Latest news with #Vreeland
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Scandalous debut to summer staple: The evolution of the bikini as it turns 75
The bikini has been making waves as a summer essential since it was created in the 1940s. As we dust off our swimwear once again, here's a look back at the evolution of the iconic two-piece The iconic bikini, a staple of summer fashion since the 1940s, is nearly 80 years old and still turning heads. Diana Vreeland, the legendary fashion editor at Harpers Bazaar and Vogue, once famously remarked that the bikini was "the most important thing since the discovery of the atomic bomb." Indeed, Vreeland's observation holds true as the two-piece continues to captivate with its enduring allure and provocative charm. This tiny garment has made an unprecedented impact on fashion history. Tracing back to the mid-19th century, swimsuits have adorned the figures of those frequenting the beaches of Normandy and Biarritz. However, it was in the summer of 1946 that swimwear experienced a revolutionary change. Inspired by the first American nuclear test at Bikini Atoll, French engineer and textile manufacturer Louis Réard unleashed a sartorial sensation upon post-war France: the bikini. Réard, while soaking up the sun in Saint-Tropez, noticed women rolling down their swimsuits for a fuller tan, which led him to design a swimsuit that left the midriff entirely exposed. The so-called "world's smallest swimsuit" made from mere scraps of fabric and adorned with Bernardini's fan mail excerpts, scandalously revealed her navel – a body part deemed too intimate for the public eye at the time. Brigitte Bardot became an early advocate when she famously donned a simple floral bikini on Cannes' beaches in 1953. At just 18, Bardot's bold choice helped cement the bikini as an emblem of youthful rebellion and the burgeoning consumer culture of her era. By the 1960s, bikinis continued to ride a wave of popularity, even as some European beaches still banned them. Hollywood played a pivotal role in the bikini's enduring appeal. The James Bond flick Dr. No featured Ursula Andress emerging from the ocean in a now-iconic white belted bikini, a scene that caused quite the splash. Channel 4 hailed this moment as the ultimate bikini scene in cinematic history, and in 2001, the bikini fetched £46,070 ($61,500) at auction, with film writer Martin Rubin calling it a "defining moment in the Sixties liberalisation of screen eroticism". In the same year, actress Sue Lyon was seen lounging on the grass in a floral bikini in Lolita, while Raquel Welch donned a fur two-piece in One Million Years B.C. (1966). These iconic film scenes played a significant role in popularising the bikini worldwide. However, it wasn't until 1968 that the bikini really took off in France, as social rebellion and the rise of feminism began to redefine women's fashion and its symbolism. 1980s By the 1980s, bikinis accounted for 20% of swimsuit sales in the US, outperforming all other swimwear styles. However, with growing awareness of skin cancer, the popularity of the skimpy bikini plummeted. Suddenly, high-rise one-pieces were all the rage. Alongside one-pieces, variations of the bikini like the 'tankini' and 'camikini', featuring long tops that covered the midriff and ended at the hip bones, gained popularity. Swimwear icons such as Baywatch's Pamela Anderson and Sports Illustrated model Cindy Crawford were often seen in plunging one-pieces and high-waisted bottoms. 1990s As the Eighties athleisure trend began to favour simpler aesthetics, the bikini made a triumphant return. Luxury brands started transforming the two-piece swimsuit into high-glamour fashion statements. In 1996, Chanel downsized the bikini and adorned it with its iconic logo, showcasing it on the runway modelled by supermodel Stella Tennant. The following year, Tom Ford at Gucci pushed the boundaries further with an almost invisible ombré thong bikini embellished with a bold metal G – designed for all genders and intended to be noticed. 2000s – 2010s Today, the bikini continues to be a contentious item of clothing, often finding itself under censorship. In 2013, an advert featuring Pamela Anderson dancing in a bikini was banned by the British Advertising Standards Authority for degrading women. That same year, Cambridge University prohibited the Wyverns Club of Magdalene College from organising its annual bikini jelly wrestling contest. However, as designers become more inclusive and innovative with their designs, it appears that the bikini has entered its golden age. A symbol of liberation and freedom, the bikini remains one of the most popular sectors of the fashion industry, being valued at around $811 million. Regardless of its future transformations, one thing is certain: the bikini is here to stay.
