Venice: soft-power potential

What’s in store for retail? Monocle’s Retail Survey checks out the global benchmarks in shopping, while our spring Style Directory rounds up the labels, designers and products on the radar of the sharpest dressers. Elsewhere, we go in-depth on the mystery of who blew up Nord Stream and reveal Paris’s best sandwich – and how to make it. (Order your copy today.)[https://monocle.com/shop/product/2299788/issue-162/]

Following hot on the heels of Portugal: The Monocle Handbook is the second title in a new series of country-focused guides. This sunny book looks beyond the tourist haunts to present Monocle’s favourite spots across Spain, from Madrid and Málaga to the Balearic and Canary Islands. Order your copy today from The Monocle Shop.

Peris Costumes is the world’s largest company dedicated to selling and renting costumes for film, stocking more than 10 million garments. Monocle took a peek behind the scenes of its Madrid-based HQ to meet its artisans and see how the industry is booming, thanks to the rise of streaming platforms.

Is the future electric? That’s the question that Monocle is asking in its future of the car special. Our forward-looking report offers our verdict on self-driving cars, the auto industry’s next moves and the companies in pole position to take advantage. Plus: Australian architecture, Veja’s new office and Spam – no, really. Grab a copy today from The Monocle Shop.