Eyes on: April
A running list of the best things to come across my desk in April.
text Maya Avram, London Features Editor
image courtesy Schiaparelli
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, Victoria & Albert Museum
Curating this month’s list — the first-ever instalment of Eyes On — there was no doubt in my mind that this exhibition would take the top spot. An épopée of Elsa Schiaparelli’s extraordinary life, groundbreaking body of work and enduring legacy, the rare collection draws a scarlet thread between the legendary couturier and the house’s current creative director, Daniel Roseberry.
While Schiaparelli’s designs were always known for their bold colours, innovative use of material and humorous approach, Roseberry’s reimagining of the house charts these same themes through a theatrical, almost fantastical lens. Yet, both envision the same woman in mind: daring, avant-garde and one who considers fashion her playing field.
From the power suits of the 1940s to seminal pieces like the floral embroidered coat co-created with Jean Cocteau, walking through the space crystallises the role Schiaparelli played in shaping fashion as we know it today. “Above all, in this exhibition, we encounter Elsa Schiaparelli as a companion of futurism and a protagonist of surrealism,” said Sir Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, at a press preview. “She revealed how fashion became a theatre for the unconscious, irrational, the marvellous.”
image courtesy Schiaparelli
The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley
Despite my self-inflicted ban on buying new books before I’ve made my way through the towering pile in the far corner of my desk, this one is an exception to the rule. From the Women’s Prize-shortlisted author Gwendoline Riley, The Palm House chronicles adult friendships and small mercies. Following two long-time friends working in publishing, its subject matter — the precarity of modern life in today’s London — hits close to home (too much to ignore). Combined with the slew of praise the new book got, from The Times to the Evening Standard and The Guardian, I look forward to immersing myself in it.
Teresa Tarmey’s Super Hydrating SPF 50 PA++++
Teresa Tarmey is one of London’s legendary facialists, famous amongst the in crowd. Her minimalistically decorated clinic in Notting Hill beautifully reflects her approach to skincare: Pared back but never simple. Rather, intentional and curated.
And so, as I searched for a new SPF to see me through the warm season, her line was the first place I looked for. I wanted a product to shield and protect, yes — but also, one that has that je ne sais quois quality to it that elevates application beyond a daily chore and onto a ritual. I’m happy to say that the Super Hydrating SPF 50 PA++++ goes that extra bit further. First, it has a fresh citrusy scent that offers a lively wake-up call in the morning. Thanks to a cocktail of vitamin E, squalane and sodium hyaluronate, it also balances the complexion, leaving it bright and luminous. Whether on your shelf or your travel make-up bag, it’s a hot weather must-have.
Mattieu Blazy’s Chanel
From fashion editors fighting over the new slingbacks during Paris Fashion Week to urbanite shoppers queuing along the streets of Manhattan for a chance to purchase the new collection, it’s safe to say Mattieu Blazy’s tenure at the storied Maison is off to a strong start. Word among industry insiders, usually quick to critique (read: shade) as a way to engage, is that his joyous, exuberant debut marks a welcome new chapter for the brand. The most covetable pieces from the Spring/Summer 2026 collection (Blazy’s first at the helm) were the shoes: particularly the square-toe, two-tone pumps and the ones with the contrasting piping at the centre. My personal favourite, however, are the monochrome ones with the toe flap, sealed with the iconic CC emblem. Timeless.
39BC’s Fig Milk Oil Body Cleanser
I love me a bath. The intentional pause, combined with self-care rituals like meditation and breathwork that bring me back into my body, is a true indulgence. Fittingly, my extensive collection of bath salts, oils, and pre- and post-soak body treatments has become a running joke amongst my friends (jealous much?) The latest addition to the lineup, this oil body cleanser brings a deep sense of luxury to sacred bath time. Its smooth, rich texture hydrates the skin, leaving it plump and supple, while its very gentle lather gives off that covetable spa-like feel. My chosen scent, Fig, combines notes of violet leaves and cedarwood, both of which offer a relaxing payoff that primes you for what the day (or night) has in store.
images courtesy 39BC
images courtesy 39BC
Vladimir on Netflix
As our attention was primarily fixed on Love Story (and the myriad ways one might recreate Carolyn Bessette’s quintessential ’90s uniform), this masterful show has, unfortunately, slipped off the collective radar. An adaptation of Julia May Jonas’ novel of the same name, Vladimir playfully captures the ironic, absurd, and at times shocking turns an open marriage can take if left unchecked.
The series opens in a moment of crisis: John, husband to our nameless heroine — played by Rachel Weisz — and a tenured lecturer at the college where she also teaches, is under investigation for multiple consensual affairs with students. Without giving too much away, what follows offers astute commentary on modern romance, examining questions of gender and status through the lens of a flawed yet compelling protagonist.
It’s an addictive watch for those who subscribe to women’s rights and wrongs, or anyone who finds excitement at the sight of a shirtless Leo Woodall.
images courtesy Netflix
Skinstorm Facial at The Clinic
As a skin-obsessed girlie (and as someone whose job offers them unbelievable access to the best treatments and products out there), I am incredibly discerning about what I choose to try for myself. One of my recent fascinations is the concept of treatment layering — i.e., the practice of combining multiple therapies in a single session to achieve better, more immediate and longer-lasting results. Because if I’m going to make time to lounge on a treatment bed, I may as well make the most of it, no?
Enter The Clinic’s new Skin Storm facial. Counting six steps, including gentle microdermabrasion, an oxygenated peel, microneedling and hylo fusion (a device that uses pressurised air to administer the clinic’s nutrient-rich serum), it’s the ultimate summer event-prep treatment — not least as it requires zero downtime and delivers an instantly luminous complexion. While there was slight redness on my face immediately post-treatment, it had dissipated quickly after. Fast forward 24 hours, and my skin felt energised and renewed; my complexion appeared more balanced and harmonised; and I seemed to have unlocked inner radiance. 10/10.
On the topic of summer prep, this treatment has been on my wishlist ever since my friend showed me (nay, deservingly bragged) about the incredible results she’s seen after just one session of EMS: the loss of two whole dress sizes.
EMS sends electric waves to an area of your choice (the clinic offers both sculpting facials and body treatments), sending rhythmic pulses that stimulate the muscles far beyond your regular gym sesh. We’re talking the equivalent of 5,000 crunches in a 30-minute session, according to my therapist, Uma. And so it was, my abdomen looked noticeably more defined the next day.
I won’t sugarcoat it — the sensation takes some getting used to. I only managed to go as far as level 24 out of 40, but Uma reassured me that that’s normal, especially as a first-time user, and that I can gradually work my way up over time. Excuse me while I renew my Pilates subscription to see me through to level 40 come summer.
