There’s nowhere quite like London in the summer: the parks throng with life, sunshine bounces off the City’s skyscrapers and ice cream vans trundle merrily along the streets. It’s almost enough to make you forget that autumn is just a few weeks away.
But it is, and even if you’re headed off on a overseas holiday, the new school year will be here before you know it. Get ahead of the pack and kit out the kids now to avoid start-of-term stress.
We’re not wishing the summer away though, there’s plenty to look forward to between now and scarf-digging-out-time.
August is ripe for the taking, whether you’re festival-bound, flipping backyard burgers or day-tripping to the coast. And with temperatures remaining high, there’s still plenty of reason to invest in things to keep you cool through the heat.
Even if you’re not planning to venture far from home, there’s plenty to keep you occupied in this fabulous city we all call home. From Lush pop-ups and eco-friendly mattresses to the hotly anticipated Love Island charity auction, here’s your Shopping Shortlist, ready to get you locked and loaded for whatever’s on your August agenda.
There’s no time to waste: shop to it
Boots gives customers the Advantage
It's been 25 years of Boots Advantage card, and to celebrate, the high street pharmacist and beauty expert is holding it's biggest ever member's event. Expect mega offers for Advantage Card holders as well as rewards and prizes from now until the end of September.
From quadruple points (it's never too early to start banking for Christmas), to 25 per cent off selected products and competitions to win 25,000 points, there's never been more reason to shop online or in-store.
See you at the tills!
Buy now, Boots
Robert Dyas blows out 150th birthday candles with epic deals
Landmark birthdays are always cause for a huge celebration, and this year, high street home and garden store Robert Dyas is marking 150 years serving customers. To mark the milestone, it will offer up 150 deals every day for the next 150 days, running from August 4 right through until the end of the year, December 31.
Deals include:
Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki AirJet Hot Tub Inflatable Spa - was: £799.99, now: £499.93
Salter EK2818 3.2L Hot Air Fryer - was: £99.99, now: £49.99
Silentnight Mirapocket Geltex 1000 90cm Mattress - was: £539.99, now: £323.99
Monaco 6-Seater Rattan Dining Set - was: £1499.99, now: £499.93
Outback Meteor 4-Burner Hybrid Gas & Charcoal BBQ - Red - was: £549.99, now: £299.93
Monaco 2-Seater Reclining Set with Footstools - was: £469.99, now: £199.93
Buy now, Robert Dyas
A cleaner, greener bed from Simba
If the state of the planet is enough to keep you awake at night, bed-in-a-box brand Simba is here to make your dreams a little sweeter, not to mention more sustainable. The sleep expert has just launched its biggest and greenest innovation yet: the Simba Green Organic ‘Go’ Mattress.
The low-impact mattress is made with half the carbon emissions of a traditional hybrid version, with six layers handmade from naturally biodegradable, renewable or recycled materials.
The new launch price has 40 per cent off wiped off the RRP with doubles from £1289.40.
Buy now £1289.40, Simba
Rowing Blazers celebrates Winnie the Pooh
NYC clothing brand Rowing Blazers has turned a classic children's character into a fashion icon with its new collection. Featuring Winne the Pooh in honour of the 1926 book entering the public domain, the capsule collection is all about elevated athleisure finished with images from the classic A.A. Milne book. Needless to say, it's completely adorbs. Prices from £50.
Buy now £50.00, Rowing Blazers
Skims Swim will help you make a splash
Are your current swimwear options feeling a bit tired? Take your poolside game to the next level thanks to Skims’ latest drop, made for more than churning up the fast lane. As well as one pieces and bikinis, there are cover ups and accessories (including swim gloves!). In short, everything you need to amp up the drama at the beach and beyond.
Buy now, Skims
By Rotation pops up in Belgravia
When it comes to sustainable fashion, the latest trend is glad rag rental: all the fun of the frock without the upkeep or hogging wardrobe space, and for significantly less than if you’d bought it outright. We’re sold.
Following the storming success of its Westfield and Cheshire Oaks pop-up, social fashion network By Rotation is temporarily setting up shop in Belgravia, an area not short of a designer boutique or two.
From August 4 until September 20, you can pick up outfits you’ve reserved online in-store. As well as sweet sartorial eye candy, the pop-up will host late night shopping with complimentary drinks as you browse, beauty experiences and more.
Timings: Monday - Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm
Address: 75 Elizabeth Street, Belgravia SW1W 9PJ
Buy now, By Rotation
Love Island: steal their style with eBay
The final may have been and gone, but the fashion trends to have flown out of this year's villa will live on. Auction site eBay has launched the Love Island auction which lists 60 of pieces of apparel for fans to get their hands on. Think Tasha's gorgeous Couture slit dress, Indiyah's red House of CB dress and Dami's matching red Dior shirt from their Spanish sightseeing date. Bidding starts at 99p and all profits will go to Oxfam. Better be quick though, the auctions will end of August 5.
Buy now, eBay
KFC x HYPE launch fashion collection
If fried chicken is one of your guilty pleasures, you can now wear your heart on your sleeve thanks to a new collab between KFC and lifestyle brand HYPE. The 47-piece collection includes clothing like hoodies and racer jackets as well as accessories like the KFC Bucket Bag and a drinks bag specially designed to fit in the Colonel’s menu favourites. Fans will be able to get their hands on the items from August 4 from HYPE’s online store.
Buy now, HYPE.
Lick launches mindful wallpaper and paint palette
Following the revelation that 60 per cent of people find their mood impacted by their environment, paint and wallpaper brand Lick has launched a limited edition 'paint-it-yourself' Mindful Wallpaper.
Paired with a calming colour palette curated by Tash Bradley, Lick’s Director of Interior Design and Colour Psychologist, the idea is to put the paper up and give it your unique finishing touch with the colours.
As well as meaning no two 'wallpapers will look exactly the same, therapeutic painting will help you feel more grounded and give you a break from screentime - a win in anyone's book.
Best of all, 100 per cent of the profits will go to mental health charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably).
£75 a roll.
Buy now £75.00, Lick
London gets Lusher
Coal Drops Yard will be a slightly more fragrant place this August as the North London shopping area welcomes Lush’s first vending machine, open for 24 hours a day.
There’s just one catch: it will only stock spray bottles of the brand’s Snow Fairy gifts and products, good news for anyone who can’t get enough of the stuff - or anyone who wants to get a super head start on their Christmas shopping. There’s only four months left, after all (sorry).
Buy now, Lush
Russell & Bromley open new store on Regent Street
The West End just became a bit more well heeled thanks to the new and refreshed Russell & Bromley store, which has reopened at its new home on 126 Regent Street.
Stacked with quality footwear for men and women, there’s never been a better time to hot foot it down there, whether you’re looking for holiday footwear or eyeing up a new purchase for autumn.
Buy now, Russell & Bromley
