PLASMO
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Reged: 13/03/2008
Posts: 2155
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What an interesting selection of views, I enjoyed reading every one. I had to laugh one of the items in the magazine featured a woman who was talking about a webpage for designer knockdowns, she was absolutely thrilled because she bought a bag that was something like £500 and she got it for £200!!!! I wish. It must be great if you can afford those luxuries but my arguement is the average woman does not have that amount of dosh lying around.
The mother and daughter item, why cant they choose everyday mothers and daughters, to sell their magazine have they always got to feature celebrities or people who own their own businesses.
I find it all a bit patronizing, but agree with all of the comments that say W@H, you had better watch, look, and listen, to us hardworking, funloving, interesting, attractive, intelligent, forward thinking, (I could go on) FORUMERS. Plasmo x
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anne1005
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Reged: 09/01/2008
Posts: 881
Loc: manchester
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Soooo sorry Girls, but I AM one the women who always looks immaculately dressed in 'designer' outfits with my £500 Mulberry bag. I also holiday in Mauritius, Cap Ferrat, The Maldives and pop down to Monaco for lunch.  My OH is a formula One driver and we live such a lovely indolent life!!!   I do aprreciate that this engenders a little bit of jealousy but, for goodness sake, you need to get over it!!! BBBUUUZZZZZZ!! Wha? Wha? - that bl*&%*y alarm clock gets louder every morning!! TeeHee
Anne xx
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valaber
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Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 2326
Loc: South Wales
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I agree with you Plasmo and everyone else. I bought W&H recently on a day out, quite liked it and signed up for the half price subscription, but couldn 't see any articles in June's edition that I really wanted to spend precious time reading. I think the quality of the writing in W&H is good - it's not patronising or silly, but the choice of topics could be beter.
Given how many of us here on the forum (and how many women across the country) work for the public services in some way, it would be nice to see our more down to earth budgets reflected (and I know there are a lot of people out there who find even M&S pricey - so what about more info on a range of High Street brands.)
I think most women also enjoy articles on how to make the most of your appearance, rather than how highly paid celebrities manage to look good (my hairdresser recently told me it would be easy if I could visit him twice a day!)
And perhaps occasionally, articles on women's rights - equal pay, legal matters, things that actually affect our everyday lives!
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hollyUK
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Reged: 06/08/2007
Posts: 328
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I do run my own small business but would like to see this covered from a different angle - for example how to manage time, how to balance life and a business, perhaps some reviews of gadgets and what is involved in running them, real life studies and how people decorate them and arrange them, (in 25 beautiful houses nearly every home now has a study, but you never see one picture), fashion feature on how to dress for working at home so you look smart but are comfortable! So the machanics of it rather than the flimsy aspirational stuff.
I too want reasonably priced clothes, and how about some tips of how to look young as per the book we have been talking about in the Looks section of the forum. How to find shoes you can live in all day that look good when you have wide feet - I'm really not interested in who is making or buying 7 inch heels! Why do they put all these women in heels when we all know they can hardly walk in them? Can't they go and find some nice fashion comfy ones for us to try?
How about some serious stuff on diet and exercise for a change? What is the minimum we nned to do each day to stay healthy and how can we build it in with a specific exercise routine for each age group (and please don't make the sections smaller for the 50s and 60s like you usually do!). How much should be really be eating - real portion control - what do real people eat? (There was a great article in Vogue recently where they asked real people what they actually ate and exercises each day - it was very revealing and made me realise why I was fast - I eat far too much and exercise too little - but it's good to compare!).
How about some indepth book reviews on some out of the way authors - e.g. Marianne Williamson. How about a serialisation of some off beat personal development stuff (eg CBT or an actual book).
Or perhaps some more apsirational stuff we can do in our gardens.
I like real specifics - like a list of 10 things to do - much better for motivating us to change.
I enjoy some of the stuff on the Oprah site as she really tackles some of the issues we women face. She is the same age as me so she tends to tackle stuff as she reaches it which is handy.
