Taylor Swift Wedding-dress Fever Puts Bridal Brands on High Alert

Taylor Swift arrives at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, US, August 28, 2022. (Reuters)
Taylor Swift arrives at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, US, August 28, 2022. (Reuters)
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Taylor Swift Wedding-dress Fever Puts Bridal Brands on High Alert

Taylor Swift arrives at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, US, August 28, 2022. (Reuters)
Taylor Swift arrives at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, US, August 28, 2022. (Reuters)

Taylor Swift's wedding dress remains under wraps. But wedding chain David's Bridal is already betting brides will want one just like it. Fans are eagerly awaiting the reveal of the Christian Dior dress Swift wore at her tightly controlled Madison Square Garden celebration on July 3. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong design team at David's Bridal, which owns roughly 200 stores across the US, has already sketched about two dozen looks based on the pop star's likely aesthetics, with a focus on Hollywood glamour and drop-waist silhouettes, CEO Kelly Cook told Reuters.

Those preparations will help the brand "move very quickly when we have an idea of where the dress has landed," Cook explained. David's Bridal has already seen an uptick in searches for Swift-inspired designs on its website, which lists dresses ranging from hundreds of dollars ‌to more than $3,000.

Designers say ‌they will be looking out for elements of her outfit that could blossom ‌into ⁠bridal fashion trends.

Viola ⁠Chan, head of couture and design at David's Bridal in Hong Kong, said her team studied Swift's personal life to sketch three groups of designs: embellished ball gowns, simple gowns with a touch of detail, and short dresses in case of a mid-ceremony outfit change.

"It could be her makeup, her hair styling, and could be the number of gowns that she changed, the color of her gowns, the floral decoration," Chan said, while showcasing a template adorned with flowers and lace.

Barcelona-based bridal wear designer Pronovias, with distribution in more than 100 countries, said it plans to draw inspiration from the silhouettes, fabrics and "attitude" of Swift's look, as ⁠the brand has done for royal and other high-profile celebrity weddings in the past.

NEW SWIFT-INSPIRED ‌DESIGNS

An unusual color or fabric - pink or metallic lace, for example - could ‌ripple through the bridal industry, said Sharon Sever, the creative director at Tel Aviv-based luxury wedding dress company Galia Lahav. A unique ‌veil might also inspire new fashion trends.

For now, brands like Galia Lahav and New York-based Jenny Yoo are in ‌a wait-and-see mode, along with their customers.

"The images make all the difference in the design world," said Liza Pontoni, design director at Jenny Yoo. The Justin Alexander Group, a US-based bridal fashion house, is in the process of finalizing sketches for its spring and summer 2028 collection, which will be available in stores in autumn 2027. If Swift reveals her Dior dress in the coming weeks, the company ‌might incorporate certain elements into the designs, said CEO and creative director Justin Warshaw.

And if boutiques signal a surge in interest for Swift-inspired gowns, the fashion house might ⁠pull strings to make the ⁠new collection available to retailers and brides even sooner than the typical one-year timeline, Warshaw said.

For indie bridal franchise Lovely Bride, new details will be at most referential to Swift's look, said Lanie List, the founder and CEO.

"We'll definitely tell our brides things that we have that are similar, if something she wears inspires them," she said.

LEGAL RISKS

For designers and brands, the risk of falling into legal trouble depends on what exactly they copy, said Brad D. Rose, co-chair of law firm Pryor Cashman's Intellectual Property Group, who works with luxury brands.

US copyright law generally does not protect the cut, shape or silhouette of clothing. That means a bridal company can often lawfully create a dress that mimics an aesthetic. But specific decorative elements such as embroidery or beadwork may be protected.

If a bridal brand were to falsely suggest an affiliation with Swift or LVMH-owned Dior, trademark and unfair competition concerns could arise, Rose added.

Pronovias leans into seasonal trends rather than emulating specific pieces or names, a spokesperson said. The designer will, for example, avoid using Swift or Dior's name in marketing, while still drawing inspiration from trends that emerge from the collaboration.

 



'Resident Evil' Tops Box Office with Franchise Best Debut of $60 Million

Cast member Milla Jovovich speaks during a panel for "Resident Evil: Retribution" during the Comic Con International convention in San Diego, California July 13, 2012. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files
Cast member Milla Jovovich speaks during a panel for "Resident Evil: Retribution" during the Comic Con International convention in San Diego, California July 13, 2012. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files
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'Resident Evil' Tops Box Office with Franchise Best Debut of $60 Million

Cast member Milla Jovovich speaks during a panel for "Resident Evil: Retribution" during the Comic Con International convention in San Diego, California July 13, 2012. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files
Cast member Milla Jovovich speaks during a panel for "Resident Evil: Retribution" during the Comic Con International convention in San Diego, California July 13, 2012. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files

Zach Cregger’s “Resident Evil” gave the North American box office a shot in the arm in its first weekend in theaters. The Sony Pictures release earned $60 million in ticket sales from 3,684 locations in the US and Canada, according to studio estimates Sunday.

That’s a best for the video game inspired franchise, of which there have been seven prior movies dating back to 2002, and for the filmmaker behind “Weapons” and “Barbarian.”

