1 — This autumn, our favourite is the Gabby cardigan in burgundy. It is a deep and classic colour, however an unexpected pairing with red brings energy to the day and makes denim more exciting.
Corduroy trousers are always relevant and we're reaching for our signature Drake trousers in a soft cream hue that allows us to ease out of summer mode.
2 — Isabel Marant, who freely admits she isn’t a handbag devotee, prefers pockets and small pouches. Yet her cult Oskan bag — a balance of slouch and structure — is the handbag we want for la rentrée. The removable zipped up pouch will keep keys in place while the roomy interior will accommodate all that's needed for the day.
3 — From 13th to 21st September, Open House Festival offers access to private residences and special architectural sites across London's 33 boroughs. Registration is simple with itineraries easily built online.
On our list: a tiny house in West Hampstead and 9b Rosslyn Hill, a mid-century terraced house. In South London, we've saved Six Columns, which was awarded RIBA's 2024 House of the Year, and Walter's Way, an inspiring self-build community developed by Walter Segal in the mid-1980s.
4 — Meanwhile, in Paris, The Musée du Luxembourg presents a Pierre Soulages retrospective spanning the 1940s to early 2000s. Best known for his monumental black canvases, Soulages was a friend of Rothko and often grouped with abstract expressionism but this exhibition reveals smaller and more intimate pieces, executed with walnut stain, ink and gouache on paper.
Afterwards, stroll down Rue de Seine and pause at La Palette (43 rue de Seine, Paris 6) for a café or lunch on the terrace.
5 — Finally, vegetarian dining in France has never been simple, yet several recent Parisian openings promise change. At Faubourg Daimant (20 rue du Fbg Poissonière, Paris 9) and Daimant St Honoré (24-26 Place du Marché St Honoré, Paris 1), founder Alice Tuyet advocates a plant-based table that is indulgent and innovative. A potato millefeuille or mushroom skewers taste impossibly rich yet remain vegan.
The Maslow group (with addresses in the 1er and 3e) serves generous sharing plates in vibrant bistro settings, proving pleasure need not be compromised.