I tend to be a little skeptical of running shoes from brands that don’t specialize in the sport. Human feet are highly individual, so it’s hard enough to find holy-grail sneakers for walking and casual wear. If I’m going to pound the pavement (and my body) for miles and miles, I prefer to leave my feet in the hands of brands like Nike and Saucony, which have been at the top of their running game for decades.That said, when an APL rep offered to send me a free pair of the new TechLoom Dream ($250, Athletic Propulsion Labs), I was curious to see if they could compete with my running standbys. Aside from the impressive list of features and stylish design, the claim that the sneaker performs as well on a run as it does on the go intrigued me. A shoe that can keep up with my workouts and my life—and look good doing it—sounded like, well, a dream, so I was eager to test it out.Who these shoes are forAPL designed the TechLoom Dream to be an extra cushy, “all-purpose” running and walking shoe. Features like a stretchy sock liner, a soft but responsive midsole, and a cushioned collar are meant to add up to a sneaker you can jog, sprint, stroll, and bop around in.Out of the boxI tested the black and white colorway, so there wasn’t an immediate wow factor when I opened the box—which is just the way I like it. I’m not one for flashy hues or edgy details, and I love that APL keeps their lines clean and their colors simple: I found them sleek as hell.Upon further inspection, it was clear that the shoe was high-quality. The flexible material of the upper just felt well-made, and the thick, three-piece outsole looked super sturdy. I also thought the sneaker was surprisingly lightweight considering it was designed to be extra soft and supportive.Cathryne KellerFit and feelThe stretchy sockliner made the shoes easy to slip on (and, later, off—a major perk since I’ve decided I’m at a point in my life where I don’t have the time or energy to unlace my sneakers). Once I tied them and started walking around my apartment, I immediately noticed two things: My feet felt comfy and cozy, but my toes were a little cramped. I have a medium-width foot overall, but I need a little more, uh, wiggle room in the toe box, especially when running. My big toe was also almost at the end of the shoe, even though I went a half size up, as I typically do in running shoes. I tried another APL style a few years ago and found that it ran small, also, so if you’re between sizes, I recommend going with the bigger one.On the runThe “dream”-like cushioning is supposed to be the standout feature of this shoe, and while my feet were plenty comfortable when I was walking leading up to my run, the ride was a tad too firm when I picked up the pace. It wasn’t hard by any means, and it was fine for my shorter three-mile run, but if you’re someone who prefers a cushioned trainer like I do (especially for longer distances), this pair might not be for you.

Why this matters: Certain eating plans (like those made up of minimally processed and whole foods, like fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins) generally lead to steadier blood sugar levels, Dr. Weintraub says, while others (like those high in sugar, refined grains, and highly processed foods) can spike your blood sugar levels.A food log that outlines what you eat gives your provider an idea of your diet’s macronutrient balance (protein, fat, and carbs), diversity (the variety of foods, and therefore micronutrients, you’re eating), and portion sizes (how much you’re eating in general), Dr. Nosova explains—all of which are important components of understanding your diabetes health. For example, you and your doctor might learn that your new habit of bringing a hearty salad to work three days a week has contributed to generally lower blood sugar, which can inspire you to keep this good thing going.Pay attention to how much you move—and that doesn’t only have to include workouts.Regular exercise can help lower your A1C by making your body more sensitive to insulin, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), so jot down movement in your log, too. A combination of cardio and strength training is a good bet, Dr. Weintraub says, because they support better blood sugars in different ways: Cardio helps lower your glucose levels (especially right after a meal)1, while strength training2 builds lean muscle mass—tissue that’s linked to regulating blood sugar, even when you’re not working out.Dr. Weintraub recommends logging all types of movement—not just time spent in a gym. Taking the dog out, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, running around with kids, biking, walking to work—every little bit counts. If that sounds like a lot to keep track of, don’t sweat it: You can take a couple of minutes at the end of the day to mentally review all the ways you moved your body and roughly estimate it. And if you wear a fitness tracker (like a Garmin, FitBit, or Apple Watch) or have a pedometer on your smartphone, those tools can help you, too.With all of that in place: A movement log might, for example, show you and your doctor that your regular after-dinner neighborhood strolls or twice-weekly weightlifting sessions might have something to do with a dip in your A1C. Or, if you come in with a higher A1C than last time, you and your team may be able to pin that to your putting your usual Pilates classes on the backburner during a busy time at work. That could in turn lead to a conversation about how, for instance, a 20-minute walk after breakfast is both more realistic and effective for your schedule.Keep an eye on sleep—not just how much of it you’re getting, but how it’s making you feel in the morning.Getting solid rest is crucial for everybody’s health, but qualitysleep is extra-important for people with diabetes. Knowing whether or not you’re getting the recommended seven to nine hours each night is “incredibly helpful” for you and your doctor, Dr. Weintraub says, given that getting less sleep often has a negative ripple effect on diabetes health. (One 2017 meta-analysis of 15 studies found that poor sleep quality was associated with an increased A1C.3) Why? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sleep issues can lead to insulin resistance (this is when your cells don’t respond to insulin as well; it’s the opposite of insulin sensitivity), the urge to reach for carb-y foods that can spike your blood sugar, and a dip in your mental health4, among other things. It’s not a shocker that any of these things, on their own or together, can majorly play into how your type 2 diabetes affects you on a daily level: Stress, nutrition, and blood sugar levels are all big parts of feeling good with this condition (or, when they’re out of whack, less good). And, of course, helping your body respond well to insulin, eating well, and feeling steady mentally are all factors that majorly support your diabetes health over time, too.

We continue to highlight a few of our favorite watches from among the more than sixty watchmakers that have created timepieces for the Only Watch charity auction, which commences Sunday, November 5, in Geneva. Christie’s will auction these incredible one-of-a-kind watches to raise funds that benefit research in the battle against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
While you may have seen a few of the watches set for auction earlier this year when Only Watch announced them, we thought you’d enjoy seeing many of these impressive designs again just ahead of the event.
The watches are currently touring the globe. After concluding their U.S. visit at Christie’s in New York on September 17, the tour will visit Monaco next, followed by stops in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai and back in Geneva. See the Only Watch website for tour dates and details. 
The Bell & Ross BR 03 Cyber Rainbow.
In this post we highlight the BR 03 Cyber Rainbow, the Bell & Ross entry to Only Watch 2023. The colorful model is a new take on the watchmaker’s own Cyber concept series, 
It offers a black DLC case measuring 42mm x 43.7mm and a full 3D skeleton movement with an oscillating weight with bridges made from DLC micro-blasted metal.
The movement is suspended by bridges filled with colorful varnish; the watch’s micro-blasted metal hands are enhanced with white SuperLuminova. All indices are metalized inside the sapphire.
Bell & Ross has even colorized the rubber strap using varnish, resulting in an eye-catching mosaic pattern. 
Estimate: CHF 45,000 -CHF 55,000.

Photo: Getty
Gold jewelry has been a status symbol for centuries, and remains a key component of the modern woman’s wardrobe today. The prevailing sentiment on social media? The chunkier the chain, the chicer it is. Street-stylers and editors have been adding hefty gold chains to their white tees for seasons now, and Hailey Bieber is rarely seen without hers.
The Princess of Wales, who has recently established a simple working wardrobe of color block tailored suits worn with complementary suede heels, has historically stuck to equally understated jewelry. When she’s not wearing royal family heirlooms for state dinners and formal occasions, the Princess likes delicate chains strung with her children’s initials. But for a visit to AW Hainsworth, a family-owned textile mill in Leeds, on Tuesday, the Princess added a statement gold chain to her forest-green Burberry suit.
Photo: Getty
Kate wore her single-breasted blazer with gold accent buttons and matching trousers over a white silk blouse, and added green suede boots. What caught the eye, though, was that bordering-on-chunky gold chain.
The Princess’s visit today underscored her personal connection to the textile industry: the prominent Yorkshire mill she toured had acquired her family’s manufacturing firm 65 years ago. In 1958, her paternal great-grandfather, Noel Middleton, played a role in the sale of the family business, William Lupton & Co, to AW Hainsworth in Pudsey, after over 160 years of operation.
Originally published in Vogue.co.uk

