Tom Cruise, Barbie Are Hollywood’s Last Hope for Summer Success
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the fifth film in the Walt Disney Co. series about a
2023-07-06 17:58
No more free coffee on your birthday? Companies rein in customer rewards programs — here's why
Reward programs, including birthday freebies and discounts, have long been a way for brands to build loyalty and incentivize spending
2023-07-06 17:27
How to shine all summer long in the disco-tastic silver trend
Silver was a major trend on the spring/summer 2023 catwalks, with models at Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci sashaying down the runway in dazzling eveningwear looks. From glittering, diamante-encrusted maxi skirts to mirror-like metallic gowns and shiny shoes, designers seem to think silver is the colour of the season. Then, in May, Beyonce commenced her long-awaited Renaissance World Tour and the disco-inspired craze really went into overdrive. Queen Bey wore a series of silver looks on the opening night – including holographic and diamante bodysuits – and has continued to introduce more shimmering looks at later concerts. The singer was inspired by house and disco music while creating hit album Renaissance, and her fashion choices reflect the decadent outfits seen during the Studio 54 era. Fans have been getting in on the action too, with fashion resale platform Depop reporting searches for ‘mirror’ going up by 65% and ‘silver’ spiking by 21% when the tour hit the UK. Celebrities have also embraced the look, with actors Sarah Michelle Gellar, Halle Bailey and Jamie Lee Curtis all rocking glittering ensembles on the red carpet. Kim Kardashian sent out a series of silver looks when she art directed the Dolce & Gabbana SS23 show, and wore a pair of gleaming gowns from the brand herself. But you don’t have to don a floor-length gown to get the disco diva look. From party frocks to everyday shoes, here’s how to wear the silver trend this summer… Party dresses For a sensational summer party look, you can’t go wrong with a sassy silver dress. For maximum impact, take a leaf out of the Paris Hilton playbook (who can forget the chainmail Julien Macdonald number she wore on her 21st birthday?) with a sparkly mini dress. To really nail the Beyonce look, add matching heels and handbag, or let your dress do the talking and team it with neutral accessories. Superdry Sleeveless Sequin A Line Mini Dress, £64.99 Belissh Cowl Neck Metallic Mini Dress Silver, £69 Shiny separates For a slightly more laidback take on the trend, silver separates can be dressed up or down. A swishy sequinned coord set is the ultimate cool-girl party outfit, while metallic shorts or trousers are the on-trend alternative to denim. Jigsaw Pewter Sequin Cami, £125; Pewter Sequin Palazzo Trousers, £150, John Lewis and Partners Misirli 1951 Zero Neck Beige Knitwear Crop Top, £58.46 (was £97.43); Metallic Pull On Shorts, £64.40 (were £107.33) Metallic bags In previous years, a silver bag would only be an after-dark accessory, but this season it’s a daytime staple. A Noughties-style metallic shoulder bag is the perfect partner for baggy jeans, relaxed tailoring or preppy skirts. Hvisk Moon Shiny Smooth Shoulder Bag, £42.50 (was £85), John Lewis and Partners Dune London Duchess S Silver Small Quilted Leather Bag, £120 Disco heels No disco diva ensemble is complete without a pair of metallic high heels for dancing the night away. This season the high street is awash with Seventies style ankle-strap heels perfect for teaming with your summer party dresses. Calla Emily II Silver Glitter Leather Shoes, £149 Monsoon Bow Block Heel Sandals Silver, £75 Esska Clara Silver Heeled Sandals, £155, Oliver Bonas Flashy flats Bring a dash of disco into your everyday wardrobe with a pair of metallic flats. Silver trainers or ballet flats elevate even the simplest of outfits, while shiny sandals are a great day-to-night option on holiday. Air and Grace Sadie Silver Metallic Platform Trainers, £189 Heavenly Feet Trudy Silver Casual Sandals, £44.95 Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Disability Pride Month: Motor neurone disease diagnosis spurred us on to get married 11 ways to channel seaside vibes at home One in four adults in UK have never boiled an egg, survey reveals
2023-07-06 16:29
Disability Pride Month: Motor neurone disease diagnosis spurred us on to get married
