• Luxury at H&M Prices: Elie Saab Brings Couture Codes to the Mass Market

  Lebanese fashion house Elie Saab is taking another step beyond the world of haute couture. Through its new collaboration with H&M, the brand is bringing its signature couture codes to a more accessible segment, offering a wider audience the elements that have made Saab a favorite among fashion lovers: lavish embellishment, glamorous evening silhouettes and impeccable tailoring, according to Forbes...

• $100 Billion Has Vanished: Is the Era of Shein and Out-of-Control Fast Fashion Finally Coming to an End?

  Not long ago, it seemed as though Shein was on a path to global domination. The Chinese fashion giant promised a new era of fast fashion: new items could appear on its website within a matter of hours, while entire outfits could be assembled for less than $10. The model proved so irresistible that it quickly turned into a global addiction, The Independent reports...

• Pucci Returns to Its Roots: Camille Miceli Turns Medieval Horse Racing Into Modern Luxury

  For several years, Emilio Pucci creative director Camille Miceli has explored the psychedelic and hippie-chic side of the Italian house’s heritage. Now, the designer has turned her attention to a lesser-known chapter of its history...

• Chanel in All Its Glory: New Necklace Showcases a Rare 20.66-Carat Sri Lankan Sapphire

  Lion, camellia, star and sun — all of Chanel’s iconic symbols come together in a single jewelry masterpiece, crowned by an exceptionally rare sapphire...

• Why Are Luxury Brands Being Forced to Cut Prices?

  Earlier this year, a medium-sized Gucci Mercato leather tote designed by Demna for the Spring/Summer 2026 collection would have cost you $2,900. But in May, Bernstein analysts noticed a change: Gucci had quietly cut the price of the bag by around 20–25%, Vogue reports...

• “It Doesn’t Even Cover the Nipple”: Influencer Mocks Kim Kardashian’s Microscopic Skims Bodysuit

  Influencer Remi Bader put Skims’ new Fits Everybody collection to a rather revealing test—and, judging by her reaction, she was far from impressed with the result...

• Gray Suit and Unbuttoned Shirt: Why Killer Luigi Mangione’s Wardrobe Became New York’s Biggest Fashion Show

  High-profile trials have captured public attention for over 130 years, and throughout history, the public has scrutinized defendants' outfits with equal fervor. Another confirmation of this is Luigi Mangione, whose courtroom appearances sparked a fierce reaction not only in legal circles but also in the fashion world, writes WWD...

• Gucci Breaks the Main Taboo of the Luxury Industry: Why the Fashion House Is Lowering Prices

  In the world of haute couture, it is customary to believe that luxury is immune to the laws of conventional business. While mass manufacturers fight for customers through cost optimization and dumping, luxury brands have always survived on pure creativity, exclusivity, and continuous price hikes, writes FT...

Fashion subculture, a nod to 80s excess, or a symbol of tradition? British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s wardrobe has once again become a topic of fashion debate after he appeared in public wearing a suit with braces, The Guardian writes.

The prime minister's secret wardrobe weapon

The evolution of Andy Burnham’s style has reached a new milestone: this week, the head of government took part in a photocall in Ilkeston (Derbyshire), appearing in trousers worn with braces.

Dark, slimline, button-on rather than clipped, they were practically invisible while the prime minister posed for the camera. The braces were only revealed when Burnham unbuttoned his jacket to embrace locals.

The made-to-measure "Eaton" suit, priced at £595, was crafted by the traditional London tailor Oliver Brown from 100% merino wool woven by Alfred Brown in Yorkshire. The tailor's shop clarified that while the suit is indeed theirs, the braces are not.

Since the trousers lack belt loops, wearing them without support would have been impossible. However, as fashion historian Chloe Chapin notes, "the trousers do have side fasteners, so he didn't really need braces at all, at least functionally."

Politics as style

A political insider who has worked on Burnham’s campaigns for the past two years notes: "Andy is not the teleprompter type of politician. This stuff is simply what he wears."

Nevertheless, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester and his team carefully think through each outfit depending on the context. "His clothes are trying to strike a balance between a professional and capable politician—whilst also letting people know that he's different to other politicians," the source says. As the first "TikTok prime minister," Burnham understands the importance of optics perfectly.

From rebels' underwear to a premier's status

• Origins: Braces originated in France in the 1700s as strips of fabric buttoned to the waistband of trousers. For a long time, they were considered undergarments, and showing them was viewed as inappropriate.

• Rebellion and subcultures: In the UK, braces experienced a revival in the 1960s and 70s, when mods and skinheads wore them as an element of anti-establishment rebellion.

• The era of excess: Their peak popularity came in the 1980s, when braces became equally loved by Wall Street financiers and punks. Displaying "underwear as outerwear" was a powerful manifesto.

Playing with context

Could braces signal a shift toward greater formality? In British politics, they have long been a symbol of tradition (Winston Churchill and Michael Portillo were fans).

According to Chloe Chapin, context matters more here. Just as Labour politicians wear red to convey strength or blue when talking to Conservative voters, an ambitious politician can exploit the ambiguity of braces: they look both elite and working-class at the same time. This is precisely the kind of ambiguity chosen by leaders striving to connect with the public.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram