Latest news with #Loft
News.com.au
13-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Imported jumper Loft could chase Melbourne Cup start in Andrew Ramsden at Flemington
Rain could be the catalyst for an equine intellectual to test his resurgence in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington. Loft has struggled on the flat since his delayed start to racing in Australia following a long-term leg injury that forced him out of the 2022 Melbourne Cup. • The German-bred galloper won at Group 2 level in his homeland and the US before arriving in Australia but has not filled a placing in his local runs for the Hayes brothers or his current trainer Shane Jackson. However, Loft has been a revelation over jumps. Loft has cruised to easy wins at his two hurdle outings but Jackson would like to see whether the gelding's rejuvenation extended to the flat. 'He's galloping like he has a bit of spark and the jumps have really sparked him back up,' Jackson said. 'If we've sparked him up enough, he definitely has the ability to be able to do it. 'He just has to decide himself that he wants to do it. 'Hopefully the rain comes because I'd love to see him go around. 'If he's running in the Andrew Ramsden on Saturday, he'll be jumping six flights of hurdles the day before. 'If he can get his toe into the track, he won't disgrace himself.' Jackson said Loft amazed him with his intelligence from the moment he gave the now seven-year-old his first hurdle school last year. He said Loft's intelligence meant he needed constant variety and tricky handling to convince him to do his best. 'He's probably one of the smartest horses that I've ever had anything to do with so you're constantly trying to change things up for him,' Jackson said. 'The motor is there and we're definitely not writing off a flat career but the jumping will still be mixed among because, if you put a hurdle in front of this horse, he just changes. 'If you make him think he's going better than he is, he seems to find more. He's not a horse that I don't think would respond by getting bullied into anything, he hasn't for me anyway. 'He's a real character.'
CNN
09-05-2025
- CNN
The 11 comfiest travel dresses, according to stylists and editors
Travel dresses quick picks Maxi dress: Athleta Presidio Traveler Maxi Dress T-shirt dress: Loft Draped Mini Tee Dress Nap dress: Hill House Home The Ellie Nap Dress Washable silk dress: Quince Silk Slip Dress When it comes to comfortable, fail-proof travel outfits, travel dresses have just as much to offer as your favorite matching sets. Aside from being space-saving, especially if you're working with limited luggage real estate, travel dresses are a one-and-done outfit that can save you precious vacation time in the mornings. 'The best travel pieces are made from loose, lightweight fabrics that have stretch and provide extra comfort,' fashion stylist and blogger Jana Meister said. 'Athletic-style dresses with a light layering piece over top like a cardigan or jacket are good options for traveling. I love to pair my athletic or casual dresses with tennis shoes for a chic yet styled look.' Also great for travel? T-shirt dresses, since they can be dressed up or down, have a loose fit and are easy to sit in, the stylist notes. To help you find the perfect travel dress for your upcoming trip, we asked stylists to share their insights and recommendations. We tapped our team of editors for their top travel dress picks, too. Athleta Presidio Traveler Maxi Dress If you're looking for a dress that falls below the knees, Meister recommends this Athleta one. Designed with travel in mind, this maxi dress is made from a quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant polyester and spandex blend and has pockets for stashing your small items. It also has a UPF 40+ rating, making it ideal for long days exploring in the sun. Everlane The Weekend Tank Dress Personal stylist and image consultant Cynthia Kennedy singles out Everlane's The Weekend Tank Dress as a great option for travel because it's breathable, can be worn with a bra and isn't too clingy. She notes that the dress is perfect for 'hot weather cities when you still want to look polished in photos' and recommends pairing it with a denim jacket, if needed. Buck Mason Mainstay Cotton Slip Dress Health, fitness and food editor Tobey Grumet Segal has several Buck Mason pieces in her wardrobe, including this cotton slip dress. She loves traveling in it because it falls just above her ankles, has a comfortable, loose-fit, adjustable straps and her favorite feature — pockets. 'It's the perfect dress to throw on for a flight somewhere warm, though I usually throw a cardigan over my shoulders for the in-plane AC,' she said. 'Plus, I know I'll be able to wear it on the other side, no matter where I'm heading.' Maurice's 24/7 Clara Dress Meister recommends this short-sleeved ribbed dress, which she likes for its handy pockets, elasticated drawstring waist and above-the-knee hemline. 'The fabrication makes it ideal for traveling and [it] would be a great option [to wear with] tennis shoes or sandals,' she said. The dress comes in three colors — Biscay Bay, Dark Gray and Rose of Sharon — and ranges from sizes XS to 4X to accommodate different body types. Scheels Women's Recreation Millie Dress Looking for a sporty dress to add to your wardrobe? Meister recommends Scheels' Women's Recreation Millie Dress, which is made from a comfy and stretchy scuba material. 'It has an elastic drawstring waist, a full sleeve, dual pockets, and [it] comes in a gorgeous dusty jade color,' Meister said. If you prefer to dress in more neutral colors, it also comes in black. Hill House Home The Ellie Nap Dress We've written about nap dresses extensively because they're so comfortable to wear. Turns out they're great for travel too! 'I am not ashamed to admit that I have more nap dresses in my closet than I can count on one hand,' home and gifts editor Amina Lake Patel said. 'The Ellie is perfect for travel because it can be dressed up or down. I often wear it with sneakers when I'm doing a lot of walking, but it also looks great with heeled sandals when I'm going out to dinner.' She notes that the wrinkle-resistant crepe fabric doesn't show creases, which makes it a particularly great option. Maurice's 24/7 Bare Henley Wavy Rib Dress This ribbed dress from Maurice's is another one of Meister's recommendations. 'It would be great for layering, and [it] comes in an amazing mineral red color,' she said, adding that its polyester, rayon and spandex blend makes it a comfortable and easy-to-care-for option. We love that the sleeveless dress has pockets, an elasticated waist and a hemline that hits right above the knees, so you can easily walk in it. Uniqlo Airism Soft Mini Bra Dress If you're working with limited packing space, this Uniqlo dress is for you. Kennedy loves that it doesn't take up much room in your luggage, is easy to layer and has a convenient built-in bra. The dress also has adjustable straps and built-in shorts that have pockets, so you can confidently move around. Loft Draped Mini Tee Dress This comfy T-shirt dress from Loft is a great travel option, according to Meister. 'It's 100% cotton fabric is breathable and lightweight for travel, and it has a simple draping in the front that adds a pop of style and sophistication,' she said. In addition to appreciating how easily this dress can be layered, Meister also loves that it can be paired with tennis shoes or a dressier option, like mules. If you're looking for other T-shirt dresses at a super affordable price, she recommends checking out Old Navy, too. Cozy Earth Brushed Bamboo Sleeveless Midi Dress Cozy Earth makes some of our favorite pajamas, and this T-shirt style tank dress is just as comfy according to fashion and beauty editor Sophie Shaw. 'The bamboo blend jersey is soft and has a brushed feel on the inside, so it literally feels like wearing PJs,' she said. 'This silhouette is roomy yet streamlined, and I love that it has pockets too. It's such a nice alternative to wearing sweats to the airport, but without sacrificing comfort.' Quince 100% Washable Silk Slip Dress Kennedy recommends Quince's mulberry silk slip dress, which she describes as easy to pack and versatile. We love that the dress is machine-washable, has adjustable straps and a flattering bias cut. Plus, it comes in over 10 colors and prints to work with different wardrobes. According to Meister, there are a few factors to take into consideration when it comes to shopping for a travel dress, with comfort being one of the biggest. She recommends looking for dresses that have a loose fit and fall at a length you can comfortably walk and sit in. She also suggests looking out for dresses that are made from soft, wrinkle-resistant fabrics. 'Wrinkle-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester are absolutely perfect for travel,' Meister said, adding, 'They are good for packing in your suitcase and wear really well without ironing or steaming.' Other fabrics to look for, according to the stylist, are ones that have four-way stretch, are quick-drying or sweat-wicking. Both stylists agree that you should shop for dresses with features like pockets, adjustable straps and stretchy waistbands. Kennedy also suggests opting for wrap-style dresses, dresses that are made from breathable or lightweight knit fabrics and dresses that have built-in bras. 'Built-in bras can be a game-changer, especially if you're trying to pack light, but only if the support actually works for your body (sometimes built-ins are a little… optimistic),' she said. Other factors to consider when shopping for travel dresses, according to Kennedy, are the cultural norms of the area you're visiting, the weather and how easily your dresses can be layered. The following FAQs have been answered by stylist Jana Meister. What is the best fabric for a travel dress? What is the best fabric for a travel dress? According to Meister, nylon, polyester and cotton blends are great fabric options. 'These dresses don't wrinkle too much and often times are soft and comfortable enough for a long day of travel,' she said. How do I keep my dress from wrinkling when traveling? How do I keep my dress from wrinkling when traveling? 'Wrinkle-resistant, easy-to-maintain synthetics, such as nylon or polyester are great if you are wearing the dress during travel,' Meister said. If you plan to pack your dresses however, Meister recommends rolling them or using tissue paper to prevent wrinkling. 'Rolling the dresses will keep them from creasing and the tissue paper will keep other fabrics from bunching up against them,' she said. How should you pack a long dress for travel? How should you pack a long dress for travel? Using a garment bag to carry your long dresses is typically the best option, but you can also roll the dress or place it in tissue paper and lay it flat under the rest of your clothes, Meister said. 'As soon as you reach your destination make sure to remove your dress from your travel bag and let it hang before wearing it,' she added. For this article, we consulted the following fashion stylists to gain their professional insights. Cynthia Kennedy, personal stylist and image consultant Jana Meister, fashion stylist and blogger CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, associate editor Rachel Dennis interviewed professional stylists who shared their tips on shopping for travel dresses, along with their recommendations. She also tapped CNN Underscored's team of editors for their favorite travel dresses.
CNN
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Loft's chic spring wardrobe essentials are up to 63% off through today
Spring has officially sprung! Time to swap out those bulky sweaters and long-sleeved tees for some lighter options to suit the new season. Transitional weather can be tricky to dress for, and Easter, Passover and the like will be here before you know it. For all your upcoming occasions, I'm stoked that Loft stacked 15% off on its 50% off Cyber Spring Sale. Those looking for office-ready staples or date-night looks can cash in on 10 on-trend clothing deals below. Loft Floral Lace Trim Bias Midi Skirt If you told me this printed skirt was from a Reformation campaign, I'd believe you. It looks much more expensive than it is and is one of those pieces that everyone will compliment you on. Loft Smocked Bodice Mixed Media Top Elevate your spring office attire with this lightweight smocked top. Its breathable cotton blend will help keep you cool outdoors, but its long sleeves will cover you indoors when the air is pumping. Loft High Rise Utility Barrel Pants Barrel pants are so in. As someone who wears them weekly, I'm eyeing this deeply discounted pair from Loft. Its large front pockets and darted seams add dimension to an otherwise simple silhouette. Loft Shimmer Striped Button Sleeve Blouse Look effortlessly chic this summer with this flouncy striped blouse. It has small gold buttons along each sleeve and a pinstripe that adds a nautical vibe to your look. Pro tip: Pair it with a rattan clutch or similar spring accessories. Loft Denim Jumpsuit in Authentic Vintage Mid Wash For those heading to the Stagecoach Festival in a few weeks, you might consider packing this denim jumpsuit for night sets when the temps drop. It's soft enough for daily wear with its loose feel and can hold tons with its pockets. Loft Striped Poplin Blouson Sleeve Pocket Shirt If you're wondering why you haven't seen this IRL, it's because this top is an online exclusive. The hem hits below the waist, making it suitable for tucking into jeans, skirts and the like. Loft Monroe Chino Bermuda Shorts Stay comfortable this summer with these chino shorts that won't ride up. The leg length helps prevent chafing and cotton twill fabric is a great alternative to denim when it's too humid out. Loft Versa Pure Spun Foldover Strapless Top Tube tops are making a comeback this summer. But if you're looking for something a bit more tailored, this baby pink strapless top is the answer. It can be worn as a set with matching pants, and now it's 50% off. Loft Pleated Pull On Wide Leg Pull On Pants in Twill Pull-on pants are my secret weapon when I want to look put together on busy days. If you're like me, these airy twill pants will become your new BFF now that both neutral colors are down to $40. Loft Zig Zag Wide Sleeve Boatneck Sweater Nothing screams springtime like a boatneck sweater. This navy and white knit has a flattering wide sleeve and abbreviated waist for easy layering — perhaps over a spring dress. The last Loft sale that our team covered was in February of this year. Editor Jacqueline Saguin rounded up her favorite items during the brand's Spring Style Event, which introduced the season's newest items. During that sale, the entire site was 40% off and sale items received an additional 20%-off discount. The total savings then were up to 52% off, while today's price cuts amount to as much as 63% off. Our deals team has over a decade of combined commerce journalism experience. Rikka Altland, Jacqueline Saguin and Elena Matarazzo source the deals for the day each morning to curate one-offs and retailer-specific roundups of the best sales to shop. Searching everything from coveted tech essentials to beauty finds of the week, the team works across a wide variety of categories to ensure we're finding the best buys for our readers.
The Guardian
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Chasing a high through rave music got dark': Aya on hexes, Huddersfield and her hardcore horror electronics
'Kissed by a witch, I got hexed!' Aya howls through a storm of screaming electronics and bass groans on I Am the Pipe I Hit Myself With. The song revisits a time before Aya Sinclair was one of the UK avant garde's most exciting talents – when she was still a Huddersfield teenager, newly into Christian rock. The music gave her 'this tingly, bubbly sensation', she says. 'And someone said: 'This is the holy spirit.'' The experience led her to join a Pentecostal congregation for a couple of years, but after confiding in a church friend about some 'feelings' – Sinclair would later come out as a trans woman – she was 'kicked out for being queer, essentially. I was given an ultimatum, to either closet myself or leave.' As she whispers in this track, over the quickening click of a Geiger counter, 'they had me out on a witch-hunt, when I found myself'. It's a suitably vulnerable, conflicted opener to her new album Hexed!, which plays out in a lurching mix of heavy metal and hardcore electronics. The record sounds twisted and contorted, wincing at the pain of 'peeling back the plaster', she says over a video call. She is warm, funny and seemingly at peace – following the traumas and battles with substance abuse that she revisits on this nightmarish, alien album. In her youth, Sinclair, now 31, used to love going for night walks. But seeing the suburban Huddersfield homes where she had once imagined starting a heteronormative family life gave her a 'knotty feeling'. She now recognises that feeling as 'latent queerness that wasn't presenting itself yet – the knowledge that it wasn't a life I could ever have'. Having come out as trans in 2018, she is in an ongoing process of understanding her gender identity. 'My body is constantly changing, which is on the one hand very exciting,' she says, 'but at the same time is also confusing.' She also notes that, as a woman, 'I can't walk on my own at night any more.' As a musician, Aya speaks of being able to 'contact this sublime, other essence' by drawing 'excitement from sound'. But she also admits that 'chasing that high through rave music has led me to some pretty dark relationships with substances'. After struggles with ketamine, cocaine and alcohol abuse, she is, on the day of our interview, six months clean. Aya moved to Manchester in 2016, not long after the opening of The White Hotel, a former car repair workshop turned club in Salford and the locus for a new wave of local experimentalists. These included Iceboy Violet, with whom she formed the collective boygirl under her previous moniker Loft, and Tom Boogizm who she says 'can DJ for 10 hours, but then make the most heartbreaking ambient record [as Rat Heart] you've ever heard – that dual energy represents Manchester to me.' A visit to 2019's Bang Face festival at Pontins holiday park in Southport, Merseyside, influenced her acclaimed 2021 debut album Im Hole. 