Sparkle and Color Pop Amid More Subdued Tones on Grammys Red Carpet 

Chappell Roan poses at the red carpet during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, February 2, 2025. (Reuters)
Chappell Roan poses at the red carpet during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, February 2, 2025. (Reuters)
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Sparkle and Color Pop Amid More Subdued Tones on Grammys Red Carpet 

Chappell Roan poses at the red carpet during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, February 2, 2025. (Reuters)
Chappell Roan poses at the red carpet during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, February 2, 2025. (Reuters)

The 67th Grammy Awards kicked off Sunday with a red carpet full of black and subdued tones against the backdrop of loss and devastation from the Los Angeles wildfires.

But there was plenty of sparkle and statement looks in huge sleeves and embellishment. The color red had a moment on Haley Kalil and others.

“While the Grammys carpet is one where we see most celebrities take major risks, some of the night’s most notable artists stayed true to their personal style,” said Bianca Betancourt, digital culture editor for Harper's Bazaar.

Madeline Hirsch, fashion features director for InStyle, agreed.

“There was a lot more edge and personality than usual on this red carpet. Everyone followed their own vision and aesthetic, which was fun to watch,” she said.

Here's a few celebrity looks and fashion moments from the red carpet:

Sierra Ferrell evokes a bride with no fashion fears

Sierra Ferrell won BIG with four Grammys. She did it just as BIG in a huge white gown that evoked a way enthusiastic bride with no fashion fears, designed by Jeffrey Kelly Designs.

Ferrell’s dress included huge luminescent sleeves, pearl embellishment all over and a matching choker piece. And she didn’t forget her bold bride’s veil: a head piece with pearls and flower touches above large pearl chandelier earrings. And she had a scepter, where she stashed her acceptance speech.

“Honestly this is kind of hilarious,” she joked after returning to the stage for a third time. “Yikes!” she started her fourth acceptance speech.

Chappell Roan is a whole mood

Chappell Roan walked in a vintage look from Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture, long wavy red hair flowing down her back. Her signature white powder makeup was full of color: yellows and blues and pinks and reds.

Roan's look had touches of teal and images of Degas' dancers on the skirt. It was Gaultier vintage from spring 2003.

“The singer has become known for her bold, artistic red carpet choices that reflect her unique sense of style and personality, and tonight was no exception,” said Claire Stern Milch, digital director for Elle.

Roan’s gown is from spring 2003. It was first worn by Beyoncé in Elle that April. The two are up against each other for Grammys.

“Chappell Roan inherently understands that if you want to be a pop star, you need to pave your own lane. She also understands you don’t just wear vintage to wear vintage — you do it to continue your sartorial storytelling,” Betancourt said. 'It’s probably her best red carpet look yet."

The Young Smiths

Jaden Smith walked the red carpet in Louis Vuitton with a large black castle on his head, his face peeking out. His sister, Willow Smith, was at his side. She went for classic young Hollywood in a tiny, sparkling black two piece with a long matching coat.

Willow wore her hair loose and natural as she worked her itty bitty look, a pair of towering black platform sandals on her feet.

Sabrina Carpenter stays close to signature style

Sabrina Carpenter was among those who stuck close to her signature style codes, Betancourt said. She opted for a baby blue satin gown by Jonathan Anderson for Loewe with a tousled updo and plunging back with feather boa detailing.

“It was just the right amount of sexy and old Hollywood glam that her red carpet looks usually aim for,” Betancourt said.

Red was a vibe

Red is an enduring trend in fashion of late, thanks to Taylor Swift’s commitment to the color at boyfriend Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs games. And it had a moment at the Grammys on Swift and many others.

Swift wore a short red sparkler by Vivienne Westwood. A little chain at one side of the hem dangled with red jewels, including a tiny “T.”

“It's my favorite of hers to date,” Hirsch said of Swift's look. “You can’t go wrong with a Vivienne Westwood minidress, and she’s been wearing the designer quite a bit over the past year.”

