September is here and with a new season comes an appetite for the new, the now, the next. Most of us wandered further afield this summer than in the previous two, excited to be seeing more, tasting more, experiencing more. So we are content to return to normal, more confined, local life, but with a renewed curiosity which makes everything feel fresh.

That’s why, as well as bringing you lots that’s fun and fashionable about September, we are focusing in this issue on the idea of village. To live a village life you don’t need necessarily have to live in one. You can create a village life of your own design, by first discovering and then frequenting the same boutique, grocery store, book shop, wine shop, fish shop, butcher, restaurant and café, by connecting with store owners and restaurateurs and building a rapport and embedding yourself deeper in the community, supporting it economically and becoming a valued member of it. Your village could be in the middle of a city, or on the outskirts, it might not be a village at all, in the strict sense of the word, but you can make it feel like one. Just take up your shopping basket and walk!

In the same spirit, THE GLOSS continues, in partnership with Theshopkeepers.com, championing unique, creative and inspiring independent shops. Please take a closer look at your local village and share your favourite shops and stores with us at www.thegloss.ie/bestshops.

Inside the issue: Aislinn Coffey identifies AW22 trends we really want to wear; Sarah Macken turns a whole new world of shapewear inside out; Sarah Halliwell knows how we want to look – and feel – this autumn; Trish Deseine makes climate-conscious moves in her kitchen; Julie Dupouy selects village wine shops to visit; Tim Magee makes accidents into adventures; Paula Flynn shares the best village shops abroad; and much, much more.

Don’t miss THE GLOSS September issue out tomorrow, Thursday September 1, with The Irish Times.

THE GLOSS & THE MIX
ON SALE FROM FRIDAY

If you miss THE GLOSS in The Irish Times, you can pick up a newsstand version of the magazine, which is in selected supermarkets and newsagents for the month of September. This smaller format has a cover price of €4 …

We also offer a subscription service to this version of the magazine: six issues delivered to an address in Ireland costs €60.
Follow this link to subscribe.