The Luxe List: February
BRAND: Amotea
Sweatshirts, hoodies, blah blah blah… Italian label Amotea is officially the label to help you forget about loungewear. Their core collection is decadent, dramatic and filled with statement features – an oversized shoulder here, a ruffled collar there – making it the latest in a longline of hyper-feminine brands to have on your radar.
Visit Amotea.com
CANDLE: Nette
Nette is a new candle brand made from a vegan, clean-burning, sustainable coconut and soy blend. Completely paraffin free, its wicks are made of 100% certified organic cotton (a first for the candle industry) and its glasses are handblown in an Italian factory with a 75-year history. Of the scents, we love the sound of ‘Laide Tomate’, which smells like “heirloom tomatoes heavy on the vine, wet earth after a storm, burnished skin and salty hair”.
Visit NetteNYC.com
JEWELLERY: Margaux Studios
If your style is particularly girly, you’re in for a treat, with yet another ultra-feminine label. Get the Daphne Bridgerton look in Margaux Studios’ regency-inspired pieces with a modern twist – that means bow-shaped, mismatched pearl earrings and molten teardrop styles. Take cues from the brand and style with oversized velvet bows for a ball-worthy look.
Visit MargauxStudios.com
BOOK: Luster by Raven Leilani
Edie is ambitious, restless and longing for new opportunities. The only Black woman in a very white office, she’s overworked, overlooked and fed up. Curiosity drives her into the arms of Eric, a middle-aged white man with an open marriage, and a Black adopted daughter he barely speaks of. Edie finds herself living in the home of Eric and his intense wife, Rebecca, and looking for ways to make a difference to their lives while resolving the problems of her own. Wicked, darkly funny, shockingly erotic and smart, it’s easy to see why this Kirkus prize winning debut was one of Obama’s books of 2020.
Visit Waterstones.com
DINING: Petersham Nurseries Boxes
This month, Petersham Nurseries Café in Richmond will launch its dine-at-home seasonal dinner boxes nationwide. Serving two people, the four-course February box is filled with fresh tagliatelle with tema artichoke, anchovy, chilli and garlic pangrattato; Haye Farm porchetta rolled with winter garden herbs or delica pumpkin, chard and goats’ cheese pithivier. To finish, there’s a steamed date pudding with pouring cream; and Winslade cheese, served with pane carasau and honey from Petersham’s own hives. To complete the meal, diners can also buy beautiful pieces such Bertozzi tablecloths and napkins, Murano glassware and vases, jugs and candlesticks.
Visit Restokit.co.uk
FILM: Malcolm & Marie
Zendaya and John David Washington star in this achingly romantic drama in which a filmmaker and his girlfriend return home following a celebratory movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be imminent critical and financial success. The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love. A beautiful watch.
Visit Netflix.com
NETFLIX
COLLECTION: Sea NYC
Team SL has long been obsessed with Sea NYC for its whimsical, romantic twist on functional pieces – think broderie anglaise, ruffled tops, puff-sleeve denim blouses and ditsy-print jumpsuits. Their SS21 collection is characteristically feminine, rich with puff sleeves, pie-crust collars and scalloped edges – holidays or not, we’ll be living in it this spring/summer.
Visit SEA-NY.com
FRAGRANCE: Olfactive O
Olfactive O was a a two-time finalist in the Fragrance Foundation Awards 2020. The new brand believes the scent you choose should be tailored to your personality and anything you spray on yourself should be an extension of your own scent – “like a second skin”. To do this, they invite customers to choose their signature scents not just by how they smell, but by how much they identify with who the scents are for. We love the sound of ‘Woody’ – which has notes of cedar, black pepper, vetiver, smoked leathers, myrrh and sandalwood – and is suited to those who like ‘vintage clothes, classic films and espressos in a French café’.
Visit OlfactiveO.com
KNITWEAR: Aethel
After Loro Piana quality but without the price tag? Look no further than Aethel, the independent cashmere company crafting beautiful sweaters with yarn supplied by the legendary Italian designer. Made in North London, it’s the best cashmere money can buy, at a reasonable price point – essentially, the holy grail of knitwear. Stock up on sweaters, cardis and more.
Visit Aethel.com
MUSICIAN: Arlo Parks
Arlo Parks is a singer-songwriter from London. In her own words, she spent most of school feeling like the Black kid who couldn't dance, listening to too much emo music and crushing on girls in her Spanish class. Inspired by everyone from Portishead to Earl Sweatshirt, her songs are confessional and tender, and her voice is one of the most gorgeous we’ve heard in years. Her debut album, Collapsed In Sunbeams, is out now.
Follow @Arlo.Parks
SKINCARE: Monday Muse
Monday Muse is a new indie skin brand with both a cool aesthetic and excellent formulas. Vegan and cruelty free, our favourite product is The Nectar, a lightweight and fragrance-free formula to nourish and calm the skin. Ideal for very sensitive, oily/combination or dry skin, the blend of cold-pressed oils work together to repair and enrich the skin barrier through a dose of vitamins and minerals. With a science-backed formula, this delicate oil quickly absorbs into the skin, ensuring that all-important non-greasy feeling.
Visit MondayMuseSkin.com
PLEASURE: More Joy by Christopher Kane
Christopher Kane has added a ‘Sex pleasure bundle’ to his More Joy range in celebration of Valentine’s Day. The wonderfully branded package includes a white 'Sex' eye mask, plus a 12-speed waterproof bullet vibrator with a silent motor and 'More Joy' logo on stem. We also like the look of his ‘Sex’ logo silk dressing gown…
Visit ChristopherKane.com
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