What To Do This Weekend 10.10.24

Rixo is best known for its vintage-inspired silhouettes and retro patterns. This 'old meets new' aesthetic extends to its bridal collection. If you’ve said yes to the ring but not the dress yet, it’s worth knowing that the brand is hosting a bridal sample sale this weekend. Hosted above its flagship King’s Road store, attendees can shop one-off samples of wedding dresses, jumpsuits and two pieces – perfect for your hen party, ceremony or reception. This event will be busy, so make sure you book a time slot.

114-116 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 4TX; 11th-13th October

Visit RIXOLONDON.COM

The great and the good of the art world will converge in London for one of the most significant events in the art calendar this weekend. This year, more than 160 galleries from across the globe will be featured at Frieze, including London’s Arcadia Missa, Alison Jacques, Thomas Dane and the defining White Cube. Look out too for the famed outdoor sculpture garden in Regent’s Park and the return of ‘Artist-to-Artist’, an artist-driven programme featuring six solo presentations selected by Hurvin Anderson, Lubaina Himid, Rashid Johnson, Glenn Ligon, Zineb Sedira and Yinka Shonibare. Tickets start from £46. For those who prefer old(er) masters, its sister fair Frieze Masters offers higher-than-high-end works. 

Regent’s Park, NW1 4HA; 9th-13th October 

Visit FRIEZE.COM 

DIY lash extensions may sound daunting but LA-founded brand Lashify is here to change all that with a new counter in Selfridges Oxford Street, including a pop-up Control Kit bar – an educational space which explains how to apply the lashes. If you are after some more extensive tutorage, book in with a Lashify pro for a one-on-one consultation. During it, you’ll discuss aesthetic and lifestyle, followed up by a bespoke lash application tailored to your eye shape and preferences. 

400 Oxford Street, Mayfair, W1A 1AB; until 13th October

Visit SELFRIDGES.COM

If Frieze is the most exclusive and distinguished art fair on the London circuit, then The Other Art Fair is its antidote. Accessible, affordable and still stocked with works by exceptional, boundary-pushing artists, you can pick up a piece for as little as £100. Look out for Kit Lintin, known for her dreamlike realism; Hannah Gibson, an award-winning mixed-media artist; and Alec Cumming, revered for his bold and colourful pieces. As well as the art, there’ll be DJs, installations, talks, wine-tasting sessions, performances and plenty of spots to grab a drink. Tickets start from £10.50.

The Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, E1 6QL; 10th-13th October

Visit THEOTHERARTFAIR.COM

For film buffs and couch critics, the BFI London Film Festival is one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year. And unlike other film festivals, all tickets are on sale to the public. The multi-week festival brings new movies, talks, fresh TV and premieres to the capital. This year’s curated selection of 112 films and other works includes high-profile releases such as Steve McQueen’s Blitz and a collaboration between Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci called The Franchise. If you need a steer, we’re booking Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch – starring six-time Oscar-nominated Amy Adams – and Anora by Steve Baker, who is known for his stormingly successful The Florida Project. 

Various locations; 9th-20th October

Visit WHATSON.BFI.ORG.UK

TV fanatics will be happy to know that a Netflix pop-up shop is coming to London, allowing attendees to take home a piece of their favourite series or film. On the stock list is Maggie Thatcher’s power suit from The Crown, the original Lady Whistledown papers from Bridgerton, Emma Morley’s typewriter from the tear-jerking One Day and a signed Rolls-Royce t-shirt from Beckham. For those interested in scoring some cool fashion, there will be a Marni suit and Balenciaga top from The Gentleman, Studio Nicholson boots from Black Mirror and Margiela jeans from Bodkin – with some items on sale for as little as £1. All proceeds will go to Mind to support the charity’s vital mental health services across England and Wales. Plus, a selection of extra special items will be available as part of an online auction on Mind’s eBay page.

133 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E2 7DG; 12th October 

Visit MIND.ORG.UK

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, AllSaints is donating over 5,000 products – from its trademark leather jackets to its embellished party pieces – to Shelter charity shops across the UK. On the London store list? Barnes, Clapham Common, Clapham Junction, Crystal Palace, East Dulwich, Hampstead Heath, King’s Cross, Muswell Hill, Primrose Hill, Turnham Green and Wimbledon Village. There will also be 60 ‘golden ticket’ pieces handpicked by AllSaints design director Rebecca Nye, which have been spread across the 30 locations. These items will carry a special AllSaints branded sticker so they are easy to spot. 

