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From five-fingered trainers to the shoeless shoe: what’s with all the freaky footwear?

‘Ugly’ shoes, once the preserve of the catwalk, have gone mainstream. Why are so many people taking a walk on the wild side? Until recently, a busy commuter train would be packed with people wearing low-key, unobtrusive shoes. An elegant and inoffensive pump, a sporty trainer or a polite and basic ballet flat, they were the type of shoes that said background extra rather than main character energy. But now change is afoot. Deliberately strange designs are reaching new heights of desirability. Polarising rather than pretty, these shoes tend to be flat, a little bit orthopaedic and, according to

Lime bike jousts? Why youth culture is embracing the medieval era

From chainmail-wearing pop stars to high-fashion catwalks, the spirit of the middle ages is erupting into the zeitgeist Medieval knights used to joust on warhorses with wooden lances, but this week in east London, two men jousted on Lime bikes with PVC pipes. This contemporary spin on a medieval spectacle is just one example of the spirit of the middle ages erupting into the zeitgeist. As part of Frieze art fair, the artist Corbin Shaw staged a show called Feast of Fools. The “‘anti-Frieze” Frieze show took inspiration from a medieval festival where, as Shaw put it to GQ, “the peasant class co

‘A form of anti-status status’ – how much would you pay for a plain tote bag?

The ubiquitous carrier has been given a four-figure makeover. But why has an everyday bag associated with running errands and US supermarkets become so aspirational? • Don’t get Fashion Statement delivered to your inbox? Sign up here If you were in the blessed position of having £500 to spend on a bag, what would you look for? Would it be made of cotton? A nice light shade bound to sully quickly, like “paper white” or ecru? Would you want something that looks a lot like those ubiquitous totes sold by a certain US supermarket chain for a couple of dollars? No, thought not. But there are plenty

‘I wanted to create the female version of a man’s suit’: how Roland Mouret’s Galaxy dress took over the world

One the most famous dresses of this century, it was worn by royalty and A-list celebrities in the noughties. Its latest fans are Maga women. Here, the designer, and former mentor to Victoria Beckham, reveals the story behind it The story of one of the most photographed and ripped-off dresses of the last 50 years came together with a simple zip. It was 1998; the designer Roland Mouret had shown his first collection at London fashion week and was looking for a way to produce good clothes at speed. He connected with a small British atelier and it was there that some old-school industry wisdom wou

Sali Hughes on beauty: cream blush sticks for every skin type

With new shades and formulations, the latest cream blush sticks are eminently wearable There’s something so irresistible about cream blush sticks. The fact that one can scribble on and smoosh in the instant appearance of good health makes sticks a practical handbag essential that ticks off both lips and cheeks. Whereas previous incarnations were broadly samey and could mostly be differentiated by colour alone, the new crop includes a formulation for any skin type – even oily. Continue reading...

Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion: don’t want to get your Big Winter Coat out just yet? Try ‘onion dressing’

It’s time to learn the art of layering – and we’re talking a crew neck with a ballet wrap and blazer, not full-on outdoor explorer Is layering an art? Probably not in the traditional sense. We are not talking the Bayeux tapestry here. No one is going to queue round the block to admire the subtle interplay between your Uniqlo Heattech and your cashmere crewneck. Still, I think it’s nice to romanticise this stuff. The deeply unpoetic truth is that it is going to get cold and wearing one item of clothing at a time simply isn’t going to cut it. So let’s pretend that the sliver of white T-shirt ben

Fast-fashion giant Shein outperforms several Australian retailers on ethics, report says

Ghanda and Windsor Smith are among lowest-rated in Baptist World Aid ethical fashion report based on metrics such as wages and sustainability Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Online fast-fashion giant Shein is outperforming many Australian high street retailers on ethical standards, according to an industry review. The 11th Baptist World Aid ethical fashion report, released on Tuesday, assessed the ethical practices of 138 Australian and international companies, representing 543 fashion brands. Continue reading...

From granny hoods to recycled macs: 13 more sustainable ways to stay dry when it rains

Whether it’s Pfas-free tote bags or wash-in waterproofing, here’s how women can stay dry in style – and with less waste • The best umbrellas – tested After the hottest UK summer on record, autumn 2026 could be wetter and stormier than usual, partly because of the El Niño climate phenomenon, which is predicted to be the strongest of its kind in living memory. But a lot of wet-weather gear – from flimsy umbrellas that blow inside out within seconds to single-use ponchos that will sit in landfill long after this winter has blown over – often isn’t very sustainable. While waterproofed polyester ca

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‘No influencers’: the hotels, restaurants and beauty spots restricting photoshoots

Backlash against content creators includes restricted hours for filming and even outright bans Stand in any vaguely photogenic spot these days on holiday and the chances are you will come across people posing with raised phones and even ring lights. Some may be influencers with huge audiences on social media, others just overkeen Instagram users. With hotels and beauty spots now so overrun, however, bans on photography are coming into place. The five-star Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, known for its glamorous clientele, views of the Côte d’Azur and a stunning infinity pool, has brought in r

Alexandra Shulman: ‘Which book am I ashamed not to have read? Literally the whole canon of classic English literature’

The former British Vogue editor-in-chief and author on a romantic kiss on a traffic island, her school-run regrets, and a very expensive nude Born in London, Alexandra Shulman, 68, studied social anthropology at the University of Sussex. She was a secretary at Over 21 magazine and, in the early 80s, became a journalist at Tatler. In 1990, she was made editor of British GQ and, from 1992 to 2017, she was editor‑in‑chief of British Vogue. For her contribution to fashion journalism, she was awarded both an OBE and a CBE. Her books include novels and the bestselling memoir, Clothes … and Other Thi

