Cruise operators are replacing oil-based fuel with liquefied natural gas to run their ships and pitching the shift

‘Of course’ is one of the most versatile ‘yes’ synonyms we have. But what does it actually mean?

Lady Gaga is grieving the loss of her "real true friend."

Even though the film has been granted a waiver from union SAG-AFTRA, Viola Davis is stepping away from producing action thriller ‘G20’ in support of the ongoing Hollywood strikes.

Following a record-breaking June, it’s fair to say summer has turned into a bit of a washout, with a deluge of downpours, while other parts of Europe are baking in unbearable heat. Unfortunately, the unsettled weather is set to continue, with the Met Office forecast for the next two weeks stating: “Showery conditions are likely, along with the risk of longer spells of rain and stronger winds at times too.” In the second half of August, we can expect: “A mixture of rain and showers for many areas… any prolonged dry and hot spells appear to be unlikely.” At the same time, temperatures haven’t plummeted completely, which makes deciding what to wear quite the conundrum at the moment. How do you keep cool and dry at the same time? Here’s what fashion experts recommend for wet weather during summer… Waterproof jacket When it’s too warm for a proper coat, a thin rain jacket with a hood is essential. Make a style statement in a bright colour or bold print, with trendy waterproofs that combine fashion and function. “A lightweight and compact rain jacket from Rains is always easy to style and perfect for carrying around for unexpected showers,” says Lesley Torson, co-founder of Trilogy Stores. “They look really sleek, so won’t ruin a good outfit, whilst still being really light and airy to keep you cool.” Amber Gordon, founder of fashion sourcing company Tailored Styling, recommends a see-through mac: “During Fashion Week, fashion editors and stylists will have a clear and structured raincoat they can whip on to keep their look from getting wet, that still allows people to see what they are wearing.” Regatta X Orla Kiely Summer Pack-It Jacket in Fuschia Passion Flower, £34.95 (was £70) Cotton Traders Moorland Rich Gold Waterproof Coat, £65; Wrinkle Free 3/4 Sleeve Stripe Jersey Top, £20; Women’s Ecru Coloured Stretch Jeans, £36 (accessories, stylist’s own) Lots of layers “Light layers are the best way to dress for summer rain,” says Torson. “Wear your raincoat with a cropped jean, or cotton or linen midi dress, and trainers to maintain a summery look, whilst being prepared for unpredictable weather.” The utility trend is also handy for rainy days – loose cargo pants are cool and practical. “Whip out your hoodies and wear underneath an oversized leather blazer,” says Gordon. “The different textures will make the laidback and comfortable fit feel super high-end.” Monsoon Wide Leg Cropped Jeans in Blue, £80 Sensible shoes Nobody wants soggy socks, which is why splashproof shoes are a must – trainers with a chunky sole will help stop puddle water from seeping into the seams. For seriously rainy days, only Wellington boots will do. “They’re officially back as a fashion staple, thanks to this unpredictable rain,” says Gordon. “To elevate the welly look to luxury, invest in a lighter colour, like a beige or cream Wellington boot. Wear with a bare leg and a floaty dress that will keep you cool and looking summery.” Dune London Truro Navy Side-Stripe Lace-Up Runner Trainers, £100 Don’t forget your hat A hat is the most important fashion accessory for keeping your hair dry and frizz-free. “Hats have become incredibly popular this summer, from denim hats, such as the Miu Miu denim cowboy hat, to summery straw hats,” says Gordon. A water-resistant bucket hat is on-trend and ideal for drizzly days. “A tanned leather bucket will go with most outfits,” Gordon continues. “Use hats to dress your outfits up or down, depending on your mood and as a bonus – you’ll barely notice the rain!” Accessorize Nylon Bucket Hat, £14, Simply Be

Knowing a bit of Dutch slang will not just help you find your bearings when you visit Amsterdam and its surroundings, but also earn you respect from the locals—who, despite being great at English, have a strong connection to their mother tongue.

Designer Christian Cowan has done it again, with a creative garment for commuters everywhere. Enter, The Sweet Seat. The limited edition collaboration with Candy Crush Saga is inspired by the dreaded morning commute in the city. It offers a wearable seat adorned with bright colours and shapes taken from the popular game. Cowan, best known for his bold and unexpected collections, has worked with Candy Crush to put his playful and humorous touch on the Sweet Seat, bringing it to life in a way that doesn’t compromise fashion for comfort. His approach provides a sweet solution that puts the fun back in functional. With campy and Candy-tastic designs, the piece blends Cowan’s creativity and high fashion prowess with Candy Crush’s world of fun colours, candies and patterns. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter "This piece is inspired by the fun that Candy Crush brings to mundane tasks like commuting," Cowan said. "Public transit could use a dose of glamour, especially in New York City and London, and the Sweet Seat brings that glamour in a fun, fashionable, and over-the-top way. What I love about this collaboration is that it brings a joyful solution to an everyday problem in a way that’s both out-of-the-box and camp." The Sweet Seat features a tear-drop silhouette garment that can be worn solo as a dress, or over the top of an outfit as an accessory. Functionally, the garment works like a bean bag, the wearer can literally sit back and take a seat anywhere they’d like. "Our loyal fans who play Candy Crush on the go love the colour and fun that we bring to their everyday lives," said Luken Aragon, VP of marketing at Candy Crush Saga. "Whether they’re waiting in a long queue or battling the daily commute - without a seat, we want to be able to help bring them that joy and vibrancy to their day so that nothing gets in the way of levelling up. Collaborating with Christian to bring to life the candies that these players know and love - and can now wear - has been truly divine." This limited-edition item is available for purchase for $1,000 / £786.92. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

In a bid to cash in on the doll film’s success, Hollywood studios are reportedly already in the midst of a “stampede” to make ‘Barbie’-style toy movies.

Even though almost 200,000 writers and actors are striking, the new ‘Paddington’ movie is reportedly shooting in the UK.

Azealia Banks thought her music career was dead in the water after she was dropped by her label.

The founder of Afghanistan’s National Institute of Music likened the move to "cultural genocide".

When fashion designer Priya Ahluwalia walked into the dress rehearsal of her autumn/winter 2023 London Fashion Week show in February, she couldn’t stop crying. Titled Symphony, the show was staged at a formerly baroque church hall, with models walking to jazz-infused renditions played by pianist Insxght and saxophonist Solaariss. “I was just so emotional,” the 30-year-old founder and creative director of Ahluwalia says. “It was like the culmination of a big deep dive coming together. That’s how I felt.” Ahluwalia rediscovered the music of her youth when designing the collection. “I don’t like to do things in an obvious way,” Ahluwalia admits. “As life changes, you listen to different things at different stages, so I thought about the visuals of what music sounds like when designing Symphony. “I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston was on the radio when I was born. So my mum finds that song really special and played it to me a lot. Sade’s Kiss Of Life was quite informative, and 50 Cent was also in there too. I remember getting one of his albums when I was 10 and thinking it was phenomenal. I also thought a lot about Prince, Queen, Freddie Mercury and even traditional Punjabi music.” Sound waves and musical notes inspired the lasered print on denim, jacquard patterns on mohair knitwear and track tops with accompanying shorts. Earthy shadows, reds and ochres were taken from the colours of album covers and illuminated cotton separates. Ahluwalia launched her eponymous fashion label in 2018 after graduating from the MA Menswear course at the University of Westminster, combining her dual Indian-Nigerian heritage and London roots, while also exploring the potential of vintage and surplus clothing. Around that time, Ahluwalia visited her father in Nigeria and says she noticed “paupers” wearing secondhand clothing from the UK. “I was really confused and started to ask questions about it,” she says – and it led to the publishing of her first book, Sweet Lassi, exploring the secondhand clothing industry in the Global South. “Finding ways for people to cherish their clothing forever has always been important to me,” Ahluwalia says. “Microsoft and I worked on a platform called Circulate in 2021, where we use AI to crowdsource and categorise people’s unwanted clothing. But now, I think consumers really see the value in learning about the things that happen behind the scenes of the clothes they are purchasing.” It’s why individual garments from the Symphony collection feature Digital ID technology — created and connected by the EON Product Cloud platform, powered by Microsoft Azure. Ahluwalia customers can scan with their mobile phones to discover their item’s unique story, including the design inspiration, production processes and origins of the sourced materials, helping consumers better understand how their clothes can be resold, reused and recycled. “This gives us the opportunity to really share exclusive content and information about a product. As a contemporary luxury brand selling items that are around £400, it’s important to provide our customers with more value and share the stories behind their clothes, whilst encouraging them to engage with sustainability.” But Ahluwalia doesn’t want to be pigeonholed as a sustainable designer. “I’m so much more than making the right choices,” she says. “I’m a designer first and foremost, who is also a creative director, filmmaker of Joy and Beloved, who works sustainably to explore and redefine the inherent beauty of blackness [and brownness] through an authentic lens. “The vision is that one day someone would be sitting on Ahluwalia in their front room, watching it, wearing it, smelling it and eating it. A whole 360. I would love Ahluwalia to be an example of how ideas that are not so rooted in Eurocentric values are expandable and amazing on a global stage for people to interact with in a global sense, like we see with many traditional European [fashion] houses.” So what’s next for the fashion house? “We’re doing a show at London Fashion Week in September, but I can’t tell you anything about it. The only thing that I can tell you is that we’re holding the show at the British Library, which I’m really excited about.” Discover more about Ahluwalia’s partnership with Microsoft and EON here: Ahluwalia Symphony Unlocked | Microsoft Unlocked. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Experts reveal why you keep waking up at 4am, and how you can prevent it 10 last-minute gardening jobs before you go on holiday How often should you wash your bra?