Latest news with #ChristianDior
Miami Herald
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Coffee lovers can add Harry Potter magic
Brand collaborations have become a go-to strategy for companies looking to spark excitement, tap into nostalgia, and stand out in crowded grocery aisles. From the Pepsi/Peeps collab to the Van Leeuwen/Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and the Sour Patch Kids and Post cereal, these partnerships - three of the best, according to Advertising Week - leveraged each brand's strength to create something new that fans of both brands loved. Over the years, limited-edition cereals inspired by childhood cartoons, soda flavors based on video games, and snacks tied to movie franchises have emerged. They all have one thing in common: They target loyal fans and generate buzz on social media. People love these kinds of products because they're relatively inexpensive (unlike the Disney/Gucci or Nike/Christian Dior collabs) and tap into a cherished childhood memory. When the fandom is as massive and devoted as Harry Potter's, the potential is enormous, at least that's what Nestlé's newest release is banking on. The first Harry Potter book was published 28 years ago, so fans of the books and the movies that followed are all of prime coffee drinking age. Starting in August, Coffee Mate will roll out two limited-time creamers inspired by the Wizarding World: Cauldron Cake and White Chocolate Peppermint Toad (Zero Sugar). The flavors are the brand's first-ever official tie-in with the Harry Potter franchise and promise to bring a little magic to your morning cup. Related: Trader Joe's sells out of TikTok famous treat (here's when it's back) Nestlé's Coffee Mate (NESAF) brand is no stranger to wild flavor experiments - from basic sweet cream to indulgent Oreo collabs, the flavors make coffee anything but boring. But now, the company is tapping into one of the most powerful fandoms in pop culture with a new limited-time release that's already stirring up major buzz. For longtime fans, Cauldron Cake is a direct nod to a beloved treat sold at Honeydukes, the enchanted candy shop in the Harry Potter books and theme parks. Coffee Mate's take is described as a buttery, vanilla-toffee creamer that turns your cup of coffee into a dessert-like experience - no spellcasting required. More Retail: Lowe's launches massive early answer to Amazon Prime DayTarget has new plan to win back customers with big savingsHome Depot makes clear statement amid boycott threatsFamous retail chain makes two more alarming store closures The second flavor, White Chocolate Peppermint Toad, takes inspiration from another whimsical sweet and adds a wintery twist. With a blend of cool peppermint and creamy white chocolate - and no sugar - it's a bold choice for a summer launch, but one that plays into the fantasy feel. This isn't the first time a big brand has leaned into nostalgic crossovers. In recent months, Goldfish crackers introduced a Butterbeer flavor, and Universal theme parks have continued to expand their Harry Potter-themed food offerings. But Coffee Mate's move stands out because it brings the magic into an everyday routine. Related: Starbucks May Have Finally Found the Perfect Cold Foam It also comes at a time when brands are doubling down on nostalgia to boost grocery sales. If you're a die-hard Harry Potter fan, or are just tired of French vanilla and hazelnut, these magical mix-ins are sure to catch your eye - and they're sure to fly off the shelves faster than a Nimbus 2000. Both flavors will be available at major grocery retailers nationwide for a limited time starting in August 2025. Related: Starbucks considers massive menu change for unlikely reason The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Dior Unveils Its Latest High Jewellery Collection: Diorexquis
Unveiled at Dior's cherished Château de La Colle Noire, Victoire De Castellane transforms Monsieur Dior's private passions – for flora, fauna, and the pursuit of beauty – into poetic, emotionally charged High Jewellery Château de La Colle Noire in Provence was where Monsieur Christian Dior, as he wrote in his memoirs, could set aside his public persona and 'become just Christian again.' It is precisely in this intimate, storied retreat that Victoire de Castellane, creative director of Dior Joaillerie, chose to unveil Diorexquis – a collection that distils Dior's visionary aesthetics for the ladies of the beau monde and blends it with his passions for nature, fantasy, and fairy tales. A deeply personal tribute, it may well be the most 'Christian' collection yet. Victoire, who has helmed Dior's jewellery division since its inception in 1999, has long entertained an imaginary correspondence with the couturier – her eternal muse. She describes Diorexquis as a three-act reverie drawn from Monsieur Dior's inner world. 'Diorexquis unfolds in three chapters: delightful landscapes, delicate bouquets, and fabulous balls,' she explains. 'Each expresses a different facet of the word exquis – French for 'exquisite'.' In creating the pieces, Victoire once again challenges many of the unwritten rules of High Jewellery. In her compositions, a centre stone need not sit squarely at the centre – it may float off to the side or rest at a slant. Gems are not always meant to dazzle outwardly; they may be hidden, reserved for private delight or to achieve a subtle, unexpected visual effect. 'In this collection I played with layering different stones,' says Victoire, 'such as opal or mother-of-pearl, to achieve an iridescent effect with a different result. It's a colour that you don't find in nature, but to achieve it, you have to superimpose many layers of stones. This way I got a very electric blue, for example, in a brooch with night landscapes.' This technique, called the opale doublet, involves mounting a translucent layer of opal on a darker substrate like onyx or mother-of-pearl to achieve a depth and iridescence. It's a meticulous process – requiring both craftsmanship and a painter's eye – that allows colours to bloom from within, rather than sit on the surface. Another, equally enchanting technique is plique-à-jour, an ancient enamelling method revived and reimagined at Dior. 'It adds a new dimension to the bouquets,' she explained. 'Like a miniature stained-glass window, it lets the light shine through and magnify the floral ensembles.' At Dior, where lacquer has long been a signature, this open-backed treatment lends a delicate transparency Inspired by the stained-glass windows in churches, which were once entrusted with translating faith into visual narratives that stirred the soul, Diorexquis unfolds as a series of miniature theatrical compositions. Here, squirrels and deer play hide-and-seek in meadows of diamond and pearl-petalled flowers, while blossoms float across ponds of vivid opals in hues of lavender, mint, and rose. These endearing vignettes come to life across necklaces, bracelets, and asymmetrical earrings that don't simply mirror each other but instead engage in dialogue – each piece revealing a different moment in the fairytale, while also serving as a most unexpected stage for extraordinary gemstones. 'This new High Jewellery collection features several exceptional centrepiece stones with unique shapes and colours, says Victoire, 'including a 25.85-carat sapphire from Sri Lanka, a 10.59-carat Colombian emerald, and a 7.03-carat ruby from Mozambique, as well as an intense yellow diamond of 33.88 carats and two pure diamonds of 8.88 carats each, recalling Monsieur Dior's attraction to this lucky number.' But while the technical wizardry is impressive, Diorexquis excels at bringing to the fore a more intimate facet of Monsieur Christian Dior. His whimsy, his reverence for beauty and the emotions his private pursuits stirred in him, all the while respecting the house's long-established codes – nature, flowers, and femininity. With each high jewellery collection she has imagined over the past 26 years, Victoire has stitched together a fabric of fantasy, part-Dior-heritage-inspired-part-imagination, always rendered with exquisite – or should we say, Diorexquis – elegance. 'Each of my collections leads to the next,' she says. 'I adore the idea of going even further – going where I am least expected.'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Boots cuts 'intoxicating' luxury perfume that 'literally turns heads' to its lowest price
Don't miss Boots' half-price discount on the latest interpretation of this iconic perfume. For over two decades, one perfume that has earned legendary status is YSL's Black Opium. Launched in 2014, its popularity means it is constantly being reimagined. One of the latest interpretations is the YSL Black Opium Le Parfum that offers a more vanilla-heavy fragrance that has been hailed as "intoxicating" in reviews, and we know where it can currently be bought for its cheapest price. High street favourite Boots is currently offering a 50ml bottle for half-price, as it has been reduced from £115 to just £57.50. Considering rival retailers Superdrug, Lookfantastic and The Perfume Shop still stock it at full-price, it's a deal not to be sniffed at. This interpretation of the iconic perfume was only launched in 2022, with its original floral gourmand fragrance still offering its famed notes that include pear accord, green mandarin, orange flower petals, jasmine sambac and cinnamon. However, the iconic coffee accord has been twisted with four different, yet still complimentary, notes of vanilla, which is said to be its most important ingredient, to create an "unexpected smoothness, with uncompromising intensity." YSL Black Opium Le Parfum, 50ml £115 £57.50 Boots Buy here Product Description Meanwhile, the unique glossy bottle that has been crafted from a precious black stone, with its dazzling glitter emblem at the heart, eludes to the luxuriousness of the fragrance contained within. Another iconic scent on the market to get a new reiteration recently is Thierry Mugler's Alien, with the Hypersense Eau de Parfum described as "fiercely floral", with a 30ml costing £69 at The Perfume Shop. There's also Christian Dior's Hypnotic Poison that has become a cult-classic in its own right, being one of its most popular interpretations for the original fragrance, and a 30ml costs £66 on Lookfantastic. As for the YSL Black Opium Le Parfum, Boots shoppers wanting to take advantage of the half-price discount will be glad to hear it has amassed a 4.7 rating from thousands of customers who say it "lasts all day" and "literally turns heads" when it is worn. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. One five-star review read: "I love the fragrance. I used a lot the first time, not realising how intense it was. It lasts all day and continues to smell great. I literally turn heads when I wear it." A second pleased perfume fan wrote: "Intoxicating fragrance. It has a sort of dark and mysterious elegance to it. I get so many compliments and it lasts all day." A fan of the original Black Opium remarked: "The original has always been my Queen. Never thought it could be beat - but the extra sweetness of vanilla add a whole new level to the iconic OG. Love this more than I could say. My new everyday scent." Beauty deal of the week Looking to upgrade your straighteners, then look no further than this Amazon deal we have spotted. The Remington Advanced Coconut Therapy Hair Straightener, which has been hailed as "better than ghd", is now on offer for a staggering 75 percent less, as it is has been dropped from £139.99 to just £34.90. To help keep hair soft and shiny with each use, the floating ceramic plates feature micro-conditioners that have been infused with coconut oil and UV filters, keeping tresses protected from any frizz caused by too much heat. Its salon-style design means it comes complete with an ultra-fast 15-second heat up time and five digital temperature controls up to 230C, while the rounded barrel design with a swivel cord makes it easy to create either a sleek straight or bouncy curls look. There's also an integrated sensor that kicks in when the plates come into contact with the hair, ensuring they never overheat, while plate lock and auto-shut off function offers peace of mind and safety. Considering Remington's status for hair tools, it's no surprise to hear that this coconut-infused straightener has been singled out as an 'Amazon Choice' product, with a glowing 4.4 rating based on over 1,000 reviews from happy purchasers. One beauty fan praised: "Better than ghds. What can I say I have used GHDs for the last 20 years? My last pair broke yesterday so after some research I thought I would try these Remington's. "I can't believe how straight my hair is gone, not even my GHD's got it this straight. Amazing straighteners on would recommend to anybody, I have thick course hair and look how smooth it looks." Some have found the perfume to be a little too strong for them, as one three-star review read: "This bottle is beautiful and the packaging is nice but I cannot say I am a fan of the scent. It's super strong and overbearing. I wanted to love it but sadly it's not for me." Although, another delighted customer said: "This fragrance is the best! My gf loves it and it lasts all day long! This is her go to fragrance! It is not too overpowering but lingers for all day wear!" And someone else added: "Smells amazing! The notes of coffee, vanilla bourbon, and jasmine smell so sexy and sophisticated. You'll have all heads turning to you wearing this!" Don't miss Boots' half-price discount on the YSL Black Opium Le Parfum (50ml) that is now £57.50, down from £115.