Dior and Saint Laurent
The fashion pack has touched down in Paris for the final leg of the Spring/Summer 2024 season, which kicked off on a high note on Monday. The second day saw some of the most highly-awaited shows such as Dior and Saint Laurent, with stars and brand ambassadors in attendance including Jisoo and Rosé of Blackpink, Jennifer Lawrence, Demi Moore, Hailey Bieber, Carla Bruni, and more.

Read on for all the highlights from Day 2 of Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024
Dior

Maria Grazia Chiuri’s latest collection was unveiled with a strong message of feminism, and amid colorful banners reading “My body is not a product,” and “Unlike my mother, I have a choice.” The designs aptly laid emphasis on these statements as tailored and cinched suits, pleated skirts, all-black biker jackets, and business looks with boots took center stage. Elsewhere in the collection, more romantic pieces such as lace dresses and knitwear were also present, but they too came with an edge. For the finale, Chiuri paid tribute to Sinead O’Connor by playing an upbeat version of “Nothing Compares 2 U”.
Chopard

The Swiss haute jewelry house presented a special collection designed by artistic director and co-president Caroline Scheufel, first revealed at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. Titled Caroline’s Couture, it brings together the finest of red carpet looks with the maison’s own Red Carpet High Jewelry collection for 50 remarkable silhouettes.
Bulgari

The Italian high jewelry house unveiled its SS 2024 leather goods and accessories collection titled Roman Light along with a new star bag, the Roma. The silhouette comes in an array of hues with brilliant hardware with couture-like finishing and sophisticated Bulgari lettering, while the Serpenti evening bags are inspired by the light of the sky with hand-beaded embroideries and exotic skins.
Saint Laurent

For the star-studded SS 2024 show, Saint Laurent’s Anthony Vaccarello looked to the brand’s iconic 1968 safari look made famous by Verushka, and shot by Franco Rubartelli. Stripping the YSL wardrobe back to the basics, the collection featured boiler suits, cargo pants, and slacks with utilitarian shirts. For accessories, the YSL woman perfected a balancing act between chic and razor-sharp via gloves, bangles, statement earrings, racer shades, and killer heels.
Read Next: Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024: All the Highlights from Days 3 and 4

Fashion

by Camille Macawili
33 mins ago

“Van Cleef & Arpels, Precious Jewels Telling Time” exhibition honours the early jewellery and watchmaking tradition of the Maison.
Currently running from now until November 22, 2023, brand patrons can not only marvel its dazzling new collections in the Les Salons Dubai Opera boutique at Dubai Opera Plaza, but also marvel at a curated selection of jewels, interesting objects, and archival drawings (dating back to 1925 up until the 1970s).
Van Cleef & Arpels Les Salons Dubai Opera
Uncovering 27 watches, table clocks and precious objects, the showcase highlights the Maison’s beauty, technical complexity and distinctive approach to telling time. Despite the historical references, visitors will be surprised to learn that the modern designs, usually crafted from a melange of gems and diamonds, are inspired by these creations – many of which are transformable jewels that offer various styling options. This selection distills the defining features of Van Cleef & Arpels throughout decades of jewellery and watchmaking savoir-faire, constantly enriched with innovation.
This won’t be the first nor the last time Van Cleef & Arpels will be unveiling an exhibition in-store. Throughout 2023, the Maison brings in different themes and collections sourced worldwide as the brand’s form of continuous education and cultural enrichment for jewellery enthusiasts and curious minds.
Scroll through the gallery for a sneak preview of pieces to look out for during your visit:

For more information, call +971 4 339 8001
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Images: Supplied

