Congo’s Sapeurs: the African dandies who dressed their way to fame

With brilliant suits, polished shoes and an unshakeable code of conduct, Congo’s Sapeurs turned dressing well into an act of dignity. Then a Guinness advertisement introduced their extraordinary world to millions.

Against the dusty streets of Brazzaville, a man steps out in a canary-yellow suit, scarlet socks and immaculate two-tone shoes. Another twirls a silver-topped cane while displaying the label inside his jacket. Their clothes may be flamboyant, but their expressions are deadly serious.

Dublin: A City That Remembers Everything Except the Time

The Importance of Being in Dublin

A spirited guide to a city where the pubs are literary, the statues talk back and Oscar Wilde still seems to have the last word. From Georgian squares and Gothic cathedrals to Guinness, gossip and glorious contradiction, Dublin proves that the only thing worse than visiting is not visiting at all.

 A guide for the modern traveller with your guide, Mr Oscar Wilde

Dublin is a city in which the past is never dead, merely late for an appointment. It wears history as some men wear a boutonnière conspicuously, charmingly, and with the faint suspicion that it has been borrowed. The Vikings founded it, the English governed it, the Irish reclaimed it and the tourists now photograph it from every possible angle, including several from which it has never looked its best.

Havana’s Costumbristas: The Living Colour of Old Havana

Walk through Old Havana and you’ll soon spot them: women in bright ruffled dresses, towering headwraps, heavy beads and theatrical smiles, often holding an oversized cigar or a basket of flowers. They are commonly known as costumbristas, street performers who dress in traditional or folkloric Cuban-inspired costume and pose for photos with visitors.