#best fashion trends 2022

[tloging]

What Are 2023 Trends In Higher Education

Higher education is an important milestone in any person’s life, as it provides the individual with a chance to pursue the career of their choice and gain valuable experience in specific fields. It is an opportunity to learn and grow as an individual, to become an integral part of society, and to develop skills that will enable them to make a successful career for themselves.  Different Aspects��

[pexels-ind]

We provide daily top-up articles that are informative and helpful to you on well-known Trending blogs 2023 and the Food sector. Top news articles about parenting, photography, do-it-yourself crafts, and other topics may be found on the website. Along with these advantages, we also guide how to live a better life by making small, habit-forming adjustments to daily routines. To learn more, visit https://pexels-ind.com.

[aviddylife]

Why Matching Sets Are A Must Have in Every Closet.

Showpo Skirt Set Matching sets are going to be more popular than ever in 2023. Our love affair with matching sets began with loungewear, now we have expanded coordinating sets to business casual , casual daily wear, evening wear, and resort wear. Check out these matching sets and I’ll tell you why these coordes are a must-have item in your closet. To see the list of two piece matching sets I…

[absolutebl]

TOP 10 BL Trends of 2023

This is just me with my analysis hat on. 

1. 2023 = the year EVERYONE went outside their lanes

Everything went topsy-turvy this year in BL. 

For example, Korea gave us agonized yearning and outright queerness (The 8th Sense, The New Employee) while Japan served up soft office workers and tender family (Our Dining Table). 

The BL world went askew for a while, especially in the spring of 2023. 

Not that we still didn’t still get Korea’s soft angsty bubbles or Japan’s “what are you doing and why does it hurt?” kink-fests. But there were quite a few BLs that made us chronic watchers sit up in confusion and wonder if Korea was dabbling in Taiwan’s territory or Japan in Thailand’s. Then they fudged the kisses and we were like... okay, back in familiar territory. 

In contrast, Thailand stayed course-correcting for the damage they’ve done in the past with tropes (2022) and self referential meta criticism (2021), but also almost aggressively returned to their BL roots after last year’s series of shockers. Certainly, they are reexamining those roots, transplanting some, aerating others. But they really went back to classic Thai university and high school BL and pulps in a big way in 2023. 

Taiwan is always difficult to gage because they produce so few but they seem to have stuck with what they do best with no deviation while producing more this year than they have in ages. I’m happy for that, why change a good thing? But there is a tiny part of me that really wants them to hit it out of the part with a quality piece soon. For me, We Best Love still reigns supreme, but I would really like the HIStory franchise to give us that level but longer - like a happy version of Your Name Engraved Herein. I think Taiwan has the chops to give us something as good as The 8th Sense or Old Fashion Cupcake but in their style, and I would like to see them exercise their talent for good rather than just profit. 

I know, what a very odd thing for me to say. But if any BL is going to break into the mainstream American market, I genuinely think it’s most likely come from Taiwan. 

Vietnam and the Philippines are falling behind, in general. They just didn’t bring out very many shows in 2023, and what the brought out tended to fub the endings. This is forgivable in Japan (because of their style and quality) but not what watchers want in the lower production value propositions. In other words, if you do a pulp, you can’t mess up the ending (by romance standards). that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. 

2. The Office Romance Dominated

After years of Thailand serving us an endless (and slightly bland) buffet of university (and a few high school) BLs, this year Korea was basically like...

Ofiice. We like the Office. It’s cheap to film we can use grown up actors, acting (mostly) their actual age. 

And yeah... it totally worked. 

To be fair, Japan has always given us office live action yaoi from the beginning (they had the source material) but this year everyone else, including Thailand, seriously started playing in this setting. 

3. Boys Danced with Boys

The darling @heretherebedork​ was a big fan of this one, and I rather like it myself. Prior to this boys dancing together was very very rare in BL, but this year we got way more than our fair share. It was lovely. 

Never Let me Go

My School President 

Bed Friend 

The Day I Loved You 

Step by Step

Be Mine Superstar

Tie the Not 

Dangerous Romance

I think there were a few more. These are the ones I remembered to write down. 

4. Getting (even more) Meta With Tropes 

BL has been getting more and more meta over the past few years but this year they really focused in on tropes specifically. Calling out their own biggest and most favorite tropes in a massive way, especially Thailand and especially GMMTV. 

Like they tunneled in on damaging tropes with Bad Buddy and the like over the past 2 years, and now they are just having fun with us. 

I mean they just started the dancing trope and already they are calling it out? That’s like rapid-fire regurgitated meta there, GMMTV. 

5. Cameos are the norm now 

Taiwan has always loved cameos but in the past the other countries have been show and steady with only one or two a year. (Unless Japan does a parody.) 

This year Korea got in on the game.

Korea rarely starts trends but they do adopt smaller and lesser known existing ones and make them super popular. 

This year they did that with cameo couple appearances, even borrowing a few of Thailand’s pairs (TutorYim and MaxNat traveled north). They did it so much I stopped tracking. Love Class 2, Why R U?, and Jun & Jun were the heaviest hitters. 

Taiwan, of course, came back swinging. Kiseki was the gum-ball machine of pair cameos. (In Taiwan mafia = gay.) 

6. We are entering the cross pollination age

The number of remakes picked up or started this year was startling, not just countries revisiting their own content (Thailand, Japan) but countries revisiting OTHER countries stuff.

Lemme explain...

Korea has started remaking Thai content (Why R U?) alongside cameo'ing Thai pairs.

Thailand is doing Korean IP (My Dear Gagster Oppa) and has 2 Chinese ones slated for next year. 

GMMTV acquired a lot of Japanese IP (Cherry Magic, Ossen, and My Love Mix Up) - and then had problems distributing it. 

This is probably the most surprising trend for me. Especially the Japanese stuff. I would have thought these properties well outside of Thailand's price range (even GMMTV's) not to mention Japan’s legendary IP issues (I swear I typed this pout before the pulled TayNew’s excellent Cherry Magic). 

Also why not option some of the older popular manga instead? Bet that's much cheeper. (I did see a NEW Thai translation of Finder into Thai, which is 90s yaoi, so I have my fingers crossed on that front.)

I shouldn't be too surprised. 

Thailand is running out of y-novel content. Their publication industry is just not robust enough (I was just talking to a friend about this at length recently). But I didn't think they had the funds to option, especially from Japan. 

Perhaps the option deals are for peanuts?

7. Korea got cheeky

I’m not sure quite how else to put this. 

After finally figuring out boys can kiss, Korea started to do not just higher heat but playful higher heat, with more aggressive word play and linguistic innuendo, like they are entering their racy rom-com teenage years (Why R U? Love Class 2 and Jun & Jun in particular.) 

I guess: Welcome to your BL teens, Korea? 

It’s cute of them. I am very much enjoying it. 

And now that comedy is warming them up, we get to see them play with actual queer burgeoning physicality in shows like The 8th Sense. 

It’s nice. I like seeing Korea stretch its wings. They still stick to their bubble, but that bubble seems to be expanding. 

8. The Amnesia Trope is back

And I, for one, would prefer to forget about it. 