Getting married wasn’t “on the books” for London couple Craig Pollard and Alex Herd for a long time. But that changed when Alex got diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2021, aged 30. “We decided to get married as a bit of a consequence of Alex’s diagnosis,” explains Pollard, 35. “It wasn’t something that was on the books for us before, especially as being gay, marriage wasn’t available to us when we were younger, so wasn’t necessarily something we’d aspired to. “But then thinking about the legacy we wanted and how much time we had together, we saw it as a good way of bringing our families together and celebrating something really positive in our life.” MND affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord which send signals to muscles. There is currently no cure, so as muscle loss gets worse over time – affecting movement, speech, swallowing and breathing – it eventually leads to death. It’s uncommon and mostly affects people in their 60s and 70s, although as Herd’s diagnosis shows, MND can occur in younger adults too. The charity Challenging MND, which helps people with MND, has the ‘opportunity to create amazing memories’, funded the couple’s big day last year – a fabulous festival-inspired party officiated by drag queen Just May from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 4. They had already been together for a decade, so the wedding was a “celebration of all the things we’ve enjoyed together over the last 10 years”, Pollard notes (plus “lots of glitter and sparkle – it was perfect”). It was also the last time Herd went a full day without using a wheelchair. “So it was the very last moment we possibly could have done that,” adds Herd, now 32. “And we can look back at that as a really special day.” He first started noticing symptoms in early 2021 – muscle twitching then weakness in his hands and arms, before his legs became increasingly affected. Herd used a manual wheelchair for a while but recently switched to an electric one. “That’s changed my life quite a lot,” says Herd. “While I was in the manual wheelchair and Craig was pushing around, I sort of felt like I didn’t really exist anymore, because everyone would interact with him, and I wasn’t responsible for where I was. But now I’m in control of my movement, I feel like I’m more interacting with people myself.” The diagnosis has been challenging on multiple levels, individually and as a couple. MND doesn’t present with exactly the same patterns for everyone – so there is no guidebook as such, and navigating support services relies on a lot of self-advocating. Things such as specialist physiotherapy and occupational therapy can be helpful, along with home adaptations. “Having MND, you have to get used to things changing,” says Herd. “I mean, I can’t necessarily relate at this point to someone who’s been in their wheelchair for their whole life, but because things keep changing, you can’t really get used to it properly. So it’s very difficult for me to kind of keep hold of my identity.” In a recent survey, Challenging MND found 63% of people living with the MND had felt marginalised or ‘othered’ because of their condition, while 51% felt others see MND as their identity. In addition, 80% said they felt isolated, and 69% worry about being a burden to their family. Feeling ‘othered’ is something Alex found himself thinking about while attending Pride London recently. “It’s almost more like something I’m doing, than something other people are doing – because I’m seeing people doing what I would’ve been doing a year ago, it’s still fairly fresh for me, so I’m still comparing the before and after,” he reflects. “At Pride, lots of people get to see themselves represented in the crowds, and that’s nice. But then I realised how much more of a minority people in wheelchairs are. It made us realise how different our situation is now, our priorities and expectations in general.” Music has been an important way for him to stay connected with his identity. “I’ve been making music for over 10 years, so it’s nice I’m still able to do that. I think as much as possible, people in a situation like this need to try and keep doing the things that made them happy before,” he says. While he can no longer play his guitar, Herd made voice recordings to use an instrument and creates tracks on his computer, using foot pedals as he can no longer click the mouse. Since his diagnosis, he’s actually been finishing a lot more songs. “I have less distractions now!” Herd quips. “But using music as a communication tool, that’s definitely become more important to me.” Challenging MND also supported the couple with a trip to Eurovision – “which was really touching and we made great memories”, says Pollard. They’re also grateful to support from the Motor Neurone Disease Association, who provides a local area liaison, and their local St Christopher’s Hospice has been “really helpful”. These things make a huge difference. “Something I’m very conscious of as an able-bodied person is watching Alex have to come to terms with first of all being disabled, then being visibly disabled, and then being disabled in public – there’s been a lot of different elements we’ve had to really tackle,” Pollard reflects, citing navigating public transport as one of the main everyday challenges. There’s an emotional toll too. “My energy levels are a lot lower than they used to be, and my capacity for