August Favourites

Frivolous consumer items (plus one magical service) that made my summer.

Kindle Oasis

I have so many friends who reject e-readers in favour of real books and while I respect it, I cannot understand putting the romance of books ahead of the practicality and sheer convenience of an e-reader. For a two week holiday anywhere, I’d have to surrender a huge amount of case space to physical books. I’d have to either put down my book when my husband went to sleep, or keep him awake with a bedside reading lamp. I’d have to squint to see the words in strong sunlight and always wear my specs unless reading from the large print section of the library. I’d have no option to swap books on a flight if I wasn’t quite feeling the one I had in my handbag. I’d have to use a bookmark or flick through to find the exact point where I last passed out and would need to read ahead to see whether I could fit in a whole chapter on one short bus ride. Kindles solve all of these problems and any still outstanding have been addressed by the Kindle Oasis, which my friend D very generously gave me for my last birthday, but has recently, on holiday, seen quite the hammering. I thought my old Kindle Paperwhite was unimprovable, but the Oasis is even better for me, mainly because it has been subtly weighted on one side to mimic a physical book’s spine, to give a very realistic feel. It can also be turned on its head if you flip sides in bed or on your sun lounger, so that the “spine” is always on the correct side of the page. I can use either touchscreen or proper clicky buttons (my preference) to turn the page, and it has the same analogue look of the Paperwhite model. Unlike previous models, it’s waterproof - a big plus for me, since I read in the bath. I do still buy books that are beautiful (food, art, fashion and so on - I just recently bought a gorgeous Alice Neel book in hardback) or meaningful to me, but for novels to read on holiday or a day on the go, I am Kindle Oasis exclusive. By the way, if you were wondering which book I was reading here (pictured), it’s Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors, the characters in which I initially found so insufferable that I almost abandoned the book after the first third. I’m very glad I didn’t, because a great new character appeared at roughly this point and changed the game entirely. I ended up enjoying it hugely.

Cutwork Sweater

I bought this top one early summer afternoon on Oxford Street in that slightly joyless way one does when close to menstruation and too hot to go and do something more economically sensible like buy an Almond Magnum and stay out of trouble. So unnecessary was its purchase that I almost returned it, but suddenly, from nowhere, it became indispensable and I’ve since worn it more times than I could count. This top was made for unpredictable British summers like this one, and beyond. The cool cotton yarn and open, airy, crochet makes it perfect as an evening coverup over a simple summer tank, cami or swimwear (I’m wearing it here over a Skims bandeau bra on holiday, which I would never do in real life). It shows a little skin without exposing anything much and has a relaxed, flattering shape that doesn’t cling. On cooler days, I’ve worn it layered over a black or white long sleeved T-shirt (this one, mainly*), and the holey texture has added interest and dimension to an otherwise unremarkable outfit of basics, while never making me feel sweaty. Essentially it has been a stand-in for a lightweight jacket while never summoning the “OMG AREN’T YOU HOT?!” / “AREN’T YOU COLD?!” brigade (seriously, when will these women accept that you can be relied upon to notice and regulate your own temperature without their remarks and maybe, just maybe, understand that your reasons for covering up are none of their damn business?). Somehow, this top seems to sail through their filter without comment. It’s not too smart for day but nor is it too casual for evening. I love it worn with my mesh Maryjane flats, flip flops or Birkenstocks, paired with jeans, linen trousers or a cotton poplin midi skirt. It is cool and edgy but because it isn’t particularly in fashion, it will never fall out of it. Whenever I wear it, someone asks me where I got it. So here’s their answer.

We Love Crisps / Inessence Extra Thick Crisps

These (far left) are the greatest crisps ever made. They have singlehandedly challenged my belief that posh crisps taste weirdly stale and are much less nice than normal crisps. I say “challenged” rather than “destroyed” because I do think that to categorise these Inessence fellas as “crisps” at all is arguably cheating, since they’re as thick as some French fries. Anyway, here’s what happened: I was staying at my friend C’s house. She told me she’d been waiting to show me the ready salted crisps her husband had found in a local shop, because they were The Greatest Crisps Ever Made. I bit into one and offered no counter argument. Since I don’t live near North London, I Googled as soon as I got home to Brighton and this led me to an amazing independent UK site called WeLoveCrisps.com, and to a whole new world of crunchy carbs. Not only does WeLoveCrisps sell The Greatest Crisps Ever Made, they also stock the pleasingly named SLABS crisps and the beautifully packaged Superbon crisps from Madrid (seriously, I’d hang the colourful packaging artwork on my wall) and well, I placed a large order and am now chemically dependent on all three. The WeLoveCrisps selection is carefully curated for snack nerds, the service is exceptional (delivery was free and fast) and I even got a lovely email from Keith, the owner (and a complete stranger to me), thanking me for a busy week after I posted about TGCEM on Instagram. A bumper box from the site makes an excellent gift for anyone who, like me, is way more enthusiastic about savoury snacks than about cupcakes, sweets and all the usual food gifts. 

Saie Dew Bronze Soft-Focus Effortless Liquid Bronzer*

I rave about this so much that I am even boring myself. But it is the easiest, most natural-looking bronzer and everyone must know. But I will be concise: This bronzer is foolproof if applied with a fat brush. It is packaged in a handily sized lipgloss-style wand applicator for making up on the go. It lasts well on the skin and has a smooth, non-cakey finish that feels neither oily nor dry. It blends out to nothing - no stripes. The shades are well considered (I have mostly worn Sand, but the cooler-toned Salt will be useful in winter). And it is very fairly priced, especially when used with my CBSALI Cult Beauty discount code. Bloody fantastic. One of my products of the year.

