Latest news with #JosephineBaker
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nyberg: Author shares secret life of silent film star
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — American-born French dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker was the first black woman to start in a major silent film in 1927, but her career was far from silent. Ann Nyberg spoke with author Hanna Diamond about Baker's unknown resistance during WWII in her new book 'Josephine Baker's Secret War.' Watch above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Wall Street Journal
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘Josephine Baker's Secret War': The Star Who Spied
Josephine Baker arrived in Paris from the slums of St. Louis in 1925 and rose to stardom playing a stereotype of an African 'primitive' in 'La revue nègre,' a musical act featuring an all-black cast. Wearing nothing but a rope of beads and a skirt of rubber bananas, Baker clowned and gyrated on stage in a wild danse sauvage that fascinated her mostly white audiences. By the end of World War II, however, Baker had transformed herself into a regal activist for racial justice, an extraordinary reinvention that, as Hanna Diamond relates in 'Josephine Baker's Secret War,' was sparked by her work spying for the French. Drawing on documents in archives from France, Morocco, the U.K. and the U.S.—which she cross-checked with the often unreliable memoirs by Baker, her lover and one of her ex-husbands—Ms. Diamond aims to establish an accurate account of Baker's wartime activities. Soon after France declared war on Germany in 1939, the French military intelligence agency recruited Baker as a spy. As Ms. Diamond, a professor of French history at Cardiff University, writes, Baker's fame gave her access to military officials and diplomats who, in their eagerness to socialize with a global superstar, often unwittingly spilled vital secrets. Baker's effervescent charm and exceptional acting skills aided her spy work, as did her ardent patriotism. She became a French citizen in 1937 with her marriage (her third) to Jean Lion, a Jewish sugar broker. By the start of the war the couple were estranged (Ms. Diamond reports that Baker arranged papers for Lion's family to get safely to Brazil), and Baker became romantically involved with her intelligence handler, Jacques Abtey, who posed as Baker's secretary on their information-gathering missions through Spain and Portugal and across North Africa.
Times
16-05-2025
- Times
11 of the best affordable hotels in Copenhagen for under £200
Copenhagen's boutique hotels are much like the city itself: intimate, stylish, thoughtfully designed — and often on the expensive side. Enjoying life is certainly in focus (that's the key idea of the Danish concept of hygge, after all) and with most attractions and restaurants typically a 15-minute cycle from any central hotel, it's easy to do, wherever you're staying. For best rates, look off season and outside the biannual fashion weeks in January/February and August, when hotels are typically packed. These affordable places are all offering room-only doubles at under £200 a night, based on a midweek stay in low-season. It pays to be flexible where possible — if you travel during the high season from June until the end of August, or over a weekend, prices can be significantly higher. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Best for fashionistas The city's most fashionable boutique hotel has a rock'n'roll vibe, incredible central location and sophistication to boot. The previous hotel in this space hosted everyone from Josephine Baker to Blur and Lenny Kravitz; today, it's all ice-cream colours and a light-filled central courtyard with 109 pared-back rooms. Striped cream and maroon bathrooms add a little pizazz, while the hotel's Italian restaurant, Donna, has a fun lipstick-red ceiling and retro etched glass mirrors. It's just steps from the central City Hall Square and main shopping streets — and let's not forget that the hotel is run by the excellent Cofoco group, responsible for some of the city's most fun restaurants. Guests get 15 per cent off when dining in any of them; ask the concierge for a full list. Best for understated chic Kong Arthur is tucked away a street from the Lakes in central Copenhagen and has 214 rooms with a home-from-home vibe — if your home is full of muted colours, understated art and Danish design classics, that is. Rooms are cosy and comfortable; the standout loft rooms give the space of an apartment with a living room and work well for families, while economy doubles are perfect for the single business traveller. There's a sunny courtyard, pastries to buy at the bar from the nearby independent bakery Albatross & Venner, and Ni'mat Spa next door offers massages and beauty treatments. The organic Danish breakfast (not included in all rates — check on booking) is a full Danish buffet with the likes of ham, sausage and cheeses from local organic farms and dense, seed-topped rye bread. There's also a daily 'Cozy Hour' from 5pm to 6pm when guests are served a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) on the house. SPA | POOL | Best for stylish city breaks The city's grand old post office building has been sensitively remade into this 390-room hotel across the street from Central Station and Copenhagen's inner-city amusement park, Tivoli Gardens. Draws include the bijou rooftop with its skinny 25m lap pool and a bar/café that's a favourite with locals. Rooms have a Danish design feel to them, with muted natural colours and environmentally sensitive materials. The whole vibe is eco-luxe, blending the classic features of the historic building — beautifully restored staircases and original panelling — with modern sustainability. Read our full review of Villa Copenhagen Best for vintage fans Located on Vesterbrogade in a nexus of streets packed with independent shops (the key streets to aim for are Vaernedamsvej and Istedgade), Coco Hotel doubles down on the local vibe with vinyl nights, vintage furniture and the mini Wood Wood boutique in the café; there's also a leafy inner courtyard. Every one of the 89 rooms is different, decorated with large photography prints, bright colours and artsy posters. Like Bella Grande, Coco is part of the Cofoco group, in whose restaurants guests get a 15 per cent discount. Best for great-value getaways Outside the heart of the city in the modern, corporate Orestad area, but still just a couple of metro stops from the heart of the city, Zoku is a concept hotel ideal for digital nomads, those coming on business or anyone staying longer in the city. Micro apartment-style rooms are designed with modular features so you can go from a compact workspace with fully equipped kitchen to sleeping space in a flash. You can even personalise your room with art from the in-house Art Swap station. On the rooftop terrace, the café acts as a shared working space in the day and holds networking events in the evening. • More great hotels in Copenhagen• Best things to do in Copenhagen Best for bodega culture This charming, boutique hotel is in the heart of the city, near independent shopping streets and the Tivoli Gardens, and has easy transport links all over town. As well as its roof terrace, which hosts parties and DJs on weekends in warmer weather, it has cosy, homely bedrooms and an Italian restaurant. Walk through the lobby and discover Pinden, a bodega-style taste of old Copenhagen, where you can drink beer and wine and eat snacks and pies. Bodegas are to Copenhagen what boozers are to London, and this one has quite the history — there has been a pub here since 1907, and it's seen everyone from actors to railway workers stop by for a pint. Best for a great location Across the bridge from Nyhavn with the twin jewels of Ganni Postmodern and Hart bakery steps away, not to mention the city's waterfront Opera Park next door, there is no better location for a truly Copenhagen experience than this. The modern hotel brings an unexpected twist in its Danish summerhouse-style rooms — nautical and arty, they include sailing boats, sea views, posters from the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and vintage-styled knick-knacks. The Victory bar on the top floor is one of the only places in Copenhagen where you can enjoy a pint of Guinness and a pie next to a roaring fire, with East London stylings, while Tiger Lily, the Asian restaurant on the ground floor, adds a welcome touch of spice. Best for a relaxing escape Hotel Ottilia is in the heart of Carlsberg Byen, where you'll also find the Home of Carlsberg visitor experience, the city's hottest bakery, Kobenhavns Bageri, and an array of hand-picked restaurants and shops including Henrik Vibskov's sample store. With raw concrete walls, round windows and exposed brickwork, the hotel's 155 contemporary rooms revel in architectural style. Restaurant Tramonto has Italian food at lunch and dinner on the rooftop, which is also where breakfast is served. It's only a couple of steps to the luxury spa Aire Ancient Baths, and there are plenty of restaurants nearby, including the city's legendary burgers at Gasoline Grill. Best for city views This sleek and corporate waterfront five star hotel hosts dignitaries, politicians and royalty thanks to its location close to Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish government. Its 394 spacious, modern rooms are full of hushed, textured details: chartreuse velvet chairs beside quilted charcoal walls with