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
From Camp to Gilded Glamour: A look back at iconic Met Gala themes
The 2025 Met Gala is almost here, and anticipation is building over all of the fashion moments that the event will bring. Over the years, stars across fashion, film and music have delivered some of the most iconic style moments at the annual charity event, which originated in 1948 and began assigning specific themes aligned with the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute exhibits in the 1970s, after former Vogue Editor-in-Chief Diana Vreeland was named as a special consultant to the institute. Vreeland has been credited with moving the gala to the Met, where guests could mingle among the museum's exhibits, and for turning the annual party -- previously an industry event for fashion insiders and socialites -- into a lavish affair full of celebrity guests and other prominent figures. Following Vreeland's reign from 1972 to 1987 and Pat Buckley's term as a consultant to the Costume Institute from 1988 to 1995, current Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour took up the reins, continuing Vreeland's legacy and evolving the Met Gala further into the star-studded, glamorous event it is today. Ahead of this year's Met Gala -- the theme and dress code for which are " Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" and "Tailored for You," respectively -- we're taking a look at some of Wintour's most memorable Met Galas from the past. 2024: 'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion' Last year's theme was "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion." The related Costume Institute exhibit focused on nature and "sleeping beauties," a term used to describe "garments that can no longer be dressed on mannequins due to their extreme fragility," according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The dress code for the 2024 Met Gala was " The Garden of Time," inspired by J.G. Ballard's 1962 book of the same name, according to Vogue, which described the theme as "fleeting beauty." Memorable looks from the night included Tyla's sands of time-inspired look from Balmain, and Zendaya's two dramatic looks from John Galliano and Givenchy. 2022: 'In America: An Anthology of Fashion' In 2022, after two pandemic postponements, the Met Gala returned on the first Monday in May with the theme "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," inspired by the Costume Institute exhibit of the same name. That exhibit followed "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," which was hosted the year prior at the Met's Anna Wintour Costume Center. Both iterations of the theme focused on American style. Blake Lively's multicolored Versace gown was a standout look for the evening's dress code, "Gilded Glamour." Another buzzworthy moment from the night was when Kim Kardashian stepped out in Marilyn Monroe's iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress, which was originally designed by Bob Mackie and created by costume designer Jean Louis. 2019: 'Camp: Notes on Fashion' Perhaps the most over-the-top Met Gala was in 2019, when the event's theme was " Camp: Notes on Fashion." That year, the exhibit, inspired by Susan Sontag's essay, "Notes on 'Camp,'" explored how the elements of irony, humor, parody, pastiche, artifice, theatricality and exaggeration are expressed in fashion, according to the Met. A specific dress code wasn't highlighted ahead of the event, but in her "Go Ask Anna" Vogue series on YouTube, Wintour said that the exhibition that year was about "self-expression and individuality." Looks that caught the eye of many that night included Cardi B's custom Thom Browne gown, Jared Leto's all-red look designed by Alessandro Michele for Gucci (which he accessorized with a bust of his own head), and Lady Gaga's hot-pink look from Brandon Maxwell, which included a performative aspect on the carpet. 2018: 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination' At the 2018 Met Gala, celebrities donned their "Sunday Best" for the theme "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination." That year, the exhibit focused on how Catholicism has influenced fashion throughout the ages. Memorable looks from the gala included Rihanna's pearl and crystal Maison Margiela papal-inspired gown and Lively's dramatic Atelier Versace gown, which she accessorized with a halo-inspired headpiece. 2015: 'China: Through the Looking Glass' Rihanna's most iconic Met Gala moment came in 2015. In a nod that year's theme, "China: Through the Looking Glass," she wore an opulent, golden yellow Guo Pei design with a fur-trimmed train. The theme focused on the impact of Chinese aesthetics on Western fashion and how China has fueled the fashionable imagination for centuries, according to the Met Museum. 2012: 'Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations' The 2012 Met Gala exhibit and theme was "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations." It explored the "striking parallels between Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada," according to Vogue. Beyoncé famously closed the carpet that year in a stunning, feathered Givenchy Haute Couture gown. 2011: 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' In 2011, the Met celebrated the work of the late British fashion designer Alexander McQueen with the exhibition and theme "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty." In attendance at the Met Gala that year were Naomi Campbell, Renée Zellweger, Madonna, Taylor Swift and more. 2010: 'American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity' Oprah Winfrey was the star of the 2010 Met Gala, which spotlighted the theme 'American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity." The gala supported the exhibit of the same name, which explored developing perceptions of the modern American woman from 1890 to 1940 and how they have affected the way American women are seen today, according to the Met Museum website. 2009: 'The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion' The 2009 Met Gala theme and exhibition was "The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion," which explored the relationship between photographers and models or models and designers. In a video for Vogue in 2021, Wintour recalled that the event "was the night that Blake [Lively] took the world by storm." For the 2009 gala, Lively wore a cobalt blue Versace gown with a thigh-high slit and one sheer sleeve. "This was a dress that was certainly worn to be noticed," Wintour said in 2021. 1999: 'Rock Style' "Rock Style" was the theme for the 1999 Met Gala, which coincided with an exhibit that celebrated rock 'n' roll music and style. That year, the Costume Institute partnered with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and museum, showcasing styles from Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, The Beatles and more. In the 2021 Vogue video, Wintour recalled the red carpet looks of Stella McCartney and Liv Tyler, who both wore shirts that McCartney designed with the words "Rock Royalty" on them. 1996: 'Christian Dior' While the Met Gala celebrated iconic designer Christian Dior in 1996, all eyes were on fashion icon and humanitarian Princess Diana, who attended the event following her divorce from Prince Charles. The 1996 Met Gala was the first and only Met Gala she ever attended. For the event, Diana wore a silk Dior slip dress, accessorizing it with a sapphire and multi-strand pearl choker and a Lady Dior bag, which was formerly called the Chouchou, according to Vogue, and was renamed in honor of Diana.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘The youngest [they] hve': Mass. man arrested for distributing child porn showing kids as young as 4
