We Are Reading
Grace, a Memoir, by Grace Coddington
Heads up, Grace, A Memoir, written by the word’s best fashion stylist is out on November 22nd.
Essential reading for all fashion girls. End Of.
Put it on your Christmas list.
Grace Coddington Grace available from Amazon here… Read More
Vanished Years by Rupert Everett
I took Rupert to New York with me recently, he kept me sane through two 8 hour-long-hauls and he did make it FLY. Rupert is an OK actor but a dazzlingly funny, sharply observant writer with a wicked turn in… Read More
Edible Selby by Sally Singer, Todd Selby and Chad Robertson
Photographer, illustrator and blogger Todd Selby takes a tour of the kitchens, gardens, homes, restaurants and workspaces of over forty of the most creative and dynamic foodies around the world.… Read More
Quilt Love by Cassandra Ellis
After the terrific Nancy Crow talk on quilts last week I’m desperate to get sewing again. This lovely new quilt book by Cassandra Ellis is helping me get inspired, with some charming quilt ideas. I love the quilt maps Cassandra… Read More
Vintage Cakes by Jane Brocket
Our favourite quilting, knitting and baking blogger Jane Brocket been entertaining us for years with her domestic delights and informative books.
Vintage Cakes is her latest book and combines cake history, vintage style and recipes to suit every occasion, ranging… Read More
Witch Hunt by Syd Moore
Essex girl Syd Moore has written another ghost book (you may remember we reviewed The Drowning Pool) and it’s just as gripping and pace-y as her first. Syd teaches us about the appalling way in which women were treated in… Read More
A to Z of Hollywood Style by Sinty Stemp
The V&A is having a big exhibition on Hollywood Style this Autumn. It’s already been covered by many of the weekend mags and will be fab I’m sure and very good to look at. But my favourite offshoot of the… Read More
Remake It: clothes, by Henrietta Thompson illustrations by Neal Whittington
This is a useful book for any budding sewer keen on recycling thrift shop finds or researching designers who put sustainability at the centre of the design process.
Full of ‘how to’ diagrams such as how to convert old jeans… Read More
Supermarket Sarah Wonder Walls: A Guide to Displaying Your Stuff by Sarah Bagner
If, like me, you are more of a maximist than a minimalist and have your own distinct interior style, then this is the book for you.
A celebration of the individual and eccentric, Sarah Bagner (better known as Supermarket Sarah)… Read More
Gifts from the Garden: 100 Gorgeous Homegrown Presents by Debora Robertson
Warning: this is a completely biased review, Debora Robertson the author of this gorgeous new book is a friend of mine.
Last year Debora gave up her job as a food editor for Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall to write her first… Read More
Le Snob: Perfume, by Dariush Alavi
This is an elegant little book and very useful too for anyone interested in perfume. I’ve read a lot around the subject since starting the blog (nearly four years ago btw! It’s our birthday soon) but it’s hard to find… Read More
Recycled Home by Rebecca Proctor
A guide to making really useful things from your home using salvaged materials, by Rebecca Proctor who also write the Futuristic blog.
Recycled Home provides step-by-step illustrations guide you through each project, and no special skills are needed.… Read More
Valentine Grey by Sandi Toksvig
I get really cross if The News Quiz, chaired by Sandi Toksvig is not on Radio 4 on Friday evenings. When it IS on it really makes my weekend (know I need to get out more) as Toksvig is brilliantly… Read More
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Absolutely everyone I met while on holiday had either read or was reading this book. A page turner that I am right in the middle of, so I can only tell you it’s the story of a wife’s disappearance. It… Read More
High Street by J.M Richards and Eric Ravilious
One for retailers and those who love shop history, this lovely little book from the V&A archives was first published in 1938, with the original illustration plates by Eric Ravilious disappearing in a fire during the London Blitz. This version… Read More
The Perfume Lover by Denyse Beaulieu
Fessing up, I haven’t actually read this, but I met the charming Ms Beaulieu and heard a bit about the story featured in this book at the launch of (sort-of) her L’Artisan Parfumeur perfume Seville a L’Aube in the London… Read More
The Ambassador Magazine by Breward & Wilcox
One for the fashion crew, particularly any one who is interested in the history of British magazine and textile publishing, this is what the V&A says about the book,
“The Ambassador has been described as ‘probably the most daring and… Read More
My Cool Shed by Jane Field-Lewis
Bringing Nature Home: Floral Arrangements Throughout the Seasons: Floral Arrangements Throughout the Seasons, by Nicolette Owen and Deborah Needleman
I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron
As I write this I am distraught, Nora Ephron has just died and I can hardly stand the thought of the future without another Nora book to look forward to. This is an utterly selfish thing to admit to, what… Read More
Paul Smith: A to Z
Suri’s Burn Book, well-dressed commentary from Hollywood’s Little Sweetheart by Allie Hagan
OK this book isn’t out until September sadly ( as it would be a perfect holiday read) but we’re giving you the head’s up because if, like us, you are addicted to the daily musings of Miss Suri Cruise’s Burn… Read More
Advanced Style by Ari Seth Cohen
London Style Guide (Eat Sleep Shop) by Saskia Graville
Food by Mary McCartney
Do you need another cook book? Unlikely. But this one’s vegetarian, does that help? I have not got many good veggie cook books in my library and the McCartney girls have almost made a career out of being the most… Read More
What the Nose Knows by Avery Gilbert
Perfume nerd essential book alert.
Tipped off by the lovely Katie Puckrick and her blog’s book division, I have wolfed down this fabulous science-y adventure in understanding a bit more about how our noses work. The science of smell is… Read More
A Dog Walker’s Guide to Surrey, by Benson (a dog)
We are fortunate today to have as our guest blogger Benson, a handsome golden retriever who has just written a useful guide to dog walking around Surrey. He was helped by his human owner, Jane Eyles.
” It’s a tough… Read More
The School of Life: book series
The School of Life think we need self-help books like never before, so in conjunction with Pan Macmillan, they have launched a series of six guides for everyday living: intelligent, rigorous, well-written self-help books, put together by some of the… Read More
Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel
It’s here. The long awaited sequel to Wolf Hall, possibly my favourite book of the last few years. I have started it and so far, so fabulous. I hope Hilary has started writing the next one (there must be a… Read More
Patti Smith 1969-1976 by Judy Linn
For Patti fans everywhere. Middleagedad brought this back from New York for me as a present and it is brilliant. Pictures of Patti looking her sonically cool self with her unique sense of style. She has an image presence that… Read More