From chocolate-brown tailoring to elegant knit dresses and statement outerwear, discover the Karen Millen pieces in our autumn/winter 2026 fashion edit. There's something particularly satisfying about dressing for autumn. The return of structured silhouettes, richer colour palettes and thoughtful layering invites us to rediscover the pieces that make a wardrobe feel truly considered. For autumn/winter 2026, our attention turns to modern femininity, confident tailoring and versatile separates. These are the Karen Millen styles we've selected for our fashion radar, alongside three further pieces worth considering for the months ahead. The Chocolate-Brown Tailored Set Few colours capture autumn quite like chocolate brown. Rich, sophisticated and endlessly versatile, it's an inviting alternative to the black and navy shades so often associated with cooler weather. The Stretch Twill Belted Safari Tailored Jacket brings a waist-defining silhouette and heritage-inspired utility detailing, while the coordinating tailored trousers turn it into an effortlessly pulled-together look. Together, the pair makes an elegant statement for meetings, lunches and early-evening occasions. The appeal is in their versatility: style the jacket over denim and fine knitwear, or wear the trousers with a simple cream top. For a tonal look, add warm gold jewellery and a structured leather bag. AS WORN BY OUR EDITOR: The Cream Military-Inspired Knit Dress An elegant knitted dress is one of autumn/winter's most useful wardrobe pieces: easy to style, comfortably polished and refined enough to make an impression without elaborate accessories. Karen Millen's Rib Knit Military Trim Long Sleeve Maxi Dress in cream offers a graceful silhouette, with a ribbed upper section, long sleeves and decorative gold-tone buttons. The soft colour lends itself beautifully to shades of camel, taupe, chocolate and gold. Our styling choice? A long camel coat, knee-high leather boots and delicate earrings. It is an understated formula that works equally well for a country-house lunch or a day in the city. AS WORN BY OUR EDITOR: The Ivory Satin Tailored Suit Winter whites feel particularly elegant when cut with precision. Karen Millen's ivory Satin Twill Single-Breasted Blazer and Structured Satin Tailored Trousers offer a sophisticated alternative to a traditional occasion dress. The subtle sheen of the fabric makes the combination especially appealing for champagne receptions, formal dinners and festive celebrations, while the tailored silhouette keeps the effect restrained and modern. Wear with ivory heels and a tonal clutch, or introduce statement gold earrings for an evening look. Both separates work independently too, allowing the blazer to elevate denim or the trousers to be styled with fine knitwear. The Camel Wool-Blend Maxi Coat A tailored camel coat brings warmth and polish to almost everything beneath it. The Forever Wool Blend Tailored Fitted Maxi Coat is the kind of outerwear piece that would complement the chocolate suit and cream knitted dress equally well. Its long, sculpted profile works with boots, tailoring and relaxed weekend separates. The Midi Pencil Skirt For a subtle shift in texture, the Faux Suede Midi Pencil Skirt introduces a sleek contrast to softer winter knitwear. Try it with an ivory roll-neck, a sharp blazer and knee-high boots, or a crisp shirt for a more structured look. The Wool Tweed and Faux-Leather Short Coat Heritage-inspired tweed meets a more contemporary finish in this short coat. With contrasting faux-leather panels and a structured, cropped shape, it's the piece we'd choose to give simple jeans and knitwear more personality. The Sculptural Chocolate Cardigan A cardigan with a little more presence, this chocolate-brown knit has rounded statement sleeves, an elegant V neckline and decorative buttons. Style it with the ivory tailored trousers featured above for an easy contrast between soft knitwear and sharp suiting, or wear it with denim and ballet flats at the weekend. The Chocolate Faux-Leather Wrap Skirt A glossy chocolate-brown midi skirt provides an elevated way to experiment with tonal dressing. The wrap shape and tie detail offer a beautiful counterpoint to chunky knitwear; we'd pair it with a cream roll-neck, heeled boots and a streamlined bag. The Jacquard Chocolate Trench For those who favour a statement coat, the Jacquard Mix Trench combines a classic belted silhouette with striking floral jacquard panels. Its sweeping length and rich chocolate colour feel particularly fitting for autumn. We love the idea of wearing it over simple wide-leg trousers and a fitted cream knit, allowing the outerwear to take centre stage. The Chocolate Neck-Tie Knit Dress The Knitted Neck Tie Detail Midi Dress brings an understated evening feel to chocolate brown. A contrast neck tie, relaxed blouson bodice and fitted midi skirt create a refined silhouette. Add pointed knee-high boots and small gold earrings for a polished day-to-dinner outfit. Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means The Life of Luxury may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. All products are selected independently by our editorial team.

