MINNEAPOLIS — A few years ago, 26-year-old Hilal Ibrahim of Minnetonka, Minnesota was looking for a dressy hijab to wear to for Eid, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.

Nothing she found was quite right. Major retailers sell all kinds of beautiful scarves, but they weren't long enough, or the fabric was too sheer, or didn't ...Read more

DETROIT — When all of the art fairs and showcases were canceled during the coronavirus pandemic, three Detroit women decided to create the Leaf and Blossom store, which serves as a space for artists to sell their artwork and products.

Mother and daughter Lillian Li and Victoria Li, both of Grosse Pointe Shores, along with their friend, ...Read more

The Caribbean entices all types of travelers for its extraordinary beaches, tranquil sea, and laidback charm. Most trips are slotted for the winter and early spring to escape frigid northern latitudes for reliable sunshine, yet visiting at this time also coincides with the most crowds and priciest accommodation and airfare. Visiting during ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the hit Apple TV+ show "Ted Lasso," the coach asks his soccer team: "Do you believe in miracles?"

For local designer and business owner Brendan Curran, seeing the T-shirts he created appear over and over on the show was no miracle. It was just a matter of friends looking out for each other.

Curran ...Read more

It’s the season for pool and beach fashion questions. Answers start here…

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I’m on the hunt for the perfect beach cover-up, but I’m having trouble finding one that seems right for me. I want something that’s comfortable — comfortable enough to wear over my swimsuit while lounging by the pool. (I’m not that...Read more

The Cannes Film Festival, held earlier this month, brought back red carpet gowns of all shapes and hues. I’m hard-pressed to pick a favorite, but I keep going back to this Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown worn by Regina King to the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit. So gloriously dramatic — The sparkle! The stole! The enormous skirt! — ...Read more

You may not realize that the U.S. is filled with hidden, mysterious caves. Several are part of the national or state parks, and they're worth the excursion. Whether you are a thrill-seeker looking for an adventurous exploration of a cave, or like the intimate, magical side, the United States has plenty to offer. Here are 10 of the most amazing...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It's funny how things work out. Don Cella always thought he would be a developer like his father, but his hobby ended up being his livelihood.

"He loved taking pottery classes in high school and thought it would be a retirement project," says his sister, Angela Arena.

Now brother and sister run Limelight Tile & ...Read more

Ralph Lauren is once again an official outfitter of Team USA for the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo — this time with an emphasis on sustainability.

Athletes will wear for the closing ceremony parade sporty white drawstring jackets with an American flag graphic on the sleeve. Jackets will be paired with a striped belt made from Repreve recycled ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I’m going to an outdoor festival later this summer. I have no clue what to wear. I’m older than the usual concertgoer, but I want to look like I actually belong there. My favorite bands are playing and I’m going with a group of younger people. I guess what I want is a sophisticated boho look — no torn jeans, ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Myla Robinson has always “made stuff.” Whether it’s Shrinky Dink plastic or cicada wings, she can find a way to craft with anything.

“Myla is someone that is so creative and humble,” said CiCi Flanagan, Robinson’s friend and customer. “She doesn’t like when you say it’s art, she wants to call it stuff.”

The 24...Read more

Look closely at this beautiful prom dress, worn by its designer Larissa Leon (a 17-year-old student in Sunnyside, Yakima County) and inspired by the colorful, full-skirted folklórico dresses of Mexican dancers. And then consider this: It’s made entirely from duct tape. Leon made the dress as an entry in Duck Brand duct tape’s annual Stuck ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — He had bespoke shoes for each and every outfit. And then some, like platform sneakers and roller skates with transparent wheels that lit up.

By official count, Prince had about 1,200 pairs of footwear housed at Paisley Park.

Over the ankle, over the knee, zip up the side with a peace-symbol zipper pull. All custom made, of ...Read more

DETROIT — This year marks a decade since Shinola's inception. Within just a few years, the Detroit watchmaker gained popularity just as the city declared bankruptcy, creating a brand identity that many consumers found compelling: embracing a city's struggles.

In that time the luxury design company, mainly known for its watches, has rapidly ...Read more

AKRON, Ohio — There are not many commonalities among computer chips, chicken wings and T-shirts, but one is that they are all becoming increasingly hard to find.

Similar to local car dealerships and restaurants, T-shirt shops are having difficulty with supply shortages.A supply chain at capacity

"It's been a nightmare," ...Read more

You might not be in need of a ray of sunshine these days, but here’s one anyway: the always resplendent presence of Helen Mirren, on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival on July 6. Note the magnificent jewels, the casually held sunglasses, the expression of, “Yes, I know I’m glorious, and I’m fine with it.” In other words, ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: A few months back, you answered a reader’s question about the return of high-waisted jeans and you gave them a thumbs-up review. I’ve been meaning to email you a related question. Everywhere I look online, I see that straight leg jeans are now the fashion. They look kind of baggy (the old “boyfriend jeans” of ...Read more

Those of us who have been waiting to travel again might want to answer the question in this article title with an emphatic “Either!” or “Both!” But let us explain why you need to make a choice. Despite obvious similarities, Aruba and Barbados are poles apart from each other in some subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Below, we’ve broken ...Read more

I bought a new computer mouse the other day. Ruined it the same day. I blame the pandemic.

Problem: My wife's mouse for her work laptop stopped working. As the hunter-gatherer in the family, I said I'd get her a new one. Yes, me.

Before society reordered itself permanently, and people worked in these places we called "offices," you ...Read more

Slob-chic, athleisure, casual comfy — you've undoubtedly heard some version of these terms over the past year in reference to pandemic fashion. They have been used to refer to any attire with some combination of a stretchy waistband, loose fit and/ or soft material — in short — something comfortable.

This has been the overriding ...Read more