Grab picnic blankets to beach towels, catch any ray of sunshine you can and make it look good.
A champagne filled picnic basket, summer’s hottest beach accessory for those travelling to warmer climes and this travel essential to document all your journeys. Simplicity but elegance are at the core of our hotlist this week. This is what we’re loving in this week’s Citizen Femme hotlist.
A great British picnic goes hand in hand with a British summer. Catching a sunny day, and a picnic blanket just in time because the British parks are so glorious, and staying near enough shelter in case the clouds open up. The Chelsea Townhouse and sister property 11 Cadogan Gardens have launched new picnic experiences in partnership with Laurent Perrier. Enjoy the Secret Garden of 11 Cadogan Gardens who have transformed it into a Sport and Sip Garden with a screen for guests to watch this summer’s sporting highlights and a special drinks menu of Champagne & strawberries, Pimms and lemonade and sporting inspired cocktails. Or pick any of the nearby parks – Hyde Park, Green Park, St James Park and Battersea Park – simply collect a stylish navy blue and pink Laurent Perrier backpack, which includes a Laurent Perrier champagne alongside a selection of sandwiches, savoury snacks and sweet treats, and freshly baked scones served alongside strawberry jam and clotted cream.
Could beach towels be considered summer’s hottest accessory? The humble accessory has been reinvented by multiple brands from Anine Bing to LOEWE – and their uses are beyond simply drying off after a refreshing swim. A beach towel offers unparalleled comfort for lounging, reading, picnicking, and sun bathing (and of course allow for plenty of snaps for the gram). We’ve got our eye on Antipodean towelling brand BAINA and their new Lake House Stripe collection combining Fuyu (orange-red) and chalk (off-white). Referencing the eclectic interiors in places of retreat, the collection is inspired by the Lake House – a refuge for solitude, quiet contemplation and connection with nature. It pairs a classic stripe and an embroidered gridded check, and comes in hand towel, bath towel, bath mat and pool towel. Intended to be woven into your daily bathing ritual, this towel deserves a much more prominent spot in your luggage and on the beach.
Overlooking the village of Bonnieux, Capelongue is a hamlet thought around a village square. Living to the rhythm of local events, artist residences and festivals, its a hotel estate that celebrates the contemporary creativity, gastronomy and craftsmanship in Provence. With jaw-dropping views from your bedroom (family rooms, suites and apartments), the pool or restaurant, this hotel and its setting is the ultimate place to relax and unwind. Its a very sweet spot to explore the countryside or Provence from cypress alleys to ancient olive groves, colourful markets to hiking trails, or stay on site and enjoy its two outdoor swimming pools. Full immersion into local tradition is the goal here. Should you be travelling with children, they also have a Kids Club (open from May to August every day, and weekends only from September to October) aimed at three to 16 years old, encouraging them to discover Provence from a different point of view, with activities such as reading tales from Provence, painting, Molkky or even the creation of a herbarium thanks to Capelongue’s Gardens.
Lightroom London and Vogue announce a new show; Vogue: Inventing the Runway, premiering on 25 October this year. Once again pushing the boundaries of storytelling through immersive exhibition, Inventing the Runway will explore the history of the fashion runway show, from the intimate couture salons of the early 20th century to the unforgettable spectacles of the present, utilising Vogue’s remarkable archive and contributor network to create an experience that brings together the industry’s leading voices from the past, present, and future. “At Vogue we’ve been lucky enough over the decades to see many incredible runway shows, which have often told the story of fashion as much as the clothes themselves,” said Anna Wintour. “This Lightroom experience is a wonderful opportunity for a lot more people to experience first-hand the thrill of watching the history of fashion unfold right in front of them.” The show will feature several designers including Alexander McQueen, Anna Sui, Balenciaga, Burberry, Chanel, Chloé, Christian Dior, Christopher John Rogers, Comme des Garçons, Coperni, Courrèges, Dolce & Gabbana, Dries Van Noten, Elena Velez, Fendi, Givenchy, Gucci, Gypsy Sport, Hussein Chalayan, Jacquemus, JW Anderson, Louis Vuitton, Maison Margiela, Marc Jacobs, Missoni, Miu Miu, Moschino, Prada, Pyer Moss, Rick Owens, Schiaparelli, Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham, Vivienne Westwood, Willy Chavarria and Yohji Yamamoto. Inside fashion shows – on the front row and behind the scenes – transporting audiences through locations and eras.
Hunza G is at it again. From her pop-up at The Standard in Ibiza to this very cool new collaboration with Smythson, capturing the essence of escapism. The collaboration sees both British heritage brands create a collection of Smythson’s iconic Chelsea notebooks, handcrafted in enduring leather and gold stamped with a vacation inspired phrase to invoke a sense of nostalgia and adventure. Made for jotting memories whilst poolside (in your matching Hunza swim of course). The vibrant palette is reminiscent of signature Hunza G Original Crinkle™ colours and pays homage to blissful summer vacations, crafted to be a companion throughout a life well-travelled.
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