Neckties worn by men were a sign of the Christian cross, a senior Afghan Taliban official said Wednesday, adding...

For her latest book club pick, Oprah Winfrey broke the news to author Nathan Hill in modern style

Designer Christian Cowan had a full circle moment when he recently dressed pop legend Kylie Minogue. “There are two moments when I decided I wanted to be in fashion, and they’re both around Kylie Minogue,” Cowan remembers. “One was in Borders bookshop in Cambridge [where Cowan grew up], my mum was getting a coffee and I was waiting – on the TV was the Can’t Get You Out Of My Head music video. I was like, ‘What is that? That is what I need to do’. “Then for my 12th birthday, my mum was really sweet and got me tickets to see Kylie’s X tour in the O2. It was right in the nosebleed seats at the back, and I was living my best life.” Cowan designed a red jumpsuit with zips for Minogue to perform in New York, and says: “To dress people like that, people who I really looked up to and still look up to is always an honour.” And Minogue isn’t the only celebrity who has worn Cowan’s colourful, whimsical designs. Pretty much any star you can think of, Cowan will have dressed – Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Heidi Klum, Cardi B, Miley Cyrus – the list goes on. While pop stars definitely seem to gravitate to his work, Cowan says there’s no real limit to who wears his clothes. “The Christian Cowan person is anyone, but it’s someone who wants to enjoy themselves, it’s someone who wants to be complimented and get attention. It’s someone who enjoys the fun of dressing up – our customers in general, they’re not really dressing for the gaze or perspective of anyone else – they’re just feeling f****** fabulous.” Cowan went to university in London and now resides in New York – and he says he gets inspiration from both major fashion hubs. The US “leans more into maximalism, and [is] not afraid of opulence and showing off, which is very much part of my brand”, he reflects. “And the UK I’d say is more [about] pushing the boundaries and trying out new things.” Ultimately, both cities are “incredibly fashionable and stylish and have created original thinkers – so I feel very lucky to be between the two”. Cowan established his eponymous label in 2016 so feels like an industry stalwart by now, but he’s still only 29 years old. “I started my brand and career very young,” he admits. “I would definitely say it’s grown up with me – the collections that I put out at the beginning are by no means the collections I’m putting out now.” But he doesn’t feel embarrassed when looking back at earlier work, instead calling his collections “like a diary”. “You can see as I grew up, the big life experiences that happened influenced [my style]. To say it has matured – maybe that’s the wrong word – but I would say my references have gotten more expansive with time. I look further than I used to – before it was like, who was next to me in the club.” While he doesn’t go to the clubs as much as he used to (“I’m like an old man!”), he occasionally pops in (“I love to see what my friends are wearing”), while getting inspiration from elsewhere as well. “I’m definitely a child of the internet, the internet is a huge part of it. I think designing is almost like dreaming – it’s a random compilation of everything you’ve seen, all smudged into one thing.” Cowan has made a name for himself as someone who loves to collaborate, and he often gets inspiration from his creative partners – ranging from the Teletubbies to Crocs, and now, Candy Crush Saga, who he’s designed an exclusive garment for. Called ‘The Sweet Seat’, it’s a one-of-a-kind, wearable garment inspired by the dreaded task of finding a seat to play on public transport. “Collaboration is the key to success in general in life – work, personal, everything,” he muses. “So when doing these collaborations, whether it’s a dress for Lady Gaga or this Candy Crush partnership, it’s always super collaborative. I want their opinion, I want their input, I want both partners involved and to be excited. “Especially with a celebrity wearing the clothes as well, you want them to feel amazing and excited to wear the piece – you don’t bully them into wearing something they’re not fully down for. You always have a better result if you collaborate.” Working with Candy Crush gave Cowan a welcome pause from designing his next New York Fashion Week collection, set to debut in September. “We’re doing a few things we’ve never done before that I think will be surprising to people – I just can’t wait. It’s our biggest show, the collection’s over double the size of any collection we’ve ever done before,” he shares. With designing collections for fashion week twice a year, making bespoke outfits for celebrities and all the extra projects in between, does Cowan ever suffer from fashion burnout? Cowan admits to having “brief moments in my past” where he’s struggled, but adds: “When you feel that it means you need to try something new, and I never had it again after I realised that. “I make sure I’m filled with creative, fun projects – I don’t think I’d ever get burnt out. I want to be doing this until the day I die.” The limited-edition Sweat Seat will be available for purchase on christiancowan.com/candycrush for £786.92 from July 26. Download Candy Crush today on Google Play or the App Store. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Deborah James’s daughter launches anniversary clothing line for Bowelbabe Fund Government has more work to do to ensure families secure quality childcare – MPs Wall squat exercises can help lower blood pressure, study suggests

Pamela Anderson has revealed how her makeup free style is "all about self-acceptance".

