Saint-Tropez

Huge cotton prints drape the entrance of Marimekko's factory in Helsinki, instantly recognisable as the bold, iconic designs that took the fashion world by storm in the 1960s and remain the lifeblood of the Finnish brand today.

France's gastronomy bible, the Michelin Guide, on Monday awarded its coveted three-star rating to 35-year-old chef Arnaud Donckele for his cuisine celebrating the Mediterranean and sunny Provence.

The fishing villages have become chic resorts and the yachts of the wealthy dominate the waters of the French Riviera, but the 300 odd fishermen who remain on this sunny coast are determined to keep up a tradition that is also their livelihood.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - It's cold and gloomy for the parts of the planet experiencing winter, so what better time to consider a rooftop pool for catching a few rays now or to put in the plans for your next sunny holiday. To help you select a suitably chic place to soak up the sun, online men's magazine AskMen.com (www.askmen.com) has come up with a top 10 list of rooftop pools. Reuters has not endorsed this list: 1. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

LONDON (Reuters) - Designers at London Fashion Week opted for the bold, colorful and sexy for next spring's womenswear, with plenty of sparkle and embellishment on the catwalk to entice cash-strapped shoppers wanting that special item for their wardrobe.

LONDON (Reuters) - With inspiration ranging from the yachts of the super rich to tropical beach colours, designers at London Fashion Week are seeking to ride out the tough economic times with creations that stand out and sparkle.

Lawyers for former French president Jacques Chirac said Saturday he would not attend his corruption trial opening in Paris on Monday as the 78-year-old's son in law told of his failing memory.

PARIS (Reuters) - A medical report submitted this week argues that former French president Jacques Chirac is mentally unfit to face trial, his lawyers said on Saturday, two days before he is due to face charges of misusing public funds.

NICE, France (Reuters) - A professional diver working in the harbor at the French Riviera port of Saint-Tropez saw a large shark swim by him three times over the weekend, local newspaper Var-Matin reported on Monday.

Antonio Marras delivered a Hawaiian punch at the ongoing Paris menswear shows on Saturday with a tropical-flavoured Kenzo collection all juiced up for hitting the surf.

Legendary German-born playboy Gunter Sachs, a former husband of French bombshell Brigitte Bardot, killed himself at his Swiss chalet due to sickness, his family said Sunday. He was 78.

PARIS (Reuters) - Former French first lady Bernadette Chirac has transformed her image from a dull, dowdy and dutiful wife into a glamorous fashionista who pokes fun at her fuddy-duddy hubby and is adored by the hippest Parisians.

Former screen idol turned animal rights campaigner Brigitte Bardot blasted Sweden's wolf hunt as "retrograde" in a letter to Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren, urging a halt to the cull.

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Love is in the air, but book your romantic getaway for Valentine's Day early to avoid becoming that couple having a spat in your local restaurant over the expense and disappointment of leaving it to the last minute. Online travel advisor Cheapflights.com (www.cheapflights.com) helps you to choose a love shack to suit your beloved's tastes.

Steve Wynn is eating. And while he eats he devours information about what he is eating. Then he shares this invaluable dietary intelligence, imparting his knowledge so persuasively you begin to believe if you don't eat as Steve Wynn eats, you might well die before your time."The notion that you need animal food as protein is one of the great conspiracies ... by the government," he says, clinking a spoon hard against a china bowl steaming with steel-cut oatmeal. "Did we not all grow up saying we had to have four glasses of whole milk a day for healthy bones? It's ridiculous. It's liquid cholesterol."

LONDON (Reuters) - Consumer goods group Unilever Plc/NV <ULVR.L> <UNc.AS> will buy U.S. hair and skin care company Alberto Culver <ACV.N> for $3.7 billion in the latest move to rebalance its portfolio toward higher growth lines.

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - In need of a romantic break, but don't know where to go? Boutique hotel connoisseurs Mr & Mrs Smith (www.mrandmrssmith.com) play Cupid with a hand-picked selection of 10 of the most seductive stays worldwide.

Forget pastis-sozzled old men of Provence _ from Paris to Saint-Tropez, petanque is swank. French elegance it isn't, but this summer French boules are cool.

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Not all beaches are created equal. Some glamorous shorelines get a little more love from entertainment royalty than others, so check out the cheapflights.com list of which hot spots attract the world's most scintillating stars, and add them to your travel agenda this summer. This list is not endorsed by Reuters:

CHICAGO (Reuters Life!) - Henri Cartier-Bresson famously said a good photograph captures the "decisive moment," but the comment is often misunderstood.