Right, so last week I’m standing in Tesco, proper grumpy because they’d run out of my usual sandwich. I’m scanning the magazine shelf; you know how it is when you’re avoiding eye contact with everyone, and there’s this Life & Style mag with some mad story about a soap star’s wedding disaster. Bought it on a whim. Big mistake. Stayed up till half past midnight reading every single page.
That got me thinking, though. Why does this particular rag have such a hold over people like me? I mean, I’m not exactly the target demographic, am I?
It’s All About Being Proper Nosy
Let’s not beat about the bush here. Life and Style knows what it is: the magazine version of your nan’s next-door neighbour who somehow knows every damn thing about everyone. And you know what? Good on them for claiming it.
A lot of celebrity mags like to act like they are being all socially responsible. “Oh, we’re celebrating success stories.” Bollocks. Life & Style has finally tapped out: we’re here for that long, slow slide into tabloid depravity because you care about who is sleeping with whom and what Hollywood marriages are falling apart this week. Refreshing honesty, that.
Even the stories do not feel like they are just revolving around the same writing factory. There was this one they had last month on a reality TV star going bankrupt, not covered by any other mag anywhere.
Proper investigative stuff, not just rehashed press releases. Makes you wonder how they get their information. Probably have people everywhere; maybe they have celebrities’ hairdressers, personal trainers, and the lot on their payroll.
Writing That Doesn’t Make You Want to Scream
The thing that gets me most about magazines, in general, is they all write as though they are addressing the parliament. Life & Style? Completely different kettle of fish. Grab any copy, and it reads like your best mate telling you their gossip.
“You’ll never guess what happened next”; that sort of thing. Sounds daft when you think about it, but it works brilliantly. No fancy words just for the sake of it. No paragraphs that go on forever. Just straight talk about celebrity drama.
My sister reckons it’s dumbed down. I disagree. It’s accessible. There’s a massive difference.
Photos That Actually Tell Stories
The pictures in this magazine are something else entirely. Not just posed red carpet shots, though they have plenty of those too. They somehow get candid moments that make you feel like you’re actually there.
Remember that spread about the pop star’s countryside wedding? Felt like flicking through someone’s personal photo album. The shots of guests laughing, kids running about, and even the dog stealing cake from a table. Brilliant stuff that makes other magazines look staged and boring.
Their paparazzi relationships must be interesting. Some of these photos… well, let’s just say they’re remarkably well-positioned when drama kicks off.
Speed Without Sacrificing Accuracy
Pop culture moves fast these days. Something happens on Twitter at 3pm, and by teatime everyone’s moved on to the next scandal. Life & Style somehow manages to keep up without completely cocking things up.
When that reality TV couple split last month, other magazines were still running “happy family” features, while Life and Style had the full breakup story, quotes from friends, and the works. Makes you think they knew something was brewing long before it went public.
Their Instagram stories are mental too. Constant updates, behind-the-scenes bits, and polls asking what readers think. It’s like having a direct line to the editorial team.
Content That Actually Matters to Real People
This is where Life & Style gets clever. They don’t just focus on A-listers anymore. Reality stars, YouTubers, TikTok people; if someone’s got a following, they’re fair game. Smart move; considering half the celebrities my daughter talks about, I’ve never heard of them.
They also manage to slip serious topics into celebrity stories without being preachy. Mental health gets covered through celebrity experiences rather than boring medical articles. Same with body image, relationships, and money troubles. Makes important conversations feel less intimidating.
Decent Value When Money’s Tight
Two quid fifty for a magazine might not sound like much, but everything costs a fortune these days. At least with Life & Style, you get proper content. None of this thin magazine nonsense with more adverts than stories.
Plus they’re always running competitions. Won a beauty hamper last year just for answering some daft question about which celebrity I’d want to have dinner with. (Chose Gordon Ramsay, for a free meal and entertainment.)
Building Proper Communities
The letters page in this magazine is absolutely mental. Readers sending in their own celebrity gossip, arguing about storylines, and sharing photos from chance encounters. It’s like a Facebook group but in print.
They actually respond to readers too. Not just generic “thanks for writing” responses; proper engagement. Saw them change a regular feature based on reader feedback. When did you last see that in Vogue?
What’s Coming Next
Magazine industry’s struggling; everyone knows that. But Life and Style seems to have cracked something. They’ve launched this app thing that’s actually decent, not just the magazine online, but extra content, live updates, and interactive bits.
Their podcast started last autumn too. Same chatty style as the magazine, but you can listen while doing washing up. Genius, really.
Bottom Line
Life & Style succeeds because it’s honest about not being anything more than what it is. Juicy gossip, celebrity news and entertainment with a quintessentially British sense of humour. As other magazines tie themselves up in knots over respectability, this one just gets on with giving the readers what they want.
Amidst all the serious news and gloomy headlines, sometimes you need someone or something to tell you which celebs are beefing with each other and who got a bob. Life and Style does that brilliantly, and long may it continue.