With bank holidays, festivals, trips and social commitments in the summer, it can feel difficult to say no, even if you really want to take some time out for yourself. “Summer can feel like a never-ending list of activities and events, and this might encourage us to overindulge in too many late nights, alcohol, and food, ” says psychologist Dr Alison McClymont. “Of course, doing this occasionally is not going to hurt, but to do it repeatedly will have a negative effect on your overall wellbeing. Rest and relaxation are the petrol you need to ensure your car keeps running,” she says. So, what can we do to make that a priority, while not totally abandoning our social lives? What do you actually want to do? “It’s important to remember that ‘no’ is a sentence, and your boundaries matter,” says Carly Rowena, wellbeing influencer, who’s been working with Sky Stream. “Remember to simplify your mind and your decisions, by prioritising what you actually want to do, rather than what you feel you should do. I’d recommend finding out what you want this summer by journaling, stretching, or meditating,” she explains. Think about how you feel You may not know who to prioritise. “We can be mindful of our internal experiences by being aware of the emotions we experience when socialising,” says Chloe Wheeler, assistant psychologist at Cygnet Health Care. “This can support us to recognise who makes us feel safe, uplifted and loved, and who may add to feelings of burnout, stress or anxiety.” Be present and slow down “Mindfulness isn’t sitting quietly and trying to stop your thoughts, it’s allowing yourself to be present and to allow those thoughts to float past you like sticks floating down a river. “Adding mindfulness into your routine gives you a chance to find out about yourself, slow down, prevent burnout and instead, find gratitude and joy throughout your day,” Rowena explains. “According to research by Sky Stream, 94% of Brits wish their lives were simpler, with 74% agreeing that life is more complicated now than it was five years ago, which is why it’s more important than ever to focus on finding pockets of stillness and connection,” she says. Drink less when socialising Many summer events revolve around drinking. “Physically, as well as psychologically, alcohol directly affects a person’s ability to focus,” says Dr Henk Swanepoel, lead neuropsychologist at Cygnet Health Care. “As we know, a key principle of mindfulness is to focus attention on the present moment, by practising mindfulness breathing. However, alcohol can reduce a person’s ability to concentrate and pay attention to this experience.” Get outdoors “Get outside as much as you can and ground yourself,” says Rowena. And for parents, this is important to do with or without your children. “Children are incredible at being present and mindful, and need very little to find this. Give yourself time to make animals out of the clouds, paint an egg box with colours and find things in nature that match the colours, throw sticks and race in the water.” Your presence and peace is important too. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live 5 sandal trends that will be huge this summer 6 triggers asthma sufferers should watch out for this summer Imposter syndrome – what is it and why does Kim Kardashian have it?

Pep Guardiola seemingly failed to recognise Martin Brundle in an awkward grid walk interview on Sunday. The Manchester City manager was spotted at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix but appeared less than keen for a chat with the Sky Sports presenter. “You’re looking at me slightly suspiciously,” Brundle said, as he approached Guardiola before congratulating him on an “amazing season”. The awkward interaction came on the same day that Cara Delevingne sparked backlash online for refusing to speak to Brundle.

Did you get ChatGPT to write a hilarious story? Have you been debating philosophy or

Turkmenistan on Thursday inaugurated Arkadag, a $ 5-billion "smart" city built in honour of former strongman leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, cementing one of the most extraordinary...

Save 20%: Amazon announced the next generation of Echo Buds on May 17, and though

Video editing has come out of the edit bays and production shops of Hollywood, and

Renewable licenses are for the birds, especially in the current economic climate. Head into the

The social media platform formerly known as Twitter has lost a lot of its appeal.