Vogue, Harper’s and Elle turn the spotlight on razzle dazzle and bright colours as we emerge from Covid gloomIn an unusual move, the cover of British Vogue features the time the photograph on it was shot: 4.57am. The image, of actor and activist Gemma …
‘I’m one of them’: the FGM survivor providing a lifeline in Leeds
Stigma can stop women seeking help but Hawa Bah, who was cut at eight, reaches those suffering in silence to get them the care they needOne night 14 years ago, Hawa Bah crept out of her house in Guinea and slipped into the darkness. She says she had lo…
Tell us: what was the moment that changed you?
From the joyful to the sad, we would like to hear your stories about a point in time when your world turned on its axisWhat was the moment that changed you? From the joyful to the sad, we would like to hear your stories about a point in time when your …
‘My persian had a three-hour blow-dry!’ 150 years of cat shows – then and now
Feline fancies began in the UK in 1871, with proud cat owners grabbing the chance to show off their perfect pets. What is the secret of their enduring appeal?The air in the sports centre has a base note of urine. A soundtrack of plaintive mewling is in…
August Design News: wooden bags, concrete coral, political pottery
News from London Design Festival, Swedish fabrics and America’s citizen photographersAfter a long break, the design world is coming to life again. London Design Festival (LDF) is back and bigger than ever this year. There will be three more design dist…
A moment that changed me: the shock of being beaten by teenage fascists
Violence, when it happens, is clumsy and banal. The possibility of a repeat kicking lurked around every corner and the hometown I loved was cast in sinister huesThe first time I was beaten up in the street I was 16 and had intervened when a boy tried t…
Viking beauty kits and Neanderthal contouring: the secret history of male beauty
Fashion and beauty expert David Yi has written a book that reveals how prejudice has kept men’s beauty routines hiddenThe history of the male beauty ritual has been largely undocumented – and forgotten about – due to a combination of gender prejudice a…
Do dress up, don’t get drunk: how to have a great virtual date
Lockdown or no lockdown, the video-call date is here to stay. Experts reveal how to look your best, keep the conversation flowing and turn that online spark into a face-to-face meetingAs if first dates aren’t awkward enough, along comes video dating to…
Ikea goes glam rock with Zandra Rhodes collaboration
British fashion designer teams up with Swedish furniture chain after being inspired by lockdownCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageIt may be difficult to unpack, but shoppers could soon find the no-frills minimalism of Ikea has …
The six ‘superdogs’ who save turtles: ‘It’s all powered by love’
John Rucker and his dogs battle extreme weather, snakes and tough terrain to track turtles as their habitat is increasingly under threatMargie remains completely still. Around her in the sun-dappled woods, six dogs catch her scent and begin to circle. …