Welcome to our monthly need-to-know dispatch of the latest and greatest releases that should be on your radar for the month ahead.
With a full-time job, busy social life, and social media accounts to update, it’s challenging to keep up with all the shiny newness out there.
Here at ES Best, we’ve got our ears to the ground and our noses pressed against digital shop fronts, always looking for the latest fashion, events, sample sales, pop-ups and food and drink - so you don’t have to. From viral collections to limited edition collaborations, with exclusive events, fresh launches and new store unveilings in between, we’ve got you covered so you don’t miss out on a thing.
June may mark the year’s halfway point but it’s also when summer gets into full swing.
Summer solstice will take place in the UK on June 20 at 9.50pm, making it the longest day of the year - something to celebrate in our book. And celebrate many of us will, with festivals like the Isle of Wight and Glastonbury taking place this month, not to mention Euro 2024 kicking off. Whatever green field you’re cheering on, we’ve got the looks to fit, plus practical and hi-tech camping essentials.
Swifties have been counting down to June since The Great War of Ticketmaster (Taylor’s Version). The UK’s leg of the megastar's long-awaited tour will land at Wembley Stadium on June 21, 22 and 23, returning on August 15, 16, 17, 19 and 20. Haven't worked out what you're wearing yet? Our dedicated fashion guide - collated by ES's own die-hard Swiftie, no less - has you covered, whatever Era you’re in.
And don’t forget Father’s Day, taking place on June 16. If you’re stuck for ideas, we’ve got the lists to inspire - with plenty of last-minute options too.
And of course, there’s the usual smorgasbord of glittering new launches, exciting collabs and epic shopping drops to make this June shine.
If you’re ever at a loss for something to do at the weekend or want to scratch the retail therapy itch, we’ll keep this page updated all month long; it’s best to bookmark it so you’ve got the insider’s guide right at your fingertips.
Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter version of this Shortlist for a weekly digest covering everything from fashion and furniture to tech and travel.
Excited? You should be.
Astrid & Miyu add to lab-grown gemstone collection
Jewellery box looking a bit lacklustre? Add some sparkle back to your accessories with Astrid & Miyu's new gemstone collection. Cultured sustainably above ground, the collection includes emeralds and pink sapphires, adding an easy splash of colour to your ring stack or ear curation.
Prices from £160.
Buy now £160.00, Astrid & Miyu
RIXO x Ciao Lucia launch collab
With warmer weather here, cute outfits are the order of the day, every day. You can always rely on RIXO for a fancy frock or two, and even more so now that its launch with LA-based label Ciao Lucia is here.
The 12-piece collection contains a mix of options for work and play with silks, cotton and viscose running throughout the line. Prices start at £265.
Buy now, RIXO
Tanqueray launches limited edition Paradiso flavour
Summer always delivers a flood of fun limited edition flavours to enjoy in the rays. Tanqueray is leading the charge with a new flavoured gin for the season ahead. Called Paradiso, the spirit is packed with juicy guava and lemongrass notes, giving your tastebuds a tropical treat - whatever the weather. And that bottle! Pure sunset vibes.
Buy now £20.00, Amazon
GRIND x Hello Kitty collab
Can't start the day without your caffeine fix? Neither can Japan's most famous feline, it seems.
The collab we're most excited about right now is GRIND's tie-up with Hello Kitty, with Sanrio’s iconic cat featuring across the coffee brand's compostable pods, coffee cups (also suitable for sipping wine or coffee-based cocktails on the move) and other merch, like the utterly adorable tee (£34).
Consider joy well and truly sparked.
Buy now, GRIND
The Cheeky Panda launches festival essentials bundle
Festivals: fun, but messy. Without ready access to running water, it can be hard to keep clean. Enter The Cheeky Panda.
The sustainable hygiene brand has launched a new bundle that is perfect for packing with the rest of your camping gear, from toilet toll and pocket tissues to straws and baby wipes, all crafted from planet-friendly bamboo fibres.
Buy now £24.99, The Cheeky Panda
Emma launches its first UK showroom
Trying to sleep on a bad mattress is a nightmare, but now you can try Emma's bestselling sleep products in person thanks to a new store that's just opened at Westfield White City.
Located on the ground floor, the shop spotlights the sleep expert's collection of mattresses as well as accessories like mattress protectors, pillows, duvets and linens. If you're unsure which way to go, book a free sleep consultation for personalised advice.
Plus: right now the brand is offering up to 50 per cent off in its online outlet sale.
Buy now, Emma
La Gioiosa partners with Kennedy's of London
We're at the age now where we know better than to get battered on a Friday night - unless it's in the name of a fish and chip supper. To mark National Fish and Chip Day on June 6, prosecco brand La Gioiosa has spiked the fish batter at Kennedy’s with its sparkling elixir, adding a luxe twist to the takeaway favourite.
The brands are offering a limited-time deal from June 5 - 21 called Fizz & Chips, where a portion of the delicious Prosecco-battered supper will come with a complimentary 20cl bottle of La Gioiosa too. Cheers to that!
Buy now £13.95, Deliveroo
Neat Burger and 1Rebel launch protein-rich Spicy Rebel Stack
Burgers and a workout don't usually go hand in hand - well, until now, that is.
Gym 1Rebel has teamed up with Neat Burger to create a new bite that promises to be the perfect post-workout all-vegan snack.
The spicy burger called the Rebel Stack is made up of a BBQ Korean Chick’n burger topped with sesame cucumber, crunchy Asian slaw, crispy onions, garlic aioli and tangy K-sauce for a bit of fire.
It'll be available from Neat Burger's Soho, Victoria and Camden branches for £10.50 but you can order it on delivery too from £11.
Available from June 3 - 30.
Buy now, Deliveroo
Ole & Steen launch Solstice giveaway
In celebration of Midsommar, the Danish bakery chain is giving away an incredible 250,000 of its cinnamon social pastries. The delicious bite which is laced with sweet spice and drizzled with icing is yours for free: just download the Ole & Steen app to bag enough introductory welcome points to 'buy'. Tak!
Buy now, Ole & Steen