Among other vibes: swingy and sparkly metallics. Kacey Musgraves represented in a long, gold belted skirt paired with a simple white muscle T-shirt. Musgraves' look hails from Ralph Lauren Collection for spring 2025.

Beyoncé dazzles in couture

Beyoncé skipped the red carpet but showed up in custom Schiaparelli to collect the best country album award.

The body-hugger was embroidered in a bandana pattern. It’s covered in sparkling sequins and beads in champagne and cream. Her opera gloves elevated the look.

Her gown was a high fashion take on country-western style. She's been doing country couture since her album “Cowboy Carter” was released last March.

Cardi B in gold and feathers

With black detailing, the look evoked tiger stripes. There were feathers at the bottom.

It was a custom Roberto Cavalli Couture creation. The mermaid design is a true body hugger. It was covered in hand-embroidered beads and sequins.

“It was probably her most pared back look yet,” said Betancourt. "Yes, tiger print and feather trim is indeed subdued when it comes to Cardi B."

Goth Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga shut down the carpet in bulky black. Her custom look from designer Samuel Lewis had pointy shoulders, long sleeves and a huge ball gown skirt. Her hair was equally vampirish: short bangs and spiky tendrils.

After moving to more timeless looks over the years, Lady Gaga brought back her classic eye-catching and daring style to the carpet. The singer dressed like she walked straight off the set of her music video for “Disease.”

Olivia Rodrigo in black

Olivia Rodrigo's slinky look had a high neck and deep cutout at the front with a low open back and double straps securing the look.

Miley Cyrus was also in the club of black looks.

“She went for a more subtle design as well, wearing a sultry leather cut out gown from Saint Laurent and a new asymmetrical face framing haircut that kept the look intriguing,” Betancourt said.

It was halter style with a center slit. Her hair was straight and down with bangs.



Prada to Launch $930 ‘Made in India’ Sandals after Backlash

FILE PHOTO: Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo
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Prada to Launch $930 ‘Made in India’ Sandals after Backlash

FILE PHOTO: Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo

Prada will make a limited-edition collection of sandals in India inspired by the country's traditional footwear, selling each pair at around 800 euros ($930), Prada senior executive Lorenzo Bertelli told Reuters, turning a backlash over cultural appropriation into a collaboration with Indian artisans.

The Italian luxury group plans to make 2,000 pairs of the sandals in the regions of Maharashtra and Karnataka under a deal with two state-backed bodies, blending local Indian craftsmanship with Italian technology and know-how.

"We'll mix the original manufacturer's standard capabilities with our manufacturing techniques", Bertelli, who is chief marketing officer and head of corporate social responsibility, told Reuters in an interview.

The collection will go on sale in February 2026 across 40 Prada stores worldwide and online, the company said. Prada faced criticism six months ago after showing sandals resembling 12th-century Indian footwear, known as Kolhapuri chappals, at a Milan show.

Photos went viral, prompting outrage from Indian artisans and politicians. Prada later admitted its design drew from ancient Indian styles and began talks with artisan groups for collaboration.

It has now signed an agreement with Sant Rohidas Leather Industries and Charmakar Development Corporation (LIDCOM) and Dr Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation (LIDKAR), which promote India’s leather heritage.

"We want to be a multiplier of awareness for these chappals," said Bertelli, who is the eldest son of Prada founders Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli.

A three-year partnership, whose details are still being finalized, will be set up to train local artisans. The initiative will include training programs in India and opportunities to spend short periods at Prada’s Academy in Italy.

Chappals originated in Maharashtra and Karnataka and are handcrafted by people from marginalized communities. Artisans hope the collaboration will raise incomes, attract younger generations to the trade and preserve heritage threatened by cheap imitations and declining demand.

"Once Prada endorses this craft as a luxury product, definitely the domino effect will work and result in increasing demand for the craft," said Prerna Deshbhratar, LIDCOM managing director.

