Latest news with #CecilBeaton
Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Review: There's nothing in L.A. quite like the hardest reservation in Palm Springs
The first time I dined at Bar Cecil, my visit to Palm Springs had been planned less than 48 hours before. It was in the midst of the devastating January wildfires, and my sinuses were screaming in protest, even with two air purifiers running in my apartment. I was lucky enough to live outside of the evacuation zones, but I could not sleep well, I could not breathe well and after two days of inhaling toxic chemicals, I could barely think straight. Guiltily, my partner and I decided to flee to the desert. The suburban sprawl of the San Gabriel Valley was bathed in ominous, orange-tinted sunlight as we drove east. Eventually, we reached the Inland Empire, where the skies were once again a peaceful, comforting shade of blue. By the time we arrived at the Plaza Del Sol Shopping Center in Palm Springs, it was nearly 5pm and we were hungry, both literally and for a taste of normalcy. We parked the car and I sprinted to put my name down. Alas, I was too late: The 12 walk-in bar seats at Bar Cecil were already full. In the end, we opted to wait in the tiny, tranquil courtyard for over an hour. The chilled, expertly made martini that followed, as well as the green salad, duck liver pate, flat iron steak frites and chocolate chip cookies that accompanied it, turned out to be one of the most satisfying meals I've had in Southern California this year—and I've visited over a hundred restaurants since. Since opening in 2021, Bar Cecil has been one of the most popular reservations in Palm Springs, if not the most difficult one in the greater Coachella Valley. The intimate 75-seat restaurant's name and colorful, maximalist interior design are inspired by Sir Cecil Beaton, the late British photographer, designer and all-around queer icon, whose portrait hangs on the wall by the bar. The classically inclined drink program includes several variations on a martini, including a supersized $50 version listed under the cheekily labeled 'Why Not?' section of the menu. Tying everything together are the culinary offerings from chef partner Gabriel Woo, a Palm Springs native who skillfully incorporates produce from San Diego's Girl & Dug Farm and locally grown dates onto the seasonally inspired, French-leaning menu. If I'm being honest, there isn't anything being served at Bar Cecil you haven't already seen somewhere else in Los Angeles. There is a 'colossal' shrimp cocktail; buttery, traditionally prepared escargot anointed with parsley and lemon oil; a quintet of fluffy dinner rolls accompanied by sweet whipped butter; and of course, a burger, which can be made with an Impossible patty or supplemented with avocado or bacon. But for all the stylishly designed L.A. hangouts serving crowdpleasing bistro fare and cocktails, there isn't a single place in the city that comes close to Bar Cecil. Much of that can be chalked up to the chef's culinary mastery. Woo's concise menu might sound fairly safe on paper, but from start to finish, the execution of every dish is downright brilliant. It's no wonder the four-year-old restaurant remains popular among locals and tourists alike. Before my second—and full disclosure, hosted—visit in early May, I was wandering around the parking lot and happened across a woman closing up shop for the day. 'You're going to Bar Cecil? Man, I end up there about once a week,' she told me. After checking in with the host, my party of two was led through the string-lit, tiled floor patio and seated in one of the four booths in the dining room. Essentially all tables at Bar Cecil are held for reservations, which are released online at midnight 14 days in advance. During the summer, when daily temperatures regularly crack triple digits, Bar Cecil fully encloses the patio and blasts a few portable air conditioners, converting what would have otherwise been an uncomfortably hot alfresco setup into an extension of the temperature-controlled dining room. To kick off the night, I ordered the $50 martini. Despite the eye-popping price point, it's one of the most popular cocktails on the menu. Made with Jean-Charles Boisset vodka, the supersized drink is adorned with a house-pickled pearl onion. The martini also comes with a caviar-topped deviled egg and a side of seasoned fried sunchoke chips that vaguely reminded me of dried cannabis in both taste and appearance. Regulars who order 10 of the pricey martinis over time can get their name and a catchphrase of choice put on a small golden plaque, joining a small, but growing hall of fame visible on your way to the bathroom. I sampled two other cocktails later in the evening to explore what Bar Cecil's other non-martini options were like, but I'll be honest: Even with a full meal in me and a little help from my plus-one, the $50 martini left me so utterly sloshed I barely remember what the other two drinks tasted like. It's that big. Next came the restaurant's famous bread rolls, which come served with whipped sage butter sweetened with local dates. Fluffy and warm, the rolls practically melt in your mouth, and it was difficult to stop myself from eating more than one before digging into the mild but tasty