Being in a room full of some of the world's most powerful taste-setters is fashionating. Perched on a bench (tiny gilt chairs have gone the way of the dodo) at the Christopher Kane show during London Fashion Week, I found myself exactly opposite Anna Wintour and was able to scrutinise the American Vogue editor close-up.
Dressed in a spotty Proenza Schouler coat worn slightly open to reveal an impeccably cut A-line skirt and polo neck, she looked effortlessly stylish.
Topping and tailing her look were the bob, thick, gold and newly blow-dried, and, of course high heels. Slightly to my left was the newly installed Paris Vogue editor, Emmanuelle Alt, wearing boyish Topshop black skinny jeans, T-shirt and a Balmain navy pea coat several sizes too big, emphasising her tiny size six build.
Alt's hair was fashionably tousled, although, I noted, curled softly, framing her pretty face, which was devoid of make-up. She looked flawless, like a French film star. On her neat little feet were pointy leather ankle boots with extremely high conical heels.
I wondered if they had agonised (as I had) each morning about what to wear? Does having a signature hairstyle or signature style (Wintour's is fitted top plus knee-length skirt plus bare legs and heels; Alt's is drainpipes with glamorous jacket) make it easier? Or are their perfect get-ups something to do with the fact they wear extremely high heels 24/7?
During showtime I can just about manage the early morning blow dry and put on a show uniform of fairly smart Jil Sander grey or navy slacks and Armani cashmere T-shirts. One thing I can't do is heels.
My first proper job was at British Vogue as a trainee fashion hack. I never quite mastered heels. Working on a newspaper became my next best option. There, to my relief, I found wearing high heels plus the wobbling that goes with it got you funny looks.
The tale about some Vogue fashion editors being hired for their slight figures, coltish legs and Coutts bank accounts (or family trusts) I can't confirm or deny. But what is undoubtedly important is their ability to walk and work, day or night, in fashion heels.
Wandering through Kensington Gardens following the Burberry show, I witnessed one middle-aged Vogue editor doing what can only be described as a sprint in clompy boots with a wooden heel that made one heck of a thud.
During last week at the London shows, all women besides the Voguettes seemed to be wearing chunky-soled wedge ankle boots or flat Bloch pumps with the toe cap in patent. Other trends included wearing a lot of camel (a perennial fashion favourite) offset by a highlight pop of colour, such as cobalt blue, yellow or red.
Another front-row look was wearing fine knits in cream or white under camel or black coats or floorlength honey-coloured shearling gilets (London was draughty, even indoors), in nude shades with a pair of skintight trousers. As for the bag of the moment? Three words: Celine envelope clutch. Wintour and Alt seem to agree on this.
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There's often an anti-fashion movement going on during showtime, especially during London Fashion Week.
One minute you spot a certain "look" being worn by fashion students or trendy stylists from magazines such as Love, the next it's on a front cover. Then it's being worn by the person next to you on the street.
During London Fashion Week, Love, which is edited by Katie Grand, threw a party at the department store Liberty to celebrate the arrival of Alexander Wang's new range. Wang partied with London's grooviest, many of whom were sporting the latest London trend: dip-dyed hair.
The model-of-the-moment, Charlotte Free, is rocking purple dip-dyed ends (and dark roots). So are the designer Louise Gray (pink/yellow), the fashion illustrator Julie Verhoeven (pink/white), the stylist Richard Sloane (purple/black), the fashion PR guru Mandi Lennard (blue) and several trendy stylists including Nura Khan (purple/gold/blue).
Interestingly, although the neo-punk style looks DIY, to get the correct chameleon effect requires a professional colourist.
"John Vial dyed my hair pink/indigo about six months ago," Verhoeven told me, adding shockingly that her transformation occurred not in funky East London but Chelsea, in the go-to salon, Real Hair. Clients there include Elle Macpherson and Drew Barrymore when she's in town.
The obvious dip-dye destination in London is Dalston. The session hairstylist Alex Brownsell is the co-founder of the aptly named Bleach, where fans come from as far away as Tokyo to get their ends (but not their roots) done. Which is odd. I thought Harajuku girls wrote the book on hairdye.
To see more of London Fashion Week click here
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
57%20Seconds
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More on Quran memorisation:
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
THE%20SWIMMERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESally%20El-Hosaini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENathalie%20Issa%2C%20Manal%20Issa%2C%20Ahmed%20Malek%20and%20Ali%20Suliman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
Real Madrid 2 (Ramos 52', Carvajal 69')
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
Company%20profile
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The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)
SPAIN SQUAD
Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)
Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld