Latest news with #creative
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Naomi Moore: ‘I'd love to go back to having no fear of anything'
How agreeable are you? I think I go with the flow quite a lot. At work, I'm agreeable until I really want to do something, and I'll make sure that gets done. Ultimately, I would say I'm agreeable unless I'm pushed too much. What's your middle name and what do you think of it? I'm Naomi Therese Marcella. My mother wasn't sure what to call me. I think she picked out Naomi first and then thought if people didn't like it, we could go with Therese. Marcella was my dad's mom's name, and that was picked to maybe ingratiate me in the will, but I didn't get anything! Where is your favourite place in Ireland? Naul, my home in Fingal, Co Dublin, where we've spent 20 years refurbishing a lovely old cottage that we have extended, renovated and put our own touches to. Naul is a sleepy village, pretty, untouched. Everyone knows everybody, so you can walk into the village pub or the Séamus Ennis Arts Centre at any time, and there's someone that you know. I love it. Describe yourself in three words. Creative. Chaos. Co-ordinator. READ MORE When did you last get angry? My husband may have seen me angry twice, my friends would probably have never seen me angry, and at work, rarely. If I do, it's usually because someone has been unfair or someone has been hurt. I never like to waste my energy on anger, so it's very rare. It takes a lot to wind me up. You have to really annoy me. [ Ireland's 'film censor' Ciarán Kissane: 'My mother told me I watched too much TV and now I watch movies for a living' Opens in new window ] What have you lost that you would like to have back? When you're in your 20s, you're totally bulletproof, and you don't have to think twice about anything. I'd still be a little bit like that, but not as much as I used to be. I'd love to go back to having no fear of anything. What is your strongest childhood memory? We grew up in Portmarnock , and my dad worked for a plastics factory; they made sturdy, thick bags for fuel like peat and coal. When I was about six, my brothers put me into one of them, tied the top with a big rope, tied the rope at the top of a tree and then launched me out. I'd go spinning around and around the tree until the bag whacked into it, and then I would spin back again. I think that's where I got the adrenaline buzz. Every photograph from that summer in the family album is of me in the bag! Where do you come in your family's birth order, and has it defined you? Being the baby of six has absolutely defined me. By the time I arrived, my parents had almost completely given up on discipline. That didn't work with the first five, so why bother with me? The fact that there were six kids meant you had to share – not only food and clothes but also love, kindness and generosity, all of which my mother instilled in us. My family gave me creativity, fearlessness, compassion, empathy and fairness. What do you expect to happen when you die? I would hope you get to see all the people you've lost, to hang out with them and have good fun. [ Only children: 'I have great colleagues, some are as close to me as any family members I could wish for' Opens in new window ] When were you happiest? I'm always happy, genuinely. I had a great childhood. I loved school. I still have friends that I was in kindergarten with. I boarded at Drogheda Grammar School, and I have great friends from there, too. Then, at 20, I met my business partners at the recording studio, which is where I met my husband. I'm now in a more reflective period where I'm happy to have chats in old pubs rather than going out clubbing. I'm always happy at whatever stage I'm at. I think I was born under a lucky star. Which actor would play you in a biopic about your life? I'd love Rosanna Arquette to do it. She could put on an Irish accent. I've always liked her and kind of identified with her for some reason. What's your biggest career/personal regret? It's boring, but I don't have any at all. In my personal life, I've always seemed to fall into a lucky space. I have great relationships with my family and my friends, and I've a wonderful husband. Career-wise, it's the same. I'm in a job that changes constantly, and I've had the opportunity to work with a broad range of people, all the way from Bon Jovi and 50 Cent to Hozier and Lewis Capaldi. Have you any psychological quirks? I probably have lots, but my main one is that I can't eat carrots unless they're cooked whole and roasted. If they're boiled, I won't eat them – I can't even stand the smell of them – and if they're chopped in circles, I can't eat them, either. In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
Entrepreneur
23-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Brand Lessons from Dubai: Evolving with Purpose and Power