It’s also more than most of the previous films made in their entire domestic runs. The only exception is “Resident Evil: Afterlife,” which was released in 2010 and netted out with $60.1 million, not accounting for inflation.

Cregger’s “Resident Evil” stars Austin Abrams (who also played a pivotal role in “Weapons”) as a medical courier whose last job of the night finds him battling infected creatures in Raccoon City. Reviews were overwhelmingly positive; it currently boasts a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The audience was primarily male (66%) and under 35 (75%), according to PostTrak exit polls, and gave it a B+ CinemaScore. Cregger’s previous films have defied a lot of box office logic when it comes to horror movies, whose earnings tend to be front-loaded and drop sharply after the first weekend.

“Barbarian” grossed over $46 million on a budget under $5 million. “Weapons” made $270 million on a $38 million budget.

“Zach Cregger is a household name in the world of horror,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the head of marketplace trends for Rentrak. “There are certain directors who become the star of the movie.”

“Resident Evil” cost a reported $75 million to produce, which does not include marketing and promotion expenses. Internationally, it earned $48.3 million, bringing its global launch to $108.3 million.

“Zach Cregger plus big franchise equals big bucks,” The Associated Press quoted Dergarabedian as saying. “And he made it feel fresh and new.”

According to Rentrak, horror movies this year, including hits like “Obsession” and “Backrooms,” have generated over $1.1 billion at the domestic box office.

Second place went to “Practical Magic 2,” which fell about 59% from its lackluster opening weekend with $12.2 million from 4,163 theaters in North America. An additional $7 million from international showings brings its running global total to $76.8 million.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” landed in third place with $6.5 million in its eighth weekend, pushing its domestic total to $944.5 million. “The Odyssey,” in its 10th weekend in theaters, added another $4.9 million to take fourth place. “Coyote vs. Acme” rounded out the top five with $4.5 million.

One notable limited release was “The History of Concrete,” a documentary from comedian John Wilson, which earned $90,000 from one screen (the IFC Center in New York). The only film to make more in a single weekend at that venue was “Parasite,” which made $119,407.


For Palestinian Aid Groups, Macklemore’s $1M Pledge Brings Relief and Attention to Ongoing Suffering

A mural by Palestinian artists depicts US rapper Macklemore on the ruins of homes in Gaza City, 19 September 2026. (EPA)
A mural by Palestinian artists depicts US rapper Macklemore on the ruins of homes in Gaza City, 19 September 2026. (EPA)
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For Palestinian Aid Groups, Macklemore’s $1M Pledge Brings Relief and Attention to Ongoing Suffering

A mural by Palestinian artists depicts US rapper Macklemore on the ruins of homes in Gaza City, 19 September 2026. (EPA)
A mural by Palestinian artists depicts US rapper Macklemore on the ruins of homes in Gaza City, 19 September 2026. (EPA)

For the Palestinian relief nonprofits behind a $1 million pledge from rapper Macklemore, the Grammy winner's latest contributions offer more than just money.

Macklemore committed to donate his net earnings from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after he was dropped for making pro-Palestinian comments onstage at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. The goal, he wrote in a Wednesday post on social media, was to “bring the conversation back to where it belongs” — the Palestinian people — after a 48-hour period that saw four supporting acts quit in solidarity and confusion over who held responsibility for the decision.

The six donation recipients included Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. In addition to the funding windfall, their leaders welcomed the renewed public awareness of the perilous living conditions faced by the Palestinian people they treat regularly.

“Even if you don’t see bombs falling every night, the rubble is still there,” said Alicia Phillips Mandaville, the acting CEO of Anera, another beneficiary. “And the traumatized children are still traumatized.”

Attention on continued pleas for help

Tareq Hailat, the director of strategic engagement at Palestine Children's Relief Fund, said his phone rings “all the time” with calls from people in Gaza “bleeding and asking for help.”

“There’s this notion that there’s a ceasefire. But it’s not true. There are children dying every single day. There’s our team that is constantly in danger on the ground every single day. There’s people we have to feed," he said. "So to have this attention on it is incredible.”

Israeli operations have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians since a fragile ceasefire took effect last October. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians struggle to get healthcare in the West Bank. Palestinians say water shortages persist. The world’s leading authority on food insecurity warned in July that most Gaza families still weren't getting nearly enough to eat even as Israel allowed more aid.

The Palestinian Children's Relief Fund medically evacuates children who can’t get the care they need because of crumbling healthcare infrastructure and flies outside physicians in to treat others inside Gaza.

The nonprofit will put its share of Macklemore's gift into an unrestricted fund, according to Hailat. The donation allows leaders to more fluidly direct money based on the evolving circumstances inside Gaza.

Anera — a humanitarian aid group working in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan — noted its donation also came with no requirements for how to use the money. Mandaville said that flexibility is important when “the way people live” and “the rules we work inside" change on a monthly basis.

“If there’s flooding again this year like there was last year, we can deal with that. If there is an acute hunger crisis again, like there has been in the past, we can meet that,” she said. “We can buy more blankets because people want their grandparents to be warm at night.”