stress. I feel like I already have this much higher baseline of anxiety about various things, so it feels much easier to become overwhelmed,” says Herd. “I think the only thing we can really do is just try and focus on the next thing, rather than worrying about everything.” As members of the LGBTQ+ community, there are sometimes other nuances to their experiences. They’ve noticed LGBTQ+ events are doing well with accessibility, but representation can be a more subtle matter. “There’s definitely an element of the community who are very mindful of others and very empathetic, which I think has been where I’ve learned a lot about different people’s experiences in my life,” says Pollard. “But when it comes to the overall society of the community, I think there’s still a large proportion of it based on image, based around being cool and trendy. So it’s quite easy for people with accessible requirements to be kind of ignored in that space.” As for their experiences in public, Craig says: “We have struggled to feel like we can take up space. First of all being LGBT, we often don’t feel that safe in certain spaces, public transport we’ve had trouble on once or twice in the past, so you’re always a bit uneasy. With moving into being more visibly disabled and needing more accessible requirements, that’s something we’ve to discuss and manage.” Thanks to Challenging MND, the couple are banking up the joyful times. “They offered to support our wedding, which was really special, and without them we probably wouldn’t have had it,” says Pollard. “That isn’t just a memory for us, it’s a memory for our families and friends too. It was really special.” Challenging MND aims to support and empower those living with MND to create lasting memories for themselves and their families. To date they’ve granted in excess of £1.1million and supported over 100 families.
2023-07-06 16:22
Heather Locklear's friends concerned after troubled star loses 20lbs and can't stay off tequila
Heather Locklear's 25-year-old daughter, Ava, has reportedly witnessed her mother's struggles with addiction firsthand
2023-07-06 15:53
'The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart' trailer teases Sigourney Weaver and secrets in the Australian outback
The official trailer for The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart has arrived, giving us a
2023-07-06 15:47
11 ways to channel seaside vibes at home
When you want to make your space feel beach beautiful, creating a coastal feel not only adds character – but everything feels that much more chilled. Inspired by summer’s seaside vibes, sunshine and the relaxing sound of ocean waves, think cool blues, natural elements and decor with some rugged flair… 1. ProCook Melamine Tableware Serving Bowl, £8.99; Dinner Plate, £4.99, Side Plate, £3.99, ProCook Summer salads will love this Mediterranean-inspired tableware, which pair well with seashells scattered along your tablescape. 2. Seaview Organic Cotton Table Runner, £45, XV Stripes This nautical print is tailor-made for seafood appetisers. 3. Blue Stripe Tufted Seat Pads, £15 each (was £25), The White Company Whether you’re perching on a patio seat wall or revamping your garden furniture, these trendy tufted seat pads will cushion you in style. 4. Flock of Seagulls Wall Art, £140, The Coastal Lifestyle Company This coastal inspired wall art with white metal seagulls brings home the sound of gulls, crashing waves and thoughts of clifftop walks. 5. Eat Drink Relax Napkins – Set of 4, £19.60 (was £28) rest of items from a selection, The White Company When you want to say it with words, these embroidered napkins make a stylish statement. 6. FlipFlop Beach Bag, £40, Basket Basket A great styling tool, raffia baskets can be hung from hooks – and they always look chic when placed nonchalantly around the house. 7. Desenio The Summer Coast Gallery Wall: 3 Posters, 3 Frames, £109.14, (was £138.65), Desenio When it’s time to settle down with a sundowner, these posters are right on point with their mood-boosting images to inspire a Riviera lifestyle. 8. White Conch Shell Vase, £24, Bon Bon Fistral Conch vases are particularly trendy right now, and this one is especially fetching with its matt white finish. Fresh or faux white flowers – such as creamy-white gardenias – will up its fabulousness. 9. St Eval Scented Coastal Collection: Tin Candles in Sea Salt, Samphire & Sage and Sea Mist, £13.85 each, St Eval A scented candle will bring you to the Cornish coast and the therapeutic effects of the sea. 10. Coral Wall Art: Marine Blue Coral Art Prints, Unframed, from £18 each, Beach House Art Looking to create a beautiful backdrop with coral and marine blues? These eye-catching prints will make a modish addition to any scheme. 11. Beach Text Cushion, £21, The Coastal Lifestyle Company Whether it’s a waterfront property or urban living, this denim-look scatter cushion will elevate any space.
2023-07-06 15:47
China Requested Japan Allow Visa Free Entry, Business Group Says
China’s government requested that both Japan and the mainland allow visa free entry to the other nation’s citizens
2023-07-06 14:20
The Barbie press tour has finally rescued Margot Robbie’s red carpet reputation
There are still three weeks to go before anyone gets to actually see Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie, but it’s already completely monopolised pop culture, from music to fashion to furniture. Google “Barbiecore” and you’ll find the film’s pink-plastic aesthetic infiltrating everything you can imagine, with TikTok clips offering detailed outfit suggestions to viral Twitter threads praising individual looks from the film’s characters. But nothing is getting quite as much attention as Barbie herself. Or, more specifically, the red carpet wardrobe of the actor playing her. Across social media, Margot Robbie has been the subject of endless posts, threads and reels as a result of her chosen ensembles. “Margot Robbie had the chance to do the greatest fashion press tour ever and lord did she take it,” reads one tweet. “Margot Robbie just absolutely slaying all her Barbie press tour looks,” adds another. Meanwhile, British Vogue recently described her as an “unstoppable fashion force”. In typical Hollywood, none of this would be particularly remarkable. Robbie is, after all, an A-list star with an entire entourage of people whose job it is to make sure she looks her best all of the time. The fact that she keeps knocking it out of the park on the Barbie press tour, then, should just be par for the course. But, for Robbie, this carries special significance. Rewind just a few months, and Robbie’s red carpet presence had become something of a political issue. In January, social media was alight with derision for her red carpet wardrobe, mostly due to her long-standing partnership with Chanel. According to Robbie’s fans, the actor’s sense of personal style had been neutered by the luxury Franch conglomerates, with many insisting – albeit without any real evidence – that she was being forced into wearing garments she didn’t actually like. Celebrity stylist Elliot Garnaut labelled Robbie the “worst-dressed” celebrity in Hollywood, adding that someone at Chanel “obviously hates her”. Of course, nobody knew how true or false such claims were. But fans noticed a marked difference in Robbie’s demeanour whenever she stepped out in a designer ensemble that wasn’t Chanel. There was an entire Bottega Veneta phase, for example, where photos of the actor went viral alongside speculation that she was entering her “new fashion era”, finally unshackled from Chanel’s chains. What all of this taught us was that people quite clearly care quite a lot about what Robbie wears. Now it seems they care more than ever. The actor truly hasn’t missed a beat with her press tour wardrobe, tapping into cult vintage looks and recreating actual Barbie doll outfits. As is expected, there is a lot of pink. But it’s not just happening on the red carpet. Remember the iconic tweed blazer originally worn by Claudia Schiffer on the spring/summer Chanel 1996 runway? Robbie was spotted wearing it with jeans and a white crop top when she landed at Sydney airport last month. Her luggage was also pink, naturally. Another Chanel moment came via a sunshine-yellow tweed suit that looked like it had been plucked straight out of Cher Horowitz’s wardrobe. Speaking of co-ords, we’ve seen plenty. There was the pink gingham Prada set Robbie wore to CinemaCon 2023, and the bespoke Bottega Veneta pleated skirt and crop top that the label made especially for the press tour (the exact shade of pink matches that of Barbie’s car). Elsewhere, we’ve seen Robbie wearing the iconic pink polo neck and metallic skirt by Versace from its autumn/winter 1994 collection – fashion fans will remember photos of Kate Moss wearing this on the runway. She paired the look with white platform sandals and lilac socks: a perfect way to accessorise like a doll. Another standout vintage Versace look from the same collection came at a Barbie event in Sydney, where the star wore a pink sequin minidress complete with a