Christmas card – making every busy lady an effortless supermodel draped in glossy satin, and making you the jingle-bell beauty at every ball this season. Iona May is a poet, performer and Religious Studies teacher based in Norwich. She writes about friendship, grief and what happens when societal expectations do not match personal needs. She has been published by Porridge, Gatehouse Press and Eggbox, amongst others. She has performed in various venues around Norwich including The Garage Theatre and at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival (2017). Her poems dwell on the beauty of human foibles, taking the trivial seriously and finding the ordinariness in catastrophe.

With a piece like this, choosing a metallic colour, maybe silver, maybe gold, can really spin Christmas spirit even if the average sparkle isn’t really your thing; styling you in an elegant epitome without seeming too loud in the sequins which always somehow end up all over the dance floor. Iona Todd, a Second year Journalism student, has released her first poetry book. Entitled Cool, Cruel World, the publication is an eulogy of women, who are not afraid to grow, love and fight for their rights. She reveals that her favourite poem from the book is Pink Bathroom Tiles. Presenting the story of a girl who tries to understand her femininity, the text hides a powerful message. The author explains that "there is a line that says 'XX rated' and, obviously, you just assume that means 'explicit', because women, in their bodies, are assumed to be explicit, but I wrote it as in the XX chromosome [the feminine chromosome]. " The path to improvement is paved with small acts that we can begin to do daily. As Todd contemplates "we should pay attention to each other more. Don't just listen so you can talk. Try to actually listen, take in what people are telling you and learn from their experiences".Werewolves? Vampires? Zombies? Those trends are dead. Instead, we have the treat of peeking at the more iconic screams of Hollywood nightlife, crawling with supervillains, the unnatural and…ogres? Despite his identity being perhaps represented by technology, videos, perhaps you’d even say pigs, not only has Shane critically spun his identity to Iona has just started her first teaching job when her mum dies from cancer. Obviously, it is unexpected, and it changes everything. As a writer, performer, poet, and clown, Iona finds it oddly comforting to imagine her apparently quiet grief as an extravagant circus act.

Her poems paint the image of a harsh world and we might want to believe that our reality is not like this. However, "in the light of recent events, like the case of Sarah Everard, it's clear to see that there's not been much improvement; there is a long way to go. Hopefully as times are changing, and people are recognizing the problems, things can get better", adds Iona. As a manner of this, you could believe that beauty then becomes a pathway of self-expression, whether that be through wearing a red eyeshadow look to your Monday lecture, or using a ‘pig’ as the mirror-side of the conspiracy conjecture. What is instantly inspiring about this week’s icon, is the archetypal embodiment of success he imposes upon his fans, in creating a world of openness for all kinds of people wanting to access what he has on offer. In this six-part-series, we see Shane grow from the discombobulated novice he once was, to the pertinent beauty guru who, within seconds, has the power of cataclysmic consequence upon the literal and metaphorical web of beauty.

As a journalist, she has been writing for The Courier, Jesmond Local, and a personal blog called Tell me about it. For centuries, women have been objectified, mistreated, ignored and forced to live in the shadow of men. Iona tries to change this perception and to give a voice to the voiceless; her poems are a cry for justice and equality for girls. So be Santa’s baby this Christmas time and try out the satin slip, as I declare it a must-have for every angel this Christmastime. Iona May has such an exciting poetic voice – made district by her mix of tenderness and disarming wit. This collection is unflinchingly honest, sumptuously extravagant, and quietly devastating all at once.’– Ellen Renton ABOUT THE AUTHOR