Game, set and tache: Carlos Alcaraz joins growing trend for a stylish top lip

Tennis superstar is latest celebrity to sport a ‘refined’ moustache which owes little to bushy Tom Selleck look The tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz might have been knocked out of the Shanghai Masters in straight sets earlier this week, but he did so sporting a moustache that became almost as remarked upon as his aptitude for a sneaky drop shot. “I always wanted to step on the court at least once with the moustache,” Alcaraz said. The Spaniard and his team had all agreed to take the facial-hair plunge if he won the Japan Open, which he did for a second straight year. “¡Bigotes para todos!” or “

How to dress a tech oligarch: The Social Reckoning’s costume designer on Zuckerberg’s style evolution

Susan Lyall worked with actor Jeremy Strong to research the Meta CEO’s favorite Nikes and luxury sweaters The first Aaron Sorkin Facebook movie, 2010’s The Social Network, helped cement the early aughts image of Mark Zuckerberg rebelling against corporate norms in rumpled hoodies and T-shirts. The follow-up, The Social Reckoning, is carbon-dated from 2019 to 2021. This is “post-hoodie”, as the movie’s costume designer, Susan Lyall, describes it, “post-thumbing his nose” to formality. It is also peak robot. Zuckerberg’s reserved wardrobe of suits or interchangeable long-sleeved shirts echo his

Victoria Beckham, ‘duck face’ and onesies: nine things Zoolander predicted about fashion

It’s been 25 years since the release of this film skewering an industry that famously takes itself very seriously. It might have been comedy gold but it was also, in its own way, prophetic • Don’t get Fashion Statement delivered to your inbox? Sign up here Critics were divided, the US release date couldn’t have been worse (a few days after 9/11) and the sequel was a flop. Yet few films have predicted fashion’s own present like 2001’s Zoolander. The memeable absurdist comedy about the “three-times male model of the year” was a cinematic Cassandra: correctly predicting themes, styles and sensibi

20 of the best women’s shoes and boots for autumn, from ballet flats to knee-highs

Whether it’s sleek slip-ons or stompers that mean business, we’ve got the standout pairs for the changing season • 52 women’s autumn wardrobe updates You’ve dug out your knitwear, made a list of cosy TV shows to watch and posted a shot of your first pumpkin spice latte. Autumn is officially here! Now it’s time to start thinking seriously about your footwear. October is nice because it’s usually warm enough to still have a bit of flesh on show, so you can get away with Mary Janes or ballet flats. But it’s also not too hot for boots if you want something with a little more stomp. Here’s a select

Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion: this season’s vibe is lady who lounges - not lunches

Think boucle jackets with low-waisted jeans, silk blouses with masculine trousers, pencil skirts with wellies … It always makes me feel a tiny bit queasy when looking “ladylike”, as a trend or a vibe or whatever, comes into fashion. How does it make sense to spend our hard-earned paychecks cosplaying as women of lunches and leisure? You can’t deny these clothes are cute, though. A boucle jacket can make you feel as if the Eiffel Tower might come into view around the next corner, even though you are in the wrong country. A mini-heel lets you imagine you might be having a glass of sancerre with

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‘Children are naturally drawn to beauty’: the head of the ‘Issey Miyake’ preschool on their pleated uniforms

Ms Lam Montessori’s head of school reveals teachers wear a different Japanese designer after their chic clothes drew online envy “Does anyone know what the deal is Ms Lam Montessori … and why all their employees wear Issey Miyake … every day … I’m confused and a bit jealous,” asked one commenter on the Williamsburg subreddit last week, sparking a unexpected viral moment for a chain of Brooklyn Montessori preschools. The poster was responding to photos on the Montessori’s website of the teachers’ uniforms: raspberry, cobalt and apple green dresses in plissé fabric. They appeared to be from the

Check the waistband – and beware sneaky jargon: the expert guide to buying clothes that last

Should you look for French seams or overlocking? Is dry-clean only a red flag? And how do you spot quality when shopping online? We asked the pros • How to make your leather last a lifetime Take a look at the outfit you’re wearing now: how many times have you worn each item? And how long have you had them? Just over 10 years ago, Eco-Age founder Livia Firth and journalist Lucy Siegle launched the 30 wears challenge to encourage people to buy clothes they would wear at least 30 times. The 30 wears challenge is a great concept. As a journalist interested in sustainable fashion, I’ve enjoyed appl

‘People sell their best stuff on Vinted’ – how charity shops became a dumping ground for unsellable clothes

Swamped with ‘daily avalanches’ of soiled items and poor-quality fast fashion, secondhand stores are in crisis. What went wrong with people’s good intentions? And is it possible to donate more effectively? The small stockroom of St Raphael’s Hospice charity shop in Cheam, south London, is rammed with donations. “On average, we get 30 to 50 bags a day,” says Caroline Worley, the commercial manager, “but it’s not unusual to receive over 100.” This might sound like a good problem to have, but the sheer volume of stuff is the shop’s biggest challenge. “Sometimes, there’s only [enough] floor space

‘Our town is making jeans again’: meet the firm reviving jobs and skills in Wales

In the first article in a series on high end British manufacturing, we visit the Hiut Denim factory in Cardigan Worn on the streets of London’s Soho, San Francisco or Sydney, every pair of high-end jeans made by Hiut Denim comes from the rather unlikely location of a small coastal town in west Wales. Cardigan, with a population of just 4,200, has a proud history of denim production and was once home to Britain’s largest jeans factory, even if the town’s name recalls a different garment entirely. Continue reading...