A quiet luxury lifestyle guide to summer in London
Luxury seems to have become synonymous with big ticket items, as if the price point of something is now a condition of it being a luxury. Though I’ll skip my economic rant about now we're now living in a world where there is no correlation between cost and value.
Nonetheless, what this intersection has ended up highlighting is the need to reassess our relationship…with ourselves, actually. Being able to truly, authentically, indulge and enjoy little luxuries really starts with perceiving things as little luxuries and subsequently having a conscious experience with them, unconditionally.
Ultimately this simply means having a love of life in order to be able to uncover these treats which are present in our everyday lives, in order to add depth and richness to our otherwise familiar routines.
In recent years, London Summer has become on par with more tropical climates with temperatures reaching 35 degrees. As a born and raised Londoner I can tell you first hand that is…high. And where before we might've had a spot of sunshine in an otherwise overcast, rainy and sometimes cold Summer season, the scorching heat has started to become consistent. Compliments to global warming, one can presume.
I'm most certainly not complaining, but it does bring me to the premise of this post; I'm an avid Romanticiser, what other way is there to live, than to fall in love over and over again. And Romanticising Summer is something we all slip into, however, far too often reality hits and we can be left dejected left with a series of anti climatic events.
In order to make the most of moments, big and small, here are pockets of little summer luxuries which I often practice, mostly unknowingly. They fall into the following categorised:
Style
Food
Self love
Recreation
Style: Quiet Fashion Pleasures
Lingerie
A real guilty pleasure of mine (borderline obsession). Feel-good lingerie should need no season, it most definitely is a little, quiet luxury, one which is intimate and for your eyes only (maybe :P) I choose my lingerie as carefully as I choose my clothes because it's all about how I feel. Whilst I have many best lingerie brands, I'll single out Honey Birdette because it's one of the few that manages to produce racey lingerie whilst still being elegant and tasteful. And oh…that scalloped detail…
2. Sunglasses
Already a popular Summer staple, sunglasses are a great example of a small, accessible luxury. They’re not just stylish—they’re practical, protective, and deeply personal. I really struggle with finding a fair which suit me, though my favourite two pairs at the moment are from Celine and For Art’s Sake.
3. Shoes
I find shoes incredibly difficult to shop for—feminine, comfortable, and stylish don’t always seem to go hand in hand. It’s why discovering the right pair often feels like finding treasure. Summer shoes, in particular, are a category I consider a little luxury—whether it's a handcrafted sandal or a statement espadrille. I love limited-edition collaborations like Love Shack Fancy x Superga or Liberty x Adidas, where a creative brand meets sporty one. Another favourite is Cult Gaia, whose sculptural approach to design transforms footwear into wearable art. These are not just accessories—they’re an expression of mood, and in summer, a celebration of freedom.
Food: Savouring London’s Culinary Charm
Fresh produce from farm markets
There is something so inspiring about vibrant fruit and veg from a Farmer’s Market. It’s got to do with the ‘farm-to-table’ sentiment, in a world where even cooking is fast becoming a luxury. Borough Market in London is by far the ultimate farmers market to visit; with long queues for the fresh paella, live stations of brittle being made in front of you and the aroma of fresh bread and coffee piercing through the crowd, it's a special, Summer stop over.
2. Al fresco dining
London is a very small city, more like a town. As such, the Al Fresco dining are dotted around all over the place, and small and intimate spots can feel more vibey than grand open terrace and rooftops (though definitely not negating them, it depends on the vibe you’re going for). A few favourite spots in town worth walking past to grab a table outside somewhere or other, are Covent Garden, Angel in Islington and Hampstead. Whilst we don't have Siestas (dammit) one of the European ways of life London does some what retain is having a work-life balance and being able to slow down to enjoy the passing scene. The only catch is, you have to force yourself to slow down and make time for those moments. (And indulge in a bit of people watching maybe.)
3. Sweet treats
A sweet treat should probably be a luxury all round where Health is concerned. Additionally, during Summer it can be hard to stomach something sweet; something refreshing is more necessary. However, London is rife for experiential pockets of places. Especially as post Covid there was a trend of luxury hoteliers opening up their own patisseries (The Art Space by Claridges and The Connaught Patisserie) and not to mention my favorite part of London, Mount Street, holds a summer festival where the nearby shops participate in presenting pop-ups giving away sweet treats, hot and cold. There's no better way to enjoy Summers than grabbing a cold coffee and a croissant en route to that Art gallery in London.