Bertelli said the project and training program would cost "several million euros", adding that artisans would be fairly remunerated.


Trial of Chinese Crime Gangs in Italian Fashion Stalls amid Sabotage Fears

Italian Guardia di Finanza (Tax Police) carry out a search at a textile firm during an investigation, in the Tuscan city of Prato, Italy, in this handout photo obtained by Reuters. Guardia di Finanza Press Office/Handout via REUTERS
Italian Guardia di Finanza (Tax Police) carry out a search at a textile firm during an investigation, in the Tuscan city of Prato, Italy, in this handout photo obtained by Reuters. Guardia di Finanza Press Office/Handout via REUTERS
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Trial of Chinese Crime Gangs in Italian Fashion Stalls amid Sabotage Fears

Italian Guardia di Finanza (Tax Police) carry out a search at a textile firm during an investigation, in the Tuscan city of Prato, Italy, in this handout photo obtained by Reuters. Guardia di Finanza Press Office/Handout via REUTERS
Italian Guardia di Finanza (Tax Police) carry out a search at a textile firm during an investigation, in the Tuscan city of Prato, Italy, in this handout photo obtained by Reuters. Guardia di Finanza Press Office/Handout via REUTERS

A landmark trial in Italy of Chinese crime gangs has suffered so many mishaps - from the disappearance of documents to the resignation of interpreters - that a senior prosecutor suspects it's being sabotaged to protect the criminals' grip on Europe's fashion industry.

The case, launched after two Chinese men were hacked to death with machetes in 2010, is aimed at dismantling an illicit network accused of controlling the logistics of the continent's multi-billion-euro garments sector from the city of Prato in Tuscany.

Instead, it has become a cautionary tale about the obstacles Italy's justice system faces when confronting international organized crime without the tools it has used effectively to fight home-grown mafia groups, prosecutors say.

Reuters spoke to two of Italy's most senior anti-mafia investigators, and more than half a dozen textile workers, union representatives and defense lawyers, to gain a rare glimpse into the challenges of tackling alleged Chinese organized crime.

"The suspicion is that there is interference from the Chinese community and Chinese authorities in this matter," said Luca Tescaroli, a veteran of Italy's war against the mafia who is now Prato's chief prosecutor and leading the charge against Chinese crime gangs.

The Chinese embassy in Rome did not reply to emails requesting comment on Tescaroli's remarks. China's foreign, public security and justice ministries did not immediately reply to Reuters' requests for comment for this story.

When the latest court interpreter failed to show up to a hearing at the end of September, a quick check revealed she had returned to China and her transcripts were "incomprehensible and unusable", Tescaroli said.

The translator was the second to walk off the job and no other Chinese interpreter in Tuscany has agreed to take over. Tescaroli has opened an investigation into the possibility that someone is looking to sink the trial.

The violence prosecutors hoped to curb has only intensified as the trial flounders, with the battle for control of coat hanger production and fast-fashion freight spawning a string of bomb and arson attacks in Italy, France and Spain.

There have been at least 16 attacks, including cases of the destruction of property, since April 2024, according to a Reuters tally of official reports.

The Prato prosecutor and his colleagues are pressing the judges in the so-called China Truck trial to define the Chinese gangs legally as mafia groups – a designation that would unlock sweeping powers, asset seizures and stiffer sentence.

However, in Italy that label is difficult to secure, even more so if the organizations are rooted abroad, making them harder to penetrate than home-grown crime groups such as Sicily's Cosa Nostra.

Wedged in the hills northwest of Florence, Prato is billed as Europe's largest textile manufacturing hub, hosting more than 7,000 textile and garment companies that register some 2.3 billion euros ($2.68 billion) in official annual exports. Over 4,400 of firms are Chinese owned, local authorities say.

Almost a quarter of its residents are foreigners, the largest ratio in Italy, but the percentage is likely much higher as many newcomers are illegal immigrants without work permits.