Sky Garden Halloween events in London: where to celebrate in 2026 Before pumpkins took over Halloween, people in Ireland carved frightening faces into turnips. In Irish folklore, this was a night when the dead might return home and travelling alone risked an encounter with something considerably worse than the night bus. The turnip suddenly seems a reasonable precaution. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos welcomes the return of departed loved ones, with flowers, candles and offerings of their favourite food. Rooted in Indigenous traditions and shaped by the Catholic calendar, it is an occasion for remembrance, reunion and feeding people well, including those no longer here. London has plenty planned for both occasions, from a nine-course journey through the Aztec underworld to rooftop parties and musical resurrections in Victoria. Here are 13 places worth dressing up for. 1. Cavita, Marylebone Cavita In Aztec belief, reaching the afterlife involved a journey through nine levels of Mictlán. Adriana Cavita has taken that passage as the inspiration for Tonawaka: Los Nueve Niveles, a nine-course dinner with matching drinks in Maya, her agave bar beneath Cavita. Just 30 guests can attend. Earlier, an ancestral altar and short ritual introduce the traditions behind the evening, with visitors invited to bring photographs of loved ones or pets who have died. A personal, thoughtful place to begin. 30 October. Altar ritual at 3.30pm; nine-course dinner with paired drinks at 6pm. @cavita.restaurante | www.cavitarestaurant.com 2. MOI & ROOM86, Soho MOI & ROOM86. Image supplied with Yvette’s feature. MOI’s Halloween dinner starts with a cocktail and Robbie Jameson’s seasonal Japanese menu. Dry-aged tuna comes with pumpkin and ponzu; juniper-smoked venison with soy-braised beetroot and grilled chard. There’s aged trout, followed by Hokkaido sponge with smoked chocolate mousse and black sesame caramel. Once dinner is done, head downstairs to ROOM86 for DJs and an Uchi Martini made with white port, potato shochu and yuzu sake. You may want to leave Sunday morning clear. 31 October. Set menu with a welcome cocktail; separate guest-list registration for ROOM86. @moi.soho · @room86.ldn | www.moirestaurant.com · www.room86.co.uk 3. MR PORTER, Mayfair MR PORTER. Image supplied with Yvette’s feature. The jack-o’-lantern has a particularly bleak backstory. According to Irish legend, Stingy Jack tricked the Devil, found himself unwelcome in both heaven and hell, and was left wandering with an ember inside a turnip. A difficult outcome for a man who thought he’d negotiated rather well. MR PORTER’s Halloween plans are more hospitable: a Haunted Feast, roaming performers and a pumpkin-shaped dessert, followed by DJs and the party at DND. The Midnight Harvest cocktail combines Grey Goose, gingerbread and ginger with Ruinart. 31 October. Dinner from 8pm; DJs from 9pm, followed by the party at DND. @mrporter_london | www.mrportersteakhouse.com/london 4. COYA Mayfair COYA COYA’s Cursed Circus returns for brunch and dinner, with a singer, percussionist and DJs getting the afternoon underway. By evening, performers and dark illusions take over the restaurant, alongside its signature Peruvian cooking, Halloween cocktails and themed desserts. The dress code calls for glamour and theatre. Dress as though you’re the reason the circus was cursed. 31 October. Brunch from noon; evening celebrations from 6pm. @coyamayfair | www.coyarestaurant.com/coya-mayfair/en/home 5. Upstairs at Langan’s, Mayfair Upstairs at Langan’s. Image supplied with Yvette’s feature. In the Irish tradition of guising, masked visitors went from house to house, performing for their treats. Halloween has long rewarded anyone willing to make a spectacle of themselves. At Upstairs at Langan’s, The Odyssey invites gods, goddesses, sirens, warriors, villains and monsters into the room for an evening of mythical mischief. Members and non-members can join the party above the Mayfair brasserie. Anyone already in possession of a god complex has a head start. 29 October, from 8.30pm until late. @upstairs_at_langans | www.langansbrasserie.com/upstairs 6. Wagtail, the City Wagtail. Image supplied with Yvette’s feature. Wagtail is borrowing from a more recent piece of party history: the 1972 Rothschild Surrealist Ball. Its rooftop Surrealist Soirée brings together contortionists, roaming magicians, living art statues, DJs and a live violinist, with prizes for the best-dressed guests. Casamigos cocktails include the cherry- and-cola Velvet Cherry and mango-flavoured Garden of Delights. A pair of cat ears may feel under-researched here. Go elaborate, go peculiar and book a cab large enough for whatever is on your head. 31 October, from 7pm until late. @wagtailldn | www.etm-collection.co.uk/venue/wagtail-rooftop-bar-restaurant 7. Bōkan 37, Canary Wharf Bōkan. Image supplied with Yvette’s feature. Food has an important place in Día de los Muertos traditions, with families preparing offerings for loved ones making their temporary return. At Bōkan 37, the occasion brings live mariachi and three Mexican-inspired additions to the usual à la carte menu: king prawns with Mexican salsa and chilli jam, Tortellini de Los Muertos and Taco de Tentacion. Created in partnership with Desdeya and Pensador, the dinner takes place high above Canary Wharf, with the docks and city lights spread out below. 29 October, from 7pm. Two- and three-course menus available. @bokanlondon | www.bokanlondon.co.uk 8. Ixchel, Chelsea Ixchel. Image supplied with Yvette’s feature. Halloween fortune-telling once involved sleeping with a cabbage under your pillow to dream of your future spouse. Ixchel offers astrology readings over cocktails, which sounds considerably better for your neck. Friday’s Full Moon Party combines the readings with Mexican food and DJs. Saturday brings a live-music dinner and dancing downstairs, with guests asked to wear black. Sunday’s family Día de los Muertos celebration includes face painting, Mexican hot chocolate and a screening of Coco. Bring tissues. 30 October, 8.30pm–1am; 31 October, 7pm–2am; 1 November, noon–4pm. @ixchel.london | www.ixchellondon.com 9. Pepperbird, Olympia Pepperbird. Image supplied with Yvette’s feature. Pepperbird is taking its Día de los Muertos celebrations below ground, into the speakeasy beneath Olympia’s Pillar Hall. Don Julio cocktails, live Latin- inspired music and performances fill the evening, with dramatic decorations and tarot readings adding to the atmosphere. Guests are encouraged to dress for the occasion. Find a corner, order something good and decide how much of your future you actually want disclosed before dinner. 29 October. @pepperbird.bar | www.pillarhall.co.uk 10. Treehouse Hotel London, Marylebone Treehouse Hotel London. Image supplied with Yvette’s feature. Bonfires have long featured in Irish Halloween celebrations, offering protection and marking the arrival of the darker months. Treehouse’s fire breathers bring a rather more theatrical flame to Sunday’s Day of the Dead brunch at Madera, alongside Cali-Mexican dishes, DJs and Casamigos cocktails. First, though, there’s Saturday’s Haunted Treehouse party at The Nest, one floor above, with costumes, a DJ and Casamigos cocktails overlooking London. Sunday’s resurrection is your responsibility. The Nest: 31 October, evening. Madera: 1 November, 11am–4pm. @thenestintreehouse · @maderalondon | www.treehousehotels.com/london 11. Sky Garden, the City Sky Garden For anyone who likes their Halloween with a little distance from whatever might be lurking at street level, Sky Garden is holding two nights of celebrations 35 floors above the City. A welcome cocktail starts proceedings, followed by live music and DJs among the gardens. Costumes are encouraged. Book dinner at Darwin Brasserie or Fenchurch Restaurant beforehand, then join the party with the London skyline behind you. Even the undead would stop for a photograph. 30 and 31 October, from 6.30pm. Dinner booked separately. @sg_skygarden | www.skygarden.london 12. BAM Karaoke Box, Victoria BAM Karaoke Box. Image supplied with Yvette’s feature. Halloween folklore has plenty to say about the dead returning. BAM has given them a microphone. Its Dead Famous parties invite guests to dress as departed or “immortal” music legends and attempt their greatest hits, with Volcán Tequila cocktails, a Hall of Fame photobooth and prizes for the best costumes. Private karaoke rooms are available, while Saturday’s Thriller Brunch adds a main, bottomless potato tots and entertainment. Choose your icon carefully. The ten-minute version of All Too Well is how you become the evening’s actual villain. 30 and 31 October; open until 3am on Halloween night. Thriller Brunch: 31 October, 2pm–5.30pm, with an optional 90 minutes of free-flowing Prosecco, pink Prosecco or No-secco. @bamkaraokebox.uk | uk.bam-karaokebox.com 13. Noodle & Beer, Chinatown & Spitalfields Noodle & Beer. Image supplied with Yvette’s feature. Noodle & Beer’s Ink Black menu turns dinner suitably dark with squid-ink fried rice, king prawns, sun-dried scallops, egg and chilli. The Black Coco Sour combines Toki whisky, roasted barley shochu, coconut and lemon. Orders from the menu also come with temporary tattoos featuring slurping cherubs and a haunted restaurant. Eat well, acquire some questionable body art and return to work on Monday with nothing to explain. Provided you’ve had a shower. From 26 October, for a limited time, at both Chinatown and Spitalfields restaurants. @noodleandbeerltd | www.noodleandbeer.com Dates are for 2026. Check the venue’s booking page for availability, ticket prices, age restrictions and any changes before making plans.

