‘i found a sense of purpose when i really needed it’

There’s a new energy on the high street, and it’s cultivated by a crop of smart, stylish women prompting us to take a fresh look at the brands we think we know. Here, they reveal the secrets to their success, and where they get their own style inspo

AS ELLE CELEBRATES ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY, WE ASK: WHAT WILL THE INDUSTRY LOOK LIKE IN 40 YEARS’ TIME? WE SPOTLIGHT THE WOMEN WHO WILL HAVE A HAND IN SHAPING ITS NEXT ERA

Annie Bennett, 58, shares her moving story of discovering she had not one but two types of cancer, and how both have brought a new positivity to her life.

OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS, ELLE HAS CELEBRATED CREATIVITY OF ALL KINDS. HERE, A RANGE OF TODAY’S LEADING ARTISTS, WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND DIRECTORS SHARE THE RITUALS, ROUTINES AND REALITIES BEHIND THEIR GREATEST WORKS, FROM MIND-BLOWING EXCEL SHEETS TO THE MAGIC OF THE DARK ROOM

Mum Karie Jane knew exactly what to do to get over her divorce: she moved to Spain, opened a nudist resort and fell back in love with life – and her body

I’ve always believed in trying new things and when I was younger I was always first in line for a rollercoaster. I competed with my brother on our bikes, and in my teens, I was the first to try my fri