steak tartare. The highlight among the starters is undoubtedly the bowl of steamed Prince Edward Island mussels, served in an herbaceous, immaculately prepared red curry. The delicate bivalves themselves were so creamy and delicious, I was reminded of a meal I once had in Brussels, home to some of the best moules frites I've ever eaten. For mains, we ordered the steak frites with the filet mignon upgrade and the smoked pork chop. It was my second time ordering the steak frites. This time around, I was in Palm Springs under far less dire circumstances, but the steak, freshly cut fries and bearnaise sauce were just as excellent as when I first ordered them—confirming that my high regard for Bar Cecil wasn't solely due to the fact it was my first real meal after days of nonstop reporting on restaurant-related wildfire news and barely eating due to stress. The filet was flawlessly prepared medium rare as requested, but I would still recommend the more reasonably priced flat iron option; unless you're craving the tenderness of filet mignon, the standard cut will most definitely satisfy. I also loved the tender pork chop, perfectly paired with broccolini, potatoes au gratin and a seasonal fruit chutney. While the food and drink options are undeniably top-notch, the unique decor and one-of-a-kind ambience are what further sets Bar Cecil apart. From the minute you walk past the host stand, your eyes are already feasting on the twinkling string lights, charming patio furniture and the gargantuan silver tureen of oranges, lemons and limes that sits on a stone tabletop by the entrance. Inside the actual dining room, the walls and shelves behind the bar are full of modern art and books—the private collection of Bar Cecil's aesthetically inclined owners, Richard Crisman and Jeff Brock, who are partners in business and in life. The level of detail in the design and layout is truly impressive; the couple even commissioned a matching green mini-split AC unit to blend in with the accent wall of patterned green wallpaper. In the months between visits to Bar Cecil, I quietly mourned for my city and racked my brain trying to answer my own question: Where could I approximate the same experience in Los Angeles? While the real answer is nowhere, the two places that come closest—and though I say close, they both miss by miles—are Bar Etoile in East Hollywood and the Benjamin 'Hollywood,' which is actually on Melrose. Needless to say, neither place replicates the splendid surroundings of Bar Cecil. Recently recognized by the Michelin Guide, Bar Etoile is essentially an oversized wine bar. There's a reason for this—the stylish restaurant comes from the team behind Domaine LA, one of the best wine shops in the city. I'm partial to the cavernous baby blue booths and horseshoe-shaped bar, which also serves a decent martini, along with other reasonably priced cocktails. The menu also includes a terrific plate of steak frites, but chef Travis Hayden, who most recently worked at Voodoo Vin in Virgil Village, runs a subtler, market-driven menu dominated by small plates and cheffy renditions of typical wine bar fare. From an outsider's perspective, the Benjamin more closely resembles Bar Cecil, with dinner rolls, deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, a burger, steak and chocolate chip cookies on the menu. The Art Deco-inspired interiors are luxurious in their own right, but unlike Bar Cecil, the straightforward food is overpriced and missing a certain je ne sais quoi, and the scene most nights is downright insufferable. On a night when table reservations were backed up, I once witnessed a group of men seemingly lifted straight out of Entourage whine to the host about missing their bottle service reservation at the club. The drinks, however, are excellent—and you can now get them upstairs at the newly opened Bar Benjamin without having to invest the time and money on a full meal. There are, of course, a few other left-field contenders. One is Coucou, a new-school bistro with locations in Venice and West Hollywood. The pre-batched cocktails are great, but the food menu is largely inconsistent, though I did enjoy the veggie French dip and soft-serve sundae with chocolate hard shell. Another is Bar Sinizki, which culinarily leans Eastern European but also offers a standout steak frites and a full bar. In truth, nothing scratches my itch like the Palm Springs original. Realistically, L.A. could never have a place like Bar Cecil, because it would be absolutely, utterly rammed, more than it already is. The next time you're planning a trip to Palm Springs, you know what to do—line up in the parking lot at 4:30pm to try your luck at the bar, or if you're smart, just make a reservation.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
UK's largest Lee Miller retrospective to be held at Tate Britain