9. BL got trendy 

I’m not quite sure how to articulate this category but basically we started seeing a lot of “modern” romance trends out of the west (like a/b/o) show up in our BL. Not a ton and sometimes quite small, but there has a been a steady rise of things like: no seme/uke, femme gay, out gay, condom use, messy gay. 

We also got an increasing range of sub genre frameworks (like mafia, office setting) that’s moved BL pretty firmly (even in Thailand) out of school and into the workplace, whether actual working is involved or not. 

It’s not to the point where it feels like we get more non-school BL than school BL (if I include all countries in this assessment).

Japan, in classic Japanese fashion, quietly started moving in the opposite direction. It’s what they do. 

10. The Vampires are coming 

This is an announcement trend, which I don’t usually report on but it’s so CLEAR. 

So last year we had a spate of announcements of possible Omegaverse (2 from China, 1 from Japan, 1 from Thailand - the only one that’s happened). 

This year we got 5 Vampire (or vampire-esk) Thai BLs announced including one from GMMTV. 

Whether all 5 will actually get made is unlikely, but having had (basically) none prior to this (Kissable Lips), I’m pretty confident that we will get at least 2 of them. And I wouldn’t be surprised if at least one other country made one as well. (Side eyes Taiwan with interest.) 

Final thoughts

It feels like we are also seeing a decline in BL (both by quantity and quality) from Vietnam and the Philippines. As you all know, I don’t track or really watch either of these two very closely. But it feels like, now, no one else is either. 

I think we have likely seen the BL heyday already in both places and their industries are now on the decline. 

We might be witnessing a thinning in the players in the BL field. 

FYI we had approximately 

136 BLs in 2023

Previous Years

2022: 117

2021: 95

2020: 62

2019: 40

2018: 30 

2017: 44 (China’s last gasp)

2016: 27

2015: 17 (50% micro)

2014: 17 (50% micro)

And that’s it! Let me know in the comments if you’ve spotted any additional trends you want to call out.

Last year, 2022′s trend report

2021′s Trend report

Last Year’s Stats & Predictions

(source) 

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

If you look at the trademark application for American Riviera Orchard, you’ll see that she’s trademarking it through a newly registered in Delaware company called Mama Knows Best, LLC.

Infact when you dig into the domain names etc, it seems this was thrown together last minute aka 2months ago after KC3/ PssoW C’s illnesses were announced. They are using PR to pretend they were working on it for an entire year, but even Scobie said they had nothing or whatever they had was all over the shop and he had no idea what it would be.

His comments don’t speak to a focused vision that is researched into whatever this is.

And what’s glaring about this launch is the lack of anything to sell. Not videos or actual products which speaks to the theory that this wax thrown together very quickly.

Russell Myers from the Mirror says if you sign up to the website, you get a respinse telling you that you’ll be notified of products when they are created/ available……if this was a year in the making and with proper marketing/ PR people, they’d have products ready to go. What it is right now is a landing/ holding page ( comments turned off on IG) until it produces products. 

It’s also interesting that the video is showcasing cooking which Markle tried to manifest for years while dating Corey. She auditioned and or popped up on varioys cooking shows/ fashion segments hoping to be hired. Acvording to people magazine, this launch of a lifestyle brand will have a companion show on Netflix. If Network tv won’t hire her for dream job then she’ll use her distribution deal to make it happen aka pay herself to make it happen!!!

However, one thing she revealed which tells me she has no clue about aspirational lifestyles/ branding. Her home kitchen hasn’t been updated from the dated 2000s/ early 2010s decor. It’s tye same kitchen from the sales brochure. 

Infact, glimpses of their home show a distinct lack of updating from the sales brochure. The onpy room thry updated is the one with the dining table as desk and their two side by side chairs. They removed all furniture and painted it white and addedva jute rug and that california bear poster over the fireplace. 

The current trend in kitchens for the wealthy is marble counter-tops and sleek designs meanwhile she’s displaying faux country/ italianate kitchen from the 90s. 

The women she is cosplaying eg GOOP, Martha and Ina Garten have upgraded to the current trend in kitchens. GOOP showed off her new kitchedn in AD. Heck, JLO is showing off her sleek kitchen. 

*****************

That they haven’t updated their house to their taste is what I laugh about the most. Are they really that cash-poor? Do they really have that much debt that they can’t afford to redo anything? Surely Markus and Soho House can cough up a few million to keep her happy, and when the Sussexes default on the loans, they can make Soho Olive Garden, a Californian spinoff of Soho Farmhouse. Win-win, if you ask me.

meanwhile she’s displaying faux country/ italianate kitchen from the 90s. ➡️ Remember, Meghan’s whole aesthetic is 90s. Of course she wants the Italian Country kitchen.

And thanks, anon. You’ve just reminded me of a house I looked at when I was moving back in 2022. The homeowners were so into that Italian Country Kitchen theme that they PAINTED the entire kitchen like it was a rustic Italian restaurant. You know you go into a family-owned Italian mom-and-pop place (not a chain like Olive Garden or Maggianos, but something like your neighborhood Italian pizza place) and it’s got that orangey-beige sponge paint that’s supposed to mimic sandstone and there’s a huge wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling mural of Italy and dusty fake vines hanging from decorative columns? Yeah, that was how this kitchen was painted. Even the cabinets. And that was not even the weirdest house I looked at by a mile.)

[mariacallous]

In 2023, the fast-fashion giant Shein was everywhere. Crisscrossing the globe, airplanes ferried small packages of its ultra-cheap clothing from thousands of suppliers to tens of millions of customer mailboxes in 150 countries. Influencers’ “#sheinhaul” videos advertised the company’s trendy styles on social media, garnering billions of views.

At every step, data was created, collected, and analyzed. To manage all this information, the fast fashion industry has begun embracing emerging AI technologies. Shein uses proprietary machine-learning applications — essentially, pattern-identification algorithms — to measure customer preferences in real time and predict demand, which it then services with an ultra-fast supply chain.

As AI makes the business of churning out affordable, on-trend clothing faster than ever, Shein is among the brands under increasing pressure to become more sustainable, too. The company has pledged to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050.

But climate advocates and researchers say the company’s lightning-fast manufacturing practices and online-only business model are inherently emissions-heavy — and that the use of AI software to catalyze these operations could be cranking up its emissions. Those concerns were amplified by Shein’s third annual sustainability report, released late last month, which showed the company nearly doubled its carbon dioxide emissions between 2022 and 2023.

“AI enables fast fashion to become the ultra-fast fashion industry, Shein and Temu being the fore-leaders of this,” said Sage Lenier, the executive director of Sustainable and Just Future, a climate nonprofit. “They quite literally could not exist without AI.” (Temu is a rapidly rising ecommerce titan, with a marketplace of goods that rival Shein’s in variety, price, and sales.)

In the 12 years since Shein was founded, it has become known for its uniquely prolific manufacturing, which reportedly generated over $30 billion of revenue for the company in 2023. Although estimates vary, a new Shein design may take as little as 10 days to become a garment, and up to 10,000 items are added to the site each day. The company reportedly offers as many as 600,000 items for sale at any given time with an average price tag of roughly $10. (Shein declined to confirm or deny these reported numbers.) One market analysis found that 44 percent of Gen Zers in the United States buy at least one item from Shein every month.