Okay, I have a theory. The hardest part of taking yourself somewhere lovely is the first five minutes. You walk in alone, ask for a table and briefly convince yourself that everyone has noticed. Perhaps they have. More likely, they’re deciding what to order. Either way, that moment of self-consciousness is the bit that stops so many of us before we’ve even opened the menu. Stay a little longer and something shifts. You stop checking the door, put your phone away and take your time choosing lunch. There’s nobody to consult, no schedule to negotiate and no reason to rush. I used to find that uncomfortable. Now, it feels like a small luxury: an afternoon that belongs entirely to me. This month’s solo date in Mayfair happened almost by accident, after my plans changed. Rather than write off the day, I decided to make something of it. Tea, a proper lunch, a little wandering and a book to take home. Here’s how it unfolded. 10.30am: Tea in the foyer at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane My first stop? The foyer. Excellent people-watching requires a little strategy. The seating area near Pavyllon is a lovely spot to settle in and watch the arrivals. For such a grand hotel, it feels surprisingly relaxed. There are high ceilings, plenty of light and just enough coming and going to keep you entertained. If you need a change of scene to reset your mood, this is a very good place to start. I put my phone in my bag rather than on the table and gave myself fifteen minutes to enjoy being there. No scrolling, no catching up on messages. Just tea. Standard tea: approx. £9-£16 1pm: Lunch at the bar at Pavyllon We’re not going far. Pavyllon is right here inside the Four Seasons, and I see no reason to interrupt a perfectly good afternoon with unnecessary travel. My advice is to take a seat at the bar. It makes eating alone feel easy, and on a quieter day there’s time to chat with the team. On my last visit, a crew arrived to film The Real Housewives of London, which certainly gave me something to watch between courses. I came for lunch and left with rather more entertainment than I’d expected. The food and attentive service would have been reason enough to stay. Lunch: ~£38 2.30pm: A wander through Mayfair No itinerary for this part. That’s rather the point. Walk through Mount Street and Carlos Place without somewhere else to be. The shopfronts deserve a proper look, rather than the passing glance they get when you’re hurrying to a meeting. Window-shop, wander inside if something catches your eye, or simply keep walking. For once, you don’t need to achieve anything. 3.15pm: A bench in Mount Street Gardens Tucked behind the church, Mount Street Gardens is easy to miss if you’re not looking for the entrance. That makes finding it feel all the more satisfying. Pick up a coffee on the way and find a bench. I spend so much of my day moving on to the next thing that sitting still, with nowhere urgent to go, feels like a treat in itself. Coffee: ~£5 4pm: Daunt Books, Marylebone From here, it’s a walk or a short taxi ride to Marylebone, depending on how your feet are feeling. Head for the oak galleries at Daunt Books and give yourself time to browse. You don’t need a reading list or a particular title in mind. Pick up whatever catches your attention, read a few pages and choose something you’ll look forward to opening later. A book is my favourite sort of souvenir from an afternoon like this. Book: approximately £16 The Solo Date Total Tea in the foyer £16 Lunch at Pavyllon £38 Coffee £5 Book £16 Total: £75 The pleasure of your own company The thing I keep coming back to is that a table for one doesn’t need an explanation. Changed plans might have prompted this afternoon, but they weren’t what made it good. I chose where to go, what to eat and how long to linger. Nobody at the bar knew my name, my job or where I was heading next. And, honestly, I rather liked that. There’s something freeing about being a stranger for an afternoon, with a good lunch in front of you and nothing to prove. I’ll be booking another table for one. Emma x | @westkengirl Plan your visit Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane Pavyllon London

Twenty years after Casino Royale, Turnbull & Asser revisits its extraordinary relationship with James Bond. In an exclusive interview with The Life of Luxury, Creative Director Roberto Menichetti takes us inside the new collection, reveals why Bond’s style has endured — and explains how he believes the next 007 should dress. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc Few wardrobes have influenced menswear quite like James Bond’s. The dinner jacket, the immaculate evening shirt, the precisely chosen tie: for more than six decades, 007 has represented a particular kind of masculine elegance. Never overly styled and rarely attention-seeking, Bond’s clothes have traditionally communicated something about the man before he has said a word. Few houses understand that wardrobe quite as intimately as Turnbull & Asser. The British shirtmaker’s relationship with Bond stretches across generations of 007, from Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. Today, its As Seen On James Bond collection alone comprises 13 products worn as part of ten outfits across five Bond films, while the Turnbull & Asser archive suggests further pieces have appeared throughout the franchise. Now, twenty years after Casino Royale introduced Daniel Craig’s interpretation of James Bond, Turnbull & Asser is returning to the film with a new collection. But rather than simply reproducing what Bond wore in 2006, the house has looked at what made the wardrobe work in the first place — and how those principles can translate into menswear today. In an exclusive interview with The Life of Luxury, Turnbull & Asser Creative Director Roberto Menichetti takes us inside that process, from returning to original garments, documents and cinematic references to reconsidering the codes of black tie. And, looking beyond Casino Royale, he reveals how he would approach perhaps the biggest menswear assignment of them all: dressing the next James Bond. Reimagining Bond Without Recreating Him How do you revisit one of cinema's most recognisable wardrobes without simply recreating the past? For Menichetti, the answer begins in the archive — although not necessarily in the way one might expect. “An archive is not a collection of designs to be reproduced, but a legacy we have a responsibility to understand and interpret,” he tells The Life of Luxury. “Understanding and respecting tradition is not about preserving the ashes, but keeping the flame alive.” Bond and Turnbull & Asser share immediately recognisable codes: proportion, precision, exceptional materials and what Menichetti describes as a particularly British sense of restraint. But simply replicating those details would miss the point. Instead, he wanted to understand why they existed. “The archive allows me to distinguish the enduring principles from the details that belong to a particular moment,” he explains. From there came a process of subtraction: removing elements no longer necessary, softening those that had become too rigid and allowing the clothes to respond to how men actually dress and move today. “The outcome should be recognisable, but not nostalgic; familiar, but not predictable,” Menichetti says. “I do not want the modernisation to be visible. I want it to be felt in