Everything Erin

Throughout the entirety of my A Levels, I never got chance to read a book unless it was something for my courses, or to potentially put on a personal statement. So, this summer marked the first time in a long time that I could decide exactly what I wanted to read for fun. I haven't managed to read tons, but the books I have read have stood out to me so much that I wanted to share them on the blog. There's a mix of everything - from historical, autobiographical to fiction.

THE BOOKS I READ

Unusually for me, most of the books I have read have actually been read on my iPad rather than a physical copy of the book. Some of these are on the Kindle app - you can get free or very cheap copies of so many classic novels - I downloaded many and only got round to reading one! The other app I use regularly is BorrowBox, an app that links to your local country library where you can reserve, borrow, renew and return books like you would at a library, but at the ease of an app. It has got me reading a lot more when huge best sellers are available for free.

The Tattooist Of Auschwitz - Heather Morris

The first book I read was a true story, retold very much in the format of a novel, about the experience of a Holocaust suvivor, Lale, a Slovakian Jew. I was really caught up in this book and had to find out his fate so I read it in two days flat - typical for me, I don't read for months and suddenly it is all I do! Although I'd heard a lot of praise for the book before I read it, afterwards I read criticisms about the style of the writing - it was originally meant to be a film script, so there isn't lots of fancy description. But considering the topic of the book, I think this is perfect, to allow the reader to focus truly on the hardships experienced. The author had written a second book about another survivor mentioned in this book, published in October which I can't wait to read.

The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

I had always wanted to read this modern classic - I saw so many people studying it for A Level and I am so sad my college didn't do it! It isn't too long so it is the perfect summer read, easily finished in a couple of days, set in 1920s New York which of course is the reason why I wanted to read it so much. It really focuses on the darker side of the glitzy 20s and being published in the heart of the era itself it reveals so much about the true setting. I watched the film afterwards and as much as I liked it, it certainly didn't live up to my version in my head as I was reading the book!

Becoming - Michelle Obama

I've been really excited to read Michelle Obama's autobiography since it came out and it certainly didn't disappoint. It's a long one, so it felt like it was taking a while to read but it was so worth the read. Of course, I was most looking forward to reading about her experience living in the White House, how that huge change affected her and her family life, but I equally enjoyed reading about her childhood and her story of 'becoming' herself. Her story reveals the huge inequalities faced in US society in the past few decades and even today, something that is really emphasised in the book as it is a huge part of her life. There were parts that had me on the verge of tears and many that made me laugh too so it was a really enjoyable read, one I wholeheartedly recommend. 

Fall and Rise: The Story Of 9/11 - Mitchell Zuckoff

This book, my most recent read, compiling stories of both the survivors and victims of 9/11 was harrowing and heartbreaking, a difficult one to put down. Zuckoff tells the tale of the devastating day in three parts - the air, the ground, and the aftermath, which gives you a real insight into not only the devastation and destruction caused but also the incredible acts of heroism.
He has conducted such in-depth interviews with survivors and the victims' families that make the book as captivating as it is hard to read. For me, only 10 months old at the time, 9/11 is part of history so it really gave me a deeper understanding of how it affected people on a very personal level.

THE BOOKS I BOUGHT

Paris Echo - Sebastian Faulks

The first two books I bought recently were part of a Waterstones Buy One Get One Half Price offer, which was really good value. Often I have a look in Waterstones as I like to look at physical copies of books, then order them cheaper online but this time it was actually better value in Waterstones which is great.

The first of the two is called Paris Echo, a novel which when I read the description really captivated me and persuaded me to get it. It is about two teenagers set in Paris, and it seems one has a connection to the occupation in WW2, and the other to the Algerian war. These are both periods we learnt about a lot in French last year so I really wanted to expand my knowledge in the context of a novel - I can't wait to give it a read!

A History Of The World In 21 Women - Jenni Murray

I saw this a few months ago and thought it looked so interesting. When deliberating which book I would buy as my second choice, I spotted the paperback version of it and instantly grabbed it and took it to the till. Women are often overlooked in history so I love the idea of telling the stories of 21 women who have made a huge difference. The author covers a huge time period as well, there are women featured in there from a thousand years ago, to modern figures such as Madonna! It definitely looks like the sort of book I will find really interesting.

Expectation - Anna Hope

I actually decided to purchase this one because of a recommendation by Eleanor Claudie, I searched it up and it sounded exactly like something I wanted to read. Surprisingly it is a novel not based on history at all, which makes a real change to my current bookshelf! It is a story about three women who are unhappy with how their lives turned out, compared to the lives they envisaged for themselves as teenagers. As a very ambitious young person beginning university, it felt like the perfect book to read at this time.


I read some great books this summer and I can't wait to read my three new ones. I will let you know my thoughts when I have read them! Let me know what books you have really enjoyed this summer, I will have to check them out!

EG x

As fashion comes and goes, we find ourselves constantly looking to the past for new ideas; trends really aren't brand new after all! It seems what comes around will always come back around - I'm just hoping that's not the case for skinny brows and low rise jeans, not on my watch! Instead, currently I am feeling very inspired by fashion from the seventies, as is the general consensus across the fashion world, from high street shops to designers and magazines, so here are my favourite trends from the that are working their way back into our high street shops and wardrobes today.

DENIM

Denim from the seventies is making a huge comeback and it is something everyone has taken notice of. Topshop have a whole section of flared jeans to explore for the iconic seventies look, but if that feels a little out of your comfort zone, a wider leg option, such as denim culottes could be your answer.