That scale translates into massive environmental impacts. According to the company’s sustainability report, Shein emitted 16.7 million total metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2023 — more than what four coal power plants spew out in a year. The company has also come under fire for textile waste, high levels of microplastic pollution, and exploitative labor practices. According to the report, polyester — a synthetic textile known for shedding microplastics into the environment — makes up 76 percent of its total fabrics, and only 6 percent of that polyester is recycled.

And a recent investigation found that factory workers at Shein suppliers regularly work 75-hour weeks, over a year after the company pledged to improve working conditions within its supply chain. Although Shein’s sustainability report indicates that labor conditions are improving, it also shows that in third-party audits of over 3,000 suppliers and subcontractors, 71 percent received a score of C or lower on the company’s grade scale of A to E — mediocre at best.

Machine learning plays an important role in Shein’s business model. Although Peter Pernot-Day, Shein’s head of global strategy and corporate affairs, told Business Insider last August that AI was not central to its operations, he indicated otherwise during a presentation at a retail conference at the beginning of this year.

“We are using machine-learning technologies to accurately predict demand in a way that we think is cutting edge,” he said. Pernot-Day told the audience that all of Shein’s 5,400 suppliers have access to an AI software platform that gives them updates on customer preferences, and they change what they’re producing to match it in real time.

“This means we can produce very few copies of each garment,” he said. “It means we waste very little and have very little inventory waste.” On average, the company says it stocks between 100 to 200 copies of each item — a stark contrast with more conventional fast-fashion brands, which typically produce thousands of each item per season, and try to anticipate trends months in advance. Shein calls its model “on-demand,” while a technology analyst who spoke to Vox in 2021 called it “real-time” retail.

At the conference, Pernot-Day also indicated that the technology helps the company pick up on “micro trends” that customers want to wear. “We can detect that, and we can act on that in a way that I think we’ve really pioneered,” he said. A designer who filed a recent class action lawsuit in a New York District Court alleges that the company’s AI market analysis tools are used in an “industrial-scale scheme of systematic, digital copyright infringement of the work of small designers and artists,” that scrapes designs off the internet and sends them directly to factories for production.

In an emailed statement to Grist, a Shein spokesperson reiterated Peter Pernot-Day’s assertion that technology allows the company to reduce waste and increase efficiency and suggested that the company’s increased emissions in 2023 were attributable to booming business. “We do not see growth as antithetical to sustainability,” the spokesperson said.

An analysis of Shein’s sustainability report by the Business of Fashion, a trade publication, found that last year, the company’s emissions rose at almost double the rate of its revenue — making Shein the highest-emitting company in the fashion industry. By comparison, Zara’s emissions rose half as much as its revenue. For other industry titans, such as H&M and Nike, sales grew while emissions fell from the year before.

Shein’s emissions are especially high because of its reliance on air shipping, said Sheng Lu, a professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware. “AI has wide applications in the fashion industry. It’s not necessarily that AI is bad,” Lu said. “The problem is the essence of Shein’s particular business model.”

Other major brands ship items overseas in bulk, prefer ocean shipping for its lower cost, and have suppliers and warehouses in a large number of countries, which cuts down on the distances that items need to travel to consumers.

According to the company’s sustainability report, 38 percent of Shein’s climate footprint comes from transportation between its facilities and to customers, and another 61 percent come from other parts of its supply chain. Although the company is based in Singapore and has suppliers in a handful of countries, the majority of its garments are produced in China and are mailed out by air in individually addressed packages to customers. In July, the company sent about 900,000 of these to the US every day.

Shein’s spokesperson told Grist that the company is developing a decarbonization road map to address the footprint of its supply chain. Recently, the company has increased the amount of inventory it stores in US warehouses, allowing it to offer American customers quicker delivery times, and increased its use of cargo ships, which are more carbon-efficient than cargo planes.

“Controlling the carbon emissions in the fashion industry is a really complex process,” Lu said, adding that many brands use AI to make their operations more efficient. “It really depends on how you use AI.”

There is research that indicates using certain AI technologies could help companies become more sustainable. “It’s the missing piece,” said Shahriar Akter, an associate dean of business and law at the University of Wollongong in Australia. In May, Akter and his colleagues published a study finding that when fast-fashion suppliers used AI data management software to comply with big brands’ sustainability goals, those companies were more profitable and emitted less. A key use of this technology, Atker says, is to closely monitor environmental impacts, such as pollution and emissions. “This kind of tracking was not available before AI-based tools,” he said.

Shein told Grist it does not use machine-learning data management software to track emissions, which is one of the uses of AI included in Akter’s study. But the company’s much-touted usage of machine-learning software to predict demand and reduce waste is another of the uses of AI included in the research.

Regardless, the company has a long way to go before meeting its goals. Grist calculated that the emissions Shein reportedly saved in 2023 — with measures such as providing its suppliers with solar panels and opting for ocean shipping — amounted to about 3 percent of the company’s total carbon emissions for the year.

Lenier, from Sustainable and Just Future, believes there is no ethical use of AI in the fast-fashion industry. She said that the largely unregulated technology allows brands to intensify their harmful impacts on workers and the environment. “The folks who work in fast-fashion factories are now under an incredible amount of pressure to turn out even more, even faster,” she said.

Lenier and Lu both believe that the key to a more sustainable fashion industry is convincing customers to buy less. Lu said if companies use AI to boost their sales without changing their unsustainable practices, their climate footprints will also grow accordingly. “It’s the overall effect of being able to offer more market-popular items and encourage consumers to purchase more than in the past,” he said. “Of course, the overall carbon impact will be higher.”

[thececeverse]

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ NAMIE AT WATERBOMB 2024 ... !

The industry's pretty girl finally made her Waterbomb debut! After four years of being one of SM's most successful solo acts, she finally made her long-awaited appearance at the hottest festival of the summer, and like everything Namie does, her set was gold! She had previously said herself that she didn't want to perform at Waterbomb as a soloist until she had enough summer hits, and after releasing the song of the summer this year, she undoubtedly made a splash. So, let's go over what happened, shall we?

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ ( WHAT SHE WORE ... ! )

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ ( THE SETLIST … ! )

WHY DON’T YOU KNOW

OPENING MENT … !

BUBBLEGUM

BLUE CHAMPAGNE

KNOCK

INTERMISSION … !

HEY GIRL

NO. 1

HIGH ROLLER

I’M NOT COOL

OBSESSED

BE MY BABY (LOVEY DOVEY)

CLOSING MENT … !

CUTIE HONEY

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ ( WHAT WENT DOWN … ! )

She's finally here, y'all! Namie's at Waterbomb! We did it!

Namie nation was so pissed every time she didn't go for the last two years, but once SM announced that she'd be going, it was all sunshine and rainbows for the first time since 2022!

She reached the peak of her fame (again) this year, so she and the rest of Pink Marmalade were trending like hell!

Namie has always had quite a lot of creative control over her solo work, and it was obvious here! She was so involved when it came to her styling for the festival (because of course she was), and she went full Y2K! She was taking inspiration from Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Ciara... like in the weeks leading up to Waterbomb she was quite literally making whole moodboards. Like, girl, it was serious.

