There is always one item per season designed to keep the punters happy – and this season we have the pencil skirt. Not exactly a revolution, I agree, but nevertheless a solid foundation on which to build our autumn/winter wardrobe.
Who would have thought that this time-honoured silhouette created by the French designer Christian Dior in the late 1940s as part of a post-war "new look" would play such a major role in modern society? Although admittedly, in terms of a "shape to suit all", the pencil is pretty hard to beat. It's risky without the tarty part, with a kind of now-you-see-it-now-you-don't appeal.
It's all in the wiggle, of course, which is almost always down to the cut. And if the concept of pattern cutting baffles you, simply think of it as an inverted triangle. Now add a fat rubber band somewhere around knee level, close your eyes and imagine trying to walk, and - well, you get the picture. What's not to love? The pencil can add much-needed curves to a boyish figure - and make the most of an hourglass shape by following and compressing the natural form. So not much wrong, I say, although, as always, there are still a few guidelines to take on board.
Firstly, forget the retro Grace Kelly/Audrey Hepburn parody. The single string of pearls and twin set has been recreated so often it is now perceived as poor taste. So instead of reaching for the traditional ballet flats, try this season's knee-length boots - Prada does a wonderful version if you can swallow the price tag. To counteract the primness, try pairing the skirt with something ultramodern on top; a structured graphic print should do the trick.
For everyday use, try teaming it with something particularly unstructured - perhaps a loose textured piece, a casual T-shirt or an oversized piece of knitwear that can be worn outside the skirt.
Your height will play a more important role than normal - don't forget that skirts that finish at the calf are not flattering for a petite frame and will only accentuate chunky legs. So make sure your hemline skims the most narrow point of the leg - knee level.
There we have it, the rare item we can't really moan about, a piece that suits all shapes and all ages (for the legs, they say, are the last to go.) We should be rejoicing, no? Those over 40 should surely be positively beaming, right?
Of course - but we will simply do what we always do, and ask: "Does my bum look big in this?"
The answer? Probably. Which for once is exactly the point.
M-ometer
This week's highs and lows
BAG ENVY This season's bags (like this from Valentino at net-a-porter) have got to be the best in a long time. Restraint, ladies!
DOUBLE DENIM The rodeo look may still be a big trend, but we are not impressed with Acne's interpretation.
A COOL COLLABORATION NYC's of-the-moment designer Sophie Theallet is teaming up with Starbucks to design its 40th anniversary T-shirt.
COCKTAIL DRESSES It's all about the midi flowing skirt this autumn.
COUNTRY LIVING Band of Outsiders' S/S collection has us longing for the countryside.
more from Janine di Giovanni
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development