USA Update

THE Original Factory Shop is set to call time on another store with a number of sites at risk of closure.

A branch in Middlewich is now the latest store to be marked for closure.

A closing down sale has been launched with up to 50% off some lines in the store.

Locals have branded the closure in the Cheshire town as “another blow” for the high street.

A concerned shopper warned there would be “nothing left” in the area as “everything is closing down”.

While another said: “Your store was a highlight of my days during a really tough time when I lived in Middlewich.”

And a third added: “This shop will be greatly missed.”

The exact date of when the store has not been confirmed yet. but The Sun will update this piece when we find out more.

Up to 11 TOFS stores are already to set to close this month, including sites across Worcestershire, Durham and Cumbria .

Meanwhile, another five stores across Nairn, Market Drayton, Troon, Blairgowrie and Castle Douglas have been placed up for sale.

The Original Factory Shop has told The Sun that negotiations are ongoing with landlords – making it unclear whether these shops will remain open.

It comes as part of a major restructuring carried out by new owner Modella Capital with a number of loss making stores having to close as result.

A spokesperson told The Sun: “Closing stores is always a tough decision, and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible.

“This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future.”

They added: “These negotiations are commercially sensitive and so we cannot comment on which stores are affected.”

You can see the full list of store closures here:

• Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire – June 26
• Perth – June 28
• Chester Le Street, County Durham – June 28
• Arbroath, Angus – June 28
• Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire – June 28
• Pershore, Worcestershire – June 28
• Normanton, West Yorkshire – June 28
• Peterhead, Aberdeenshire – June 28
• Shaftesbury, Dorset – June 28
• Staveley, Cumbria – July 12
• Middlewich – TBC

The following stores are also up for sale:

• Nairn
• Market Drayton
• Troon
• Blairgowrie
• Castle Douglas

What’s been happening with The Original Factory Shop?

Private equity firm Modella bought The Original Factory Shop back in February and has since launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 TOFS stores.

Modella is known for picking up struggling retailers, having also recently acquired Hobbycraft and WHSmith‘s high street shops.

It is set to rebrand all WHSmith high street stores to TGJones, and has brought in advisers to look at potential options for Hobbycraft.

At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for TOFS.

Companies often use CVAs to prevent insolvency, which could otherwise result in store closures or the collapse of the entire business.

They allow firms to explore different strategies such as negotiating reduced rent rates with landlords.

TOFS previously told The Press and Journal that a “number of loss-making stores will have to close” as part of the restructuring.

It said at the time: “Closing stores is always a tough decision and we are committed to keeping as many stores open as possible.

“This is, however, dependent on successful negotiations with landlords as we strive to build a sustainable and successful business for the future.”

The Original Factory shop has already shuttered more than a dozen stores over the past 12 months.

BRITS have been urged to rifle in their pockets and check down the backs of sofas, after a rare coin sold for 300 times its value.

Cash is being used less and less in Britain, with some companies even now refusing to take cash payments.

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Could you have a rare coin amongst your spare change?[/caption]

eBay

A Kew Gardens 50p recently sold for £157[/caption]

But although many prefer the convenience of  contactless cards and see loose change as an annoyance, it can actually be extremely valuable.

The rarest coin currently in active circulation is His Majesty King Charles III’s 50p coin, depicting the Atlantic Salmon, with just 200,0000 of the coins back in 2023.

Following close behind, the Kew Gardens 50p, released in 2009, is the second rarest coin, with 210,000 in active circulation.

The highly sought-after collectable, which features the Kew Gardens pagoda, recently caused a storm on eBay, with a 25 bid showdown resulting in one of the rare coins being sold for £157, which is over 300 times its value.

It is worth checking your piggy bank and sorting through any spare change for the coin, as it could end up earning you enough for a posh meal or a flight abroad.

However, the Royal Mint warned that the coin may be tricky to find in your purse, as they are often snapped up by collectors.

 “Nothing gets people excited quite like this original 2009 design”, it said.

“Just 210,000 were released into circulation and with almost all of them in private hands, the chances of coming across one in your change are slim.”

