CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Rotary Watches, a watch brand with a rich heritage dating back to 1895, has introduced the Limited Edition RW-1895 Chronograph, a remarkable timepiece that reimagines Aquaplunge, a beloved 1960s classic, with the incorporation of an innovative meca-quartz movement.

Rotary’s decision to reinvent the Aquaplunge reflects the current trend for celebrating vintage watches.  What sets the RW-1895 Chronograph apart is its innovative meca-quartz movement. This movement combines the precision of quartz with a mechanical module for the chronograph, delivering a blend of accuracy and dependability within a sleek and slim profile. What better way to feature this innovative movement than in this much loved classic.

The collection consists of three models in total, two with bracelets and one on a premium leather strap.

Specifications for the RW-1895 Chronograph Meca-quartz include that it is Limited to 500 pieces (each model), has a Movement: Meca-Quartz (VK64), a Dial: Matte with printed luminescent indexes and hands, is Water Resistance: 100m and Special Features: Tube crown for added character and functionality.

From sky-scraping cities to the cars of tomorrow, the advent of AI technology is helping users imagine what the future could shape up to look like.

But what will we be wearing on our feet? Will the entire construct of footwear fashion as we know it today be altered? 

With this in mind, leading UK footwear retailer schuh have taken a look at how artificial intelligence and its technological capabilities could mould the trainers of tomorrow.  

Step into the future with these fashion-forward developments. 

Current trail-blazing advancements   

In recent years, trainers have come a long way from being mere functional items to complete fashion statements and enablers of athletic achievement.

Amberley Freeman, Buyer at schuh, commented on the strides (figuratively and literally) made in trainer fashion: “Recent improvements in materials, design and functionality have really upped the wearing experience for trainer fans.

“One development has been the use of smart fabrics and cushioning technologies which enhance breathability, flexibility and durability for wearers. These can adapt to the wearer’s movements, ensuring optimum comfort whether working out or simply sporting a vibe.”   

While this gives us some clues about how trainers may evolve, we turned to the power of AI to help us analyse current trends, consumer preferences and tech trajectories to provide informed predictions about the trainers of tomorrow. 

What will the trainers of the future look like?   

Schuh asked ChatGPT what we could expect to find and summarised their findings below:   

Advanced Biomechanics   

Expect to see factors like biomechanical customisation where trainers are tailored to the unique properties of each wearer. This could include 3D printing technology which creates personalised insoles based on an individual’s gait and foot structure.   

These may be further enhanced by adaptive ‘SMART’ materials which respond to the conditions you’re experiencing. Imagine New Balance trainers which adjust their insulation or breathability based on temperature or humidity.   

Trainers with their own micro-climate? Count us in for that!  

Increased sustainability   

With 25 to 34-year-olds owning nine pairs of trainers on average, sustainability is a pressing concern. Fortunately, brands such as Adidas and HOFF are already making a mark, delivering the same on-trend kick in an eco-friendly way.   

Expect sustainability to stay at the forefront of footwear fashion with eco-conscious fabrics such as recycled and organic cotton and sustainably harvested wild rubber.   

Intuitive technology  

Over 1.4 million people use health and fitness apps such as MyFitnessPal and Strava daily. Expect this to be integrated into the trainer-wearing experience.  

Imagine, for instance, augmented reality (AR) overlays that provide real-time performance feedback, guiding wearers on proper running techniques or suggesting personalised workout routines.   

Or, how about trainers loaded with smart sensors that monitor heart rate and calories burned? An increased emphasis on health and well-being will likely find a way into the future trainer, aligning with modern consumer tastes.  

When Nike launched their sensor kit in partnership with Apple back in 2006, fitness fanatics and technophiles alike couldn’t believe what they were witnessing. This breakthrough was a world first but, now we’re considering something so truly spectacular, and it could be right around the corner.   

As our best-loved brands continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what’s possible, the future of trainers holds exciting promise.   

New technology will likely bring a new blend of style, comfort and functionality with the option to build-in fitness apps and other tracking sensors to track health benefits and other stats.   

Until then, lace up and walk confidently into the new era of trainer innovation.

With the highly anticipated Oscars awards ceremony coming this month, movie-buffs all over the world are curious to see whether their favourites will receive just a nomination, or scoop up a much-coveted trophy. 

However, while there are a plethora of highly-sought after nomination categories for our onscreen heroes to battle it out for, interestingly, there isn’t one for the most awkward movies to watch with your family…

Eager to help people avoid an awkward family night in 2024, experts have compared various “awks” factors, such as the number of scenes featuring sex and nudity, the number of people who rated those scenes as ‘severe’ and the number of swear words used, in order to reveal the most awkward movie to watch with family.

Top 10 most awkward movies to watch with your family

Despite the many controversial scenes from 2023’s Saltburn causing much debate at the end of last year, the film, starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi, didn’t even claim a place within the top five, with the award for the most awkward movie to watch with your family going to The Wolf of Wall Street, with an overall awkwardness score of 9.5/10. 

A whopping 2,869 people rated the sex and nudity scenes throughout the movie as ‘severe’, equating to 91% of the overall reviews on IMDb, proving that the movie is definitely one to avoid on family film night. It also had the highest number of swear words used out of all movies in the study, 687.

In joint second place, with a total awkwardness score of 8.2/10, are the movies Don Jon and Magic Mike. While the latter has seven more scenes featuring sex and nudity, those were rated as being ‘severe’ by just 90 people, amounting to 54% of the people who left a review on IMDb. Interestingly, twice as many people gave Don Jon’s 11 sex and nudity scenes that same rating, which goes to show that this may be one to avoid at your next family movie night! 