the way the clothes move and are worn.” It is an important distinction. This isn't Bond memorabilia. Nor is it an attempt to freeze Daniel Craig’s 2006 wardrobe in time. For Menichetti, respecting an icon means allowing it to continue evolving. What Turnbull & Asser Discovered in the Bond Archive Returning to original garments, documents, photographs and cinematic references revealed something particularly interesting about Bond's clothes. What struck Menichetti most was not extravagance, but discipline. “When you look at the clothes themselves, beyond the mythology of Bond, you realise how carefully considered so many of the choices are,” he says. “There is very little decoration without purpose. The proportions, the collars, the evening shirts, the way the shirt and jacket work together — everything has a reason.” Rather than treating the archive as a catalogue of pieces to reproduce, Menichetti began to see it as a guide to the way Bond dresses. Precision matters, but it should never look as though the wearer has tried too hard. “Every detail is considered, yet the overall impression is one of natural ease.” That idea feels particularly relevant when looking back at Casino Royale. Why Casino Royale Style Still Works 20 Years Later Casino Royale may belong to another era of Bond, but its menswear has proved remarkably resistant to dating. Menichetti believes there is a simple reason. “Because it was built around character, not fashion.” Daniel Craig's Bond introduced a notably physical interpretation of 007. His wardrobe had to accommodate that physicality rather than simply create an image around it. The clothes, Menichetti notes, are “formal but natural, strong but not rigid.” That combination arguably feels even more relevant in 2026. Luxury menswear has shifted significantly towards comfort, softer tailoring and ease of movement, but Casino Royale was already working with those ideas twenty years ago. “Good menswear endures when you stop noticing the period in which it was created,” Menichetti says. “You simply see the man.” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc What Should a Modern Bond Wardrobe Say? If Bond's clothes communicate his character before he speaks, what should the modern interpretation say about the man wearing it? Menichetti's answer comes down to three words: “Confidence without ostentation.” “I have always believed that elegance does not need to announce itself,” he explains. The man Menichetti imagines wearing the collection understands quality and understands the rules of formal dressing, but does not require either to be immediately recognised by somebody else. There is precision, but also ease. “He understands the codes of formal dressing and, because he understands them, he can wear the clothes naturally, without appearing self-conscious.” It is an approach Menichetti sees as fundamentally Bond. “Self-assurance expressed through restraint.” Why James Bond's Black Tie Is Going Midnight Blue One of the defining choices within the collection is its use of Midnight Blue rather than traditional black. And for Menichetti, the difference is about far more than colour. Black, he argues, can suggest absorption, containment and even protection. It reflects very little light and creates a boundary around its wearer. Midnight Blue offers something different. “Midnight Blue, by contrast, is a darkness that retains depth,” he explains. “It evokes the night sky, the depth of the sea — something into which the eye can still travel.” The distinction becomes particularly interesting when thinking about Bond himself. “A very dark blue retains the gravity of black, but suggests that a powerful presence can still be approachable.” Under evening light, the colour can appear almost black, but velvet and silk satin catch the light in different ways, revealing its richness. There is, inevitably, something cinematic about it too. Without becoming theatrical, Menichetti believes Midnight Blue carries “mystery, restraint and sensuality” — qualities that feel particularly at home in Bond's world. And despite the continued casualisation of menswear, he sees the dinner jacket as anything but obsolete. “As our lives become increasingly virtual and informal, there will always be a moment when a man needs to dress for reality.” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc Are the Rules of Black Tie Changing? The modern luxury wardrobe looks very different to the one Bond first inhabited. Tailoring has softened. Dress codes have loosened. Comfort has become an increasingly important part of luxury. So, does black tie need to change with it? Yes — but not by abandoning what makes it black tie in the first place. “I do not believe black tie needs to lose its identity in order to become contemporary,” Menichetti says. “The conventions of formal dressing matter.” Instead, he believes evolution should happen in the relationship between the garment and the body. Construction can soften. Fabrics can become lighter. Proportions can change. Most importantly, the wearer must be able to move. “The dinner jacket remains one of the defining garments of masculine elegance,” he says. “Its future does not lie in making it casual, but in removing rigidity while preserving its authority.” It's a philosophy that runs throughout the Casino Royale collection. Velvet, silk satin and deep Midnight Blue inevitably carry cinematic associations, but Menichetti is conscious of the line separating cinematic clothing from costume. His solution is to start with the person rather than the picture. “Costume exists primarily to communicate something visually. Clothing, on the other hand, has to live on the body.” Weight, touch, movement and proportion therefore become as important as appearance. “The moment a man becomes too conscious of what he is wearing, part of the elegance disappears,” he says. “Cinema can suggest the atmosphere. The clothes, however, have to belong to real life.” The Casino Royale Details Bond Fans Will Notice That doesn't mean Turnbull & Asser has resisted referencing the film altogether. Look closely and Bond fans will find details drawn directly from Casino Royale, including pocket squares referencing Bond's winning hand. The key is discretion. A pocket square, Menichetti explains, is almost private. Depending on how it is folded, its design can either be displayed or largely hidden. That allows a recognisable reference to exist without turning the entire outfit into a commemorative piece. Elsewhere, references are communicated more subtly through colour, construction, material and proportion. Menichetti likes the possibility that someone could buy and wear the collection without understanding every cinematic reference — only to discover those details later. His philosophy is neatly captured in a single sentence: “Well-crafted clothes should reward attention, not demand it.” What Has 60 Years of James Bond Style Taught Turnbull & Asser? Actors change. Silhouettes change. Even the idea of what masculinity looks like has changed enormously since Bond first appeared on screen. Yet when The Life of Luxury asks what has remained consistent throughout 007's wardrobe, Menichetti chooses an unexpected word: Appropriateness. “Bond understands where he is, what the situation requires and how to dress accordingly,” he explains. “That is perhaps more important than any individual shirt, dinner jacket or suit.” Precision is the other constant. Bond's clothes rarely need to explain themselves. Instead, they quietly communicate authority. Menichetti sees a clear parallel with Turnbull & Asser itself. Craftsmanship, proportion and quality are present, but their purpose isn't to demand attention. “They are there to give confidence to the person wearing them.” “The actors change, the silhouettes change and the world around Bond changes, but that idea of controlled, natural elegance remains.” And that raises a much bigger question. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc So, How Should the Next James Bond Dress? If Menichetti were handed the opportunity to dress the next James Bond from the very beginning, he wouldn't start by choosing a tuxedo. In fact, he wouldn't start with clothes at all. “Before deciding what he should wear, I would want to understand who this Bond is,” he tells us. “How does he move? What is his relationship with the world? What does he carry with him, and what must he leave behind?” It's perhaps the most interesting point in our conversation. The next Bond, Menichetti believes, should not look as though he has simply inherited the wardrobe of Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig or any of his predecessors. He needs his own visual language. The fundamental principles can remain — precision, appropriateness and restraint — but the expression of them must belong to the man and the era. “A new Bond should not look like someone who has inherited the wardrobe of his predecessors,” he says. “He should have his own visual language… capable of speaking to the present.” But Menichetti's vision for the next 007 goes beyond the cut of his dinner jacket. He would like to see a Bond who is comfortable allowing greater emotional depth to show. “I believe a contemporary Bond should not be afraid to allow his sensitivity and depth to be perceived,” he says. “Strength does not necessarily mean being impenetrable.” For a character whose power has so often been communicated through invulnerability, it is an intriguing proposition. Menichetti instead imagines strength that acknowledges fear, pain and limitation without becoming controlled by them. “I would be interested in a Bond who demonstrates that vulnerability and strength are not opposites,” he says. And his clothes would reflect that evolution. Fewer gestures. Greater precision. Extraordinary materials and intelligent construction. Clothes designed to move naturally enough that they become an extension of the character rather than a costume placed upon him. There is, however, one quality Menichetti would be reluctant to surrender. Mystery. In a world of constant communication, visibility and branding, Bond should remain someone we can never entirely read. “His elegance should not tell us everything about him,” Menichetti says. “It should suggest a new era without declaring it.” Perhaps that is ultimately what Turnbull & Asser's return to Casino Royale gets right. The most successful way to honour Bond isn't to recreate the man we already know. It is to understand the codes that made him an icon — and work out which deserve to follow him into whatever comes next. Or, as Menichetti puts it: “The next Bond should not appear to be the custodian of a tradition. He should be the proof that the tradition is still alive." Discover the Casino Royale Collection Twenty years after Casino Royale first arrived on screen, Turnbull & Asser’s new collection reinterprets the codes of Bond eveningwear for today — from Midnight Blue tailoring and silk satin to subtle references that dedicated 007 fans will recognise. Explore the Turnbull & Asser Casino Royale Collection →

Image: Matt Porteous, Ralphie’s launch photography. The former Dorchester chef’s debut on Pimlico Road comes with British comfort food, a vinyl-filled private dining room and a menu for four-legged guests. Tom Booton is opening his first solo restaurant in Belgravia, and the name belongs to someone particularly close to him: his Maltipoo, Ralphie. Due to launch in late November 2026, Ralphie’s will bring the former Dorchester chef’s cooking to a 40-cover neighbourhood bistro on Pimlico Road. The address was previously home to Enoteca Turi. Booton’s plans for it are personal, from the food he grew up enjoying to the furniture he has tracked down himself. There will even be a dedicated dog menu, so the restaurant’s namesake is properly represented. Tom Booton’s next chapter Booton joined The Dorchester in 2019, aged 26, becoming the youngest chef to lead The Grill’s kitchen. After six years at the hotel, he left in 2025. Ralphie’s gives him a place of his own, with a British bistro menu rooted in familiar dishes and his Colchester upbringing. It is an interesting move for a chef associated with one of London’s grandest hotels. The scale is intimate, and the details suggest somewhere designed for repeat visits: daily specials, Sunday roasts and a dining room with the owner's taste written through it. Scampi, Sunday roasts and a proper pudding Planned dishes include crispy cod cheeks scampi with warm tartare sauce, pork and mushroom pie with charcuterie sauce, and a vanilla soft-serve sandwich finished with warm hazelnut and fudge sauce at the table. Sunday lunch will have its own sense of occasion. One proposed dish brings leg of lamb and shepherd’s pie together inside a Yorkshire pudding, while the private dining menu includes a Beef Wellington trolley. It is recognisable comfort food with enough of Booton’s imagination to make it worth leaving the house for. Pritesh Mody is behind the cocktails, including a beetroot martini and a hedgerow negroni. The announced wine pricing starts at £7.50 a glass and £32 a bottle, with starters below £18 and mains around £30. These are launch details, so check the final menu before booking. The Den—and dinner for the dog Downstairs, The Den will accommodate 14 guests around a bespoke walnut table. A record player and records from Booton’s own collection bring an unusually personal touch to private dining, with the room overlooking the kitchen. Upstairs, the design combines oxblood tones, Colefax and Fowler fabrics, walnut and brass. Antiques sit alongside bespoke British pieces, with lighting and mirrors from neighbouring design house Jamb. Dogs will have their own choices, including a pig in blanket and a chew board served in bespoke bowls. For a restaurant named after a much-loved pet, it feels only fair that canine guests should get more than a bowl of water. Ralphie’s is due to open at 87 Pimlico Road, Belgravia, in late November 2026. A precise opening date has not been confirmed in the launch information reviewed. Visit Ralphie’s for opening and reservation updates