This is a clear message to brands: if your creative is still playing it safe, or feels like a copy-paste job, you're already behind. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Not long ago, much of Dubai's creative scene felt like it was borrowed from elsewhere. Many campaigns were adaptations of global ideas, not built specifically for the region. But that's shifting. Dubai's voice is evolving, from adaptation to originality, from safe to unapologetic. What's driving this shift? Ambition. The ambition to become a creative powerhouse, to attract top talent, and to build world-class brands from the region outwards. And the UAE government is setting the tone. Just look at their Cannes takeover this year: a bold, logo-less campaign that declared, "The Emirates are open for ideas as long as those ideas are impossible." This is a clear message to brands: if your creative is still playing it safe, or feels like a copy-paste job, you're already behind. IDEAS BASED ON LOCAL INSIGHT Brands in the Middle East are beginning to shred the "global-but-generic" creative template we see over and over again. For too long, campaigns created in the region have played it safe, polished, predictable, and built from formulas that worked elsewhere. But that's changing. The market is maturing. Clients are no longer asking, "What did London, Amsterdam or New York do?" They want ideas that begin here, shaped by the region's culture and created by people who live it, understand it, and are genuinely connected to the audience. Adidas' I'm Possible campaign is a perfect example. Instead of rolling out a global message, they started with a local truth: a YouGov stat that 88% of women in the Middle East believe sports aren't meant for them. adidas invited women across Dubai to share their own stories, and then took over the city's billboards with their images. It cut through because it was rooted in real women's voices, stories that felt personal, not performative. The takeaway? If you want your campaign to truly cut through, you can't afford to skip the work of uncovering local insight. It's not just about ticking a cultural box, it's about building creative that couldn't come from anywhere else. The brands leading the way are investing the time to understand the nuances: the humour, the language, the lived realities of their audience. Regional cues aren't being diluted anymore, they're being amplified. And the result is work that feels more confident, more connected, and far more likely to leave a mark. THINK BIG. ACT FAST. This is a region that moves fast and thinks big. Brands that wait for global sign-off or rely on tried-and-tested ideas will likely miss the moment. The most effective work here is reactive and matches the region's pace and ambition. Bold ideas that are sharp, timely, and strategically sound. Emirates nailed this strategic ambition with their Burj Khalifa stunt in 2021. When the UAE was removed from the UK's red list, Emirates responded quickly with a jaw-dropping visual: a flight attendant standing at the top of the world's tallest building holding signs celebrating the return of travel. Bold, timely, and completely mental. It gave them a new claim to fame: one of the "highest ads ever filmed". This is the level brands are competing with here. The work that lands here doesn't just move fast, it taps into the moment. The best brands are plugged into what's happening around them, and they're brave enough to respond with big, bold creative. It's not about waiting for the perfect global brief. It's about recognising the opportunity and having the guts to go for it. CREATIVITY BUILT FROM WITHIN The brands making the biggest impact aren't just getting the message right, they're getting the people right. The work that really connects here is being made by teams who understand this place because they're part of it. Not just flying in for a briefing or asking AI for cultural cues. It needs to be created by those experiencing the rhythm of everyday life, what people care about, laugh about, talk about. Campaigns like Puck's Recipe for Change or adidas' I'm Possible didn't land because they followed a formula. They worked because they were built by people who instinctively understood the tone, the sensitivities, and the stories that would resonate, and knew how to tell them in a way that felt natural, not forced. If you want your work to land here, it has to be created from here. Not adapted. Not translated. Created by people who know the difference between a borrowed insight and a real one, and who know how to build something original with it. Basically, what I'm saying is: brands need to be bold. More now than ever. And Dubai is the place to do it. I moved back because I could feel the ambition here and I want to be a part of it. The brands making the biggest impact are the ones grounding their ideas in local truth, reacting to the moment, and creating from within, not adapting a global formula. If you want to stay ahead, show up with work that's original, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore.