eNCA
2 days ago
- Business
- eNCA
'Las Vegas in Laos': The riverside city awash with crime
LAOS - Rising from the muddy fields on the Mekong riverbank in Laos, a lotus tops a casino in a sprawling city which analysts decry as a centre for cybercrime. Shabby, mismatched facades –- including an Iberian-style plaza replete with a church tower, turrets and statues -- stand alongside high-rise shells. The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) is the most prominent of more than 90 such areas established across the Mekong region in recent years, often offering people reduced taxes or government regulation. Traffic signs in the GTSEZ are in Chinese script, while everything from cigarettes to jade and fake Christian Dior bags are sold in China's yuan. Analysts say the towers are leased out as centres operating finance and romance scams online, a multibillion-dollar industry that shows no signs of abating despite Beijing-backed crackdowns in the region. The GTSEZ was set up in 2007, when the Laos government granted the Kings Romans Group a 99-year lease on the area. AFP | STR Ostensibly an urban development project to attract tourists with casinos and resorts, away from official oversight, international authorities and analysts say it quickly became a centre for money laundering and trafficking. The city has now evolved, they say, into a cybercrime hub that can draw workers from around the world with better-paying jobs than back home. Laundry hung out to dry on the balconies of one high-rise building, supposed to be a tourist hotel, while the wide and palm-lined boulevards were eerily quiet. It is a "juxtaposition of the grim and the bling", according to Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group. It gives the "impression of opulence, a sort of Las Vegas in Laos", he said, but it is underpinned by the "grim reality" of a lucrative criminal ecosystem. - 'Horrendous illicit activities' - In the daytime a few gamblers placed their bets at the blackjack tables in the city's centrepiece Kings Romans Casino, where a Rolls-Royce was parked outside. "There are people from many different countries here," said one driver offering golf buggy tours of the city, who requested anonymity for security reasons. "Indians, Filipinos, Russians and (people from) Africa." "The Chinese mostly own the businesses," he added. Cyberfraud compounds have proliferated in special economic zones across Southeast Asia, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. AFP | STR Kings Romans' importance as a "storage, trafficking, deal-making, and laundering hub (is) likely to expand", it said in a report last year, despite crackdowns on illegal activities. The founder of the Kings Romans Group and the GTSEZ is Zhao Wei, a Chinese businessman with close links to the Laos government, which has given him medals for his development projects. He and three associates, along with three of his companies, were sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2018 over what it called "an array of horrendous illicit activities" including human, drug and wildlife trafficking and child prostitution. Britain sanctioned him in 2023, saying he was responsible for trafficking people to the economic zone. "They were forced to work as scammers targeting English-speaking individuals and subject to physical abuse and further cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment," Britain's Treasury said. The same year and again last August, authorities in China and Laos cracked down on cyberfraud operations in the GTSEZ, raiding offices and arresting hundreds of suspects. - 'Violence doesn't always pay' - With public anger in China mounting, over both scamming itself and alleged kidnappings, Beijing instigated raids this year on centres in Myanmar and Cambodia. AFP | STR The operations primarily targeted Chinese workers, thousands of whom were released and repatriated, along with hundreds of other foreigners. Some say they are trafficking victims or were tricked and forced to scam people online, but some authorities say they are there voluntarily. Scammers have adapted by shifting their locations and targets, specialists say, and Horsey explained that trafficking and abuses have reduced as the business model has developed. "If you're trying to scale and produce a huge business... violence doesn't always pay," he said. "It's better to have motivated workers who aren't scared, who aren't looking over their shoulder, who are actually free to... do their job." Beijing realises it cannot completely stop criminality in the region, so prefers to manage it, he added. Chinese authorities can "pick up the phone" to Zhao and tell him: "Don't do this, limit this, don't target Chinese people", he said. That "is actually more valuable for China than trying to eradicate it everywhere and just lose all influence over it". The United States Institute for Peace estimated in 2024 that Mekong-based criminal syndicates were probably stealing more than $43.8 billion annually. Representatives of both the GTSEZ and Kings Romans did not respond to AFP's repeated requests for comment, while Zhao could not be reached.