The UK's largest retrospective of the American photographer and photojournalist Lee Miller, who produced some of the most renowned images of the modern era, will take place at Tate Britain this autumn. The exhibition will showcase the entirety of Miller's career, from her participation in French surrealism to her fashion and war photography. It will also explore her artistic collaborations and lesser-known sides of her practice, such as her images of the Egyptian landscape in the 1930s. The retrospective will feature about 250 vintage and modern prints, including those never previously displayed, revealing 'Miller's poetic vision and fearless spirit', according to the Tate. Born in 1907 in Poughkeepsie, New York state, Miller was first exposed to a camera by working as a model in the late 1920s, when she was photographed by celebrated figures such as Cecil Beaton and Edward Steichen. This inspired her to pursue photography and she quickly became a leading figure of the avant garde. It was after moving to Paris in 1929 that Miller began working with the visual artist Man Ray, becoming his student, muse and lover. Together they discovered solarisation, a photographic technique in which reversed halo-like effects are created through exposure to light during processing. In the early 1930s, Miller turned her lens to the streets of Paris, creating a series of photographs capturing the surreal in the everyday. Through crops, disorienting angles and reflections, she reimagined familiar Parisian sights ranging from Notre Dame Cathedral to a Guerlain perfume shop window. When she moved to London in 1939 at the outbreak of the second world war, Miller embarked on a new career in photojournalism, becoming the official war photographer for British Vogue and one of the few accredited female war correspondents. The exhibition will showcase her depictions of blitz-torn London, including You will not lunch in Charlotte Street today (1940) and Fire Masks (1941), which capture the pathos and absurdity of the city in wartime. Also on display will be her photographs of women's contributions on the home front, harrowing scenes from the frontline, the liberation of Paris, and the devastation and deprivation of the Buchenwald and Dachau concentration camps. These works will be presented in dialogue with extracts from Miller's first-person essays, which were published in British and American Vogue. The show will include the portraits of Miller and David E Scherman in Hitler's private bath in April 1945, which were staged directly after the pair returned from photographing Dachau, and are considered to be some of the most extraordinary images of the 20th century. Miller posed for the photos with the dried mud of that morning's visit to the camp on her boots deliberately dirtying Hitler's bathroom. Miller's work and life have been depicted numerous times, including in the 2005 musical Six Pictures of Lee Miller and the 2023 film Lee, in which Kate Winslet played Miller. She was also referenced as role model for the war photographer depicted by Kirsten Dunst in the 2024 film Civil War. The exhibition will run from 2 October 2025 to 15 February 2026.
Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The best artists' gardens to visit, from Cecil Beaton to Claude Monet
Cecil Beaton wore many outlandish hats in his time. He was a photographer of high society, including royalty, as well as war. He designed sets and costumes for theatre, ballet and film. He was a writer, illustrator, painter and interior designer. He was decadent, boho, astute, difficult and brilliant. But can you really see him weeding? Well, welcome to my rose-laden arbour, as he might have said. A new exhibition at the Garden Museum in London is the first to give us Beaton the gardener — in a still stylish straw gardening hat (on display). He's out in the midday sun, if not weeding and planting, then dreaming up extravagant beds of flowers of all sizes and colours, although his favourites were white. Cecil Beaton's
Times
10-05-2025
- Times
Historic UK homes you can stay at now and live like a king
Around the country, wealthy families are transforming old, rundown mansions into alluring private-use homes in which they're welcoming visitors to stay. Some come with private chefs, ghillies, yoga teachers and fishing instructors; others are filled with historical artefacts, from a collection of Cecil Beaton's artworks and personal effects to antiques that have been in the family for generations. We've reviewed three with glorious interiors and plenty to keep everyone entertained, inside and out. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue WherwellAs country houses go, Freelands is pretty perfect. As fishing lodges with double-bank fishing along one of the most revered stretches of the River Test, it is practically a place of pilgrimage. Set within 28 acres of glorious Hampshire countryside, the house was built in 1878 as a fishing lodge. Its recent renovation by its American owners stays true to that purpose. Although no expense has been spared on transforming it into a rental house for up to 16 people, it's not too grand. The vibe, rather, is traditional English — William Morris meets Colefax & Fowler without anything being twee or matchy-matchy. The owners have employed incredible craftspeople to add objects of enduring beauty — and usefulness. One of the highlights is a new, handmade gothic oak staircase. Others include a lift (for luggage and the less sprightly), flawless wi-fi, a helipad on an island in the lake — and oh, the bathrooms. Each of the bedrooms is so cosy and classy that you'll immediately want to redecorate your own house in homage, but it's bathrooms (and dentistry) that Americans do far better. These have everything you could dream of. Alongside fluffy towels there are freestanding claw-foot baths and marble double sinks, armchairs and chaises longues, and motion-detecting soft lights for middle-of-the night trips. In addition they've added thoughtful touches such as magnifying mirrors, spot-on appropriate Wildsmith Skin English botanical bathroom products — and great showers. The water pressure is on a constant loop system (like big hotels have) and the showers are so good that it's hard to resist the urge to return for a second dowsing after breakfast. (And, should you need some refreshment in between meals, there are little snack rooms, upstairs and down, in which to nibble on something or make a cup of tea.) Adding to his other accomplishments the owner is a passionate fisherman. If you were of the same persuasion and had deep pockets, Freelands is what you would buy. The area's unique ecosystem, created by rain filtering through the chalk Downs before it runs into the river, is nutrient rich feeding not only the fish but also the insects — hence the sensational birdsong. The River Test, particularly this half-a-mile double beat in Hampshire known for its brown trout, is a bucket-list destination. And if that wasn't enough of a lure for a fishing fan, the owners have two others just down the road called the Chilbolton beats, as well as a three-acre, spring-fed lake, well stocked with brown and rainbow trout, perch and pike. But then, everything at Freelands is as good as the fishing. In fact, it is all so good that (faintly sacrilegiously) you don't even have to be into fishing to be enthralled by a stay here. You can also go wild swimming, do wine tastings, take cooking, flower-arranging or pottery classes, play golf or go cycling, hiking, shooting, riding and deerstalking. Or just take long walks in the Hampshire countryside. • 21 of the best fishing spots in the UK For non-fishers the most stunning part of Freelands must be its Retreat. The new low-profile addition, built to look like an old barn, holds a yoga studio with lovely tall ceilings, a domed roof and a wall of glass doors that can be folded back onto a terrace. It's large enough that a full house could all do yoga at the same time, and it can double as a screening room. Then there are the wellness facilities: the small pool with a swimming jet current, a massive Jacuzzi, a sauna and steam room, a big treatment room filled with natural light and a well-equipped gym whose soundtrack is the river burbling just feet away. I can't think of any other non-hotel private property that has a facility like this. For those who don't want to exercise on their own, the house has links with an incredible roster of specialists in yoga, Pilates, osteopathy, personal training, massage, facials, reiki, sound baths and even manicures, so guests' wellness is as well catered for as their meals. Of course, you could bring your own practitioners or chefs, but the flawless house managers, Olivia and John de Villiers, the guide Mike Hurd and the riverkeeper Sam McMurray really do have it covered. Hurd, a former therapist who worked with troubled teens, cuts to the chase when describing the benefits of Freelands: 'Getting people to switch off from what they normally do and being next to the river is everything.' The food is as impressive as the fishing and the bathrooms; the chef Shaun's meals are off-the-charts sensational, whether he's serving pea velouté with a warm pea salad, asparagus tips and artichoke crisps followed by pan-fried trout or a sugar-free chocolate tart that is so delicious it frankly smacks of witchcraft. 'Before guests arrive we talk through what they love to eat, how they like to dine, what occasions they might want to celebrate,' John de Villiers says. 'Someone might want a formal five-course dinner in the dining room one evening, then a riverside picnic the next day featuring the trout they caught that morning. It's all possible.' Most wonderful of all is that, although there are extraordinarily high standards, this house still feels like a fishing lodge and, more importantly, a home. But oddly, it's not like someone else's home — you don't feel as though you're trespassing. It's the home you would buy if you could. Kate Reardon From £13,800 for a two-night minimum stay for six guests, including meals, drinks and access to all amenities, • 9 of the best country house hotels near London Flintshire, north WalesWith bedrooms featuring Basquiats and Beatons, a Turner en route to the shower, a dozen David Shrigleys, plus works by Julian Opie, Damien Hirst and Peter Doig, Hawarden Castle's West End apartment is not your average rental. The 18th-century gothic revival castle in Flintshire, north Wales, was the home of the British prime minister William Gladstone until his death in 1898. The Gladstone family still live here today, and the castle's three-floor, five-bedroom, grade I listed West End wing has been restored, renovated and lavishly refurbished by the present owners, Charlie and Caroline Gladstone, and is available to rent. Charlie, an enthusiastic art collector, is also the great-nephew of the designer and photographer Cecil Beaton, whose paintings and family portraits — part