UAE Moments
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
♐ Sagittarius Daily Horoscope for July 21, 2025
The vibe today is curious, spontaneous, and just a little chaotic—aka, totally your thing. The Moon slides into Aquarius, charging up your social battery and pulling you out of any funk. Expect unexpected connections, lightbulb moments, and a craving for something new. You're in full explorer mode—of ideas, people, and maybe even travel plans. Keep your phone charged and your mind open, because the universe might just drop a plot twist you didn't see coming. 💼 Career & Ambitions: Teamwork makes the dream work today. Bouncing ideas off others could lead to a breakthrough, especially if you're working on something techy or creative. Step out of routine—try a new approach or brainstorm with someone outside your usual circle. 💖 Love & Relationships: Flirt alert! Your playful energy is magnetic right now, and people are picking up on it. If you're single, a spontaneous conversation could spark a surprising connection. Coupled up? Do something offbeat with your partner—ditch the dinner date and go stargazing or try a weird museum. 💪 Body & Wellness: You're buzzing with nervous energy—channel it into movement! Dance, cycle, or try something unconventional like aerial yoga or even roller skating. Just get your body moving and have fun with it. 🧠 Mental Health Check: You may feel mentally scattered, but that's just your brain working overtime on cool ideas. Don't try to control it all—jot things down, then organize later. Give yourself permission to dream big and weird today.
Telegraph
19-07-2025
- Telegraph
The greatest long weekends in the UK
There's nothing like a holiday for releasing energy, filling your creative well or getting some much-needed R&R. But most of us can't be taking two-week jollies every time we feel depleted or stressed. Fortunately, often all you need to recharge your batteries is to step away for a few days – especially if you use those days well. Short breaks don't have to be short on anything but the annual leave they use. Even trips of just three or four nights can be packed with adventure, indulgence and reinvigoration. They're simpler to organise and easier to do spontaneously. They're also a low-risk way of trying new things. And they tend to be cheaper – for instance, you might not be able to afford a castle, but could splash out on being a lord of the manor for a few days. Here are some brilliant British long weekends that will make you feel like you've had a much bigger break. Mini adventures Cycle around the Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight might be England's largest island, but it's small enough to pedal right round in a long weekend. The route is gently undulating rather than terribly taxing, often following quiet, rural inland lanes and trails. Daily distances are relatively short too, allowing plenty of time for exploring sights such as yachtie Cowes, refreshing Freshwater Bay and Queen Victoria's Osborne House. How to do it Walkers Britain (0800 008 7741) offers a four-night self-guided Isle of Wight Cycle from £590pp including accommodation and bike rental; excludes ferry. Pick up paddling in the Highlands Sheltered and spectacular, the waters of Upper Loch Torridon are the ideal place for beginners to try out sea paddling. Join a small group of like-minded newbies, enjoy expert tuition in the shadow of the Torridon Mountains, pull up for lunch on sandy bays, kayak over to seal-slobbed-out islands, refuel on pub dinners and enjoy the camaraderie of a cosy bunkhouse each night. How to do it Wilderness Scotland (01479 420020) offers a five-day guided Introduction to Sea Kayaking trip from £1,165pp including accommodation and most meals; set departures May-August. Take a wee walk in Northern Ireland Amble along Northern Ireland's most iconic stretch of coast on a highlights-packed short walking break. The route runs from Portstewart to Ballintoy; between these two pretty towns lie Royal Portrush golf course (host of the 2025 Open), Bushmills Whiskey Distillery, ruined Dunluce Castle, views to Rathlin Island, cosy inns and the Giant's Causeway – the trail offers views of these Unesco-listed rocks without the crowds. How to do it Away A Wee Walk (078 3770 3643) offers a four-day self-guided Causeway Coast