91福利社

What do women really, really want? Flick through the pages of the many glossy magazines aimed at young women and the answer would seem to be designer cosmetics, shoes, and handbags - all costing a small fortune. It is the journalism of female aspiration.

Marie O'Riordan, the editor of Marie Claire, is one of its most influential practitioners. Stephen Sackur asks her whether the recession is about to take the gloss off an era of indulgence.