Beyoncé brings Texas flair to Stade de France
Back in May 2023, on the way to the Stade de France, Beyoncé's fans seemed on their way to dance at a giant nightclub − perfectly in sync with Renaissance, her album that celebrates club culture and its fringes. On Thursday, June 19, for the first of three concerts at the Saint-Denis arena, the crowd looked ready for a rodeo contest: Stetsons and cowboy boots were out in force, but also glitter, Afro and queer twists. Everything was in tune with the message of Cowboy Carter, the eighth studio album from a Texan artist that both claims and reinvents her roots.
Would the excitement be as palpable as it was during her last visit? Would it rival the Taylor Swift mania that swept Paris for Swift's concerts at La Défense Arena in May 2024? Thanks to Cowboy Carter and the single "Texas Hold'Em," Beyoncé became the first African-American artist to top the country charts. The album finally earned the record-breaking 35-time Grammy Award winner her first trophy in the album category, though sales lagged behind her previous release.
Was it because fans misunderstood this stylistic experiment? Or because the album − longer, and with a few lulls − had fewer hit singles? It is true that stadiums on this new tour, which kicked off in Los Angeles in late April, have sometimes struggled to fill up. And yet, at 8:55 pm a nearly full Stade de France − with 80,000 people in attendance − gave "Queen B" a hero's welcome for the first act of a breathtaking three-hour show.
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LeMonde
a day ago
- LeMonde
Beyoncé brings Texas flair to Stade de France
Back in May 2023, on the way to the Stade de France, Beyoncé's fans seemed on their way to dance at a giant nightclub − perfectly in sync with Renaissance, her album that celebrates club culture and its fringes. On Thursday, June 19, for the first of three concerts at the Saint-Denis arena, the crowd looked ready for a rodeo contest: Stetsons and cowboy boots were out in force, but also glitter, Afro and queer twists. Everything was in tune with the message of Cowboy Carter, the eighth studio album from a Texan artist that both claims and reinvents her roots. Would the excitement be as palpable as it was during her last visit? Would it rival the Taylor Swift mania that swept Paris for Swift's concerts at La Défense Arena in May 2024? Thanks to Cowboy Carter and the single "Texas Hold'Em," Beyoncé became the first African-American artist to top the country charts. The album finally earned the record-breaking 35-time Grammy Award winner her first trophy in the album category, though sales lagged behind her previous release. Was it because fans misunderstood this stylistic experiment? Or because the album − longer, and with a few lulls − had fewer hit singles? It is true that stadiums on this new tour, which kicked off in Los Angeles in late April, have sometimes struggled to fill up. And yet, at 8:55 pm a nearly full Stade de France − with 80,000 people in attendance − gave "Queen B" a hero's welcome for the first act of a breathtaking three-hour show.
Fashion Network
a day ago
- Fashion Network
UK retail weak in May says ONS data, fashion lags but reasons for June optimsim abound
Non-food stores sales volumes — the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores — fell by 1.4% over the month, mainly because of falls in clothing and household goods stores. Retailer comments mentioned reduced footfall and consumers having completed home projects earlier than usual this year because of good weather, leading to lower sales in May. Meanwhile online spending values fell by 1% month on month and 2.5% year on year. Total value spend across in-store and online fell by 2.4% over the month and as a result, the proportion of sales made online rose from 26.8% in April 2025 to 27.2% in May. So nothing to write home about there. But what did analysts and industry insiders think of it all? Deann Evans, MD EMEA, at online shopping giant Shopify, said retailers will be disappointed, especially after consecutive rises. She said the 3.4% inflation rate may have been partly to blame, or perhaps the lasting effects from April's increases in annual domestic bills and National Insurance contributions. But she also sees 'reason to be optimistic that the summer months and warmer weather will inspire increased consumer spending and a return to sales growth. According to our Shopify data for May, UK consumers were busy preparing for aquatic fun with sales of Pool Floats & Loungers (+101%), Child Swimming Aids (+74.7%) and Swim Goggles & Masks (+62.4%) all rising significantly compared to April. 'Perhaps even more impactful will be the cultural moments that summer brings. Just like we saw with Taylor Swift's Eras tour last year, the 'Beyoncé Effect' is in full swing as she brings her Cowboy Carter tour to the UK. Our data reveals a significant increase in the sales of western fashion items last month compared to May 2024, such as denim shorts (+52%), cowboy hats (+288%) and belts (+62%). With Glastonbury Festival and the Oasis tour close on the horizon, there is a significant opportunity here for retailers to capitalise — provided they have the right tools and systems in place. A strong digital presence and social media strategy are particularly key to winning the lottery ticket of celebrity influence and having the right people notice your products, and retailers must keep this front of mind this summer.' And Jim Rudall, regional director EMEA at email and marketing automation platform Intuit Mailchimp also said it was a