TOP 5 – Autumn Event Picks
Here are our picks for stylish design-led events and a few inspirational fairs to do this autumn.
Yayoi Kusama
Kensington Gardens
You’ve likely seen Yayoi Kusama’s trademark black and yellow dots; she recently had a collaboration with Louis Vuitton, where XXL statues of her and the dots took over LV locations, globally. And now, one of her polka dot pumpkins, this time a six metre tall one, has made its way to The Round Pond in Kensington Gardens, where it’ll be on display until 3 November.
Spirit of Christmas Fair
There’s no better time to get into the spirit of Christmas as November – it’s far enough away from the actual date to not be stressful, but close enough to get into the spirit! The Spirit of Christmas has over 600 hand-picked independent brands and design-makers, selling everything from fashion and toys to homewares, decorations and artisan food and drink products. And to make it a complete, fun day out, there’s also Louis Roederer bars for Champagne and a José Pizarro restaurant for tapas. So book your tickets, reserve a table, and save the date.
Zandra Rhodes
As a nod to Zandra’s ‘80 show at Pillar Hall, which is currently being turned into a new restaurant and bar, the live stream of her in conversation with journalist Ella Alexander, discussing her new memoir, Iconic, should not be missed! Using momentos she’s collected over the years, the discussion takes you on a journey of her life, touching on her designs for Freddie Mercury and Barbra Streisand, opening her first shop with a loan, her life, always doing things her way, and more.
Iconic: My Life In Fashion in 50 Objects is now on sale. You must be a ticket holder to watch the live stream.
Condé Nast Traveller Presents The Luxury Travel Fair
Condé Nast Traveller know their travel, so if you’ve been looking for some inspiration or want to get some advice from experts, The Luxury Travel Fair at Olympia Events is a great place to start. They’ll have the best of travel – operators, resorts, boutique hotels, safaris, and more – all under one roof. Tickets also give you access to the Spirit of Christmas Fair, and the Winter Art and Antiques Fair.
Barbie: The Exhibition
Following on the success of Barbie the movie, and to celebrate the doll’s 65th anniversary, this exhibition shows the evolution of Barbie through a design lens. There’s fashion, architecture, furniture, Dreamhouses, and cars, highlighting how Barbie’s world has always been influenced by current trends. There are over 250 objects on display, with some of the dolls dating back to 1959, and a focus on showcasing the diversity of the Barbie range. It’s an extremely busy exhibition, so be sure to book tickets in advance.