Paris Fashion Week Men's is only a few days in, yet a softer mood has already appeared, best typified by Rick Owens's spectacular white satin draped "army of love".
However, the week opened with a remarkable, follow-that moment courtesy of a Louis Vuitton showcase, which took place on a Damier-checked faux lawn around a giant globe. It will take some beating, but with a few days still to go, it probably will be – and we are luckier for it.
Louis Vuitton
The latest Louis Vuitton show by creative director Pharrell Williams begs the question – is there nothing this man cannot do? Able to read the mood and deliver fully formed propositions we didn’t know we needed, this show, staged at the Unesco headquarters no less, was a languid voyage around a core pillar of the maison: travel.
Called “Le monde est a vous” (roughly meaning “the world is your oyster”) Williams sent out safari-style jackets, silken bomber jackets printed with an image of Earth from space and canny streetwear emblazoned with the logo of fictitious travel company, LV Airlines. Several hand trolleys piled with the famous Louis Vuitton suitcases also graced the runway.
Opening with a parade of all-black looks, before shifting through deep brown and finally ending in pale bone, these muted colours were broken only by flashes of high luxe scattered through the collection. Given the manner of gewgaws on show, it was skilfully underplayed as silken pyjamas were trimmed with pearls, a jacket was scattered with hand-sewn crystals, and a jacket and trousers were cut from grey-on-grey embroidered monogram, with the LV logo shining darkly. There were rich denim cut jackets in exotic skins, a tuxedo with a paillette embellished collar and crystal-covered bags. Serenaded by a live choir, the audience wanted everything on show.
Kenzo
Showing in the Jardin du Palais Royal, artistic director Nigo continued to trawl through the company archive, drawing out elements by founder Kenzo Takada that bind Tokyo to Paris. These subtle nods arrived as a side fastening denim waistcoat, vaguely Japanese-style typography spelling out “Kenzo Paris 1970” (the date and place the label began) on a trench coat and a side closing black suit with a brush drawing of Paris down one side.
The rest of the show was much softer, almost loose, and run-through with Nigo's street style. There were boxy striped linen suits worn with flip-flops, oversized baggy trousers in glossy ox-blood or absinth green, and a recurring bamboo print, seen as a belted trench, skater-style boxy shirt and trousers. Plus, there was plenty of double denim. Breaking this were technical mesh tops, both hooded and otherwise, and elevated with embroidered flowers.
Wales Bonner
Wales Bonner rooted her co-ed spring/summer 2025 collection in black culture via the archive of Althea McNish, a Trinidadian artist who moved to the UK in the 1950s and became the country's first black textile designer.
Filled with stripes, most notable as tone-on-tone oversized shirts, the collection shifted through crisp separates as technical knitted tops, boxy tops, collared shirts, windbreakers, long-line coats and tiny swimming trunks-slash-bikini bottoms that arrived in a deep shade of mulberry.
Other colours included nautical blues and leaf greens, which Bonner mixed with floral patterns lifted straight from McNish’s own clothes, such as a jaunty sunflower print and an oversized violet-coloured poppy, made into boxy tops, shorts and sporty zip jackets.
A sharper edge came via pieces from long-time collaborator, Saville Row’s Anderson and Shepard as crisp tuxedos, satin overcoats and beautifully cut trousers and jackets, many decorated with metal details and embroidered sequins.
A new tie-up with adidas also brought more sequins, such as Samba trainers in black with silver sequins, which were worn with multiple looks.
Rick Owens
Best known for his dark, gothic leanings, Owens instead looked to the Olympics about to engulf Paris and switched tack entirely. Calling on students and staff from Parisian fashion colleges to walk the runway instead of models, he dressed them in white, ivory and cream, in flowing robes and elaborate headdresses. Sending them down the runway in groups – rather than one at a time – it was both weird and beautiful, much like Owens's otherworldly clothes themselves.
What makes Owens such an interesting designer is that he remains true to his vision, regardless of what else is happening around him. He still offered shapes that stretched, disguised and morphed the human body, bulking here, revealing there, but now clad in all pale shades of white, it was like something out of a fever dream.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Results
6.30pm: Madjani Stakes Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m, Winner: RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Mnasek, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Grand Dubai, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m, Winner: Meqdam, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Cosgrave, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Madkhal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
The specs: 2018 GMC Terrain
Price, base / as tested: Dh94,600 / Dh159,700
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 353Nm @ 2,500rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.4L / 100km
The five pillars of Islam
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Results
Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
The Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize
This year’s winners of the US$4 million Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize will be recognised and rewarded in Abu Dhabi on January 15 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week, which runs in the capital from January 13 to 20.
From solutions to life-changing technologies, the aim is to discover innovative breakthroughs to create a new and sustainable energy future.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
