• Horns vs. the Cross, Young People vs. Adults: How Halloween in Armenia Became a Generational Battleground

  Righteous indignation or boring adults? Cringey kids or harmless fun? While some people put on horns and fake fangs, others remind them of Christian values and national identity. So why can a few costumes and jack-o’-lanterns turn an ordinary October evening into a debate over what Armenia should be?...

• Three Hours for Makeup and Household Chores: Japanese Prime Minister’s Admission Sparks Public Debate

  Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said her daily schedule is significantly more demanding than those of her male predecessors. In addition to her official duties, she spends several hours a day on makeup, bathing, cooking and other household tasks. Her remarks have sparked a heated debate about gender stereotypes and the expectations placed on Japanese women, The New York Times reports...

• “Grandparents Now Need Permission to Hug”: Controversial Ad Pulled After Backlash

  A controversy has erupted in Ireland over a public awareness campaign urging grandparents to ask their grandchildren for permission before hugging them. The video, created by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and funded by the Department of Justice, sparked accusations of absurd political correctness, disrespect toward older people and the misuse of public funds. The justice minister eventually demanded that the video be taken down...

• The Pharaohs Forgot to Sign the Paperwork: Scottish Museum Removes Mummies Over Lack of Consent

  A scandal worthy of a museum exhibit of its own has erupted in Scotland: ancient Egyptian remains have been removed from a Glasgow museum because people who died thousands of years ago never gave permission for their bodies to be displayed in public. Visitors are now greeted by explanatory signs instead of mummies — apparently the safest exhibit in an era when even pharaohs have suddenly been found to have personal-boundary issues...

• Hermès Steps Up Boutique Security After Riots in France

  French luxury house Hermès has tightened security at its stores following widespread protests in France, during which one of the brand’s boutiques in Marseille was looted. The company is also facing a new challenge: demand for its products is slowing, and sales of clothing and accessories have declined for the first time in several years, Reuters reports...

• Outrage Over Inaccessible Luxury: Why Dior and Hermès Boutiques Were Looted in France

  Riots in France have led to the looting of boutiques belonging to Dior, Celine, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent. Images of ransacked stores have become some of the most widely discussed scenes from the protests sweeping the country. But, as The New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman observes, the attacks on luxury brands may reflect not only street violence but also growing resentment over social inequality...

• Luxury Yachts, Secret Palaces and Private Hunting Grounds: How the World’s Most Brutal Dictators Spent Their Holidays

  While millions of North Koreans struggle with hardship, Kim Jong Un appears to spend his summers very differently — aboard a luxury yacht equipped with swimming pools and water slides, the Daily Mail reports...

• Kylie Jenner’s $50 Million Fantasy Bra Set for Private Sale: Who Could Own the Most Expensive Victoria’s Secret Showpiece?

  The $50 million Fantasy Bra worn by Kylie Jenner during her Victoria’s Secret runway debut in 2026 is being prepared for a private sale. According to Page Six Style, the extraordinary piece will return to Jacob & Co.’s New York boutique, where wealthy buyers will have the opportunity to purchase it...

Catherine De Noire, manager of one of Europe’s largest brothels, has given a rare look at how the festive season plays out behind the scenes, reports the New York Post.

According to De Noire, December is the busiest month. Many corporate clients end their office Christmas parties at the brothel. “Most office parties end up here because both the women and the men are a little drunk and think, ‘Let’s go, it’ll be fun,’” she explains.

Clients are usually fun and social, and trouble is rare since they come in office groups. Christmas Day, by contrast, is quiet: many staff members take the day off, and regular clients sometimes bring cookies and gifts.

The atmosphere shifts for New Year’s Eve. “It gets really wild on December 31. People love to party, and I always work the night shift from New Year’s Eve into January 1,” De Noire says. Guests often arrive after midnight, with peak activity around 2–3 a.m.

January 1 remains a busy day as people continue celebrating, sometimes lining up to get in, while January 2 is quiet, with most clients recovering from the festivities.

However, recent years have seen a decline in business. After March 2025, the brothel experienced fewer clients, which De Noire attributes to rising living costs, economic uncertainty, and cautious spending. “Some workers are earning half of what they used to,” she notes.

The manager adds that global instability — from the war in Ukraine to inflation and tariffs — has changed spending habits, making visiting a brothel one of the first things people cut back on.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram