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The Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm 5ft 9' & tried 7 dresses under £20 – Primark's viral one showed my cheeks while ‘flattering' M&S frock was frumpy
FROM runways to affordable high street clothing ranges, we all know that the fashion industry still has a long way to go in creating a more diverse landscape. As well as seriously failing in size - whether you have a bigger or a smaller bust and so on - there's also a serious lack of height inclusivity, something I know too well as someone who's 5'9ft. Historically, mainstream and fast fashion brands have catered for the average height – which reaches just 5ft 4in for a woman in the UK. This means that many trending and viral pieces garments are inaccessible to taller fashionistas like myself - especially when it comes to rocking a mini dress in summer. While I am all for a leggy display, some of the mini frocks are often too short even for my liking - and that comes from someone who sports teeny shorts at the gym. From short cuffs to even shorter hems, finding clothes online, or even in store, that will fit comfortably - and won't have your cheeks on show - can be challenging. So if you're like me and are tired of having to wear maxi dresses when it's boiling hot, see which viral mini frocks, including trending Primark numbers, will cover your dignity - and the ones that will give strangers a full show for free. New Look Tiered Mini Dress, £29.99 12 12 While I rarely shop at New Look - purely because there isn't one near me - my fashion-obsessed friends always rave about their huge collection of summer dresses. One of the many items that have been flying off the shelves is their Tiered Mini Dress, setting you back just £29.99. Available in white and fiery red, this little number can be styled up or down - pair it with hot trainers and you're good to go for a sunny picnic, or team it with strappy heels and you're bound to turn heads. But is it tall girlie-approved? Absolutely - but do make sure to wear skin-toned undies, as the material is quite see-through. Although this summery and flirty frock covered my dignity, it's simply not the one for me - as it felt like I was rocking an apron. Fashion fans 'need' Primark's new £14 linen trousers - there's two colours to choose from and they're great for spring Primark Kids Gingham Check Dress, £10 It's one the latest items that broke the internet - the viral Primark Gingham Check Dress that petite fashionistas could easily pull off, despite it being sold at the kids' section. The gorgeous mini frock, retailing for just a tenner, screams summer picnics in the park thanks to its timeless check print. To give the adorable dress a fair chance, I picked it up in the biggest size possible - aimed for 14 and 15-year-old teenagers. Although I somehow managed to squeeze into this teeny dress, it's safe to say it came off the second I turned around and was gobsmacked by how short it is - which shouldn't have been a shock, really. It's a real shame, as I loved the print and the cut - but if you're anything above 5'5'', I'd suggest to steer clear of this number... unless you want to have your cheeks hanging out - quite literally. New Look Black Square Neck Flared Mini Dress, £32.99 12 This head-turning number features a timeless design that's sure to remain a hit for the summers to come - a square neckline teamed with a flowy bottom half, ideal to hide the bloating from all those cheeky Aperols. Online, this LBD is also available in sky blue and vibrant red - perfect if you want to add a pop of colour to your summer wardrobe. One shopper, who is 5'2'', praised the wallet-friendly frock, claiming it ''gives a lovely shape'' - but will it be tall girl-approved? If you're on the lookout for something basic yet flirty - and comfortable - this dress is a winner. While I wasn't a great fan with how it looked with my white Veja trainers, this LBD would look incredible paired with strappy heels, a golden necklace and statement earrings. More importantly - it covers everything it needs to cover, while still having that cheeky and playful side to it. Top Primark summer buys IF you're looking for more Primark summer buys, then you've come to the right place. Shoppers have recently been raving about the new Miffy PJs from Primark. Others were desperate to nab the new leopard print nightwear. If animal print is your thing, you'll want to check out the new maxi skirts. The haltnerneck tops are perfect for summer. If you're on a budget, these trousers are identical to a pair from Zara, but without the hefty price tag. There's brilliant travel essentials for less than £10. And if you plan on heading to the beach, you won't want to miss these crochet bags. Primark Sleeveless Corset Mini Dress, £23 When in doubt - or on a budget - Primark is the go-to for millions of Brits on the lookout for last-minute garments, or Anthropologie dupes and cotton-rich bedding. In the recent years, our favourite discount retailer has seriously upped its fashion game - and this Sleeveless Corset Mini Dress is no exception. Setting you back a mere £23, this skater-style dress comes in cream, hot pink and floral - the latter of which caught my eye right away - and features an adorable bow detailing on the back. The model online is only a tad bit shorter than me, reaching at 5'7ft - and the dress was already giving quite the leggy display, so it's safe to say I was rather sceptical before putting it on. And rightly so - as while from the front it did cover my bits, you couldn't say the same about the party in the back. Drop Waist Sleeveless Dress, £10 12 After the epic fail of the adorable gingham Primark dress, I didn't have much hope for this Girls Drop Waist Sleeveless Dress, priced at just £10. But while it was clearly too small and designed for someone who hasn't hit puberty yet, it did somehow cover my lower half - though just about. The buttermilk yellow - one of the most trending colours of the season - complimented my tan and I liked the bottom half of the dress. However, if you're on the taller or more athletic side - save that £10, as you won't be able to get both of arms in and you'll most likely just end up looking like an overgrown toddler. 12
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Ask the Style Doctors: ‘Which British fashion brands should I buy?'
