Walk the glittering line of fine jewellery shops on Mayfair's Bond Street and you'll find that one in particular stands out – for its opulence, without doubt, but also for its character and its use of caricature, for its almost whimsically 'other' take on modern luxury.

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If ever proof were needed that, long term, the loudest noise is made by the most talented designers, and that their skill is more important than any slick marketing and/or money-spinning licensing and accessories, it lies here.

Ready To Wear: A decade of elegance for gifted Elbaz at Lanvin

How good it was to see Alber Elbaz celebrating his 10th anniversary at the helm of Lanvin.

1. La Compagnie de Provence sponge: £14, selfridges.co.uk - A soft natural sponge is a real treat in the shower, and a good alternative for those who dislike man-made fibres or scratchy mitts.

The 10 Best Shower products

Soap up and rinse off stress, grime and grit with these brilliant bathroom buys, from spartan sponges to luxe lathers

Brief encounter: Shorts are not just for holidays

Shorts have come out of the holiday drawer and into the limelight, appearing everywhere from the red carpet to the Glastonbury stage, says Susannah Frankel

Ready To Wear: Tom Ford never said anything about women wearing shorts

Sounding increasingly like Hardy Amies way back when, Tom Ford declared this spring that a gentleman should never, ever, wear shorts.

Revamp: United Colors of Benetton gets new chief

United Colors of Benetton will this week announce the hiring of You Nguyen as its new chief merchandising officer and creative director, as part of its new strategy to revamp the brand.

Harriet Walker: In short, a guide to bare-legged sartorial cool

Keep your shorts well conditioned too – nothing spoils the look like a rumpled crotch or bulging pockets

Ready To Wear: There was a time when any publicity was good publicity

In London last month, Tom Ford caused an outcry when he refused to invite newspaper journalists to his autumn/winter ready-to-wear presentation.

One Minute With: Armistead Maupin, novelist

Where are you now and what can you see? I'm on a train on my way from London to Liverpool and there are English fields flying by the window and the sun is coming out. It's a milky view of an England that doesn't change.

Charles Nevin: Don't worry... thank God it's Monday

If you ask me... tinsel is back as, mindful of the recession, we turn away from expensive tack to cheap tack

Snooker: Higgins shines on return in Germany

John Higgins quickly found his form after returning to the game at the European Players Tour Championship in Hamm, Germany last night, beating Martin Gould 4-3 to reach the last 16.

The Bargain Hunter: Nothing shirt of the best

The mid-season sale at Joules Clothing is now on, with up to 50 per cent off selected lines and three-for-two discounts on accessories available online. For the full range of sale items, including some fantastic deals on men's sweatshirts and polo shirts, head over to http://ind.pn/bcTowf. The sale ends on 5 November.

Diary: Gladwell's new Entourage

Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker's eclectically barbered thinker-in-chief, is to turn his hand to a discipline in which he has somewhat fewer than 10,000 hours of experience: television production. The bestselling non-fiction writer (one of whose theories is that a genius requires 10,000 hours of practice to master his or her craft) has teamed up with "Marky" Mark Wahlberg to produce a drama series for HBO set during the Cold War. According to the Deadline Hollywood blog, the unnamed project will be based in Berlin, and "centers on a missionary who becomes involved in the CIA". It's not yet clear how much creative input the pair will have in the show. Wahlberg has past form at HBO, having produced the hipster "dramedies" Entourage and How To Make It In America, as well as the amply funded new Prohibition-era drama, Boardwalk Empire, with Martin Scorsese. Gladwell, on the other hand, has just one IMDb credit to his name so far, as co-writer on a TV movie unpromisingly titled Runaway Virus.

DVD: A Single Man (15)

To lose a partner is to lose two lives. The key to recovering from such a grievous blow is knowing that we have more than one life.

DVD: A Single Man

Colin Firth stars in Tom Ford’s adaptation of the Christopher Isherwood novel, playing a bereaved professor who’s planning his suicide over the course of a day in early- 1960s California.

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Day In a Page

Next in line – but public just can't warm to idea of Charles in charge

Next in line – but public just can't warm to idea of Charles in charge

'Independent' poll finds less that half want him to take throne as ministers moan of interference
Nothing's sacred: the illegal trade in India's holy cows

Nothing's sacred: the illegal trade in India's holy cows

Andrew Buncombe reports from Kaharpara on a bloody war between rustlers and border guards
Mogul grounded: Desmond gives up his jet deal

Mogul grounded: Desmond gives up his jet deal

Media tycoon's company pays £1m to cancel his order for a £36m private jet after drop in profits
How Ai Weiwei built a pavilion in London – by remote control

How Ai Weiwei built a pavilion in London – by remote control

The artist tells Clifford Coonan how he used Skype to escape confinement in Beijing
Nature, nurture... or neither? The new twist in an age-old argument

Nature, nurture... or neither?

The new twist in an age-old argument
Radio 4 to shed its cosy image with a 'sexy' Ulysses drama

Radio 4 to shed its cosy image with a 'sexy' Ulysses drama

New station controller wants to reflect the current period of 'turmoil and uncertainity'
Alcohol: I drink therefore I am

Alcohol: I drink therefore I am

New guidelines warn Britons to drastically reduce their boozing. But is a life without liquor worth living? Hell no, says John Walsh
The Cable News Nightmare: CNN (and Piers Morgan) in audience crisis

The Cable News Nightmare

CNN (and Piers Morgan) in audience crisis
Like a barbie, but better: The Big Green Egg can griddle, roast, and smoke food - and even make pizza

The Big Green Egg: Like a barbie, but better

It can griddle, roast, and smoke food - and even make pizza...
The 10 Best chopping boards

The 10 Best chopping boards

Whether you want to dice veg, chop meat, or just slice up a salad, there’s a surface here to suit every culinary need.
Flat and fabulous: From wraps to foccacias, our appetite for new and exotic breads knows no limits

Flat and fabulous: Exotic breads

Lucy McDonald visits the bakeries of Tel Aviv to to find out what we'll be eating next.
Brendan Rodgers: Just like Mourinho... only different

Brendan Rodgers: Just like Mourinho... only different

Obsessive, ambitious, eager to learn and with no playing career; can the Northern Irishman be Liverpool's Special One?
Gary Lewin: Players need winter break

Gary Lewin: Players need winter break

The England physio tells Patrick Barclay that this spate of injuries is due to the non-stop demands of the Premier League

Countdown's rudest ever moments

Yesterday a contestant spelt the word 'minge'.
Special report: Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported

Special report

Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported