In the second part of our Holiday Shop we turn to the little ones. School’s nearly out and then there’s two months for kids to roam free. Here’s our pick of the best summer fashion buys – our favourite kids’ brands include the ever-playful Stella McCartney, M&S who have an especially good dress collection this summer, and Bobo Choses Sun who have some awesome maxi dresses as well as the denim overalls we feature here. Get shopping!
Shorts
Stella McCartney May Arrows Pale Denim Jeans, £77, ages 3–10 years Stella McCartney
Il Gufo flannel shorts, £97, ages 2–8 years, Melijoe & Il Gufo, Brompton Cross
Sun Dresses
Louis Louise Melinda Embroidered Chambray Dress, £80, ages 3–12 years, Smallable
Striped cotton dress from £12, 9 months–7 years, Marks & Spencer
Bonton striped jersey dress, £49, ages 4–12 years, Smallable
The inaugural Festival of the Spoken Word will take place at Messums Wiltshire on July 14th and 15th but you will need to book your tickets sooner rather than later as they are selling out fast. Particularly popular is the Supper Club on 14th July with Rupert Everett at which he will discuss his recently released film which he has written, directed and starred in called The Happy Prince about Oscar Wilde’s last years in Paris followed by supper in the Mess Restaurant. Other highlights also include Edward Fox on John Betjeman together with storytelling sessions, poetry performances and public speaking workshops. With lots on offer for both adults and kids, it looks set to be a fascinating and fun weekend.
Six years ago, Amanda Brooks swopped her life as Fashion Director of Barneys, NYC to live at her husband’s Oxfordshire farm with their two children. What began as a year’s sabbatical turned into a more permanent move and Farm From Home is the very beautiful book she has written and photographed (follow her on Instagram on @amandacbrooks to see more) chronicling the ups and downs of adjusting to life in the English countryside. Always known for her fashion style and great taste, Brooks turned to country life with aplomb and has even just opened a shop called Cutter Brooks, The Organic Shop in Stow-on-the-Wold selling vintage fair isle sweaters, Assiette de Vilette, ceramics, Hermes playing cards and more. We asked Brooks to tell us more about her interiors style (next week, we ask her about cooking).
Which US and which UK interior designers do you admire most and why?
David Hicks’ lasting influence has probably been the biggest inspiration to me over the years. I’ve been pouring over his books since I was 14 years old. I also love what Celerie Kemble recently did with Playa Grande and I’m a fan of Daniel Sachs.
What surprises you about British interiors?
How both houses and rooms can be at once timeless and continuously relevant.
Her daughter Coco’s old bedroom, now a guest room with wallpaper from the 1980s.
Which do you consider the best bed linen?
I use a company called Ilinka to make affordable custom linens for me.
Brooks’ bedroom
Which is the best (interiors) present that you have ever received?
My husband’s paintings. I always have to beg him to donate them to the house instead of selling them.
One of Christopher Brooks’ pictures hanging in their dining room.
What is your favourite room in the house and why?
My bathroom where I can unwind from the day in my bathtub. I never miss bathtime, even if I return home very late.
Do you have any style rules for decorating?
Make sure you have plenty of found objects. Keeps the house from looking too decorated.
Brooks’ favourite spot to sit in the house.
How does your fashion background influence your interiors style?
I decorate more conservatively than I dress. There’s nothing worse than being tired of a room before you’ve even paid for it.
Whose house in the UK do you wish you lived in?
The only house that gives me envy is Cornwall Manor. There’s no prettier house and it’s a generous but manageable size.
How did you get the idea for setting up a shop? What can we buy there?
After living here for six years, I developed my own take on English style, and I also travelled a lot and constantly found things overseas that would work here. My shop is inspired by England, curated by an American and sourced mostly in Europe. It sells homeware, fashion and gifts.