It added: “The venerable institution depicted on the Kew Gardens 50p coin is the nation’s most famous royal botanical garden.

“The reverse design, created by Christopher Le Brun RA, features the famous Chinese Pagoda at Kew with a decorative leafy climber twining in and around the tower.

“Demand for the 50p denomination was not high at the time of release into circulation which explains the low mintage of this particular design.”

The Atlantic Salmon 50p is also a highly sought-after collector’s item, and often sells for huge sums on eBay.

Last week, an Atlantic Salmon coin sold on eBay for a whopping £69, after a fierce 16 bid showdown.

On October 7 one coin sold for £164 with six bidders fighting for the prize.

Another sold for £147 on December 16 with a whopping 37 bids.

If you’re ever unsure of how much a coin should be sold for, it helps to look at what prices other people are listing.

You can also run it through Change Checker’s Scarcity Index to get a sense of its value.

How to Sell A Rare Coin

If you’re lucky enough to find a rare coin amongst your spare change, you can sell them through online marketplaces such as eBay.

You can also sell coins via auction, through the Royal Mint Collector’s Service.

If you choose to do it this way, a team of experts will authenticate and value your coin, and advise you on how to sell.

ENGLAND travel to Slovakia with the tall task of defending their Euros title – and the full squad has been announced!

The Young Lions ended 39 years of pain when a youthful Cole Palmer’s deflected strike fired them to Euros glory in 2023.

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England ended 39 years of misery in 2023[/caption]

But a lot of the plaudits went to James Trafford whose sensational double save in stoppage time, helped England cross the finish line.

However, a different set of Young Lions will need to shine with both Palmer and Trafford now part of the England senior set up.

And Lee Carsley has finally made his decision on who will be part of the mission to retain their Euros title.

England U21’s full squad

Goalkeepers: James Beadle (Brighton and Hove Albion), Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Chelsea), Tommy Simkin (Stoke City)

Defenders: Charlie Cresswell (FC Toulouse), Ronnie Edwards (Southampton), CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Brooke Norton Cuffy (Genoa), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland), Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion), Tyler Morton (Liverpool), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth)

Forwards: Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town), Sam Iling Jnr (Aston Villa), James McAtee (Manchester City), Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), Jonathan Rowe (Marseille), Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City)

When does the Under-21 Euro 2025 start?

• The Under-21 Euro 2025 gets underway on Wednesday, June 11.
• However, England’s opening match will take place the following day – Thursday, June 12.
• England face Czech Republic in their first group game.
• The match is scheduled to kick off at 8pm BST.

Under-21 Euros 2025 groups

Group A

• Slovakia
• Spain
• Italy
• Romania

Group B

• Czech Republic
• England
• Germany
• Slovenia

Group C

• Portugal
• France
• Poland
• Georgia

Group D

• Finland
• Netherlands
• Ukraine
• Denmark

SHE is the 80-year-old granny battling the billionaires with her Derby ‘superstar’.

In what has been billed as the ultimate David vs Goliath showdown, this ‘proud Yorkshirewoman’ with just six horses is daring to dream in the world’s most prestigious race.

Steven Cargill / Racingfotos.com

Vimy Aykroyd, second from right, is the 80-year-old gran taking on the billionaires with her Derby ‘superstar’ Pride Of Arras[/caption]

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Victory in the Derby would be a dream come true, although tinged with sadness as Vimy’s husband David is in care with dementia and is unaware the horse is running in the world’s most famous Flat race[/caption]

Meet Vimy Aykroyd, racing royalty, rebel and the owner of 5-1 chance Pride Of Arras.

At stake is the small matter of £900,000 for victory, a place in history and a lucrative, money-spinning career at stud for their three-year-old colt.

But also the realisation of a dream that started 26 years ago when Vimy first sent horses to trainer Ralph Beckett.

Their families are intertwined, with Vimy having spent time with the Becketts growing up.

When Ralph, son of trainer William, started his own yard in 1999, Vimy – Lavinia for full – was one of the first to send him horses.

In the years since Beckett has pretty much done it all.

Millions upon millions in prize money, Arc de Triomphe victory with Bluestocking last year, Group 1s galore and Royal Ascot success.

But he’s never won the Derby.

Over the past decade, the 1m4f race over the undulating, rolling Epsom track has been a happy hunting ground for the billionaire tycoons who dominate the sport.

Since 2017 it has been won by either Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed – under his Godolphin operation – or the all-conquering Coolmore group, made up of Irish racing boss John Magnier and British former bookies Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Only in 2017, with Desert Crown, did it go to someone else – Dubai businessman Saeed Suhail.

In fact, you have to go to diamond dealer Anthony Oppenheimer in 2015 for the last sole British owner to win the Derby, when he did it with Golden Horn.

It’s a tough gig when you’re literally battling those with the financial might of an entire country behind them.

But Vimy’s more than used to overcoming adversity.

Mischievous by nature, she wasn’t always the best student and racing was in her blood given her grandad won the Grand National in 1891.

When women were allowed to ride in Flat races for the first time in 1972 she naturally took part and won on a horse called Old Cock.

Personal life took over when she moved to Spain with husband Richard Aykroyd – but he died from cancer in 1997.

Vimy returned to London and then Yorkshire, where she married her late husband’s brother David, who has been described as ‘the epitome of the English gentleman’.

Sadly, the Telegraph report that he is now in a care home with dementia and unaware their beloved horse is running in the world’s most famous Flat race.

Pride Of Arras was 50-1 for the Derby before he won the Dante at York – the key trial for the Epsom contest – last month.

Beckett was bullish of his chances in the big one immediately after and there is no doubt he is the big British hope this year.

A fairytale story, victory and overcoming odds? Sounds like Vimy Aykroyd all over.

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Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
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• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
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Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

RESIDENTS of a town made famous by a hit TV show have hit out at brazen tourists who peer through their windows and block their driveways.

Bampton in Oxfordshire was made famous by the hit period piece with several locations across the village used in filming.

Twitter - @markchristie

Locals have been subjected to tourists peering in their windows[/caption]

David Hartley

St Mary’s church features heavily in the show[/caption]

Locals have said the town, which features in Downton Abbey, has become a magnet for tourism and now attracts thousands of brash visitors a year.

Some residents told the Telegraph that the tourism has made them a small fortune and helped to improve local amenities.

Others have slammed the tourists, demanding their quant village be freed of “brash American accents.”

Residents of Bampton have told horror stories of their encounters with tourists.

Locals have been subjected to selfie-sticks appearing at bedroom windows, tourists wandering into their back gardens and buses blocking up narrow streets. 

Guided tours of the village are offered to fans of the hit show with some charging as much as £500.

Busloads of fans are taken around the small village to visit filming locations made famous by the British drama series.

Local shop owners have claimed at one point they were making £1,000 a day from the tourists.

The thousands of pounds raised from visiting TV fans has been used to fund renovation works to buildings.

Local services have also been improved using the massive wealth brought into the community.

Despite all this locals still hit out saying they’ve had enough of nosey tourists peering in their windows and obstructing their driveways.

One resident told The Telegraph: “My friend overheard a tour guide say that Bampton was nothing before Downton Abbey.

“Let me tell you – Bampton was a beautiful, expensive place to live long beforehand.”

“I live on the main square and they often stand in my driveway. They just go everywhere.”

The small village was used for several scenes in the hit show which ended ten years ago.

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Highclere castle, the main filming location, is more than forty miles away from Bampton[/caption]

SWNS

Tourists pay £500 for guided tours of the towns filming locations[/caption]

SWNS

Bus loads of tourists are brought into the small town[/caption]

Even though it has been a decade since the last episode of the original series was aired tourists still flock to Bampton.

Locations including St Mary’s Church and the Manor House, home to Mrs Crawley in the show, can be found in the small village.

The main set for the historical drama, Highclere Castle, is forty miles away.

The tiny village has a population of just 2,500 and plays host to two coffee shops, a butcher, a deli, a charity shop, an art gallery, antique store and garden centre.

Residents claim that visitors spend most of their time and money in a few select locations, bringing no benefit to the rest of the town.

A resident told The Telegraph: “They contribute to the library, but apart from that they don’t have enough time.

“We are better off with individual travellers, with families in cars – not the buses. There’s so much more to Bampton than Downton Abbey.”

The Community Hub receives shedloads of support but according to locals the other shops and businesses are left to fend for themselves.

SKY is dishing out access to 35 premium channels at no extra cost to customers this weekend.

The special offer also includes 35,000 shows episodes on demand.

Sky

Sky customers don’t have to take any action to claim the freebie[/caption]

Viewers on Sky‘s cheapest £15 package, Sky Essential TV, will benefit from the boost to Sky Ultimate TV.

However, the channels will only be available from today until Monday.

It’s designed to give people a taster of the shows to watch elsewhere.

They include Sky Max, Sky Crime, Sky Documentaries, U&Gold, and Comedy Central.

Highlights at the moment range from Matlock and The Rookie on Sky Witness, Hacks and Rob Beckett’s Smart TV on Sky Max, Boyzone No Matter What on Sky Documentaries, Planet Weird on Sky Nature and The Righteous Gemstones on Sky Comedy.

Customers don’t have to take any action to gain access to the channels.

They will all be unlocked for the duration of the giveaway.

Sky Essential TV was launched at the end of last year as a cheaper way for telly fans to watch Sky TV, with Sky Atlantic, Netflix and Discovery+ all included.

Sky Ultimate TV costs £7 more (a total of £21).

It comes as Sky just launched a brand new TV product in the UK, Sky Glass Air.

The device builds on the company’s existing streamed TV offering, which does away with a satellite dish on the side of your house.

Instead, channels are all transmitted via a broadband connection.

Sky Glass Air is a cheaper option with no built-in soundbar unlike the main Sky Glass model, making it much thinner.

The Sky Essential TV package is only available to those with Sky Stream and Sky Glass.

DAVID BECKHAM has joined an exclusive club after becoming the latest British football star to receive a knighthood.

Golden Balls will officially arise as Sir Becks after SunSport exclusively revealed he will be knighted in the King’s Birthday Honours next week.

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PA:Press Association

AFP

Sir Bobby Robson received his award in 2002[/caption]

Beckham, 50, has long yearned for a knighthood after his services to the beautiful game.

And Spice Girl wife Victoria will benefit by becoming Lady Beckham.

Former Manchester United star Becks, who played 115 times for England and has made major contributions to charity, has struck up a firm friendship with King Charles.

He will now join an exclusive group of other British football personalities to receive royal knighthoods.

But just 16 names are already on the list.

The first was Sir Charles Clegg, who received his award in 1927 after both playing for England and later serving as chairman and president of the FA.

He was followed by Sir Stanley Rous in 1949, a former referee who was also the sixth president of FIFA.

England legend Sir Stanley Matthews next received one in 1965 while still being an active player, having become the first person to win the European Footballer of the Year award.

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World Cup-winning manager Sir Alf Ramsey then got his in 1967, a year after leading the Three Lions to glory against West Germany.

And in 1968 it was the turn of Man United icon Sir Matt Busby, the first manager of an English team to win the European Cup.

News Group Newspapers Ltd

Sir Matt Busby was given his knighthood in 1968[/caption]

News Group Newspapers Ltd

SunSport exclusively revealed Sir Tom Finney’s award in 1998[/caption]

PA:Press Association

Fast forward 10 years later and Sir Walter Winterbottom was the next to receive a knighthood after becoming the first-ever England gaffer in 1946.

Sir Bert Millichip then got one in 1991 after his time as chairman of the FA.

Three years later it was Sir Bobby Charlton’s turn, having previously been award a CBE and an OBE.

In 1998, both Sir Geoff Hurst and Sir Tom Finney were knighted by the Queen – with news of the latter’s honour exclusively revealed by SunSport.

And one year later Sir Alex Ferguson received his after leading Man United to the Treble.

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Sir Trevor Brooking was knighted in 2004[/caption]

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AP:Associated Press

Brazil legend Pele was given an honorary knighthood in 1997[/caption]

Newcastle legend Sir Bobby Robson was then knighted in 2002 thanks to his iconic career in the dugout.

Sir Trevor Brooking followed two years later, with Sir Dave Richards honoured in 2006.

