Europe’s desire for expensive handbags and scarves appears stronger than its taste for champagne as the French luxury group Hermès posted a 16 per cent sales rise while the champagne maker Laurent-Perrier recorded a 10.5 per cent drop.

Myles Mordaunt has become the latest Apprentice contestant to be shut down as his high-end homewares shop was put out of business by his rival's bargain fashion store.

Kawaii, or a love of the adorable, is huge in Japan – and it’s big here too. Bless, says Will Coldwell

The hair/ make-up

"Minors must provide written authorisation from their parents or guardian in order to take part," reads Article Three of the 1910 Tour regulations; there must have been some tough kids around in those days. This is one of the mass of facsimile printed ephemera included with this deluxe edition by Serge Laget, Luke Edwardes-Evans and Andy McGrath, produced to celebrate this year's 100th race – it was first run in 1902, but two world wars caused some barren years.

Price: £89
Features: Mic3-enabled controls/Rex-40 sound-driver

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