disappointing month, 'especially with high expectations for a boost around the May bank holidays — which our New E-Commerce Calendar report ranks as the top two shopping moments for UK consumers in May (based on spending propensity).' But he too sees some bright spots on the horizon given the aforementioned cultural moments plus Royal Ascot and the FIFA Club World Cup. That New E-Commerce Calendar he mentioned revealed major entertainment events and music festivals prompted 15% of shoppers to make purchases in the last two years, 'offering brands the chance to ride a cultural wave and flex their personalities'. And of course Father's Day will impact June with Intuit Mailchimp research having identified it 'as the most significant shopping moment for June'. Meanwhile, Oliver Vernon-Harcourt, head of retail at Deloitte, said:'For the first time this year, retail sales fell more than expected, as two bank holidays and further good weather were not enough to entice spending. A late Easter combined with the sunniest April on record brought some seasonal sales forward, [and] continued inflationary pressures from food, furniture and household goods hampered sales volumes. 'Overall, consumers remain cautious in the face of persistent inflation, increased utility costs and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. While this transpired into fewer purchases in May, there is a broader picture of improving household finances. Consumers have been saving at one of the highest levels on record, and with robust real wage growth, this could generate some helpful tailwinds for the retail sector throughout the rest of 2025. With warm weather set to continue, retailers will hope to see a boost from the sale of summer food, clothing and outdoor offerings, resulting in a return to growth in the months ahead.' And Jacqueline Windsor, Head of Retail at PwC UK highlighted how the 'gloomier weather also impacted demand for new season's fashion, with clothing retailers reversing a quarter of improving sales performance, making it the worst-performing category in May. 'The fact that retail sales fell back in May was not a surprise given the unusually strong performance the previous month. However, it does underline the fragility of consumers' spending power and the retail sector in the current economic climate.'
Fashion Network
3 days ago
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Issey Miyake in Pitti: Homme Plissé in Villa della Petraia
Home › News › Trade shows Download Print The key to any brand's survival over generations is the strength of its DNA and few marques have more stylish genetics than Issey Miyake, which presented its Homme Plissé collection Wednesday night in Florence. Issey Miyake spring 2026 collection in Florence - The great and much-loved Issey's greatest signifier – his endless pleats - was the leitmotif of the whole show staged in the garden of a Medici villa in the hills above Florence. And when one is talking about longevity few brands had a longer history than the Medici family. This season's Guest of Honor in Pitti, fashion's best organized trade show, Homme Plissé's location was Villa Medicea della Petraia, a beautiful villa overlooking the capital of the Renaissance bathed in sunset light. The fall 2025 clothes, in turn, were highly respectful of the brand's DNA, with every single look containing one pleated element. The heart of the matter was the quirky cutting and tailoring, where pleated shoulder holsters covered redingotes, or cardigans came with tunic/dresses. Issey Miyake spring 2026 collection in Florence - Miyake was a world leader in fabric recycling – famously opening a shop in Ginza two decades ago all of whose products were made of recycled bottles. A tradition respected with some very cool translucent nylon raincoats and jerkins. Made in a palette of Clongowes Wood purple, faded lime, sinful red, or priestly black – there were scores of very fashionable and wearable clothes. One of Japan's greatest designers, Issey Miyake founded his eponymous house in 1970. He built an iconic body of work defined by technologically driven fabrics, artistic silhouettes, unique collaborations, and a long-term fascination with pleated textiles—hence the collection's name. Pre-show, waiters looking very swish in classic Homme Plissé pleated recycled polyester jackets served clever cocktails in mixes of gin, ouzo or Japanese tea. Guy and girl models wandered around the narrow paths of the villa's ornate garden and like a lot of fashion displays in gardens, the show never really took off. Nor did it rise to a crescendo, especially as no designer took a bow. Still, Issey always dreamed of dressing a generation with a certain gentle elegance, and this collection continued that idea. Issey Miyake spring 2026 collection in Florence - Inside the beautiful villa, guests had toured around a very slim elevated - pleats covered – circular table bearing a whole series of abstract painted illustrations. The show invitation actually came with a very slim Perspex Natura paintbrush. Beside the sketches were printed fabric swatches in the same designs. Many subsequently appearing in some gloriously vibrant colors – dense red and orange dawns; moody autumnal browns; or green and yellow abstractions. All these sketches presented underneath some magnificent frescos by the artist Volterrano, celebrating the glories of the Medici family. Their famed five six ball emblem prominently displayed. Which, in a sense, this show mimicked by celebrating the ever-powerful DNA of the late great Issey Miyake. Copyright © 2025 All rights reserved.
