Unbound Style - Moving Minds

Quote of the Week - “Elegance is elimination.” - Cristóbal Balenciaga

Good Afternoon, London. Welcome to The London Palette. This week, everything feels just a little bit looser, freer, and daring. The boundaries between style and imagination melting into something new at every turn. From Versace’s sequined legacy dazzling beneath London Bridge’s arches to bold sketches splashing across the Saatchi walls, the city is in full creative flow. You’ll catch the ripple from Royal Docks’ floating lido, where sunseekers and artists mix beneath the skyline. Take it all the way to sculpture parks offering shady refuge and inspiration when the heat turns up the dial.

Snatched highlights from this edition:

1. Enjoy Seaside Vibes at The Royal Docks

2. Roots of Change Sprout at Wolves Lane Centre

3. Take the Art Trail and Explore Public Sculptures

4. Live Music - Samara Joy, Lee Ritenour & lots more!

Let’s dive in.

—Bybreen Samuels

COUNCIL CANVAS

Hounslow’s Climate Playbook is a Community Sport

When it comes to rewriting the rules on urban sustainability, Hounslow isn’t just keeping pace, it’s leading the way. This year, the borough clinched the MJ Award for Innovation in Delivering Sustainability and Social Value. This confirms its role as a frontrunner for greener, healthier neighbourhoods. But Hounslow’s real edge is collaboration. Twenty one local partners and an army of engaged residents drive its ambitious circular economy agenda. The result? Climate action that feels as much about community as it does about the environment.

Hounslow’s latest parks and public space investments aren’t just for show. They’re definitely strategic moves in a borough-wide plan to net zero. The Free Trees for Hounslow campaign delivered 2,000 saplings to homes, schools, and faith groups. While Lampton Greenspace is helping achieve a target of 22,500 trees by 2026. Tree planting days act as public events, sparking hands-on sustainability, education, and new social connections. Mini-forests in Feltham, planted with the Miyawaki method, are built for rapid growth and resilience. Consequently, boosting biodiversity and carbon capture close to Heathrow.

Hounslow’s 2025 Transport Strategy is just as forward-thinking. Hounslow is prioritising cycleways, safer streets, and public transit, guided by resident feedback. Over £1.7 million is earmarked for liveable neighbourhood initiatives, major road renewals, and active travel projects. Rather than just chasing the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, the Council is actively shaping it. By connecting communities, easing congestion, and helping clean the air for everyone, progress is being made.

Strong community engagement powers every step. From tree giveaways and hands-on workshops to the Health Outreach Team’s inclusive programmes, Hounslow shows that climate action and wellbeing are inseparable. Each green space and every tree-planting day, makes sustainability something collective and deeply local. Hounslow’s approach is setting a new blueprint. Invest ambitiously, track impact, and let the community lead the way. The borough is transforming not just its landscape, but how Londoners experience and shape the city’s net-zero future.

Find out more here - https://www.hounslow.gov.uk

CITY PALETTE

The Versace Retrospective Redefines Fashion History

If you’ve ever wondered where the electric spark of 1990s fashion met the royal magnetism of Diana and the flamboyant genius of Elton John, your answer awaits under the Victorian arches of London Bridge. The Gianni Versace Retrospective opened yesterday, and is no ordinary exhibit. It’s a love letter to a designer who blurred the lines between celebrity, art, and city streets. He used London as both muse and stage. Over 450 original pieces, many never before seen in the UK, trace Versace’s journey from Calabria to global icon. What makes it extraordinary are the garments worn by Diana, Elton, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and George Michael. Thus, turning mannequins into living history with every sequin and safety pin a testament to a moment, friendship, or revolution.

Versace’s London debut pulses with the city’s own restless energy. A place where tradition and rebellion dance together. The exhibition does more than showcase baroque prints and bondage dresses, it unpacks Versace’s deep ties to British pop culture. Diana’s elegant Versace gowns signaled quiet defiance, while Elton’s extravagant and witty stage costumes mirrored the capital’s flair for spectacle and self-expression. These weren’t just clients, they were confidants and collaborators. The Retrospective moves beyond display cases, offering original sketches, runway footage, and rare photos. They pull you into the designer’s creative orbit fuelled by London's nightlife and royal intrigue.

The show’s resonance goes deeper than nostalgia, landing just as Donatella Versace steps back from the house her brother built. It’s both celebration and reckoning. Versace’s legacy still resonates as London negotiates its own identity, blending luxury and street style, heritage and reinvention. The pieces worn by Diana and Elton stem from mutual admiration. A shared belief in fashion as storytelling and a refusal to be confined by convention. At a time when authenticity and spectacle seem at odds, Versace’s work and friendships remind us, the real legacy is courage to risk, laugh, love, and mourn.

If you’re culturally curious, this Retrospective is your all-access pass to a time when fashion became a truly global conversation. You’ll see the city differently through Versace’s lens of contradictions, collisions, and endless potential. You’ll walk away with fresh eyes on how one designer and his iconic friends helped shape not only fashion, but the ways we view ourselves and our city. In a summer of choices, this is the exhibition that transforms how you see London and maybe, your own wardrobe.

Book tickets here - https://archeslondonbridge.co.uk

Dive into Royal Docks’ Free Lido Festival

There’s a lido where the city’s skyline frames every splash and the water buzzes with urban energy. That’s what Summer Splash at Royal Docks brings to life. This free, pop-up lido is available at Royal Victoria Dock from July 25 to August 17, 2025. It’s more than just a pool, this is a gathering spot for families, sun-seekers, and curious Londoners who want to cool off and relax by the eastern waterfront. Lifeguard-supervised swimming, a kid-friendly shallow zone, sandy play areas, and deckchairs mean maximum ease. You don’t have to book, just show up and jump in.

Summer Splash refuses to be just about swimming. The festival’s heart is in its varied programming. You’ll find daily craft workshops for young makers, Swim Safe sessions, knitting circles, and evening DJ sets as the sun goes down over Canary Wharf. Alongside the main lido, the wider At the Docks programme brings paddleboarding, wakeboarding, and the Dock2Dock swim’s tenth anniversary. There’s even a wood-fired sauna for wellness fans, while the Ensemble Festival fills opening weekend with circus, dance, and street art. Here, leisure mixes with creativity and discovery.

But this isn’t just about fun. Summer Splash helps reinvent the Royal Docks, transforming what was once an industrial cornerstone into a hub for London’s creative future. The lido is part of a bigger summer plan featuring outdoor art, exhibitions, and live music. These are definite draws for both local residents and new visitors to this fast-evolving district. In a city where green space and public swimming are scarce, Summer Splash is deliberately inclusive. This is an open invitation to connect with neighbours and experience the capital from a fresh perspective.

Summer Splash uniquely blurs the boundaries between city and resort, tradition and transformation. Picture toddlers building sandcastles beside iced coffee-sipping trendsetters, the splash of water set to the gentle rattle of the DLR, and a skyline that always reminds you where you are. For three weeks, Royal Victoria Dock is London’s stage for collective summer. A scene to see, be seen, and belong. Whether you’re a local or a newcomer, Summer Splash invites you to dive into a new chapter of London life, with community, culture, and cool waters at its heart.

Find out more here - https://www.royaldocks.london

UNDISCOVERED GEMS

Artful Shade - Sculpture Parks are Coolest Secret Escape

Just when you think London’s only solution to a heatwave is finding the nearest ice cream, the city’s open-air sculpture parks turn sweltering afternoons into art-filled escapes. Forget jostling in beer gardens, insiders head to the leafy trails of The Line or the Sculpture in the City, where artworks hide between skyscrapers and secret river paths. This year, shade is as important as spectacle. Installations spill beneath dappled trees, catching the sunset as it sinks behind the skyline.

It’s not just about art, but how the outdoors transforms it. This is the 14th edition of Sculpture in the City, that turns the Square Mile. It becomes a playful maze featuring works by Ai Weiwei, Julian Opie, Maya Rose Edwards, and bold newcomers. Plenty use digital maps, but the truest delight comes from stumbling upon a bronze monolith or neon-lit form in a familiar spot, suddenly seen anew. Each work tempts flâneurs and curious wanderers, offering shade, reflection, and a rare pause in the rush.

