Festival season is almost upon us. Eager groups of friends have gathered conspiratorially around laptops for tickets, while piles of tents, wellies, face paints and sleeping bags have begun slowly to amass in the corners of hallways and living rooms across the country. The steady, growing ascent to the crescendo of the mosh pit, the glittering stages and the colourful lights cast across euphoric crowds is tangible at this time of year. But the glamour of festival life simply cannot be without the pragmatism of a good packing list.
Before we take a deep dive into festival must-haves, a brief note on festival must-nots. According to Glastonbury Festival, anything made of glass can be dangerous and is likely to be confiscated (including mirrors and perfume bottles). It also suggests avoiding non-biodegradable body glitter. Non-biodegradable glitter is a damaging source of microplastic and can be dangerous, clogging pipes, hurting animals and even entering the human body. Another environmental no-go is the use of disposable wipes, and yes, even biodegradable wipes! They release greenhouse gases when they decompose, so making them less desirable than their manufacturers might care to admit. The Glastonbury organisers suggest a washcloth and a bar of soap – a much more eco-friendly alternative.
Your packing list needn’t be a chore to compose. Think of it like a more pragmatic, waterproof edit of your daily life…
All the Gear
The least glamorous but most important part of your list is your camping gear. Invest in a good quality tent that gives you a little slice of solace to return to when you need a break or a nap. Equally, a sleeping bag (and a roll mat or blow-up mattress) that keeps you warm will be your best friend when temperatures drop and the dancing stops.
No matter the thought and consideration you’ve put into your festival attire, you’ll feel the benefit of even the least aesthetic rain jacket or a waterproof layer. It’s difficult to dry soggy clothes, especially denim, so make sure your favourite cut-offs are covered and dry for the return of the sunshine.
Prepare to lose any style of footwear beyond a sturdy wellington boot as you trudge through the churned up mud at any festival this year. The beauty of the festival outfit is that it is only elevated by the cool, casual effect of muddy wellies. Think Kate Moss wearing a gold lurex mini dress and battered hunter wellies: the very pinnacle of festival chic.
Clean Bandit
Beyond the Glastonbury-recommended soap and washcloth, there are some great hacks that keep you (almost) squeaky clean for the duration of a festival. The very first step starts at home. Your last shower should be the best shower you’ve ever had, but more than just savouring each drop of water, make sure you use an exfoliator to remove dead skin to give yourself a headstart. You should also give your hair a thorough wash, using lots of conditioner to ensure it looks its best before you forego any further care and attention for the next couple of days.
In the absence of a shower, dry shampoo and rinse-free cleansers should be your go-tos. Shower gels that don’t require water actually remove grease and grime instead of just masking them, so you can be as clean as they make you feel.
Supporting Artists
Festival season just isn’t the same without just a few of everyday life’s creature comforts. Make sure you invest in a high-quality portable phone charger to avoid expensive mobile charging at festival charging points. This way, you can rest assured you can contact friends and family and have enough battery life for all those Instagram stories.
For an eco-friendly spin on festival living, bring a reusable water bottle or coffee cup to cut down on waste and remind you to keep hydrated.
Of course, you can’t expect to have the most restful nights at any festival, but there are ways to increase your chances of getting some quality sleep. Using earplugs and an eye mask will help you to summon a semblance of calm for a few hours a night, leaving you feeling refreshed and ready to enjoy the music and the atmosphere in the morning.
Work Flow…With Jane Shepherdson CBE
By Amira Hashish
Jane Shepherdson is a trailblazer in the fashion industry. With more than 20 years of experience as brand director of Topshop and CEO of Whistles, she has a wealth of knowledge to impart and is passionate about nurturing talent.
Having transformed the High Street retailers into global fashion brands, she is using her experience to find a way to enjoy fashion without damaging the planet. She joined rental and resale platform MY WARDROBE HQ in 2019 as Chair and has taken it to new heights.
Also the director of the London Fashion Fund, which champions small businesses to change the future of the industry, she is a true pioneer. We can think of no one more brilliant to kick off our series of Work Flow interviews with inspiring business leaders. Here she joins Amira Hashish in conversation…
What inspired your route into retail?