Sir Kenny Dalglish then became the next 12 years later in 2018 thanks to his brilliant time with Liverpool as both boss and player.

And in January, Sir Gareth Southgate was awarded for leading England for successive second-place finishes at the European Championships.

Now, it’s Beckham’s turn to take his place among the pantheon of British football legends.

But an additional knighthood has also been given to a non-Brit, with the late Brazilian legend Pele receiving an honorary one in 1997.

YOU’D be hard pushed to find someone these days who hasn’t tried their luck on Vinted – with some even managing to turn reselling into their entire career.

However, there are some downsides to selling on the app, such as scams when buyers say they haven’t received the item you’ve sold them.

Alamy

If you’re a Vinted user, there’s a clever packaging tip you can try that should help you avoid being scammed[/caption]

Alamy

Including the exact pictures you need to take as ‘photographic proof’ that you’ve sold and sent it as seen[/caption]

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You should also double bag your item before sending it[/caption]

But there’s a clever way to avoid that happening, and it’s really easy too.

Double wrapping your sales means you’ve abided by Vinted’s packaging rule, and could swing a dispute in your favour if someone claims they’ve received an empty bag.

“As a seller, it’s crucial you double wrap your items before shipping,” Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, explained.

“Otherwise, Vinted is likely to side with the buyer, and you may end up without the item or payment. 

“Vinted’s packaging rules state double wrapping, and by following them you can help tip the balance in your favour if a buyer lies about not receiving an item.”

If you’re worried that paying out for mailing bags isn’t the most environmentally-friendly approach, you can reuse packaging from previous deliveries to avoid contributing to landfill sites.

Another way you can reduce your risk of being scammed is to collect photographic evidence.

“Take a series of clear photos while packaging and shipping your packages to use if a buyer falsely claims an item wasn’t received,” Marc continued.

“Some Vinted sellers record themselves wrapping the package, ensuring visual proof of what was included and confirming that you followed the double wrapping practice.

“This can help strengthen your case for disputes.”

The photos you need to take are: the item before packaging, the item inside the package, the sealed package with the shipping label attached, and the package at the drop-off point.

If you can take a snap which shows the person’s address on the shipping label too, it helps make the package identifiable – which will also strengthen a case.

“If shipping via a post office that weighs the package, take a photo of the weight at home and again at the counter to help verify the item packaged,” Marc added.

“Mentioning to the buyer that the package has been shipped with photographic evidence recorded may help deter any scammers.”

WEARING white as a wedding guest used to be a cardinal sin and the ultimate insult to the bride.

But nowadays there’s a far worse style crime.

Mega

laurenperez/Instagram

Kendall Jenner wore a barely-there cut-out black gown to her pal’s wedding[/caption]

Instagram

Gone are tailored trouser suits, chic two-pieces and glamorous, ankle-skimming gowns.

Instead, you’re more likely to spot looks you would find on the strip in Benidorm.

Think bum-skimming Lycra mini-dresses, skimpy bra tops, or dresses with sky-high thigh slits and boob-baring cut-outs.

One of the things I love about a wedding — aside from dancing to Come On Eileen and drinking a headache-inducing amount of champers, — is getting dressed up.

I’m talking sophisticated dresses, stylish hats and fascinators and killer heels for the girls, and sharp suits for the blokes.

The novelty of getting spruced up to the nines makes the special day all that more exciting and memorable.

Passing judgement on others’ outfits while you wait for the bride to make her entrance (which, admit it, we all do) is a big part of it, too.

I’m out of the “going to a wedding every other weekend” age bracket now — and what a relief, because the looks that seem to be trending wouldn’t be out of place in the queue for an Oceana nightclub.

Across social media, scantily-clad twenty-somethings share their wedding outfits with pride — while I gawp, with prejudice.

A quick Google search for “wedding guest outfits” produces dozens of brands’ standalone pages dedicated solely to this category.

But as you scroll through the likes of Club L, Oh Polly and River Island, you’ll find that the dresses and gowns — yes, Gen Z wear full-on gowns now — are better suited to the Love Island finale than a wedding in your local country house hotel.

