FROW News #121: Formula 1’s Front Row, Beauty’s Biggest Playground & Miranda Priestly Returns 🏁💄👠
Formula 1 swapped helmets for hemlines this week, beauty destinations got even bigger, and one of fashion's most iconic films is already making its way from the cinema to your sofa. Elsewhere, Liberty is giving one artist a career-changing opportunity, K-beauty is taking over south-west London, and if you've ever wished a beauty store felt more like a day out, we've found one.
M&S turned Formula 1's pit lane into a catwalk, because apparently that's where fashion's headed next 🏁👗🏎️
Fashion has been flirting with Formula 1 for a while now, but M&S just took things to another level. Ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix, the retailer became the first fashion brand ever to stage a runway show on Silverstone's iconic pit lane, sending 50 models through the working garages with race cars, mechanics and pit crews providing the backdrop instead of the usual white walls.
The collection itself is packed with summer staples, from crisp tailoring to effortless dresses, but the bigger story is what this moment represents. Formula 1 has quietly become one of fashion's hottest tickets, and M&S has spotted the opportunity before most. The Dress to Thrill collection is available online and in selected stores.
French Connection is making a strong case for buying your autumn wardrobe before summer's over 🍂
While most of us are still deciding whether we need another linen shirt, French Connection is already thinking about what comes next. The first drop from its AW26 collection landed this week, built around the kind of pieces that quietly become the hardest-working items in your wardrobe.
Relaxed denim, modern tailoring and easy layering do most of the heavy lifting, with the Misa Denim Jacket (£99), Misa Relaxed Curved Jeans (£89), Misha Waistcoat (£69) and Solene Trench Coat (£155) leading the collection. They're not the loudest pieces you'll buy this year, but they might end up being the ones you wear the most. Available at frenchconnection.com.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is already leaving the cinema, but Miranda Priestly's wardrobe isn't going anywhere 👠
If you missed The Devil Wears Prada 2 on the big screen, your second chance is already on the horizon. The blockbuster sequel arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD from 3rd August, giving fashion fans another excuse to step back inside the offices of Runway and admire the wardrobe all over again.
Alongside the film, fans can expect behind-the-scenes featurettes, costume deep dives with lead designer Molly Rogers, filming insights from Milan Fashion Week and enough bonus content to keep even the biggest Miranda Priestly fans entertained. Pre-order now via Amazon, HMV or Rarewaves.
P.Louise just built a beauty playground, and trust us, you'll need more than an hour 💄
If you've ever joked that you could spend all day in a beauty shop, P.Louise has taken that idea and run with it. This weekend sees the opening of P.Louise City, the brand's first permanent retail destination inside Trafford Palazzo, Manchester, bringing together shopping, beauty experiences, masterclasses and a few surprises we're deliberately not going to spoil.
We were invited to the preview this week, and without giving too much away, this is far more immersive than the average beauty counter. Yes, there's makeup. Yes, there are plenty of photo opportunities. But it's the unexpected moments tucked away inside that make it feel like a destination rather than a store.
Upper Deck entry starts from £10 (redeemable against products), premium experiences are £20, masterclasses are £30, and the first 250 shoppers spending £20 will receive an exclusive gift box. More information is available at plouise.co.uk.
Liberty is handing one artist a £15,000 opportunity, and your design could end up on one of beauty's most famous advent calendars 🎨
For years, Liberty's Beauty Advent Calendar has been as recognisable for its artwork as the products inside. Now, for the first time, the department store is inviting the public to design it.
One UK-based artist will receive a £15,000 commission to create the artwork for the 2027 calendar, with the winning design wrapping one of beauty's most sought-after Christmas launches. If you've ever wanted your work in front of thousands of beauty lovers, this is one of the biggest creative opportunities we've seen this year. Entries close later this month via libertylondon.com.
Clinique thinks foundation should look after your skin as much as it covers it 🤍
The line between skincare and makeup keeps getting blurrier, and Clinique is leaning all the way in. Its new Daily Calm Foundation Makeup Balm (£43) is designed to deliver lightweight coverage while helping skin feel calm and comfortable throughout the day, rather than leaving it counting down the hours until you take it off. Skin-first beauty isn't slowing down any time soon, and if your foundation drawer is due an upgrade, this might be one to try. Available via clinique.co.uk.