windows on to sweeping views of the harbour and historic buildings that trace it. On the roof, yellow buckets of Veuve Clicquot and plates of oysters line the bar, and views stretch to CopenHill, the royal palace at Amalienborg and all along the harbour. The hotel's Plates restaurant spills out onto the path beside the harbour underneath while, steps away, the local favourite Rosforth & Rosforth sells cloudy natural wines under Knippelsbro bridge. Best for Danish design For devotees of Danish design, it doesn't get better than staying at Arne Jacobsen's only hotel, sometimes called the world's first design hotel, which opened in 1960 as a symbol of a new era of travel. Details have changed — the Japanese-Peruvian Issei restaurant is an addition — but not in room 606, which has remained exactly as the designer intended, with bed linen to match the grey-green colour scheme and natural materials throughout, including rosewood panels. Everything from the spiral staircase and the exterior of the building to the ashtrays and the sleek door handles were designed by Jacobsen as a gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art). The remaining 260 bedrooms are decked out with natural wood panelling and Jacobsen's Swan chairs, and grant views of Tivoli Gardens (ask for the highest floor available for front-row views of the Saturday night fireworks every week in summer). Children are welcomed with a games pack and a dedicated menu,and there is an excellent concierge service. Best for family city breaks Hotels in the Scandic brand are always a good idea when you're travelling the Nordics on a budget. Of their 13 family-orientated Copenhagen hotels, they have a sleeper hit in Kodbyen, Copenhagen's popular meatpacking district. The 370 rooms are simple and neutral-coloured; larger suites have a king-size bed plus an extra bed in a clever loft space above it. The lively industrial-styled lobby has a cocktail bar and decent restaurant and the hotel is also known for its large and airy gym. A short stroll away, you'll find an excellent playground, and the best ice cream parlour in town, Ismageriet. • Great cycling cities• Best twin-city breaks
Times
16-05-2025
- Times
11 of the best hotels in Copenhagen for under £200
Copenhagen's boutique hotels are much like the city itself: intimate, stylish, thoughtfully designed — and often on the expensive side. Enjoying life is certainly in focus (that's the key idea of the Danish concept of hygge, after all) and with most attractions and restaurants typically a 15-minute cycle from any central hotel, it's easy to do, wherever you're staying. For best rates, look off season and outside the biannual fashion weeks in January/February and August, when hotels are typically packed. These affordable places are all offering room-only doubles at under £200 a night, based on a midweek stay in low-season. It pays to be flexible where possible — if you travel during the high season from June until the end of August, or over a weekend, prices can be significantly higher. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Best for fashionistas The city's most fashionable boutique hotel has a rock'n'roll vibe, incredible central location and sophistication to boot. The previous hotel in this space hosted everyone from Josephine Baker to Blur and Lenny Kravitz; today, it's all ice-cream colours and a light-filled central courtyard with 109 pared-back rooms. Striped cream and maroon bathrooms add a little pizazz, while the hotel's Italian restaurant, Donna, has a fun lipstick-red ceiling and retro etched glass mirrors. It's just steps from the central City Hall Square and main shopping streets — and let's not forget that the hotel is run by the excellent Cofoco group, responsible for some of the city's most fun restaurants. Guests get 15 per cent off when dining in any of them; ask the concierge for a full for understated chic Kong Arthur is tucked away a street from the Lakes in central Copenhagen and has 214 rooms with a home-from-home vibe — if your home is full of muted colours, understated art and Danish design classics, that is. Rooms are cosy and comfortable; the standout loft rooms give the space of an apartment with a living room and work well for families, while economy doubles are perfect for the single business traveller. There's a sunny courtyard, pastries to buy at the bar from the nearby independent bakery Albatross & Venner, and Ni'mat Spa next door offers massages and beauty treatments. The organic Danish breakfast (not included in all rates — check on booking) is a full Danish buffet with the likes of ham, sausage and cheeses from local organic farms and dense, seed-topped rye bread. There's also a daily 'Cozy Hour' from 5pm to 6pm when guests are served