Charities say ‘tip of iceberg’ figures show government is not fulfilling pledge to halve violence against women and girls

Almost one in 10 adults in England and Wales have experienced domestic abuse in the last year, a survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has found.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) found that 9.6% of people aged 16 and over had experienced domestic abuse in the last year – which equates to about 4.7 million people.

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© Photograph: Tinnakorn jorruang/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Tinnakorn jorruang/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Tinnakorn jorruang/Shutterstock

Blackcurrant in perfumery is frequently categorized by its tart, verdant top note-a fleeting burst of green acidity that defines the fruit's role in summer scents. However, the structural placement of this accord shifts its olfactory function entirely when supported by warmer base materials. Rather than acting solely as a freshener, blackcurrant can serve as a bridge between citrus brightness and resinous depth, altering the composition's trajectory from ephemeral to grounded. Seven compositions illustrate this range, where the berry's specific interaction with floral and woody elements determines whether the result leans toward effervescent lightness or dense, amber-like weight. In Diptyque L'Ombre dans l'Eau, the blackcurrant is paired with bergamot and mandarin, creating a bright opening that quickly transitions into a rose heart. The base of grey amber and white musk provides a clean, dry anchor, ensuring the fruitiness does not drift into synthetic sweetness but remains tethered to a subtle, powdery dryness. Giorgio Armani Sì Intense approaches the accord through a lens of velvet and bitterness. Here, the blackcurrant's natural tartness is contrasted by artemisia and rose, which lend a medicinal, slightly soapy edge. The foundation of patchouli and benzoin grounds the composition, transforming the fruity start into a thicker, darker scent profile where the berry acts as a textural element rather than a dominant fruit note.

The winter puffer, long relegated to the status of a utilitarian shield against the elements, is undergoing a structural shift for the Fall/Winter 2026/2027 season. The focus has moved away from mere thermal efficiency toward a deliberate manipulation of the wearer's silhouette, where the choice of volume determines the entire composition of the outfit. The most aggressive departure from the standard puffer is the "blanket" silhouette. Defined by an extreme, oversized volume, this cut allows for heavy layering-such as chunky knitwear-without restricting movement. However, the visual weight of the blanket puffer necessitates a counter-balance in the lower half of the body. Pairing these expansive tops with slim-fit trousers or straight-leg jeans prevents the wearer from being swallowed by the fabric. Crucially, the effectiveness of this look relies on length: the silhouette succeeds when it is either decisively cropped or extended to a full maxi, as mid-thigh lengths tend to disrupt the intended architectural proportions. Structural Variations and Materiality Conversely to the blanket's expansiveness, a return to the cinched waist is altering how puffer jackets integrate with formal wear. Through the use of leather belts or engineered darting that mimics an hourglass shape, the puffer is no longer an amorphous block. This shift in proportion allows the garment to pair naturally with a pencil skirt or heeled boots, moving the jacket from a purely athletic context into a more structured, feminine ensemble.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bridget Griswold, the 25-year-old CEO of Lean In, who lives in San Francisco. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I fell in love with technology at Brown University, where I studied computer science and business. I worked with two female professors to build a robot. I interned at a semiconductor manufacturing company and also loved design and art.

Product management felt like a really wonderful combination of all those interests, and that was my role at Meta a year after graduating from college. My team and I redesigned the Instagram search grid, so now when you search for large Instagram accounts, you're routed to the search results page rather than directly to those accounts. I'm very proud of that.

While at Meta, an incredible female mentor connected me to Sheryl Sandberg. Meeting her felt so surreal and is what led me to start my role as CEO at Lean In in March. It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do mission-driven work.

I was a swimmer as a kid, and as my swim coach used to say: "You get out of swimming what you put into it." I think that applies to many things in life: The more you put in, the more you get out.

Here's a day in my life.

I wake up to my needy, angelic cat around 7:30 a.m.

The second I wake up, I pet my crying and whining cat. She's an angel but very needy.

I'm not a breakfast person, but I need coffee immediately. I have many cups of coffee throughout the day. One of the first things I do is make some at home.

I always tidy up my apartment while brushing my teeth

The most productive two minutes of my day are when I brush my teeth. I clean and tidy my apartment at the same time.

I'm probably not super focused on brushing my teeth, which is maybe a problem, but I'm also making my bed, emptying the dishwasher, feeding my cat, or starting the coffee maker.

I always move really quickly; I don't like to sit still. Brushing my teeth and standing still would make me antsy, so I like to get something else done at the same time.

I'm still adjusting to West Coast hours

I moved from New York City to San Francisco in August.

In New York, I went to Solidcore classes before work every day. Working on the West Coast, the workday starts earlier than on the East Coast, so I'm still learning whether I like to work out in the morning or after work.