Macklemore has long supported Palestinians

This week's gift wasn't the first time Macklemore has donated to some of the recipients.

The rapper has long advocated for the plight of Palestinians. He previously pledged the proceeds and streaming royalties from his protest anthems “Hind's Hall” and “Hind's Hall 2" to UNRWA.

More than $509,000 in support has come through those royalties, according to UNRWA USA CEO Mara Kronenfeld.

“He has been contributing to saving probably hundreds of thousands of lives in Gaza through his contributions already," she said.

This latest donation is already catalyzing more gifts. Ms. Rachel, a YouTube star and music teacher, announced Thursday that she would donate $1 million to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund and called on others to match the gift.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft — whose Kraft Group also owns Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran is scheduled to perform later this month — said in a Wednesday Instagram post that he would match Sheeran's own $2 million donation for aid “in the region.” The post did not specify the gift’s recipients.

Macklemore has said his removal was the result of an effort led by Kraft. Kraft said in a statement Monday that the decision to cancel Macklemore was a result of the rapper’s recent comments “and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.” Macklemore has asserted that criticism of the Israeli government should not be conflated with antisemitism.

Others inspired to donate

Everyday donors appear to be joining efforts like Ms. Rachel's. Online progressive influencers have helped raise more than $72,000 more for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.

Anera reported that the donations it received Wednesday through social media platforms were more than triple this month's daily average. The nonprofit has also gained more than 8,000 followers since Macklemore tagged its account in his post. Mandaville hopes that exposure will introduce new, younger audiences to the nonprofit's work.

“I would guess that our traditional donor does not know the lyrics to ‘Thrift Shop,’” she said, referencing Macklemore's breakout 2012 hit.

UNRWA USA's Kronenfeld said the spike reflects an existing trend. Her organization has gained 203,000 donors since October 2023, she said, allowing them to send more than $117 million.

“The contributions keep coming in because Americans care," she said. "It will increase that much more with Macklemore’s extremely humane gesture.”


Singer Ed Sheeran Says Gaza Situation 'Unjustifiable' Following Controversy

Ed Sheeran appears at the fifth annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Oct. 18, 2025. (AP)
Ed Sheeran appears at the fifth annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Oct. 18, 2025. (AP)
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Singer Ed Sheeran Says Gaza Situation 'Unjustifiable' Following Controversy

Ed Sheeran appears at the fifth annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Oct. 18, 2025. (AP)
Ed Sheeran appears at the fifth annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Oct. 18, 2025. (AP)

Pop star Ed Sheeran said Saturday the situation in Gaza is "unjustifiable," following a wave of criticism that he had failed to back his opening act who was booted from the tour after making pro-Palestinian comments.

The singer, who had previously maintained an apolitical stance, broke his silence on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his first show since the controversy involving US rapper Macklemore.

"What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," Sheeran said in Philadelphia.

"Our hearts have been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians' lives, children's lives, and the systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked."

Macklemore had declared "Free Palestine" at a New Jersey concert this month, drawing backlash from owners of US stadiums hosting future dates of Sheeran's Loop Tour.

The British artist, 35, has denied being behind the decision to remove the rapper, instead blaming the tour promoter.

Four supporting acts subsequently walked out on the "Shape of You" singer, issuing public statements citing their support for Palestinians.

"I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I'm so so sorry," an emotional Sheeran told his audience, who responded with cheers.

As the show was coming to an end, Sheeran said that this week had been the "hardest of my life" and that he had been afraid people would "throw things" at him.

Thanking the audience for their support, he called this show the "best night" of his life and shed some tears.

Sheeran had been accused by critics of failing to stand up to the stadium owners -- led by billionaire businessman Robert Kraft -- and was targeted by boycott calls.

The singer said he was "deeply worried" about the idea of venues pre-approving the content of performances.

"This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world."

A few dozen pro-Palestinian protesters rallied peacefully outside Lincoln Financial Field ahead of the concert, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Free, free Palestine."

Some of the fans streaming into the stadium said they had hesitated about coming due to the controversy, but ultimately decided to attend and enjoy the music, AFP reported.

"He could have easily walked away from all of this, and he stood up, and he spoke up," said one fan after the show.

But others like Brandon Ateke changed their plans.

The 18-year-old Brown University student accused Sheeran of "complicity" with Kraft and others in silencing Macklemore.

"I decided to not attend the concert and instead attend the protest to bring light to the genocide going on in Gaza today," he told AFP.

The stadium was close to capacity, despite an uptake in ticket resales this week and a sharp drop in prices.

On Saturday, a pro-Palestinian group urged artists, fans and crew members to stay away from Sheeran's concerts.

"We now extend our call for boycotting Ed Sheeran's entire world tour, including the upcoming Latin American dates, and the as-yet-unannounced European leg," the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) said.

Sheeran started his show Saturday night alone on stage, without an opening act.

He later brought on five musicians who he said had learned his songs in three days, thanking them for joining him "in a week when no one wants to stand on stage with me."

The groups that quit the tour included Sheeran's backing band as well as performer Finneas, who rose to fame collaborating with his pop superstar sister Billie Eilish.