In this advice series, Telegraph fashion experts Lisa Armstrong and Stephen Doig answer readers' what-to-wear dilemmas. This week, they advise on how the best British brands to shop now and the return of the waist. Dear Stephen, I'm increasingly keen that when shopping for clothes I help feed into our economy and secure jobs for UK craftspeople. So how can I make sure to buy British? – Charles Dear Charles, This is an issue that's become increasingly thorny in today's fashion landscape – like 'greenwashing', the practice of claiming to be eco-friendly while doing no such thing, there can be a fair amount of 'localwashing'. This means that a brand proudly claims to be ' Made in Britain ', but that involves some zips or finishing being applied in Blighty while the majority of the work is done elsewhere. If you're interested, it's a topic tackled nobly by Patrick Grant, the tailor and The Great British Sewing Bee judge in his book Less, which urges us to stop our over-consumption. Grant writes about companies who are swaggeringly British in their branding, but do little to support the local economies from which they sprang. Cotton pique polo, £120, Private White VC For instance, Aquascutum and Hunter are just two 'British' brands that don't make in the UK. Grant includes an excellent glossary of pieces that are genuinely 'Made in Britain' from start to finish, including his own initiative Community Clothing, which is excellent (great socks), as well as Barbour, Begg & Co, Margaret Howell, Private White VC and many others that produce in a way that feeds into the UK economy, creates jobs and safeguards skills. Ribbed cotton socks, £8.50, Community Clothing From my own experience, I've been lucky enough to visit many factories that are based in the UK: Sunspel in Northampton, for example, which makes expensive but very, very good T-shirts, as well as Johnstons of Elgin, Emma Willis shirts in Gloucestershire and the many shoemakers based in Northampton. One thing to note is that this is a more expensive way to buy clothes than ordering from a fast-fashion retailer, where the products will likely be pumped with plastics. But I'd rather buy less and better, and little items – like Rooska socks made by a local family-run company in Leicestershire – that aren't pricey considering they're properly made. – Stephen Dear Lisa, Is there any sign of the waist coming back anytime soon? All those empire lines make everyone look seven months pregnant. – Yvonne Dear Yvonne, You're in luck. The waist is emphatically back, on the catwalks, on the red carpets (think Demi Moore's series of drastically cinched-in gowns during this winter's award season, although she was far from the only one), and it's in the stores too. A good starting place is Jasper Conran, who has made a speciality of the shirt dress in various natural fabrics and weights (from £350). Bubble hem dress, £115, Cos Anthropologie is always worth a look. Cos has beautiful bubble-hem sleeveless dresses – that sounds weird, but they look subtly different in a not-too-artsy, sophisticated way and come in soft neutral shades, although you may not go for the 100 per cent recycled polyamide sell… in fact waisted dresses are everywhere. Nothing like the constricted gowns Moore et al wore, but more gentle and comfortable for a 16-hour stint. Separates are another route to stylish contouring. My eye is on a bubble skirt and matching top from M&S in a beautiful cherry red cotton that should hit the stores in a few weeks. – Lisa
Grazia USA
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Grazia USA
Kate Middleton Just Wore Victoria Beckham — & You Can Shop Her Power Look Piece by Piece
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Catherine, Princess of Wales tours design spaces with designer Patrick McDowell during a visit to the British Fashion Council to present the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, at the British Fashion Council at 180 Studios on May 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Aaron Chown –) Princess Catherine is making headlines once again for her timeless yet contemporary style — this time, thanks to an olive green pantsuit by none other than Victoria Beckham. The Princess of Wales presented the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to sustainability-focused designer Patrick McDowell during a ceremony hosted by the British Fashion Council. Held at 180 Studios in London, the event celebrated the best in emerging British talent, with Kate serving as the elegant yet powerful embodiment of the industry's evolution. Her look? A commanding yet feminine ensemble by Victoria Beckham, featuring the Patch Pocket Jacket and Alina Trousers in the muted, earthy 'Willow' tone — a choice that subtly nodded to nature and renewal while reinforcing her commitment to British design. LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Catherine, Princess of Wales presenting Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to