of the estate's Cecil Beaton archive — adorn the West End, along with dozens more contemporary and classical works. I sleep beneath a vast 10x14ft oil painting depicting a scene from Don Quixote (artist unknown) bought by Charlie at auction. But the historic, eccentrically bohemian West End is no formal, polished museum — the welcome is relaxed and warm, and extends to dogs. Charlie's previous careers — in the music industry and as founder of the now closed Pedlars vintage store in Notting Hill — are evident in both the vinyl selection by the record player and the eclectic rock'n'roll aesthetic. Along with bespoke desks, lamps from Flos, Designers Guild cushions and Welsh blankets from SCP, much of the furniture (including a giant birdcage) is vintage or reclaimed. While the former prime minister was famed for his tree-felling hobby and often drew crowds in their thousands to watch, sustainability is now paramount. Cosy and impressively draught-free, the 100-plus-room castle is heated and powered by a vast bank of solar panels. Much of the 3,500-acre estate has been converted from agricultural land to organic farming, with a lakeland nature reserve and wildflower meadows. The farm shop and café — voted in The Times top 35 in the country — is a destination in itself, selling local meats, cheeses, wine and beers, deli fare, Hawarden Estate own-brand preserves and exceptional bread and pastries, all baked on site. The entrepreneurial Gladstones also own the Glynne Arms pub and restaurant, a 15-minute walk across the estate, a campsite and Gladstone/Hellen, a new sustainable fashion and homeware brand whose studio is in the castle's basement. There's heaps to do in the day. The walled garden, home to a wood-fired sauna and hot tub (there's a second, infrared sauna in the West End basement), hosts classes including photography and flower arranging, and guests can tour the 13th-century Old Castle. If you ask the caretaker Karl very nicely, he might even show you Gladstone's 'Temple of Peace', the former PM's office, largely untouched for 125 years, containing his desks, books, busts — and his prized collection of axes. Jane Mulkerrins From £800 for two nights for two guests, • Grand British houses for a truly restorative retreat Stoford, SomersetSet in a sleepy Somerset valley trimmed by oak and beech trees, Newton House was built in 1612 by Robert Harbin, a wealthy wood merchant. It was characterised by Flemish tapestries, grand stone mantelpieces and stained-glass windows bearing the family crest. Over four centuries, generations of Harbins lived there, adding corniced ceilings, a library and walled gardens. But by 2006 the house was inhabited by an elderly her death this now faded Jacobean mansion was sold and its contents auctioned. A local couple, Robin and Jane Cannon, bought and extensively renovated the house and gardens. Then in 2020 an American descendant of the Harbins repurchased the property. Her mission: to create a home fit for a modern multigenerational family while celebrating the historic features and heirlooms, many of which she had saved in the auction. She hired the American interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber, whose bold and opulent styling has transformed the mansion, using fabrics by John Rosselli and Rogers & Goffigon, custom-made rugs and oversized ceramic lamps by the New York-based Balsamo Antiques. Renamed Newton Surmaville, the house today is a history buff's dream and surprisingly cosy. Its five living rooms, grand dining room, nine bedrooms, sun terrace, games room, cinema, yoga studio and gym provide ample room even for a full house of 18. There is no generic 'five-star interior' feeling here. The centuries-old portraits of beady-eyed Robert Harbin and his descendants make sure of that. You picture them walking the flagstones to the original kitchen, where a fire blazes in a 17th-century hearth and a dresser displays pewter plates used by Charles II. There's an adjacent fitted kitchen to which the private chef Tim Ford can be summoned to create delicious meals that are served in the grand dining room. Guests will flop on the sofas in the drawing room or play board games in the 'tapestry room' where two restored Flemish works hang on original panelling. Upstairs, morning light streams through an oriel window into the library, which is lined with antique books. • 100 Best Places to Stay in the UK for 2025 It's the four grandiose suites, though, that make this house a real treat. Three contain a four-poster bed (including Harbin's), fitted with marshmallow mattresses and The White Company bedlinen. The master suite has two dressing rooms. In the attic, meanwhile, interconnecting rooms have been created for parents with young children or teenagers. The house is surrounded by 62 acres of parkland through which the River Yeo flows, so there is walking, fishing and kayaking on site. Roberts and her partner, Stuart Pitts, can organise shooting or deerstalking, or historic excursions. Pitts may give a clay-pigeon shooting lesson or set up golf and croquet on the lawn. Yeovil Junction, with direct trains to London Waterloo, is three minutes away. Or guests can arrive by helicopter. What would Robert Harbin have thought? Bridget Harrison From £6,000 a night (minimum two nights) for up to 18 guests, or from £4,000 a night for a seven-night stay,
