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
Editor’s Letter
As Monocle starts a new chapter in the form of a new German printing house, our editor in chief Tyler Brûlé looks back at his editorial schooling in Hamburg.The opener
Dog-gone Brexit, food made for Instagram and ridiculous waist-high lanyard scanners – it’s no wonder we’re debating forgiveness.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.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.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.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.
On balance
Bridges connect us. We meet the architects and engineers using them to brand cities, draw tourists and, of course, bring people together.Building a legacy
Rahm Emanuel is coming to the end of his second and final term as Chicago mayor. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing but his dedication to social-development projects and urban infrastructure is something to be celebrated. He reflects on a busy eight years.Complex life
How Whitlam Place in Melbourne eschews the cookie-cutter design of most new apartment complexes springing up in the fast-growing city.
Crunch time
Easter and Christmas may be the time for sugary treats but one Spanish town has hit a year-round sweet spot.Food & drink briefing
Food news from restaurant openings to saucy purchases – and a recipe to boot.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.Naoki Takizawa
The fashion designer who oversees Uniqlo’s collaborations and makes outfits for Japan’s Empress Michiko, reveals how food – and a herbal remedy – has informed his work.
Let me be your fantasy
Jonathan Anderson, creative director at Loewe, talks about how he has grown the brand: from taking it outside to taking it slow.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.Hit refresh
As the season changes, it’s time for a wardrobe update with clean, cool neutrals, and crisp colours.Back to bright
After years in the doldrums, beloved Italian brand Benetton is getting a spring in its step. Newly appointed artistic director Jean-Charles de Castelbajac is taking the company back to its roots with a welcome dose of pop – and a sprinkle of punk.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.
Destination: Japan
A new chic hotel is set to revive Onomichi, a sleepy port town in Hiroshima prefecture flanked by hills and historic temples.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.Happy returns
The directors of the Conde Duque Cultural Centre are among a wave of creatives returning to Madrid. They show us the city – and beyond.Shopping
Make tidying up a joy with beautiful organisers and accessories.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.The directory
Embrace Hong Kong’s enchanting neighbourhoods with our guide, covering everything from the city’s burgeoning art scene to its harbourside delights.
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