Lots of ideas here - hope someone reads it and takes them onboard.
Trouble is they have to have the pricey stuff as they provide a huge amount of revenue via advertising.
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Waveney
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Reged: 05/04/2007
Posts: 1258
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Well said HollyUK, if only you were a magazine editor!
I agree about Oprah - her O magazine is also inspiring without being patronising and it tries to tackle issues of the day. It's only a shame that the fashion is not available here.
I'm sure some of theses women featured do not have such perfect lives when it comes down to it and many of them do it only with the help of an array of staff because they have a rich husband.
A business near me is constantly featured in magazines (although not this one) and the owner is held up as an example to all older women who want to start off on their own. In reality it is a small part of her husband's shop, it's hardly ever open and when it is open it is empty. There is no passing trade and it's hard to see that she ever makes a profit. She must just have contacts who help her get into magazines. Why don't W&H want to feature Lynne13t's shop or other businesses run by forumers?
Some things are not as they seem and are glossed up for the magazine so NO ONE should feel inferior.
Another thing I object to is the fashion pages that purportedly show "readers". But when you read through the text they are either something to do with magazines or PR, or are described as part time models!
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ChrissiFi
member
Reged: 28/06/2006
Posts: 827
Loc: Somerset
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And I thought it was only me... clothes I can't afford (or wouldn't be suitable for my oh so glamourous lifestyle LOL), food that's expensive and not in season, interviews with those who've got a fantastic life/job. I know the interviews are supposed to be inspirational but I'd like to see something that doesn't leave me feeling as though I've achieved very little... A while ago (not sure if it was in W&H or GH) I read some items where families were shown how to save money - the amount they spent on 'entertaining' and eating out was more than my entire food budget! A little realism and advice/articles for people nearer the UK average salary than the high-fliers we've seen recently wouldn't go amiss.
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Glitterqueen
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 764
Loc: Essex
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Amazing we all seem to want to the same thing. Maybe the answer is to start our own magazine
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feathers
member
Reged: 20/05/2007
Posts: 460
Loc: Tyneside
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I tried the mag on a six month subscription but didn't renew it because of the repetitive nature of the features, the silly, overpriced fashion, the slim models and the over simple recipes. It did, however, lead me to this forum and the supper club which was just getting going in my area, for which I am grateful.
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BettyRubble
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Reged: 06/02/2008
Posts: 317
Loc: South west France
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I found the forum through the diet club (got bored and gave up after a fortnight) but was really pleased to find such a friendly, ordinary and wholesome (sorry can't think of a better word) bunch of girls to 'chat' with.
The magazine is another story - to me it's a bit of fantasy - could never afford the luxurious fashions - and couldn't bring myself to spend 600.00 pounds on a handbag even if I could afford it.
I do get Easy Living whenever I go back to the UK or if we get visitors, it's a little bit more down to earth, but only just.
It just goes to show if you're involved in the media you're obviously well paid and not really in touch with the real world.
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dbverycherry
member
Reged: 24/02/2007
Posts: 2680
Loc: Kent UK
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I agree whole heartedly with you all and what you say about the W&H magazines and its fashion and articles of late.
Come on Woman and Home editors.
Like I, others and BettyRubble have said feature real women please. Not just features on those who are in high paid and high flying jobs.
Photos of real women modeling clothes from the lower and more affordable end of the clothes shops please.
There were a few ladies on another recent forum post here who said they were only to happy to appear in the magazine so why not let them W&H 
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Glitterqueen
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 764
Loc: Essex
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It's like the equivalent of BBC Breakfast.
I've noticed that whenever they have a debate on "working mothers" they always have someone on who clearly earns a fortune and little Tristan is at private school. Mum talks about "quality time" and "her career" and everyone in the family being happy.
In reality most working mothers are not earning a fortune, are not in glamorous and/or satisfying jobs. They are working in their local Asda because they have to; because its the only place where they can get a job that might (if they are really lucky) fit in with their family and help with the household bills.