Fashion

by Ruman Baig
2 hours ago

VIEW GALLERY/ 13 IMAGES
When the cobbled streets of Paris get busy with the clacking of the Hollywood heels, you know it’s time for Paris Fashion Week.
After a hectic September across New York, London and Milan, the fourth fashion capital is where it all concludes.
This enchanting city has become the epicentre of fashion as A-list celebrities and industry insiders descend upon its glamorous streets to witness the unveiling of the new collections, season after season. collections from some of the fashion world’s most influential brands.
The excitement and glamour were palpable this season from the moment Jennifer Lawrence, Rosalía, Jenna Ortega, and Anya Taylor-Joy all descended for the Dior show. Dressed in their sharpest Dior ensembles by Maria Grazia-Chiuri, the ladies were joined by Robert Pattinson and Joseph Quinn in oversized pastel neautral hued fits at the same show.
Next up was Saint Laurent – always one of the most sought-after show of the season with the busiest front row. The iconic Eiffel Tower served as the breathtaking backdrop for Anthony Vaccarello’s latest presentation and the stars shined both above and below the iconic monument. Saint Laurent loyalists including Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, Kate Moss, and Demi Moore, among others, arrived in true Parisian fashion (dressed in all black)to take their seats front row at the show.
Their presence not only elevated the runway but also underscored the undeniable influence of fashion in the cultural zeitgeist.
Scroll the above gallery to view all our favourtie A-lister from the Paris Fashion Week so far:
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Images: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Getty Images & Instagram: @dior @ysl 

Fashion

by Ruman Baig
2 hours ago

The fashion world witnessed a seismic shift as Saint Laurent unveiled a collection that defied convention and embraced simplicity with a fierce, pragmatic stance.
Anthony Vaccarello, the creative genius behind the brand, drew inspiration from trailblazers like Amelia Earhart and Adrienne Bolland, women who fearlessly infiltrated male-dominated domains like aviation and car racing. The result? A resounding declaration of assertive sophistication that reimagines men’s fashion for the modern woman.
At the front row of this spectacle, a constellation of stars dazzled with their presence. Model and entrepreneur Hailey Bieber shared space with BLACKPINK’s Rosé, along with the iconic Kate Moss, the timeless Demi Moore, the ever-elegant Tracee Ellis Ross and the dapper Austin Butler. It was a guest list that was packed with glamour and substance.

The collection itself was a quiet revelation from the otherwise broodingly edgy presentations – safari jackets, tailored blazers, jumpsuits and other utilitarian silhouettes took the centre stage.
This contemporary ease was juxtaposed with carefully considered details like cinched waists, broad collars and oversized pockets, creating a harmonious blend of practicality and style.
The color palette created a symphony of earthy tones – from olive to maroon and sand to chalk, it was a swift departure from the signature all-black ensembles at Saint Laurent. Although, the sharp accessories, including leather gloves and high heels, added the quintessential Saint Laurent refinement.
For SS24, Anthony decided to reroute Saint Laurent back to its roots, celebrating the strength and audacity of women. This collection that redefines feminine fashion by liberally borrowing from the masculine wardrobe.
ICYMI, here’s out rop picks from the YSL SS24 show at Paris Fashion Week:

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Images: Supplied

Fashion

by Camille Macawili
12 mins ago

Milan, one of the fashion capitals of the world, bore witness to a fashion extravaganza as Saudi 100 Brands, in partnership with WHITE Milano, returned for its second installment at Milan Fashion Week.
Championed under the visionary stewardship of the Saudi Fashion Commission, the Saudi 100 Brands initiative has emerged as a formidable platform, empowering designers to amplify their creative voices globally. This year’s showcase marked a momentous chapter in their journey.
The fashion affair kicked off with an exclusive gala, where industry insiders and the global community graced the event with their presence. This gala was the prelude to an exhibition that spanned ready-to-wear, accessories, fragrances, and more.
What made this spectacle truly exceptional was the enchanting accompaniment of La Scala Theatre’s world-renowned dancers, adding a layer of artistry to the runway.
At the Padiglione Visconti, nestled in the heart of Milan’s Tortona Fashion District, a showcase of pop-ups and activations unfolded, each dedicated to an emerging Saudi label. This immersive experience served as a testament to the limitless potential of Saudi creatives, captivating Milan’s fashion elite.

