Long Weekender: A Gorgeous Guide To The August Bank Holiday

Main featured image: Photographed by Bryce Thompson, Styled by Luis Rodriguez for The Gloss Magazine.

DRESSING THE PART

No one wants to part ways with summer. The August bank holiday weekend is a great opportunity to wear something new, or new to you, whether you’re headed to the beach on holidays or a family lunch at home. A cotton midi dress is perfect for the long weekend and will serve you well on holiday and staycations. Simply throw on with a denim jacket and chunky clogs, flat sandals or trainers during the day to ensure maximum comfort. For sunset prinks, up the ante and pair with pretty strappy sandals and an embellished cardi slung over your shoulders for a glamorous touch. AC.

CHILLING OUT

We don’t know what the weather will do. But here’s an idea either way. If it’s warm, the new Clarins Cryo-Flash Cream-Mask (€64, www.clarins.ie) offers an effective way to cool your skin down. With a special pure menthol molecule, this ice-blue cream mimics the effects of cryotherapy. And if it’s raining – book in to the lovely Clarins Boutique & Spa in Wicklow Street, Dublin 2, for a complimentary skincare consultation (and sample), to try out the Cryo-Flash for yourself. They offer a mini treatment that features the use of a thermal camera so you can see for yourself just how cooling this is; before and after images show the quite startling difference. Ask for Kiko, a great facialist who will give you lots of good skincare advice, too. While Clarins haven’t said this in the marketing, I feel that this is the perfect hot flush cream, too – keep it in the fridge to maximise the instantly refreshing and energising effect. It’s also very hydrating, so ideal for mature skin or during menopause. Almost as bracing as a sea swim. SH.

STAYCATION IN THE CITY

Pictured: Ett Hem luxury hotel in Stockholm. Image credit: Instagram @helengracestroud.

Whether you’re checking in for a night’s stay or simply pulling up at your favourite hotel bar for a decadent cocktail, a bank holiday weekend is the perfect excuse to enjoy a little five-star living. Revel in the buzz of city life, even if it’s only for a brief 24 hours. Try out that new wine bar you’ve been dying to hit up, @barpezdublin is firmly on my list. Enjoy a quiet moment in Merrion Square before the crowds are up and about. Tag on some time to enjoy those places you don’t always have time to visit: window shop at a luxury boutique and drop into your favourite independent store to pick up some self-care treats; fancy coffee, socks or a luxe candle. Don’t leave town without buying a bunch of XL sunflowers from the sellers on Grafton Street. They really are huge compared to the supermarket ones – the ultimate ‘being in town’ treat. SM.

PINING FOR PROVENCE

If your dreams of a Riviera getaway haven’t come to fruition this summer, don’t fret, there are lots of summer pop-ups channelling the tastes and treats of the south of France. If you’ve been for a dip at Seapoint, head to Mermaid at Bresson in Monkstown, which is serving up delicious French-inspired appetisers (from pissaladière to shrimp popcorn) mains, such as calamari with basil aioli or lobster rolls, and delicious desserts – think Paris Brest or chocolate vanilla ice cream eclairs. This pop-up is open for takeaway service each Wednesday to Sunday; www.bresson.ie. For a post-shopping aperitif, try the Whispering Angel takeover at Dublin’s Café en Seine, which runs throughout August. You’ll find the Whispering Angel Rosé Garden is a discreet setting for savouring the iconic rosé and menu created by executive chef Stephen Gibson, specifically to be enjoyed with Whispering Angel or its stylish big sister, Rock Angel. Think creamy burrata, with warm caponata, pine nut gremolata and freshly baked sourdough (€12), or steamed mussels, ’nudja, leeks, white wine cream, parsley and sourdough (€14); www.cafeenseine.ie. For an elegant soiree, book a table in Wilde at The Westbury, which has been decorated with gorgeous blooms created by Kasia Skopinska – the perfect backdrop to the restaurant’s Flight of Rosé tasting experience, €30. It’s one of my favourite summer treats, and an opportunity to learn more about these gorgeous wines; www.wilde.ie. PMcC.

