something that has been absolutely game changing for me - LASH LIFT. I implore you to try it! My husband said: "This is the most awake you've ever looked". And I met him 12 years ago. When I was a mere 25 years old!
i'm sure everyone has read it y now but v much enjoying tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow
and i'm not sure yet how this will go but i've been promised that a lash lift and tint (along with eyebrow tint) will CHANGE MY LIFE - or at least make summer make up much easier.
I've found Mac face and body surprisingly a winner for sheer tinted moisturiser type effect
I recently bought an hourglass brow definer, called arch brows.... I think. Totally brilliant and doesn’t leave residue that makes you look 110 like some cheaper ones do.
Also going back to sunscreen I find the Beauty Pie face factor 50 works great underneath make up. Also obsessed with their “clean house” candle.
I just read Darling by India Knight which was easy reading though has a sad ending. Now on Lessons in Chemistry which I highly recommend, can imagine a lot of it actually goes on in academia too.
Bad Sisters is the best thing I have watched in ages, anything connected with Sharon Horgan is bloody amazing. Just quickly back to make up Vieve skin dew is just the best and all the elderly people I look after are asking what I use and sending their daughters to Space NK. I think I should get commission!
Re books I loved A Gentleman in Moscow and am greatly enjoying Lessons in Chemistry. Re skincare I’ve just taken delivery of Kloris face cream and it is great so far. I bought it as was recommended for rosacea. Too soon to know if it helps with that but it feels lovely on and is sorting my slightly itchy hay fever skin. It’s pricey but there’s a discount at the moment. Thank you also for recommending Cicapair for rosacea. It’s very good but I’m still trying to work out the perfect combo for my skin.
This is so helpful - especially the clothes picks. I’ve got two small children, hate (and can’t fit in) any of my old clothes and have been to the shops a few times recently (so over online shopping) but keep coming home empty handed and downhearted that I have no idea what to buy. @esther do you have any recommendations for the tank tops you mention - this sounds very much like a look I could get on board with x
Yes, I enjoyed ‘Domestic Bliss and Other Disasters’ too and now there is a sequel - Love, Politics and Possibly Murder - which annoyingly is not available in E-book format which I need due to hoarder-ish piles of books teetering about all over the place.
Just started ‘Weak Teeth’ by Lynsey May which is an actual caught-my-eye-on-a-bookshop-bookshelf book which is so rare these days when so much depends on marketing emails and reviews. It’s good so far...
This is really useful - I’ve been wondering about highlighter. I’ve bought the skirt as had same feelings, recent skirtage always cuts me in the wrong place. I don’t feel I’ve got much to offer in return for all these good suggestions, but I did get a couple of sort of oversized linen pullover shirts from H&M in black and a pale blue pinstripe that are sleeveless without being quite SLEEVELESS and seem like they would be versatile, tucked into jeans or loose over shorts. Lately reading has been a bust but I did love So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell which was short and beautiful and very sad. I also read Beautiful World, Where Are You which I didn’t really enjoy but then sort of did the last bit as it was good on fame and the internet and the judgement of strangers. I am just starting Summer of My Amazing Luck by Miriam Toews, which is about two single mothers on welfare who meet in a housing complex; it is funny so far. I am quite a fan of Toews’ style so I’m expecting to like this one as I have her others. I’m looking forward to Katherine Heiny’s new short story collection. Guardians 3 was excellent - I recommend Mac Extended Play mascara as it really held up. My son and I have been waiting for the Spiderverse film for years.
On the subject of Urban Decay have you tried their Glide-On 24/7 waterproof eyeliner??
Now, I have slavishly followed your eyeliner tips for years but I went off-piste one day shopping with my niece and found this gem. Tenacious, pigment galore and lasts. I love the way it ends up as a filthy eye. Go jet black or go home!
Going on my first ever smart beach resort holiday so shopping for proper hot hot-weather kit like crazy which, as I am pale, fat and fifty, is a bit less fun than I had hoped. BUT thanks to your resort holiday wardrobe post from a few years ago I had a clear idea of what I would need and in what order to wear it.
Could do with pockets but otherwise falls really nicely. I bought two in black and one pink. The lilac is quite wishy washy and that green is not my colour.
M&S Collection wide leg linen blend trousers. Incredibly good cut for £39. I road-tested navy and have also bought oatmeal and the thin black striped ones, which all look like completely different trousers. Absolute win.
Hennes/H&M. God, is it always this good? I hadn’t been in for 100 years but came out with a very good straw hat, canvas heeled espadrilles, a variety of pull-on beachy linen blend trousers (NB these did shrink washed at 40 not 30 as specified, but only in length so not disastrous) and a short oversized linen shirt which I plan to wear as a jacket. Almost certainly going to order that in two more colours - I have realised that multiple purchases of the same thing really maximises the effort of finding the piece that suits you.
Totally fell in love with French Connection’s Cosette border print wide leg trousers. I did get one of their Rhodes shirts but it’s slightly too short in the body and wants to slide backwards all the time so less pleased with that.