And speaking of styling, let's get into those boots! No one knows how Namie's stylist even sourced those, but somehow it happened. They were truly the cutest thing that any idol has ever worn to Waterbomb, and "HER BOOTS" was trending for hours. So many people were attempting to find them, and Depop crashed a couple times as a result... oops!

Her Versace bikini top was also quite the hot topic! Like, fashion icon we know this already!

Aside from that, Namie's setlist was insane. She literally had all of her hits, all of the summer bops... but a good chunk of her fans were wondering where her debut singles were. And surprise, surprise, it wasn't SM behind the lack of debut era Namie.

It was Namie herself, actually. 😭

She didn't want any of her debut work on her setlist because not only did she kind of outgrow that (she's 24, y'all, come on), but those tracks really didn't fit the whole vibe of the festival. And yeah she's definitely right, but the people would've loved to hear just a wee bit of "Heart Attack," Namie!

But my God her set was incredible. She was smiling the whole time, interacting with the crowd like they were her best friends, and dancing like SM's lights were hours away from getting shut off. Like she bodied the choreography for "I'm Not Cool" like we all knew she would!

And the way she threw her hat once the chorus started... mothering.

For some reason, no one expected Namie to perform "Hey Girl" or "No. 1," but she did! Those are two of her biggest hits, and the crowd couldn't be happier!

At the time of her set, "Obsessed" was literally an unreleased song. And it was fully in English. No one in her crowd knew the words because it wasn't even on streaming services yet and it came out of nowhere, but it sounded good! It was a hit! Everyone loved it!

"NEW SONG" started trending on Twitter the second it started playing lol.

She sang one of her Japanese b-sides, too, which was also a pleasant surprise! And since the song was so long, everyone thought that was it, and then Namie and her cheeky self went "I have a surprise for you guys" right after her ending ment... as if there weren't enough surprises already!

And then "Cutie Honey" started playing... everyone cheered!

Namie is always so expressive every time she performs this song, and it was no exception here! She was up there acting like she was about to win an Oscar and making full use of that stage.

And the best part of all? Right before the first verse started, Namie took off her cute little tube top and quite literally flung it into the crowd! The way the crowd got so loud.

Whoever caught it (either accidentally or on purpose) didn't get to keep it, though lol.

Namie was all over the water guns, too. She shot at the crowd, at her dancers, and she even shot at the rest of Pink Marmalade because of course, they were front and center for their leader! But Jasmine did not appreciate that one-sided water gun fight one bit like for some reason she got hit the most!

And guess who was also in the crowd? Venus! Namie spotted them and waved like her hand was about to fall off like... leader of Constellation nation I fear lol.

After Namie's set of course the girls had to hit the festival circuit themselves! They saw Hyo, Nayeon, Taemin, Hwasa, Kiss of Life... like they got to see all of their faves!

They took so many pictures and filmed so many TikToks, and Waterbomb was essentially just a Sixteen girls reunion! Like Natty, Nayeon, and Namie were all in one room together after nine years!

All in all, Namie was one of the It girls of Waterbomb. She had a great time, #NAMIE_AT_WATERBOMB was trending for a full day, and a fancam of her performing "Cutie Honey" went viral with over nearly 3 million views on Twitter. We love that for her! ˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

ocs mentioned ... ! — venus (@venusvity) ♡

[whatisflorencewearing]

Florence x The Vampire's Wife

1992 - Portrait of Susie by Dominique Issermann for Vogue

A tribute to @thevampireswife, as it is sadly closing its doors due to upheaval in the wholesale market, especially for small designer brands.

Florence once said of @susiecaveofficial and her designs in an interview with @evawiseman of The Observer: "I think we both inhabit a dream world, but have found a way to pull those dreams into reality. I recognise in her the strength that takes. To commit wholly to your aesthetic vision regardless of what people consider 'fashionable' or ephemeral trends. There's a subversieve femininity to her creations that really speaks to me. I think the most beautiful things have a strangeness to them and her dresses seem to have walked out of a gothic fantasy. One that is entirely Susie's."

In no particular order:

July 6, 2023 - BBK Live

September 20, 2018 - Mercury Prize

May 8, 2022 - Dance Fever photo shoot

November 10, 2017 - Moglie del Vampiro a Roma

July 13, 2019 - BST Hyde Park background visuals

May 15, 2022 - Billboard Music Awards

October 31, 2022 - Hallow's Eve Dinner at Luca Restaurant in London

2018 - Press day for Useless Magic

June 18, 2022 - Later... with Jools Holland

They were a match made in Heaven, in my opinion, and the brand will be dearly missed. All the best to Susie and TVW team! xx

Note: you can find additional info about these looks in my previous posts.

[hopeonmyphone]

World Music Awards Twitter

Happy 30th Birthday to the gorgeous, super talented record-breaking, history-making Million-seller rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer, record producer, choreographer & Global Icon, the One & Only #jhope who rings in his birthday, trending at #1 WORLDWIDE on X! 👏🎂🎉🌟🐐👑💜

jhope rose to fame as the main Rapper of #BTS, the Biggest Boy band in the world! He is a hugely successful Solo Artist in his own right and one of the Best K-Pop performers, always paving the way! He was the first K-Pop soloist to enter the “Top 100 Most Followed Artists” on Spotify, the first K-Pop Soloist to surpass 16 Million followers and the most followed on Spotify for many years (now 2nd)! He's the 1st K-soloist to debut an album (Jack in the box) with over 60Million streams and the 1st Kpop Soloist to have 3 albums surpassing 500 Million streams on Spotify! j-hope is also the 1st South Korean Artist in history to headline a major US music festival "Lollapalooza" and the highest ticket- selling artist in Lollapalooza’s history! With his song "on the street" J-Hope is the 1st Asian Act to enter the Top 10 of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales Year End Chart and the 1st member of BTS to earn a top-40 entry on the UK Singles Chart following its debut at #37, setting a new record as the highest-charting Korean soloist in the history of the chart at the time! j-hope ties PSY as the 4th K-Pop Act with the most #1 hits in World Digital Song Sales chart history after BTS, Blackpink & Big Bang! #jhope's solo discography including his songs under BTS has achieved 1,500 #1's on iTunes! He ties Suga as the Rapper with the most songs with over 100 x #1s on iTunes! His first solo mixtape, 'Hope World', in 2018 peaked at #38 on the US Billboard 200, breaking the record for the highest-charting album by a K- soloist at the time. He became the 1st member of BTS to enter the Billboard Hot 100 as a soloist in 2019, with his single "Chicken Noodle Soup", fr-t. #BeckyG, which debuted at #81. In 2022, J-Hope's chart-topping debut studio album 'Jack in the Box', scored the 5th biggest Album debut among K-Pop soloists in history! J-hope is also the 1st K-POP Act to headline Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in 2022!

j-hope has received 30 nominations and has won numerous awards including a Golden Disc Award in 2023, a Korean Hip Hop Award in 2023 for Best R& B track for "Rush Hour" with Crush and 2 MAMA Awards in 2022 including Most Popular Male Artist! In 2018, he was awarded the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit by the President of South Korea and in 2021, he was appointed Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture by President Moon Jae-in to help "lead the global agenda for future generations, such as sustainable growth" and "expand South Korea's diplomatic efforts and global standing" in the international community!

He is also a leading Fashion Icon, being the global ambassador for the French luxury brand #LouisVuitton!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOBI

[luxicides]

coquette fashion faves 🐇🎀⛸️💒🎧

the other day my mom inadvertently called me a bimbo for liking high fashion. to be fair, she did catch me watching rick owens fw22/23 when i should have been writing my lit essay, but who's she to judge? anyways, here's a quick list of fashion brands whose work i adore as of late. i'll try to include links to some of my fav shows from them too xx #girlssupportgirls

++necessary disclaimer: this is all just for fun!!!! obviously, these are all just my personal opinions. i'm in no way a fashion expert, nor am i claiming to be. live laugh love, gaslight gatekeep girlboss :3

and so, presenting....

LUXICIDES' DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO FASHION BRANDS IN THE MODERN AGE ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

1. MIU MIU

at this point, eeeeeeveryone has heard of miu miu. how could you not?

founded in 1992 by none other than mrs prada, miu miu has been having a (imo) well-deserved revival in the past few years. as the sister label of prada, miu miu serves as a more "youthful, playful and affordable alternative".

though i personally prefer last year's fall/winter rtw show to be more visually interesting than this year's spring/summer show, AND found their campaign with kendall jenner to be... a little lacklustre, i still love what the brand has been doing.

i just love the way miu miu's runway styling is done - going back to fw22, the incorporation of more preppy influences in their cable-knit sweaters along with the very obvious y2k references (mini skirts, lace and mesh, and those cropped tops girl!) is just... to DIE FOR.

and i'm not going to wrongfully malign the ss23 show! i thought the varying textures and how everything was just so flowy and loose. the set for this show was also incredible.

FAVOURITE: pre-fall 2020 (especially this look!)

2. BLUMARINE

ngl, when i first researched into blumarine, i was CONFUSED. just because i had always seen blugirl (their brand for teenagers) being labelled as blumarine (the core brand).... thanks pinterest.

but regardless, i think blumarine is FASCINATING. to me, they've always had elements of frivolity and femininity, with their intricate embellishments, and delicate lace detailings that are just to die for - every coquette girlie's dream.

lately, though, they've been moving towards more y2k influence: i mean, the ss23 rtw show is 99% denim. look at that and tell me that doesn't remind you of britney justin circa 2001 amas !!!

in all seriousness, i love the direction they're going in. i love that they're still maintaining some of the very ethereal, dainty energy that has been at the core of the brand for so long.

blumarine almost never misses with their styling. it's like their textures always go crazy - in the best way.

though it definitely doesn't get as much attention as its sister brand, blugirl is absolutely worth checking out too. i'm personally biased towards their older collections, think 2004-2005 era. they're literally all over pinterest, so it shouldn't be hard to find either.

FAVOURITE: fall-winter 2021 rtw

3. OZLANA

to me, ozlana is like the perfect combination of every trend i love. their pieces are so delicate and so dainty, and i literally can't get enough of their styling... like the fur coats? the pastels??? the DREAMINES???? oh my god don't do this to me rn.

literally every look from their 2022 shfw runway is basically perfect. to me, at least.

like - the colours. the bows. the denim looks in particular..... and the set!!!! don't even get me started on the set design.

ozlana is another brand i see on pinterest all the freaking time. honestly, they're kind of reminiscent to fw04 blugirl in the sense that they both have such dreamlike qualities to them...

unfortunately, ozlana does use real fur :( so that does dock them down a point. but i still do love their styling, and their pieces without the fur embellishments still are quite cute!

FAVOURITE: 2021 shfw

4. CUCCULELLI SHAHEEN

pinterest also brought me to this one!

think glamour. think sparkles. think euphoria but aged up and set kind of in a vaguely old hollywood-esque era. that's Cucculelli Shaheen to me.

Cucculelli Shaheen is NYC-based, and was founded in 2016. which is insane to me, because the level of craftsmanship in their work is breathtaking. their tailoring and the patterns of their pieces are literally... chef's kiss. i'd give up my first born for a dress from them.

listen, the embellishments? the intricacy? the detail??? their pieces are astoundingly lavish and astoundingly beautiful. not to mention, their shoots are basically works of art themselves.

i'm not a bride-to-be, nor am i going to be in the near future, but their bridal collections make me..... goddamn. someone wife me up.

FAVOURITE: collection 13 OR collection 10

5. SCHIAPARELLI

yeah. you don't even need an intro to this one.

if you've been anywhere on the internet in the past month or so, and i mean ANYWHERE, you've probably seen the recent schiaparelli show. and the reactions that go along with it range anywhere from sane, logical, to absolutely batshit crazy takes.

me, personally, in my oh so humble opinion - i loved the recent show. the phrase "a feast for the eyes" was basically made for this show. i mean, the uproar (get it) over the fake taxidermy heads alone was entertaining, but the show itself was a freaking stunner.

i've always loved daniel roseberry's work. i think he does a great job of sticking to the house's codes, whilst also creating a new, exciting vision for the brand. it's what elsa would have wanted!

daniel roseberry has brought so much drama to schiaparelli in his time there - both in terms of public intrigue, but also in the actual pieces. the garments are so bombastic and literally are each works of art in their own right.

i love their use of shapes and i love the over-the-top-ness of it all. i can't wait to see what they do next.

FAVOURITE: fall-winter 2022 couture

that's it for this post, hope u liked it <3 i've never really done much fashion critiquing (unless you count me and my friends sanctimoniously picking apart chanel's recent shows), so this is pretty much new to me.

:3 hope u all have a great day!

catastrophically yours,

luxicides

[pexels-ind]

You can find the Latest trending blogs of Interior Design on the website pexels ind. We are committed to presenting the most recent information about Interior Design, Music, podcasts, and other topics to India. For More Information : pexels-ind.com/

[influencer-agency123]

Top TikTok Influencers in Dubai

TikTok audience soars in the land of luxury, fascination, and rich cultural diversity; Dubai, like the skyscrapers that kiss the heavens. TikTokholics, cheer! Electrifying desert safaris, the latest fashion trends, jaw-dropping theme parks, thrilling make-up tutorials, humorous pranks, tasty cuisine, fitness regimes, and more- the top TikTok influencers in Dubai, UAE let the city’s futuristic charm meet TikTok’s dynamic energy. They represent the country’s unique vibe through the window of their TikTok account.  They provide us with dynamic, and varied content.  On the other hand, they help brands reach untapped markets and strengthen their user affinity.

Marketing science from the research center; The Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, reliably signified that the best way for brands to grow is by getting new users on board. Hence, brands need to reach and appeal to more people in the market, particularly those who are competitors’ buyers.

TikTok is a platform that is principally driven by an algorithm, unlike other social networks that are modeled by followers, so accounts without many followers can quickly gain traction if the content they create is interesting to the masses. Hence, it is advisable to connect with our TikTok influencer marketing strategists to find the right influencer for your campaign.

In 2024, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia have the highest TikTok reach, with approximately 140% of their populations aged 18 and older using the platform. This translates to 68.6% overall adult reach for the UAE and 78.3% for Saudi Arabia (According to Statista).

As per DataReportal, TikTok had 10.73 million users aged 18 and above in the United Arab Emirates in early 2024.

Now, that we know the significance of the TikTok platform, let us understand who precisely are the Top TikTokers in the UAE.

