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Shopping Shortlist: what to shop, see and know in April
Let’s go back outside this April
(Sister Jane)
Welcome to the ES Shopping Shortlist, our drop of need-to-know newness for the month ahead
April 1 may have been a day for tomfoolery and high jinxes (until noon, anyway) but when it comes to shopping over the rest of the month, we’re not messing around.
Along with defrosting with the rest of the nation (sashay away, winter), this month sees outdoor dining reopening for most restaurants, bars and cafes across the land from April 12. Yes, socialising is back on the agenda, and that means ditching your stained trackie bottoms for something that can stay up without the help of elastic. Luckily there are plenty of fashion and clothing sales on at the minute to begin your transformation from troglodyte to traffic-stopping.
From new homeware collections to modest fitnesswear and possibly the best summer job we’ve ever heard of, find out what April has in store for you below.
Supermarket sweep at the Design Museum
The doors to Kensington’s Design Museum will be thrown open once again from April 21- 25 and one of the first things we’ll see is… bog roll. Not just any toilet paper, mind - this along with a selection of other staples (think coffee, kidney beans, porridge oats and passata) have been given packaging makeovers by ten up-and-coming artists.
Conceived by Bombay Sapphire to show that creativity is in fact, essential, limited edition items from the shop will be available at the Design Museum and online at BombaySapphire.com with proceeds supporting the institute’s Emerging Designer Access Fund.
Consider it the one time stockpiling is positively encouraged.
Celebrate beauty and blooms this Earth Day
The state of the planet has never been such a literally hot topic and Earth Day, on April 22, is the perfect chance to reflect on our personal efforts to protect the place we all call home. There are a few brands marking the day; first, luxury florist McQueens has partnered with ethical beauty brand Romilly Wilde to create a limited edition hand-tied bouquet made with seasonal and sustainable stems.
Named Wilde Earth, it’s now on sale for £175 alongside a bespoke bundle of Romily Wilde skincare with a portion of sales going to conservation charity Cool Earth.
Contact sales@mcqueensflowers.com to get your orders in.
Earn your home decor stripes - H&M Home x DVF
You’d think after over a year indoors we’d be done with our interiors, but if anything, we’re even more obsessed with fine-tuning our spaces. After all, our homes are our castles. Imagine then, our delight, upon news that H&M Home is collaborating with one of the boldest, baddest, brightest stars in the design sphere: Diane Von Furstenberg. Known for her iconic wrap dresses, the former wife of an actual German prince is on a mission to make our homes majestic in her trademark style - which includes plenty of zebra print.
Poised to drop on April 16, the 31-piece collection includes wool blankets, cushion covers, trinket boxes, decorative trays, candles, espresso cups, small plates, vases, pots, posters and a robe. Love it, want it.
Anything but plain at Sister Jane
Sister Jane has dropped its latest collection, and the fashion label couldn’t have timed it better for our re-emergence. Named Fifty-Three Rose Lane, there are midi frocks with frilled Peter Pan collars galore, prairie-style blouses, checked co-ords for trips back to the IRL office, and plenty of playful gingham to match your picnic blanket, because that’s the kind of perfection we live for. The new collection drops April 14.
Sweaty Betty has Muslim fitness fans covered
If you’ve spent lockdown bending and stretching over small children and pets as you try to do a home workout, the good news is that with restrictions easing you’ll soon be able to get back into a proper studio - and when you do, it should be a more inclusive place, at least at Sweaty Betty. After more than a year in the making, the fitness pro has launched its first hijab specifically designed for training.
Fashioned from breathable, sweat-wicking material, it’s simple, practical and hugely empowering, making fitness a more inclusive arena for all. “We hope that this will facilitate an underrepresented group of women to compete at their optimal level of performance,” said Chief Product Officer, Jemma Cassidy. Hear, hear.
Blooms & booze
Florist Ronny Colbie has joined forces with Lockdown Liquor this season to launch a collection of 11 UK-inspired bouquets (the Beaulieu above, is inspired by the New Forest) alongside a coterie of small batch blended cocktails, each destined to put pep in your step this spring. As well as fresh flowers, there’s the Jurassic Coast arrangement, aptly created with preserved stems and petals. Meanwhile, drinks include Espresso Martini, Old Fashioned, Pepino, Picante and Tucci, all from £12.99 with national delivery. Mix and match bouquets and booze as the ultimate gift for April-born friends and family.
Time to get Away
As our worlds tentatively open up to the possibility of travel beyond our postcode, it’s time to start planning a summer of staycays. Do your long-awaited trip justice thanks to Away’s fresh drop of travel accessories designed to keep you comfortable and looking slick as you head back into the big wide world.
The summer job of actual dreams?
Golden days are coming. One way to make them infinitely better is by becoming craft gin brand Pink Marmalde’s Gin GENIE A.K.A a gin-swilling guinea pig. You’ll get involved with tastings, recipes, hanging with the small batch gang, and that’s just the work part. As payment for your tremendously hard graft, the brand will pay you in juniper-spiked goodness: one 70cl bottle a month for an entire year!
Enter on Pink Marmalade’s website, follow their Instagram page and keep all fingers and toes crossed. Competition closes May 16.
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