Lastly I ordered those Dune sandals, the Hermès knockoffs, and I can see why they’re so loved: really comfortable immediately - and I have pathetic feet which can rub raw on a single circuit of the shop floor - no rubbing and they do look great with almost everything, if you like that sort of look (I do). Only drawback is I am wondering whether the Hermès originals might actually be worth the money …
All I’m missing is good quality ribbed tank tops. Uniqlo and JL are not cut to cover the bra straps of a broad-shouldered woman and everything else looks a bit thin, or cropped. Anybody bought the COS ones?
Thank you for addressing the tyranny of the summer dress. I see them all over Instagram, women looking delightfully whimsical and carefree in their tiered sundresses in pastel colours with adorable puff sleeves. I think “oh yes, this summer I shall be that girl” but then I just have to go near a ruffle or flounce and it’s frumpsville. Clean lines, French vibes is going to be my summer vibe this year. A black knitted dress from Gap which I bought on your recommendation on a “what to wear” post years ago remains one of my favourite summer items. Need to stay in my fashion lane!
My dear friends make up was looking divine 'charlotte tilbury' high- lighter she said.. Mine was 'Nutmeg' from Morrisons!
So next time I was in Selfridges I bought some 'magic cream' and some Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful foundation. I think that's what its called.
By process of elimination I now know the foundation makes my eyes run like buggery, so I end up with no eye make up on .. and not one single person has asked what I have on my skin as it looks 'magic. so I feel a bit of a waste of money tbh.
Linen shirts I love, I'm just about to order a black one, I have the white one it is smashing, they're £35 from M&S, really lovely linen, nice and long and roomy if you size up.
I will but the Trinny blur once I have used all the 'magic' cream
Ultra Violette sunscreen - AMAZING but terrible packaging although I understand it's on the change. Read Our Wives Under The Sea and was completely absorbed by it. Wearing a lot of oversized lined shirts from H&M. Also Honest Beauty cream blusher is idiotproof. Long live summer!!
I bought Jones Road miracle balm last summer, and their Shimmer face oil - which sounds terrifying but is beautiful. Don't use both products together! But sometimes I do my make up and look flat, and some of either of these swiped in the right places gives such a lift and boost. LOVE
something that has been absolutely game changing for me - LASH LIFT. I implore you to try it! My husband said: "This is the most awake you've ever looked". And I met him 12 years ago. When I was a mere 25 years old!
i'm sure everyone has read it y now but v much enjoying tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow
and i'm not sure yet how this will go but i've been promised that a lash lift and tint (along with eyebrow tint) will CHANGE MY LIFE - or at least make summer make up much easier.
I've found Mac face and body surprisingly a winner for sheer tinted moisturiser type effect
I recently bought an hourglass brow definer, called arch brows.... I think. Totally brilliant and doesn’t leave residue that makes you look 110 like some cheaper ones do.
Also going back to sunscreen I find the Beauty Pie face factor 50 works great underneath make up. Also obsessed with their “clean house” candle.
I just read Darling by India Knight which was easy reading though has a sad ending. Now on Lessons in Chemistry which I highly recommend, can imagine a lot of it actually goes on in academia too.
Bad Sisters is the best thing I have watched in ages, anything connected with Sharon Horgan is bloody amazing. Just quickly back to make up Vieve skin dew is just the best and all the elderly people I look after are asking what I use and sending their daughters to Space NK. I think I should get commission!
Re books I loved A Gentleman in Moscow and am greatly enjoying Lessons in Chemistry. Re skincare I’ve just taken delivery of Kloris face cream and it is great so far. I bought it as was recommended for rosacea. Too soon to know if it helps with that but it feels lovely on and is sorting my slightly itchy hay fever skin. It’s pricey but there’s a discount at the moment. Thank you also for recommending Cicapair for rosacea. It’s very good but I’m still trying to work out the perfect combo for my skin.
This is so helpful - especially the clothes picks. I’ve got two small children, hate (and can’t fit in) any of my old clothes and have been to the shops a few times recently (so over online shopping) but keep coming home empty handed and downhearted that I have no idea what to buy. @esther do you have any recommendations for the tank tops you mention - this sounds very much like a look I could get on board with x
Yes, I enjoyed ‘Domestic Bliss and Other Disasters’ too and now there is a sequel - Love, Politics and Possibly Murder - which annoyingly is not available in E-book format which I need due to hoarder-ish piles of books teetering about all over the place.
Just started ‘Weak Teeth’ by Lynsey May which is an actual caught-my-eye-on-a-bookshop-bookshelf book which is so rare these days when so much depends on marketing emails and reviews. It’s good so far...
IKR!!