And, like most trends, we have celebrities to blame.

When Dani Dyer wed footballer Jarrod Bowen last week, guest and fellow Love Islander Georgia Steel was slated for wearing what looked like a revealing white dress to her pal’s big day.

After Georgia posted a snap on TikTok of the lace-trimmed Miss Circle number she wore, the trolls came out in force, bashing her for picking what was in fact a “soft beige” dress.

“Wearing white to a wedding?” questioned one, while another waded in with: “Way too bridal for a wedding.”

And Georgia isn’t alone. Two months ago, White Lotus actress Sydney Sweeney came under fire for the “inapp­ropriate” dress she wore to her Anyone But You co-star Glenn Powell’s sister’s wedding.

Across social media, scantily-clad twenty-somethings share their wedding outfits with pride — while I gawp, with prejudice

Clemmie

She chose a cleavage-baring corset-style dress from V Chapman in a very pale blue.

Fans thought the colour was an issue.

Comments included: “That is not an appropriate shade of blue for a wedding” and “The number one [rule] of a wedding is don’t wear anything close to white.”

Instagram

Instagram

Sydney Sweeney was slammed for wearing a cleavage-baring corset-style dress to co-star Glenn Powell’s sister’s wedding[/caption]

Instagram/@haileybieber

Hailey wore a backless white dress to a friend’s big day in 2023[/caption]

Personally, I take no issue with guests wearing white at a wedding. As long as they aren’t also wearing a long veil (cropped veils on fascinators are allowed), who cares?

Especially during summer, when every other dress on the high street is some shade of white.

No one at the wedding is going to mistake someone else as the bride. It’s the bride’s name on the invite and her kissing the groom — so no need for the unnecessary uproar.

However, what I would take issue with is the plunging neckline and lingerie-style basque of Sydney’s outfit and, in Georgia’s case, the fact her lacy dress is practically see-through.

Don’t get me wrong, Sydney is a knock-out, and if I looked like that, I’d be wearing sexy numbers, too — just not to a wedding.

As one person commented online: “Kinda tacky to wear to a wedding. C’mon Syds, you can do better.” And she can.

The woman is an ambassador for designer brand Miu Miu, for crying out loud. Raid something from their archives that’s less underwear-like and more sophisticated. But it’s not just Sydney. Kendall Jenner wore a heavily cut-out black gown to her pal’s wedding, which sent the internet into meltdown due to its slashed fabric that barely covered her nipples.

And her sister, Kylie, has also faced outfit-shaming from keyboard warriors.

Don’t get me wrong, Sydney is a knock-out, and if I looked like that, I’d be wearing sexy numbers, too — just not to a wedding

Clemmie

At Hailey and Justin Bieber’s wedding, fans accused her of trying to steal the bride’s limelight by wearing a gold, floor-sweeping gown with peek-a-boo cleavage and a hip-high slit.

On X, one critic wrote: “If someone tries to pull a Kylie Jenner move like this at my wedding . . . they will kindly be escorted out with a red wine stain down the front of their dress.”

Ouch!

But then Hailey wore a backless white dress to a friend’s big day in 2023, which broke all the so-called wedding rules for looking just like a bridal gown.

When it comes to these codes, they’re subjective and are depen­dent on the wedding location.

If you’re lucky enough to be a guest at a ceremony abroad in a hot country, sitting in a long-sleeve, high-neck, polyester dress at noon is going to give you heatstroke.

And wearing a tailored pencil midi dress to sit on a bale of hay in a field will make you stick out like a sore thumb. I get it. I’ve been there myself and it’s a minefield. But if in doubt, aim for a more demure style.

Don’t copy the under-boob and pelvis-flashing looks of young celebs — think more of the women who have nailed the guest brief.

Keep it classy

Cast your mind back to happier times when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got married.

Amal Clooney, in a yellow, capped-sleeve midi-dress by Stella McCartney, was crowned best-dressed guest in attendance. Bold, but without being in danger of over-shadowing the bride, it was perfect.

