Think Pink | Four Must Have Pink Polishes

L-R: Eternal Optimist | Muchi Muchi | Fiji | Ballet Slippers   Ring | Tiffany & Co.

As you can see, i'm a huge Essie fan, from the formulation through to the wide brush, the brand is always my go-to when i'm pursuing the stands at Boots. Plus, at £7.99 per bottle, they won't break the bank either. So first up a colour that is without a doubt one of my absolute favourites in my Essie collection, Eternal Optimist. A 'spiced rose' shade, it's one that always makes me feel quite sophisticated. In the images, i've only put on one coat, and it's perfectly opaque. This kind of colour is absolutely perfect if you have a wedding coming up, a slightly darker nude type shade that goes with pretty much anything, so it's versatile enough to take you from the office to the weekend, the wedding venue to the beach. A good all rounder!


Muchi Muchi is the perfect pretty pink shade, reminiscent of that kind of very pale pink Glacé icing that used to cover everything from biscuits to cupcakes when you spent a day baking as a child. A tan and this kind of pink go hand in hand, with the brighter pop of colour making you look all the more bronzed, think Malibu Beach Barbie but all grown up. It's also brilliant for those of us that love a bit of colour but tend to err more on the pastel side of the colour spectrum, a punchy neon isn't for everyone after all! This one is a little sheer on application but with a good few coats, you'll be left with opaque, pretty pink talons.


Fiji is an Essie colour that has been doing the rounds for ever and a day, a creamy almost white with a tiny hint of pink. I actually reviewed it in more detail in a previous post which you can take a look at here, but it has definitely stood the test of time in my collection and is a firm favourite. If you want to really enhance your golden glow, this is the one. It's a universal Pinterest based fact that there is nothing prettier than opaque white nails coupled with a golden tan, but if you don't want to go white white, Fiji is the perfect alternative. The teeny touch of pink stops it looking like the Tipex polish job you used to rock when you were bored in Maths class. This is another than tends to go on fairly sheer, so to get a properly opaque finish you will need to add a couple of coats, but you will be left with nails that just scream out for a tan, bottled or otherwise.


Finally, Ballet Slippers. This is the sheerest of the bunch, but is the archetypal French Manicure nude pink. It's fab for when you want something on your nails but nothing too much, the ideal colour for looking a little more put together and (excuse the pun) polished. Think of those impossibly chic Parisian girls that always pop up in Street Style features, it's a lovely neutral sheer shade. You can get a fairly opaque finish with two or three thin coats but if you aren't that patient, this colour looks just as good with it's intended sheer look. Ballet Slippers is a beautiful every day colour that will work all year around making it potentially the most versatile of my picks and is one that is a bit of a failsafe for me.

The Perfect Summer Reads

The old adage goes that you should never judge a book by it's cover, but when books are this pretty it's quite hard not to! As an ex English literature student, on entering the book shop, i'm always plagued by the feeling that I should probably bypass all of this kind of beautiful pastel coloured loveliness in favour of a good solid Penguin Classic, something that will really get the cogs turning. But, you know what, sometimes, getting lost in a good book isn't all about what you can learn from it and how you can analyse its meaning. It's about snuggling up, cup of tea in hand and not realising until half way through that hours and hours have passed.

With Summer on the brink, holidays booked and lazy days spent lounging around on a picnic blanket just around the corner, I wanted to put together a list of my top easy reads. Books that you can read from start to finish in an afternoon, that will transport you somewhere new and that are must-haves on my nightstand. These particular reads are perfect for those of you that love a little touch of vintage, all things fashion and a little bit of quirky romance...it is the summer after all.


The Love Letters of Great Men - Various

This one is one for all the Miss Bradshaw fans out there. It's exactly what it says on the tin, a collection of beautifully written love letters penned by men of note. From Ludvig Van Beethoven to Henry VIII, the book spans the centuries, bringing together private little moments often shared across thousands of miles, and giving an insight into how the way we express love has altered over time. It's format means that it's one that you can dip in and out of, perfect for reading by the pool if you're not after anything heavy going, and plus, it's worth a read if not just to hint at the boyfriend!

Auntie Mame An Irreverent Escapade - Patrick Dennis

This book is the perfect example of how a panic buy in the airport bookshop can turn out to be one of the best decisions you've made all year. Auntie Mame is the story of Patrick, who after being orphaned at 10 is sent to live with his only remaining family member, the thoroughly eccentric New York socialite, Auntie Mame. Taking you on a whirlwind journey from New York to Georgia as Mame goes from socialite to Southern Belle and back again, taking Patrick along for the ride. It's one of those books that you will absolutely fall in love with, packed to the brim with 1950's charm and the kind of characters that you would do almost anything to have a cocktail with. It's the opitomy of fun, sun soaked summer reads and one that you will leave you laughing out loud on the sun lounger and beyond.


Alligators, Old Mink and New Money - Alison Houtte & Melissa Houte

This is one for the people that love nothing more than a rummage through a vintage shop. Thats exactly what this book is, like a couple of hours at a vintage fair, not quite knowing what you're going to find. After quitting the world of fashion modelling Alison Houtte opened a vintage shop in Brooklyn, spurred on by her belief that every piece of clothing has a story to tell. A pick'n'mix of advice, tales of a life in fashion and memories of the pieces that have shaped her life, it's the perfect introduction to the world of vintage clothes and one that will have you running for the nearest thrift shop.

What Would Audrey Do? Timeless Lessons for Living with Grace and Style - Pamela Keogh

A bit of a tongue in cheek look at one of the worlds most beautiful women, Audrey Hepburn. Half biography, half self help book, it guides you through everything from fashion to your love life, how to decorate your home to how to do modern life right. Giving a little insight into the life behind one of the most recognisable faces the world has ever seen, this book is the perfect companion for any Audrey fans out there.


IT - Alexa Chung 

This one has been doing the rounds on the blogosphere since it came out, so it has become a bit of a blogger cliche. That being said though, if you're a big fan of Alexa, it's an absolute must have. It's almost like a scrap book, sharing snippets of her life as an It Girl with often funny excepts, drawings and photos, it's another that you can dip in and out of quite easily. With impossibly chic pictures and that no nonsense wit that Alexa has become so well known for, it's as good positioned, in typical Pinterest style, on your coffee table as it is to pop into your hand luggage for a flick through on the plane. Be warned though, you will be trying to perfect that famous cat eye flick and 'I Woke Up Like This' hair for days and days after finishing...

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets - Eva Rice

If there are a couple of words to describe this book, it's full of vintage sparkle. In my top ten favourite books ever, it's the story of Penelope Wallace, a girl of the brink of womanhood in a post-war England on the cusp of the rock'n'roll era. Taking you on a beautifully 50's ride from Penelope's crumbling ancestral home to the petticoated cocktail parties of the capital, this book is quite honestly like a massive warm hug. Lovely without being cheesy, it's the perfect antidote to inevitable rainy British summer days and will have you lusting after nipped in waists and tulle in absolutely no time.

Benefit Roller Lash | Review

If there was one item of make-up that I would take to a desert island, it would, without a shadow of a doubt be mascara. Without mascara, my googlier than average peepers look, well, just a bit odd really.