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PLASMO
member
Reged: 13/03/2008
Posts: 2155
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Glitterqueen, couldnt agree with you more, that is the life that most women live, they try to do the best for their families, if only they would focus on just one such woman. Plasmo x
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gigi
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Reged: 12/04/2008
Posts: 1572
Loc: North East
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I looked in on this thread beacuse it had been moved and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I agree with all that you say. I don't think it needed to be moved as it (as most threads do) slips into talking about us rather than just W&H.
As well as all the ideas for fashion articles you have come up with, I would like to see something on how to decorate rented homes. Although I can live in mine for always and even pass it on to my children if they live with me, I will never own it and can't do major works on the property. So I would love to know how to decorate around these limits, on a budget and with 1950's plumbing and pipes.(the house and mine)
Edited by gigi (09/05/2008 23:04)
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Foxie
member
Reged: 09/08/2007
Posts: 2873
Loc: South London
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Don't you ever think of magazines as a little bit of escapism from the realities and nitty gritty of day to day life?
I like looking at expensive fashions (I can't afford them, but I can pick up on trends and get new ideas). I like simple easy recipes, I can cook complicated recipes, but I don't have the time or energy except for special occasions.
When I read about other people's lives, it is exactly that 'other people's lives' and not mine. My personal life is probably quite similar to a lot of other forumers, born, grew up, married, children, work etc. Ok to date I haven't done anything particularly earth shattering, but I would like to think that I have been a loving and caring parent, wife, friend, neighbour and colleague.
We can't all be famous and rich, I am not sure I would like to be actually. I am very content in my own skin and compared with lots of people my life has very good. I was born to parents who loved each other and my sister and I. I have tried to pass this on to my children.
This is getting rather deep and is definitely going off the thread (W&H may move it again!!) but I think what I am trying to say is that W&H is just a magazine. If it doesn't suit you just buy another, there are loads to choose from. But, and it is a BIG but don't leave the forum, we need lots of people with different ideas and views to keep it fresh and vibrant. 
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Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make all of them yourself. Eleanor Roosevelt
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SteveyP
member
Reged: 30/09/2007
Posts: 190
Loc: West Midlands
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I like the inspirational women the mag shows, although they have done this a few times now, but I agree about the expensive fashion on thin models. I was quite put out when they used an article that had been published in another magazine. If are planning to do this again they should look at Marie Claire which I think is really interesting but seems to be aimed at younger women.
I'm a teacher now but that is very recent and after spending 20 years in retail and being a teaching assistant we are not well off at all. However I would hate to see it go too far the other way and we end up reading the monthly version of Take a Break.
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PLASMO
member
Reged: 13/03/2008
Posts: 2155
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I think where magazines are concerned, I dont really think age matters, because you can always find something that interests you. I tend to always focus on the makeup and perfume items, and then the fashion for the over 14s,(which makes me sound a tad shallow, but its my money Im spending and I know what I lik). I tend to know most of the high street shops that cater for the bigger ladies, some of them are absolutely awful, focusing on sleeveless dresses, made of a clingy material which bigger ladies do not want to wear. I read loads of magazines, its my weakness, the points I made about W@H does not always occur in other magazines, a lot of them do focus on the more average woman, the only snag is, some of the content, is uninspirational to me.
I cant bear a magazine to be classist, where you feel almost guilty for buying the magazine, because as I said previously you cant afford the clothes etc. I would like to see a magazine that has the following:
a. Intersting features directed at most women.
b. Intellectual subjects that we all care about and wish to contribute to.
c. Makeovers on REAL, AVERAGE, women, for example, bringing her to a studio where experts can see what she is wearing when she arrives, and then recommends what clothes would flatter her the most. Hair and Makeup included.
d. Cookery items included places to buy food knowing where the food is sourced. Not necessarily, in Harrods Foodhall, or Fortnum and Mason, or even Waitrose.
e. Finding ordinary women who in their field are the best there is, notice I havent mentioned "Celebrity".
Sorry girls to go on about this this will be my last thread referring to the magazine. Plasmo xx
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