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Las Vegas in Laos: the riverside city awash with crime
VAN PAK LEN, Laos - Rising from the muddy fields on the Mekong riverbank in Laos, a lotus tops a casino in a sprawling city which analysts decry as a centre for cybercrime. Shabby, mismatched facades –- including an Iberian-style plaza replete with a church tower, turrets and statues -- stand alongside high-rise shells. The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) is the most prominent of more than 90 such areas established across the Mekong region in recent years, often offering people reduced taxes or government regulation. Traffic signs in the GTSEZ are in Chinese script, while everything from cigarettes to jade and fake Christian Dior bags are sold in China's yuan. Analysts say the towers are leased out as centres operating finance and romance scams online, a multibillion-dollar industry that shows no signs of abating despite Beijing-backed crackdowns in the region. The GTSEZ was set up in 2007, when the Laos government granted the Kings Romans Group a 99-year lease on the area. Ostensibly an urban development project to attract tourists with casinos and resorts, away from official oversight international authorities and analysts say it quickly became a centre for money laundering and trafficking. The city has now evolved, they say, into a cybercrime hub that can draw workers from around the world with better-paying jobs than back home. Laundry hung out to dry on the balconies of one high-rise building supposed to be a tourist hotel, while the wide and palm-lined boulevards were eerily quiet. It is a "juxtaposition of the grim and the bling", according to Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group. It gives the "impression of opulence, a sort of Las Vegas in Laos", he said, but it is underpinned by the "grim reality" of a lucrative criminal ecosystem. - 'Horrendous illicit activities' - In the daytime a few gamblers placed their bets at the blackjack tables in the city's centrepiece Kings Romans Casino, where a Rolls Royce was parked outside. "There are people from many different countries here," said one driver offering golf buggy tours of the city, who requested anonymity for security reasons. "Indians, Filipinos, Russians and (people from) Africa." "The Chinese mostly own the businesses," he added. Cyberfraud compounds have proliferated in special economic zones across Southeast Asia, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Kings Romans' importance as a "storage, trafficking, deal-making, and laundering hub (is) likely to expand", it said in a report last year, despite crackdowns on illegal activities. The founder of the Kings Romans Group and the GTSEZ is Zhao Wei, a Chinese businessman with close links to the Laos government, which has given him medals for his development projects. He and three associates, along with three of his companies, were sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2018 over what it called "an array of horrendous illicit activities" including human, drug and wildlife trafficking and child prostitution. Britain sanctioned him in 2023, saying he was responsible for trafficking people to the economic zone. "They were forced to work as scammers targeting English-speaking individuals and subject to physical abuse and further cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment," Britain's Treasury said. The same year and again last August, authorities in China and Laos cracked down on cyberfraud operations in the GTSEZ, raiding offices and arresting hundreds of suspects. - Violence doesn't always pay - With public anger in China mounting, over both scamming itself and alleged kidnappings, Beijing instigated raids this year on centres in Myanmar and Cambodia. The operations primarily targeted Chinese workers, thousands of whom were released and repatriated, along with hundreds of other foreigners. Some say they are trafficking victims or were tricked and forced to scam people online, but some authorities say they are there voluntarily. Scammers have adapted by shifting their locations and targets, specialists say, and Horsey explained that trafficking and abuses have reduced as the business model has developed. "If you're trying to scale and produce a huge business... violence doesn't always pay," he said. "It's better to have motivated workers who aren't scared, who aren't looking over their shoulder, who are actually free to... do their job." Beijing realises it cannot completely stop criminality in the region, so prefers to manage it, he added. Chinese authorities can "pick up the phone" to Zhao and tell him: "Don't do this, limit this, don't target Chinese people", he said. That "is actually more valuable for China than trying to eradicate it everywhere and just lose all influence over it". The United States Institute for Peace estimated in 2024 that Mekong-based criminal syndicates were probably stealing more than $43.8 billion annually. Representatives of both the GTSEZ and Kings Romans did not respond to AFP's repeated requests for comment, while Zhao could not be reached.
