People love to ridicule fashion and the pomp that surrounds it. I suppose writing the whole thing off as trite or unethical is less bother than trying to understand it. Yet what most of us see is simply what we want to see - half-starved teenagers in questionable creations of ludicrous proportions, designed largely by rich old men for rich old women. Which, of course, is partially true. Planet fashion is a fictitious wonderland of self-publicity and gratification, a Narnia ruled by Victoria Beckham and her throng of Kardashian munchkins. A place in all its razzle-dazzle and absurdity that frankly frightens most of us. Which is a shame really, as there is so much more to the Ferris wheel both in taste and authority, if you care to look.
Fashion: The National dresses
Catwalks, seasons, features, news and all things fashion
Fashion
In the world of fashion, where inspirations are often inexplicable, we rarely discuss the message or the story behind the imagery, leaving most of us somewhat perplexed. That's a missed opportunity for all of us, so allow me to share with you that what I know.
Firstly, there is no right way to look at fashion. Like any form of media, its aim is to seduce, to tell a story. It is only as part of its process in creating a feeling or a mood that a look or a trend is born. You should question what those involved are trying to say, and ask what their work brings to you. Is there a correlation? If not, why?
For those of us who live and labour in Narnia, I can tell you it is both a blessing and a curse. Producing fashion editorials tears at your patience, snatches the few hours you once gave to yourself and then heckles you to push further and explore new territory.
But every so often - on location, in a studio, behind the curtain, on the runway - there are moments that for one reason or another you know that fashion has achieved something magical and has surpassed its own expectations and changed the way you see things forever. Perhaps it was in 1998 when the double amputee Aimee Mullins, a former Paralympian, graced the catwalk for Alexander McQueen wearing a pair of hand-carved wooden prosthetic legs. Or in spring 2009 when McQueen programmed robots to spray paint a beautiful design directly onto a model in a simple white dress, in what was ostensibly a comment on the couture industry. Or simply in the moment we observed the first fashion show streamed live to buyers across the world.
It is for those rewarding moments - the moments that have no tidy explanation or general pattern - that we continue. Perhaps when you next look at fashion, give it a little more consideration than you have done in the past. Remember that fashion is not the culture. We are.
M-ometer
This week's highs and lows
A TOTE WITH A DIFFERENCE Sick of your plain oversized, everyday bag? Try this tote by Jerome Dreyfuss at Net-A-Porter.
POPPED POLOS It's still summer and still hot but if we see another man wearing a popped-collar, monogrammed polo shirt, look out.
FLOPPY FUR Yes, maybe we shouldn't love these outrageous hats by The Row, but we do.
BANNED CARBS We cannot deal with another day of the Dukan Diet. Just say no to steak.
COAT TALES This season's collarless coat is on our radar - extra points for the fringing on this one by Vionnet at Matches.
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
UAE squad
Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
MATCH INFO
What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru
Company%20profile
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A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
'Jurassic%20World%20Dominion'
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Company%20Profile
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The winners
Fiction
- ‘Amreekiya’ by Lena Mahmoud
- ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid
The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
- ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi; translated by Ramon J Stern
- ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres
The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award
- ‘Footnotes in the Order of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah
Children/Young Adult
- ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb
Schedule
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)