a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) on the | POOL | Best for stylish city breaks The city's grand old post office building has been sensitively remade into this 390-room hotel across the street from Central Station and Copenhagen's inner-city amusement park, Tivoli Gardens. Draws include the bijou rooftop with its skinny 25m lap pool and a bar/café that's a favourite with locals. Rooms have a Danish design feel to them, with muted natural colours and environmentally sensitive materials. The whole vibe is eco-luxe, blending the classic features of the historic building — beautifully restored staircases and original panelling — with modern sustainability. Best for vintage fans Located on Vesterbrogade in a nexus of streets packed with independent shops (the key streets to aim for are Vaernedamsvej and Istedgade), Coco Hotel doubles down on the local vibe with vinyl nights, vintage furniture and the mini Wood Wood boutique in the café; there's also a leafy inner courtyard. Every one of the 89 rooms is different, decorated with large photography prints, bright colours and artsy posters. Like Bella Grande, Coco is part of the Cofoco group, in whose restaurants guests get a 15 per cent for great-value getaways Outside the heart of the city in the modern, corporate Orestad area, but still just a couple of metro stops from the heart of the city, Zoku is a concept hotel ideal for digital nomads, those coming on business or anyone staying longer in the city. Micro apartment-style rooms are designed with modular features so you can go from a compact workspace with fully equipped kitchen to sleeping space in a flash. You can even personalise your room with art from the in-house Art Swap station. On the rooftop terrace, the café acts as a shared working space in the day and holds networking events in the evening. • More great hotels in Copenhagen• Best things to do in Copenhagen Best for bodega culture This charming, boutique hotel is in the heart of the city, near independent shopping streets and the Tivoli Gardens, and has easy transport links all over town. As well as its roof terrace, which hosts parties and DJs on weekends in warmer weather, it has cosy, homely bedrooms and an Italian restaurant. Walk through the lobby and discover Pinden, a bodega-style taste of old Copenhagen, where you can drink beer and wine and eat snacks and pies. Bodegas are to Copenhagen what boozers are to London, and this one has quite the history — there has been a pub here since 1907, and it's seen everyone from actors to railway workers stop by for a pint. Best for a great location Across the bridge from Nyhavn with the twin jewels of Ganni Postmodern and Hart bakery steps away, not to mention the city's waterfront Opera Park next door, there is no better location for a truly Copenhagen experience than this. The modern hotel brings an unexpected twist in its Danish summerhouse-style rooms — nautical and arty, they include sailing boats, sea views, posters from the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and vintage-styled knick-knacks. The Victory bar on the top floor is one of the only places in Copenhagen where you can enjoy a pint of Guinness and a pie next to a roaring fire, with East London stylings, while Tiger Lily, the Asian restaurant on the ground floor, adds a welcome touch of spice. Best for a relaxing escape Hotel Ottilia is in the heart of Carlsberg Byen, where you'll also find the Home of Carlsberg visitor experience, the city's hottest bakery, Kobenhavns Bageri, and an array of hand-picked restaurants and shops including Henrik Vibskov's sample store. With raw concrete walls, round windows and exposed brickwork, the hotel's 155 contemporary rooms revel in architectural style. Restaurant Tramonto has Italian food at lunch and dinner on the rooftop, which is also where breakfast is served. It's only a couple of steps to the luxury spa Aire Ancient Baths, and there are plenty of restaurants nearby, including the city's legendary burgers at Gasoline Grill. Best for city views This sleek and corporate waterfront five star hotel hosts dignitaries, politicians and royalty thanks to its location close to Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish government. Its 394 spacious, modern rooms are full of hushed, textured details: chartreuse velvet chairs beside quilted charcoal walls with windows on to sweeping views of the harbour and historic buildings that trace it. On the roof, yellow buckets of Veuve Clicquot and plates of oysters line the bar, and views stretch to CopenHill, the royal palace at Amalienborg and all along the harbour. The hotel's Plates restaurant spills out onto the path beside the harbour underneath while, steps away, the local favourite Rosforth & Rosforth sells cloudy natural