Life Style

With a new season on the horizon, many of us fashion fans are clearing out our wardrobes to make some space for new spring bits. And Roman fans are racing to the high street brand to get their hands on a few of its sale items that are ideal for the transitional weather, including a tunic shirt dress that’s reduced to £40.The Wine Corduroy Tunic Shirt Dress is still available in sizes 10 to 20 and also comes in four other colours, including olive green and light blue. Made with a ‘flattering swing style’, the dress is great for that in between weather that’s not quite chilly, but not warm enough for short sleeves.With a three-quarter button up fastening, and shirt-collar design, the dress comes in a woven cord fabric that is cosy and chic and is cut to a knee length (depending on height)...

The Rottweiler and two other dog breeds ranked 20th (Image: Getty)While we adore our four-legged companions, regrettably, our dogs cannot remain with us indefinitely. Although the typical canine lives between 10 and 13 years, certain breeds unfortunately fall considerably below that range. To offer some reassurance, pet specialists indicate that the first year of a dog's life equates to 15 human years, the second year to nine human years, and each subsequent year to five human years.However, whether due to the animal's size, its genetic makeup, or susceptibility to fatal illnesses, numerous elements can result in a dog's life being cut short. A 2024 study published in Nature examined nearly 585,000 dogs across 155 breeds in the UK. Based on that data, the American Kennel Club identified...

Britain's business landscape continues to face significant challenges, with this week witnessing the downfall of two prominent companies. Further high street casualties have emerged, resulting in hundreds of redundancies.A substantial brewery and bar chain is the week's most significant casualty. Despite being acquired through a rescue transaction, numerous locations across British cities have ceased trading. Additionally, a family-owned furniture retail chain has entered administration.The firm has been forced to shutter several outlets whilst maintaining its online operations.BrewDogThe brewery and pub operator BrewDog closed 38 bars this week, resulting in 484 redundancies. The Scottish craft beer producer has been acquired by an American company in a rescue package, though the closu...

Full list of store closures (Image: Getty)A number of high-street retailers have already announced confirmed and potential store closures across the UK this week. Major chains affected include TG Jones and Matalan, along with several other well-known brands.The closures come after periods of weaker sales and rising costs for many businesses. Hundreds of jobs are expected to be lost as a result. Shoppers can expect to see final clearance sales and restructured store networks in the coming months. Read more: High street retailer with 15 stores across UK announces 3 closures Read more: Marks & Spencer introduces £13.41 rule in stores from April TG Jones/ WHSmithAccording to reports, it is indicated that around 80 TG Jones stores, previously known as WHSmith, are at the highest risk ...

The sudden stretch of milder weather so far in March appears to have prompted a seasonal wardrobe shift for Catherine, Princess of Wales. Stepping out in Leicester on Thursday to celebrate the Indian festival Holi, the royal looked radiant in an elegant cream ensemble that signalled the end of winter’s heavy tweeds and coats. Spring, it seems, has officially arrived in the Princess’s wardrobe.But while her fresh palette caught the eye, it was her handbag that truly stole the spotlight. Clutched neatly in her hand was a suede envelope bag from British label Emmy London – a design royal watchers may recognise instantly.Chic yet practical, it is little surprise the Princess continues to champion the brand. In fact, she carried this very same style during an appearance in Southport, proving...

When it comes to cooking steak, patience is key, the chef says (stock image) (Image: Getty)A professional chef has disclosed the optimal method to cook steak so it tastes "restaurant quality". On YouTube, culinary tutor Frank Proto demonstrated how to make the 'best' steak at home in a video that's been viewed over two million times.In it, he mentions there is one ingredient people typically use when seasoning steak that he labels as "horrible". Instead, he favours using an alternative food item, usually sourced at artisan food shops or online, such as Amazon.At the start of the video, he states: "We're talking how to go from a sad, grey, flabby piece of meat, to a perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked, happy piece of steak. This is Steak 101. My perfect steak is a really nice marbled pi...

View of the Union Jack Garden from above at Wentworth Castle Gardens, South Yorkshire (Image: Shared Content Unit)Many people like to express themselves when it comes to decorating their home these days. However, there's not much room for creativity in England's 'strictest' village where pretty much everything is painted green.Those who also like a kebab or fish and chips may want to avoid visiting one Yorkshire village of Wentworth too, as takeaways are banned, as are supermarkets.The historic estate village is known for its strict preservation rules managed by the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Amenity Trust.Takeways, supermarkets and 'flashing neon signs' are all banned to preserve its traditional character.Instead, dining is limited to a few traditional options like the Rockingham Arms, the ...

People have been urged to stop binning plastic food containers as they can be repurposed for a 'beautiful' purpose. The arts-and-crafts idea went viral on social media when a savvy shopper showcased how she uses her plastic waste.The tip could impress people looking for a fun activity, as people can make something 'gorgeous' to keep and save money on arts supplies. As shown in a viral TikTok video from @Tinalemac, plastic food containers commonly used by supermarkets and restaurants can be repurposed into personalised bookmarks.In her video, DIY lover Tina Le Mac recommended the idea to her 130k TikTok followers. Tina told viewers: "Don’t throw away your plastic to-go containers! Turn it into this instead. I made this bookmark fantasy themed, inspired by the Throne of Glass series I’m c...

Advice comes from Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters in Liverpool, which revealed five clever ways to reuse old coffee grounds instead of throwing them in the bin straight away. In the clip, a woman can be seen placing a small container of old coffee grounds inside her fridge as a simple approach to combat unwanted smells. The grounds reportedly help neutralise lingering odours from items such as cheese, fish or leftovers, with this uncomplicated trick involving placing the used grounds in an open container and putting it inside the refrigerator.Specialists suggest there's scientific evidence backing this. Used coffee grounds contain nitrogen and porous organic compounds, which can help absorb and capture odour molecules in a comparable way to bicarbonate of soda, according to research publi...

The woman said she'd never own one dog breed (stock photo) (Image: Getty)Choosing the right dog for your household is no easy task. Owners need to not only consider which breed they'd like to own based on their own preferences for size and temperament, but also what would be suitable for their current living situation and the environment the animal would be coming into.Households with young children need to consider breeds suitable for families, while those living in small houses or flats need to think about the size and energy levels of their dog. And if you've already got pets, you'll need to make sure you're not choosing one that's going to feel anxious or be aggressive around other animals. There's a breed to suit almost any dog lover out there, but one woman on social media has sai...