£18.50
September means back to school – and even though those days may be long behind, this William Morris designed, recycled leather notebook gives us the fresh feel of a new term. Available through the William Morris Gallery, the plain pages begged to be filled with sketches and ideas. Cray was designed by Morris in 1884, but remains a timeless, Arts and Crafts classic.
£80
Iconic London department store Liberty turns 150 this year, and to celebrate this landmark moment in its history, they’ve produced a travelling exhibition and this glorious publication bringing new historical, social and cultural perspectives to Liberty’s past and present by the likes of Thomas Heatherwick, Emma Dabiri, and Grayson Perry. The story begins with founder Arthur Lasenby, who opened his first store on Regent Street in 1875 and winds up in the imagined future. Much more than a conventional book, the publication was conceived with Trolley Books as an exhibition in a box modelled after Duchamp’s La Boîte-en-valise and Andy Warhol’s Index and Photoworks’s Festival in a Box. A true collector’s item and a timeless, engaging slice of British cultural, fashion and design history.
£55
Stephen Shore’s remarkable, groundbreaking career in photography began aged 6, with a gift. The photographer’s lifelong passion for photography stemmed from his first Kodak Darkroom kit, and has evolved through decades of devoted practice photographing his surroundings, American vernacular scenes, everyday life and culture that often surprise with colour and details. This new book, published by MACK books and available to pre-order ahead of its 1st September release date, reveals some of Shore’s earliest ever pictures, taken as a teen in New York in the 1960s.
£17.99
Out next week is this essential summer read from Penguin Random House, an omnibus edition of late legendary American writer and journalist Joan Didion’s collected nonfiction, including her deeply personal works on parenthood, grief and aging, Blue Nights, South and West, Let Me Tell You What I Mean – the final four books she published – and her bestselling, The Year of Magical Thinking. This is a collection that shows Didion “at her best: bearing witness to our history, illuminating our culture, and shedding light on the human condition.” Didion passed away in 2021 aged 87 but her legacy lives boldly on, as this collection of her brilliant writing proves.
£70
A fun take on the marine theme: Philip Colbert’s smile-inducing Lobster Burger soft toy is a plush take on the artist and designer’s famous cartoon lobster character – Colbert’s playful alter-ego. As the artist puts it “I became an artist when I became a Lobster.” This particular lobster persona represents Colbert’s ongoing fascination with Pop consumer culture.
£50
No seaside trip would be complete without an Armor Lux breton top. The French label are the go-to for the classic stripe cotton jersey top, originally designed for French naval officers in the 19th century. Coco Chanel, taking inspiration from fisherman on the French Riviera, adopted the design in 1917 and made it a timeless fashion staple. It has since become iconic with effortless French chic – worn by Pablo Picasso, Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot, to name a few.
£1,440
This week’s Objects of Desire at The Wick takes a seaside inspired theme: first up are these fish-inspired beauties, made with dyed freshwater pearls, hand-enamelled details and 18k gold-finished sterling silver, the kind of quality craftsmanship you’d expect from Bottega Veneta. The fresh mint and yellow colour adds to the fun holiday-ready vibe.
POA
Nothing says British summer more to us than this perfect painting by Florence Houston, part of the artist’s recent solo exhibition at Lyndsey Ingram Powder Puff. The artist has been obsessively painting desserts since 2021, when she turned her attention to Victorian decorative jelly moulds. Her works explore the idea of ‘eating with our eyes’ and ideas about taste.The perfect balance of nostalgia, twee and the absurd, Huston’s pink whip has a delectable kind of sensuality to it with its wobbling curves piled high. A delicious calorie-free treat.
£2.80
Unless you’ve been living under the proverbial rock, you will have made note of M&S’ viral sensation, the Japanese fruit sando inspired strawberries and cream sandwich, made with whipped cream cheese and sweetened bread. Thanks to TikTok, customers have been charging shops and the item became the British brand’s bestselling sarnie after just two days. Available at M&S stores for a limited time. Add to your picnic basket pronto!