Rules has a new landlord. The historic Covent Garden building that houses London’s oldest restaurant has been gifted to the National Trust, securing the future of an address where dinner has been served since 1798. The distinction matters: the Trust is taking care of 34–35 Maiden Lane and its historic collections. The restaurant remains an independently operated business, with owner Ricky McMenemy becoming a commercial tenant. For diners, this is a story about preserving a familiar London institution. What has the National Trust taken into its care at Rules? J-P Mayhew’s gift includes the building and objects that record the restaurant’s long history, among them menus, visitor books, photographs, caricatures and stained glass. Rental income from the restaurant will support the charity’s work. It is an unusual addition to a conservation organisation’s care: a place whose original purpose remains central to the experience. The dining rooms still have a job to do, and keeping them in use is part of what makes the gift significant. From an oyster house to a London institution Thomas Rule began serving oysters on Maiden Lane in 1798. The restaurant’s own history records its survival through the Second World War, when it continued serving rationed meals, and its long association with writers and performers. Charles Dickens, H.G. Wells, Laurence Olivier and Charlie Chaplin are among the names connected with its past. The drawings and paintings covering the walls make that history visible, rather than leaving it tucked away in an archive. The kitchen’s identity is similarly rooted in British dining, with game, oysters, pies and puddings among its specialities. Rules offers a particular kind of London evening: a dining room with a long memory, and a menu that has no need to reinvent itself around the latest food trend. Preserving the atmosphere as well as the address The National Trust’s account recalls John Betjeman’s defence of Rules when redevelopment threatened it in 1971. His argument recognised the character of the rooms as well as their physical contents. The new arrangement carries that concern forward, protecting both the setting and the collections associated with it. For a city that can be quick to replace the old with the new, there is something reassuring about an announcement centred on continuity. The most interesting detail is that this history will remain part of an ordinary restaurant service: tables laid, drinks ordered and another evening added to the story. Can you still book a table? Yes. Rules continues to operate as a restaurant, and reservations remain available through its own website. The address is 35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden. Its cocktail bar, Winter Garden and private dining rooms are also detailed on the restaurant’s site. Book a table and explore Rules Read about the National Trust’s care of the historic building

The carmaker’s new London flagship has a culinary draw of its own, from tea cocktails to a sculptural answer to the cream-tea debate. Jaguar’s new Knightsbridge address comes with a reason to visit even if a car is not on your shopping list. Café Eighty-One, created with chef Michael O’Hare, brings a new dining destination into the brand’s flagship, which opened on 8 October. At 81–93 Knightsbridge, the café forms part of a wider space devoted to Jaguar’s design, craftsmanship and commissioning. The invitation extends to visitors and the local community, with food and drink giving people a way to spend time there beyond a vehicle appointment. What is Café Eighty-One? The menu draws on British food traditions, with seasonal sweet and savoury dishes alongside tea, coffee, English wines and tea cocktails. O’Hare’s involvement brings a chef known for highly individual presentation into a setting where design is already central. One of the clearest examples is the café’s oloid: a sculptural creation combining scone, jam and cream in measured proportions, offered in four flavour combinations. It neatly removes the need to argue about which goes on first. Here, the shape is part of the idea. Jaguar lists an all-day dining menu, a Chef’s Edit selection and a separate drinks menu. The range suggests different ways to visit, whether you want a short pause while in Knightsbridge or a table around which to build an afternoon. Inside Jaguar’s new London home The flagship is intended to host cultural events, artistic collaborations and individual commissioning consultations in a gallery-inspired setting. It also reconnects the company with its London history: the opening comes 91 years after the first SS Jaguar was introduced nearby in Mayfair in 1935. Putting a café at the centre gives the address a different rhythm from a conventional showroom. You can arrive with a reservation for food, spend time with the surroundings and encounter the brand at a less hurried pace. For Londoners, it adds another option to a neighbourhood already accustomed to mixing shopping with a good lunch. The Life of Luxury has not yet visited, so watch this space for our review. The combination is certainly intriguing: a chef with a strong identity, working inside a carmaker’s newly designed home. How to visit Café Eighty-One The café’s published opening hours are 10am–8pm Monday to Saturday and 11am–6pm on Sunday. Walk-ins are welcome subject to availability, although the venue recommends booking ahead. Reservations are available through Jaguar’s café page. For professional photography or filming, arrange permission with the venue in advance. Guests with accessibility requirements or other requests are also advised to contact the team before visiting. Café Eighty-One is at Jaguar at Knightsbridge, 81–93 Knightsbridge, London. Check the current menus and reservation availability before making a special journey. View Café Eighty-One’s menus and book a table.

Illustration: Bond Street. The Mayfair shopping street is bringing its fashion houses outdoors for an evening of festive food, drinks and Christmas shopping. Fendi is serving hot chocolate. Jimmy Choo is making crêpes. Etro has the panettone. Bond Street’s Christmas market is giving the festive food stall a distinctly Mayfair makeover, with a one-evening celebration on Thursday 12 November 2026. Between 4pm and 8pm, the street will close to traffic as its boutiques and hospitality neighbours host seasonal treats and experiences. It is an appealing excuse to begin the Christmas shopping early—or simply spend an evening browsing with something warm in hand. What is happening at the Bond Street Christmas market? Alongside the fashion houses’ sweet offerings, Brunello Cucinelli will serve coffee, while The St. Regis brings Bloody Marys and bites. Montblanc is offering personalised calligraphy, and sketch is joining the food line-up. The pleasure of the programme is in those unlikely combinations. You might normally walk into these boutiques to examine a handbag or try on a pair of shoes; for one evening, the invitation is rather more sociable. A coffee stop becomes part of the shopping trip, with plenty of reasons to linger between addresses. Christmas lights and a charitable tradition Bond Street’s Crown Jewel lights return for the festive season on 12 November. The evening’s announced highlights also include the illumination of Ralph Lauren’s Giving Tree in support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. For readers planning a Christmas visit to London, this is a date to put in the diary now. The street’s decorations provide the backdrop, but the individual brand experiences are what distinguish the evening from an ordinary after-dark shopping walk. Planning your evening Allow time to explore rather than treating the event as a quick detour. If you are making a night of it, a dinner reservation afterwards gives the evening an easy shape: browse first, eat later, and leave room for a crêpe along the way. The market takes place on Bond Street, Mayfair, on 12 November, from 4–8pm. Check the organiser’s programme before travelling for updates and any arrangements for individual experiences. See the official Bond Street Christmas programme.