trip from £385pp including B&B accommodation, excluding flights. Canter with the kids in the New Forest The whole brood can live out their cowboy/cowgirl fantasies on a weekend in the New Forest. Here you'll find some of England's finest riding country and a family-friendly stables with something for everyone. Choose between beginner lessons, children's pony fun days and varied hacks across the heathlands that cross streams and encounter wild ponies. Accommodation is at a holiday resort within walking distance, complete with pools, spa, zip-wires and resident alpacas. How to do it Equestrian Escapes (01829 781123) offers a three-night New Forest Family Riding Adventure from £525pp including self-catering accommodation. Big little journeys Ride with the Romans across Cumbria & Northumberland Squeeze 2,000 years of history, 100 miles and a coast-to-coast crossing into just three days on a ride along Hadrian's Cycleway. The route follows country lanes, quiet roads and some traffic-free paths, passing ancient sites (Birdoswald Fort, Walltown Quarry, Vindolanda) and offering views across the rugged North Pennines. It's a moderate-graded route – mostly manageable, with a few cheeky hills; hire an e-bike for an extra boost. How to do it Saddle Skedaddle (0191 265 1110) offers a four-day self-guided Hadrian's Cycleway trip from £585pp including B&B accommodation; excludes bike hire. Take a quick cruise around the Hebrides Sticking to the sheltered waters around Loch Linnhe and the Sound of Mull, Majestic Line's mini-voyages offer a condensed hit of Scottish splendour – a great way to see if you like cruising or not. Majestic's traditional boats sleep up to 12, serve gourmet meals, anchor at scenic spots and float by ruined castles, colourful ports and playful dolphins. How to do it The Majestic Line (01369 707951) offers three-night cruises from £1,300pp including full-board; set departures March-October. Solos: two double cabins are always reserved for singles, with no supplement to pay. Plot a fishy escape in Gwynedd Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences has teamed up with the region's seafood purveyors to create the Gwynedd Seafood Trails, a trio of scenic routes, drivable over a few days, that show where to eat the local catch. For instance, combine Caernarfon's sites with lunch at Llofft and dinner at harbourside Morfarch. Take a walk from Borth-y-Gest before tucking into Bae Borth Deli Bar's seafood chowder. And graze around the lovely Llŷn Peninsula. How to do it Caernarfon's Llety Arall (07721 497283) has doubles from £115pn room-only. See Catch some great little trains in Norfolk Embark on a small-scale, great-value county-roaming rail odyssey, exploring Norfolk via its most charming trains. Ride the steam-hauled Mid-Norfolk and Bure Valley Railways, board the rural Bittern Line from Norwich to Sheringham and pootle along the coast aboard the heritage Poppy Line. There's also time for a Mississippi Paddle Boat cruise on the reed-fringed Broads and a visit to Sandringham, the opulent country retreat of the royals. How to do it Great Rail Journeys (01904 521936) offers a five-day guided Norwich & Norfolk trip from £549pp including half-board accommodation; set departures August-October. A touch of class Seek off-season style in Cornwall The height of Cornish cool, Polzeath was once dubbed 'Britain's Saint-Tropez'. There are certainly some glitzy places to stay, including Chyanna. Right opposite the enormous sandy beach, it's almost entirely fronted by windows and comes complete with cocktail bar, sky hammock and outdoor kitchen on the balcony. For glamour at a lower-cost, come off-season: from September to April it can be booked for short breaks, and costs a quarter of high-summer prices. How to do it Latitude 50 (01208 869090) offers three nights at Chyanna (sleeping 8) from £1,600. Meet literary royalty in Aberdeenshire For the ultimate quick shot of inspiration, head to Braemar. Robert Louis Stevenson penned some of Treasure Island in the Cairngorms village, while Braemar's Fife Arms has suitably creativity-fuelling rooms – try the boho-opulent Artist's Studio. Or come for the Braemar Literary Festival (September 26-28, 2025; when big-hitters like Stephen Fry will be on stage; hotel guests can get priority seats. How to do it Hang with the cool