What is it like riding a £10k Team Sky bike on Britain’s roads?

Peter Kimpton tries out the new suspension Pinarello KS-8 road bike, a model similar to that ridden by Chris Froome in the Tour De France and tested by Sir Bradley Wiggins

Why does fashion hate old people?

Designers appear to favour ever skinnier, sexier and youthful women to model their clothes despite only a tiny percentage of women under 40 being able to afford them. But isn’t this a reflection of society’s worst fears?

Shanghai in slow lane as market crash accelerates slump in luxury car sales

Little interest in showrooms as deep discounts fail to drive in customers

Jane Birkin handbags Hermès – but can she get her name back?

The 1960s chanteuse wants to ‘debaptise’ the Birkin Croco bag, while an increasing number of celebrities are trademarking their names, lest fashion houses beat them to it

From basic hair to dirty-stop-out chic: summer style lessons from couture

Haute couture is fashion at its most eye-wateringly expensive and extravagant – but, from mussing up your ponytail to reclaiming pink, some of the shows’ strongest styling tips can be adopted for free

Natural dyes v synthetic: which is more sustainable?

Colours derived from plants may appear more planet-friendly than man-made dyes, but the case isn’t clear-cut