Al fresco season is most definitely here. May is in bloom, and so is Citizen Femme.
This fabulous Australian skincare brand has landed in the UK (and we’re big fans of brands from down under), cross-border cooking arrives at Fortnum & Mason, and fisherman sandals are back. Plus, its the countdown to our Passport To.. Immersive Travel Summit next week on 15th May, so get booking for the last remaining tickets! Its going to be a scorcher. This is what we’re loving in this week’s Citizen Femme hotlist.
EAT HERE Amélie, Belgravia
Experience a slice of Côte d’Azur in Belgravia with Amélie, a Provençal restaurant in the iconic Pantechnicon which has just unveiled its sun-soaked terrace in collaboration with Miraval for summer. Tucked away on Motcomb Street, sip on ice-cold glasses of Petite Fleur de Miraval Rosé NV Champagne, Miraval Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence or a limited edition, Peche Spritzer – a refreshing mix of Miraval Rosé, peach and soda. Aside from the refreshing drinks, its the food that stands on its own, consisting of French favourites such as garlicky Escargots and Steak Frites with unlimited fries to the Poulet Roti (half or full roasted chicken) and barbecued corn salad, that will leave you longing for more. Before finishing the meal, try the Raspberry Rosé Sorbet or Amélie’s table-side velvety Chocolate Mousse garnished with Miraval’s Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil with a sprinkle of salt. This is a very easy-to-like dining option that you’ll likely book again and again this summer.
LISTEN TO THIS Before The Lights Podcast
Before The Lights is a training and wellness club for creative industries where some of the biggest names in TV, film and music train for stage and screen, and most importantly, everyday life. Hosted by the club’s founders (David Hastie, George Ashwell, Josh Betteridge and Georgia Canavan) the Before The Lights podcast (available on Spotify and Apple) delves into the lives of their A-list clients to discuss how they prepare physically and mentally for upcoming roles, the challenges of juggling life in the creative world and how they got it wrong along the way. Thanks to the relationships built on trust and the floor of the gym, candid chats with the likes of Olivia Cooke, Nicholas Hoult, Harris Dickinson, Amibika Mod and many more feel like casual catch ups in the pub compared to any conversations you’ve heard with them before. Expect tales of landing dream jobs and overcoming mental struggles and sacrifices to get to the top of their fields sandwiched between the harsh (and often embarrassing) realities of show-business. From wearing wildly inappropriate outfits at massive auditions, to making sure you don’t shake George Clooney’s hand for too long, Before The Lights gives you the real behind-the-scenes with these names to know.
USE THIS Eco By Sonya
You can be confident that Australia excels when it comes to organic and natural beauty. Welcoming Australian brand Eco by Sonya to the UK. Frustrated by the lack of gentle, non-harmful products out there, Sonya embarked on her entrepreneurial journey with an emphasis on all natural ingredients (not 99%) to offer gentle products, free from synthetic chemicals and toxins. Eco by name and eco by nature, a driving force for the brand’s ethos and the inspiration behind the name is their commitment to sustainability through practices and community involvement. Among the range that spans across skincare, tanning, makeup and body care, some favourites include the Super Citrus Cleanser containing Aloe Vera, antibacterial Lemongrass and exfoliating Australian Caviar Lime; the Serum of Plenty to improve the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots and acne; the Face Tan Water delivering a sun-kissed glow all year round; and Hempitan Body Tan Water, the darkest tan in the range formulated with natural cocao, hemp seeds and orange oil resulting in a natural and radiant tan. A personal favourite? The Pink Himalayan salt scrub which deeply exfoliates, soothes skin conditions (including skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis) and leaves your body nourished with cold-pressed oils and citrus botanicals.
WEAR THESE Mafalda Handmade
Mafalda’s minimal leather sandals are made in small batches in São Paulo, celebrated for being handmade which are both bold and timeless. The founder, Maria Fernanda Sodre’s story began when she started creating her first pieces after graduating from fashion school. Marked by clean lines and geometric shapes, the brand has become ageless yet contemporary, accompanying you through the years and through the seasons, from a neighbourhood stroll, to work, and into the evening. Their Summer ’25 collection features some truly beautiful styles that you’ll likely wear on repeat.
BOOK THIS Jikoni x Fortnum & Mason
From a limited time this may – Friday 9th May until Sunday 18th May – Ravinder Bhogal and Nadeem Lalani Nanjuwany, co-founders of Jikoni, will join forces with Fortnum & Mason to bring their expression of maternal, cross-border cooking to the Piccadilly Flagship. This special collaboration features an exciting lineup of events and experiences, including a Jikoni Civilised Sunday with Meera Syal & Sanjeev Baskar; a High Chai afternoon tea and a cocktail masterclass with a limited-edition Fortnum’s x Jikoni Gin distilled onsite and available in a special cocktail. Ravinder is also co-designing one of Fortnum’s iconic window displays together with DJ Nitin Sawhney (who is incidentally kicking it all off with a launch party) and Fortnum & Mason that brings the stories of immigration and cross-cultural journeys to the forefront in the store’s Piccadilly corner window. On this partnership Ravinder and Nadeem say, “In a divided world, it has always been our gentle activism to bring people together through maternal cooking and inclusive hospitality.” Its a collaboration that feels like a dose of optimism.
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