HEAD OF EDITORIAL CONTENT, BRITISH VOGUE
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After what was a fantastic run, England’s World Cup hopes were dashed last night, so quite frankly I’m in my feelings today. Though fat tears are rolling down my cheeks and into my matcha latte, I’ll do my best to keep the mood buoyant for the purposes of this newsletter. Mercifully, there are some reasons to be cheerful – or at least stories that will make you weep in a good way, like Savannah Miller’s heartwarming personal essay about being pregnant in her 40s. I spoke to her for Vogue’s The Runthrough podcast this week.
In times of heartbreak, retail therapy is the only thing that really soothes me – something that my mother, who hates shopping, discovered when I was a toddler waddling excitedly alongside her on Oxford Street. Helpfully I was just introduced to Roksanda Ilinčić’s fantastic new boutique on Sloane Street, which is perfect for a much-needed hit of fashion-induced serotonin.
There’s nothing quite like music to heal the soul either, so shout out to Charli XCX, whose new album will drop any day now. I skipped the France Vs Spain game on Tuesday night to attend her secret concert in King’s Cross, and it was well worth it. As for the forthcoming final? Vamos España!
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Savannah Miller on the Pod
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I am a crier, so it’s not unusual to find me reading through proofs with tears in my eyes. This month, the most tender story we put to print was undoubtedly Savannah Miller’s essay. The photos of her with her daughters, Bali and Lyra, nestled happily in the fields of glorious Gloucestershire, where she lives, stopped me in my tracks when they first appeared in my inbox. Miller’s story is deeply personal, one that encapsulates both the tender nuances that come with motherhood at every stage, but also the joys of building a blended family. I knew after reading it that I needed to get her on the podcast, stat. She showed up for the recording looking radiant in a simple crisp white shirt and slouchy jeans, and with a real sense of ease about her despite the stifling heat. She talked candidly about what it means to navigate pregnancy in your 40s versus your 20s, explaining that it’s been a real act of surrender and slowing down – one that has been both humbling and liberating. I loved hearing her talk about the early days of her career as a designer, too, back when she was fresh out of Central Saint Martins and working for Alexander McQueen. Her thoughts on the word “boho” also made me chuckle.
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Besides being a terrific designer, Roksanda Ilinčić has great taste in just about everything. So I knew her shop, which opened quietly earlier this year, would have lots of pleasing eye candy besides the clothes. With museum-worthy design pieces – including an impressive Brutalist Ron Arad bed frame laden with antique books, and hand-blown glass works by British artist Gabriele Beveridge, the space is exquisite. Turns out it’s all shoppable too, down to the immaculate folded rose petal bouquets arranged by Grandirosa. Ilinčić worked with cult east London vintage furniture gallery Béton Brut to decorate the boutique. My favourites were Shiro Kuramata’s mesh metal Sing Sing Sing chairs from the 1980s. (Azzedine Alaïa was a fan of Kuramata and a collector, so I’m in good company.)
On the very top floor there’s a collection Ilinčić has named the “White Edit”, a series of white dresses that can be made in any number of custom colours. The designer has such an amazing colour sense, and though she was wearing shades of beige the day we met, she’s never without her signature red lip. I really hope she does a make-up collection one day.
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I would not describe myself as a party animal now, but once upon a time raving was my religion. I was reminded of those bygone days on Tuesday night at Charli XCX’s surprise concert at Scala, a venue I frequented in my club kid youth. Charli’s new album is set to drop later this month, and as she revealed in her stunning British Vogue cover story, the sound for her new chapter is decidedly rock inflected. All I can say is that in that hot sweaty concert hall, she was every inch the rockstar, dressed in leather hot pants, sheer tights and white pumps, her waist-length hair swinging wildly. Her performance was truly electric. She ended her hour-long set just before 10pm and we all floated back out into the night, buzzing with good vibes. I’m ashamed to say it was my first time seeing her live, but now I’m totally hooked.
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The Reconstituted Shirred Football Top
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Men's Le 7 Bowling Bag Large
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Energy Striped Wool Track Pants
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