Small, independent antiques dealers around the UK are in urgent need of support. This unique one-day event is the chance to do just that. Trawl the stalls of over 70 professional art and antiques dealers at Marylebone’s Antiques Anonymous Flea Market on Sunday 24 June. Find jewellery, clothing, decorative objects and paintings, vintage furniture and antiques at every price point from a whole host of experts from around the UK. Held on Church Street, the home of Alfie’s Antiques Market and a renowned antiques destination, there will be live music, street food and pop-ups too. Free entry.
Ever popular Backyard Cinema have just released the final round of tickets for their August screening of Romeo and Juliet. Baz Luhrmann’s acclaimed 1996 film will be set against the backdrop of Union Chapel, with it’s stained glass windows and candle-lit aisles. The Some Voices choir will sing the live versions of songs from the soundtrack including Young Hearts, Everybody’s Free and Kissing You. Book now and arrive early to nab the best seats.
This year marks 250 years since the invention of the circus. On an abandoned patch of land near London’s Waterloo, showman and equestrian Philip Astley drew out a circle in the ground and filled it with astounding physical acts. Since then jugglers, acrobats, clowns, strong men, bareback riders have entered the ring all around the world.
In celebration of Circus 250, this year’s production from Gifford’s is a story all about the invention of the circus. My Beautiful Circus is a show about running a way with the circus, and the dream of travelling in a velvet-lined wagon under the stars, circus music accompanying a life of freedom, family and art.
Anyone who has ever been to Gifford’s will know the utter magic of their productions. The electric atmosphere in the big top, the hand-painted sets, the hand-made costumes, the spectacularly daring acts and loud fanfare all make for a mesmeric show that is just as joyous for adults as children.
Gifford’s Circus tours the West country, coming to London’s Chiswick House at the end of June. There are still tickets available, but book as soon as possible as their shows always sell out.
Every Friday in a small town tucked into the hillsides south of Paris, friends Shaheen Peerbhai and Jennie Levitt ran a picnic club from a tiny apartment. Finding their simple formula of a sandwich, dessert and a drink (all made from scratch) proved popular, the pair soon moved to Paris and began sending out delicious picnics all over town from parks to private homes, introducing a supper club series too.
This cookbook shares the recipes of the Paris Picnic Club. With a charming, home-made feel, the book is illustrated by Jennie herself, and the small plates, sharing platters, tartines, drinks and desserts are just the sort of thing you fancy cooking at home. Unlike many French cookbooks that focus on predominantly French flavours, this book brings together the sort of diverse, international cuisine you find in Paris, so you’ll find a recipe for spring asparagus with Valençay cheese alongside eggplant katsu with quick-pickled vegetables. And drinks to go with them like home-made rhubarb and blood orange cordial and peach and rosemary syrup.
But the highlight has to be the desserts section where Parisian patisseries and cakes are given a spin. There are tonka brown butter madeleines, vanilla milk cake with tuberose ganache and numerous noisette ideas that are all very tempting. This recipe for Rasperry and Geranium Tart is of-the-moment:
Raspberry and Geranium Tart
We really enjoy infusing our creams with herbs that add an unexpected, delicate perfume to the dessert. At first glance this tart looks like an ordinary raspberry tart, but after one bite you’ll know that it is a twist on the classic recipe, made with French crème pâtissière. We start the process of making the pastry cream the night before, by infusing the milk with rose geranium leaves. After we’ve chilled the pastry cream, we then fold in some whipped cream for a lighter texture. Serves 6-8.
1 home-made or ready-roll Sweet Pastry Dough
240g whole milk
3-4 geranium leaves
3 egg yolks
17g cornstarch
120g whipping cream
15g unsalted butter
225g raspberries
Sweet Pastry Tart
Pre-heat the oven to 170°C. Flour a work surface generously and roll the dough out to a thickness of 3mm and a diameter of about 9-10 inches. Line an 8-inch tart pan with a removable bottom with the dough. Prick the dough with a fork and trim off any excess dough that may be hanging over the sides of the pan. Chill for 10 minutes in the freezer. Remove the pan from the freezer, line it with parchment paper, and then fill the bottom with pie weights. Bake the tart in a pre-heated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the pie weights and the paper and bake the tart for an additional 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely before filling.