Who are TikTok influencers in Dubai, UAE? 

TikTok is an addictive user-friendly platform, implying audiences stay using this network for a long time. Top TikTok influencers in the MENA and Gulf region are one of the major reasons behind this. They post frequently on their TikTok account and thereby have gained massive popularity. They share short-form videos spanning various arenas, like; entertainment, food, fitness, comedy, dance, beauty, health, lifestyle, and more. Moreover these top influencers have a strong connections with influencer marketing agency in Dubai to get premium brand collaborations.

Furthermore, the most followed TikTokers in United Arab Emirates change consumer behaviour, shape trends and ultimately build digital communities. Now let us move on to the most authentic list of TikTok Instagrammers in the Middle East.

List of Top TikTok Influencers in Dubai, UAE 

1. Ghaith Marwan  

USP: Ghaith Marwan keeps communications lively and fun with challenges by using prevalent TikTok trends, and memes.

About the Best TikTok Influencer in Dubai: Ghaith Marwan, shares cherished and downright fun experiences on his TikTok account.  The top TikTok creator was awarded the Kids Choice Award in 2023 and the YouTube Trailblazer Award in 2022.

He covers a wide range of topics, like; interviews and vlogs on fashion and travel. He has promoted various restaurants. He also raised awareness about social matters and advocated for righteousness.

2. Sara Alwari

USP: Drives luxurious cars to travel across the Middle East and embrace the traditions of diverse cultures.

About the Best TikTok Influencer in Dubai: Here we have wonderful Sara Alwari, a 23-year-old clinical nutritionist thriving on TikTok! She provides enjoyable narratives in her daily life. Her content rolls around from modeling, food, makeup, pranks, encounters, exercise staples, and traveling. She is also a certified personal trainer. She married prevalent Syrian TikToker Ghaith Marwan in 2023.

3. Nora and Khalid 

USP: They blend cultural education with enjoyable content, making them relatable and engaging for an extensive audience.

About the Best TikTok Influencer in the UAE: Nora and Khalid provide a beautiful combination

 of diverse cultures, as Nora Achmaoui, is Moroccan born and raised in Germany, and Khalid, is from Palestine. Their content reflects the love for adventure, home décor, entrepreneurship and fashion. Nora Achmaoui is also a business expert, author, coach, and speaker who talks about social issues. The top Emirati TikTokers have worked with Fenty Beauty, JW Anderson, Versace, Lacoste, Nissan, etc. The couple engages in many activities like; cooking, attending celebrations and exclusive events, and pranking each other.

4. Mohammad Hindash

USP: His gift of creating styles that are both high-fashion and easy to attain, combining artistic skills with exhaustive knowledge of beauty trends makes him stand out.

About the TikTok star in Dubai: Mohammed Hindash is an award-winning Jordanian-Palestinian makeup artist, entrepreneur and TikTok influencer in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He is well-known for publishing cosmetic product reviews and tutorials on his MHindash channel. His content is inspired by the comic books he read throughout his teenage years. He creates beauty portraits while studying at the Visual Communication - Studio Art, American University in Dubai. He won the Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award for Fine Arts.  His work has been represented in over 20 gallery exhibitions, including the SIKKA Art Fair. He has creative and state-of-the-art thinking in cosmetics.  He has worked with brands like MAC Cosmetic Middle East, Chanel, Charlotte Tilbury, Fenty Beauty, etc.

5.    Sherin Amara

USP: she is famous for her dance concerts and lip-syncs

About the TikTok influencer in the GCC: Sherin Ammara is a Syrian-born content creator who has efficaciously established herself in the beauty, make-up, and lifestyle industry.  Her posts include; challenges, beauty tutorials, unboxing diverse beauty and fashion products, dance performances, lip-syncs, and comedy videos. She has collaborated with well-known brands like; Makeup Forever and Sephora.

6. Shahad Hassan

USP: Shahad Hassan is known for providing makeup looks using reasonably priced products.

About the TikTok influencer: Shahad Hassan, born on 11 July 1996 in Sweden is one of the top TikTok influencers in Dubai, who shares videos about beauty, lifestyle, family, challenges, food, etc. She shares content studio sessions, represents diverse outfits, and provides makeup looks using reasonably priced products. She promotes discounts and offers on numerous brands, encouraging her followers to take benefit of special deals. She created her YouTube channel on September 16, 2018. She has collaborated with brands like; She glam official & Nyx cosmetics Arabia. She unambiguously outshines at hijab-style fashion. She has a high engagement rate on TikTok 4.97%.

7. Aliona and Yazan

USP: Very high engagement rate.

About the TikTok influencer: Aliona and Yazan are some of the best Emirati TikTokers. Aliona is a public speaker and writer of "The Self-Powered Life" and an enthusiastic Political science student. Yazan is a civil engineer who bagged numerous managerial certifications. Both of them, have a strong influence on both female and male audiences (72% Females and 27% Males) and have collaborated with Ralph Lauren, Dove, Dyson Arabia, YSL Beauty, Baruni Fashion, Dee Closet, Huawei, etc. The top TikTokers in Dubai make public appearances at exclusive events, representing numerous designer outfits. The brand Aliona Cosmetics is their pride She has a very high engagement rate of around 8.93%.

8. Sherin Ammara

USP: Sherin Ammara is a Makeup pundit!

About the Emirati Influencer: Sherin Ammara is a fashion and beauty TikTok influencer known for her unique outfits and dashing makeup looks. She shares beauty tutorials, vlogs on latest fashion trends as well as provide great product recommendations. She collaborated with brands like; L'Oreal Paris, La Roche-Posay, Sephora Middle East, Nyx Cosmetics Arabia, etc. They epitomize an extraordinary talent for making short films. Moreover, her high engagement is astounding of 7.04%.

Conclusion: 

The biggest influencers on TikTok in GCC have become good cohorts for brands that are seeking increased awareness, credibility, sales, and ROI.

Within the UAE bionetwork and around, we custom-build TikTok influencer marketing campaigns that match the right maneuvers with the right storytellers to achieve the highest ROI. We are a full-cycle influencer marketing agency producing meaningful stories, purposeful engagements, experiences, and strategic content. With our exclusive, professional, and enduring influencer marketing expertise, we create the most candid influences to deliver the results you desire. 

