Latest news with #Puzzle
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sexual assault and drink driving – cosy crime but not as we know it
A puzzle-setter turns sleuth in a quirky British crime series. Stop me if you think you've heard this one before. Murder Most Puzzling is trying to be Ludwig, which was a hit for the BBC last year. But it's a pale imitation. While that one was a five-star treat starring David Mitchell, this one is a two-star rip-off starring Phyllis Logan. The missteps start as soon as we are introduced to her character, Cora Felton. Cora is The Puzzle Lady, a crossword compiler whose job has made her so famous that she has her own range of biscuits and TV adverts. Let's not pause to ponder how unlikely that is. She is called in to investigate the case of a young woman found murdered in a churchyard, with a mysterious crossword clue in her pocket. Unfortunately, Cora can't make head nor tail of the clue when she first sees it because she's still sozzled from the night before. When we first meet her, she is passed out at the wheel of her car after a spot of drink-driving. Drink-driving? Really? We're supposed to find this quirkily amusing, but it strikes the wrong tone right away. It's a sign that the show doesn't quite know what it's supposed to be. This is cosy crime, yet having someone at a town hall meeting ask if the murder victim was sexually assaulted belongs in a grittier police drama. At least the mystery is wrapped up in a feature-length episode rather than being dragged out. The show is based on a book series by Parnell Hall and the failings of the TV series are odd because its writer, Dominique Moloney is a veteran of Father Brown and The Sister Boniface Mysteries. Some bits do conform to the cosy crime template: jaunty music, a picturesque setting in the fictional market town of Bakerbury (it's Lisburn in Northern Ireland), and the odd silly character, such as the blustering mayor in a cravat who runs the local police force. The programme's saving graces are the three lead performances. Logan, best known as Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey, is a safe pair of hands and does her best with the material. Charlotte Hope is a bright spot as Cara's niece and right-hand-woman, Sherry. And Adam Best is, well, the best thing here as DCI Derek Hooper, who has never worked a murder case before and reluctantly turns to Cora for help. There is a twist halfway through relating to Cora's job, and if you didn't see it coming then I'm afraid your sleuthing skills are a little below par. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Emirates Woman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
24 elevated high street suede bags from Dhs299 to shop right now
Quietly luxe and seasonally right, sumptuous suede bags are having a moment on and off the runways. From Bottega's slouchy shoulder styles to Chloé's boho-western revival, Spring/Summer 2025 proved one thing: suede is no longer reserved for your autumn archive. It's tactile, tonal, and surprisingly versatile—especially when softened into softly structured totes, buttery mini bags, and drawstring slings. While designer labels made a strong case for suede's elevated appeal (see Loewe's earthy Puzzle iterations), it's the high street that's translated the look with equal flair and without the four-figure price tag. Massimo Dutti's ruched bag, Zara's sand-toned bucket, and Mango's pared-back crossbody in mocha brown offer that same tactile richness with a minimalist lens. With its plush nap and lived-in feel, suede strikes a balance between Y2k nostalgia and newness, and anchors the quiet luxury aesthetic without the heavy logos. How to wear suede for summer? Offset its texture heaviness with lightweight fabrications – think linen co-ords, crochet dresses, or breezy tunics for the day. Come nighttime, contrast textures: a strappy silk slip or a semi-sheer maxi feels instantly cooler with a buttery suede clutch tucked in the crook of your arm. Colour-wise, lean into summer-friendly tones such as buttermilk, terracotta, clay, or a dusty green. These shades not only wear beautifully under the sun but transition effortlessly into early fall. Whether you're drawn to bohemian touches, clean Scandinavian lines, or a hint of equestrian flair, the high street's suede bag edit delivers. Consider it your soft-power move for the season—and beyond. Scroll through the gallery below for 24 of the best high street suede bags for 2025: – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: @hoskelsa
IOL News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Fun and learning: the best kids' books and games for 2025
