Brazilians have a long-running love affair with malls. There are currently 503 shopping centres across the nation, earning a total revenue of R$129 billion in 2013. Can an e-commerce platform that promises to be a virtual mall entice Brazilians to spend online?

As emerging economies transform the consumer base for high-end goods, luxury is moving out of range of all but the very richest. The fashion industry is rushing to fill the gap, as the notion of aspiration is remodelled to appeal to a diverse range of consumers – and budgets.

In Brazil's diverse society, there’s no single definition of beauty that applies to everyone. Its different social classes have created a variety of ideals and beauty icons. But how do Brazilian women decide what ideals to aim for, and how are they trying to achieve them?

Brazilians are world-renowned party lovers, so it's no surprise that the wedding industry is booming. But as these celebrations of love grow increasingly lavish – buffered by the import of Western wedding traditions – the economy is slowing. Can this decade-long growth continue?