[naivrse]

nabillera  ,  often  referred  to  as  simply  nabi  ,  was  a  five–membered  south  korean  girl  group  that was  formed  and  managed  by  seventh  heaven in 2007.  consisting  of  leader  and  main  dancer  minji  ,  main  vocalist  naomi  ,  visual  ,  center , and main rapper  ara  ,  lead  vocalist  jinah  ,  and  lead  dancer  and  maknae  nani  ,  the  group  made  their  official  debut  in  may  of  2009  with  the  digital  single  “  diva  ”. they were the first act ever to debut under seventh heaven , and are are widely considered to have paved the way for the company and all of its artists subsequently.

nabillera were best known for their catchy dancepop sound , girl crush concept , and glamorous aesthetic— their iconic logo being a hot pink and purple school crest adorned by blinged–out butterflies. they were highly influential , constantly setting fashion and concept trends that still permeate in the k–pop industry today. however , they were also quite controversial , coming under fire for their signature "skimpy" look and the influence they had on young girls at the time as a top girl group.

nabillera's disbandment in 2013 was abrupt , as seventh heaven had reported that they were preparing to release another studio album in the new year only a few weeks beforehand. a news outlet ended up leaking that all of the members , save for ara , had petitioned to a court to terminate their contracts with the label. despite 7h's blatant attempts to drive them apart , all five of the members managed to remain close up until 2022 , when ara released a collaborative single with honeylemon , creating animosity between her and naomi and crushing what little hope fans had that they'd ever reunite for a comeback.

to this day , the public still can't get over nabillera— constantly lamenting and theorizing on what could've been for the girl group. all of the members are still prominent public figures ; minji opened her own dance studio in 2015 and recently competed on street woman fighter 2 with one of its troupes , placing third. naomi is an actress and married her longtime boyfriend early last year , she's also released two studio albums. ara is thriving as one of the highest selling female soloists in k–pop history. jinah started her own fashion brand in 2016 and has since opened several stores in korea , and is gearing up to take it international this year. nandhini is an actress and model , and has found great success in the u.k. , where she was raised , and the u.s. , where she currently resides.

general

company  :  seventh  heaven

genres  :  dancepop  ,  electropop  ,  r&b

fandom  : flutter

colors  : hot pink ( #ed66b2 ) , purple empress ( #86469c )

popular tracks : genie , crazy , lose my breath , catch me if you can , dr. evil

members

lee minji ( b. 1989 )

naomi utaura ( b. 1991 )

baek ara ( b. 1991 )

seo jinah ( b. 1992 )

nandhini "nani" pillai ( b. 1993 )

[thepastisalreadywritten]

10 best royal exhibitions to continue the Coronation celebrations, from Buckingham Palace to Blenheim

The day of the Coronation is over but these remarkable royal exhibitions across the UK means the excitement doesn’t need to be

By Natasha Leake

18 May 2023

The glow from King Charles III’s Coronation is starting to fade, but there is plenty more pomp and ceremony to be discovered at these extraordinary royal exhibitions currently being staged across the country.

Stately homes and royal palaces have transformed their sumptuous rooms into backdrops for stunning showcases of royal regalia, period costumes and mementos of past Coronations.

From Blair Castle to Castle Howard; Blenheim to Buckingham Palace, book a date at one of these must-see royal exhibitions to keep the celebrations going.

Through a carefully curated selection of more than 200 pieces, the Kensington Palace fashion exhibition draws parallels between the pomp, ceremony and performance of the contemporary red carpet and the pressure to ‘see and be seen’ at Georgian court.

One-of-a-kind creations worn by Lizzo, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga et al. are juxtaposed with outfits worn by 18th century movers and shakers in the State Apartments, which, handily, is where the showcase is staged.

Pictured: A row of magnificent outfits in the King’s Gallery at the Crown to Couture

5 April - 31 October 2023

Blenheim Palace is using the occasion of the Coronation to celebrate its historic connection with the Royal Family.

With a collection of previously unseen artefacts, crowns, coronets, robes, and photo albums, take a trip into the world of royal fashion with an impeccably restored Norman Hartnell silk gown, worn by the then Rosemary Spencer-Churchill to the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.

Also on display are costumes from Bridgerton and The Crown, and a page from a Blenheim visitor’s book, which includes the elegant inked signatures of Wallis Simpson (the future Duchess of Windsor) and her second husband, Ernest A. Simpson.

Pictured: The restored Maid of Honour Coronation dress worn by Rosemary Spencer-Churchill to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

19 March - 30 July 2023

Originally launched in 2022, the award-winning Castle Couture exhibition returns this summer to Blair Castle, the ancestral home of the Atholl family, with an extended edition that showcases statement designs, intricate embroidery, innovative textiles, and style influences from the 18th century through to the 20th century.

Among the highlights are delightfully delicate ostrich feather and Brussels lace fans by the renowned Parisienne craftsman Duvelleroy, the appointed supplier to Queen Victoria.

There are also pieces from the personal collection of the late Katharine Stewart-Murray, Duchess of Atholl, Scotland’s first Scottish female Member of Parliament.

Pictured: This ballgown would have been worn by Lady Glenlyon (later Anne, Duchess of Atholl) during the visit as they dined with the royal couple.

1st April – 28th October 2023

In a homage to the Regency period, visitors are invited to take a step back into the world of the Georgians with an exhibition that looks at how fashion trends reflected the significant trade, travel and technological advances of the period.

A highlight of the exhibition is a rarely displayed, full-length portrait of Queen Charlotte (of Bridgerton fame) by Thomas Gainsborough, dated from around 1781, which usually hangs in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

The showcase also features one of the earliest surviving British royal wedding dresses: a stunning gown worn by Princess Charlotte of Wales in 1816.

Pictured: A painting of King George III by Allan Ramsay, c.1761–2.

21 April – 8 October 2023

The late Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved corgis captured the hearts of the nation the late monarch’s funeral.

Now they are being celebrated as part of a free exhibition at the Wallace Collection, in central London.

The one-room display features touching imagery of the Queen with her corgis.

It coincides with the museum’s exhibition, ‘Portraits of Dogs: From Gainsborough to Hockney,’ which celebrates human devotion to dogs over the centuries through a carefully curated selection of 50 paintings, sculptures, drawings and taxidermy.

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II sitting on rocks on the Garbh-allt Burn with two corgis on the Estate at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, September 1971

8 March – 25 June 2023

Situated in a pair of beautifully restored early Georgian townhouses, the exhibition showcases centuries of royal fans from across the globe, including a special, printed, English fan marking the restoration of Charles II and the contemporary fans made by The Fan Museum in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

The exhibition promises to be ‘not merely a look back on what has been but a rally of hope for what is to come.’

King Charles III has also taken an avid interest in the Fan Museum’s work.

Pictured: A Belgian folding fan dating from 1881

1 February - 24 June 2023

The Long Gallery at Castle Howard, home to the Howard family for more than 300 years, is hosting an incredible exhibition featuring an exact replica of the Crown Jewels and peers’ robes worn to coronations gone by.

Set in 10,000 glorious acres on the edge of the Yorkshire moors, Castle Howard was commissioned in 1699 by the 3rd Earl of Carlisle from Sir John Vanbrugh, who later conceived Blenheim Palace.

The 1st Earl of Carlisle was descended from Lord William Howard, the youngest son of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk (the current Duke of Norfolk organised the King and Queen’s Coronation).

Pictured: Castle Howard’s replica of the Crown Jewels

From April 1

During the last Coronation, the hotel had to secure extra flagpoles in order to fly banners for the many different royals and dignitaries staying there.

The archive overflows with Coronation material, which is why Claridge’s unveiled a space showcasing the hotel’s status as ‘the Royal Hostelry.’

Mementos on display include pages from Queen Victoria’s diary, fans created for the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, and Claridge’s menus and cocktail cards created for the coronations of King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Pictured: A collection of royal mementos including featuring a book of 53 photographs of the then Prince of Wales, and an order of service from the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Until May 31

The world watched in awe as the newly crowned King Charles III and Queen Camilla processed from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach.

This extraordinary regal treasure is available to view at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, alongside the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which transported Their Majesties to the Abbey ahead of the service.

