Beautiful things: Luxury laptop bags, vibrant pocket handkerchiefs and outlandish sunglasses April 2, 2015 Time was, the laptop bag was an uglier, floppier version of the briefcase. Not any more. Italian luxury bag maker Piquadro tasked its master-craftsmen with coming up with a rucksack befitting of the machine you rely upon for work, play and every other aspect of modern life. The company’s Sartoria made-to-order service makes it possible [...]
A new exhibition celebrates the work of era-defining illustrator Mac Conner April 2, 2015 In the 1940s and 50s, before advancements in print technology and the proliferation of photography, ad companies relied on illustrators to give their brands a visual identity. Adverts in popular magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Women’s Day and Colliers established a shorthand for aspirational, middle-class American living; fedoras, cigarette holders, swooning large-eyed women and men in [...]
Liquid Spaces: A new book explores the way our perception of space can be altered April 2, 2015 Korean artist Jee Young Lee’s installation pieces transform 3x6m boxes into fantastical, surreal dreamscapes. In some, scores of painted fans form psychedelic clouds, or a swirling ocean sucking the artist into its centre. Others, inspired by childhood memories, feature the artist in nostalgic or frightening environments, filled with giant insects, sinister tentacles, or startled crows [...]
Review: Fast & Furious 7 is still one hell of a ride April 1, 2015 Cert 12a | ★★★★☆ Fast & Furious 7 – or as the Japanese call it, Wild Speed: Sky Mission – is quite possibly the dumbest movie of the year so far. But it’s also an absolute blast. All the expected elements are here in furious abundance: cars, family, bromance, explosions, criminality, loyalty and [...]
What to do in London this Easter weekend April 1, 2015 The long Easter weekend is almost upon us and here’s what London has to offer. 500 Years of Hampton Court Palace Historic Royal Palaces is throwing a birthday bash for King Henry VIII’s former residence. Visitors during the day will be greeted by five royal carriages, specially created for the occasion, while William Shakespeare and [...]
Yarde sees mileage in World Cup ambition April 1, 2015 Harlequins winger struggled to watch Six Nations after England snub but is bent on winning back place RENDERED powerless to influence England’s ultimately forlorn Six Nations title challenge, Harlequins speedster Marland Yarde has resolved to avoid a repeat of that painful scenario during this autumn’s home World Cup. There remains work to do, though. Yarde [...]
Platini in thirdparty ban plea to Borgen boss April 1, 2015 FOOTBALL’S European governing body Uefa and players’ union FifPro have joined forces to lobby the European Commission to outlaw the controversial practice of third-party ownership (TPO). TPO – when a player’s transfer value is owned in full or part by a speculating investor – is already banned at all levels in England, having gained notoriety [...]
Raheem Sterling insists Liverpool contract row not about money as he vows to gun down transfer suitors Arsenal April 1, 2015 Unsettled Liverpool and England forward Raheem Sterling insists he wants to beat Arsenal in Saturday’s Premier League showdown despite admitting to being flattered by their interest in him. Sterling, 20, admits he is undecided over his Anfield future after turning down a new contract worth £100,000. The Gunners, who could all but end Liverpool’s Champions [...]
Kell Brook targets double defence April 1, 2015 IBF world welterweight champion Kell Brook plans to defend his title again twice this summer, despite being snubbed by Amir Khan. Brook, who beat Romanian Jo Jo Dan last week, could fight again as soon as next month. He said: “Saturday night was fantastic and I want to capitalise on that win.” Fellow Briton Khan, [...]
Cricket Comment: Colin Graves’ concerns – why four-day Tests are not best way forward April 1, 2015 From what I have seen, incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves has the appetite to implement change that will improve the structure of cricket in this country. He is due to start work next month and will arrive with a fresh mind and, hopefully, will be armed with certain long-term ideas that [...]