Manchester’s Northern Quarter is getting ready to host Chanel’s ‘top secret’ fashion show
We'll be waiting with baited breath for a glimpse of Jennifer Lawrence in Terrace, Timothee Chalamet grabbing lunch at This n That, or Kim Kardashian doing sambuca shots in Cane & Grain.
When Chanel announced that it would host one of its most prestigious fashion shows in Manchester, speculation as to the exact location began instantly.
There were some pretty obvious options – Aviva Studios (formerly known as Factory International) was one. Depot Mayfield was another. Many floated the idea of it happening up on Castlefield Viaduct, or in one of our many museums or libraries.
What no one expected though, was that the world’s most luxurious fashion house would opt for the city’s Northern Quarter.
Not even inside a building in the Northern Quarter, either – slap bang in the middle of Thomas Street.
Over the last week, an enormous structure has been under construction that will provide a transparent temporary shelter from the elements.
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Thomas Street will be closed for an entire month for the event and the construction around it, with the show itself taking place on 7 December.
The street will be the home of this year’s Chanel Métiers D’Art fashion show, which has previously taken place in settings like a pontoon moored in Shanghai’s Huangpu river and a lavish banquet setting in a Parisian palace.
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Construction work on Thomas Street for the Chanel showThe ‘top-secret’ location of Chanel’s Manchester Metiers D’Art show is becoming less secretCredit: The Manc Group
Chanel always chooses cities that are linked to its history, then themes the show around that, so Manchester’s cotton trade history is likely to feature heavily.
So the formerly industrial Northern Quarter does make sense – just no one expected the most elite names in fashion to be traipsing in past Trof and the Sanae Thai Massage parlour. I wonder what Anna Wintour will make of Rambo’s Tattoo Parlour?
Historical, yes, but also, a little hilarious to those of us who spend our Friday nights staggering around that bit of town.
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The MEN has also reported that a high-profile hotel has signed an NDA and prepared some serious security measures ahead of the arrival of Chanel’s famous invitees.
Chanel is hosting its next Métiers D’Art fashion show in Manchester. Credit: Courtesy of Chanel
Although the businesses along Thomas Street aren’t able to comment on the Chanel show in Manchester, ‘Metiers D’Art’ can be seen labelling boxes along the road now.
And the workers on site are pretty eager to share their project with everyone walking past too…
The Chanel Métiers D’Art 2023/2024 show is set to take place in Manchester on 7 December.
We’ll be waiting with baited breath for a glimpse of Jennifer Lawrence in Terrace, Timothee Chalamet grabbing lunch at This n That, or Kim Kardashian doing sambuca shots in Cane & Grain.
Manchester United home kit for 2026/27 ‘leaked’ online in unboxing video
Danny Jones
Manchester United’s new home kit for the 2026/27 campaign has reportedly been leaked online in a YouTuber’s unboxing video ahead of next season.
We know fake shirts and dupes can be pretty accurate these days, but it looks very much like this could be the real deal.
Shared by dedicated football kit reviewer, ‘Retro Man‘, who has seemingly revealed the latest Man United jersey, this unveiling lines up with the previously rumoured designs circulated on social media.
A Red Devil himself, the creator has teased previous releases that turned out to be true in the past, so we’ll leave it up to all of you to decide how bona fide you think this supposed home strip is. Ever-reliable footy fashion peers, Footy Headlines, have also shared these images:
Uploaded to the channel on 25 April, Retro Man did a full overview of the United 26/27 home shirt, highlighting key features such as a red-forward collar with black and white accents.
That same trim is repeated on the ends of the sleeves – reminiscent of the 2011/12 iteration, only differing in the more crew neck style – and the back of the neck now simply reads “UNITED”.
It is worth noting that this is specifically the replica shirt that most fans will purchase.
Should it prove to be the genuine article, this will be the 11th Manchester United kit by adidas since they returned as manufacturers over a decade ago, a.k.a. the start of the Louis van Gaal era.
Retro Man has since posted another video showing off what he claims to be the ‘authentic’ version, too; you can check it out in more detail down below.
Looks pretty legit…
As you can see, the official player edition that will be worn on the pitch by actual United squad members (though they are still available to purchase by the public) appears to hold some key distinctions.
Besides some differences around the panelling and stitching, there is also a noticeable textured section along large sections of the interwoven fabric as part of the brand’s breathable and trademark ‘Climacool’ technology.
Elsewhere, the badge itself also looks to have a more embossed/raised finish. If this is the real deal, what do you make of it?
This isn’t the only United kit that’s caught some attention of late, either:
Featured Images — Retro Man (screenshots via YouTube)
Style
Claire’s is closing down stores in the UK and Ireland with more than 1,300 jobs set to be lost
Danny Jones
In another hit to domestic shoppers, Claire’s Accessories is closing down en masse across the UK and Ireland after entering into administration once again.
Falling into an unfortunate financial status for the second time in less than a year, Claire’s will be shutting down all of their standalone stores across Britain, along with their IE branches.
A total of 154 stores will soon disappear, with more than a thousand people set to be put out of work.
Once a mainstay of British high streets up and down the country, the accessory shop known for all things jewellery, piercings and more has ceased trading effective immediately.
Announced at the start of the week and the end of the first full month of Q2, it was confirmed that Claire’s closed their final locations on Monday, 27 April.
With administrators, Kroll, appointed to wrap up business proceedings, an estimated 1,300 English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh workers have now lost their jobs.
Founded way back in 1961 over in the United States, Claire’s has operated across the Atlantic for more than three decades.
However, with various other contemporaries and cheaper online options having appeared over the years, they’ve struggled not just to remain profitable but to compete full stop.
They most recently filed for bankruptcy in the US this past August (2025), with their Belgian, Spanish, and Dutch divisions having already called it quits.
Manchester location(s) have changed a lot over time, but now they’re on the way out (Credit: Arndale)
For many, the outcome isn’t all that surprising, but it will nevertheless be a sad loss for many who have seen multiple generations visit these venues over the years.
Daisy Jackson -
23rd November 2023 
