KO Média is excited to unveil the September issue of ELLE Canada, featuring British singer-songwriter Adele. The multi-Grammy-award-winning star finally opens up about the difficult decision to cancel her Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. “The first couple of months were really, really hard,” she says. The star dives into how she went into hiding after the dramatic cancellation announcement on Instagram, her reasons for doing so and how the last-minute decision actually “made [her] confidence in [herself] grow because it was a very brave thing to do.” During the intimate interview at her home in July, only weeks out from her half-decade-long stage break, Adele spoke about the incredible arrangement she and her former partner have when it comes to co-parenting their son and even gushed about being madly in love—and joked about being unmarried (for now)—with her new man, sports agent Rich Paul. But it wasn’t all lighthearted. The singer went into detail about enduring the lowest points of her career, feeling lonely, experiencing anxiety attacks and finding herself again through fitness and kickboxing. Now Adele is on her way back to Las Vegas, and the response has been better than she could have imagined.
With the strongest of the summer season’s rays behind us, it’s time to stock up on hydrating foundations and skin-perfecting serums to help restore our skin after all the sand and sun we indulged in. For readers trying to hold on to the warmth for as long as possible, we take a look at Barcelona’s hottest spots, highlighting where to stay, what to eat and where the best shopping is in the Catalan city. And nothing says endless summer like the fresh, romantic scent of roses, which are the highlight of Lancôme’s French estate and its timeless perfume line.
Looking ahead, our biggest trend reports have the scoop on what you’ll want to wear and how you’ll want to style your hair and do your makeup for the fall season. And with the inevitable return (at least in part) to the office, the baggy, flowy, oversized power suit—inspired by the likes of Yves Saint Laurent, Martin Margiela and Yohji Yamamoto—has made its way from the runways into our closets. Work attire has finally shifted from tight and structured-tight to loose and comfortable—think Zendaya in Valentino’s latest ad campaign. Just add this season’s neon liner, bold lips and big accessories, and “What should I wear to work?” will seldom be a question in the morning. However, heading back to the office doesn’t come without a shift in work-life balance. Val Desjardins, our new health and wellness contributor, explains her holistic approach to adopting new habits and pursuing daily pleasure, making the transition to a new normal a breeze.
This issue also focuses on female empowerment. We spoke to multi-Juno-winning R&B artist Savannah Ré about her new album as well as bestselling author Lisa Taddeo about how she helps readers grapple with feelings of loneliness and grief. We also have advice for Canadian women on how to ask for a raise or promotion—and get it too—and we chatted with actor Myha’la Herrold about feeling bold, confident and empowered in her career. But empowerment isn’t only career-focused; non-binary and transgender people are starting to feel more empowered through their hair. New salons are ditching the old-school binary haircuts and opting for more inclusive services, allowing everyone to express themselves through their hair.
On the fashion front, up-and-coming South African designer Lukhanyo Mdingi is creating a legacy through his designs and using the skills of local people to create his brand’s blueprint. And we take a closer, more critical look at the well-intentioned trend of donating clothing. What we discovered is that a large majority of these pieces end up in the oceans, on beaches and in landfills in other countries, like Ghana. This piece makes us rethink the Instagram trend of having a different outfit for every post, the ethics of fast-fashion companies like Shein and how we can reduce our carbon footprint when it comes to our closets.