Also housed in the mews? The famous Windsor Grey horses, which drew the magnificent carriages on the day.

Pictured: The Gold State Coach

2 March - 30 October 2023

At the epicentre of the Coronation was Westminster Abbey. So where better to delve into the gilded history of the captivating service?

A new exhibition in the Chapter House reveals the key elements of the royal ceremony, which has taken place at the Abbey for nearly a thousand years.

Featuring historic illustrations and archive photography, it promises to unpack and explain the Coronation’s magnificent ceremonial regalia and objects.

8 April - 30 September 2023

[richincolor]

We've got a packed week with seven new releases on our calendar! Which ones are on your TBR list?

The HarperCollins Union has been striking since 10 November 2022. Please consider supporting the strike by purchasing books through the union's Bookshop account or by donating to the strike fund.

NerdCrush by Alisha Emrich Running Press Kids

Ramona Lambert is a typical shy, artistic sixteen-year-old. She has a best friend whom she’s known since they were in diapers; parents who love her; a love for cosplay; and a crush on the cute boy in her class.

The only problem? Her best friend moved away; her parents don't quite understand her love of cosplay; and she is pretty sure her crush has no idea she exists.

To escape her troubles, Ramona turns to cosplay and her original character, Rel, who gives her the confidence and freedom that she lacks in real life. Embracing this confidence, she decides to strike up an email conversation with her crush, Caleb Wolfe, from her cosplay account in the hopes getting to know him . . . and maybe win his heart. Then as Caleb and Ramona are swept up in their emails back and forth to each other, and Ramona falls even harder as he opens up about his hopes, insecurities, and his own geeky loves. However, as Caleb starts to grow closer and closer to Rel, he also strikes up a friendship with Ramona, who knows she can't keep the truth about Rel from Caleb but isn't sure she is ready to risk losing him. With an important cosplay convention coming up and the anxiety of her double-life weighing on her, Ramona has to decide if she’ll hide behind her cosplay character forever or take the chance and let Caleb see the real her--because he might actually like her for who she is. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood Wednesday Books

Eighteen-year-old Victoria is a Wildblood. Kidnapped at the age of six and manipulated by the Exotic Lands Touring Company, she’s worked as a tour guide ever since with a team of fellow Wildbloods who take turns using their magic to protect travelers in a Jamaican jungle teeming with ghostly monsters.

When the boss denies Victoria an earned promotion to team leader in favor of Dean, her backstabbing ex, she’s determined to prove herself. Her magic may be the most powerful on the team, but she’s not the image the boss wants to send their new client, Thorn, a renowned goldminer determined to reach an untouched gold supply deep in the jungle.

Thorn is everything Victoria isn't - confident, impossibly kind, and so handsome he leaves her speechless. And when he entrusts the mission to her, kindness turns to mutual respect, turns to affection, turns to love. But the jungle is treacherous, and between hypnotic river spirits, soul-devouring women that shed their skin like snakes, and her ex out for revenge, Victoria has to decide - is promotion at a corrupt company really what she wants? -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Going Dark by Melissa de la Cruz Union Square Co.

#WhereisAmeliaAshley

The Influencer Amelia Ashley shares everything with her followers – her favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants, her best fashion tips, and her European trip-of-a-lifetime with her hot boyfriend.

The Boyfriend Josh has no choice but to return home without Amelia after she abandons him in Rome. He has no clue where she went or how her blood got in his suitcase. Why won’t anyone believe him?

The Hacker To Harper Delgado, Amelia Ashley is just another missing white girl whipping up a media frenzy. But with each digital knot she untangles about the influencer, Harper wonders: who is Amelia Ashley?

The Other Girl Two years ago, another girl went missing, one who never made headlines or had a trending hashtag.

The Truth Amelia’s disappearance has captured the world’s attention. What comes next? Watch this space…

Told through a mixture of social media posts, diary entries, and firsthand accounts, Going Dark is a gripping, suspenseful thriller about all the missing girls who fall off the radar, perfect for true crime fans and readers of One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus.

These Infinite Threads (This Woven Kingdom, #2) by Tahereh Mafi HarperCollins

(The HarperCollins Union has been striking since 10 November 2022. Please consider supporting the strike by purchasing books through the union's Bookshop account or by donating to the strike fund.)

Alizeh is the heir to the Jinn throne and fulfills a long-foretold prophecy of a Jinn sovereign destined to free her people from the half-lives they’ve been forced to live under the rule of humans.

Kamran is the heir to the human throne, and he’s being pressured to marry before he becomes king. When he falls in love with Alizeh and subsequently learns her true identity, he must question everything he’s been taught about Jinn and their future in his kingdom.

These Infinite Threads picks up at the explosive cliff-hanger ending of the New York Times bestselling novel This Woven Kingdom, and is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeyemi, and Sabaa Tahir. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Long Run by James Acker Inkyard Press

(The HarperCollins Union has been striking since 10 November 2022. Please consider supporting the strike by purchasing books through the union's Bookshop account or by donating to the strike fund.)

Sebastian Villeda is over it. Over his rep. Over his bros. Over being "Bash the Flash," fastest sprinter in South Jersey. His dad is gone, his mom is dead, and his stepfather is clueless. Bash has no idea what he wants out of life. Until he meets Sandro.

Sandro Miceli is too nice for his own good. The middle child in an always-growing, always-screaming Italian family, Sandro walks around on a broken foot to not bother his busy parents. All he wants is to get out and never look back.

When fate—in the form of a party that gets busted—brings these two very different boys together, neither of them could’ve predicted finding a love that they’d risk everything for… -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

This Time It's Real by Ann Liang Scholastic

When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin’s essay about meeting the love of her life unexpectedly goes viral, her entire life changes overnight. Now she has the approval of her classmates at her new international school in Beijing, a career-launching internship opportunity at her favorite magazine…and a massive secret to keep.

Eliza made her essay up. She’s never been in a relationship before, let alone in love. All good writing is lying, right?

Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. She’ll help him write his college applications if he poses as her boyfriend. Caz is a dream boyfriend -- he passes handwritten notes to her in class, makes her little sister laugh, and takes her out on motorcycle rides to the best snack stalls around the city.

But when her relationship with Caz starts feeling a little too convincing, all of Eliza’s carefully laid plans are threatened. Can she still follow her dreams if it means breaking her own heart?

Daughters of Oduma by Moses Ose Utomi Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Eat. Dance. Fight.

This is the life of the girls who compete in the Isle’s elite, all-female fighting sport of Bowing. But it isn’t really Dirt’s life anymore. At sixteen, she is old and has retired from competition. Instead, she spends her days coaching the younger sisters of the Mud Fam and dreading her fast-approaching birthday, when she’ll have to leave her sisters to fulfill whatever destiny the Gods choose for her.

Dirt’s young sisters are coming along nicely, and the Mud Fam is sure to win the upcoming South God Bow tournament, which is crucial: the tiny Fam needs the new recruits that come with victory. Then an attack from a powerful rival leaves the Mud without their top Bower, and Dirt is the only one who can compete in the tournament. But Dirt is old, out of shape, and afraid. She has never wanted to be a leader. Victory seems impossible—yet defeat would mean the end of her beloved Fam. And no way is Dirt going to let that happen.