Beyonce certainly knows how to up the ante, be it in the realm of music or fashion.
For her Renaissance tour, which kicked off in Stockholm in May, the Run the World singer has been taking to the stage in a parade of custom-made outfits.
Far from a standard wardrobe made to survive a gruelling five-month tour, Beyonce's seemingly endless display of show-stopping looks has delighted fans.
Calling on some of the biggest fashion houses in the world, Queen Bey has performed in Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Loewe and Schiaparelli.
The French house of Balmain, headed by Olivier Rousteing, has also created multiple looks for the high-octane performer, including a shaggy silver coat and a futuristic corset in quilted red leather, as well as a bodysuit seemingly made from metal.
Dutch designer Iris van Herpen – best known for creating laser-cut pieces that are more sculpture than fashion – created an ethereal look complete with shimmering wings.
Designers in each city she is performing in have also been asked to summon up an outfit. In London the likes of David Koma and Mary Katrantzou stepped up, while in Marseilles, France, it was the turn of Simon Porte Jacquemus.
For the latest leg of the tour, in Detroit, she turned to none other than Pharrell Williams, the newly installed head of menswear for Louis Vuitton. Having created a catsuit made in the Vuitton Damier check for Beyonce, this is William's first major fashion moment since his debut in June.
Beyonce sat front row at the show, which shut down central Paris, used a bridge as the catwalk and had Jay Z perform an impromptu gig.
With each look custom-made for Beyonce, most tap into her signature style of bodysuit with long boots.
But there have been some delightfully unexpected outliers. Jewellery house Tiffany & Co created a look made from draped gold and silver chains, while Hong Kong label Robert Wun made a minidress out of a pinstriped suit jacket, trimmed with flounced ruffles.
Italian designer Del Core's offering came with a long cape covered in thousands of green crystals, while the American house of Carolina Herrera made a bodysuit with a giant red hood. At Loewe, Jonathan Anderson reworked a dress from the autumn / winter 2022 collection, by wrapping a crystal-strewn bodysuit in embroidered gloved hands.
Even Elie Saab and Georges Hobeika were asked to conjure up bespoke looks, with Saab opting for fragile, draped beads, while Hobeika crafted a catsuit from silver beading that twisted around Beyonce's legs.
As well as being a musical bonanza, the tour highlights how much Beyonce loves fashion.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Other promotions
- Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
- Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
- Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications)
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
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England's lowest Test innings
- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887
- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994
- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009
- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948
- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888
- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
