Summer may be running out, but make the most of the long weekend with our recommendations for food, film, culture and shopping
See: Manolo Blahnik: An Enquiring Mind at the Wallace Collection, London
In the exquisite setting of the Wallace Collection, see some of Manolo Blahnik’s most intricate and iconic creations alongside 18th-century Rococo paintings. (Though if you can’t make it this weekend, the exhibition has now been extended until October.)
Watch: Pain and Glory
Pedro Almodóvar’s latest, partly autobiographical, film Pain and Glory is in UK cinemas from today. Starring longtime Almodóvar collaborators Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz, the movie tells the story of a director in a creative slump, who is facing memories from his childhood and adolescence.
See: Vivian Maier: Colour Photographs at Huxley-Parlour, London
Now in its final few weeks, don’t miss Huxley-Parlour’s exhibition of Vivian Maier’s extraordinary colour photographs. The American image-maker was a quiet pioneer of street photography in her lifetime, with her full archive only being discovered at the very end of her life. This latest London exhibition reveals colour photography that hasn’t previously been exhibited in the UK.
Shop: Ganni’s new London store
Cult Danish brand Ganni has just opened a London flagship. The colourful Soho space is the brand’s first in the UK, and there are sustainable elements throughout: furniture crafted from recycled plastic and pressed fabric, and the store operates a garment recycling scheme. Plus, head to the store to find three styles exclusive to Ganni’s new London home.
Watch: The Leopard
After the passing of visionary Italian costume designer Piero Tosi, revisit 1963 film The Leopard, directed by Luchino Visconti. Tosi and Visconti collaborated on a number of films, and shared a highly exacting, meticulous way of working, with close attention paid to the historical accuracy of The Leopard’s costumes (the film’s lead actress Claudia Cardinale wore an unrelenting period-correct corset, invisible under her voluminous Dior-designed gown, for ballroom scenes). Set in 1860, the epic Italian drama is considered one of Visconti’s finest works.
Eat: Flor, Borough Market
In the heart of Borough Market, wine bar and bakery Flor opened earlier this summer. With baked goods and coffee available in the mornings, Flor’s menu prioritises sharing plates and wines by the carafe for lunch and dinner – the perfect spot for a leisurely bank holiday bite.
