The world financial markets are plunging but at Versace, hemlines are soaring. How often have we seen in history skirt lengths do the opposite to the economy, especially in Italy, where not only is the party-loving prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, facing five criminal trials but his country has just seen its credit rating drop from AA to A because of its national debt.
Italy is the third biggest economy in the eurozone, and a substantial part of what keeps it afloat is its luxury fashion industry. Big brands such as Armani, Gucci, Prada and Versace bring in substantial export revenues, so there will be a lot depending on sales of Donatella's short skirts and flashy gold trims. In fact, there was so much gilding on Versace's new minidresses, that, if melted down, they would go a long way to solving Italy's debt crisis - except that, regrettably, the gold was not real. Nevertheless, these dresses with their starfish and mermaid prints were perfect for party-loving girls making merry before the ship goes down. Although hopefully Italy's situation will not come to that.
Donatella Versace has gone back to the house's fun-loving roots for her summer collection, offering the signature pleated minis and shorts, leather and neoprene biker jackets trimmed with bondage strapping and armour-like gold studding. The only things missing on the catwalk were the top models such as Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford who once would have paraded these glamazon styles for Gianni Versace back in the early 1990s, the Medusa heads and the exuberant baroque prints - but those made a surprise appearance elsewhere.
Versace has been trawling the archives researching historic pieces to rework for the forthcoming capsule collection for the Swedish fast fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz, and it obviously has influenced her mainline collection. This was Gianni in his Miami phase, but given Donatella's modern spin. The punky glamour of the collection was balanced by the watercolour softness of the sea life prints, the pale palette (white, lilac and eau de nil) and the long fluid gowns that will be gracing a few red carpets in the coming season.
The screaming baroque scarf prints so adored by Gianni Versace made an exuberant statement on the D&G catwalk in what turns out to have been the last collection for this lively, younger, more affordable line. D&G will be absorbed into the main Dolce & Gabbana collection, a decision that the designers, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are happy about. So this was the collection's last hurrah and an upbeat and joyous one it was, too. The backdrop of giant silk foulards (square scarves) hinted at the theme as a parade of beauties in chunky gold jewellery and gilded sunglasses came out demonstrating more ways to wear a silk square than a Hermès handbook. A riotous mix of scarf prints was wrapped into bandeaux, knotted into shirts (suspended together from a waistband as handkerchief hem minis), worn as halters, bloomers, boxer shorts, jewelled tunics and cropped cigarette trousers and gypsy dresses. It was the perfect way to wrap up D&G.
Over the past year foulards have been returning from a long period in the fashion wilderness as the main fare of airport retail outlets, and are once again appreciated for their unique picturesque imagery. Celine and, naturally, Hermès are among those rehabilitating the luxurious printed silk twill square. Emilio Pucci, the venerable house founded on its psychedelic way with colour and print, presented beautiful scarf print shirts (teamed with scarf-belted tailored Bermuda shorts) and halter-neck tops in what the designer Peter Dundas describes as his "haute gypsy" collection.
The designer dug out of Pucci's vast archives stunning prints that he mixed and matched into patchworks of sizzling hot reds and pinks, or venomous yellow and black for long gypsy skirts and lace-edged cropped camisoles. These were the straightforward pieces. Dundas skilfully patched Pucci prints on to a nude lingerie lace slip, or a long stretch tulle sheath dress; others were sprinkled with ostrich feathers and beading to create a highly desirable alta moda style for the haute bohemian. If I were an Italian and this were my last party then I most certainly would want to be wearing something from this collection.
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians won by three runs
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T
Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000
Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic
Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
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.
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
