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Happy new world

As Monocle notches up two years, we take a look back at where we started and unveil some subtle tweaks to our brand for volume 03. We’ve always celebrated small businesses that manufacture at home and in an ever-more homogeneous world, local firms and quirky far-flung regions seem more precious than ever. It’s a year when people who care about craft and quality can win.
Little Britain

For the first in a new series on outposts of opportunity we visit Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands, the British territory best known for sheep and its 1982 war with Argentina. Now oil and tourists are making this outcrop a place to watch.
Premier league

As Copenhagen gears up to host the United Nations Climate Change conference COP15 later this year, Monocle meets Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and talks about Denmark’s identity, global security and the impact of the ‘cartoon crisis’.
Europe briefing

We take a look at Silivo Berlusconi's motorcade, and some surprising differences between the Finns and the Swedes.
Americas briefing

Monocle's view from Washington column discovers White House technology is far from trailblazing. Plus, a crack-down on cattle rustling in Brazil, eco wrangles in El Salvador, and urban chicken farming.
Asia briefing

North Korea's election (no great surprises expected), Malaysia's big river clean-up, and mixed feelings over Tokyo's plans to spruce up the Kabukicho district
Africa/Middle East briefing

A fitness centre in Iraq? Entrepreneurial folly or viable business adventure? Ibrahim Abdullatif has no doubts: “Iraqi Kurdistan is the place to invest,” says the 31-year-old businessman who has opened the Fitness Health Centre in his home town, Dohuk, near the Turkish border.
Oceania briefing

Syndey's new take on speed dating - it involves tightrope-walking and clowning - plus witchcraft in Papua New Guinea, and political isolation in Fuji.
Defence briefing

The conventional wisdom is that under the Obama administration, the transatlantic relationship will flourish anew, along with a substantial improvement of French-US relations. On 3 April, the 60th Anniversary Summit of Nato on the French-German border at Strasbourg and Kehl is slated to be the crowning point of the new rapprochement. It would be hard not to improve on George W Bush’s abysmal legacy; furthermore, Obama and Sarkozy appear to get along well, personally and politically. However, it is not going to be as easy as many expect, and for a simple reason: what is most important for Obama is not what is most important for Sarkozy.
Lords of the skies

In 2007, the Brazilian government launched a crack down on the drug gangs in Rio’s slums and thousands were killed. Now the city’s civil police have a new weapon: the ‘Huey II’ helicopter gunship. Monocle looks at the use of military hardware in a civilian battle.
Show the world

Our new series, national icons, is about people who rise above politics to become symbols of a country’s strengths. First we meet May Arida who has kept Lebanon’s Baalbek festival alive despite wars and threats. She also happens to be our Beirut correspondent’s granny.

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D

Womenswear / Global

Intelligent fashion

The transition from winter to spring wardrobe should be a reasonable and seamless exercise. But the stripping of layers can throw up all kinds of insecurities. Monocle creates six looks for easy seasonal switch.

Edited by: Takeharu Sato

Photography: Daniel Riera

Dress by René Lezard, socks by Falke, shoes by Church’s, watch by Georg Jensen, diary by Smythson

Jacket by Gucci, waistcoat and shirt by Uniqlo, scarf by Liberty of London, glasses by Lindberg

Coat by Prada, cardigan and blouse by Thomas Pink, trousers by Incotex, shoes by Margaret Howell, watch by Georg Jensen, bag by Delvaux

Jacket by Montedoro, shirt by Boss Black, trousers by Fay, scarf by N100, boots by Hermès, bag by Louis Vuitton

Jacket by Bottega Veneta, shirt by Glanshirt, trousers by Incotex, belt by Boss Black

Dress by Yves Saint Laurent, necklace by De Beers, shoes by Boss Black

Model
Taisia Melnyk

Hair
Nathalie Malbert

Make-up
Michelle Campbell

Photographer’s assistant
Marc Regas

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15

Live

Schedule

00:0001:00

The Concierge

Happy new world

Little Britain

Premier league

Europe briefing

Americas briefing

Asia briefing

Africa/Middle East briefing

Oceania briefing

Defence briefing

Lords of the skies

Show the world

The next Shanghai

Two-wheel deal

Business briefing

Travel briefing

Market force

Friends eclectic

Standard raiser

Culture briefing

Make it better

Architecture/design briefing

Show must go on

Watch word

Fashion briefing

Intelligent fashion

Inventory No. 21

Good buy to Berlin

Light bulb moment

El Korba, Heliopolis

Muna Abu Sulayman

Observation

Expo 21: Trading places

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