Lifestyle Barometer: Your guide to what’s hot and what’s not this week from FUPA to Parma Violet gin

Political fashion statements and saunas are in favour while a nasty reaction has put henna tattoos in the bad books

Drink spiking has doubled in three years- (Getty/iStock)

Going up:

Political fashion statements

Iranian-born Danish designer Reza Etemadi features models wearing niqabs and hijabs on catwalk at Copenhagen Fashion Week (AP)

The fashion industry is no stranger to controversy and this week one designer used their latest collection to make a provocative political statement. During Copenhagen Fashion Week, Iranian designer Reza Etemadi showcased models wearing niqabs and hijabs alongside police officers, in protest against the ban on the traditional Muslim head covering being enforced by Denmark.

The new law means that people who are found wearing niqabs and burqas may be fined more than £100 for a first offence. However, this figure can reach £1,200 with a potential jail sentence of up to six months.

Body positivity for men

Love Island’s Jack Fincham discusses body insecurities on ‘Good Morning Britain’ (Rex Features)

While we’re making strides when it comes to championing body positivity for women, it’s important to recognise that men have their own set of body image issues.

This week, Love Island’s Jack Fincham spoke openly about feeling self-conscious about his body while participating in the popular TV show.

“Before I went in, I’ve seen the show so many times before and I just thought I know I’m going to walk around this corner and there’s just going to be abs and biceps everywhere,” he said on Good Morning Britain.

“I was so body conscious going in there at the start, and then as it went on I was being more free with my body.”

Parma violet gin

Zymurgorium Sweet Violet Gin, £25.22, Amazon

The nation’s love affair with gin just peaked with a raft of flavours that taste remarkably like Parma Violets – the beloved British sweet which has been on the market for more than 70 years.

There are a number of options on the market including Zymurgorium Sweet Violet Gin, an Amazon best seller, and JJ Whitley’s version which costs just £14.99 and is available to buy at B&M stores right now.

Saunas

A visit to the sauna is more than just relaxing

If you’re the kind of person that ends up spending more time in the sauna than you do on the treadmill while at the gym we have good news.

According to a recent medical review of a number of studies, scientists have revealed that taking a regular sauna is more than just a way to relax. In fact, it found that people who take saunas regularly have lower rates of cardiovascular disease and fewer problems with blood pressure.

They also have fewer issues with lung disease, cognitive disease and mental ill-health, according to the review.

FUPA

The news of Beyoncé’s ‘Vogue’ September issue takeover was met with a viral storm (Vogue/Tyler Mitchell)

Beyoncé’s highly anticipated American Vogue issue has been making headlines for a number of reasons but the singer’s reference to her “FUPA” has been one of the most widely discussed.

Speaking about her post-baby body, Knowles said: “To this day my arms, shoulders, breasts and thighs are fuller.

“I have a little mommy pouch, and I’m in no rush to get rid of it. I think it’s real. Whenever I’m ready to get a six-pack, I will go into beast zone and work my ass off until I have it.

“But right now, my little FUPA and I feel like we are meant to be.”

The little-known acronym which savvy social media users have translated to meaning “fat, upper pubic area”, has garnered a flurry of attention, with many lauding the remark as a hallmark of body positivity.

Going down:

Henna Tattoos

The NHS has warned that black henna could put you at risk of ‘life-threatening allergic reactions’ (Getty) (Getty Images)

A summer holiday ritual for many youngsters, henna tattoos have made headlines for all the wrong reasons this week.

Posting on Facebook, a mother warned parents against allowing their children to get black henna tattoos after her sons were left with severe chemical burns when the designs appeared to melt into their skin.

Speaking to The Independent, Toni Feeney confirmed that both of her sons are now “recovering well.”

Tighty whities

Three Pack Woven Boxers, £40, Boden

It’s bad news for those of you who prefer to wear briefs over boxers as a new study has revealed that picking the right underwear is more than just a matter of taste.

According to research published in the journal Human Reproduction, men who wear boxer shorts benefit from both a higher sperm count and concentration than men who opt for tight-fitting varieties of underwear.

The largest study of its kind, it also revealed that men who wear boxers are typically younger and slimmer.

Model diversity

Faces of Fashion (MyVoucherCodes)

It seems magazines still have a long way to go in terms of diversity after a study analysing the average face of Vogue cover stars from around the world revealed disappointing yet unsurprising results.

The illuminating study took a look back at Vogue magazines from across the globe over the past 25 years in order to ascertain the average facial features of its cover models.

Unfortunately, when looking at all eight of the final images, it found that the majority of the individuals to grace the covers all looked strikingly similar and were white, despite the magazine’s recent efforts to promote diversity and progression.

Public breastfeeding stigma

A mother has been praised for sharing a photo of herself breastfeeding her baby during an ice hockey match (Getty/iStock) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This week a woman had a compelling response to being shamed for breastfeeding in public.

After being told to cover up by a male passerby, Melanie Dudley chose not to retort with anger – and instead observed the man’s request to cover up by simply throwing a baby blanket over her own head.

Her partner proceeded to take a photograph of the hilarious response, which has since gone viral on Facebook with more than 180,000 shares and 99,000 likes.