For years, luxury travel has been about gaining access to the places everyone else wants to be. The hardest table to book, the most exclusive members’ club, the nightclub where getting past the door is an achievement in itself. But among the world’s most discerning travellers, the ultimate indulgence may now be the freedom to bypass the scene altogether. At the highest end of the market, privacy is becoming the new currency of luxury, and that philosophy is extending into some unexpected corners of the holiday experience. At Ultima Megève in the French Alps, guests don’t need to venture out to find the perfect après-ski party. They have their own private nightclub, tucked beneath a pair of Alpine chalets, complete with a bar and space to dance without a guest list, crowded dance floor or strangers holding up their phones. With eight bedrooms upstairs and Mont Blanc providing the backdrop, the property offers a particularly extravagant take on the idea that the best experiences are those reserved for a select few. The concept extends to Ultima Gstaad Promenade in Switzerland, where private nightlife similarly reimagines the traditional Alpine evening. Rather than competing for a table at a sought-after venue, guests can enjoy the atmosphere of a night out without leaving the privacy of their own retreat. It reflects a wider evolution in luxury hospitality. Private chefs have brought restaurant-quality dining into holiday homes, in-villa spas have made wellness an entirely personal experience, and dedicated cinemas have turned evenings in into an occasion. Now, the nightclub is joining the list of amenities designed to make leaving the property entirely optional. For groups gathering in the Alps this winter, the appeal is as practical as it is indulgent. After a day on the slopes, there are no taxis to arrange, queues to navigate or closing times to dictate the evening. The party happens on their terms, surrounded by their own guests, with the freedom that comes from having an entire space to themselves. And perhaps that is the real luxury at play. In a world where exclusive experiences are increasingly photographed, shared and broadcast, there is growing appeal in experiences that don't need an audience. The traditional markers of status have centred on access; this new iteration is about ownership, privacy and control. The question for luxury travel is no longer simply where you can get in, but what you can have entirely to yourself. This winter, the most exclusive après-ski destination might not be the busiest club in the village, but the one hidden beneath your own chalet. www.ultimacollection.com

‘Eye Patch Gate’ is the internet’s nickname for a surprisingly entertaining beauty controversy: Fenty Skin, Glow Recipe and Huda Beauty all revealed eye patches with remarkably similar sliced shapes and twist-up dispensing formats, while Korean brand Wonder Bath had already shown a comparable concept earlier in the year. The launches landed close enough together that beauty TikTok did what beauty TikTok does best — zoomed in on every similarity and demanded an explanation. What actually happened in Eye Patch Gate? Wonder Bath debuted sliced serum eye patches in July. Fenty then teased its Dew N Plump Fresh Sliced Hydrogel Eye Patches in September, followed by attention around Glow Recipe’s Exopeptide Caffeine Brighten & Depuff Fresh Slices Eye Mask and Huda Beauty’s Undereye Jelly Patches. The products are not identical in formula or branding, but the visual language — curved ‘slices’ stacked in a canister-style dispenser — is similar enough to be instantly noticeable. Did one beauty brand copy another? There is no public evidence that establishes copying, and similarity is not proof of it. Beauty brands frequently work with overlapping manufacturers, component suppliers and packaging formats, while product development timelines can run for months or years. Several companies can therefore arrive at the same trend at roughly the same time without one having seen another’s finished launch. Why can beauty packaging look so similar? The beauty industry is far more interconnected behind the scenes than the glossy campaigns suggest. Brands may select from supplier-developed components or customise an existing mechanism, which means the same broad packaging idea can appear across different labels. Add trend forecasting, viral K-beauty formats and an industry watching the same social platforms, and convergence becomes less mysterious. How did the brands respond? Rather than escalating the situation into a public feud, much of the response has leaned into humour — which is probably wise. ‘Eye Patch Gate’ has become as much a meme as a product story, giving all of the brands involved a burst of attention that a conventional launch campaign would struggle to manufacture. Does beauty have an innovation problem? That is the more interesting question. Consumers are increasingly good at spotting when a ‘new’ product is really a new presentation of something familiar. There is nothing wrong with improving an existing format, but packaging theatre can only do so much if the formula, fit and results do not justify the hype. Which eye patches are actually worth buying? The answer should have very little to do with the drama. Look at the ingredients, the amount of serum, how securely the patches sit under the eyes, price per use and whether the product addresses your concern — hydration, puffiness or brightness. The prettiest dispenser in the bathroom cabinet is only a bonus. If anything, Eye Patch Gate is a useful reminder that in beauty, originality is rarely just about what something looks like on launch day. The real test starts once the lid is open. The eye patches actually worth trying... The drama is entertaining, but the product still has to earn its place in your skincare routine. If you want to try the eye-mask trend rather than simply watch it unfold on TikTok, these are the ones we would actually put on the shortlist — and, importantly, they’re options UK shoppers can get their hands on. rhode Peptide Eye Prep Hailey Bieber’s rhode has naturally joined the under-eye conversation with Peptide Eye Prep, designed as a cooling, hydrating step before skincare or makeup. The curved patches have the polished, minimal aesthetic rhode has become known for, while the formula focuses on plumping and refreshing tired-looking under-eyes. These are the pair we’d reach for before makeup or when you want that particularly glossy, well-rested Hailey Bieber effect. 111SKIN Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask For something decidedly more indulgent, 111SKIN’s Rose Gold masks are designed around radiance, hydration and smoothing. With ingredients including niacinamide, rose extract, sodium hyaluronate and pomegranate, these are the ones we’d save for before an event, dinner or shoot rather than treating as an everyday essential. Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches A long-standing favourite in the category, Peter Thomas Roth’s gold patches combine caffeine, hyaluronic acid and hydrolysed collagen to target the appearance of puffiness, fine lines and dullness. If you would rather go for something tried-and-tested than chase the newest viral launch, this is one of the classic jars to know. Whichever pair you choose, eye patches are best thought of as a quick treatment rather than a miracle cure. Keep them chilled if you like the extra cooling effect, apply them to clean skin and pat any remaining serum around the eye area once you remove them.