Luna is about to start school for the new year, but she's not feeling well. Image: Loot Description: Luna's journey Luna is about to start school for the new year, but she's not feeling well. She is scared anddoes not know what awaits her. Luckily, her mom's wise words comfort and guide her. Hermom says: be good, be kind, but always speak your mind. This is why Luna knows how to answer the girl who is mean to her. And this is how Luna faces all the obstacles on her journey. In the process she learns what it means to have grit and courage. Price: R139 Visit: The laughter never ends with Oi Frog and Friends! Image: Loot Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Description: Oi Dinosaurs! The laughter never ends with Oi Frog and Friends. Get your hands on this roaring, stomping, dino-packed new title in the award-winning, bestselling Oi Frog and Friends series. Price: R210 Visit: This Exit Puzzle for kids mixes a richly-illustrated 368-piece jigsaw, an exciting storyline and 6 mathematical riddles hidden within the jigsaw image. Image: Loot Description: Ravensburger Exit Puzzle Kids Jigsaw Puzzle - Jungle Expedition (368 Pieces) Imagine you and your family have won a night at the natural history museum. On reachingthe home of the Brachiosaurus you suddenly hear a loud crunching noise. What is it? Can you discover what's making that strange and scary sound and then exit? This Exit Puzzle for kids mixes a richly-illustrated 368-piece jigsaw, an exciting storyline and 6 mathematicalriddles hidden within the jigsaw image. Price: R339 Visit: Get into the fast fun for everyone with UNO - America's #1 Brand of Card Game. Image: Loot
Graziadaily
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
This Designer Bag Is The Best Investment You Could Make – These Celebs Prove It
By now, the phrase 'It bag' is so overused that it's lost all meaning. From the Fendi Baguette to the Chloé Paddington, we're all extremely familiar with the bags which have generated the most hype at any given moment – just like Gucci's new Giglio bag – and become classic investment pieces in their own right. One which has been in existence for a far shorter time than, say, a Chanel 2.55 or Louis Vuitton's Speedy is Loewe's Puzzle bag. It may be younger, but its influence is far-reaching and undeniable, especially as this year marks the accessory's 10th anniversary. Beyoncé with a Puzzle bag in 2016 This anniversary, coupled with the news that Jonathan Anderson is leaving Loewe to take the helm at Dior, suddenly brings into focus the sheer 'It-ness' (sorry) of the Puzzle bag, which on its own acts as the perfect embodiment of Anderson's success at the Spanish label; it's innovative and fresh, but with strong commercial appeal. It may be difficult to remember when Loewe was a flailing heritage Spanish house but that was certainly the case when Anderson joined the brand, where he proceeded to reverse its fortunes and transform it into one of the world's most influential labels. The Puzzle, with its geometric leather panels and top handle, was one of his first accessories for Loewe – and the first new bag the label had launched since the 1980s. Since then, it has become a favourite of everyone from Beyoncé to Sienna Miller to Ayo Edebiri. Naomi Campbell with Loewe's Puzzle bag Each Puzzle bag is handmade in Madrid using 75 separate pieces of leather, and there are numerous techniques involved, all of which take nine hours to produce the finished article. It is, in many ways, a feat of craftsmanship, which is what's always been at the heart of Anderson's work – both for Loewe and for his own eponymous label. Naturally, such a feat deserves celebration, which is why a capsule collection has launched, featuring re-editions of the most iconic Puzzles of the past 10 years – plus one new design. It's something you can see IRL if you happen to be near Harrods this month (until 22nd June), where you'll find a special pop-up dedicated to a decade's worth of Puzzle. The Loewe pop-up in Harrods From painted landscapes to embroidered leather and trompe l'oeil details, this collection of 19 re-editions is proof, if it were needed, that Loewe has returned to its 19th century glory as a leading workshop of leather goods; one which prioritises the most innovative craft techniques. 1. Loewe Puzzle 10 Confetti Top-Handle Bag Puzzle fans will recognise most of the bags, which are inspired by the likes of William Morris and William De Morgan, both leading figures of the Arts and Craft movement in the 19th century. One style is new, though: The Confetti. It is decorated with thousands of tiny leather and metal sequins, maintaining the classic Puzzle cuboid shape, which looks as though it were folded like a piece of origami art. Ayo Edebiri in 2024 with a mini Puzzle bag Of course, the Puzzle – particularly the re-editions – is an investment but, if you're in search of a designer handbag that will truly stand the test of time, Anderson's creation for Loewe still looks as cutting-edge today as it did 10 years ago. Plus, with the designer now at Dior, this is your last chance to invest in Anderson-designed Loewe. Well, unless you know how to win Vinted, that is. 2. Loewe Mini Puzzle Edge Bag in Classic Calfskin 3. Loewe Small Puzzle Biker Bag in Shiny Calfskin 4. Loewe Mini Puzzle Bag in Classic Calfskin 5. Loewe Small Puzzle Edge Bag in Classic Calfskin 6. Loewe Small Puzzle Edge Bag in Raffia and Calfskin 7. Loewe Large Puzzle Edge Bag in Classic Calfskin 8. Loewe Small Puzzle Edge Bag in Nappa Calfskin Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter . But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.