Khaleej Times
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
What to wear to the Dubai World Cup 2025: Your guide to race-day dressing
Over half a century ago, at the 1965 Academy Awards, the British photographer-turned-costume designer Cecil Beaton won the best costume design Oscar for the film adaptation of My Fair Lady. While his Edwardiana evening gowns still define after-dark elegance to this day, it is Beaton's monochrome reimagining of the Ascot Derby that has immortalised race-day dressing. Wearing a white embroidered mermaid gown, lavishly wrapped with a black grosgrain ribbon, and a hat that I am fairly sure weighed more than her, Audrey Hepburn's Eliza Doolittle yelling profanities at Dover (unprintable here, even six decades later) makes for iconic cinema style. The 'Ascot' dress went on to be recreated for Barbie in 1995, while the original Beaton creation was sold at auction for $4.5 million (Dh16.5 million) in 2011. In the intervening 60 years, race day style has evolved. Hats have, for the most part, shrunk down to fascinator proportions (Royal Ascot in the UK now requires a minimum four-inch base for a headpiece to qualify for entry to the Royal Enclosure). At the Dubai World Cup, which takes place next weekend on April 5, headpieces are encouraged, but not mandatory. I am not a fan of the frippery of a fascinator, but a sleek trilby or fedora adds instant visual punch (a good thing, in fashion land). Hemlines should fall just above the knees or longer, while plunging necklines, bare midriffs and sheer fabrics will rule you out of the Dh275,000 Dubai World Cup Style Stakes prize pool. For a day whose fashion priorities traditionally start top down, I am going to be controversial and advise planning your outfit from the ground up; heels over head. Race days are long, the terrain varies from endless concrete concourses to the bouncy turf of Meydan's Parade Ring. This rules out any form of slim heel, and unless it's Aquazzura's 'Tati' (Dh2,700 at Bloomingdale's), can we please confine wedges to coastal Mediterranean villages? I like a block heel for formal daytime dressing, no higher than 85mm. Again, Aquazzura takes first place in the comfort-plus-aesthetic equation. I have worn the designer's 'So Nude' to countless countryside weddings, navigating cobblestones and dancefloors with ease. At Dh2,300 from Level Shoes, they are an investment, but one that you will wear time and time again; go for a silver or gold, depending on your preferred undertone (silver for cool, gold for warm). Judging for Best Dressed Lady at the Dubai World Cup doesn't take place until 6.50pm, so footwear that will go the distance is advised. Unlike at Ascot, where the prospect of soggy ostrich feathers is an ever-present risk, Dubai's racegoers need to balance heat (upper-30s by early April) with culturally appropriate coverage. While Eliza Doolittle-style long sleeves are chic, anything too restrictive will feel hot and uncomfortable, and feeling uncomfortable is the antithesis of chic. This is where I would look to Australian brands. With similar climate conditions to us, Aussie fashion labels harness colour (jarring against grey English drizzle, gorgeous in the UAE sunshine), fabrics that won't have you dripping (leave silk to the jockeys) and structural construction that brings a European couture sensibility without the price tag. For years, the undisputed champion of Aussie designers has been Zimmermann, and its creations are still the stuff of dreams (I can lose hours in its Mall of the Emirates store), however, a slew of Antipodean brands are nipping at Zimmermann's bohemian heels. My current obsession is the Sydney-based brand Leo Lin (available at Etoile La Boutique, Ounass and Bloomingdale's in Dubai) for its painterly and embellished details, razor-sharp cuts and a modern palette of pastels – think sage, buttercream and tangerine, rather than mother-of-the-bride pink and blue. Aje and Acler are also excellent with colour and construction. On the other side of the world, the British label Solace London is best known for eveningwear (the Style Stakes judging guidelines caution against evening gowns) but modern eveningwear can work for a day at the races if you avoid trains and corsets and go for a midi length or a flowing fabric. I like Solace's 'Cece' scarf-neck dress (Dh3,350) and, if you are confident in the provision of air-conditioning, the long sleeve 'Gaia' dress (Dh 2,600) is effortlessly elegant. Also from the UK, but only available here online, is the va-va-voom occasionwear brand Nadine Merabi. Look to Merabi's jumpsuits (the scarf-back 'Lorrie', Dh2,263, is my pick for the races) or trouser two-pieces. The romantic 3D florals of the 'Pheobe' top (Dh1,464) off-set the sleek lines of Merabi's Charlotte trousers (Dh1,252) perfectly. Another British brand, but with a Middle Eastern hub offering same day delivery in Dubai, is Odd Muse. Its black and white crystal embellished co-ord of corset top (Dh650) or tee (Dh750), worn with the contrasting maxi skirt (Dh840) is a modern way to have an Eliza Doolittle monochrome moment in the Meydan Grandstand in 2025 (just no swearing at the horses, please).
