16 h. ago Collectors can fight to pay £7m for a Birkin – but the ‘it’ handbag is no longer cool | Lauren Cochrane

As prices have ratcheted up, the bag created for Jane Birkin has lost its bohemian edge and its fashion appealThe news that Jane Birkin’s original Hermès bag has sold for a record-breaking €8.6m (£7.4m) at auction will no doubt cause some jaws to drop to the floor. However, perhaps it should not surprise – this is a bag design that is often linked to eyewatering amounts of money. Forty years on from the prototype, it’s now less a (very expensive) symbol of style and elegance, and more a way to signal you have a lot of money and you would like everyone to know that.A Birkin has always been expensive – about $10,000 (£7,400), according to the Guardian last year – but the complicating factor is demand. As was reported, two California residents sued Hermès for a practice known as “tying”, which means customers are expected to pre-spend a sufficient amount on other items, such as homewares or jewellery – some say up to $30,000 – before they are even put on the waiting list for a Birkin. ...

Economics

57 h. ago Burglar steals clothes worth £400k from Damien Hirst's studio

Nearly £400,000 worth of unique t-shirts, shirts and trousers designed by the renowned artist plus a set of high-tech speakers were looted from the art workshop in west London.

Economics

59 h. ago Billie Eilish giving unsold merch new life by upcycling 400,000 T

Billie Eilish is spearheading sustainability in music by winning case for repurposed merchandising for artists. Teaming up with her mother Maggie Baird and Bravado, UMG will now remake 400k t-shirts

Politics

3 d. ago Wayne Rooney almost falls foul of Cheshire traffic wardens after leaving his Audi 4x4 in a disabled parking zone

The retired Manchester United and England ace committed the parking equivalent of a sending off offence while out in suburban Cheshire.

Events

5 d. ago Waste company fined £400,000 after London council employee crushed in horror accident

Paul McDaid, an Enfield Council employee, was working at the London Energy Ltd transfer station in Edmonton when the incident happened

Economics

9 d. ago Skye tourists slapped with £400,000 fines over illegally parked cars at beauty spot

The Highlands council is cracking down on poorly parked motors.

Economics

1 week ago Funding secured for tech solution to help domestic abuse victims contact 999

The pilot platform will be run by Belfast-based company Inclutech after landing a £400,000 investment.

Events

1 week ago Two illegal immigrants from Albania found in £400,000 drug farm

The pair had paid people smugglers to get them into the UK

Events

1 week ago I sold my family home for £400,000 in a raffle so we could move to Australia

Natalie Rowcroft told FEMAIL that when Covid struck she thought the 'world was going to end' and along with it her hope of selling her Salford home. So she turned to property raffles.

Society

2 w. ago City of London Investment Trust sells 400,000 shares from treasury By Investing.com

City of London Investment Trust sells 400,000 shares from treasury By Investing.com  Investing.com

Politics

2 w. ago FACT FOCUS: Posts misrepresent report to falsely claim nearly 400,000 Palestinians are missing

As the number of Palestinians killed in the Israel-Hamas war continues to rise, social media users are falsely claiming that a Harvard University study has determined that nearly 400,000 in the Gaza Strip are also missing

Events

2 w. ago Hampstead accountant accused of taking £400,000 from family's trust fund

Tony Stitt appeared in the dock at Highbury Corner magistrates court accused of fraud

Economics

2 w. ago 'This is amazing': Panthers celebrate 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup with another parade

Champagne was swilled and spilled, cigars were smoked and the Stanley Cup was hoisted a few more times, all with about 400,000 people watching

Politics

3 w. ago UK heatwave leaves renters boiling as 1m private rent homes fail basic standards

One in five privately rented homes would fail the government's Decent Homes Standard - and of those, almost 400,000 can't be maintained at liveable temperatures

Society

3 w. ago Over 400,000 people on PIP set to lose daily living payments due to new DWP reforms

The OBR now estimates 430,000 PIP claimants will lose their award between November 2026 and 2030.

Politics

3 w. ago Why a caravan in Spain could be your ticket to a surpisingly affordable life in the sun

The socialist government is pushing ahead with a 100 per cent tax on properties sold to non-residents - meaning a €200,000 home would end up costing British buyers €400,000.

Politics

3 w. ago How we escaped Spain's 100% holiday home tax: Brits reveal loophole that's allowed them to snap up properties for as little as £30,000

The socialist government is pushing ahead with a 100 per cent tax on properties sold to non-residents - meaning a €200,000 home would end up costing British buyers €400,000.

Economics

4 w. ago Martin Lewis urges 400,000 homes to seek council tax refunds after 'unbelievable' find

Martin Lewis revealed that as many as 400,000 homes in both England and Scotland could be due a refund after their homes were mistakenly put in the wrong tax bracket

Economics