Meryl Streep shines in this flawed biopic January 5, 2012 FILM THE IRON LADY Cert: 12A *** One of the defining figures of our generation; a woman who reached the top despite the best efforts of the patriarchy; a divisive personality who demands the grudging respect of her detractors. Meryl Streep could teach us all a thing or two. And in The Iron Lady – [...]
Ice hockey film is a bloody mess January 5, 2012 FILM GOON Cert 15 * Having grown up in rural Scotland, I’m no stranger to random acts of physical violence. There’s not that much to do up there beyond sheep farming and punching each other in the face until teeth are dislodged and blood is spurted. According to Goon, ice hockey and rural Scotland have [...]
Techno couture January 4, 2012 Gadgets and fashion are uneasy bed-fellows. Top designers tend to shun technology in favour of tradition: natural fibres are still the go-to materials – despite the progress of nano fibres – and an expert eye is favoured over the laser precision of a computer. Tom Ford went as far as locking out bloggers and banning [...]
RIM’s 2011 has been a nightmare – and it better wake up soon January 4, 2012 At a time of year when success stories are being lauded in a frenzy of year-end round-ups, spare a thought for those standing in the shadows, solemnly planning their new year’s resolutions. Sony’s should be “must remember to lock the back door,” given its unfortunate hacking incident, adding to the woes of its TV department, [...]
TECHNO FASHION | THE GADGETS YOU CAN WEAR January 4, 2012 WATCH2PAY, £99 This collaboration between watch manufacturer LAKS and MasterCard allows you to make contactless payments in shops like Pret by simply scanning it at the till. It’s no Rolex but early adopters can jump on the NFC bandwagon with this while Apple takes its time putting the technology into its iPhones. watch2pay.com IPHONE GLOVES, [...]
The five suits you need this spring January 4, 2012 Recent suit trends have been resolutely one-dimensional – slim. Collections from almost every major designer and Savile Row tailor have been overwhelmingly slanted towards this classic look. The spring/summer collections take this baton and run – but there is a more adventurous feel to the latest trends. Perhaps the most stand-out feature on the menswear [...]
How to dress after weeks of festive excess January 4, 2012 The accrual of festive flab is unpleasant on several scores: one, none of your clothes fit properly, leaving you obsessively watching the clock until you can go home and sprawl in pyjamas on the sofa. Two: weight gain inevitably dents self-esteem. Walking around with a spare tire peeking over your slim-fit Armani trousers or a [...]
FASHION NEWS January 4, 2012 LIZ CLAIBORNE TO CHANGE NAME Liz Claiborne, which sold its namesake brand last year, is changing its name to Fifth & Pacific Companies in a nod to the fashion hubs of New York and California. Shares in the company, whose main remaining brands are Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand, will begin trading as [...]
Tiguan shows 4x4s can be city cars January 3, 2012 It’s taken me years to come around to the 4×4. I wouldn’t say I was anti-SUV – it’s just that I’ve never understood the attraction. For a life in the countryside, fine, go right ahead, it makes a lot of sense. Off-road, in a Landie, I’m having as much fun as the next guy. I [...]
CAR TALK January 3, 2012 GIRLS ARE DEFINITELY ALLOWED IN CUSTOM RENAULT TWINGO As part of a marketing initiative to promote Renault’s new Twingo, Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud has created this Twingo with her own bespoke interior. A recording studio, coffee machine, clothes, hair dryer and a make-up counter have all been incorporated into the one-off city car. Thought-provoking [...]