Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019 shortlist announced

The UK’s most prestigious annual book awards celebrating works of fiction by women has today announced its shortlist. The Women’s Prize for Fiction winner will be announced at a ceremony on June 5 this year, and the shortlist recognises the diversity of women’s voices from around the world. You can see the full shortlist below.

11 new good books to read this May

Jean Paul Gaultier's to bring autobiographical stage show Fashion Freak Show to Southbank Centre

Jean Paul Gaultier has hosted plenty of catwalk extravaganzas in his time — so dedicated followers of fashion will expect nothing less from the stage show about his life which is coming to London. The designer is bringing his autobiographical Fashion Freak Show to the Southbank Centre later this year — and it will see him reunite with Eurotrash co-star Antoine de Caunes. It follows Gaultier from childhood to his big break working for Pierre Cardin as a teenager, and his emergence as a designer.

Mary Quant at the V&A, review: Exhibition explores revolutionary designer through intimate lens

Exploring the designer’s twenty-year heyday between 1955 and 1975 the exhibition brings together over 120 garments as well as accessories, cosmetics, sketches and photographs from the designer’s own archive – many on display for the first time. Its perfect timing for today’s politicised age: from the moment she opened Bazaar - her boutique on London’s fashionable King’s Road - in 1955, Quant designed clothes for real women. Cutting fabrics that she bought nightly in Harrods (before catching onto the necessity of wholesale purchasing), she made clothes with herself in mind that she felt would appeal to all women, ones that she couldn’t find on the market: hers were the clothes of the mod, of the sexual revolution and the liberated: all gamine and coquettish with Pop Art influence and schoolgirl playfulness.

The Tate Modern is now more popular than the British Museum – but which is better?

Earlier today, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) announced its members’ visitor figures for 2018, with some surprising (and some not so surprising) results.

Everything you need to know about the V&A's Tim Walker exhibition

Including 10 brand new pieces produced for the occasion

Why New Yorkers are lining up to climb a stairway to nowhere and see inside Frida Kahlo’s closet

This Friday’s opening of Vessel, a maze-like ‘park’ at the nucleus of the Hudson Yards development, is spring’s hottest ticket. Thomas Heatherwick’s design rivals the High Line for Manhattan promenading, and while it may not feel cool to climb the 2,500 stairs (154 flights!) around its 80 landings in NYC’s summer heat, the waiting list is long.

Photographer captures the beauty of diversity by showcasing rare skin condition

A London exhibition is celebrating diversity by shining a light on those with the rare skin condition CMN.

V&A's sold-out Christian Dior exhibition to run for seven extra weeks

The Christian Dior show at the V&A looks set to be the most popular in the museum’s history after it extended its sellout run for another seven weeks. Some 493,043 people saw its most-visited show, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, during its 21-week run in 2015 but the museum expects Dior to equal or surpass that with its extended run. Christian Dior: Designer Of Dreams, best-known for his feminine “New Look” silhouette, will now continue until September 1.

16 new fiction award nominated books to get excited about

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Molly Goddard’s Joyous Fashion Designs Go On Show In London

Designer Molly Goddard has collaborated with photographer Sarah Edwards

Best fashion exhibitions and clothing museums in London

Fashion is all about the aesthetic — so a museum is the perfect place to pay homage to different fashion eras and designers. London is home to many museums with exhibitions covering all areas of fashion, from historic designs and contemporary trends to the future of the industry. The V&A’s 2019 Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition has sent the capital into a fashion frenzy, so now more than ever is the time to see what other venues have to offer.

Alexander McQueen's London Flagship Unveils New Exhibition Of Current And Archive Collections

Your chance to get up close and personal with your favourite Alexander McQueen looks, spanning the eras

20 new writers to be excited about reading in 2019

Start making space on your shelves right now From Cosmopolitan

The best children's books of 2018

Emily Bearn offers a selection of the best children's books and young adult fiction of the year. From rollicking adventures to charming picture-books, these are sure to keep even the most restless kids entertained

Inside the trailblazing photography exhibition highlighting the rise of women in politics

"It will be a shock and it will be emotional"

Book Of The Week: 'Florida' By Lauren Groff

A dark short story collection from Obama's favourite writer confirms Groff as one of the most exciting American writers alive today