Can’t recommend Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert enough - for finding and enjoying your creativity - hugely liberating and enjoyable Xx
I need some shopping help…any thoughts on where to find something to wear to a graduation? Budget is tight. Grateful for any leads
This is really useful - I’ve been wondering about highlighter. I’ve bought the skirt as had same feelings, recent skirtage always cuts me in the wrong place. I don’t feel I’ve got much to offer in return for all these good suggestions, but I did get a couple of sort of oversized linen pullover shirts from H&M in black and a pale blue pinstripe that are sleeveless without being quite SLEEVELESS and seem like they would be versatile, tucked into jeans or loose over shorts. Lately reading has been a bust but I did love So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell which was short and beautiful and very sad. I also read Beautiful World, Where Are You which I didn’t really enjoy but then sort of did the last bit as it was good on fame and the internet and the judgement of strangers. I am just starting Summer of My Amazing Luck by Miriam Toews, which is about two single mothers on welfare who meet in a housing complex; it is funny so far. I am quite a fan of Toews’ style so I’m expecting to like this one as I have her others. I’m looking forward to Katherine Heiny’s new short story collection. Guardians 3 was excellent - I recommend Mac Extended Play mascara as it really held up. My son and I have been waiting for the Spiderverse film for years.
On the subject of Urban Decay have you tried their Glide-On 24/7 waterproof eyeliner??
Now, I have slavishly followed your eyeliner tips for years but I went off-piste one day shopping with my niece and found this gem. Tenacious, pigment galore and lasts. I love the way it ends up as a filthy eye. Go jet black or go home!
Going on my first ever smart beach resort holiday so shopping for proper hot hot-weather kit like crazy which, as I am pale, fat and fifty, is a bit less fun than I had hoped. BUT thanks to your resort holiday wardrobe post from a few years ago I had a clear idea of what I would need and in what order to wear it.
Star buys so far:
La Redoute linen midaxi dress (actually maxi maxi) https://www.laredoute.co.uk/ppdp/prod-350300293.aspx?docid=210023#srt=noSorting&facets=brand*la-redoute-collections&shoppingtool=brandpage
Could do with pockets but otherwise falls really nicely. I bought two in black and one pink. The lilac is quite wishy washy and that green is not my colour.
M&S Collection wide leg linen blend trousers. Incredibly good cut for £39. I road-tested navy and have also bought oatmeal and the thin black striped ones, which all look like completely different trousers. Absolute win.
Hennes/H&M. God, is it always this good? I hadn’t been in for 100 years but came out with a very good straw hat, canvas heeled espadrilles, a variety of pull-on beachy linen blend trousers (NB these did shrink washed at 40 not 30 as specified, but only in length so not disastrous) and a short oversized linen shirt which I plan to wear as a jacket. Almost certainly going to order that in two more colours - I have realised that multiple purchases of the same thing really maximises the effort of finding the piece that suits you.
Totally fell in love with French Connection’s Cosette border print wide leg trousers. I did get one of their Rhodes shirts but it’s slightly too short in the body and wants to slide backwards all the time so less pleased with that.
Lastly I ordered those Dune sandals, the Hermès knockoffs, and I can see why they’re so loved: really comfortable immediately - and I have pathetic feet which can rub raw on a single circuit of the shop floor - no rubbing and they do look great with almost everything, if you like that sort of look (I do). Only drawback is I am wondering whether the Hermès originals might actually be worth the money …
All I’m missing is good quality ribbed tank tops. Uniqlo and JL are not cut to cover the bra straps of a broad-shouldered woman and everything else looks a bit thin, or cropped. Anybody bought the COS ones?
Thank you for addressing the tyranny of the summer dress. I see them all over Instagram, women looking delightfully whimsical and carefree in their tiered sundresses in pastel colours with adorable puff sleeves. I think “oh yes, this summer I shall be that girl” but then I just have to go near a ruffle or flounce and it’s frumpsville. Clean lines, French vibes is going to be my summer vibe this year. A black knitted dress from Gap which I bought on your recommendation on a “what to wear” post years ago remains one of my favourite summer items. Need to stay in my fashion lane!
My dear friends make up was looking divine 'charlotte tilbury' high- lighter she said.. Mine was 'Nutmeg' from Morrisons!
So next time I was in Selfridges I bought some 'magic cream' and some Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful foundation. I think that's what its called.
By process of elimination I now know the foundation makes my eyes run like buggery, so I end up with no eye make up on .. and not one single person has asked what I have on my skin as it looks 'magic. so I feel a bit of a waste of money tbh.
Linen shirts I love, I'm just about to order a black one, I have the white one it is smashing, they're £35 from M&S, really lovely linen, nice and long and roomy if you size up.
I will but the Trinny blur once I have used all the 'magic' cream
Ultra Violette sunscreen - AMAZING but terrible packaging although I understand it's on the change. Read Our Wives Under The Sea and was completely absorbed by it. Wearing a lot of oversized lined shirts from H&M. Also Honest Beauty cream blusher is idiotproof. Long live summer!!
I bought Jones Road miracle balm last summer, and their Shimmer face oil - which sounds terrifying but is beautiful. Don't use both products together! But sometimes I do my make up and look flat, and some of either of these swiped in the right places gives such a lift and boost. LOVE