wines under Knippelsbro bridge. Best for Danish design For devotees of Danish design, it doesn't get better than staying at Arne Jacobsen's only hotel, sometimes called the world's first design hotel, which opened in 1960 as a symbol of a new era of travel. Details have changed — the Japanese-Peruvian Issei restaurant is an addition — but not in room 606, which has remained exactly as the designer intended, with bed linen to match the grey-green colour scheme and natural materials throughout, including rosewood panels. Everything from the spiral staircase and the exterior of the building to the ashtrays and the sleek door handles were designed by Jacobsen as a gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art). The remaining 260 bedrooms are decked out with natural wood panelling and Jacobsen's Swan chairs, and grant views of Tivoli Gardens (ask for the highest floor available for front-row views of the Saturday night fireworks every week in summer). Children are welcomed with a games pack and a dedicated menu,and there is an excellent concierge service. Best for family city breaks Hotels in the Scandic brand are always a good idea when you're travelling the Nordics on a budget. Of their 13 family-orientated Copenhagen hotels, they have a sleeper hit in Kodbyen, Copenhagen's popular meatpacking district. The 370 rooms are simple and neutral-coloured; larger suites have a king-size bed plus an extra bed in a clever loft space above it. The lively industrial-styled lobby has a cocktail bar and decent restaurant and the hotel is also known for its large and airy gym. A short stroll away, you'll find an excellent playground, and the best ice cream parlour in town, Ismageriet. • Great cycling cities• Best twin-city breaks
Vogue Arabia
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
Dua Lipa's Chanel Look For The 2025 Met Gala Is Adorned With Feathers, Crystals… And Callum Turner
Dua Lipa has delivered some memorable Met Gala moments over the years: there was the purple psychedelic dress by Atelier Versace that she wore to the 2019 Camp -themed edition; the archival Chanel haute couture gown from autumn/winter 1992, originally worn by Claudia Schiffer down the runway, which she chose to honour Karl Lagerfeld in 2023; and the boudoir-inspired Marc Jacobs number that she sported for the Sleeping Beauties theme in 2024. Dua Lipa wearing Chanel at the 2025 Met Gala. John Shearer This year, the singer turned to Chanel once again for her 2025 Met Gala look. In keeping with the 'Tailored for You' dress code, Lipa wore a custom open-back chiffon dress with a long bow at the back, a black sequin tweed jacket and an organza cape – all adorned with crystals, pearls and feathers to add to the sense of drama. In total, the complete look took 2,000 hours to make and features 45,000 embroidered elements, highlighting the remarkable level of craftsmanship on display. In keeping with this year's Met Gala theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style , Lipa and her stylist Lorenzo Posocco were inspired by dancer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker. '[She was] a woman who truly embodied the spirit of dandyism on and off-stage and whose legacy speaks to femininity, fearless expression and resistance,' Posocco tells Vogue . 'It's a black chiffon dress adorned with a fully embroidered corset, which was inspired by a photo that captivated Dua when we began our research with Vogue contributor, Eric McNeal. The tweed jacket is a nod to Josephine's play [with] masculinity and femininity. And the organza cape [is] for the performer, the drama of it all. Ultimately, we were captivated by Josephine Baker as she is one of the great Black female dandies. In so many ways, we found that the codes of Josephine were so relatable to the Chanel essence. It really was the perfect match.' Of course, Lipa's relationship with the French fashion house goes way back: the star previously revealed how she splurged on the Chanel Boy bag after she got her first pay cheque from her record label more than a decade ago in 2014. Since then, she's worn Chanel on countless occasions – including during her Radical Optimism tour, where she wore a bodysuit version of the chained dress originally seen on Christy Turlington on the maison's spring/summer 1992 catwalk (Lily-Rose Depp later went on to wear the gown at the 2019 Met Gala) – and was announced as a face of the Chanel 25 bag earlier this year. Lipa hasn't been exclusively wearing Chanel for Met Gala weekend though, with the star also photographed in US brands Willy Chavarria and Calvin Klein while in the Big Apple. Could we see her championing another New York designer for the Met Gala after-parties? Watch this space. Article originally published on Vogue US