Gisou wants your hair to smell as good as your perfume, and your skin too 🍒
Hair perfume has quietly become a beauty staple over the last few years, but Gisou is taking things one step further. The brand's new Honey Infused Hair & Body Mists are designed to scent both your hair and skin, arriving in two summer-ready fragrances: Honey Dewy and Glazed Cherry.
The alcohol-free formulas are powered by Mirsalehi Honey Water, hyaluronic acid and peptides, meaning they're working on hydration while you're topping up your scent throughout the day. £27, available at gisou.com and Sephora.
Ciroa is giving your shaving routine a glow-up 🥭
Bodycare has become one of beauty's fastest-growing categories, and Ciroa is making a case for giving your shave routine the same attention as your skincare. The brand's new Mango & Coconut Shave Oil and After Shave Serum launched this week, designed to prep skin before shaving and soothe it afterwards while layering on that signature tropical scent.
The Shave Oil (£12.95) is packed with sweet almond, jojoba and camellia seed oils to help the razor glide more smoothly, while the After Shave Serum (£9.95) combines aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to calm and hydrate freshly shaved skin. If silky summer legs are on your agenda, this duo might just earn a place in your bathroom. Available now at ciroabeauty.co.uk.
Hair hygiene has officially entered the beauty chat 🪮
We've all been told to wash our makeup brushes, but hardly anyone talks about cleaning the brush we use every single day. That's the thinking behind KILLABRUSH, which claims to be the world's first active antimicrobial hairbrush, designed to help reduce microbial build-up between washes.
The brand has been co-founded by Penelope Cheshire, the entrepreneur behind Beauty Works, and Matt Lumb, who helped turn Tangle Teezer into one of beauty's biggest success stories. If anyone was going to rethink one of the most overlooked tools in our beauty routine, it was probably this duo. £29, available at killabrush.com.
Healthy Habits is turning bedtime into part of your beauty routine 🌙
Better sleep has become one of wellness' biggest conversations, and Healthy Habits is building an entire routine around it. Its bestselling Mouth Tape (£24.99) is now joined by a Nourishing Lip Balm (£11.99), designed to be the final step before lights out.
Made with natural ingredients, the vegan lip balm has earned a 98/100 YUKA rating and has been created to sit alongside the brand's overnight ritual. Whether mouth taping is already part of your evening or not, it's another sign that beauty sleep is becoming more than just a saying. Available at thehealthyhabits.co.uk.
NISHANE's newest fragrance proves rose perfumes don't have to play it safe 🌹
Rose fragrances have been having a quiet revival, but Thorns Become Roses isn't interested in the traditional powdery floral route. Created by perfumer Julien Rasquinet, the new scent blends Turkish rose with lychee, raspberry, saffron and sandalwood, creating something that feels fresher and a little less predictable. Launching exclusively at Harrods, it's priced at £195 (50ml) and £280 (100ml). If you're looking for a signature scent that stands out without shouting, this might be worth a spray next time you're passing the fragrance hall.
The Gynae Project is proving women's health conversations don't have to happen in a waiting room 🎤
Periods, fibroids, endometriosis and gynaecological health aren't exactly the topics people usually discuss over a microphone, but The Gynae Project is hoping to change that. Gynae Karaoke brings together music, community and honest conversations around women's health in a setting designed to feel supportive, uplifting and a lot less clinical.
Alongside the karaoke, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Israa Siddig will be sharing practical advice on how to advocate for yourself in healthcare settings, from preparing for appointments to asking the questions that help move your care forward. Because sometimes knowing what to say is just as important as knowing what's wrong.
Even better? There's currently a 2-for-1 ticket offer, meaning you can bring a friend along for £25.08 (including the booking fee) while the promotion lasts. It's a reminder that raising awareness doesn't always have to look like another panel discussion. Sometimes it starts with a microphone and a room full of women willing to talk. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.
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