Snap Shares Drop After Sales Forecast Misses Estimates
Snap Inc. projected revenue at the lower end of analysts’ estimates for this quarter, signaling that improvements to
1970-01-01 08:00
Alphabet Shares Gain on Revenue Beat From Google Search
Google parent Alphabet Inc. reported second-quarter revenue that exceeded analysts’ expectations, boosted by advertising on the company’s flagship
1970-01-01 08:00
Christian Cowan: Designing is like dreaming
Designer Christian Cowan had a full circle moment when he recently dressed pop legend Kylie Minogue. “There are two moments when I decided I wanted to be in fashion, and they’re both around Kylie Minogue,” Cowan remembers. “One was in Borders bookshop in Cambridge [where Cowan grew up], my mum was getting a coffee and I was waiting – on the TV was the Can’t Get You Out Of My Head music video. I was like, ‘What is that? That is what I need to do’. “Then for my 12th birthday, my mum was really sweet and got me tickets to see Kylie’s X tour in the O2. It was right in the nosebleed seats at the back, and I was living my best life.” Cowan designed a red jumpsuit with zips for Minogue to perform in New York, and says: “To dress people like that, people who I really looked up to and still look up to is always an honour.” And Minogue isn’t the only celebrity who has worn Cowan’s colourful, whimsical designs. Pretty much any star you can think of, Cowan will have dressed – Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Heidi Klum, Cardi B, Miley Cyrus – the list goes on. While pop stars definitely seem to gravitate to his work, Cowan says there’s no real limit to who wears his clothes. “The Christian Cowan person is anyone, but it’s someone who wants to enjoy themselves, it’s someone who wants to be complimented and get attention. It’s someone who enjoys the fun of dressing up – our customers in general, they’re not really dressing for the gaze or perspective of anyone else – they’re just feeling f****** fabulous.” Cowan went to university in London and now resides in New York – and he says he gets inspiration from both major fashion hubs. The US “leans more into maximalism, and [is] not afraid of opulence and showing off, which is very much part of my brand”, he reflects. “And the UK I’d say is more [about] pushing the boundaries and trying out new things.” Ultimately, both cities are “incredibly fashionable and stylish and have created original thinkers – so I feel very lucky to be between the two”. Cowan established his eponymous label in 2016 so feels like an industry stalwart by now, but he’s still only 29 years old. “I started my brand and career very young,” he admits. “I would definitely say it’s grown up with me – the collections that I put out at the beginning are by no means the collections I’m putting out now.” But he doesn’t feel embarrassed when looking back at earlier work, instead calling his collections “like a diary”. “You can see as I grew up, the big life experiences that happened influenced [my style]. To say it has matured – maybe that’s the wrong word – but I would say my references have gotten more expansive with time. I look further than I used to – before it was like, who was next to me in the club.” While he doesn’t go to the clubs as much as he used to (“I’m like an old man!”), he occasionally pops in (“I love to see what my friends are wearing”), while getting inspiration from elsewhere as well. “I’m definitely a child of the internet, the internet is a huge part of it. I think designing is almost like dreaming – it’s a random compilation of everything you’ve seen, all smudged into one thing.” Cowan has made a name for himself as someone who loves to collaborate, and he often gets inspiration from his creative partners – ranging from the Teletubbies to Crocs, and now, Candy Crush Saga, who he’s designed an exclusive garment for. Called ‘The Sweet Seat’, it’s a one-of-a-kind, wearable garment inspired by the dreaded task of finding a seat to play on public transport. “Collaboration is the key to success in general in life – work, personal, everything,” he muses. “So when doing these collaborations, whether it’s a dress for Lady Gaga or this Candy Crush partnership, it’s always super collaborative. I want their opinion, I want their input, I want both partners involved and to be excited. “Especially with a celebrity wearing the clothes as well, you want them to feel amazing and excited to wear the piece – you don’t bully them into wearing something they’re not fully down for. You always have a better result if you collaborate.” Working with Candy Crush gave Cowan a welcome pause from designing his next New York Fashion Week collection, set to debut in September. “We’re doing a few things we’ve never done before that I think will be surprising to people – I just can’t wait. It’s our biggest show, the collection’s over double the size of any collection we’ve ever done before,” he shares. With designing collections for fashion week twice a year, making bespoke outfits for celebrities and all the extra projects in between, does Cowan ever suffer from fashion burnout? Cowan admits to having “brief moments in my past” where he’s struggled, but adds: “When you feel that it means you need to try something new, and I never had it again after I realised that. “I make sure I’m filled with creative, fun projects – I don’t think I’d ever get burnt out. I want to be doing this until the day I die.” The limited-edition Sweat Seat will be available for purchase on christiancowan.com/candycrush for £786.92 from July 26. Download Candy Crush today on Google Play or the App Store. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Deborah James’s daughter launches anniversary clothing line for Bowelbabe Fund Government has more work to do to ensure families secure quality childcare – MPs Wall squat exercises can help lower blood pressure, study suggests
1970-01-01 08:00
Powell Has Stopped Handing Gifts to Wall Street on Fed Day
In what was a brutal 2022 for investors, there was at least one sure-fire, money-making proposition for much
1970-01-01 08:00
Nasdaq futures slip as Big Tech results roll in; Fed in focus
Nasdaq futures crept lower on Wednesday as investors assessed results from Microsoft and Alphabet, with markets also cautious
1970-01-01 08:00
Alphabet rallies as Google Search unfazed by challenge from Microsoft's Bing
Alphabet rallied nearly 7% on Wednesday on signs its dominant Google Search business was faring well in an
1970-01-01 08:00
Tesla Cars Barred From World University Games Ahead of Xi Visit
Tesla Inc. vehicles are barred from parts of a major Chinese city as it prepares for a visit
1970-01-01 08:00
Qin Gang replaced - Who is new Chinese FM Wang Yi?
China's top diplomat is a familiar face, known for taking a hard line on those that cross Beijing.
1970-01-01 08:00
Kate Middleton’s taste in jewellery is a ‘disappointment’, says former Vogue editor Suzy Menkes
The Princess of Wales has been labelled a “disappointment’ with regards to her approach to jewellery. Former Vogue editor and fashion critic Suzy Menkes made the remarks during an interview on the newest episode of her podcast Creative Conversations. Speaking to British Vogue’s jewellery editor Carol Woolton, the two discussed and analysed some of Kate Middleton’s recent style choices, explaining to listeners that as a senior member of the royal family, she would surely have access to some of the finest jewels in the country. “The Princess of Wales is a bit of a disappointment about jewellery,” said Menkes. “She gives the impression that she only puts it on when she absolutely has to.” The 79-year-old critic continued: “I imagine her looking beautiful in one of those gowns behind the scenes and then pulling a face as if to say, ‘Do I have to wear this?’ “She doesn’t give any sense of adoring jewellery and being pleased to put it on.” Menkes went on to suggest that Queen Camilla seems far more interested in jewellery, stating: “[Kate] doesn’t seem to have Camilla’s joy at wearing jewellery.” She went on: “We now have a new Queen, so presumably she has a first opportunity to look at the jewels. “We can imagine that the next in line to the throne’s wife would be something that was very special, so will we see Catherine wearing jewellery that is more dramatic, that is more personal to her? I don’t know. I can’t help feeling with things of beauty, you either love it or you don’t.” Later in the podcast, Menkes went on to discuss some of the controversy that the royal family’s jewellery collection has garnered over the years. “It’s one of these strange secrets,” she said. “It’s not discussed, and I can see why because some of the pieces are dubious. They came from India. “I won’t say they were stolen but they were perhaps given and taken by the British Royal Family. They weren’t stealing it but they were taking over a country at that time, and and taking jewels they thought were an attractive thing to take back to England with them.” Read More Kate Middleton’s sweet tradition for Prince George’s birthday Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte wear matching ruffles for eight-year-old’s first Wimbledon Adorable moment young boy meets Kate Middleton at Wimbledon Fans defend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid breakup rumours Kate Middleton’s sweet tradition for Prince George’s birthday Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte wear matching ruffles for Wimbledon finals
1970-01-01 08:00
Greece fires in maps and satellite images show extent of damage
Maps, satellite images and before and after pictures show the extent of wildfires across Greece.
1970-01-01 08:00
Yi Gang Ends PBOC Governor Tenure Marked by Restrained Policy
Yi Gang ends a five-year tenure at the helm of China’s central bank that’s been marked by a
1970-01-01 08:00
Lloyds Braces for More Bad Loans as Mortgage Pressure Grows
Lloyds Banking Group Plc took higher bad loan charges that dragged its earnings below expectations in the second
1970-01-01 08:00