Further east, The Line combines wild green space with public art. Running from Stratford to North Greenwich, the trail winds along the Thames past sculptures, some permanent, some seasonal. City noise slips away, replaced by river breezes and birdsong. Every artwork is a cool interruption, inviting contemplation. Time it right and you might join a pop-up walk or chance upon a spontaneous riverside performance, changing a stroll into a mini cultural festival.

This summer, escaping the heat doesn’t mean leaving the city. Just discover cooler, quieter corners where art and nature entwine. These parks aren’t mere selfie backdrops or shortcuts. They’re living galleries, cleverly shaping how Londoners enjoy public space, creativity, and a simple seat in the shade. Set out with a sense of adventure and perhaps a cold drink because here, hidden gems are found when you least expect them.

Find out more here - https://www.belgraviavillage.com

LONDON BUZZ

ArtEvol’s Revolutionary Creative Open Call Hits London

Walk into Saatchi Gallery this September and the walls vibrate with energy. Not from art-world celebrities, but from the electric unpredictability of the undefined. ArtEvol 2025: Voices from the Undefined from September 12–19, is a one-off, curated by Nelson Qin for the London Art Collective. The show is shaped by an open call that welcomes artists from every discipline. Here, it’s less about credentials and more about daring ideas and bold visions for the future.

The real buzz is the exhibition’s curatorial spirit. Rather than spotlighting the established, ArtEvol gives experimental talents and collectives space to break free from traditional structures. Works explore technology and the body, reality and fiction, and the self versus the collective. This allows for the blurring of traditional categories as painting meets digital, performance, sound, and mixed media.

There’s a genuine commitment to access and anti-elitism. Curators, critics, and scholars award standout works. But the real victory is the platform for emerging artists, especially those from marginalised groups, who gain not just exposure but a true place at the table. This is your chance to experience vital new perspectives, voices that are often overlooked. See them up close and unfiltered.

If you’re tracking London’s creative pulse, ArtEvol 2025 invites you to engage with art’s evolution as it unfolds. Its nature is simultaneously challenging and stimulating. Expect to leave inspired and perhaps transformed.

Find out more here - https://www.londonartcollective.com

LONDON SOUNDSCAPE

Boisdale of Canary Wharf - July 26

Sliding into Boisdale’s chic, jazz club ambience, you’re met by the irresistible pulse of Heatwave as the legendary funk icons ignite the Canary Wharf stage. July 25 isn’t just another show, it’s a time-warp into dancefloor history, as Boogie Nights, Always and Forever, and The Groove Line send soulful waves across the plush crowd. You’ll love the velvet vocals, basslines built for groove, and a crowd whose smiles rival the stage lights. With floor-to-ceiling windows, aged whisky in hand, there’s no cooler way to revisit funk’s golden era.

Book tickets here - https://www.boisdale.co.uk/locations/canary-wharf

Crazy Coqs - July 18 and 19

Nestled within the plush Art Deco intimacy of Crazy Coqs, you’re embraced into the effortless chemistry between Madeline Bell and Ian Shaw. A pairing as smooth as the venue’s velvet banquettes. The setlist isn’t just jazz, it’s a lively conversation, with Madeline’s soulful resonance dancing with Ian’s playful wit and vocal dynamism. Enjoy the sparkling improvisations, stories that tumble between tunes, and standards reimagined with joyful invention. As the lights dim over Soho, this show is less about reliving old favourites and more about discovering the fun, freedom, and camaraderie that only masters at play can deliver.

Book tickets here - https://www.brasseriezedel.com

Glaziers Hall - July 26

When you step through the doors of Glaziers Hall, you’ll be swept into a glowing sea of candlelight as classic Madonna anthems are reinvented by a live string quartet. There’s magic in how Like a Prayer, Vogue, and Ray of Light echo off the walls, turning the legendary pop catalogue into an intimate symphony. No dancefloor needed. Surrounded by flickering candles, you’ll find yourself reliving decades of trailblazing hits in a way that is unexpected, cinematic, and completely captivating. This is a tribute that invites you to bask in pure, reimagined nostalgia.

