As the August Bank Holiday looms, we are gearing up for one last hurrah before autumn properly sets in.
This week we’re rescuing our sun-stressed strands, swapping full glam for effortless stains and tints, and making the most of the final long weekend of summer. From a KFC and wine mash-up nobody asked for (but everyone needs) to open-air orchestras under the stars, here’s everything Citizen Femme is loving right now.
USE THIS MAKE-UP STAPLE e.l.f. Cosmetics
As the heatwave fades and everyone starts eyeing up their fitted layers and normal opening hours, there’s a real temptation to also pack away the sun-kissed, low-effort makeup that’s carried us through summer. e.l.f. Cosmetics is here to argue you don’t have to, with Sheer For It Blush Tint and Main Stain Lip Marker proving that the stains-and-tints trend isn’t just a summer moment, it’s an everyday staple. Sheer For It Blush Tint has become one of e.l.f.’s best-sellers both online and in-store, and it’s exactly the kind of product that bridges the seasons. The buildable formula gives you that dewy, just-been-on-holiday flush when you want it, but layers up easily into something warmer and more grown-in for shorter days and cooler light, no reapplying an entirely different autumn palette required. Main Stain Lip Marker has the same crossover appeal. It’s already gone viral for good reason: the marker applicator delivers a precise, no-mess wash of colour that settles into a natural stain, meaning it works just as well under a berry-toned autumn lip as it did with SPF and bare skin in July. Hold onto an easy, five-minute makeup routine as the season changes, swipe on the stain, tap on the tint, and you’re out the door with a look that carries effortlessly from late-summer into autumn.
GO STRAIGHT TO DESSERT HERE Marrone Tiramisu
If you’ve ever finished an Italian meal and immediately started planning your next tiramisu fix, Soho’s newest opening is about to become a regular haunt. Marrone, London’s first café dedicated entirely to the Italian classic, has landed on Sherwood Street, just off Piccadilly Circus. Founded by second-generation Italian Giancarlo Fanigliulo, Marrone treats tiramisu the way London’s best coffee shops treat single-origin beans: with total, borderline obsessive dedication. The debut menu features three versions of the dessert – an ‘original’, made with Estate Dairy cream and dark roasted espresso; a ‘DOP pistachio’, made with Sicilian Bronte pistachios sourced from Mount Etna; and a dark chocolate and Maldon sea salt version using Valrhona chocolate. Each is served as an artisanal single portion, with boozy and non-boozy options available. Keep an eye out, too, for Marrone’s branded 1972 Piaggio Ape – a three-wheeled vintage Italian van the brand originally planned to serve tiramisu from across the city, before settling on its permanent Soho home.
BOOK THIS FOR THE WEEKEND Battersea Park in Concert
Nothing says the end of British summertime quite like a picnic, a glass of something chilled and an orchestra playing your favourite songs under the stars, and this August bank holiday, Battersea Park in Concert is back for its fourth year with its biggest programme yet. Running across four nights from Friday 28th to Monday 31st August, this year’s line-up kicks off with a brand-new addition: Sounds of South Africa, a UK-exclusive performance from singer-songwriter Jeremy Loops alongside the London African Gospel Choir performing Paul Simon’s Graceland in full. Saturday brings Pop Symphonic, with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra reimagining party classics from ABBA, the Spice Girls and Bruno Mars, backed by a DJ set from Guilty Pleasures. Sunday’s Movies & Musicals sees the orchestra take on iconic scores from Hamilton, The Greatest Showman and Gladiator, closing with a fireworks finale, while Monday wraps things up with the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and The Amy Winehouse Band marking 20 years of Back to Black. Beyond the music, expect pre-bookable gourmet picnic hampers, wine tasting sessions from French vineyard Domaine des Jeanne, and upgrade options for VIP Experiences.
EAT HERE KFC x La Vieille Ferme x Coq au Vin
After years of flirting across the dinner table, KFC and La Vieille Ferme are making it official with Coq au Vin, a limited-edition wine bar celebrating the pairing we cannot wait for. Landing at Kachette Annex, Shoreditch from 28th–31st August, it’ll serve KFC by the (wine) bucket alongside La Vieille Ferme’s much-loved wines — think tenders with rosé, hot wings with red, popcorn chicken with fizz. It’s less “wine tasting” and more “why haven’t we been doing this all along?” La Vieille Ferme is even bringing back its legendary ‘Chicken Wine’ label exclusively for the event, alongside exclusive merch and plenty of bucket-to-bottle energy. For too long, wine’s been hanging out with the same crowd – Coq au Vin is here to shake things up for the chicken-obsessed. Tickets sold out but they are accepting some walk-ins, so get there early! Poulet all day, yes thank you.
RESET SUMMER HAIR WITH THIS Cécred
With the UK heatwave finally coming to an end, our hair is left dealing with the aftermath, dry, tangled strands more prone to frizz and breakage after weeks of heat, sweat and styling. Cécred, the high-performance haircare brand founded by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, has the fix. Start with the Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner, infused with hyaluronic acid to cleanse and restore softness without stripping. For deeper damage, the Moisturising Deep Conditioner uses African Oil Blend and shea butter to rehydrate and soften. The Detangling Spray makes knots glide apart up to 2x faster, while the Nourishing Hair Oil seals in moisture for glossy, frizz-free strands. Finish with the Thermal Shield Mist, protecting up to 450°F while taming humidity. The rule for post-heatwave hair: restore moisture, detangle gently, seal it in, and always protect before heat styling.
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