ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: Enough! It’s time to start a changing room revolt

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN (pictured): Eight days to go and changing rooms will be opened for the first time in more than a year. As it happens, changing rooms are one of the few things I haven’t much missed because they are, across the board, terrible Eight days to go and changing rooms will be opened for the … Read more

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: Yearning for the lost years as a school gates mum

The schools reopening has brought on the most unexpected of regrets – that of never having been a mum at the school gates. Generally, I’m not one to harbour regrets but seeing the primary schools at pick-up, when the small children flood out into the arms of waiting parents, has made me question what I … Read more

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: The trouble with tears – and I speak as a veteran cry baby

The question of which Duchess made which other Duchess cry at the bridesmaids’ dress fitting is one of the most ludicrous issues to emerge from Meghan’s Oprah interview. We will probably never know the truth, but the question is why do we care? The crying is spoken of as if it were a measure of the … Read more

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: My house is crumbling in lockdown… and so am I!

We’re all nearly a year older than when we first went into lockdown. And it’s not only policeman who seem youthful to me these days. When I heard Grant Shapps was the first Cabinet Minister to have the jab, at the age of 52, my first thought was: ‘Gosh, the rest must all be so young.’ … Read more

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: Valentine’s is nonsense – but I’m so in love with it

It seems ridiculous to care but I can’t quite not. About Valentine’s Day, that is, writes ALEXANDRA SHULMAN  It seems ridiculous to care but I can’t quite not. About Valentine’s Day, that is. Surely a woman in her 60s in a long-term relationship should have nothing to do with such sappy nonsense?  Since when was … Read more

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: Stopped and handcuffed – for driving a ‘woman’s car’ 

Beware of what you wish for… I’ve long complained about the lack of police around here, then one lunchtime last week my 25-year-old son was driving our little Fiat 500 when he was pulled over by a flashing unmarked car. Out leapt four plainclothes officers, screaming at him to keep his hands where they could … Read more

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: Christmas will be cute and cosy – like it or not 

One of the unintended consequences of Covid is that we are all obsessed about this Christmas writes Alexandra Shulman (pictured)  One of the unintended consequences of Covid (hang on, you might ask, were there any intended ones?) is that we are all obsessed about this Christmas.  Especially the hope of being with family – and … Read more

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: Topshop and Debenhams have become doomed white elephants… 

As the Goliaths of the high street tumble like a flimsy line of dominos, it’s tempting to think they are all suffering from the same affliction, but there’s a great difference between last week’s most high-profile victims – Arcadia’s Topshop and Debenhams. I was interviewed by the BBC as news of the collapse of Philip … Read more

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: Shy Di is a joy but Netflix show The Crown has got the rest all wrong 

Series four of The Crown dropped just at the right time, now that we’re all seemingly endlessly stuck at home.  Although it’s probably safe to assume that it’s not being binge-watched at Buckingham Palace, Windsor, Highgrove or Anmer Hall – unless the Royal Family’s idea of escapism is being placed in the stocks and having their … Read more

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: My vision of the future? A glam lunch in high heels! 

Something unusual happened last week. I had two smart lunches. Not five-star, full-on corporate lunches, but not a quick cappuccino-and-scrambled-egg-with- a-girlfriend kind of thing either. Since March, such experiences have been in short supply. In fact they completely disappeared. So naturally I made the most of these. Despite the puddles and rain, I put on … Read more