Shake it down at Southbank, cool down at one of London’s favourite ice cream joints and book a mini getaway to a Hollywood mansion.
Yes, this all sounds very glamorous, but we’re keeping it low-key with this quiet luxury fashion brand that is filled with pieces for your everyday (and very stylish) wardrobe. This is what we’re loving in this week’s Citizen Femme hotlist.
VISIT THIS Selfridges Beauty Hall
Selfridges London launches its next generation Beauty Hall this week. Always ahead of the curve (it was the first department store to house beauty on the ground floor and bring products above counter for consumers to experiment with – good to know if you didn’t watch the TV series Mr Selfridge), fast-forward 115 years, and the Selfridges’ Beauty Hall will become an essential destination for exclusivity, innovation and newness in colour and skincare. Now stocking over 300 brands, 50 which are exclusive to the retailer, the revamped space offers 200 different beauty services, along with a programme of pop-ups throughout the year. Also adding sustainability as a key element to the business, Selfridges is ensuring that all their beauty brands incorporate refills into their offering by 2025. But its not just make-up: there are skin diagnostics from brands like Estée Lauder, Lancôme and Prada; a head-to-toe menu of beauty services encompassing consultations for colour, skin, and fragrance; on-counter treatments; personalisation; and gift ideas. This is in addition to a suite of expert hair, nail, brow, and skin services. There’s also bespoke fragrance blending and product customisation through engraving, embossing, and UV printing. And, if you want to get stuck in, head over to the ‘Beauty Concierge’ to book appointments or masterclasses.
EAT THIS Anita Gelato
Warmer weather means terraces, picnics and rosé. But more importantly, it screams ice cream. Anita Gelato, Covent Garden’s favourite gelato boutique invites you to choose from 150 flavours of gelato, frozen yogurt and sorbet, including vegan options. With locations globally – including New York City, Sydney and Barcelona – the London store is an ideal dessert destination for pre- and post-theatre treats, alcohol-free dates and shopping-trip pit stops. Every scoop is a treat for the senses; think Milk Chocolate Salted Pretzel, White Chocolate and Pistachio, or Salted Almonds and Caramel – all served in wafer cones or alongside a waffle, and topped with fresh fruit, syrups, chocolate, or house-made jams. New spring flavours to choose from include Matcha, Mango and White Chocolate, Coffee and Banana Split, plus the must-try Matcha Froyo.
WEAR THIS Almada Label
Quiet luxury is all the rage, a fashion movement, if you will. Brands like The Row and Loro Piano usually come front of mind, along with very high price points. But we’re looking to Almada Label, hailing from Finland, and a brand that is all about high-quality minimalism. The collections are made up of soft cashmere cardigans and jumpers, knit tops, and beautiful coats in a muted colour palette, with prices ranging from around £200 to £700. Created by two working mums, Almada Label is the epitome of everyday luxury, something all too familiar with us at Citizen Femme. The brand’s pieces transcend trends and are guaranteed to feel just as relevant in ten years time as they do now. The new Resort collection is designed to be seasonless and perfect for anytime of year. Founders Alexa Dagmar and Linda Juhola have created the perfect capsule wardrobe, filled with the ultimate in luxurious pieces to make sure we feel our best. This one isn’t just a TikTok trend, this is here to stay.
STAY HERE Francis Ford Coppola's Palazzo Margherita
Get a taste of Hollywood, but what we really mean is: get your teeth stuck in at Palazzo Margherita, a 19th-century, charming boutique hotel, or exclusive-use villa with nine bedrooms, surrounded by a charming inner courtyard and a beautiful Heritage-protected leafy garden, from Francis Ford Coppola. Find yourself surrounded by hand-painted frescoed walls; vaulted stone ceilings and rooms filled with beautiful artefacts and antiques; a charming swimming pool; various dining spots across the hotel and gardens; plus the Salone which brings a full library of classic art-house movies, curated by Francis Ford Coppola for late-night cinema screenings. This summer, the property opens a new pasta school where you can master the secrets behind traditional pasta dishes in the Palazzo Margherita kitchen, learn ancient techniques and recipes using local ingredients, and feast on hearty southern Italian dishes, just like you’d expect Nonna to make. At the end of the pasta class, dine “a tavola” in the hotel’s Family Kitchen, “family style”, or in the courtyard under the trees in the historical garden for an intimate and magical evening.
BOOK THIS Chaka Khan's Meltdown Festival, Southbank Centre
Pop icon Chaka Khan curates the 29th edition of Meltdown Festival 2024, the UK’s longest-running, artist-curated music festival that has previously been led by music greats such as Elvis Costello, David Bowie and Patti Smith. As part of its ongoing planning, Meltdown invites one artist a year to curate its bill, allowing them to take over the Southbank Centre for a couple of weeks with their favourite stars from across music and culture. Chaka Khan has pulled together a lineup of both established icons and lesser-known discoveries, as she celebrates her 50th anniversary in music this year. She will open Meltdown 2024 with a set of her iconic hits including her 1978 debut single ‘I’m Every Woman’ and 1983 single ‘Ain’t Nobody’ at the Royal Festival Hall. The rest of the Meltdown bill includes singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé, French-Senegalese singer-songwriter anaiis, American Idol alumnus Todrick Hall, genre-hopping singer Rahsaan Patterson, powerhouse vocalist Mica Paris, rising talent SIPHO., pianist and singer Reuben James, and award-winning jazz star Judi Jackson.
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