Sarah Burton, who designed Kate's royal wedding dress, to step down from Alexander McQueen
The fashion designer who created the wedding dress of Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, is stepping down as creative director at Alexander McQueen after two decades at the brand, luxury group Kering said
2023-09-12 02:50
UAE lifts visa restrictions for Nigerians
The United Arab Emirates has lifted a year-long visa ban imposed on Nigerian travelers, authorities in the West African country said Monday.
2023-09-12 01:25
Sarah Burton to leave Alexander McQueen after 13 years as creative director
Sarah Burton is set to leave Alexander McQueen after serving as creative director for 13 years, the brand has announced. Burton, 49, was appointed to the role in 2010 following the death of Lee Alexander McQueen, having worked alongside the designer for 14 years. She was responsible for the creation of the wedding dress worn by the Princess of Wales, when she married Prince William in 2011. “I am so proud of everything I’ve done and of my incredible team at Alexander McQueen,” Burton said in a statement. “They are my family, and this has been my home for the past 26 years. I want to thank Francois-Henri Pinault for believing in me and offering me this amazing opportunity.” The label’s spring/summer 2024 collection, due to be unveiled at Paris Fashion Week later this month, will be her last. “Above all, I want to thank Lee Alexander McQueen,” Burton continued. “He taught me so much and I am eternally grateful to him. “I am looking forward to the future and my next chapter, and will always carry this treasured time with me.” François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of parent company Kering, said: “I am immensely grateful to Sarah, and I want to personally thank her for her work over the past two decades, first alongside Lee Alexander McQueen, where her role was instrumental to his success, and then as the Creative Director since 2010. “Through her own experience, sensitivity and talent, Sarah continued to evolve the artistic expression of this iconic house. She kept and continued Lee’s heritage, attention to detail and unique vision, while adding her own personal, highly creative touch.” Gianfilippo Testa, CEO of Alexander McQueen, added: “We would like to express our immense gratitude to Sarah for writing such an important chapter in the history of the Alexander McQueen House. “Sarah’s contribution over the past 26 years will leave an indelible mark.” A new creative organisation will be announced in due course, the brand have said. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sarah Burton to leave Alexander McQueen after 13 years as creative director What happens at a sexual health check-up? 9 arthritis myths we all need to stop believing
2023-09-12 01:17
Burton to leave creative direction of Kering label Alexander McQueen
PARIS Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton will leave the Kering-owned fashion label after two decades, the latest
2023-09-12 00:46
Turkey Swings to Wider Current-Account Deficit Than Forecast
Turkey’s current account swung back to a wider deficit than forecast in July after a rare surplus the
2023-09-11 19:59
Red Bull chief apologises to Sergio Perez over ‘offensive remark’
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has apologised after referring to Sergio Perez’s ethnicity when talking about the Mexican’s performance so far this season. Marko, 80, has worked alongside Christian Horner and Adrian Newey virtually since Red Bull’s formation in F1 in 2005 and holds responsibility in picking the drivers, both for the current world champions and their sister team AlphaTauri. The Austrian is known for his firm opinions but has shown remorse after comments made following last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza, when Perez finished second behind team-mate Max Verstappen. Marko originally told Austrian outlet ServusTV: “We know that he has problems in qualifying, he has fluctuations in form. “He is South American and he is just not as completely focused in his head as Max [Verstappen] is or as Sebastian [Vettel].” Marko has often referred to Perez as south American when discussing his form – even though the 33-year-old is from Mexico, geographically in north America. The Red Bull advisor then made the situation worse, when Austrian website oe24 reported him saying: “It wasn’t meant that way. I meant that a Mexican has a different mentality than a German or a Dutchman. “But who knows, maybe it’s controlled.” The 80-year-old later released a statement: “I would like to apologise for my offensive remark. “I want to make it absolutely clear that I do not believe that we can generalise about the people from any country, any race, any ethnicity.” Perez won two of the first four races in 2023 but has not won since, with Max Verstappen claiming a record-breaking 10 victories on the bounce. The Mexican is now 145 points behind Verstappen in the championship standings ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend. Read More F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Singapore Grand Prix? Alex Albon, James Vowles and the start of a Williams renaissance Max Verstappen breaks new ground with record victory at Italian Grand Prix Sky F1 star escapes after car bursts into flames at Goodwood F1 2023 race schedule: When is the Singapore Grand Prix? F1 2023 calendar: All 23 Grand Prix this year