I’ve always loved fashion, but discovered early on that I didn’t have the talent to actually design clothes so I found the next best thing, which was being a buyer. That entailed working closely with a designer and putting a collection together that would both delight and sell.
Tell us about your latest projects…
Having left traditional retail behind, after realising the incredible environmental harm we were causing, I have moved into fashion rental. I am currently the Chair of MY WARDROBE HQ, a luxury fashion rental platform, which fulfills both my desire to make beautiful designer pieces available to many who could not afford them and to enjoy fashion without harming the planet quite as much.
I’m also a Director of the London Fashion Fund, an organisation that funds small fashion businesses that will change the future of the industry both socially and environmentally. It’s a real privilege to meet and work with super smart entrepreneurs who are changing our relationship with fashion and hopefully the future for all of us. We have invested in businesses who are growing cotton hydroponically using 80% less water. Now we are partnering with the big High Street retailers and even a small business making leather from microbial weaving. It’s a revelation!
What do you love most about what you do?
I really love meeting people with ideas. Especially those who have an idealism and optimism for our future. If I can help them in any small way, I get great satisfaction from that.
If you had to pick a career defining moment what would it be?
Well, this is going back a long way but when we first showed our Topshop Unique collection on the catwalk at London Fashion Week. It was a huge moment for the whole team. We felt that we had proved that Topshop was a hotbed of creativity and that we had gained huge credibility within the industry.
How do you manage your time?
I’m not brilliant at managing my time and consequently I like to get things done as soon as possible, which doesn’t always work. I feel like I am always rushing but perhaps that’s the way I work best?
Do you have any advice for those keen to follow in your footsteps?
Only do something you are passionate about. Don’t just follow the money. This is your life, you have to engage with it fully.
What’s the biggest lesson you have learned along the way?
The best thing that you can do is to surround yourself with people who are absolutely brilliant at what they do. Don’t fear their brilliance, bask in the reflected glow of it.
Who has been the most influential person in your career?
I’m not sure there has been one person who has influenced me but I have been hugely influenced and astonished by the talent and creativity of those in my team. I have learned so much from them.
How has the fashion landscape changed over the years and what does the future of the British High Street look like?
The fashion landscape has changed almost unrecognisably in the last five years. The combination of e-commerce and Covid has meant that we have all changed the way that we interface with brands and they have had to catch up. Visiting a High Street store is no longer necessary, so their presence has to offer something more than a physical representation of an online store. We expect experiences, a showcase, theatre and visual stimulation. In my opinion, we aren’t getting much of that yet, but things are changing.
Where do you go to get away from it all?
I love to travel. I took a year out and did a road trip around the West Coast of America a couple of years ago. I spent all my time hiking, canoeing and generally exploring the incredible physical landscapes the US has to offer. I’m off to Corsica for the month of June. We are driving there with our dog, Dexter. We will be stopping in Paris for a few days, Nice for a weekend, and then going back through the Alps or walking in flower-filled meadows. Contrast is everything.
The Rise of Rome: Boutique Hotels to Have On Your Radar
By Amira Hashish
Rome is having a moment and we are here for it. The Eternal City is essentially an outdoor museum with breathtaking landmarks at every turn. Little wonder it has long formed the glamorous backdrop to movie sets or romantic breaks away.
Despite its incredible architecture and Italian flair for style, there has been a surprising lack of design-driven boutique hotels to enjoy amongst the grandeur of the capital. Until now.
Rome has undergone a hospitality facelift with many of the big players making themselves at home in its neighbourhoods. The Hoxton Hotel paved the way with its buzzing bolthole in Parioli whilst Soho House has also opened its first Italian members club with rooms in the San Lorenzo district. The Edition has also very recently opened its doors and Nobu is set to make its mark very soon. Rome wasn’t built in a day, after all.
Here is a taste of who’s in town…
Hoxton Rome
The vibe: The cool kid on the block.