However, when it comes to styling denim with a 70s flair, you definitely don't need to stop at jeans. Denim dresses are everywhere right now and perfectly give a nod to the decade of denim. Similarly an A Line button through denim skirt adds the 70s denim look while also super versatile; I own one similar in my wardrobe and it is a staple, perfect for dressing up or down.

The best thing about the focus on denim is we all own it already in some form or another, so it is super easy to give your look a seventies spin without spending anything at all!

JUMPSUITS

I'm a huge jumpsuit fan, so I am not surprised they were one of the ultimate seventies essentials. While back in the era they were most associated with disco, in eye-catching prints, these days you'll find one to suit any occasion to make you feel effortlessly put together, with a classic nod to the seventies.

TROUSER SUITS

YSL pioneered the trouser suit look that exploded in the 70s and it is certainly making a resurgence today. You'll see them everywhere, from high street stores to high-end catwalks in a variety of styles and textures. The high street is giving them a modern spin by making them available in every colour under the sun, with an emphasis on pastel colours, such as baby pinks and lemon hues.

MAXI SKIRTS

Long skirts are probably the item of clothing that has made the biggest comeback this year, and an item I am super fond of. It's definitely the biggest way this year seventies style has made its way into our high street stores. They have been modernised by appearing in an array of colours and prints - New Look love a floral number, I can tell you that now!

RICHARD ALLAN X H&M COLLECTION

While this new H&M collection is inspired by the swinging 60s, personally I feel the colour schemes lend itself better to early 70s style; the burnt oranges, khakis and neutrals. The styles such as plenty of long, maxi skirts are also perfect throwbacks to the era. The scarf scrunchie featured in the collection reminded me of the hair style worn by Felicity Jones' portrayal of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the film On The Basis Of Sex (recently watched & loved), set in 1970 - a style I totally love.

The whole collection, in my opinion, is the idea of seventies style in the modern day to a tee. I had already started putting together this post before it was revealed and it felt like it was made for me to feature here. In the window of H&M at the Trafford Centre, the mannequins wear the style with some very 2019 chunky white trainers which really modernises the look.

COLOUR

The seventies styles are truly dominated by their rich colour palette of burnt oranges, mustards and other earth tones. Going into the autumnal season, it is without a doubt that mustard will be a staple shade just like it was back in the day, with a couple a mustard tones recently creeping their way into my wardrobe over the past year or so. The earthy colour palette is a perfect throwback to the seventies in 2019 because you'll probably find a lot of this in your current wardrobe anyway, because its neutrality makes it match with almost everything.

MOODBOARD

I got my inspiration from Seventies looks past and present - even found a few items in my wardrobe that I felt lent themselves to the theme.

SHOP THE EDIT

My favourite seventies inspired style in the shops right now:



I absolutely loved combining my two loves of fashion and history in this post and would love to do similar such posts, perhaps in a little more depth! How could you inject a bit of seventies style into your look?

EG x

Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks have to be some of my all-time favourites. Not only for the quality and the clever names they all have, but they are all so pretty. Her original range, in a variety of formulas, comes in beautiful rose gold packaging, but her new collection, the second Hot Lips range, are even prettier - both the packaging, which comes in five different types, and the shades themselves.

Priced at £28, the Hot Lips 2 lipsticks certainly aren't cheap, but they're worth it for a treat, as was my reason for purchase. They feel very luxurious, heavier than the average lipstick, and are also able to be refilled, with refill bullets at a cheaper price, so it is value for money in this sense.


The hot lips 2 range includes 11 lipsticks in a range of shades, from light nudes, to pinks, reds and even a clear balm. Charlotte Tilbury named the eleven shades each after people she considers 'iconic', and of course without even seeing the shades, I instantly knew I had to get the one inspired by Jennifer Aniston, called 'Glowing Jen'.

Fortunately, this definitely is the shade best suited to me too, a gorgeous pink toned nude. It definitely makes a change from all the brown tones I wear! It is super flattering and I imagine this would be the case for all skin tones. While I felt some of the nudes in the collection were a bit too light for even my pale complexion, Glowing Jen has plenty of colour and pigment.


My other Charlotte Tilbury lipstick is from her matte range, so above all I was interested to see what the formula turned out like. I would consider it a creamy formula, but unlike a lot of cream lipsticks I own, it is still plenty pigmented so a real win-win. To say it is a cream, it doesn't feel uncomfortable on the lips at all, instead very hydrating, as the product description promises. It lasted a surprisingly long time on the lips too, and evenly faded so I am really impressed.


A huge pull of these lipsticks is the packaging, for sure. The hot lips collection comes in 5 different designs, from a night sky which fits perfectly to the one inspired by JK Rowling, to the leopard print featured in my shade. While I've never been a huge leopard print fan, I think as a lipstick it looks so pretty! I also love how if you had a few shades, you can mix and match the packaging.


I also really love the idea of being able to purchase a refill to pop back into your packaging when you've finished the lipstick, it definitely motivates me to try and finish it eventually! These are only £19 which is really good value compared to Charlotte Tilbury's usual lipstick price. You could refill it with the shade you finished, or even perhaps try something new which is really fun.


If you haven't tried a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick before, I seriously recommend trying these ones out. While they do sound pricey, it is worth a real treat because you know this is a lipstick that is going to get its money worth - and if nothing else, it's inspired by Jennifer Aniston, so it's practically Friends merch!

EG x