crowd (for less) in Oxfordshire A Cotswolds weekend, staying at one's own Chipping Norton retreat? Yes please. Beechnut is a romantic stone cottage with a Mediterranean-chic vibe on Heath Farm. It has a serene 70-acre estate with meadows and woodland to waft through, a games lawn on which to play croquet and a springwater lake for boating, fishing and wild swimming. You have to share it with five other cottages, but that means it doesn't cost Chipping Norton set prices. How to do it Cotswolds Hideaways (01451 887766) offers three nights at Beechnut (sleeping 2) from £559. Combine class and culture in Pembrokeshire Manor Town House, a Georgian pile in the heart of Fishguard, makes for a stylish Pembrokeshire escape year-round. But it's also hooked up with VIP Wales to offer a couple of special small-group trips. These combine expert-guided tours of St David's and Strumblehead, walks on Carnigli Mountain and dips (for the brave) at secret coves with treats such as four-course breakfasts and Welsh high teas. How to do it Manor Town House (01348 873260) offers B&B from £150per night, three-night VIP packages from £660pp including B&B accommodation and tours; set departures October. Historic stays Live it up, Cheshire Built in 1868, Liongate Lodge once housed the gardener of Bolesworth Castle. In summer 2025, it opened as a luxurious self-catering retreat – complete with decadent furnishings, hidden bar, hot-tub patio and lake and castle views – allowing couples privileged access to the grand Cheshire estate for the first time. It's also virtually on the 34-mile Sandstone Trail, one of the country's finest short long-distance trails, making it perfect for a two- or three-day adventure. How to do it Bolesworth Estate (01829 782210) offers three-night stays at Liongate Lodge (sleeps 2) from £1,250. Indulge in Austen, Bath How better to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen in 2025 than with a long weekend in beautiful Bath, the city that still looks like one of her novels. Of course, she didn't actually like it much – a theme explored at the No 1 Royal Crescent Museum's The Most Tiresome Place in the World exhibition, which looks at Austen's time in the city (until November 2, 2025). Stay just a few doors down at the elegant Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. How to do it The Royal Crescent Hotel (01225 823333) offers four nights B&B from £1,735, including one afternoon tea and unlimited use of the spa. Wellness weekends Take a private plunge in Warwickshire The benefits of dipping in cold water have long been known – certainly since 1748, when the Bath House was built. This remarkable Georgian folly, tucked in the countryside near Stratford-upon-Avon, has just two octagonal rooms: a grand living space, festooned with stucco icicles and shells, and a basement plunge pool, with gates that fling open to the fields beyond. Spend all weekend indulging in private wellness, 18th-century style. How to do it The Landmark Trust (01628 825925) offers the Bath House (sleeps 2) for three nights from £642. Retreat on the cheap in Devon A weekend of coastal wellness doesn't have to cost a sickening amount. Look to hostels, which don't bump their prices in summer. These work brilliantly for groups and are usually in prime locations for accessing the great outdoors. Ilfracombe's Ocean Backpackers in Devon has smart shared and private rooms and also offers a bargain Ocean Mix & Match break that includes Pilates, yoga, surfing and beach meditation. How to do it Independent Hostels (01629 580427) offers dorm beds at Ocean Backpackers from £25pp per night; a two-night Ocean Mix & Match costs £120pp including accommodation and four activities. Do it yourself in the Brecon Beacons Wern-y-Cwm Farm, on the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), has mountain views and the perfect set-up for creating bespoke retreats. There's a handful of cottages (and, from September, a vintage camper for two) plus wildflower meadows, art installations, pick-your-own plots and a natural swimming pool. Join scheduled retreats – art, yoga, executive resets – or put together your own: enlist the in-house masseur, book the sauna, or add on classes in foraging, weaving and more. How to do it Soothe your soul on a pilgrimage from Scotland to Northumberland A trip focusing