Book tickets - https://www.glaziershall.co.uk

Hootananny Brixton - July 23

Beneath Brixton’s glowing summer dusk, Hootananny’s walls are set to vibrate with the percussive heartbeats and intricate melodies crafted by Nadav Schneerson and his South Settings project. On July 23, you’ll be swept up in an explosive fusion of UK jazz colliding with the improvisational depth of Middle Eastern rhythms. Both are steered by Nadav’s visionary drumming and composition. It’s not just a gig, it’s a journey across continents and time signatures. Each piece unfolds unexpected textures and communal groove. Go in open-minded and leave humming a whole new musical language.

Book tickets here - https://hootanannybrixton.co.uk

Jamboree - July 27

Under the golden glow of Jamboree’s vintage lamps, the air hums with anticipation as Lourdes Fernandez and her band sculpt pure duende into every note. The footwork is thunder, the guitar flares with Andalusian fire, and Lourdes’ artistry transforms the stage into a soulful, kinetic canvas. Here, you’re wrapped in authentic flamenco, unfiltered passion with a contemporary edge. Each palmas clap and swirling dress hem tells centuries old stories in a single surge of movement. This is an electrifying reminder of why flamenco endures because it’s visceral, magnetic and utterly unmissable.

Book tickets here - https://www.jamboreevenue.co.uk

Pizza Express Jazz Club - July 19

Wrapped in the warmth and hum of this Soho favourite, you’re swept away as YolanDa Brown launches into her Bob Marley Songbook. A set where sunshine pours from her sax and every reggae anthem finds new life. Bob's spirit pulses through jazzy improvisations, soulful grooves, and subtle bursts of Caribbean rhythm. All crafted into something both reverent and refreshingly playful. YolanDa’s charismatic stage presence transforms familiar tunes into an uplifting celebration, she creates a shared journey through One Love, Redemption Song, and more. In her hands, these classics become both a homage and a joyful, communal reawakening.

Book tickets here - https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com

Quaglino’s - July 25

Sinking into the late night elegance of Quaglino’s, you’ll feel District’s soulful edge cast a spell where live music and luxe dining blend effortlessly. Velvet banquettes and glamorous cocktails set the scene as the band’s vibrant sound turns the historic Mayfair venue into a buzzing musical salon. As your evening meal stretches towards midnight, District weaves dance-worthy hits and smooth grooves into the air, pulling you from your seats to join the revelry. This is a moment that blends sophistication and celebration that lingers long after the last encore.

Book tickets here - https://www.quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club - July 18, 22 and 23

Floating through Ronnie Scott’s iconic red neon haze on July 18, you discover exactly why Lee Ritenour is called Captain Fingers. His guitar finesse pirouettes between jazz, fusion, bossa nova, and blues. Each note unrushed, gleaming with five decades of genre-hopping mastery. With a powerhouse band in tow, Lee launches effortlessly from lush harmonies to the driving, infectious grooves that defined 1970s jazz fusion and later, the cool edge of Fourplay. Here, mere listening turns into a masterclass, and every solo lands like a secret shared with Soho’s most discerning audience. Don’t miss out!

While Soho’s evening buzz still lingers outside, step into Ronnie Scott’s on July 22 and you’re swept straight to New Orleans, courtesy of Jon Cleary’s irresistible groove. Born in London but forged on the Crescent City’s frontlines, Jon brings decades of piano-driven funk, R&B, and soul. He’s equal parts Professor Longhair and Allen Toussaint, but with his own sly, honeyed touch. You’re in for a night of masterful musicianship, effortless swing, and stories spun in every lyric. Whether it’s a rumbling blues or a joyful second-line stomp, this show delivers pure musical vibes.

Book tickets here - https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk

Royal Albert Hall - July 19

As the Royal Albert Hall fills with a gentle buzz on July 19, the promise in the air is unmistakable. Samara Joy, five-time Grammy winner and jazz’s newest torchbearer, is about to make her Proms debut. Joined by the BBC Concert Orchestra and led by conductor Miho Hazama, Samara pays tribute to legends like Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington, breathing youthful vibrancy and old-soul depth into standards and unexpected classics. Whether you’re a jazz devotee or craving a fresh encounter with the Great American Songbook, Samara’s voice radiates both reverence and reinvention, she turns every note into a revelation.

