Airports in Italy are trialling new security and boarding technology that will mean passengers do not have to show their documents to get on a flight.
30.04.2024 - 06:17 / forbes.com
Begun in 2009, London’s Tweed Run, a quietly extraordinary fashion-and-cycling event, is billed with only a wee bit of hyperbole by its organizers as “world renowned for being the most sartorially impeccable event ever to take place on two wheels.” And it just may be that. The 13th annual event, held on April 27, event lived up to its billing.
Undisputed is the fact that, as a rite of spring, traditionally a Saturday in late April or early May, the day-long event is hilarious and highly mannered. With headlong, passionate participation by some really well-dressed Londoners, the charivari manages to be both deadly serious in its attention to detail, and simultaneously, more than a little bit tongue-in-cheek.
Pictured above: Only the bravest cyclists go whole hog for the ungainly late Victorian mode of cycling transport known as the penny-farthing, which is the epitome of charm as it flashes by, but is more than a little challenging on a ten-mile odyssey through the streets of London. Not to mention the extended, risky process of mounts and dismounts, such as for the occasional picnic and pub stops.
Billed as “suggestions for dress,” there is, of course a dress code. Some background: No place on earth does its “fancy dress” parties better or more completely than the UK, and that very much includes the Royal Family. It’s helpful to recall that it was for a “fancy dress” party to which Prince Harry was invited that he chose his ill-fated and arguably misunderstood Afrika Korps uniform from a costume shop.
Harry describes the runup to his dress event very well in Spare, very much emphasizing the whole-hog-ness of his commitment to the folly: "With time running out I narrowed my options to two. A British pilot’s uniform. And a sand-colored Nazi uniform. With a swastika armband. And a flat cap. I phoned Willy and Kate, asked what they thought. Nazi uniform, they said. I rented it, plus a silly mustache, and went back to the house. I tried it all on. They both howled. Worse than Willy’s leotard outfit! Way more ridiculous! Which, again, was the point."
It’s that same whole-hog commitment that is the motor of the Tweed Run. The dress code leaves a lot of room for interpretation, and there are very imaginative versions of that, but it’s the general energy and desire for fashion completeness that’s so striking. It’s not called the Tweed Run for no reason. The organizers’ own very specific “Etiquette Guide” lends rigor and spine to the proceedings:
Now look here, proper attire is expected. The term "overdressed" does not exist in our vocabulary. Tweed suits, plus fours, bowties, and jaunty flat caps are all encouraged.
Do your best for the highly-prized Best Dressed Man and Best Dressed Woman prizes. Suggested
Airports in Italy are trialling new security and boarding technology that will mean passengers do not have to show their documents to get on a flight.
United Airlines has premiered its new pre-flight safety video. The company says it has been designed “to capture and keep the attention of even the most frequent travelers.”
Based in Tucson, Ariz., the boutique Desert Vintage has specialized in rare designer clothing since Salima Boufelfel and Roberto Cowan took it over in 2012. Many of their offerings — a century-old Fortuny evening robe or an Azzedine Alaïa suede wraparound top, for example — “can be a bit demanding to wear,” says Boufelfel. So when she landed in New York to open their Orchard Street outpost in 2022, she set out to complement their period pieces with her own designs. The collection, which is named Ténéré (“desert” in Tuareg) in a nod to both Boufelfel’s Arizona origins and Berber heritage, is meant to be worn across seasons and settings: There are airy crinkled chiffon dresses, sleeveless caftans stitched with antique African trade beads and double-pleated Italian-linen trousers. The silk lounge sets — available in a range of sandy shades, as well as a poppy red — are modeled after Desert Vintage’s best-selling 1920s loungewear ensembles, which, Boufelfel notes, “always fly out the door and look amazing on everyone.”
There’s been a late change of plan for Airbus’ new plane. The A321XLR is the company’s flagship single-aisle jet and until recently, Aer Lingus was due to fly it before anyone else.
Seeking the perfect gift this Father’s Day? Lonely Planet has released its top travel and lifestyle inspiration titles for Dads, from cycling adventures close to home to journeys exploring the offbeat side of North America to incredible train journeys around the world and inspiration for gardening enthusiasts. The global travel expert has the perfect book for every interest.
The Netherlands is known for many things – sublime art, sustainability initiatives, glorious countryside – but low prices isn’t typically one of them (especially not in Amsterdam, with the capital ranking as one of Europe’s most expensive cities).
Nestled along the promontory overlooking the St. Lawrence River, with distinctive architecture including its iconic soaring turrets, the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is the stuff of hotel legend. One glance at the fortresslike structure and it's easy to see why many consider it the most photographed hotel in the world.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation and emails with Gladys Nkengasong , a 27-year-old consultant who moved to the UK from Atlanta in 2021. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Swiftie or not, there’s no denying the fact that Taylor Swift has taken the world by storm. The Eras Tour exploded onto the scene in March 2023, and since then, the musical icon has been touring the world, sharing her music and stories with enamored fans around the world. In the midst of this tour, Swift also casually dropped her latest release: The Tortured Poets Department and The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, a double album released two hours apart. In her 11th album, she continues to intricately weave stories of past relationships, longing, and heartbreak into her lyrics. Songs off this album reference several actual places that played a significant role in Swift’s life at the time. From pubs in London to hotels in New York, here are five places Taylor Swift sang about in The Tortured Poets Department that you can actually visit.
Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz are Europe's three biggest budget airlines, but the experiences can be quite different.
With several thousand kilometers and more than ten countries between them, most travelers transiting from London to Lagos opt for a 6.5-hour plane ride—but Pelumi Nubi isn’t your average traveler. Originally hailing from Nigeria’s largest city and raised in the UK capital, Nubi’s deep affinity for travel led her to launch a truly valiant feat at the end of January 2024: a one-woman road trip spanning from the northern reaches of Europe to the West African coast. While the journey was met with its fair share of obstacles, Nubi reached her destination on April 7th, ultimately cementing her status as the first Black woman to complete a solo road trip from London to Lagos.
JetBlue is making big cuts to its transatlantic network for the coming winter season. Analysis of new schedules shows almost one-third of its European capacity will be removed by the end of October. Notably, the changes are in addition to flights that were already due to be operated seasonally.