Victoria Beckham unveils sexier collection in New York

Designer plays with twists, volume and asymmetry to bring a much less uptight look to the catwalk

Is wearing fur morally worse than wearing leather?

Both industries have questionable ethics – and even faux alternatives aren’t necessarily green, says Lucy Siegle

The 10 most expensive paintings ever sold

A Gauguin painting has sold for a reported $300m, making it the most expensive painting ever sold. See how it compares with other pricey paintings that have sold for vast sums

Architects David Marks and Julia Barfield: how we made the London Eye

David Marks: ‘Our house and our livelihoods were on the line. Then – in front of the world’s media – it didn’t lift up’

Happy Valentines Day, suckers: how Damien Hirst’s cashing in on Cupid

The artist’s latest show, featuring banal images of love hearts and butterflies, looks like an attempt to squeeze money out of innocent punters

Conservationists call for UK to create world’s largest marine reserve

Three proposed reserves in UK waters around the Pitcairn Islands in the Pacific, and Ascension Island and South Sandwich Islands in the Atlantic, would more than double the size of the world’s existing marine protected areas