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Demi Moore was a flawless royal wedding guest in a burgundy dress and matching veiled hat by Stella McCartney[/caption]

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Amal Clooney, in a yellow, capped-sleeve midi-dress by Stella McCartney, was crowned best-dressed guest in attendance at Meghan and Harry’s wedding[/caption]

Another flawless guest at a royal wedding was Demi Moore.

She battled gale-force winds in a burgundy dress and matching veiled hat — again, by Stella McCartney — when Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in 2018. And she looked incredible.

Cindy Crawford’s daughter, actress Kaia Gerber, also got it right when she wore a classy, long-sleeved dress from Reformation to a friend’s 2018 wedding in Miami, Florida.

At the time, the navy, slit-leg frock retailed for £180, proving that even supermodels with designer brands at their fingertips can look amazing in high street buys.

A big emerging trend on the high street this wedding season seems to be minimal frocks with slinky scarves, which are intended to be worn draped down your back, not wrapped around you like a winter woollen.

They create a sense of elegance without having to have your boobs and bum out.

So if you are heading to someone’s nuptials this summer, keep it classy, girls.

Underwear as outerwear and flesh-flashing cut-outs are for the weekend, not for a wedding.

A TRUSTED bank has followed the lead of Wells Fargo, permanently turning off the lights at seven branch sites before June hit – all in the same state.

The handful of US Bank branches got the axe earlier than expected amid a greater trend of bank closures spurred by the pandemic.

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GETTY

US Bank shut down seven spots in the same state earlier than expected[/caption]

Banks play a central role in the US economy, but the institutions have taken a major hit in recent years.

In 2023, the country saw the greatest number of branch shutdowns since the 2008 recession due to several factors, including the rise of mobile banking as well as high inflation and interest rates.

The trend has continued into 2025, with roughly 336 bank branches closing their doors as of early May.

Included on that list was a wave of US Bank branches.

The trusted bank, with over 2,000 branches across 26 states and more than $27.5 billion in annual revenue, closed seven locations throughout April and May.

The closures came earlier than expected, with the bank announcing in February its plans to shutter the spots, all in Eastern Idaho, by June.

The round of closures took place across Malad, Montpelier, Preston, Blackfoot, Orofino, Wendell, and Mackay.

“Client’s banking preferences and behaviors are changing, including a rapid migration toward digital and mobile banking platforms, and a desire for greater simplicity,” US Bank regional communications manager Jake Holtrop told a local outlet.

“As we evolve along with our clients, we are reevaluating our physical footprint, and in some instances, consolidating branch locations in select markets.

“Although we are closing some branches, we continue to open and enhance others, as well as rapidly enhancing our digital capabilities.”

Customers of US Bank were informed of the shutdowns in early 2025, according to Holtrop.

“We understand that the closure of any branch is a disruption for our clients and our employees, and we are working to make the transition as smooth as possible for all involved,” he said.

The U.S. Sun reached out to US Bank for comment on the closures.

US Bank’s move to shutter the seven spots followed Wells Fargo, which saw 23 net branch closures in the first quarter of 2025.

BANKING BUST

Bank closures have been on the rise in recent years, with the pandemic exacerbating the worrying trend.

Even though only one bank has failed so far in 2025 – the Pulaski Savings Bank in Chicago, Illinois – the trend of bank closures has persisted.

Hundreds of bank branches have already closed down this year, with many spots expected to face the same fate.

The first quarter saw 148 net branch closures, a notable increase from the 21 during the fourth quarter of 2024, per S&P Global Market Intelligence data.

US Bancorp, the parent company of US Bank, topped the list with 50 net branch closures in the first quarter.

Wells Fargo saw the second most number of net closures, at 23 branches. 

Banks are not the only institution feeling the pressure in the modern economic landscape.

Retailers and restaurants are likewise conducting mass closures due to factors such as changing consumer behavior, rising costs, and increased competition.

For example, Dollar General and Big Lots are among the discount stores closing 291 locations in shock moves dominating shutdown in 2025.

Meanwhile, Jack In the Box, Applebee’s, and Denny’s are closing spots left and right in 2025 as restaurants struggle to stay afloat.

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Wells Fargo experienced the second most net closures in the first quarter of 2025, with 23 branches permanently shutting their doors[/caption]