Welcome to our monthly need-to-know list 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 can be challenging to keep up with all the shiny newness out there. Here at ES Best, we’ve got our ear to the ground and are constantly looking for the newest fashion, events, and food and drink, so you don’t have to. From sell-out collections to limited edition collaborations, with exclusive events and new store unveilings in between, we’ve got you covered so you don’t miss out on a thing.
October is here and a month of mischief awaits. A change of season means a change of wardrobe too, and we can’t wait to layer up in cosy separates after September’s surprise Indian summer.
There are plenty of opportunities for fashion, from weekend pootling with mates to nailing your fancy dress look at end-of-month Halloween parties. Get the skinny on what to wear for less with our roundup of the best fashion sales happening right now.
The month’s biggest sale comes from Amazon, which is holding a Big Deal Days event on October 10 and 11. Slashing the price of thousands of items, the bargain bonanza is your chance to start ticking off your shopping list for end-of-year happenings, allowing you to stretch your budget that bit further. Find all the best deals in our dedicated section here.
October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month and offers a chance to help you join the campaign against this horrible disease - and bag yourself something pretty along the way too. And it’s Sober October and Stoptober; your cue to kick cigarettes once and for all, or have a break from booze. Knowing thousands are joining you on your 28-day journey should give you the support and the willpower to go the distance. While we believe in the power of yes, sometimes good things happen when you say no.
And of course, there’s the usual smorgasbord of glittering new launches, exciting collabs and epic shopping drops to make this October shine like it should.
If you’re ever at a loss for something to do at the weekend or want to scratch the retail therapy itch, we’ll be keeping this page up-to-date all month long; best add it to your bookmarks so you’ve got the insider’s guide right at your fingertips.
Ready? Let’s go ghouls
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Rixo launches The Goddess of the Nile collection
The new season collection has dropped at Rixo, and the race is on to pack your wardrobe full of fancy new threads for party season ahead. Titled The Goddess of the Nile, the line is, naturally, Egyptian-inspired with delightfully luxurious winter-ready fabrics and finishings: think sequins, velvet and gold foil prints.
Prices from £150.
Buy now £150.00, Rixo
RÆBURN holds an archive sale
RÆBURN, eco-conscious fashion label and champion of the modern Rs - that's remade, reuse, recycle - is throwing a sale this month that will put some of its archive treasures up for grabs.
The event will take place in the brand's Hackney lab from October 19 - 22, with end-of-line pieces, military artefacts and rare one-offs going for silly prices meaning now’s your chance to get your hands on something really special for a lot less than you’d expect (think up to 80 per cent off RRP). We’ve got everything crossed for the silk map series.
See you at the rails!
Address: RÆBURN Lab, Unit 1, The Textile Building, 29a Chatham Place London E9 6NY
Buy now, Eventbrite
Matches hosts Sellier pre-loved fashion treasures
Believe in second chances? Luxury resale platform Sellier has joined forces with Matches to allow customers to buy some of the most coveted fashion and accessory pieces on the market in a streamlined way.
We're talking pre-loved Chanel handbags, sold-out treasures from the Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama collaboration and virtually extinct Birkins.
What are you waiting for? One yer bike!
Buy now, Matches
Monica Vinader x Kate Young New Launch
Jeweller Monica Vinader has teamed up with legendary red-carpet stylist Kate Young on a new collection, following the sell-out success of their first collab. The new seven-strong line is all about simple yet bold styles crafted on 100 per cent recycled 18K gold vermeil, heightened with gemstones like Tiger’s Eye and Onyx.
Prices from £80.
Buy now £80.00, Monica Vinader
Dr. Martens launches Tate-inspired boots
London’s Tate galleries are an endless source of inspiration; including, it seems, for fashion brands. Dr. Martens has centred its latest collection on provocative British surrealist and occultist Ithell Colquhoun’s works.
The iconic 1460 boot has been turned into a canvas for showcasing two of her most expressive works: ‘Volcanic Flare’ and ‘Example of Decalcomania Technique’.
Talk about getting October off on the right foot.
Buy now £189.00, Dr. Martens
Fenty x Puma drop new trainers
Rihanna has gotten into bed with sneaker brand Puma once more on a fresh collab that’s perfect for kicking around in this season. The unisex trainers blend football aesthetics with the brand’s running shoe for a fresh silhouette that’s available in a black and white colourway as well as silver with sizes ranging from kids to adults.
Buy now £150.00, Puma
Good American launches wild new collection
After nailing denim with its fits-like-a-glove designs, Kardashian co-owned brand Good American is on to new things. Its latest line is the Compression Shine collection and it’s made for slinking around at the beginning of cosy season. We’re talking bodysuits, catsuits, bodies and trousers in black or leopard print and rounded off with a glistening finish to show off every inch of your curves.
From £52.
Buy now £52.00, Good American
John Lewis opens its Christmas Shop
The battle of the Christmas shops has begun! London’s biggest and best department stores have pulled back this year’s tinsel-covered curtain to showcase their Yuletide looks for Christmas 2023.
At John Lewis’s Oxford Street flagship, you’ll find an entire floor dedicated to six stunning themes and decorations with electric blue and copper-coloured trees and 300 baubles - including an air fryer design (really) - in the mix. Shop them individually or get a pic ‘n’ mix style box for £16.
Also in the coming weeks, John Lewis will showcase local businesses in mini Christmas Markets at seven of its stores, allowing you to shop artisan and handmade items from small sellers.
Buy now, John Lewis
Morrisons launches Toy Sale
It's never too early to start Christmas shopping, especially if you've got young ones to please. Morrisons' Toy Sale is back, with up to 57 per cent off the ticket of popular gifts like the Barbie Dream Camper Playset. There are excellent deals on Hot Wheels, Peppa Pig, Mario Kart and more to be found too.
It's true what they say: the early bird catches the juiciest deals.
Buy now, Morrisons
Fortnum & Mason launch fresh bagel counter
The evolution of London’s luxury grocer continues. As well as a new culinary workshop space, Fortnum’s has launched a fresh bagel counter on the Lower Ground floor giving on-the-go bites a (w)hole new appeal.
With six types of bagel and 11 cream cheese options including coffee or jalapeño, plus plenty of gourmet fillings to choose from, the combinations are sizeable.
We tried the curious but wonderful Toffolossus flavour with Cream Cheese slathered generously on a chewy cinnamon and raisin bagel. The effect has whispers of hot cross buns, and teamed with the right hot drink is bound to put a spring in your step - whatever the season. Standby for superior sarnies.
Buy now, Fortnum's
Heinz launches new Tomato Ketchup Pasta Sauce
It's the sort of thing that’d make all of Italy's nonnas spit in disgust, but if you're the sort of hedonist that puts ketchup on pasta, Heinz has made just the sauce for you. The limited edition Heinz Tomato Ketchup Pasta Sauce will be available for four weeks from Tesco for £2.50. Whether you can live with yourself afterwards is a question for you, and you alone.
Buy now £2.50, Tesco
Dunelm’s Christmas charity drive launches for a fourth year
It's still a couple of months off, but the spirit of Christmas has arrived at Dunelm. The homewares shop has relaunched its Christmas campaign which sees 180 branches pair with local causes to deliver gifts and decorations to those in need this festive period.
If you want to join in and make someone's year, simply pick up a tag from your local Dunelm store, attach it to the gift you want to donate (which can be from any retailer) and drop it back off at your store. Dunelm will play Santa and deliver the goods to the school, care home, refuge or charity in question. An easy way to spread goodwill.
Buy now, Dunelm