PLOTTING PLANS

With all the destination guides, restaurant lists and hidden gems we’ve been collating for Fly The Flag, I’m in full planning mode for my next Irish getaway. I’ll spend a couple of hours this weekend plotting a route that could take me from Kinsale to Kenmare, taking in all of West Cork’s wonders along the way. For me, while sunny spells are a major bonus, sometimes the best Irish holidays just call for a cosy snug and a glass of Guinness with some great seafood – and even better company. A bonus? Often rainy days bring the best sunsets. And those rainy days can be an opportune time to simply slow down, the ultimate luxury – whether that means catching up on a pile of this year’s must-read books, spending some downtime with family or popping in and out of lovely local shops – what’s a holiday without some souvenirs? It’s a win-win, whatever the weather brings. SC.

PAINTING AND POETRY

If you are starting to crack up at home wtih the kids, we’ve found a nice way to get out of the house for an afternoon. Now in its third year, “Art and the Outdoors” is a two-day art event on Saturday and Sunday, August 5-6, which is pitch perfect for all ages. Organised by Hugh Lane Gallery the (free) programme includes portrait sketching and poetry, with artist-led outdoor drawing; printmaking and a wildflower pop-up in addition to some poetry readings by Samuel Yakura, Kerrie O’Brien, Sree Sen and Grace Wilentz in collaboration with Poetry Ireland. There will also be musical performances (by Max Greenwood, Bow Musique Quartet, Varo, Adrian Hart, Ryan McAuley Duo, Sive, and The Hot Dots) and a chance to win family tickets for the upcoming “Andy Warhol Three Times Out” exhibition; www.hughlane.ie. PMcC.

TRYING SOME COLOURFUL AND FLAVOURFUL SUMMER RECIPES

This month’s collection of recipes from Trish Deseine is all about generating our own sunshine – especially when the Irish weather is not playing ball. These recipes celebrate summer colours and Mediterranean flavours and ingredients but most importantly they keep everything light and easy. Welcome summer wherever you are, whatever the weather. You can see the full list of recipes and download, save them or share them through this link.

Trish Deseine’s Tomato and Nectarine Gazpacho with Smoked Tobasco and Herby Croutons “August’s menu plays with temperatures, the peppers and feta are forgiving and can be served hot from the oven or warm, but make sure the gazpacho and jellies come straight from the fridge, and the fish is served piping hot alongside the contrasting, well-chilled tzatziki. Then all you must do is pop an ice cube in your rosé (sacrilege in France!) and pretend you’re lazing by the pool in Gordes or Cape Ferret.” @trishdeseineencore

Photography: @franckschmitt_photographe.

GETTING LOST IN A GOOD BOOK

Whether you’re vacationing, staycationing or staying put – take some time for yourself and dive into a new book. Orna Mulcahy’s summer reading recommendations as seen in The Gloss Magazine July/August Issue are a great place to start.

For The Romantics

There’s a lot of talk about Talking At Night (Michael Joseph, €15.99),Claire Daverley’s debut love story published this month in 22 languages, with comparisons being drawn to David Nicholls’ One Day and Sally Rooney’s Normal People. Daverley has created two really fine flawed characters in Will and Rosie, and given them a chemistry that carries through to middle age, before granting them one more chance to be happy. Be warned, there are parts that will make you cry.

For The Psychological Thriller Seekers

Everyone Here is Lying by New York Times bestselling author Shari Lapena (Bantam, €21.99) pushes the same psychological buttons. Nine-year-old Avery Wooler vanishes from a quiet, affluent neighbourhood and the police quickly zone in on her father William’s suspicious timeline. Twists and turns to the very end and probably already a series in the making.

For Murder Mystery Fanatics

Finally, a murder mystery set aboard the doomed Titanic, The Seventh Passenger by Angie Rowe (Poolbeg, €16.99). When a body shows up after the ship has departed Cobh, Inspector Lorcan O’Dowd is tasked with solving the mystery – not easy when the crime scene is at the bottom of the sea. Rowe, who trained as a librarian, weaves fact with fiction into a convincing and entertaining yarn.

For The Page Turning Types

Lisa Jewell’s mesmerising storytelling makes for perfect summer reading and her latest novel, None of This Is True (Century, €23) is just as addictive. See more of Orna Mulcahy’s summer recommendations through this link.