2023-09-11 19:57
Sky F1 star escapes after car bursts into flames at Goodwood
Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandok escaped unharmed after his car burst into flames during a race at the Goodwood Revival event on Saturday. The former Formula 1 driver, now a regular on Sky at grand prix weekends, was driving a Ferrari 250 GTO in the Lavant Cup at the exhibition event. Yet as the 10th lap of the race drew to a close, Chandok put his foot on the throttle before the rear of the car burst into flames. The Indian driver quickly turned his car off track, onto the grass, before rapidly leaving the vehicle. Chandok later revealed on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was “lucky to get away with that with nothing more than a melted boot”, posted with a photo of his footwear. “Coming out of Lavant to the straight – I was in second and cruising – I heard a bang and the back wheels locked up,” Chandok said, reflecting on the incident a day later. “As I turned I saw flames, so I got right off the tracks safely to minimise oil going down and get out of the way. “Obviously I was shaken but the marshals, the owner, were all great. “The owner’s absolute first priority was that I was okay. He was extremely understanding.” There is not yet any clear explanation as to why the engine blew up in the dramatic manner it did. Read More F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Singapore Grand Prix? Toto Wolff slams ‘moaning’ across F1 grid after Lewis Hamilton apology Alex Albon, James Vowles and the start of a Williams renaissance
2023-09-11 18:24
Lithuania to issue special passports to Belarus citizens staying legally in the Baltic country
Lithuania says it will issue special travel documents to Belarusian citizens in the Baltic country who were stripped of the right to get new passports by Minsk
2023-09-11 18:20
Kim Jong Un reportedly en route to Russia as Vladimir Putin arrives in Vladivostok for potential meeting
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to be on a train heading to Russia, multiple South Korean media outlets reported on Monday citing government officials, for a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin
2023-09-11 17:54
'The Boy and The Heron' review: Hayao Miyazaki delivers a gorgeous and haunting new adventure
As a living legend and universally acclaimed innovator of animation, Hayao Miyazaki releasing a movie
2023-09-11 17:23
How Burberry evolved from humble raincoat maker to luxury fashion giant
Always one of the most eagerly awaited events at London Fashion Week, the Burberry catwalk show attracts A-list celebrities, high-profile fashion editors and the biggest influencers from around the world. Last season, supermodel Naomi Campbell sat alongside Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham on the front row to watch chief creative officer Daniel Lee unveil his debut collection, and expectations are high for the designer’s second show, which takes place on September 18. Coveted by consumers across the globe, the luxury label is perhaps the most famous British fashion brand, but it hasn’t always been such a hot property. Ahead of London Fashion Week, which starts on September 15, we look back at the tumultuous history of Burberry… Adventurous origins The brand was founded in 1856 when 21-year-old former draper’s apprentice Thomas Burberry opened his first shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire. Focused on creating outerwear that shielded wearers from typical British weather, the founder invented gabardine – a water-resistant but breathable fabric – and patented it in 1888. “Prior to this, waterproof clothing was made of rubberised cotton which was cumbersome, not breathable and certainly not chic,” explains celebrity fashion stylist Miranda Holder. “In contrast, garbadine’s individual fibres were waterproofed before the weaving process, creating a lighter, more fluid and comfortable piece.” In early examples of celebrity endorsement, Norwegian explorer and zoologist Dr Fridtjof Nansen wore Burberry gabardine when he sailed to the Arctic Circle in 1893, while famed British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton chose the outerwear for three expeditions in the early 1900s. The war years The