designer Patrick McDowell at the British Fashion Council at 180 Studios in central London, where she will present the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British DesignStudios on May 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Aaron Chown –) It was a moment packed with meaning. Kate, who has championed sustainable fashion throughout her royal career, presented the honor to McDowell, a designer known for his circular luxury approach. But her outfit spoke volumes, too: a British-made suit by a female designer, worn while supporting the next generation of innovators. And while the significance was clear, so was the style. The sharply tailored silhouette featured utilitarian pocketing, crisp pleats, and Beckham's signature minimalism. Paired with a ruffled ivory blouse and understated gold accessories, the look struck a perfect balance between formal and fashion-forward. Shop Kate Middleton's Exact Look Fashion fans and royal watchers alike can emulate the Princess of Wales' ensemble with these exact pieces: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 13: Catherine, Princess of Wales, arrives at British Fashion Council's British Design event to present Queen Elizabeth II award in central London, United Kingdom on May 13, 2025. (Photo by Ilyas Tayfun Salci/Anadolu via Getty Images) Blouse: Suit: Heels: A Fashion Moment With Meaning Kate Middleton's choice of Victoria Beckham was more than a stylish decision — it was a strategic one. While she's previously worn Beckham's designs on royal tours, choosing the British designer's suit for this high-profile occasion was a powerful endorsement, especially amid ongoing media chatter around the Beckham family's public dynamics. LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Catherine, Princess of Wales presenting Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to designer Patrick McDowell (centre) accompanied by his mother (left) at the British Fashion Council at 180 Studios in central London, where she will present the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British DesignStudios on May 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Aaron Chown –) It also marked a clear return to royal duties with purpose. By presenting the Queen Elizabeth II Award — which recognizes forward-thinking British designers — Kate not only celebrated sustainable fashion but also used her platform to uplift the creatives shaping its future. From the label she wore to the designer she honored, the Princess of Wales led by example. And with that, she reminded us that true style isn't just about what you wear. It's about the message it sends.
Vogue
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Bella Hadid Dives Into the Archive for Some Pirate Boots
Bella Hadid had a brief but impactful visit to Cannes Film Festival, debuting her newly minted honey blonde hair and a wardrobe of dress code-defying fashions. The model jetted straight from the Croisette to London for the UK launch of her parfums brand Orebella, bringing with her a closet of vintage, British brands, and Bella Hadid school of dressing staples. First for filming Chicken Shop Date with Amelia Dimoldenberg, Hadid opted for some Fruity Booty as part of a fringed and denim 'browtfit.' And for the Orebella launch event itself, she wore a piece of fashion history: A shimmering rosette-embellished silver dress from John Galliano's fall 1997 collection that has also been worn by Milla Jovovich at the 1997 premiere of The Fifth Element at Cannes Film Festival. Later, she stepped out for dinner at Sessions Arts Club in Clerkenwell in a plunging white latex dress by Kylie Jenner's brand Khy, with sparkling silver pumps. Photo: Backgrid Neil Mockford But it was another 'variations on brown' outfit that provided Bella with a chance to dive into the best of British archival fashions. She was photographed in a high necked, sleeveless cream top with a beige suede mini skirt, and a chocolate brown jacket, pairing the look with some Alexander McQueen spring summer 2003 boots. The pirate-esque, fold-over boots are an impressive vintage deep dive, with textured detailing.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
ALEXANDRA SHULMAN'S NOTEBOOK: If Burberry suffers, it's bad news for small labels
