France politics
fromwww.thelocal.fr
14 hours agoInside France: French elegance, flying bells and Swedish snuff fury
French church bells are said to fly to Rome on Good Friday, returning with chocolate eggs for children on Easter Sunday.
Working bead by bead, the artist recreates delicate blossoms that echo the organic irregularities of real flowers while shimmering with the luminosity of glass. From airy wildflower stems to full, colorful bouquets, each arrangement captures the fleeting beauty of botanical forms that remain permanently in bloom.
Crocheting started as a pandemic hobby. My background is all creative. I have several design degrees and yearned for a creative outlet that was away from a computer screen.
Until roughly the late aughts, much of the vintage watch-collecting community focused on stock that remained in the best physical condition possible, rejecting patination while polishing cases and generally restoring old watches in the manner of old cars. As the watch-collecting hobby proliferated in this century, however, collectors' tastes shifted dramatically.
It's long had a reputation as the city of romance, but now the French capital is supporting a growing number of businesses that will arrange an extravagant marriage proposal in a landmark setting - for a hefty fee, of course. The luxury marriage proposal business is booming in Paris with agencies charging international clients thousands of euros to pop the question in a 'romantic' setting in the City of Love.
Recent design and chip upgrades make these wearables slimmer, lighter, and more appealing to a general audience -- resulting in jewelry you'd actually want to wear. I've been on the ground at CES over the past few days, and I've found some great examples of established and up-and-coming brands alike making beautiful devices.
Fashion and dress in Mesopotamia - clothing, footwear, and accessories - were not only functional but defined one's social status and developed from a simple loincloth in the Ubaid period (circa 6500-4000 BCE) to brightly colored robes and dresses by the time of the Sassanian Empire (224-651). Styles changed, but the essential form and function remained the same. As in any civilization, the upper class and nobility wore more expensive clothes of higher quality.
Lighting is one of the most essential aspects of a home; it's also one of the most overlooked. The right illumination can create ambience, soften harsh edges, and imbue a sense of warmth. However, not all light sources are of the same quality. A custom chandelier, for instance, will always stand head-and-shoulders above the rest. These meticulously made creations can range from minimalist to monumental, bringing scale, ambition, and elegance into the room.
In 1994, when the grunge aesthetic gripped the nation (chokers, combat boots), the make-up artist Heidi Morawetz created Le Vernis Rouge Noir. There and then, backstage at Chanel's Autumn/Winter ready to wear show, she mixed black and reds until the shade emerged - a perfect blend of rebellion and conformity; not too black, not too red, not too bold, and not too boring.
Looking more put-together doesn't always come down to big purchases or dramatic changes. More often, it's the small upgrades that quietly do the heavy lifting - a better beauty tool, an impactful accessory, or one product that makes everything else work harder. This list is full of affordable finds that look and feel a little bougie, even though they're surprisingly cheap. Each one earns its spot by making you look more polished, more pulled together, or just slightly more expensive than you actually are.
You might be amazed at how easy it can be to spice up your look, especially with the clever pieces included in this list. Scroll on to shop beauty products that'll get you glowing, accessories and undies that'll accentuate your favorite features, and more. These smartly designed products dial up the heat - and require so little work, they're practically magic. For an instantly sexier vibe, scroll on.
It captures seven different femininities during an all-day pool party, enjoying themselves while revealing their distinctive styles. Creative Direction, Production & Styling by Maria Gkin. Photography by Eliza Poultidou. The models are Vanessa Otilia, Cyka, Alvina Chamberland and Angelica Komninak. The concept examines the thin line between what is seen as acceptable and what has been labelled ugly or immoral, explored through each woman's personal story. Textures, colours, makeup and styling come together, breaking down stereotypes and highlighting fashion as a means of freedom
If you visit the Hermès website in search of a scarf or a handbag, you'll be greeted by a collection of whimsical sea creatures swimming across the screen. To navigate to the watch section, you'll click on an image of a watch flanked by an eel. To locate shoes, you'll click on a loafer with a pelican sitting inside it as if it were riding a boat.
It's not a multi-thousand pound handbag from Hermes that best captures the new era of It bags, but a 149 tote from John Lewis. Launched this season, it's deeper (45cm) and taller (33cm) than your average handbag, and comes loaded with good intentions. It's able to hold your packed lunch, flask and book, as well at a push as your gym kit.
Embroidery is a historic mainstay of traditional clothing in Asia or the Middle East, as well as Western Haute Couture, but it is increasingly present in Paris, Milan or New York on modern men's shirts, bomber jackets or blazers. Designers at Dior, Dolce Gabbana, Kenzo or Gucci have adopted it in recent runway shows, while Louis Vuitton's celebrity rapper-designer Pharell Williams dedicated his entire June collection to India after visiting the country.