This month’s takes in a new LGBTQ+ retreat on Crete, a McQueen-inspired jacket from &SONS, and a graphic novel reworking of Call Me by Your Name, alongside biblical-inspired jewellery from A Sinner In Pearls, Samsung’s latest foldables and an exhibition on the history of queer comics.
Axel Beach Crete has joined the family, the world’s first hotel brand created by and for the LGBTQ+ community. It offers an experience that invites you to discover a different Mediterranean, one rich in history, more laid-back and more authentic. Located in the old town of Hersonissos, the hotel is close to Sarantaris Beach, one of the island’s most iconic and liberating nude beaches. Expect suites with private pools, a gym, and a Skybar with a pool and Jacuzzi, all part of this temple of pleasure with views of the deep blue Cretan Sea and the mountains as a backdrop for you to unleash the beast, be free, and create your own Greek odyssey.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series is back, and this time there are two to choose from: the Z Fold8 Ultra and the Fold8. Both foldables are slim enough to sit in a pocket until they unfurl into a tablet-sized screen. The Z Fold8 Ultra (from £1,899) is the flagship, upgrading last year’s Fold7 with a bigger battery and an improved camera system, and has the larger internal display at 8 inches. When closed, the Fold8 (from £1,699) is the more compact and practical of the two, as its wide, square front screen is easier to use one-handed than the Ultra’s narrower one, yet it opens to reveal an equally impressive 7.6-inch display. Both are perfect for reading books or comics, viewing documents, or watching Netflix in the bath…
When it comes to icons, Steve McQueen tops every list. And when it comes to his most enduring style signatures, the aviator jacket is a standout. Paying homage to the actor’s timeless approach to dressing, &SONS introduces the A2 Leather Jacket – a modern take on the classic flight silhouette. Created in partnership with the McQueen estate, the jacket features a vintage treatment that gives the leather an authentic, lived-in finish, capturing the effortless cool that defined McQueen’s legendary wardrobe, which continues to inspire today.
Some stories deserve to be told again and again. André Aciman’s Call Me by Your Name receives a stunning new incarnation in this graphic novel adaptation by illustrator Sarah Maxwell, bringing the intensity of Elio and Oliver’s romance vividly to life. Set during one unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera, the story charts the intoxicating excitement of first love with all the tenderness and emotional honesty that made the novel a global sensation. Maxwell’s illustrations capture every lingering look, every sun-drenched afternoon and bittersweet moment, offering long-time fans a fresh perspective while remaining faithful to the original. The result is a visually rich celebration of one of the most influential queer love stories ever written. Beautifully designed and endlessly giftable, it’s the kind of book you’ll want to display as much as lose yourself in its pages.
The divine meets the refined in The Blessed Madonna Collection from London-based jeweller A Sinner In Pearls. Known for its made-to-order pieces, the collection sees freshwater pearls collide with biblical iconography – think crosses, medals and devotional charms – reimagined across earrings and bracelets. Jade and silver anchor the unisex offering, while interchangeable chains and charms turn ritual into something entirely your own.
Big up, print media! Long before we heard the dreaded words “Instagram grid”, another boxy storytelling structure reigned supreme: comics and strip cartoons. Queer as Comics, an exhibition currently on at London’s Quentin Blake Centre (side note: the 93-year-old Roald Dahl illustrator’s history of LGBTQ+ allyship is impressive) charts their rise, along with that of graphic novels and zines, through a queer lens from the 1940s to today. Did you know that a bisexual woman, Tove Jansson, created the Moomins? Some more essential queer trivia: Alison Bechdel, who authored the iconic Dykes to Watch Out For comic strip from 1983 to 2008, also created the Bechdel test, which analyses female representation in fiction and film. To pass the test, the book or movie must include at least two women who talk to each other and have a conversation about something other than a man. God’s work!