She is not only a beautiful singer, human rights activist and a role model, Angelina Jolie has been busy designing shoes with the one and only Christian Louboutin!
The shoes are inspired from Jolie’s latest block buster ‘Maleficent’ and are so….Disney!
Check it out:
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The UAE space agency will also be created to supervise the mission and coordinate the country’s growing space technology, it was announced on Wednesday.
Shaikh Khalifa said the mission will help build Emirati technical and intellectual capabilities, and enhance the country’s development plans.
“The UAE Mars probe represents the Islamic world’s entry into the era of space exploration. We will prove that we are capable of delivering new scientific contributions to humanity,”
Read More: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/uae-launches-space-quest-for-mars-1.1360800
So exciting!!
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Reuters reports that the Spanish fast-fashion giant is instituting a new radio-frequency-based tagging system that will help move things along even faster. For you, the customer, that means that sold-out items (like pieces worn by a celebrity) can be quickly replenished and in-demand sizes will be more readily available.
Great News!!
Thanks to Akhror Asrorov who took the initiative to research care symbols, here you have it:
The definition
Haute Couture literally translates as ‘high sewing’ (and thus high fashion). It is the art of dressmaking on a luxurious and grandiose scale. Items are made-to-measure by hand, resulting in pieces of clothing that are both unique and painstakingly perfect.
The history
Haute Couture was a necessity for high-class Parisians in the 19th century. The ultimate in power-dressing, women went to couture houses to have bespoke clothing that would set them apart from the rest of the fashion set – leaving it impossible for other ladies to turn up to events in the same outfits. The opulent ring of exclusivity still surrounds Haute Couture today, with the label being a legal – and highly regarded – term to be used by only a very select number of designers meeting the standard.
What does it take to be a couturier?
Legally, a design house can only identify itself as an Haute Couture label if it adheres to the strict requirements of the French Ministry of Industry and the Fédération Française de la Couture. First, a designer must create made-to-measure clothing for private clients and offer personal fittings. They must also have a full-time workshop in Paris that employs no fewer than twenty staff. Finally, the fashion house must present two collections a year – in January and July – comprising both daytime and formal evening wear.
Who makes it?
‘Les petite mains’ (which literally means small hands) refers to the collective 2,200 seamstresses who painstakingly bring haute couture creations to life. Working in the ateliers, this talented, patient breed are often fiercely loyal to a fashion house, spending their whole career solely at one brand.
How much?
Anything made-to-measure is going to be pricier than plain old ready-to-wear, but Haute Couture is a whole other story. With some pieces taking upward of 700 hours to create, and a minimum of twenty people working on it at a time, the price tag will reflect that tenfold. Daywear pieces start at approximately £8,000, with evening and formal wear rocketing far above that. The use of rare fabrics and precious embellishments will hike the price even higher; it’s not unheard of for some items to fetch up to the millions.
Who buys it?
The main buyers of Haute Couture today are no longer French socialites, but buyers from Russia, China and the Middle East. Fine clothing items can escalate in value over the years, and are often regarded as collectors’ items, making for a clever investment.
Where is it shown?
Collections are always showcased in the birthplace of Haute Couture, Paris. Karl Lagerfeld has noted the impact private planes have had on the couture industry, telling WWD: “Most of the clients don’t even see the collection in the salon. The collection goes to the country, it’s shown to the women after they make a vague choice on the video. It’s a different world from the past.”
The key players
Household names Christian Dior, Chanel, Valentino, Elie Saab and Jean-Paul Gaultier all show on the official Haute Couture schedule, while the likes of Viktor & Rolf are considered to be a ‘correspondent member’. Hervé Leroux and Zuhair Murad have recently been elected as ‘guest members’. Those no longer in the frame include Yves Saint Laurent, who ceased making collections in 2002.
The key components
Only the finest materials by the most skilled artisans will do when it comes to Haute Couture. Thus, houses call upon Lemarié for the finest feathers; Lesage for embroidery; Massaro for shoes; Causse for gloves… and so it goes on. Speciality is the name of the game.
How profitable?
Fashion houses receive very little profit from Haute Couture; in fact, they often lose money. Colossal expenses and a tiny clientele (there are only an estimated 2,000 female customers globally) perhaps explain why, in the past 60 years, the number of couture houses has decreased dramatically. Nonetheless, couture is seen by many as a long-term investment, augmenting brand image and raising the profile of ready-to-wear collections.
Mall of the World, a new super-sized retail centre will overtake Dubai Mall to become the largest mall on the planet.
The mall, measuring 743,000 sqm, will include the world’s largest indoor theme park – covered by a glass dome that will be open during the winter – and a 7km ‘covered street network’.
It will be the centrepiece of “the world’s first temperature-controlled city”, which will be located along Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road across 4.4 million sqm. Mall of the World will be nearly double the size of the Vatican City in Rome.
And the ‘city’ complex, which will include 100 new hotels, will be more than twice as big as the Principality of Monaco.
The project was launched on Saturday by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“The growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance Dubai’s tourism infrastructure as soon as possible,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
“This project complements our plans to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist and economic hub for the two billion people living in the region; and we are determined to achieve our vision.”
The Mall of the World complex will be able to handle 180 million visitors each year.
A map of the planned mega project suggests it will be located in Al Barsha, across Sheikh Zayed Road from Mall of the Emirates. The extended retail street network of the Mall of the World will be based on London’s Oxford Street, Dubai Holding said.
But start and completion dates were not disclosed.
The 100 new hotels and apartment buildings will add 20,000 rooms to Dubai’s hotel room offering. The hotels will be attached to the mall as part of a covered retail street network, which will be open during the winter. Sheikh Mohammed added: “Our ambitions are higher than having seasonal tourism.
Tourism is a key driver of our economy and we aim to make the UAE an attractive destination all year long.
“This is why we will start working on providing pleasant temperature-controlled environments during the summer months. We are confident of our economy’s strength, optimistic about our country’s future.”
A cultural district comprising theatres built with New York’s Broadway in mind will also be added, while ‘The Celebration Walk’, similar to the Ramblas in Barcelona, will hold 15,000 revellers.
Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, chairman of Dubai Holding, said the project would be developed in phases in alignment with the growth of family tourism in Dubai.
Via 7Days.
Stay Tuned!
If you’ve been reading news in the last few years, you’d be familiar with the name Julian Assange.
He will appear in Ben Westwood’s forthcoming show, modelling clothes inspired by Clint Eastwood alongside six models. The WikiLeaks founder – who is currently living in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London as he fights extradition to Sweden on sex-assault charges – won’t risk his liberty with his big fashion moment, however, as the show will be held in his current residence.
“Julian’s been in the embassy for two years and it’s important that he doesn’t slip into obscurity,” Ben Westwood told the Daily Mail. “I want to highlight Julian Assange’s plight. What happened to him is totally unfair. I’ve designed something for him along those lines [inspired by The Good, The Bad And The Ugly] and will be getting him to wear it… I’ve got another garment with a Julian Assange print.”
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