It's been a noisy week in British fashion. The Princess of Wales presented the Queen Elizabeth II prize for British design dressed in a chic Victoria Beckham trouser suit. Given Kate's ability to boost sales of the brands she wears, it's a big thumbs-up for Victoria's UK business. There was less cheering news at Burberry, where 1,700 staff are losing their jobs. This matters. Burberry is the standard-bearer for UK fashion and our only brand with true global resonance. In uncertain times, we need it to be resilient – like an aircraft carrier steaming ahead with lots of little boats sailing in its wake. If Burberry goes down, it damages that whole flotilla of small labels. Yet if you look past those bleak job-loss figures, Burberry is actually in better shape than it has been for years. Its most recent losses came in lower than expected, and the share price is up. The consensus is that new CEO Joshua Schulman is on the right track and making sure creative director Daniel Lee delivers items that people might actually buy. This week, they're in LA showcasing a collection based on the King's gardens at Highgrove. Amusingly, the setting for the display is Richard Christiansen's Flamingo Estate – home of the business selling home-grown jams, honey and elegant knick-knacks that inspired the Duchess of Sussex 's As Ever range. A recipe for misery, whatever you call it The other night, fuelled by glasses of rosé, a group of my women friends were discussing Intermezzo, the latest novel from best-selling author Sally Rooney. The book, about the relationship between two brothers and the women in their lives, delves into the thorny question of commitment. As we debated the pros and cons of throuples, one of my friends – the founder of mental health hub – informed us that 'consensual non-monogamy' is currently a big issue in her field. Consensual non-monogamy? We all looked baffled. Of course we all knew about free love, open marriages and people generally exploring sex outside a relationship. But we hadn't heard of this strange new term. Nor its apparently strict rules of behaviour. No behind-the-scenes cheating. No secret sexting. Everything to be declared, as if on a tax form. No wonder younger people find the whole dating scene a minefield, with its vast vocabulary to describe every possible type and style of relationship. I've only just got my head around 'situationship' (a casual relationship) and now there's a whole other category to deal with. It doesn't sound like much fun. We all agreed it's become clear by our stage of life that open relationships generally lead to unhappiness and confusion. Calling it 'consensual non-monogamy' and formalising the idea of having your cake and eating it – sexually speaking – won't make much difference. But I guess we have to let the younger crew learn that for themselves. Good news for the mental health practitioners employed to deal with the fall-out. Is Ozempic the key to eternal life too? Every day I read of a new reason why fat jabs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are incredibly good for us. As well as weight loss, they are believed to help with high cholesterol and blood pressure, and delay the onset of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. At this rate it won't be long before we find out they hold the secret to eternal life. All of which means it's getting harder to justify my position as one of an increasingly small band of jab refuseniks. Our only hope now is some compelling evidence comes forward of the harm the drugs cause. Parody that's made BA a laughing stock I'd be interested to see the market research that convinced British Airways to produce its simply awful safety briefing video. I'm a bit late to the party (the video was released last year) but when I saw it recently, I couldn't believe it had ever been commissioned. If you haven't yet had the misfortune, imagine a spoof of well-known period dramas, with the cast split between BA crew in uniforms and actors in Regency and Victorian costume posing on horseback and hanging around in stately homes. It's all utterly pointless and not remotely amusing. I can't imagine it'll make anybody remember to put on their safety belt or attend to their oxygen mask first. If safety is taken as seriously as airlines claim, why give us such critical information via a lame parody of Downton Abbey? The true brilliance of tragic Hannah It's now known that the Bayesian superyacht sunk off the coast of Italy last summer because its exceptionally high mast was unable to tolerate extreme winds. Seven died in the disaster, including the yacht's owner, tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. In the latest edition of the London Library magazine I was struck to find two poems – something the magazine very rarely publishes. Both were written by Hannah, who had joined the library shortly before last year's fatal yacht trip. They had been donated by her mother – who survived the disaster – and her English teacher, who had deemed Hannah an especially talented pupil. Judging by her two sophisticated poems, I think most people would agree. It only makes Hannah's death more tragic. Trump's big crime is against fashion When my boyfriend slips into one of his lightweight blue Harrington jackets, I always think he looks a dead ringer for a US president on Camp David downtime. George Bush, Bill Clinton, Obama – take your pick. It's a good look – kind of sporty but way smarter than a hoodie. Unfortunately, the clothes that come to mind when one imagines the current White House incumbent are his terrible bright blue suits, which give him the silhouette of a brick… and the style of a Lego man.