The lowdown: The Hoxton got the ball rolling for Rome’s hipster hotel scene. They have put a vintage twist on contemporary lodgings and the bedrooms wouldn’t look out of place in a classic Italian film. They come in six different sizes, all with comfy beds, rustic parquet floors and bright mid-century-inspired bathrooms. Some even have sun terraces. Cugino, the all-day cafe and terrace, is run in collaboration with local micro-bakery Marigold whilst Beverly is the West Coast American restaurant.
Always keen to break new ground, the hotel is a little further from the tourist centre in Parioli, a neighbourhood full of great gelato spots, upmarket stores, and traditional trattorias. Villa Borghese is within easy walking distance, as are the MACRO (Museum of Contemporary Art) and the MAXXI (National Museum of 21st Century Art). The Trevi Fountain is about 30-minutes walk away.
Take me there: thehoxton.com/rome
Soho House Rome
The vibe: The place to be seen.
The lowdown: The global members club chose Rome as the home of its first Italian outpost. We are sensing a pattern… It is in the heart of San Lorenzo, the artistic quarter of the capital, on Via Cesare De Lollis, a short walk from Sapienza University. Set across 10 storeys, the house has 49 bedrooms and 20 long-stay apartments.
It wouldn’t be a Soho House without a statement rooftop. This one has 360 views of the city along with a pool, bar, and restaurant, and the brand’s first physical Soho Health Club. Fear not, you don’t have to be a member to book a room.
Take me there: sohohouse.com
Mama Roma
The vibe: A playful corner of an elegant neighbourhood.
The lowdown: Mama Shelter also made its Italian launch in Rome and it’s a whirlwind of fun. Mosaic floors and column capitals depicted on the walls meet the ceilings sprawled with artwork by graphic designer and artist Beniloys. There are communal-style pizza restaurants and the lovely rooftop, open from morning to late at night, is just the place for an aperitif overlooking glorious views of the city and the St. Peter’s dome. The brand has also launched its first-ever spa here, with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, hammam and gym.
It is located in the elegant Prati district, on the right bank of the Tiber river. From here the Vatican City can be reached in a few minutes on foot, while the historic centre is a few underground stops away. The large avenues, with their fin-de-siècle and art nouveau style buildings, refined boutiques and trendy restaurants and bars, give the district its character.
Take me there: mamashelter.com/roma
Nobu Hotel Roma
The vibe: De Niro nods to his Italian roots in style.
The lowdown: This is a big, bold entry into Italy from the ever-expanding Nobu Hotel collection. Two 19th Century buildings have been combined to create a modern space that celebrates its grand, historic past. The result is 122 guest rooms, a garden-rooftop terrace, city spa and club lounge with a music focus.
The location couldn’t be more iconic. The hotel sits on the famous Via Veneto and is just a short walk from the park of Villa Borghese, Piazza Barberini, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza di Spagna. As for the restaurant, there are no details yet but the signature Japanese style fused with Italian ingredients should make for quite the mix.
Take me there: nobuhotels.com
The Rome EDITION
The vibe: A central spot to draw the design crowd.
The lowdown: Another first, this time for EDITION Hotels’ Italian debut. It will comprise 95 guest rooms, a Penthouse suite with a private terrace and a design-focused selection of food and drink spots, including a signature restaurant with an alfresco dining space. There’s always a playful touch with this brand and the Punch Room Bar will be the coveted cocktail haunt. There will also be a Rooftop Terrace and swimming pool for a bite or a dip overlooking the city.
The hotel is housed within a historical striking building designed by Cesare Pascoletti in collaboration with architect Marcello Piacentini, one of Italy’s most famed architects of Rationalism in the early 20th century. A few steps from Via Veneto, the Spanish Steps are practically on its doorstep.
Take me there: editionhotels.com/rome
Bulgari Hotel Roma
The vibe: In the lap of luxury.
The lowdown: Set to open in 2023, Bulgari Hotel Roma will be in the Campo Marzio neighbourhood, minutes from the Bulgari flagship on Via Condotti.
Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel are in the process of renovating and restoring its modernist building from the 1930s that faces two of the city’s most well-known landmarks: the Ara Pacis and the Mausoleum of Augustus, the first Roman Imperator. Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito is behind the restaurant concept. Watch this space.
Take me there: bulgarihotels.com
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