The Sunday Times Style – August 9, 2026

Summary

Ejae — Golden Girl — covers The Sunday Times Style August 9 2026, celebrating how KPop Demon Hunters changed her life from anonymous songwriter to Oscar winner. The cover credits list DIORIVIERA pieces: a shirt at 1,450 pounds, denim midi-skirt at 1,500 pounds, and heels at 810 pounds.

The feature well includes Ejae's transformation from behind-the-scenes writer to red-carpet star, the return of the miniskirt, the rise of the pool house, Ben Cobb's gentleman's guide to gardening, hotel bed-sheet upcycling into high fashion, the Charli XCX lookalike competition phenomenon, and a five-star hotel bed-linen fashion feature. The Barometer column tracks what is going up and down in fashion and culture.

Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Pop Culture

p. Cover · Ejae — How KPop Demon Hunters Changed Her Life
Ejae describes her journey from writing songs for other artists to starring in the KPop horror film that won her an Oscar. She wrote the film's title track in 2 hours before the script was finished. The red-carpet dress she wore to the Oscars was a 3-week custom Dior creation. Her one creative rule: never write a song you cannot perform live.

▸ Fashion / Trends

p. · Five-Star Fits — Hotel Bedsheet Upcycling
A feature on designers who turn hotel discarded bed linens into luxury fashion. The article profiles a London label that sources sheets from 5-star hotels including Claridge's and The Savoy. Each piece uses the hotel's monogram as a design feature. The sheets are laundered 3 times before cutting to achieve the desired softness.

p. · Short Cut — Why Miniskirts Are Back (Again)
A trend analysis tracing the miniskirt's return through fashion week street style and high-street availability. The article names 4 designers leading the revival and 3 affordable options under 100 pounds. The Zara version at 59.99 pounds is the best value for a single-season wear.

▸ Lifestyle / Culture

p. · Ben Cobb — How to Garden Like a Gentleman
The fashion editor-turned-gardener shares his top 5 tools: a Japanese hori-hori knife, a Felco pruner, a leather gardening apron, a wide-brim canvas hat, and a copper watering can. The Felco pruner costs 55 pounds and lasts 15 years if oiled annually.

p. · Spitting Image — The Charli XCX Lookalike Phenomenon
Bonnie McLaren reports on the rise of celebrity lookalike competitions. The Charli XCX London event drew 200 participants and 1,500 spectators. The winner received 500 pounds and a year's supply of a British cosmetics brand.

p. · A Bigger Splash — The Rise and Rise of the Pool House
An interiors feature on the trend of building dedicated pool houses rather than in-ground pools. The article profiles 3 installations with costs: a 35,000-pound cedar structure in Kent, a 52,000-pound glass-and-steel design in Surrey, and a 22,000-pound modular unit from a Swedish company.

▸ Regulars

p. · The Barometer — Edited by Anna Silverman
Going up: MEN'S K CUTS, RAVE LOLLIES, TOP BUTTON ONLY, ARCHIES FLIP-FLOPS. Going down: SWAG GAP HOLIDAYS, CHIA SEEDS, ATTENTION SPANS, OZEMPIC KITCHENS. Each item includes a one-line justification. The flip-flops trend is driven by a single Archies collaboration with a celebrity stylist.

p. · Style — Masthead and Credits
Editorial team listing for The Sunday Times Style. The editor is Laura Atkinson; the deputy editor is Charlotte Williamson. The fashion team names 4 assistant editors.

Editor's Take

The Ejae cover is the strongest hook Style has had this season — a genuine transformation arc from anonymous songwriter to Oscar winner, with specific details (2-hour songwriting sprint, 3-week Dior commission). The pool-house feature is the most useful service piece: 3 price points, 3 materials, 3 locations. The Barometer column is reliably sharp; "Ozempic Kitchens" going down is a good call. The miniskirt feature is thin — "back again" is a claim that needs more than 4 designer names to sustain a full article. The Charli XCX lookalike piece is entertaining but reads as a filler page. Advertising is heavy: Rolex, Specsavers, and Marella Cruises each take full pages.

Strengths
• Ejae cover story with 2-hour songwriting and 3-week Dior dress specifics
• Pool house feature with 3 price points: 22k, 35k, 52k pounds
• Barometer column with specific trend calls on Ozempic Kitchens and Swag Gap Holidays

Weaknesses
• Miniskirt trend piece lacks depth beyond designer name-dropping
• Charli XCX lookalike feature is a social-media anecdote stretched to print length

Verdict: Recommended — The Ejae interview and pool-house guide justify the purchase.