A glorious Italian summer in Italy, and a glorious French summer in London on one of CF’s favourite terraces.
With the weather in bloom and summer in full swing, there’s never been a better time to book one of these spots on this week’s Citizen Femme hotlist.
DRINK HERE Pantechnicon’s Rosé Courtyard
There’s never been a better time to visit the stylish Belgravia drinking and dining destination of Pantechnicon, as it opens a pop-up bar in its sun-drenched courtyard with everyone’s favourite rosé wine producer Château Minuty. Score an al fresco table in the pretty, Provence-inspired space and you’ll be transported to the South of France without ever having to book a plane ticket – prepare to sit back, relax and sample some of the tastiest wines around. Alongside an exclusive Minuty wine list, featuring much-loved serves like Minuty Prestige and Rosé et Or, you can choose from a whole host of refreshing summer cocktails including the Rosé Spritz and Jasmine Negroni, as well as cheese and charcuterie sharing boards.
SHOP THIS Loveness Lee
Style your summer with Loveness Lee, an independent London-based contemporary jewellery brand for those with a daring attitude to style. Inspired by a fascination with abstract shapes and textures that derive from nature, the brand handcrafts designs that are serendipitous wearable sculptures. With nature being at the forefront of the brand, protecting the planet has become a big part of their ethos. Therefore, each design is sustainably handmade with certified recycled sterling silver, with selected pieces featuring 18ct gold plating, lab-grown gemstones, and freshwater pearls in small batches in a bid to combat waste. By collaborating with nature as a designer, each piece is charmingly individual, giving the feeling of exclusivity to the wearer. A beautiful and entirely individual addition to your jewellery wardrobe.
GO HERE The Offbeat Sari
Hailing from India and wider South Asia, a sari is traditionally thought of as an unstitched drape wrapped around the body from shoulder to waist. In this, the first UK exhibition to explore the contemporary sari, the show explores the traditional garment from the 1960s to the early 2000s. Head of Curatorial at the Design Museum Priya Khanchandani moved temporarily to India a few years ago, and was amazed by the way Delhi women wore their saris. What used to be seen as an old fashioned costume had become a way to express one’s identity. The sari had become ‘cool’, and fashion designers and people on the streets were reinventing the way to wear it, not afraid of pushing the boundaries. In the past decade, the sari has been re-energised thanks to a new wave of designers and craftspeople innovating the ways in which the sari is made, worn and perceived in contemporary urban India. Curated by Khanchandani herself, the exhibition is split into various themes such as identity and resistance, presenting around 60 contemporary saris created by a range of established and emerging designers. Among the garments is the first sari to be worn at New York’s Met Gala in response to the annual ball’s 2022 theme, Gilded Glamour. Designed by Sabyasachi, and styled with a gold Schiaparelli bodice, the ensemble caught attention for its dramatic mix of Indian and Western couture.
EAT HERE Roberto Cavalli X Brasserie of Light
Let it be a wild and lavish summer and celebrate the launch of Roberto Cavalli’s Wild Leda capsule collection at Selfridges, the first pop-up for the brand at the store. The month of June sees an exclusive menu, dining on the exquisite Roberto Cavalli dinnerware, surrounded by homeware from the Wild Leda collection, in a Brasserie of Light x Roberto Cavalli partnership. Menu highlights include Tuna tartare with yuzu pickled cucumber and imperial caviar, Spaghetti aragosta with poached lobster, Pistachio and lemon mascarpone tiramisù, and a summery ‘Wild Leda’ cocktail you won’t want to miss with the London heatwave. To enjoy the collection, the luxury department store’s second floor will have it on display until the end of June, while occupying two main windows of Selfridges on Oxford Street.
BOOK THS Summer Festivities at Villa d'Este, Lake Como, Italy
One of Italy’s star attractions, Lake Como, is on a whole new level of opulence. A glacial lake in the Lombardy region of Italy visited by the likes of aristocrats, royals, and celebrities, the dreamy landscape is home to picturesque villages, elegant villas, luscious green mountains, and sparkling blue shores. At its heart is one of its most famous properties and indeed Lake Como’s Grand Dame, Villa D’Este. Whether you choose to stay in the hotel, or take a day trip, they have a spectacular schedule of glamorous galas and events taking place throughout the summer season, including an intimate evening celebrating classic music performed by I CAMERISTI – Orchestra da Camera del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, a ’secret garden’ American Independence Day soirée, and an elegant Midsummer Gala on 15th August. Each event will be a blaze of lights, flowers and candles alongside entertainment by NuArt for a fully immersive and magical experience for which Villa d’Este is renowned.
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