Court auction to sell Shimao land in Shenzhen fails again
HONG KONG A court auction to sell vast commercial land plots owned by defaulted Shimao Group in Shenzhen
1970-01-01 08:00
New Hampshire sets primary date for Jan. 23, defying Biden's order
By Jarrett Renshaw New Hampshire on Wednesday officially set the date of its presidential primary for Jan. 23,
1970-01-01 08:00
Why the government has no good options on Rwanda
The Rwanda plan is in tatters - and it is very difficult to see how the PM can salvage its flagship policy.
1970-01-01 08:00
NFL Week 11 2023: 3 teams on upset alert this Sunday
Upset alert! Can these heavily favored NFL teams avoid defeat in Week 11?
1970-01-01 08:00
Balenciaga divides with release of ‘absurd’ $925 bath towel skirt
People can’t decide whether Balenciaga’s new $925 bath towel skirt is an example of clever marketing or just a ploy to wipe wallets. The unparalleled high fashion house, piloted by long-time creative director Demna Gvasalia, regularly releases peculiar designs, made to look beaten down and wrecked, with purposeful outlandish price tags – see its $1,850 fully destroyed sneakers or $1,800 trash bag tote. But this particular pick from the brand’s Spring 2024 collection sparked widespread debate online as soon it became available for pre-order on 14 November. A $927 terry-cloth towel, fashioned to be a wrap skirt, comes after the Georgian designer faced backlash for a controversial 2022 holiday ad featuring children holding teddy bears in leather bondage. Following the extensive criticism, Demna said he planned on tapping into his “roots in fashion as well as to the roots of Balenciaga, which is making quality clothes – not making image or buzz”. He told Vogue his plan in February a few weeks ahead of his fall 2023 debut. But while the designer intended to find motivation from Balenciaga founder Cristóbal moving forward, this quirky bathroom garment prompted further conversation about the brand’s continued desire to offer “absurd” luxury items. One riled up fashion enthusiast took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to make a larger generalisation. “This is absurd, These brands will sell anything and everything at such ridiculously high prices,” they wrote. “Balenciaga is so unserious,” another critic commented, while someone else said: “I’ll say it again... Balenciaga is conducting an experiment. It’s a behavioral science study. You can’t convince me otherwise.” Amid the flock of immediate criticism, brand supporters pointed out the platform and intended buyers Balenciaga targets. “In economics we’d say they are discovering the true demand curve. They are checking their customer base to see how elastic they are. If it’s a fairly inelastic demand curve of which it’s very likely to be. They won’t lose anything by being selling s*** like this, in actual fact…” one person wrote. “I need customers like theirs,” another fan proclaimed. One candid reviewer wrote: “What kind of madness is this? At least I’m not their target market.” Other X users added remarks about how they could make their own towel skirt with their fluffy fabric at home. “I already got a towel skirt, it cost $10 and it’s from Walmart,” one individual commented. Playing off the high-end fashion brand’s current visibility, Ikea, the Swedish homewares and furniture brand, dropped a similar advertisement, highlighting its $10 VINARN bath towel. In promotional photos, a model could be seen with the towel wrapped around his waist, layered over a pair of construction pants. On top, the man donned a common Balenciaga identifier with a black hoodie and wrap-around moto sunglasses. Read More Women’s scarves and crocheted ties - what is Robert Peston wearing now? McDonald’s and Crocs collaborate on new Grimace shoes Jacob Elordi reveals why he always carries a purse Women’s scarves and crocheted ties - what is Robert Peston wearing now? McDonald’s and Crocs collaborate on new Grimace shoes Jacob Elordi reveals why he always carries a purse
1970-01-01 08:00
Rishi Sunak says Rwanda merry-go-round must end
It follows a Supreme Court ruling that a policy to send illegal migrants to Rwanda was unlawful.
1970-01-01 08:00
MLB Rumors: Cardinals ace connection, Surprise Yankees-Astros trade, Red Sox trade buzz
MLB Rumors: Cardinals could have a head start signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency, Yankees and Astros could shock baseball by striking a deal, Red Sox could address major need with blockbuster trade.
1970-01-01 08:00
Keir Starmer challenges Sunak over David Cameron China links
The Labour leader raises concerns about the former prime minister's appointment as foreign secretary.
1970-01-01 08:00
Supreme Court rules Rwanda asylum policy unlawful
The UK's highest court says the plan leaves people at risk of being sent back to unsafe countries.
1970-01-01 08:00
Xi Jinping arrives in the US as his Chinese Dream sputters
Economic woes put the Chinese leader in a more vulnerable negotiating position on this visit.
1970-01-01 08:00
What a 12-team College Football Playoff bracket would look with Week 12 CFP rankings
How would the Week 12 CFP rankings shape a 12-team College Football Playoff bracket? Find out here!
1970-01-01 08:00
Berkshire invests in Atlanta Braves, sheds GM and other stocks
Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate run by billionaire Warren Buffett, on Tuesday said it has made a small investment
1970-01-01 08:00