Culture

/ 30 April 2025

The SLMan Hot List: May

The SLMan Hot List gives you all the inspiration, recommendations and ideas you need for the month ahead. From glassware to elevate your at-home bar to luggage that will enhance your travel experience, here are the coolest things out there this May…

All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

THE GROOMING ESSENTIAL

To My Ships

Until 25th May, Liberty is hosting an installation to mark the launch of To My Ships’ second personal care range. In keeping with the new brand’s primary inspiration (the ancient Greek epic poem The Iliad, from which its name derives), the installation brings elements of Greek antiquity to the store’s atrium. Like its first batch, the range takes a refined, single-scent, unisex approach to personal care. It comprises a roll-on deodorant, spray-on deodorant, hand and body wash, and eau de parfum, each containing a meticulously formulated fine perfume and a high percentage of naturally derived and active ingredients. Following the installation, To My Ships’ products will have a permanent home in Liberty’s Beauty Hall.

Visit ToMyShips.com

THE SPORTS TEAM-UP

Williams Racing X Carl Friedrik

The Carl Friedrik x Williams Racing collaboration unites two British powerhouses in a celebration of ‘precision, innovation and effortless movement’. Designed for Formula One enthusiasts and discerning travellers, the collection features a hard-shell cabin suitcase, backpack and luggage tag, all inspired by motorsport engineering. Each piece is available in Williams Racing’s signature colour palette – modelled by racers Alex Albon and the incoming Carlos Sainz Jr.

Visit CarlFriedrik.com

THE GLASSWARE

Nude

Glasswear brand Nude has partnered with award-winning mixologist Giorgio Bargiani (assistant director of mixology at The Connaught) to launch the Bar/Giani collection of six cocktail glasses. A celebration of the art of mixology, the collaboration brings together Nude’s expertise in the glassware industry and Bargiani's flair and elegance. The result is a thoughtful reimagining of the traditional cocktail glass aimed at the high-end hospitality sector and at-home cocktail enthusiasts alike. There’s a martini glass (naturally), long glass, short glass and long-stem glass. We suggest adding a pair of each to your home bar for an elevated night in.

Visit NudeGlass.com

THE UPGRADE

Jacquemus x Air France

Air France has teamed up with French fashion house Jacquemus to create a loungewear set for first-class passengers. ‘Le Pyjama’ is cut in navy cotton and finished with the airline’s winged seahorse logo on the front and Jacquemus branding on the back. Each set arrives in a red or blue cotton pouch – shaped like a pillowcase and fastened with the label’s signature round-square buttons. The collab is part of a wider revamp of the airline’s La Première experience, which also includes bedding by Dumas Paris, amenity kits stocked with Sisley products, and a bespoke cocktail menu by mixologist Matthias Giroud.

Visit AirFrance.co.uk

THE SHOE

Oliver Spencer x Solovair

Oliver Spencer has teamed up with Northampton shoemaker Solovair once more to introduce a refined tassel loafer for SS25. Beginning life as a maker of high-quality boots for the British Army, Solovair now combines its history of handcrafted techniques with new technology to create cool footwear that’s made to last. In a striking cherry red hue and a matte black, its latest collection for Oliver Spencer is made from supple Italian leather and Goodyear welted for durability. The loafer is finished with Solovair’s signature soft-suspension sole, offering comfort and sophistication for the warmer months – it’s a great match for relaxed summer tailoring.

Visit OliverSpencer.com

Alexandre Tabaste

THE HOTEL

Orient Express La Minerva

Orient Express La Minerva is now open in Rome. Anchored in history, the hotel is found inside a revived 17th-century palazzo off Piazza Della Minerva 69, just steps from the Pantheon. The design-centred property has 93 rooms and 36 suites – each space entirely singular in scale and layout. In honour of those famous trains, each room is an homage to the golden age of travel, featuring bespoke bedside trunks, rich wooden detailing reminiscent of the legendary carriages, and luxurious bedding crafted by Rivolta Carmignani – the same linens once gracing Orient Express sleeper cars. The hotel follows the recent launch of La Dolce Vita Orient Express through Italy, and arrives ahead of the opening of the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice later this year.

Visit LaMinerva.Orient-Express.com

THE CAMPAIGN

Superga 1925

This year, Superga’s iconic 2750 classic canvas sneakers turn 100. To honour the anniversary, the brand is reissuing the original design under the Superga 1925 moniker. Alongside a fun campaign that celebrates the British tennis season, the proudly Made in Italy trainers will debut in a limited run of 1,000 pieces at the brand’s flagship stores and select retailers. Neutral and classic, they’re just the thing to pep up a work summer outfit or add a sporty touch to weekend looks.

Visit Superga.co.uk

THE ANNIVERSARY

The Fat Duck

In honour of the Fat Duck’s 30th anniversary this year, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has announced an exclusive tasting menu at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. This limited-edition menu will feature eight of Heston’s most iconic dishes from the Fat Duck. For two weeks only (1st-15th July) Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will showcase the likes of snail porridge; scallop, caviar and white chocolate; turbot véronique; and ‘Alows of Beef’. Bookings are now open with prices from £195pp.

Visit SevenRooms.com

THE COLLAB

Soukuu

Undercover and The North Face have reunited for season four of Soukuu, a collection shaped by running, hiking and moving with intent. The latest collection includes gilets made for optimum insulation, fleece jackets for the transitional weather season, t-shirts and trousers made with moisture-wicking materials for a quick-drying finish, and lightweight t-shirts and caps for when the summer weather hits. Top of our list is the Futurelight backpack mountain jacket, which has a handy zip mechanism that transforms the back of the coat inside a backpack.

Visit EndClothing.com

THE BOOK

Vintage Rolex: The Largest Collection In The World

The Vintage Watch Company has a devoted client base of Rolex aficionados, from royalty to sporting legends to stars of the big screen. Father and son owners John and David Silver have been carefully cataloguing and amassing one of the largest pictorial records of vintage Rolex watches in the world. Published to celebrate the company's 30th anniversary, this new and updated edition of their bestseller comes with an extra 48 pages of incredible pieces . Over 2,000 watches feature in the book – from the first Rolex Submariner, later coined the ‘James Bond’, to the early GMT-Master made for Pan Am transatlantic pilots, and the Explorer II worn by Steve McQueen. A new section covers ‘tropical’ dials that have faded gradually through exposure to sun and hot climates, and are now highly sought after.

Visit HarperCollins.co.uk

All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at [email protected].