Self love: Everyday Beauty Rituals
Travel fragrance
As part of my daily bag essentials I started carrying travel perfume. Whilst many brands do produce travel perfume, Diptyque's solid perfume takes the spotlight here. I'm a hopeless lover of Diptyque (they do the most beautiful home fragrances) and this precious solid fragrance in a beautifully painted, weighted compact case, has real nostalgia of a bygone era; popping it open, melting some onto your fingertips and rubbing it into your wrists and behind your ears - just like old-school glamour.
2. Flowers
Might this be another cheeky, little luxury of Summer recommendation, because I genuinely believe flowers should be a daily part of life. Blooms have a way of uplifting the Spirit and brightening a place. Whilst much needed in winter, nothing feels more hypnotising than rays of Sunshine falling on a floral bouquet during the golden hours of summer. Whether they're placed in the middle of your dining table, or you have a bunch nestled in your arms whilst walking around London, flowers for me are the one sure companion of Summers in London.
3. Luxury lipstick
I'm one of those women who likes using skincare and makeup to enhance herself (and cover my fatigue!). Which is why for the most part, my relationship with makeup is quite consistent and practical. I have a skin care routine which I stick to, and I equally have basic cosmetics which have taken me a while to find that suit me - which I also like to stick to. However, for me the indulgent part is really to do with experimenting with complementing products like blush, highlighters and lipsticks. Keeping a pocket luxury lipstick on the go (alongside that travel perfume) not only helps to remain polished, but it definitely feels a little bit special, and if you go for a beautifully designed lipstick, it's like carrying a little work of Art when on the go.
Recreational: Romance in the Rituals
Notebooks
For all my teens and most of my twenties, I lugged around notebooks with me; ready to reflect and write at any given moment. I would capture things that resonated, as well as many things that I was trying to work through in terms of my growth into a young woman. As I’ve aged, I still love journaling for self growth, but it is much less frequent. I like to think it’s because more and more I’m coming home to myself. However, the intent of buying beautiful journals and notebooks bloomed only in recent years. I guess it's fair given I would literally wade through journals, needing a new one every other month, every other week. Nonetheless, the idea of being drawn to a journal, and then consciously housing my most intimate reflections wrapped within an aesthetically beautiful frame, truly does feel very special. It also makes me further honour my own thoughts and feelings.
2. Books
Gosh, where do I start with my love affair of books. In an increasingly digital age, there's nothing quite like having something to physically hold; especially if it's beautifully made with various textures and colour. I needn’t list the most beautiful, unique bookshops in London. I think you’ll find quite a lot of content floating around the internet in this regard, but I simply must give a nod to Hatchards. Aside from it being a quintessential, English book shop, nobody has mastered the art of gifting more than this place. From intentional wrapping to beautiful boxing, all the way through to a crisp, gold foiled bag, gifting a book has never been so special - or even gifting it to yourself. On the point of gifting, they even offer a book subscription service whereupon after a consultation, you will receive an unknown book once a month to your door.
Now, if this isn’t truly transforming little pleasures into a little luxury, I wouldn’t know what is.
3. Personalised picnic blanket
…or, a, picnic blanket of some kind.
One can grab a sandwich and go sit under a tree in a park, that works well. But in my continuous quest to create and enjoy beauty, moments and be grounded in the present, there is something special about picnic-ing the ‘right’ way; blanket, napkins, crockery, games and special treats. I wanted to invest in a beautiful picnic blanket for what seems like forever, and I really struggled with it (I’m an over-thinker). But it was an easy yes when it came to The Tartan Blanket Company; there is something so quintessential about checked print, and in a time where personalisation is on overdrive to the point where most of it is quite tacky (my name glued on a product out of vinyl - no thank you) personalisation through traditional embroidery and cursive font feels ever so luxurious.
In a city as fast-paced as London, it’s the little luxuries that ground us—those fleeting, beautiful moments that turn routine into ritual. Whether it’s the delicate spritz of perfume, a well-loved book, or a quiet table in the sun, these small indulgences invite us to fall back in love with life—again and again. This summer, may you seek them out, savour them fully, and let them shape your season with softness and joy.
Anam x
Lifestyling
