This season the fashion world is a-buzz with inspiration from birds, bees and creatures altogether more beastly, says Stephanie Hirschmiller

We can never have too many shoes and bags – and thanks to a new arrival in Britain, there are great new designs to choose from, says Emma Akbareian

Whether you favour colourful print or minimalist white, give your outfit a kiss of life with the hippest new finishing touches from the high street

The vacancy left by Big Buck’s at Cheltenham was worthily filled by Solwhit and, having won on this card in the past, he has obvious prospects of following up in the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle today. But he did have a hard race at the Festival, and a sporting chance is taken with one who was tough enough to win fiercely contested handicaps at both meetings last year.

In the old world, back when the measure of success had nothing to do with Twitter followers, an advertising slogan caught the public imagination that held, "If you want to get ahead get a hat!" These were the days when a cap, trilby or bowler would symbolise class, when the appropriate headwear could mark you out as a "man of ambition".

Forget reheating coffee and nuking cold pasta. These hi-tech gadgets can do everything from stews to roast chicken...

Eastpak is known for choosing eclectic collaborators. A young menswear designer is the latest to redesign its classic backpacks, says Gemma Hayward

Designer Jerome Dreyfuss is the toast of French fashion for his understated leather goods and accessories. Now he's launched a range for men, he tells Harriet Walker

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The local Tesco is all out of Red Bull, strawberry laces and instant coffee. There’s a queue at the library help desk (this has never happened), and Facebook is nearing breakdown with a spike of activity. Welcome, exam season.

Christmas shopping sprees delivered a welcome boost for Burberry today as the luxury brand announced forecast-beating sales, sending its shares to the top of the FTSE 100 index.

Dancing to a South Korean pop song while pretending to be a horse was one of the more unusual, or rather, inexplicable hits of the past 12 months. Matthew Bell looks back over the year's crazes – from Gangnam Style to onesies, meggings, and filthy shades of grey...

Stuck for ideas this Christmas? All out of steam in the shops? Let The Independent's fashion team help out. Gemma Hayward and Lee Holmes select the best buys for budgets big and small

When police in New York arrested Salvatore Perrone earlier this month on charges of shooting three Brooklyn shopkeepers to death, the focus was on the grisly murders of the merchants as they worked in their clothing stores. But now attention has turned to the police and, in particular, its initial sketch of the likely suspect.