Kenu Stance+ 10-in-1, £47

If you DON’T use your (MagSafe compatible) phone for long meetings, watching TV and films, navigation on long drives, making lots of videos or taking pictures for work, save your money. Spend a couple of quid one of those suction pads that sticks on the back of your handset. But if any of the above applies, take a look at this video, which shows you more simply than I ever could how unbelievable useful and game changing the Kenu Stance+ is. For me and my work, it has been a godsend. It lives permanently in my handbag and while it’s pricey, it’s also very sturdy and the fact that I’ve used it almost every day for months means it has been worth every last penny. Everything is easier for it. 

Repair Cafés

The switch on our living room lamp fell randomly out of its casing and onto the floor. We ordered a similar looking switch but didn’t have the first idea how to fit it. Our dads and grandads - who knew how to repair these sorts of things - are all gone. We attempted but failed to find a local handyman to take on the small job. So we took the otherwise working lamp to a local Repair Café, one in an over 3,000-strong global network of community meeting places where unskilled people take everyday things like toys, electricals, bikes and ceramics to be fixed, and skilled people volunteer to repair them and perhaps teach others how. And if someone has nothing to fix or be fixed, they can just go for a cup of tea and some company. Broken items are restored and saved from landfill, essential knowledge and skills are passed on, habits are changed, human connections are made and the world feels like a nicer place as a result. My grandfather, who had a tiny workshop under the staircase in his two-bed terrace, would have loved it so much and probably have enjoyed a very different final few years if Repair Cafés had existed then. The service is brilliant (our lamp is perfect again), completely free (those able to give a donation to the café can do so) and utterly cheering. Repair Cafés are all that is right with the world. Find your nearest one here.

Boy Brow Arch Pomade Pencil*

I am not, as a rule, an eyebrow pencil girl. In general, I prefer brow ink pens by MAC, Suqqu, NYX and Glossier. But if I am to use a pencil, it must be very, very fine, so I can draw individual “hairs" in the gappy and asymmetric parts of my brows. Anything thicker and they look blocky and harsh and need too much other makeup to rebalance them. This new Glossier pencil is suitably skinny, and I love it, but that’s not what makes it great. It’s the colour. Specifically, “Gray”. You do not need grey hair to wear it - my hair is a different colour from one week to the next, and anyhow, I strongly believe that the hair on your head is usually best ignored altogether when choosing a brow product. Most people think they should use a pencil to match their hair, but brows are way cooler and flatter in tone than what’s growing out of your scalp (I’m sorry to tell you that brows usually more closely match pubic or underarm hair in colour). It’s for this reason that some makeup artists will reach for an old fashioned HB school pencil to give the most natural looking arches. I’ve done it many times myself, because it has the perfect undertone for vast numbers of people. Anyway, you needn’t do that - this new Glossier one is fantastic. Subtle, elegant, understated but at the same time, sharp and neat. I brush everything into place with my favourite Benefit brow gel then see what I’m left with before filling in the gaps with the Glossier pencil. It is water and smudge resistant and has a useful spoolie brush at one end. One gripe: the paint coating on the packaging flakes off. It’s crap, but doesn’t affect the product in any way. If you prefer a chubbier pencil, Jones Road Beauty also does a fab grey* with a soft, powdery finish, but it’s currently out of stock.

Cable Labels

I loathe cables. I used to open new shavers/radios/cameras/toothbrushes/candle lighters/anything electrical and feel immediately anxious because I absolutely knew the charging cable would soon become separated from its mothership and I would never be able to distinguish it from the dozens of other cables in the Box Of Shite (™) that lives permanently in my cupboard. No more. I recently bought my third set of these write-on velcro labels that wrap around cables for instant identification. They save hours in future headaches and make for a very satisfying, high impact/low effort organisational session in front of the telly - label the spaghetti junction of the AV unit while you’re there.

COS Chunky Cashmere Crew Neck Jumper *

Look, I am not going to tell you I’ve been wearing a thick cashmere jumper in August. I obviously haven’t. I am unseasonably early in telling you about this - my most useful autumn/winter jumper - because it always seems to sell out before it gets really cold. I have owned this in black for about four years. I wear it so much that I’ve just bought it in grey (there’s also the most gorgeous khaki shade, but it’s a big ticket item and grey is more versatile). Not wishing to be sued by COS, I will say that I believe this to be an “extremely faithful homage” to The Row’s insanely expensive Ophelia jumper (don’t ask). Yes, this dupe is still very dear, I do accept this. But COS makes what I believe is the best and softest cashmere knitwear on high street, the yarn and knit is chunky and smooth (the quality is exceptional), I’ve squeezed every penny out of the black version and after I’ve periodically gone over it lightly with a de-bobbling gadget, it looks as good as it did new. You don’t need me to tell you how to wear it - it clearly goes with absolutely everything. It is beyond comfortable and warm. Hands down, one of my most worn garments ever and for now, still in stock.

No paid or sponsored content. Contains some <ad - affiliate links>. An *asterisk next to an item tells you where this applies. I bought everything except the brow pencil, which was <ad - PR sample>. No commission earned on the use of my Cult Beauty discount.