Eleonore's London Spring Edit

​Under the Korean influence

I was supposed to visit South Korea last month. The trip was an overdue family affair and in anticipation, I immersed myself into the ever appealing (yet still considered niche) Korean culture.

I soon discovered Korean dramas, those 16 episode-long series that millions of people devour on Netflix everyday and which prove to be not only addictive but also a great way to getting to understand the Korean way of life.

In K-dramas, the main characters are often gorgeous looking introverts with secret childhood trauma, who work really hard until they meet the love of their life – generally in a library – and tend to find comfort in a restaurant owned by their best friend or their grandmother (spoiler, the food always look absolutely delicious).

They declare their love when totally drunk, religiously wear slippers at home and dress in the coolest inspiring fashion. (The reputed beauty and gentleness of the male leads is such that there have been rumors of western women traveling to South Korea in search of husbands).

Give K-dramas time, though, and one realises that beyond the genre’s classic tropes, pristine aesthetic and overused scenarios lies Korea’s true soul. Its ability to portray complex characters and social commentary is what makes K-dramas truly unique, and what’ll make you inevitably stay for the ride.

Our film editor Euan got hooked and we decided to share with you our take on this cultural craze with a ranking of our favourites.

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Exhibitions I love

Following on from my Korean thread, I went to see Perdu, an exhibition by leading Korean artist Lee Bul at the Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery. A female artist that found her voice in a deeply patriarchal society, Bul explores issues of gender, oppression, inequity and technology through her performances, installations and sculptures. Her Perdu’s magnificent creations are made of lacquer, mother of pearl and acrylic paint. They took several years to make and their texture brings together elements of the past and the present.

‘I choose what I work with very carefully. Everything has connotations, stories, and I utilise them. I borrow the general meanings materials have and embrace them in my work,’Bul says.

Meanwhile, the Whitechapel Gallery’s latest exhibition, Action, gesture, Paint: Women Artists and Global Abstraction 1940-70Action, gesture, Paint: Women Artists and Global Abstraction 1940-70, which closes in a couple of weeks, draws fascinating parallels between the works of abstract expressionist women artists from all over the world in their quest for freedom of expression.

Don’t be put off by the amount of paintings on display. Among them are some superb pieces from Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner and lesser known Wook-kyung Choi and Bettina Lopes.

However the exhibition that perhaps touched me the most this month is the three solo shows at the Whitecube Bermondsey. Marguerite Humeau’s Meys, a forest of sculptures made of bee waxes and wasp’s venom brings a transfixing extraterrestrial vibe to the gallery’s immense rooms. You can even lie on some of the hammock-shaped creations – a strangely soothing experience that I would recommend.

Foodie corner

My trip to Korea got cancelled in the end. But to console myself I am going to have dinner soon at Sollip, the Korean restaurant that is getting amazing reviews. I will let you know if it lives up to expectations.

Meanwhile, I finally went to Battersea Power Station’s new restaurant Joia, and would recommend it for the simple elegance of its Portuguese dishes conceived by its star chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, and for its incredible views.

A round of applause must also go to Cycene in Shoreditch for its more than deserved Michelin star. It’s been my culinary highlight of the year so far.

​From Swinging London vibes to Quiet Luxury

'London streets would be happier if everyone dressed in Rixo’ a friend pointed out while we were attending the launch party of the eponymous brand’s flagship store on the King’s Road in Chelsea.

Rixo, the brainchild of Henrietta Hix and Orlagh McCloskey, creates colourful and flattering printed dresses inspired by vintage pieces from the 1930s to 1980s. The new store, designed by Orlagh’s twin sister Gemma McCloskey, harbours maximalist vibes. It is definitely worth a visit, not least to sip cocktails from Smokey Kudu and spend time in the grand changing rooms covered in De Gourney’s wallpaper, but also to rummage the inspiring vintage selection. Could it be that Swinging London is back on the King’s Road?

It’s a refreshing, far cry from the quiet luxury fashion trend that seems to have taken over 2023.

‘My wealthy clients are getting rid of their logo bags’ a personal shopper and stylist was telling me during a breakfast at Matches Fashion. ‘Now it is all about stealth wealth.’

And so it seems that in ‘difficult times’, we don’t want to explicitly show off in overtly expensive clothes. Yet we still want our valuable and meaningful outfits to be somewhat acknowledged. To do so, the idea is to parade with logo-less, super expensive bags that only a small elite would be able to spot. ‘If you know, you know’, as they say.

With a bag from The Row starting price at £1,100 and a Loro Piana plain white tee at £315, you might be tempted to find some quiet luxury on the high street. An Arket cashmere jumper might look quite similar to a Brunello Cucinelli one, at £120 instead of £1,200, but would it fill its purpose?

The real quiet luxury for me would be to have clothes made to measure, and in particular jeans, which never quite seem to fit me the way I want. Levi’s is now proposing a bespoke service: you can get a 501 made to measure by a Saville Row tailor for £750. Tempted? I might be….

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​Gardening escape

My small London garden has been in poor shape this year. Last summer’s heat wave was fatal to my plants. And so I couldn't resist an invitation to escape to le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons mid week to attend the Raymond Blanc Gardening School and learn how to sew flowers for the summer.

A day away from the buzz of city life, surrounded by delightful green-fingered people, was spent putting our hands in the dirt, eating salads prepared by Raymond Blanc’s pupils and finally creating the most impressive bouquet.

It proved to be the best stress-free day of my month. And I now feel confident that I can bring back my small London patch to its original glory.

​PS: What I’m planning to see in the months to come

With a West End transfer announced for Chris Bush’s Sheffield-set musical Standing at the Sky’s Edge, a winner at this year’s Olivier Awards, I’ll be first in line for a ticket, having missed it at the National Theatre. Novacene: Fashion hits the dance scene: Grace Wales Bonner has designed the costumes for Wayne McGregor’s new piece, Novacene, which premiered last week in Salford and that will be performed at Sadler’s Wells in June.

Have a lovely Sunday, Eleonore