on the best bits of St Cuthbert's Way means even the time poor can make a satisfying spiritual journey. Follow parts of the saint's route from Melrose Abbey to Lindisfarne, crossing from the Scottish Borders into Northumberland, ending with a barefoot walk (if you like) across to Holy Island where you'll spend two nights soaking up its special atmosphere. How to do it Macs Adventure (0141 530 5452) offers a five-day self-guided Highlights of St Cuthbert's Way trip from £570pp including B&B accommodation. Get back to nature Delve into the Yorkshire Dales Get intimate with the ravines, cliffs and caves of the Yorkshire Dales on an action-packed stay at How Stean Gorge. Glamp in the cabins (which have wood burners and hot tubs) then throw yourself into nature: activities include ghyll scrambling, abseiling, canoeing, spelunking (exploring caves) and via ferrata-ing (climbing a route of fixed anchors, ladders and cables). The indecisive could book the 'Big 5', which crams five escapades into one day. Fabulous for families. How to do it How Stean Gorge (01423 755666) offers three nights in a lodge (sleeps 4-10) from £525; camping from £12.50/9pp per night adult/child. Big 5 from £149pp. Hide away in Northamptonshire Lark Rise sits between a handful of cities but feels like the perfect rural idyll. The cabin is surrounded by pasture and woodland (the owners have planted 50,000 trees over the past 30 years) and is a place to do a weekend of nothing in nature: swing in the hammock, soak in the outdoor bath, stare through the stargazing window, book the sauna or take a dip in the swimming lake. An on-site expert leads birding sessions too. How to do it Canopy & Stars (0117 204 7830) offers three nights at Lark Rise (sleeps 2) from £545
Vogue
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Everything You Need to Know About Meryll Rogge, Marni's New Creative Director
Marni announced Meryll Rogge as its new creative director today. 'I'm truly honored to join Marni—a house I've long admired for its independent spirit,' the designer said in the news release. 'To take on a role defined by such visionary creative directors is both humbling and inspiring.' Rogge is a Belgian designer who developed a sense of surprise and novelty when working side-by side with Marc Jacobs, and honed her color sense and appreciation for prints when she joined Dries Van Noten as head of womenswear. Since launching her namesake line in 2019, Rogge has become recognized for her off-kilter takes on the slip dress and her fantastic knits, including beaded cardigans for men and women. Celebs fell hard for her sassy boxer bloomers, but customers keep coming back for generously cut khakis with an elastic waist, deconstructed shirting, and fashionable interpretations of sporty separates. With Rogge's appointment, Marni is once more woman-led. Consuelo Gastiglioni launched the brand in 1994 as a complement to her husband Gianni Castiglioni's fur business. (His sister's nickname was borrowed for the company moniker.) After coming up with ways to take the stoginess out of fur, she needed something to wear under them, and so clothes followed. 'The process of creating a collection is very instinctual…I follow what I like,' Castiglioni told Vogue in 2013. That ability to make things feel personal and easy is a point of connection between the founder and Rogge. A point of distinction is how Rogge, educated at the Royal Academy of Art, carries forward the Belgian heritage of deconstruction with a light touch. While a lot of thought goes into her patternmaking, the results are not coolly conceptually, but engaging and enticing. In advance of Rogge's Marni debut, here's everything you need to know about the designer. Timeline 1984 Born and raised in Flemish Ghent where she dreamed of becoming an illustrator and working for Disney. Caught sketching dresses in her Ancient Greek class, the professor suggested Rogge become a designer. 2002 - 2004 Read law at Université Notre Dame de la Paix, Namur. 'My parents were not so hot on me studying fashion…and so we made a pact where I was going to study the bachelor of law, which luckily at the time was only two years, and then I could do whatever I wanted.' 2004 After graduating, applied to the Royal Academy of Arts. Rogge wasn't admitted and did a foundation year in Antwerp.