'You go into places where there's usually someone doing balloon animals to families,' she says, 'but instead, everyone's off their face on dingers, and you're watching the most blown-out, 200bpm hardcore you've ever heard.' But her time in the north was also difficult. The body horror of Hexed! track Heat Death, picturing inflating cerebellums and broken teeth, was inspired by a period of 'really intense, dissociative panic attacks. Losing two hours, coming around and thinking: 'OK, well I guess I got off the train – I'm covered in snot and tears, and have no idea how I got here, but at least I'm in Manchester.'' While she still has these experiences, 'they're way less frequent and more manageable now that I'm sober'. She illustrates the chaos of the period pre-sobriety through scattershot lyrics. The album's stories blur time periods and locations, and the boundaries between narration and dialogue, reality and nightmare. 'I'm slipping down the slope again / You're gripping for the soap / I'm gipping on the coke,' she yells on Off to the Esso, a viscerally distressing picture of drug-fuelled nights out. She says she used substances as a way to provide 'a level of distance from myself', and manage her sensitivity to the world around her. 'Unfortunately, that stops you fully engaging with the world as well.' Sinclair relocated to London in 2020 to move in with her partner, but the north still looms large on her new record, down to the regional slang in Off to the Esso: 'I'm sizzled, sozzled, hen.' She found a way to 'tell the past through the present' by marrying the rock of her Huddersfield teenage years with the hardcore dance music she discovered later. And the album ends on northern moorland, where Aya seems to lift the album's titular hex. Bidding farewell to 'received wisdom, to double glaze in the middle distance', her pained screams become digitised, angelic refrains. On our video call, she grins as she pictures the scene. 'We've run away from the three-bedroom house, and we're on top of the moors. We're screaming at the sky, and the sky is screaming back at us.' Hexed! is out now on Hyperdub
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Score a rolling Yeti cooler for a rare 20% off, plus 9 more of today's top sales
There are a lot of sales happening right now! Amazon kicked off its Big Spring Sale this week, and a lot of retailers like Target and Walmart responded with their own spring savings. Alas, there's a lot to sort through — but luckily you have me. I scour the internet for deals all day long (it's my job!), and I've rounded up the top 10 deals that you need to know about today. First up, Yeti marked a bunch of items on sale at Amazon, and this is a big deal because the brand doesn't do sales often (and it's stuff is pricey). Grab the Yeti Roadi 32 cooler for a rare 20% off — you'll be glad you got the one with the wheels! Also on sale: This weather-resistant Adirondack chair is over 60% off, these Pyrex glass food containers are 33% off and the juicy Laneige Lip Balm is also a surprising 20% off. Psst! I love this maxi dress from Loft too, and it's 30% off, plus an extra 20% off. But OK, OK, check out these deals and the rest of today's best sales below. Adidas: Get up to 40% off shoes and apparel. Banana Republic: Get up to 40% off full-priced items during the Friends & Family Sale. Coach Outlet: Save up to 70% on sale styles. Cozy Earth: Get up to 25% off during the spring sale. Everlane: Get up to 70% off sale styles. Get up to 30% off warm-weather styles with code SHOPNOW. Kate Spade Outlet: Get up to 70% off everything, plus an extra $25 off when you spend $150 or more. Loft: Take up to 30% off your entire purchase, plus an extra 20% off select spring styles. Nordstrom: Shop thousands of items for up to 80% off during the Spring Sale. Nordstrom Rack: Shop Easter finds up to 60% off, including dresses, sandals and more. Walmart: Shop rollbacks and flash deals of up to 80% off. The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