Six London restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide Selection in September 2026 — but an important distinction first: this does not mean they have been awarded Michelin stars. The Guide now adds restaurants to its recommended selection throughout the year, while stars and Bib Gourmands are announced separately. Still, inclusion is a useful signal that Michelin’s inspectors think a restaurant deserves attention. Which six London restaurants were added? The September additions are Simpson’s in the Strand, Bar des Prés, chez Rose, DakaDaka, MRBL and Sushi Amamoto. Between them, they cover old-school British dining, French bistro cooking, Japanese technique, Georgian flavours, serious steak and high-end omakase — which is a fairly neat snapshot of how varied London dining has become. Simpson’s in the Strand The most storied name on the list is Simpson’s in the Strand. Dating back to 1828 and recently revived under restaurateur Jeremy King, it is unapologetically British: a dining room built around ceremony, heritage and the sort of dishes that make a white tablecloth feel completely appropriate again. Bar des Prés and chez Rose Mayfair gains two very different French-leaning additions. Bar des Prés brings a polished French-Japanese approach, while chez Rose is a more relaxed bistro from chef Spencer Metzger and his co-founder. Michelin’s interest in both is a reminder that ‘luxury dining’ no longer has to mean stiff formality; confidence and clarity can be more compelling than theatre for theatre’s sake. DakaDaka and MRBL DakaDaka introduces Georgian cooking to the list with a lively, fire-led menu and a deliberately energetic atmosphere. MRBL, in Leadenhall Market, is aimed squarely at diners who take beef seriously, positioning itself around generous cuts and a City audience that still has an appetite for a proper steak lunch. Sushi Amamoto For the most rarefied experience, Sushi Amamoto is a 16-seat omakase on Albemarle Street and the first restaurant outside Taiwan from chef Shogo Amamoto. Current menus stretch from a 17-course experience at £180 to a 22-course option at £380, placing it firmly at the occasion-dining end of the spectrum. Does Michelin Guide inclusion mean a restaurant has a star? No. A restaurant can be part of the Michelin Guide Selection without holding a star or Bib Gourmand. Think of the monthly additions as restaurants the inspectors consider worthy of recommendation. The annual awards are where star status is decided. Which should you book first? For ceremony and nostalgia, Simpson’s is the obvious choice. For something more intimate and high-investment, Sushi Amamoto is the standout. DakaDaka is the one we would choose for a livelier evening, while chez Rose looks particularly appealing for those who want Mayfair quality without Mayfair stiffness. More than anything, this latest list shows London’s strength is not one dominant dining trend. It is the fact that a nearly 200-year-old British institution and a tiny contemporary omakase counter can both feel relevant at exactly the same time.

Holland Park, Hampstead, St John’s Wood, Chelsea and Knightsbridge are five of London’s affluent residential neighbourhoods, each offering a different version of life in the capital. Yasmin Ulhaq, founder and director of Glenfield Property Management, shares her perspective on the appeal of these areas and what luxury tenants look for in a home. Which is the richest area in London? The answer depends on the measure: residents’ wealth, average sale prices, rents and individual trophy-home transactions can produce different results. This is an expert-led selection of five desirable neighbourhoods, rather than a statistical ranking of the capital’s five richest postcodes. The common appeal is a combination of location, distinctive homes, green space and access to the capital’s shops, restaurants and cultural life. Yet the character of each area matters as much as its reputation: a leafy north London street offers a different experience from an address close to Harrods. In Ulhaq’s assessment of the luxury rental market, younger wealthy tenants want more than an impressive address. They are looking for homes that work around their everyday routines, from exercise and entertaining to working from home. Her emphasis is on homes that are ready to live in, with thoughtful interiors, useful technology and space for wellbeing. Smart thermostats, exercise equipment and outdoor areas are examples of the features she highlights. Service is part of that picture too. Concierge teams and property managers can help with day-to-day maintenance and lifestyle requests. For a tenant choosing between two prestigious addresses, the ease of living in the property can make the difference. Five affluent London neighbourhoods to know Holland Park: grand houses and green space Holland Park combines substantial homes with the appeal of its namesake park. Within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, it offers a residential setting that feels removed from the busiest shopping streets while remaining close to west London’s restaurants and boutiques. For buyers and tenants, the attraction is as much the setting as the address. Hampstead: village character in north London Hampstead brings a different atmosphere: historic streets, pubs and access to Hampstead Heath. Its artistic and literary associations are part of its identity, but the practical draw is the balance of neighbourhood life and open space. It suits the idea of a London home with room to step away from the pace of the centre. St John’s Wood: leafy streets close to Regent’s Park St John’s Wood offers elegant villas and a quieter residential character within reach of central London. Its position near Regent’s Park is a substantial part of the appeal. The neighbourhood provides another option for those drawn to greenery without wanting to leave the city. Chelsea: boutiques, culture and residential streets Chelsea’s appeal lies in the combination of shopping, restaurants and established residential streets. The neighbourhood has longstanding associations with fashion and the arts, giving it a distinct character beyond the price of its homes. It offers a more urban setting for those who want neighbourhood amenities close by. Knightsbridge: luxury shopping on the doorstep Knightsbridge is closely associated with Harrods, high-end shopping and prestigious residences. For those who value immediate access to luxury retail and central London, its location is a major draw. As with every area in this selection, individual streets and properties can vary considerably. More information about Glenfield Property Management and its services is available at www.glenfieldpm.co.uk. Explore a Mayfair property near Park Lane Read about the Chelsea house linked to James Bond