corseted bodice. But the undisputed highlight has been the moments in which Robbie directly references Barbie herself, with looks taken from 1950s dolls. At a press conference in Seoul, Robbie dressed in a pink sparkling skirt suit covered in crystal studs, complete with a heart-shaped bag and a pillbox hat. Then there was the “day to night” doll look from 1985 that Robbie recreated – courtesy of Versace – in a pink pencil skirt suit with white lapels and matching high heels. The actor referenced another look worn by the same doll later that night, in a tulle Versace dress complete with a sparkling bodysuit. Over in Sydney, we saw the actor don a striped bodycon minidress by Hervé Léger that paid homage to a swimsuit worn by a Barbie doll from 1959. And at a photocall in LA, Robbie wore a pink polka dot cutout dress from Valentino that referenced a similar frock worn by another original Barbie doll. And in a double whammy of references, it was also a remake of a similar gown worn by Karen Mulder on the brand’s spring 1993 runway. All of this has been the work of celebrity styling mastermind Andrew Mukamal, who has worked with everyone from Zoe Kravitz and Billie Eilish to Kieran Culkin and Irina Shayk. “We’re always thinking about risks to take,” Mukami once told Vogue of his long-standing partnership with Kravitz. “We want to make an impact and create iconic moments that people will remember and be drawn to.” It seems he’s taken this exact modus operandi and applied it to Robbie, too. And thank goodness, because Barbie is nothing if not defined by what she wears. In 2023, that might sound reductive. But given Gerwig’s esteemed reputation and what we know about the film so far, we have every reason to believe that fashion, much like everything else, will prove to be an important and meaningful platform in the script. Robbie’s archival wardrobe also marks the latest sign that red carpet fashion is leaning increasingly backwards. The only outfits that matter are those that we’ve seen before. At least, that’s how it seems when you consider the fanfare surrounding celebrities any time they get their hands on a cult vintage look. This taps into the sartorial zeitgeist of shunning fast fashion in favour of sustainable alternatives. But it also suggests a slightly less exciting prospect that fashion is running out of new ideas. Even at the Met Gala, fashion’s greatest global stage, some of the most talked-about looks were vintage. Is this the death knell for originality? And what of Robbie’s own style progression? Once the Barbie press tour is over, will she go back to grinning weakly in Chanel pastels? Nodding to fashion history is a worthwhile cause. But it’s something the Queen of fashion herself, Vogue’s Anna Wintour, famously despises: “Fashion’s not about looking back. It’s always about looking forward,” she once said. Try as she might, Robbie can’t dress like a doll for the rest of her life. So perhaps this marks the start of a new costume-orientated era for the actor, one where fashion will be taken more seriously than ever before. Funnily enough, it’s a modus operandi that puts her more in sync with Barbie than anyone could have anticipated. ‘Barbie’ is in cinemas from 21 July Read More Hostage to fashion: Margot Robbie’s Chanel problem speaks to a wider red carpet crisis Walk this way... but not like that: How men’s walks became sexualised Plastic fantastic: Barbiecore is the fashion movement turning hyper-femininity on its head
2023-07-06 13:56
Amazon Celebrates Prime Members With More Deals Than Any Past Prime Day Event
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2023-07-06 13:19
Thief breaks into California wine shop through its roof and steals rare, expensive bottles, store says
Police in Southern California are investigating a theft at a high-end wine shop where, according to the store, a burglar drilled a hole into its roof, descended via rope and stole around 600 bottles of wine and liquor worth over $500,000.
2023-07-06 12:59
Instagram Unveils Threads App, a Threat to Musk’s Twitter
Meta Platforms Inc.’s Instagram officially unveiled Threads, an app designed as a direct rival to Twitter, launching the
2023-07-06 12:56