An Ashland man has been arrested and charged with transportation of child sexual abuse material, with the alleged images depicting children as young as 4, the U.S. Attorney said Thursday. Brent Vreeland, 36, was arrested and charged Wednesday with one count of transportation of child pornography, U.S Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, Vreeland was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for later Thursday. According to the charging documents, Vreeland was flagged for secondary screening at Boston's Logan International Airport upon arrival from Reykjavik, Iceland in October. Prosecutors allege that during a review of Vreeland's cell phone, images and videos depicting child pornography were found in his Telegram Messenger app. A subsequent forensic examination of the device allegedly revealed approximately 30 media files depicting CSAM in direct messages with other unknown Telegram users, Foley said. Prosecutors allege that Vreeland received and distributed three such videos in October 2021, depicting the abuse of minor victims between the ages of four and 10 years old. In one exchange, Vreeland allegedly asked another user to trade CSAM files for 'the youngest [they] hve [sic],' prosecutors said. If convicted of the charge of transportation of child pornography, Vreeland faces a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Mass. man flew from Iceland to Logan Airport carrying child sex abuse material, feds say
An Ashland man was charged in connection with carrying child sexual abuse material on his phone on a flight from Iceland to Logan International Airport, United States Attorney Leah Foley's office said. Brent Vreeland, 36, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with one count of transportation of child pornography, Foley's office said in a statement. He was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Vreeland was flagged for a secondary screening at Logan after he arrived from Reykjavik in October 2024, Foley's office said. During a review of his phone, images and videos showing child sexual abuse material were found on his Telegram messenger app. A follow-up examination found about 30 files depicting child sexual abuse material in direct messages with unknown Telegram users, the statement read. He received and distributed three videos, which showed children between the ages of 4 and 10 years old, in October 2021. One of Vreeland's exchanges showed him asking another to trade some of these files for 'the youngest [they have],' Foley's office said. The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Suffolk DA blasts judge for dismissing case of man detained by ICE midtrial Allston woman likely killed by baseball bat or sword identified Nigerian man pleads guilty to $10M pandemic unemployment fraud scheme Mass. VA doctor kept child sex abuse material on his phone in his office, feds say Mass. SJC allows journalist access to Harmony Montgomery audio records
CBS News
21-02-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Neighbors rescue Northern Colorado woman from pond after dogs fall through ice
A Northern Colorado woman said she feels fortunate to still be alive after nearly drowning in an icy pond in Windsor. Tara Vreeland said she was rescued by complete strangers in January after she fell through ice in a pond, all while trying to save her golden retriever. Vreeland said she was walking her dogs along the Poudre Trail in January when their leashes got tangled. She said she briefly removed them from their leashes when one of her dogs suddenly saw geese and decided to run toward them. "He just b-lined it for that water," Vreeland said. "I didn't have a moment's hesitation to go out and get him. I just ran out there. I didn't think." Within moments of running onto the ice, Vreeland found both her dogs and herself falling through the ice, treading in the water and unable to get out. "I felt the ice give way underneath my stomach, and I was in the water," Vreeland said. "The dogs immediately started climbing on top of me and pushed me under the water, they were panicking. I've never been so scared. I was afraid of drowning." Vreeland recalled trying to get out of the water for several minutes without success. She ultimately rolled onto her back, tried floating in the icy water and screaming for help. Walking along the trail was Lou Palangi, a Fort Collins resident who happened to be out on a walk. "What I heard was very faint cries," Palangi said. Palangi said she looked toward the sound of the faint screaming and noticed a commotion in the water. "There's two dogs in there. Then I saw splashing, and I was like 'There's a person in there drowning,'" Palangi said. She called 911 as she saw passerby Judd Bronson darting toward the same pond with a large branch in his hand. "I started to see white, I was losing consciousness," Vreeland said. "My eyes were closing and I was going to sleep. I will never forget this, but I heard him in my ear saying grab the stick. I will never forget hearing him." Palangi largely stayed on the ground while Bronson slowly made his way out on the ice to help. Palangi waived first responders in to the scene, but they were unable to get on the ice without proper gear per their company policies. Bronson and Palangi then helped pull Vreeland and her dogs from the water and toward the shoreline where paramedics were able to start giving Vreeland care. "He risked his life for me," Vreeland said. "I have two superheroes, two guardian angels. I am lucky." Bronson politely declined to interview for this report, but was there to accept a lifesaving award through Windsor Severance Fire, alongside Palangi. Vreeland said she now realizes how close she came to losing her life that day, noting how thankful she is for Palangi, Bronson and the first responders. She agreed to share her story with CBS News Colorado in hopes of encouraging other people to not only count their blessings, but also as a way to help encourage others to consider calling 911 for help instead of immediately jumping on to frozen water. Vreeland, Bronson and Palangi said they were bonded for life through the situation. "You're either going to run toward danger or away from it. They ran toward it," Vreeland said.