When I take the bus to the office three days a week, I often use that time to catch up on personal housekeeping tasks like scheduling appointments or texting back my friends who live on the East Coast.

I come to the office around 8 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.

A majority of my in-person time is spent in meetings. As CEO, I enjoy being involved in all aspects of the team.

I'll meet with our content and research team — we spend a lot of time digging into data, such as some really exciting new research on trad wives in the manosphere. I also often meet with our product and tech team, as well as many of our partners, to help grow our programs.

We have lunch in the office — my favorite is a salad-plus-smoothie combo — and it's a really wonderful time to connect with the team.

I also love connecting with our Lean In community. One thing we're focused on is closing early gender gaps in AI usage. Our flagship program, Circles, consists of groups of 8 to 12 women who meet regularly to support each other in their careers — we have over 170,000 members. It's a perfect forum to hold each other accountable for upskilling in AI.

Every week, I send AI tips to our network leaders. A recent one encouraged the use of AI notetakers, as women are more likely to take notes during meetings and miss out on participating.

Lean In is in over 180 countries, and it's really heartwarming to see that our commitment to our mission has a positive impact on women's careers. Getting to speak with them is really energizing and rewarding.

I rehearse for meetings by talking to myself on walks

Another habit of mine I've been told is weird is how I prepare for big meetings.

If I have a presentation or interview coming up, I'll set up a Zoom and practice speaking to myself. Talking for a long time is sort of an unnatural act, and the first time you do it is probably not going to be your best.

Sometimes, I'll even go on a walk and wear headphones, pretending like I'm in a meeting or on a phone call, but I'm actually talking to myself and practicing.

When there's a bug, I usually fix the code myself

Because of my background in computer science, I spend a lot of my time finding bugs or things I believe we should change on our platform. I'll code and fix those on my own. Thankfully, with AI, it's so much faster to code now than it was a few years ago.

Our team is busy, and my goal is to enable everyone to have as much impact and move as quickly as possible. If I can help unblock the tech team or resolve an issue rather than add it to their plate, I'm always more than happy to do so.

I leave work around 6 p.m.

I continue to work until I go to bed pretty much every night.

It's nice to have that time at home, when I'm not running around between meetings, to focus, give feedback on documents the team has sent, write, respond to emails, and brainstorm my own ideas.

I take breaks to tidy up my apartment and make dinner. Living in New York got me out of the habit of cooking, so I'm taking the initiative to cook more meals, like rice bowls. I would say about half the time I order takeout, like pho, and the other half I cook, which is progress for me.

If my work doesn't require intense focus, I'll do it from the couch and put a happy TV show on, which right now is "Schitt's Creek." I think it's a nice balance between relaxation and getting things done.

I usually get in bed around 10:30 p.m.

I've been trying to make a habit of reading every night instead of going on my phone, which has been a really positive change. I like anything I read to be a distraction. I'm currently reading "Big Little Lies" and enjoying it.

It's nice to spend 30 minutes reading something like fantasy that's completely different from what I think about at work. That way, I'm not spinning on all the things I need to do or coming up with new ideas that can't get done in my sleep anyway.

Weekends are for the beach and farmers market

My boyfriend works in Los Angeles and flies up to San Francisco every weekend. We've made a tradition of going to the Fort Mason Farmers Market on Sundays for fresh produce to cook an at-home meal that night.

I also enjoy seeing friends over the weekend. My preference is to go on a long walk or go to the beach. I also enjoy fitting in some work — emails, deep-focus work, or reading — throughout the weekend.

The pencil skirt has long been the rigid anchor of the corporate uniform, defined by a strict adherence to knee-length hems and the mandatory pairing of pointed pumps. However, recent collections from Miu Miu, Jacquemus, and Balmain suggest a shift in the garment's geometry. The focus has moved away from the seamless, tailored suit toward a deliberate clash of proportions, where the skirt functions as a slim base for an oversized silhouette. The Architecture of Contrast The most visible change is the pairing of a tight lower half with a voluminous top. A heavy, oversized knit sweater or a chunky cardigan worn loose replaces the tucked-in blouse and fitted blazer of the 2010s. This shift in volume removes the formal sterility of the look, transforming the pencil skirt from a piece of office equipment into a tool for structural contrast. This play on shape extends to outerwear. A leather bomber jacket or a man-style oversized blazer creates a heavy upper frame that emphasizes the narrowness of the skirt. The footwear has undergone a similar liberation; high boots that disappear under the hemline, loafers worn with thick socks, or heavy-soled boots have replaced the stiletto, altering how the wearer moves and how the garment sits on the body.