Katie Trotter: Denim's reputation for comfort clashes with fashion



I don't trust denim. Firstly, it pretends to be comfortable - the old favourite we know and love, the no-nonsense agreeable type - when really it involves a tremendous amount of deliberation. Leggings, smock shirts, trainers. pregnancy wear - that's comfy. Not low-rise, double-seamed, skinny-legged, popper-pressed jeans. Liars, the lot of them, but there we go, time after time, rifling through our closets, like moth to flame or Oprah to cake, heading straight for the jeans.

A consistent aggravation, I hear it all the time. Oh, how skinny jeans make our knees look squishy, or that we are simply too short for boyfriend jeans, or that low-rise are almost bordering on painful.

Which is rather ridiculous when we think of it. It's not that there aren't alternatives - there are plenty, of course. It's just plain old habit - learned behaviour, I suppose - that I only hope we can break.

You need to find out what makes your bottom look better, not what is on trend. Start with assessing your basic shape. If you are the type that perhaps needs a little more grub for your body to match the size of your head, or the type that revels in your bottom-heavy glory, my advice remains the same. Go for slim fit but not skintight, as should be your shirt, and make sure the bottom of your top doesn't fall below the tops of your jeans pockets. Some shirts are purposefully cut to remain loose, but the vast majority still need tucking in - which we nearly always ignore.

A good slim-fit shirt will ensure there's no bulk that adds unwanted surface area to your middle. Don't forget about your waist - the place where we used to button our jeans before Alexander McQueen invented low-rise - and aim to have something hit the midpoint between there and hip.

When it comes to colour don't be afraid of experimenting. Consider grey or even red to break the mould, or if you are dead set on blue choose a shade between medium and dark.

Remember, there is no such thing in fashion as a "classic". Time makes that impossible. The fine print always changes, even if the basic structure remains - the shape of the collar, the fit at the waist, the style of fastening will always give you away, so prepare to invest in a good pair every season.

My advice: put a plug in the persistent prattle they call trendy – in denim it doesn't exist, unless you are perfectly comfortable in an off-duty "soccer mom" look. Which is all perfectly fine with me if you don't complain about it.

M-ometer

This week's highs and lows

HAIR PAINT Thakoon's artful hair colours are so perfectly fresh.

FASHION TERMINOLOGY Our new pet peeve is "fashionables", the updated version of "fashionistas".

FALLING FOR FERRAGAMO The Italian brand's A/W collection is our ideal combination of clashing prints and sleek silhouettes.

CAUTION! SPILLAGE As much as we love the relaxed shopper bag, we do worry about losing our most prized possessions in a crowd

LOOKING SNAKEY Gerard Darel's colourful python prints are bang-on trend for this season.

Company%20Profile
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Mountain%20Boy
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

Brief scores:

Everton 2

Walcott 21', Sigurdsson 51'

Tottenham 6

Son 27', 61', Alli 35', Kane 42', 74', Eriksen 48'​​​​​​​

Man of the Match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)

SPECS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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No more lice

Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

HOW%20TO%20ACTIVATE%20THE%20GEMINI%20SHORTCUT%20ON%20CHROME%20CANARY
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