Having been awarded a total score of 7.4/10, fourth place goes to the book to movie adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey. This rather raunchy movie’s seven scenes featuring sex and nudity were rated as ‘severe’ by 77% of the viewers who left a review on IMDb. In terms of swear words, though, the movie had the lowest count out of all movies examined, only nine.

And rounding up the top five, with an awkwardness score of 7.1/10, is the star-studded movie A Star is Born (2018). A total of 189 swear words were used throughout the 2 hours and 15 minutes movie duration. And its six sex and nudity scenes earned a ‘severe’ rating from a total of 190 people (494 less than Fifty Shades of Grey), which might make a family watch quite uncomfortable. lease find the complete dataset of all 15 movies analysed .

Analysis of Google Trends search data reveals that online searches for ‘he-vage’have increased 86% worldwide compared to the previous year after stars such as Barry Keoghan and Donald Glover rocked the sexy look on the red carpet.

A new finding from fashion experts at BoohooMAN reveals that online searches for ‘he-vage’ have increased by 86% globally in the past 24 months. This follows a recent revival of the risque look, flaunted by celebs including Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan and Kylie Jenner’s beau, Timothée Chalamet.

The style follows similar rules of cleavage, with ‘he-vage’ looks featuring a low-cut neckline which shows off at least an inch of chest or more.

While John Travolta may have been the original low-cut icon with his unbuttoned shirts in Saturday Night Fever, where he showed off his illustrious chest hair, the term was first defined by Urban Dictionary in 2007 as: “Male cleavage, often seen when a button-down shirt is unbuttoned to an extreme.”

However, the style has now been readopted by male stars walking the red carpet this season, who have put a modern twist on the racy trend.

Celebs have been daring the bare on the red carpet recently, such as Irish actor Paul Mescal, who was seen sporting some serious ‘he-vage’ at the London Critic’s Circle Film Awards at the weekend.

Many A-listers have opted for luxury alternatives like Barry Keoghan’s Dolce & Gabbana white two-piece suit, which featured wide-leg trousers and a cropped, sleeveless jacket with a deep v-neck showing off his toned pecs.

Similarly, Donald Glover flaunted some ‘he-vage’ while walking the Golden Globes red carpet in a white, belted satin Saint Laurantjacket featuring a dramatic low neckline, exposing the actor’s chest.

This increase in sensual styling has resulted in a massive increase in searches for ‘he-vage’ worldwide, with searches for the term increasing by 86% from January 2022 to January 2024.

A fashion expert from BoohooMANcommented on the findings:

“These findings highlight the continued influence celebrity dressing has on trends, which impacts our day-to-day styling choices.

“While ‘he-vage’ may have been in the public vernacular for more than 15 years, this recent resurgence focuses as much on the luxe feel of the outfit and clean tailoring, which is essential to elevate the look.

“Those looking to replicate the trend can simply undo a couple more buttons on a shirt to achieve the effect or opt for a v-neck t-shirt. 

“If you want to add a twist, choose tailored pieces like waistcoats and blazers with no shirt underneath.

“For extra impact, you can colour block jackets, trousers and overcoats to give a more high-end feel.”

With many Brits setting themselves a fresh set of goals, Adobe Express recently ran a survey of 2,000 UK adults and learned that one in six (15%) Brits are planning to take up a hobby as part of their New Year’s resolution in 2024.

So, with more than two thirds (67%) of the nation declaring themselves as ‘very creative’, according to the same survey, just which UK towns and cities officially lead the way on the creativity scale? 

In order to create their rankings, the experts at Adobe Express examined a variety of factors, such as the number of jobs available in the art sector, the number of museums and galleries, and the number of notable artists born in each of the 30 towns or cities compared within the study. 

The top 10 most creative towns and cities in the UK 

The research revealed that the most creative city in the UK is Manchester, boasting an overall creativity score of 8.7/10.

In the northern city, there are a whopping 111 notable creatives per 100,000 people, which includes musicians, painters and writers. 

For those looking to get in the creative arts job market, Manchester also boasts 31 relevant job roles per 100,000 residents (at the time the study was undertaken).

Achieving a total score of 7.6/10, Brighton and Hove places second. 

The city’s music scene has been quite busy in the past year, with 694 concerts taking place there in 2023 alone.

Interestingly, Brighton actually is home to the most art galleries and museums per 100,000 people out of all examined cities, with art lovers having the ability to choose from 16 galleries and museums to explore.

Finally, in third place is Bristol, with an overall score of 7.2/10. This southern city has 58 job roles in the creative arts sector. It also is home to 89 artists per 100,000 residents, which is 39 more than Brighton in second place.

Comparatively, ranking as the UK’s least creative town out of all 30 locations analysed is Northampton, with an overall creativity score of just 2.0/10. 

This East Midlands town is home to just a single art gallery and museum, and offers a total of 21 jobs available in the creative sector per 100,000 people living in the city.

Ranking in 29th position is Kingston Upon Hull, with a creativity score of just 2.2/10.

It’s reported that this East Yorkshire city is home to just 37 notable painters, writers and musicians, and just two art galleries and museums per 100,000 people. 

Achieving a total score of 2.4/10, Stoke-On-Trent ranks in 28th position, out of all 30 towns and cities analysed, owing to just two art galleries and museums within the city, and a low number of creative jobs available per 100,000 residents (12).