Fashion / Global
Hit refresh
As the season changes, it’s time for a wardrobe update with clean, cool neutrals, and crisp colours.
Photography: Nacho Alegre
Styling: Laura Alcalde
Hair & make-up: Paca Navarro
Models: Matthew Holt & Helena Sopar
L MONOCLE
Cosy corner
Sculptor Gabriela von Habsburg is most relaxed when tending to her beloved sheep.Time served
Glasgow used to be a hotspot for violent crime – but an innovative approach to driving down the numbers seems to be working.Blooming marvellous
The much-loved cherry blossom season is big business in Japan. But when will it hit? To find out, a private weather forecaster employs all the tools at its disposal – including people power – to pinpoint the top petal potential.My cabinet
Zoos can change the world: the not-so-wild claim from Dominic Jermey, Zoological Society London’s top dog.Taking stock
For the past 12 years, Monocle has sought to use the best paper and printers – now they’re even better. So what’s changed and how does it work?
Calm before a storm
The president of Taiwan is softly spoken and unassuming but that hasn’t stopped her from ruffling a few feathers. We speak to her as she gears up for the 2020 election.Staying frosty
Without its hardy icebreakers, Finland would come to a frozen standstill. We hop aboard to find out how it’s done.Fear game
How Brazil’s problems with violent crime led to a political swing to the right.Nothing but the truth
From skateboarding in Illinois to covert filming in the suburbs of Damascus, documentary films are enjoying mass-market appeal – and cashing in at the box office too. We meet the genre’s talents.Space man
Tavares Strachan has an unusual CV: not many artists have trained as a cosmonaut.Writing rights
‘The Last Column’, a collection of final dispatches by journalists who have been killed in the line of duty, reminds us of the importance of a free press.Novel approach
A Japanese book distributor is espousing an unusual business model that sells not just books, but the bookshop experience itself, to bibliophiles and casual shoppers alike.On balance
Bridges connect us. We meet the architects and engineers using them to brand cities, draw tourists and, of course, bring people together.Crunch time
Easter and Christmas may be the time for sugary treats but one Spanish town has hit a year-round sweet spot.Dough with the flow
US baking powerhouse The Manufactory is rising to the occasion with the opening of its vast new LA kitchen and restaurant.The spring manifesto
With the arrival of longer days, it’s the perfect time for a wardrobe edit – so let us introduce the brands, products and looks to savour this year. While we’re at it, we’ll put you in the know with the latest news from the industry.Texans in town
Dallas’s department-store stalwart Neiman Marcus and leading fashion boutique Forty Five Ten have rolled into the Big Apple with huge new spaces. It’s a bold move when bricks-and-mortar openings are a risk.Beauty contest
Chinese consumers can’t get enough of cosmetics, especially when it comes to high-end foreign brands. Hong Kong is benefitting from this insatiable demand and exploiting a loophole in China’s regulations.Refusing to buckle
Luxury watch brands gather in Geneva and prove that, despite digitisation, this is a strapping industry that’s dialling into the demands of a new generation.
Diplomacy briefing
The UK’s new ambassador to Brazil arrives just in time and Japan implements a new visa scheme.Politics briefing
Canada’s new ministerial position, Finland heads to the polls and campaigning in Indonesia.Defence Briefing
How a no-deal Brexit could affect UK security, Nato turns 70 and the US makes some big purchases.Cities briefing
Jakarta’s public transport is slow to take off, and Seattle and Seoul clear some way for public space.Food & drink briefing
Food news from restaurant openings to saucy purchases – and a recipe to boot.
The Ten
Are you experiencing Netflix fatigue? Do your Spotify playlists feel uninspired? Then it’s time to take charge. This month we launch our new guide to the unmissable films, series, art, books and records that should make for a satisfying – and more globally balanced – diet of cultural treats.Travel briefing
Turn the page for the latest hotel openings and travel news from around the globe. First we’re in the English city of Cambridge, where we visit a revitalised Edwardian grande dame.
Well heeled
For beautifully made, perfectly fitting shoes, this family-run atelier is the business.Counter proposals
Whether it’s an in-store workshop or just delightful service, it’s the experience that counts when it comes to shopping. Here are three great examples.
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