Prato's streets are lined with Chinese-owned workshops, warehouses, and businesses that have transformed the city into a global fast-fashion production center, and a flashpoint for violence linked to criminal networks.

The China Truck investigation closed in 2018 with prosecutors alleging that the 58 suspects had formed "a criminal association equipped with very significant financial means ... with support and resources abroad".

Seven years on, not a single defendant or witness has been called to testify.

Meanwhile, the alleged mastermind Zhang Naizhong, described by investigators as a "boss of bosses", slipped back to China in 2018 after he was released from pre-trail custody and prosecutors doubt he will ever return to Italy.

His Italian lawyer Melissa Stefanacci declined to comment on any aspect of the case. Zhang and the other suspects have pleaded not guilty.

The case emerged from what Francesco Nannucci, then head of Prato's police Flying Squad, described to Reuters as a war between two rival gangs, one made up of Chinese originally from Zhejiang and the other of Chinese originally from Fujian, for control of territory in Europe.

Despite keen police interest and multiple investigations in Prato, the gang violence has escalated in the past two years.

In July 2024, a Chinese businessman based in Prato was stabbed multiple times by a group of six men, including a former soldier, who had flown in from China "to protect, through violence, the business interests of the monopolistic group in the coat-hanger sector," prosecutors said in a statement.

All six were arrested and sentenced to 7.5 years in jail for attempted murder.

In April of this year, Zhang Dayong, Zhang's alleged right-hand man who was also charged in the China Truck case, was shot dead in Rome alongside his girlfriend. No-one has been arrested for those killings.

Tescaroli said emerging companies often with the prefix "Xin" - meaning "new" in Chinese - were trying to undercut established players, selling hangers at about 6 cents each compared to the previous market rate of about 27 cents.

"Since the volumes are vast, a few cents of margin on each piece guarantee gigantic profits," he said.

Chinese businesses in the textile district have long operated within what investigators call the "Prato system", marked by corruption and irregular practices, including labor and safety abuses as well as tax and customs fraud. These companies can appear and disappear overnight, engaging in a cat-and-mouse game with authorities to dodge taxes and avoid having to give workers proper contracts, according to Arturo Gambassi, a representative from the Sudd Cobas union, which defends workers' rights in the textile sector.

"In all the firms where we have initiated labor disputes, we saw that their business name had changed in the previous two years," he told Reuters. Police say fabrics are often smuggled in from China to avoid customs duties, while profits are sent back through illicit money-transfer channels, with up to 4 million euros shipped out of Rome's Fiumicino airport each week, according to prosecutors and police.

To maintain their competitive edge, the industry depends on cheap, round-the-clock labor, largely from China and Pakistan, with workers facing a backlash if they seek legal contracts.

On November 17, more than 15 Chinese citizens assaulted a union demonstration in Prato. Plain clothes police who were observing the protest were also attacked, with two officers needing hospital treatment, a police statement said.

Italian prosecutors succeeded in dismantling major Italian mob networks, notably Cosa Nostra, in part thanks to legislation introduced specifically to tackle the mafia.

The official mafia designation carries stiffer sentences and lets courts infer membership from conduct, a key advantage when prosecutors must overcome silence and intimidation.

Tescaroli is trying to get the courts to brand the Chinese gangs as mafia groups, but Barbara Sargenti, Italy's national anti-mafia prosecutor, questioned whether this would happen.

To establish that there is a Chinese mafia, Italy needs to map these organizations either from inside sources or with help from judicial and police authorities in China.

Sargenti said cooperation with China was proving "very difficult" and, so far, only one Chinese citizen had turned state witness within Italy, in a drug-related case.

Sargenti said China's police and judicial authorities had been in touch with Italy's justice ministry in recent months, saying it was willing to send officers collaborate with the Italians but there had been no follow up.