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Images: Supplied

Putting “acid” on your face might sound like a recipe for disastrous stinging, burning, and peeling—a la Samantha’s lobster-red face in that unforgettable episode of Sex and the City. Lactic acid for your skin, however, is anything but harsh. It’s one of the least irritating actives around, in fact, and it’s friendly to nearly all skin types.Along with its gentle nature, it’s also pretty powerful and effective. And the experts we consulted assured us that the standout chemical exfoliant also offers some unique benefits that its counterparts don’t.To give you a full picture of everything this versatile ingredient has to offer, we asked dermatologists to explain what lactic acid is, what kinds of skin care benefits it can deliver, and some of the best ways to work it into your regular routine—expert-approved product picks included.What is lactic acid?“Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that comes from the fermentation of lactose, a sugar naturally found in milk,” Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New Jersey, tells SELF. (Don’t worry, the kind used in skin care products is typically synthetically derived, and not from sour milk.)1As a quick reminder, the majority of skin care acids fall into one of three categories: alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), and poly-hydroxy acids (PHAs), which differ based on their chemical composition and benefits. As compared to its AHA buddies, lactic acid is one of the least irritating, Dr. Lolis notes.2 This is largely because it doesn’t sink as deeply into the skin.2For example, glycolic acid, another popular alpha-hydroxy acid, is a smaller molecule that penetrates deeper and faster into the skin, Jeannette Graf, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, tells SELF. And that ups the likelihood of irritation.2What can lactic acid do for your skin?As we touched on above, the primary benefit of any alpha-hydroxy acid is exfoliation, although lactic acid is somewhat of an overachiever and goes above and beyond that standard job description:Lactic acid gently exfoliates.“Lactic acid works by loosening the ‘glue’ that holds skin cells together, encouraging exfoliation of the dead skin cells and increasing cell turnover,” Dr. Lolis explains.1 And that can lead to a whole host of benefits, including a brighter complexion, reduced hyperpigmentation and dark spots, a smoother texture, and unclogged pores, she says. And the fact that it can do all of that without causing irritation (a common issue with more potent ingredients) makes it ideal for folks with dry or sensitive skin.However, both of the dermatologists SELF spoke with call out that higher concentrations will be more intense. For example, most over-the-counter, at-home products have a lactic acid concentration of 10% or less, says Dr. Lolis. When the ingredient is used for in-office chemical peels, that percentage is typically higher. Research shows that at 12%, for example, it can penetrate deeper, into the dermis (the middle skin layer), potentially minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, she notes.3 (Although, especially if you have sensitive, it’s best to talk to a dermatologist before getting any sort of chemical peel to avoid a skin freakout.)It’s also hydrating.Here’s where things get interesting. Typically, exfoliating and moisturizing ingredients are two different things, right? That’s not the case with lactic acid. Along with being an exfoliant, it’s also a humectant, meaning it attracts water, for a hydrating and plumping effect, Dr. Graf points out. (Hyaluronic acid is also a popular humectant, FYI.) That’s another reason why it’s so well-tolerated: Its moisturizing properties help to combat any potential dehydration from the exfoliation, notes Dr. Lolis. This makes it an especially great pick if you’re dealing not only with dullness but also dry skin and flaking.And it has antimicrobial properties.According to Dr. Lolis, lactic acid also has antimicrobial properties, meaning it kills pathogens like bacteria.4 That’s important because it can help create a balanced microbiome (the combination of billions of microorganisms) on the surface of your skin. The result? Less inflammation and a stronger, healthier skin barrier—which can also mean less dryness, Dr. Lolis adds.5