Various locations; from 10th October until stocks last

Visit ALLSAINTS.COM & SHELTER.ORG.UK

There’s a cool talk going on at the V&A on Monday. It is all about Sketch which has transcended ‘It’ restaurant status to become a design destination in its own right. The spot is renowned for its quirky interiors and has provided a platform for designers and artists such as David Shrigley, India Mahdav, Yinka Shonibare and many others. In celebration of a new book published by Bloomsbury, renowned restauranteur Mourad Mazouz will chat to Gianluca Longo – style director at World Of Interiors – about his artistic passion, visionary collaborators and the merging of imaginative interiors and dining.

V&A, Cromwell Road, Knightsbridge, SW7 2RL; 14th October

Visit VAM.AC.UK

If you aren’t ‘arted out’ this weekend, it’s worth knowing about a new kid on the block, Mount Street Neighbourhood Arts Festival. Its programme focuses on Mayfair’s culture and community, with lively discussions and installations celebrating art, culture and the local area. An exclusive pop-up of Sarabande Foundation’s House of Bandits, comprising works from numerous prestigious artists across photography, painting, sculpture, fashion and jewellery, is running throughout the week. Plus, there are daily in-person talks hosted by Charlene Prempeh and Lewis Dalton Gilbert of A Vibe Called Tech – a creative studio and arts consultancy known for working with the likes of the V&A, Gucci and Frieze. Festival goers can collect complimentary, artist-designed passport stamps from key locations, unlocking exclusive rewards from brands like Marni, Farm Shop and Dr. Barbara Sturm.

5 Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2EX; until 12th October

Visit MAYFAIRLDN.COM

Looking to get lean, bendy and toned? So is the rest of London, with new reformer studios popping up all over the capital. Reformcore, from the brains behind Barrecore, has expanded its offering to include a new spot in Hammersmith – it seems by popular demand, as its flagship studio opened on the King’s Road in January, and it already has sites in Mayfair, Islington, Battersea and St Mary Axe. The latest spot features 15 reformer beds – the most yet – for a results-driven Pilates experience, complete with a curated playlist.

10 Hammersmith Grove, Hammersmith, W6 0ND

Visit REFORMCORE.COM

Having won hearts as Eric in Sex Education, Ncuti Gatwa is the perfect choice for Algernon Moncrieff in the National Theatre’s splashy new staging of The Importance of Being Earnest. This version of Oscar Wilde’s classic features Gatwa as the witty, hedonistic bachelor and sidekick to Jack Worthing (Hugh Skinner, Fleabag). Jack leads a double life: in Hertfordshire, he’s a respectable landowner; in London, he’s the scandalous ‘Ernest’, where he leads a life in pursuit of pleasure. With humour, hijinks and duplicitous lies, the play explores identity, friendship and love. While it has been staged countless times, director Max Webster promises to inject fresh energy and flamboyance.

National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 9PX; 21st November-25th January

Visit NATIONALTHEATRE.ORG.UK

Glow Recipe’s fruit-infused skincare has earned the brand a cult following. To celebrate the launch of its new Blackberry Retinol Serum and holiday collection, it’s hosting a pop-up in collaboration with Cult Beauty. Open to all, visitors can try out the products, receive personalised consultations with skincare experts and snag some free samples. There will also be free iced coffees, matcha lattes and a Glow photobooth. Plus, each day, three lucky guests will be in with a chance to WIN a Retinol Serum and everyone who shops will receive a 20% discount code to use on their next Glow Recipe purchase on Cult Beauty.

Soho, W1, 12th-13th October

Visit GLOWRECIPE.COM & CULTBEAUTY.CO.UK

From ‘ugly shoe’ to cool-girl essential, the public perception of Birkenstocks has shifted in recent years. Known for its sandals and mules, the brand is moving on to a new venture: the closed shoe. The Highwood collection comprises of two fresh styles – the Mid Slip-On boot and the Low Lace shoe – available in a range of finishes and autumnal colour ways.  To celebrate the launch, the brand is hosting a studio takeover. As well as a chance to shop the new collection, there will be a sculptural instal by David Curtis-Ring, earthy soundscaping by Justin Wiggen on the H.A.N.D HIFI sound system and foot care massages by BODIED.

Dray Walk Gallery, 91 Brick Lane, Shoreditch, E1 6QL; 12th-15th October

Visit BIRKENSTOCK.COM