Book tickets here - https://www.royalalberthall.com

606 Club - July 24

From the first note that hits the air at 606 Club on July 24, Samara brings a distinct pulse that transforms the basement jazz haunt into a Latin-jazz carnival. You’ll feel the warmth as Steve Rubie’s flute and alto sax lead the quintet through infectious Brazilian rhythms, anchored by Carolina Lelis’ irresistibly expressive vocals. Every solo feels spontaneous, yet steeped in tradition. Think the melodic joy of samba, tumbling seamlessly into soulful bossa and carretera cool. In this cozy, candle-lit setting, the groove is contagious and the band’s camaraderie spills into the crowd, making every guest a fellow conspirator in jazz celebration.

Book tickets here - https://www.606club.co.uk

The 02 - July 27

When Alanis Morissette walks onto The O2 stage, you’re not just hearing a concert, you’re stepping into the soul of anthems that reshaped a generation. As the final stop on her European tour, this show promises a cathartic ride through decades of vulnerability and defiance, soundtracked by the raw power of Jagged Little Pill and the evolution that followed. With Liz Phair opening, the night celebrates female artistry, resilience, and emotional honesty. Join in the iconic singalongs and be part of a crowd united in nostalgia, catharsis, and joyous release.

Book tickets here - https://alanis.com/events

BUSINESS SCENE

From Soil to Social Impact - The Business of Green

There’s a new kind of entrepreneurial spirit growing in North London, quite literally rooted in the glasshouses and market gardens of Wolves Lane Centre. More than a traditional horticultural hub, Wolves Lane now models how business can blend urban sustainability, social inclusion, and community leadership under one eco-friendly canopy. Managed by OrganicLea and The Ubele Initiative, the Centre is proving that green infrastructure and social enterprise aren’t just aspirations. They’re viable, revenue-positive engines for change in the capital.

The recently completed eco-build project is as much a business story as a community one, using bioregional materials like straw, timber, and clay. Its climate-resilient design embodies circular economy principles. Resources are kept local and carbon sequestration targets are surpassed. Spaces are versatile, supporting everything from leadership workshops and pop-up markets to private events.

Sustainability underpins the Centre’s social business model. Revenue flows from the sale of eco-grown produce, paid courses, room hires, and its community cafe. Profits are reinvested into free meals for volunteers and educational events, funnelling financial growth directly back to the community. Partnering with groups like Black Rootz, London’s first Black-led growing collective, further advances representation, leadership, and wealth creation for underrepresented communities.

For business analysts watching London’s sustainable economy, Wolves Lane Centre is a symbol of circular thinking reshaping the mainstream. Local councils, grassroots groups, and innovative architects are collaborating here to redefine the value of land, labour, and leadership for the 21st century. As more sectors seek models for climate resilience and inclusion, Wolves Lane offers a living, growing template. Thus, proving that community-led business can deliver returns for all, economically, socially, and ecologically.

Find out more here - https://www.wolveslane.org

LINGUISTIC TAPESTRY - WORDS OF THE WEEK 

English Word:
Geothermal
Pronunciation: /ˌdʒiː.oʊˈθɜːr.məl/
Definition:  Relating to, produced by, or involving the natural heat of the earth. Typically used to describe energy derived from the planet’s internal heat, such as geothermal power plants or hot springs.
Cultural Note: Geothermal blends Greek roots—geo (earth) and therme (heat). It’s central to discussions about renewable energy and climate solutions. From Iceland’s iconic hot pools to cutting-edge zero-carbon heating systems in London, geothermal energy plays a vital role in sustainable infrastructure.

Italian Word:
Meriggiare
Pronunciation: /meh-ree-JAH-reh/
Definition:  To rest at midday in the shade, especially to escape the heat; by extension, to pause, reflect, and savor the slow passage of time during the warmest part of the day.
Cultural Note: The term captures not just the physical act of retreating from the midday sun. But also a mindset attuned to stillness, contemplation, and the subtle pleasures found in quiet pause.

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