The fashion merry-go-round can often be confusing. As we've noted before, announcements of creative directors tend to come in batches and can leave the casual observer scratching their head.
Thus week's round of musical chairs is just the latest in the ever-moving fashion world. Chanel has named Matthieu Blazy – who was most recently the creative director of luxury Italian label Bottega Veneta – as its new artistic director of fashion activities. Louise Trotter, meanwhile, will succeed Blazy at Bottega Veneta creative director.
There have been plenty of other big moves this year. In October this year Kim Jones stepped away from his role at Fendi and Hedi Slimane quit Celine. Dries Van Noten left his namesake brand in June, and just days ago John Galliano announced that he was leaving Maison Margiela after a decade.
While such departures cause tidal waves, they also free up space for talented designers and open coveted roles for the next round of opportunity, sparking a new era of creativity and energy.
Matthieu Blazy at Chanel
Blazy's ideas will be revealed by the French house in October 2025 during Paris Fashion Week, where he will oversee haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories. His appointment makes him only the fourth person to head fashion's second largest house, following in the steps of Virginie Viard, Karl Lagerfeld and the founder Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel herself.
The rumours of who would take over at what is arguably one of fashion's greatest prizes have been swirling since June, when then-creative director Viard stepped down after five years, with the likes of Hedi Slimane, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Marc Jacobs and Blazy all linked to the role.
Blazy was considered a front-runner thanks to his work at Bottega Veneta, where he has spent the past three years artfully doubling down on its heritage and Italian know-how.
He has reinvented mundane items to seismic effect, transforming the simple vest, a checked shirt and sweat pants into exquisite must-haves fashioned from woven leather, while elevating humble denim into an artisanal item.
Since taking over in late 2021, following the abrupt departure of Daniel Lee (who now heads Burberry) Blazy has worked with a light, subtle touch. Aged just 40, he is well-versed in pop culture, bringing the likes of actor Jacob Elordi and rapper A$AP Rocky on board, sparking multiple social media moments, despite Bottega having no social media presence, which is quite a feat.
This is undoubtedly some of the magic Chanel will be looking to capitalise on. Like many brands, Chanel is feeling the effect of the downshift in luxury spending, as financial belts are tightened.
Blazy's proven record of nailing both men's and women's wardrobes, signals that the house might be eyeing a possible extension into menswear. A women's maison, Chanel may have created one-off men's collection in the past, but has no permanent offering other than watches.
Blazy's departure from Bottega Veneta has triggered another move, with Carven creative director Trotter taking over where Blazy left off.
Louise Trotter at Bottega Venta
Staying true to Bottega's tendency towards more obscure hires, they have sought out Trotter. She has been creative director at the French company Carven for two years and helped steer the brand back into relevance. Previously she was at Lacoste and Joseph, where she brought a more fashion-forward attitude.
Now tasked with bringing her voice to the Italian house, she is the only woman leading a brand owned by Kering, which also controls Gucci, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga. Bottega Veneta chief executive Leo Rongone announced her arrival by saying that “her aesthetic seamlessly combines exquisite design with sublime craft and her commitment to cultural advocacy aligns beautifully with our brand vision. Through her sophisticated lens, Bottega Veneta will continue to celebrate its heritage while preserving modern relevance.”
Will Trotter be able to handle the house of Bottega with her relative inexperience? We will have to wait and see, but the new era will be fascinating.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Infiniti QX80 specs
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
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4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs
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