Who decides what you wear? Meet fashion’s formidable silent force

Net-a-Porter reaches customers in 170 countries. But you probably haven’t heard of its global buyer Elizabeth von der Goltz. Here, she talks about nurturing brands, appearing on Netflix and why she will always ‘innately love fashion’

Art books to self-isolate with, from Patti Smith to Lucian Freud – the week in art

Picasso’s inner beast, a sizzling take on Bacon and Buñuel’s last breath are among our art biographies to curl up with – all in your weekly dispatch

Prada’s cultural foundation is transforming a period of crisis into an opportunity for study and analysis

        The digital presence and the “remote” visitors. Fondazione Prada, the cultural institution founded by Prada luxury house  is experiencing new ways of operating and communicating. Fondazione Prada increases and reimagines its digital presence in response to the temporary closure of exhibition spaces due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The question “What … Read more

Ai Weiwei: ‘An artist must be an activist’

The Chinese artist answers questions from Observer readers and art world luminaries on creativity and protest, Chinese politics – and why he never cooks the same dish twice

Bardstown Bourbon is Looking for The World’s Top Whiskey Taster

    Bardstown Bourbon invites social media bourbon evangelists to share their tales. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime… to drink whiskey like it’s your job! The Bardstown Bourbon Company launches an online search for the “World’s Top Whiskey Taster,” presented by Moonshine University. The contest calls on whiskey lovers, enthusiasts, fans and connoisseurs to … Read more

‘Quarantine soirees’: classical music and opera to stream at home

With concert halls and opera houses closed due to coronavirus, organisations and musicians across the world are live-streaming concerts from their homes, or from empty halls, and opening up their digital archives so that every one can still access music. Click here for our daily critics’ picks