Geranium Pastry Cream
In a heavy bottomed saucepan, bring the milk to a boil with the geranium leaves, then turn off the heat and cover with a plastic wrap. Let the geranium leaves steep in the milk overnight in the fridge. The next morning, bring the milk back to a simmer while you prepare the egg yolks.
In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until the mixture lightens in colour. Then add the cornstarch and whisk until smooth.
Discard the geranium leaves and pour the hot milk into the bowl over the egg yolk mixture, as you continue to whisk. Add all of the milk, making sure it’s evenly mixed. Pour this mixture back into the saucepan and this as you cook it over a medium heat.
Keep cooking until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Don’t worry, the yolks will not scramble and separate. Cook until it has thickened and is smooth and shiny. Pour this German Pastry Cream into a clean bowl and stir in the butter until it has melted into the cream.
Cover the cream with plastic wrap, making sure it touches the surface. Chill thoroughly – at least 2-3 hours – before proceeding. Once chilled, pass the cream through a fine sieve, pushing it through with a plastic scraper to be sure it is free of lumps.
In another bowl, whip the cream to soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the pastry cream gently to lighten its texture and colour.
Spread the vanilla pastry cream into the cooled tart shell and place the raspberries in concentric circles, starting from the outside. Serve.
Events at Liberty retain an intimate feel, which is all the well since beauty is a very personal matter. This unique evening cuts straight to it giving you the chance to speak one-on-one with a host of top beauty experts, who will tailor their know-how just for you. Meet iconic stylist Sam McKnight, the founder of Legology Kate Shapland, ELLE UK’s Beauty Director Sophie Beresiner, Blinkbrowbar founder Vanita Parti and Liberty Beauty Buyer Emily Soulsby. There will be drinks from 4pm, with drop-in five minute sessions kicking off at 5pm. Plus, spend £125 on to the night to receive a goody bag worth up to £100 with Liberty Loyalty – available 4 – 8pm, while stocks last. The event is free but you do need to register your interest via the link below.
Alice Levine and Laura Jackson each personify the modern vogue for a portfolio career. Alice is not only a Radio 1 DJ, but also a podcaster (My Dad Wrote a Porno) and co-founder of Jackson Levine, along with her friend Laura who amongst other things is a TV presenter, broadcaster and fashion darling. Together they have created a brand for modern women that started with a sell-out supper club and grew into a book, Round to Ours featuring menus and styling tips for hosting the perfect gathering, plus a successful collaboration with Habitat on a range of linens last summer.
Francesca Side Plate: £12, Small Plate £20. Image Credit: Kristin Perers for Habitat
Now, the duo have paired up with Habitat for a second time to release a homeware range. The inspiration behind the collection is travels in Puglia, and the collection is being made in collaboration with the Fasano family whose small workshop in Grottagli offers traditional craftsmanship.
Annabella Green and Pink Jug: £35, Margarita Red and Pink Jug £45. Image Credit: Kristin Perers for Habitat
However there are numerous current trends at play; colour themes like red and pink, and lilac and yellow, there’s stripes, splatters and Luke Edward Hall-esque figurative line drawings. The result is a completely up-to-date take on classic ceramics. There’s crockery, serving bowls, jugs, utensil jars and pinch pots and we’d like it all please.
Dragging small children around London art galleries often seems like a good idea in theory but the reality can feel like an endurance test. Instead of going solo, join The Little Grand Tour, a genius company that offers small, tailored gallery and museum tours for ages 6-12. The two-hour sessions are delivered by young and playful ‘art wizards’ who engage children with carefully chosen artworks through a combination of listening, interaction and creativity. And whilst your children are stimulated you get a few hours of peace to wander the gallery. Here’s what’s on this summer:
Masterpiece London, The Royal Hospital, Chelsea (28 June – 4 July)
A chance for children to enjoy and interact at a fair which brings them the very best of art, design, furniture and jewellery, from antiquity to the present day. This is a unique chance to engage with art and design in a more intimate setting. There will also be a Treasure Hunt map available for all children to use throughout the Fair.
