ASK SCB: Can you recommend some books to read this summer?

I love it when people start tweeting me asking for book recommendations or what I’ve been reading lately because then I feel less alone in the big bad world. Fellow betch bookworms, I am happy to share my latest finds and favorite reads to pick up and open with a cocktail under the sun! PS. wear sunscreen or face the consequences, seriously – don’t forget to slather on some SPF and save your skin if you’re gonna be outside on a sunny day. And read my guide to taking care of your skin in the summer here.

Now, pick your poison as a refreshment and get ready… summer means I want to go sit out in the sun and sip a Moscow Mule and read a book. In the case of yesterday’s Sunday Funday it actually meant going drinking Moscow Mules and Pimm’s Cups out on a patio in Seattle, but potato-potatoh… I got tacos.

thanks to little water cantina for a perf afternoon! great spot tucked on the water in seattle, overlooking gasworks park with a huge patio. everyone who works there is great, super-friendly and fun to kick back and hang out with. perhaps the most delicious pimm’s cup ever…

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I don’t know about my fellow readers, but when I pick up a book with a story that grabs my attention – I literally cannot put it down. This means I will read at least a book in a day, if that’s what I feel like doing… Most recently I just finished Friendship by Emily Gould and (it was a little creepy because Amy is my spirit animal) it was extremely entertaining to read, a great summer choice to check out.

Some other page turners for your reading pleasure: Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott, The World According to Karl, Why Men Marry Bitches by Sherry Argov is … worth a read! as well as The Skinny Confidential – Lauryn is a sweetheart and her blog is wonderful. I loved her book.

I’d also cautiously recommend #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso of Nasty Gal, but for the record I don’t support the company in the least. It’s not my topic of expertise, but I am an avid reader of Julie Zerbo, who is the brains behind  The Fashion Law. Her site has opened my eyes to two major and outrageous issues that are constantly surrounding Nasty Gal – massive design piracy and the exploitation of its labor workers, those who are responsible for producing the garments that have made Nasty Gal so mainstream famous. This is a great quote from Zerbo in a recent post regarding Balmain’s creative director’s apparent support of fast fashion.

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“As I have said in the past, if the consumer is not paying a reasonable price for garments, someone else is paying for the difference, and it is usually laborers, as we have seen over the past year or so alone in Bangladesh. Hopefully designers will not continue to look to the practice of fast fashion lightly, as it really is a matter of life or death, and is something to educate about and not blindly glorify.”

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While Amoruso’s book is “motivational,” remember that at the end of the day her empire is built on stolen inspiration and hardly a respectable “empire” business model to work from. If you’re not obsessed with TFL, get educated. And don’t support Nasty Gal, though the book is fine if you need to feel like your life isn’t such a mess. But I digress – just like I did from this post with my epic rant to AT&T… Fucking. Monday. Let’s move on.

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ASK SCB: What’s been your favorite read this summer?

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That’s easy – All’s Fair in Love & Wardrobe, by the lovely Stephanie Simons.

If you don’t follow Stephanie on Twitter yet // already, then you’re in for a treat. She’s everything I ever wanted in a girlfriend, which is why it makes sense that she’s geographically undesirable and living in California. Her work is beautifully illustrated by Malia Carter – droolworthy and dreamy photos accompanying the fashion-forward wit and wisdom on the pages. And by wit and wisdom, I mean “closet confessions,” a bro dictionary, prayers to the holy Saint Laurent, and more. I MEAN, THIS BOOK IS A GOLD MINE FOR GIRLS.

This one is a personal favorite. I’ve been that girl, so I can appreciate these tricks. Take note.

I’m totes an existentialista.

And, there are puppies. This book is an ACTIVITY – no shortage of things to read, Ryan Gosling illustrations to drool over, or girlfriend coupons to go out and redeem. Steph captures the awkward art of dating and shares tips we can ALL take advantage of, in a language we can all understand – FASHION!

xx

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You can grab the hard copy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. I highly suggest getting yourself the hardcover book over an e-reader version as the illustrations are truly beautiful and the digital version just doesn’t quite do it justice. (c/o skyhorse publishing)