now-iconic Burberry trench coat was invented during WWI with a range of features designed for military use – including the gun flap and D-rings to carry grenades – many of which remain today. “Each classic Burberry trench is composed of 90 individual, specially shaped components,” says Savile Row tailor Alexandra Wood, founder of Alexandra Wood Bespoke. “The key design elements include its double-breasted front, shoulder epaulettes, beige colour, belted waist, buckled cuffs, storm flap, and a checked lining that the brand has become synonymous with.” The distinctive beige Burberry ‘nova check’ was introduced in the 1920s and is still used as a lining now, with the ever-popular trench coats retailing from around £1,500. “The appeal of the Burberry trench has to be largely due to its adaptability,” says Holder. “The coat’s pale beige colour perfectly lends itself to a myriad of different outfit options, and the flash of luxury lining – nova check or not – makes it instantly recognisable as a luxury piece.” The royal seal of approval In 1955, Queen Elizabeth II granted Burberry a royal warrant as a weatherproofer, and by the Swinging Sixties business was booming, with the brand saying it made one in five coats exported from Britain. The nova check graduated from discreet lining to designer status symbol, with coats, scarves and umbrellas in the beige print proving popular with shoppers in the Seventies. In 1990, Burberry secured its second royal warrant, as an outfitter, from the now King. Noughties notoriety After decades of success, the Burberry shine was tarnished when a more mainstream audience embraced nova check in the late 1990s, snapping up entry-level items and causing the brand to discontinue sales of baseball caps. “The pattern soon filtered down to the high streets and eventually the football terraces – it remains one of the most copied counterfeit designs today,” says Holder. “As a result Burberry’s star fell hard, the brand losing any exclusivity it once had, being unable to control who wore the label.” Paparazzi photos of Eastenders actress Danniella Westbrook in head to toe nova check were seen as the final nail in the coffin, she adds: “Danniella was getting a lot of very negative publicity at the time, relegating the designer to the bins of bad taste.” The catwalk comeback Attempting to rehabilitate the brand as the new millennium dawned, Burberry opened its first store on upmarket Bond Street in 2000 and brought in 29-year-old Christopher Bailey as design director the following year. “Christopher Bailey made a significant impact during his tenure as creative director by modernising Burberry’s image, introducing digital innovations, and collaborating with artists and musicians,” says Wood. “It made Burberry fresher and more relevant and helped to make the brand have an edge, whilst remaining sympathetic to its crisp, British design aesthetic.” Scaling back production of nova check, Bailey brought glamour to the brand and staged blockbuster catwalk shows with live music from artists such as Tom Odell and James Bay. “He updated the classic trench, putting new twists on the heritage design and bringing in supermodel Kate Moss to give it a new lease of life,” Holder says. “Bailey successfully repositioned Burberry as an industry leader and innovator, and as a result, tickets to their catwalk shows were some of the most sought after on the London Fashion Week schedule.” A-list appeal Following the departure of Christopher Bailey with a memorable rainbow-themed catwalk show, Italian designer Riccardo Tisci was appointed chief creative officer at Burberry in 2018. “Riccardo Tisci injected some younger, more contemporary energy into the aesthetic, which was a roaring success,” Holder says. “Influenced by streetwear, his collections attracted younger fans who appreciated his edgier styles, despite critics pointing out a lack of continuity with the brand’s more traditional heritage.” Tisci enlisted model friends such as Kendall Jenner and Irina Shayk to walk the runway and dressed stars including Nicki Minaj and Kate Moss for the Met Gala. He also reintroduced nova check, much to the delight of celebrities and a new generation of Burberry fans. Bradford-born Daniel Lee took over from Tisci and made his debut at London Fashion Week in February 2023. The autumn/winter collection – which didn’t feature any beige trench coats – teamed sweeping coats and chunky knitwear with irreverent accessories like a woolly hat shaped like a duck and hot water bottles carried like clutch bags.
2023-09-11 15:52
Robot fried chicken: entrepreneur seeks to improve S. Korea's favourite food
In fried-chicken-obsessed South Korea, restaurants serving the nation's favourite fast-food dish dot every street corner. But Kang Ji-young's establishment brings something a little different to the table...
2023-09-11 14:25