Picasso & Colour at Tate Modern (7 July, 10am-12pm, 11 July 10am-2pm)
Turner & Constable at Tate Britain (9 July, 10am-12pm)
Edward Bawden & Illustration at The Dulwich Picture Gallery (10 July, 10am-12pm)
Cedric Morris & Floral Fun at The Garden Museum (17 & 18 July, 10.30am-12pm)
Cicely Mary Barker’s ‘Flower Fairies’ at The Garden Museum (28 – 30 August, timings tbc)
Drop-in tours are filled on a first-come-first-serve basis with a maximum of 8 children per session, and private and personalised tours also available. Check The Little Grand Tour website below for details and more July-August dates.
Rona Munro has adapted novelist Elizabeth Strout’s much-loved novel into a 37-page marathon monologue. American actress Laura Linney, who is fabulous in everything she does from Frasier to the The Squid and the Whale, is taking on the daunting challenge of this one-woman play about a writer who is haunted by her childhood. It centres on an encounter with her mother, who she hasn’t seen for years, as she, Lucy, recovers in hospital after an operation. Richard Eyre directs.
Also showing at the striking new Bridge Theatre is a new Alan Bennett play. Nicholas Hytner directs what promises to be a sharply funny take on the NHS in crisis via scenes from The Beth, an old-fashioned hospital on the edge of the Pennines threatened with closure.
David Harrower’s new adaptation of Muriel Spark’s novel. Lia Williams is to play the unorthodox Scottish teacher – a role made famous by Maggie Smith in the film – who takes a group of girls under her wing, with tragic consequences. Polly Findlay directs. NB. All sold out, but more tickets are released every Monday at 12pm on the Donmar’s website. Sign up here to receive a klaxon reminder alert when additional tickets go on sale.
A musical version of Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel. Already a multi-Tony award-winning Broadway hit, this inventive musical follows Alison over her life, from her childhood in a funeral home to her time in college and her coming out. According to the Huffington Post, it is “musical theatre at its best.”
Irish actor Aidan Turner, best known as the heartthrob in Poldark, is to play the unhinged Republican terrorist in Michael Grandage’s revival of Martin McDonagh’s 2001, blackly comic splatterfest. This surreally funny play casts a satirical eye over the moral blindness of terrorism, but it is not for faint of heart.
Sam Mendes directs this epic drama that tells the story of the Lehman Brothers from its inception in 1844 to the financial crash 163 years later. Stefano Massini’s vast and poetic play about three brothers who emigrated from Bavaria to New York and the colossus of a company they created, originally opened at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan in 2015. Ben Powers’ English version unfolds over three parts in a single evening and stars Adam Godley, Ben Miles and Simon Russell Beale as three generations of Lehman brothers. Be warned, tickets for this show are being snapped up fast.
Sally Cookson, who has directed dazzling productions of Jane Eyre and Peter Pan, has turned her attention to Patrick Ness’s piercing novel A Monster Calls, about a boy dealing with his mother’s cancer. It is currently showing at the Bristol Old Vic (until 16 June) before transferring to London. For ages ten+.
Ian McKellen got a flurry of four and five star reviews for his superb performance as Lear in Chichester last year. Jonathan Munby’s production is now heading for the West End, with Sinéad Cusack reprising her role as Kent. Shakespeare’s King Lear will be broadcast live to cinemas across the UK and internationally on Thursday 27th September with National Theatre Live.
Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4BG
Martin Freeman, Jane Horrocks, Tamsin Greig, Danny Dyer and David Suchet are among the starry line up bringing all Harold Pinter’s one-act plays to the West End. The ambitious season, staged by the Jamie Lloyd Company and marking the 10th anniversary of Pinter’s death, will see twenty plays from all periods of Pinter’s writing life – including The Lover and Moonlight – staged over 24 weeks. Patrick Marber, Jamie Lloyd and Lyndsey Turner are among the directors.
Harold Pinter Theatre,Panton St, SW1Y 4DN
It’s goodbye for now…
The team at A Little Bird are taking a break to recharge and make some exciting changes behind-the-scenes. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
