Welcome to our monthly need-to-know dispatch of the latest and greatest releases that should be on your radar for the month ahead.
With a full-time job, busy social life, and social media accounts to update, it’s challenging to keep up with all the shiny newness out there.
But you don’t have to. Here at ES Best, we’ve got our ears to the ground and our noses pressed against digital shop fronts, always looking for the newest fashion, events, and food and drink - so you don’t have to. From sell-out collections to limited edition collaborations, with exclusive events, fresh launches and new store unveilings in between, we’ve got you covered so you don’t miss out on a thing.
This action-packed month kicks off with Amazon’s Big Deal Days sale on October 8 and 9, a now-familiar two-day sale in which you can cross off big items on your seasonal shopping list. Whether you’re getting ahead of your Christmas shopping, need to replace an essential appliance or just window shopping for Halloween decor or outfit ideas, there will be juicy discounts to grab.
The end of the month brings two big parties colliding to the fore: Halloween, obviously, and for the city’s Hindu population, Diwali too. Whether you’re spooking or celebrating, we’ll have the lists to keep you best dressed and fed.
And of course, there’s the usual smorgasbord of glittering new launches, exciting collabs and epic shopping drops to make this October shine.
If you’re ever at a loss for something to do at the weekend or want to scratch the retail therapy itch, we’ll keep this page updated all month long; it’s best to bookmark it so you’ve got the insider’s guide right at your fingertips.
Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter version of this Shortlist for a weekly digest covering everything from fashion and furniture to tech and travel.
Ready, set, shop
Barbour x Alexa Chung 4.0
In a world of bonkers fashion collabs, hail the return of one that makes the most sense. Barbour and Alexa Chung are back with a fourth capsule collection, pairing the cult outdoor brand with her indie cool style. The collection is packed with the kind of cuts that'll actually have you looking forward to the next rainy day: think wax jackets with tartan liners and knitwear ready for layering. For coats though, it's got to be this trench with an Alexa twist.
Buy now £349.00, John Lewis
Harvey Nicks plays host to Glenfiddich and Andre Saraiva collab
If you need a new reason to head to Knightsbridge, how about Glenfiddich’s takeover of Harvey Nichols’s 109 BAR with Andre Saraiva?
To celebrate the launch of Glenfiddich Grand Château 31-year-old, the Scotch brand and artist have teamed up to give the bar a makeover, fusing tradition with rebellion. It’s the perfect place to try the new expression or your favourite Glenfiddich Scotch or cocktail - but only until October 13 when it closes for good. A must-visit for whisky connoisseurs.
Buy now, Harvey Nichols
Almave Blanco by Lewis Hamilton
F1 legend Lewis Hamilton has released a non-alcoholic tequila just in time for Sober October. The Blue Agave drink is a great alternative to recruit in cocktails that usually call for a measure of tequila or mezcal, allowing drinkers to enjoy the flavours without the arresting consequences the morning after.
There are two expressions: an Ambar, great for sipping neat, and the Blanco, a mixologist’s dream. Hamilton said: “I’m proud to launch Almave Blanco in the UK, it joins Almave Ambarin standing apart from anything else on the market as a quality, alcohol-free alternative with no compromise on flavour, authenticity or process.”
Buy now £20.44, Amazon
Stacey Dooley launches new colours with COAT Paint
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She may have a knack for getting sources to pour their hearts out, but now investigative journalist Stacey Dooley is doing the pouring - of paint, that is. The TV star has teamed up with COAT to launch a capsule collection of six colours, with each shade inspired by a chapter in her life.
The limited edition range is perfect for giving walls a makeover, upcycling furniture and total home renovations. Our fave? Stage Door, inspired by Dooley’s turn in 2:22 A Ghost Story, has the drama the season demands.
Buy now, COAT
Cornish Sea Salt launch Spicy Margarita Sea Salt
Happy hour is about to get a lot more interesting thanks to Cornish Sea Salt. In response to our collective thirst for a Spicy Marg, the brand has devised a new combination to skip the faff and get that delicious tipple to your lips faster. Simply scatter on a flat dish and roll the rim of a wet glass over it to get the lip-smacking garnish.
Buy now £5.15, Cornish Sea Salt
