For generations, traditional Saudi dress has served as more than a form of adornment, reflecting regional identity and cultural traditions passed down through families. From richly embroidered Najdi thobes to garments shaped by centuries of trade, these pieces reflect the traditions, occasions, and communities that gave them meaning. Now, they are being introduced to a wider international audience through Golden Threads: Dress from Saudi Arabia, an exhibition in London that examines the heritage and artistry behind some of the Kingdom’s historic traditional garments.

Photo: Instagram/@communityjameel

The exhibition will be on view at The Jameel Gallery from 3 August 2026 to 30 May 2027. The exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of the V&A’s Jameel Programme in partnership with Community Jameel. At its heart is a selection of women’s garments from Saudi Arabia’s central Najd region, where dress has long reflected social traditions and family heritage.

The exhibition features several Najdi thobes gifted by King Abdulaziz to the daughter of the British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia in 1942 and 1952, traditionally worn during weddings, Eid celebrations, and significant family gatherings. The garments provide a record of traditional Najdi dress.

Crafted from silk and decorated with gold and silver metal-wrapped thread, the thobes feature intricate embroidery, colourful silk panels known as tarasa or tiraasa, and floral motifs. Together, these elements reflect the aesthetic traditions and cultural identity associated with Najdi dress.

The exhibition also highlights Thobe Hind, a style influenced by historical ties between Saudi Arabia and India. Created using Indian textiles and techniques for the Najdi market, the garments reflect a period when trade routes carried not only goods but also artistic influences that found their way into everyday dress. Worn over embroidered underdresses and wide cotton trousers, they combined a distinctive shape with ease and functionality.

Photo: Instagram/@communityjameel

Beyond the garments themselves, Golden Threads examines how Saudi women styled and wore these dresses during the 1940s and 1950s. Oversized sleeves were often arranged over the head to frame the body’s outline, while archival photographs, original undergarments, and a newly commissioned film provide further insight into the traditions surrounding the clothing.

More than a display of historic clothing, Golden Threads reveals how dress can preserve memory and reflect the lives of the women who wore it. By bringing these garments to London, the exhibition places Saudi fashion within a broader cultural conversation, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the stories, traditions, and personal expressions woven into every piece.

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For years, strappy sandals have dominated warm-weather fashion. Now, celebrities are showing renewed interest in a much simpler alternative: flip-flops.

At the British Grand Prix, Adele paired a graphic T-shirt and loose black trousers with black flip-flops, choosing one of this summer’s biggest footwear trends. Zendaya and Jennifer Lawrence have also been seen wearing refined flip-flop styles in recent months, reflecting the style’s growing popularity beyond the beach.

Photo: Getty images

As simple, everyday fashion continues to grow in popularity, flip-flops are making a comeback. Their clean design and versatility make them easy to style for a wide range of outfits.

Why It Works Now

Many brands have updated the classic flip-flop with features aimed at improving comfort and everyday wearability. As demand, for comfortable footwear grows, brands are introducing flip-flops that offer more support and durability than earlier versions.

Dr. Zahra McDonald of MyPod Podiatry has said that well-designed flip-flops with proper arch support can provide more comfort than traditional flat styles. Combined with improved construction, those updates have helped position flip-flops as an everyday footwear option rather than a style reserved for the beach.

They also pack flat, pair with tailored trousers as well as denim, and require zero styling effort, qualities that align with how people are dressing in 2026.

The Styles to Know

For a look closest to Adele’s, the Archies Arch Support Flip-Flops ($40) offer a slim thong strap and monochromatic finish. The silhouette reads polished, not poolside, and has been spotted on Katie Holmes and Jennifer Aniston as well.

Photo: Amazon

The closest match to Adele’s outfit is the FitFlop iQushion Flip-Flops (from $30, was $38). The slim profile mirrors her pair, while the cushioned construction is built to hold up through long days on your feet.

More Options by Price

Photo: Amazon

Budget: Mazeskin Flat Thong Sandals, from $10

Everyday staple: Havaianas Slim-Square Flip-Flops, from $32 (was $34)

Cushioned comfort: Crocs Kadee II Flip-Flops, $25

Recovery support: Shevalues Orthopedic Recovery Flip-Flops, $19 (was $24).

Photo: Black grid

With Adele, Zendaya, and Jennifer Lawrence wearing them to everything from public appearances to downtime, their growing popularity speaks for itself: practical footwear can hold its own in 2026. And with options starting at $10, updating your summer rotation is an easy swap to make before the season ends.

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Luxury fashion continues to experiment with performance-driven materials, and Louis Vuitton’s latest innovation may be one of its most unexpected. Known for its softness and refined appearance, silk has been reimagined as a weather-resistant textile through the brand’s new Silk Tech fabric.

Photo: Instagram

Unveiled as part of the house’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection under Creative Director Pharrell Williams, Silk Tech reimagines one of fashion’s most delicate textiles with water-repellent functionality. Louis Vuitton’s latest creation shows that even traditional luxury materials can be adapted for modern lifestyles.

Unlike traditional silk, which is associated with eveningwear and delicate pieces, Silk Tech is built for protection. The fabric blends silk with recycled nylon and is finished with a hydrophobic treatment designed to repel water. Depending on the piece, silk comprises between 28 and 51 percent of the composition.

Photo: Instagram

The result maintains silk’s signature smooth hand and luster while delivering the practicality expected of performance outerwear. Additional treatments target durability and help reduce discoloration over time. A crease-resistant twill weave further strengthens functionality without sacrificing a refined finish.

The collection translates the technology into wearable form: monogrammed windbreakers, matching shorts, sneakers, and bags. The design language is intentional, inspired by the visual of water beading across a water-repellent surface. Pieces are styled to appear perpetually wet, an aesthetic choice that mirrors the fabric’s technical properties.

Photo: Instagram

For Williams, Silk Tech aligns with a broader creative direction that merges luxury codes with utility. For Louis Vuitton, it represents an effort to expand what premium materials can do. By making silk weather-resistant, the house challenges a long-held assumption that elegance must come at the expense of performance.

The move also reflects changing consumer expectations. As demand grows for products that balance style, comfort, and function, innovations like Silk Tech suggest luxury is moving beyond the binary of beautiful or practical.

Photo: Instagram

With Silk Tech, Louis Vuitton demonstrates that even one of fashion’s oldest materials can be reimagined for a new generation, one that expects its wardrobe to perform as well as it presents.

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