"Investigations are, let's say, very complicated," she said. Without the mafia designation or Chinese cooperation, Tescaroli's case in the China Truck trial relies on the fragile scaffolding of Italian procedure, and the willingness of translators to show up.

After the Tuscan interpreters made themselves unavailable, two new translators were appointed on November 17 - Chinese citizens from the northern port city of Genoa, outside Tuscany.

But court officials aren't claiming victory, yet, with the new translators saying they could not guarantee they would understand the dialects captured in phone taps that form crucial evidence in the case. The next hearing is scheduled for May 15.


Saudi Fashion Commission Concludes 'Building a Fashion Brand' Program in Partnership with Fondazione Sozzani

 The program concluded with an official ceremony at the Future Creative Residence, where participants received certificates of completion - SPA
The program concluded with an official ceremony at the Future Creative Residence, where participants received certificates of completion - SPA
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Saudi Fashion Commission Concludes 'Building a Fashion Brand' Program in Partnership with Fondazione Sozzani

 The program concluded with an official ceremony at the Future Creative Residence, where participants received certificates of completion - SPA
The program concluded with an official ceremony at the Future Creative Residence, where participants received certificates of completion - SPA

Saudi Arabia's Fashion Commission successfully concluded its five-day intensive program titled “Building a Fashion Brand,” held at the Future Creative Residence (FCR) in Riyadh.

According to a press release issued by the commission today, the program aimed to empower ambitious Saudi talents and equip beginner designers with essential knowledge, strategic tools, and practical guidance to support the development and launch of their own fashion brands. It was delivered in partnership with Fondazione Sozzani, an international institution dedicated to preserving culture and creativity and promoting sustainable fashion.

The program highlighted the intersection between fashion, visual culture, and sustainability. Participants engaged in a rich week of lectures, workshops, one-on-one sessions, and brand development activities led by international experts, SPA reported.

The program was supervised by Creative Director of Fondazione Sozzani Sara Sozzani Maino, one of the world's most prominent advocates of responsible fashion known for her work with Vogue Italia and Vogue Talents, alongside Riccardo Terzo, stylist, editor, and creative director of DUST China, who has extensive experience in talent scouting and the history of fashion imagery.

The two experts presented an integrated curriculum covering brand identity, storytelling, visual language, portfolio development, responsible fashion practices, and the evolving landscape of global fashion culture.

Participants were offered a continuous creative journey, exploring the foundations of defining personal and brand identity, developing integrated visual and written narratives, understanding contemporary fashion imagery and communication methods, and building a design approach rooted in sustainability, responsibility, and professional ethics.

They also enhanced their ability to develop strategies through research and moodboards, explore collaboration opportunities, and build integrated creative ecosystems, in addition to benefiting from individual mentoring sessions focused on refining vision, strategy, and identity.
The release added that their perspectives were further broadened through documentary screenings, open discussions, and analytical studies of global brands such as Jacquemus, Wales Bonner, and the Fashion Revolution movement, contributing to strengthened awareness of contemporary international trends.

On the final day, participants presented their developed brand concepts before a panel of experts, showcasing identity statements, visual visions, and strategic foundations for each brand. The program concluded with an official ceremony at the Future Creative Residence, where participants received certificates of completion.

The “Building a Fashion Brand” program reflects the Fashion Commission’s commitment to empowering the new generation of Saudi designers, enhancing global creative exchange, and building a sustainable fashion ecosystem that meets future needs within the Kingdom.

Through its strategic partnerships with leading international institutions such as Fondazione Sozzani, the commission continues to develop specialized programs that support emerging talents and elevate the fashion scene in Saudi Arabia.

In this context, the Sozzani Foundation is preparing to launch another program under the supervision of the Fashion Commission titled “Content Creation in Fashion,” scheduled for December 15, 2025, in Milan. A group of Saudi designers has been selected to participate, including one designer nominated from the previous program to ensure continuity of learning and deepening of acquired skills.