The Star
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Fashion collections bring back iconic designs, proving nostalgia sells
Fendi's runway show in February featured re-editions of classic bags, including the Adele and the Peekaboo. Photo: Fendi Trends come and go, but the fashion industry never misses a chance to take a stroll down memory lane. Brands often revisit their archives, mining the past for inspiration that feels familiar. This says a lot about how great designs rarely go out of style. Take, for example, Loewe's Puzzle bag. When it was released in 2015 under the creative direction of Jonathan Anderson, it felt like a quiet revolution – architectural, yet understated and refreshingly modern. A recent 10th anniversary celebration has seen the bag return to the spotlight, not as a relic, but a reimagined classic. Reissued in limited edition, they celebrate the original design language while subtly evolving its silhouette for a new generation of wearers. Shoes plucked from television history are being reissued. Photo: Jimmy Choo Read more: Would you do maths to get dressed? The 7-point fashion rule says you should Jimmy Choo is also looking back in time. The footwear brand (which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year) is honouring Carrie Bradshaw's favourite heels as part of a special archive collection. It is a smart move – drawing on the enduring cultural influence of television show Sex And The City , which defined trends in the early 2000s. One design is a pair of dreamy feather-embellished lilac suede slingbacks. The original appeared in a scene where the lead character trips while running after a departing ferry, exclaiming, 'Wait! I lost my Choo!' For Zara's 50th anniversary, 50 of the world's most iconic models including Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Twiggy and more stepped in front of the camera for a huge campaign. The brand also released a 128-piece collection that draws on its strengths, described in the press release as 'centred around the monochrome classicism of tuxedo dressing' with a 'seductive palette of black'. Fendi's Autumn/Winter 2025 show in February paid tribute to the fashion house's 100 years of design. Models took to the runway in looks that blended archival designs with contemporary artistry. A capsule collections marks the milestone of one fashion house. Photo: Jacquemus The showcase also featured re-editions of classic bags, including the Adele and the Peekaboo. Silvia Venturini Fendi, however, said that she did not want to spend too much time dwelling on the physical archives. 'For me, Fendi 100 is more about my personal memories – real or imagined – of what Fendi was and what Fendi means today,' her press statement read. Read more: Once mocked, now coveted – 'dad style' is the fashion trend redefining cool Jacquemus, having turned 15 years old this year, released an archive-inspired capsule collection in March. Reissued pieces include the Castagna minidress, famously worn by Kylie Jenner at the landmark Spring/Summer 2024 show. Others, like the 2013 white U dress, delve further into the archives, nodding to Jacquemus' early flirtations with sporty, space-age silhouettes. The new designs serve as a vibrant tribute to the brand's legacy, seamlessly carrying the past into the present and hinting at what's to come. Finally, you have The Fold launching a five-piece limited-edition collection using Liberty fabrics in celebration of the London retailer's 150th anniversary. Announced last week, the collection will include re-coloured prints from Liberty's scarf archive, with designs dating back to the 1970s.
