My roundup of five things is back for June. This month we have; a couple of online reads, some things you should watch, a book you should read and some earrings you should send me on the sly in the post. All jokes aside on the last point, if I win Lotto or something-these are mine. 

The Royal Wedding According To Caitlin: "The prince who goes against all narratives of masculinity, and is brave enough to speak openly about his own emotional and mental problems, and revolutionises the way we think of a heavily stigmatised illness. The prince who rejects all the nice, blonde English girls he is supposed to marry and finds a woman from a different continent and culture, a woman who is emotionally stronger than him, brighter than him, more confident than him-and gives her, in front of a global audience of two billion people, his platform, to show her world." Caitlin Moran wrote a brilliant piece for the Times about the recent royal wedding. She expands on some of the many brilliant comments she made on Twitter but also provides a refreshing insight into the occasion. If you think you're sick about hearing about *that* wedding, I suggest you read this before giving the idea of it a rest.

Heartburn: Nora. Freakin'. Ephron. Why has it taken me so long to read her work? Much like the decadent, rich meals she describes in Heartburn, I devoured this over a few sittings. A story about marriage and betrayal, told with humour and candidness. This semi-autobiographical novel could easily have been bleak and depressing but Ephron tells it with such brilliance. I highly recommend you give this a read.

A Starfish For Your Ears: Showing my 00's girl movie history here but these earrings remind me of Aquamarine when starfish adorn the mermaid's ears. Well that's how I remember it at least. I like star motifs so naturally that extends to starfish. It helps of course that they're under Alexa's banner as well but yeah. I wouldn't be upset if these were in my life.

Should I Buy This?: I love these chatty blog posts that Leandra and Amelia do. That and I just like seeing what people are buying+thinking of buying. I prefer this format to people's hauls on YouTube, maybe because it's easier to digest? Anyway, I digress. While this post is seasonally off, for me at least, it's still giving me inspiration for next Summer and beyond.

What Olivia Vlogged: My girl Liv always uploads fantastic content but I've particularly loved her videos lately. I don't really tune in to anyone's channels anymore but Liv's is one I always visit. Her office tour in particular had me all *heart eyed emojis* but if you're planning a wedding and aren't sure where to start, her recent video showcasing Kikki K's bridal range is worth a watch too. If you get wedding guest anxiety like me, she has some tips in there too for guests of the couple.

Today's gift guide is one for those of us who run the world, as Beyonce would say. While I'm wary of businesses seemingly cashing in on feminism for commercial gain, I've made a conscious effort to include products for inspiring, boss babes. There's a bit of everything as you'll see and they're all available online. If you're not a mall fan, this guide is for you!

Leslie Knope Pin: Ahh Leslie, Pawnee's answer to Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama in one package, c/o Amy Poehler. This pin would surely help you nail that business proposal, or inject you with inevitable optimism I am sure. There are also Gilmore Girls options and April Ludgate if she's more your spirit animal. I won't judge you.

Violet Magazine: The brainchild of Leith Clark that is really more a book than magazine, despite its glossy pages. It's something you will want to dip in and out of and peruse over and over again. It's beautifully presented and laden with content by and about inspiring women. 

Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo: Now this is perhaps one product to be a touch skeptical about but I'm including them if only for the fact the names are all brilliant and the shades are stunning. Creamy, pigmented colour that packs a punch and looks extremely luxe. A treat in the best way. 

South and West* x Joan Didion: I personally love Didion's work. There's something brilliant about her writing that is hard to pinpoint unless you've experienced it yourself. So on that note (ha) I recommend her latest book be added to your wishlist or gifted to somebody else. 

Patsy Midline Bra x Lonely: I love Lonely lingerie and their campaigns featuring diverse women. Their pieces are just exquisite, well made and incredibly comfy+luxe to wear. A treat for sure but worth every cent. 

NARS Love Triangle: These mini gift sets from NARS combine their popular blushers with lipsticks. Many are in the Audacious formula but there's also a duo with the Orgasm blush+lipstick. If you wanted to get DIY you could wrap this and then hang it on the tree for somebody to unwrap. 

Safety Pin Pearl Hoop Earrings x Alexa Chung: If they're an Alexa Chung enthusiast or into accessories, Alexa has you covered. I love these earrings but also the severed hand pieces and the rainbow choker gives me 00's nostalgia vibes. Actually Alexa's whole collection is gift-worthy but I'm not biased. *ahem*

What Happened x Hillary Rodham Clinton: One of the best books I've read this year. A candid and refreshingly honest, if not at times frustrating account of *that* stranger than fiction election. Despite Hillary's obvious disappointment it's still a hopeful read. 

*For the interests of clarity, I was sent this book earlier in the year for review.

Happy weekend! This post is a lil' different and is essentially me waxing lyrical on some of my favourite places to find clothes. The novelty of having a Zara about 15-20 minutes drive away is yet to wear off. Annoyingly, a lot of what I wanted to talk about is nightmarish to find online so I might generalise a bit. Apologies in advance. If in doubt, go peruse the shops in question. Anyway, fashion and fashion-y bits incoming...

Zara: Oh Zara, how I love thee. Ever since I discovered it in Melbourne six or so years back I have been smitten. Gorgeous pieces, fabulous tailoring, colours and on-trend without being too gimmicky. Zara is my go-to for blouses, basics and things that you won't really find elsewhere. For my birthday I was given some money and nabbed the dream skirt, it has pockets people, a shirt dress with dramatic sleeve detailing, I love me some sleeve drama and this oversized navy cardigan above. It has tortoiseshell style buttons and is so cosy. I literally feel like I'm walking in a blanket when I have this on. In a good way. This is why I'm not a fashion copywriter...

H&M: H&M can be a bit hit and miss sometimes, I'm not going to lie. If you're willing to tolerate the crowds and never ending racks, it can be a rewarding experience. I go here for basics like skirts and lightweight cardis but also blouses and tops. More recently I grabbed a burnt orange lace blouse with a slightly ruffled collar. It's not overly dramatic, period-actress looking, thank goodness but I love it. The stripes you see above are from a shirt I grabbed not too long ago, with flared sleeves. All about the shirts right now.

Alexa Chung: After watching Alexa's SS17 live stream in the early hours of the morning here in Auckland, I knew I wanted all many of the things. These star loafers are still calling out to me. Love Rays, her non-first date ready tee is in my wardrobe now. It mightn't quite be teeshirt weather yet but I have been wearing this underneath knits (see above) with skirts and tights+boots. I love it.

Pinch & Fold: The lovely folk at Pinch & Fold reached out to me recently and offered me some jewellery, which of course I couldn't turn down. I love their celestial themed pieces, in particular this* necklace, a star choker* (which I have a suspicion was part of the sale) and these earrings. Everything came beautifully packaged too, in a mini mason jar which I actually kept to stop these dainty pieces getting tangled/lost. 

Trade Aid: This is my go-to for ethically produced and sourced pieces from around the world. Whether it be their mugs, chocolate or their jewelry. Seriously their earrings are underrated and I love 'em. These were actually a gift from Emma and they've fast become my favourites to wear on an almost daily basis. Although they do have a tendency to get caught on my swipe-card's lanyard for work but that's redundant. They're a beaut. I've not linked their online store because the selection online is limited so I'd encourage you to head in to have a browse. 

-What are your fashion staples at the moment?

*I was sent these necklaces for review but all love of celestial motifs and dainty jewels are my own. 

This is the one thousandth blog post. 1000 posts and now nearly five and a half years of blogging too. Time flies when you're having fun typing and photographing and everything else that goes along with blogging. Nostalgia aside, I've got a lot of love for weekly lists and just list-type blog posts in general at the moment. Whilst I'm a bit reluctant to commit to this weekly, expect to see this little round-up monthly. Without further ado, here's five things that are on my radar. Clothing, podcasts...y'know what, just scroll down and keep reading.

Alexa Chung: My all-time muse released her first collection under her own label in a church last Wednesday evening. I woke up early to watch the live-stream and it was worth it just to hear the children's choir singing Good Vibrations, yet alone the clothes. I love it all. I want to get my mitts on a lot of the items. At the moment though I am seriously lusting after the Star Loafers, this shirt which I am kindasortamaybe considering as a birthday present to me from me and these earrings. The whole collection is just brilliant and obviously I'm insanely biased but I love it and think y'all should go cast your eyes over it here.

At Home With: Podcasts are certainly still having their moment and the latest I've subscribed to and love is this gem, created by Anna  and Lily. They go inside the homes of inspiring women and talk to them about their spaces, their careers and a bit of everything really. My favourite episode so far has to be the one with Lisa Eldridge. Not only is she a kiwi expat but she's one of my absolute idols so hearing her share her wisdom was always going to be a treat. That and her home looks so dreamy. Further proof of that here. 

The Book Fairies in Auckland: You might've heard about The Book Fairy initiative over on Emma Watson's platforms. The gist of it is you leave a book somewhere, preferably with a sticker for someone else to find. You can personalise it and leave a handwritten note inside too as I have done. Anyway, from June 6th-17th in Auckland, the No. 1 Cafe will have its caravan turned in to a Pop-Up library. There'll be plenty of book fairy books waiting there and I'm going to be dropping some off this week too. Stop by for a coffee and a book.

The People vs. OJ Simpson: So I might just be the last person to watch this show, also known as American Crime Story. After reading Caitlyn Jenner's book recently though, in which she mentions OJ Simpson briefly I was reminded that it was something I want to watch. For sure, some of the Kardashian scenes might be fabricated but on the whole I'm finding it makes for really compelling watching. The way in which the whole circus leading up to the trial, which is where I'm up to at the moment seems to mirror what happens now in the press, albeit on a smaller scale is quite eerie. Not to mention the sexism surrounding Marcia Clark, portrayed by Sarah Paulson. Highly recommend you watch it though if you're yet to see it. It's on Netflix here in NZ.

Auckland Fair: One of my favourite events in Auckland is back for one last hurrah on June 18th. Jess Whiting has been the brainchild behind this brilliant showcase of all things handmade for the past eight years and is moving on to more exciting projects. Having been at many of the first fairs and being on the door at one back in the day at Aotea Centre, I know just how much of a labour of love it is for all involved. It'll be sad to see it go but I can't wait to see what Jess does next. I'll be there, wallet in hand to support some local makers and of course Jess. It's $6 entry and on from 10.30am-5.00pm at Shed 10 here in Auckland.

-I hope you enjoy this post! Let me know in the comments what you've been loving recently.

If you've read Sali Hughes' book Pretty Honest, you'll be familiar with her chapter on beauty icons. It's a feature she regularly has over on her site as well. While I don't have my copy of the book to hand (yet), I remember really loving this section and wanting to put my own spin on it. There's many women whose beauty I admire. It could be in the makeup they use to express themselves, the way they put their outfits together or their beautiful spirit and how they hold themselves. Today I am going to share with you three of my beauty icons and why I think they're beautiful.

Rosamund Pike-Ever since I first saw Rosamund onscreen as Helen in An Education  I was utterly mesmerised. She was absolutely striking in that film and despite being a secondary character her beauty really shone through whenever she was in scenes. Even in Gone Girl when Amy Dunne is at her craziest she still looks striking. It was almost hard to be mad at her character actually. She has very classic, elegant style and always looks so put together. Her makeup and hair is always effortless too and so chic. Her presence really shines through regardless of what makeup is on her face. She's just so classy. #girlcrush

Alexa Chung-Alexa freakin' Chung. She's often labeled the ultimate "it girl", a title I don't like. You cannot deny she is just so effortlessly cool though. Her style may not be as clear cut. It seems to change on the daily. I love her ballet-class outfits when she's been to Ballet Beautiful or her Glastonbury outfits. Side note: I clearly read too many Alexa interviews...Her makeup though is so on point. It's perfect in that kind of 'no makeup, makeup' way. Let's be real, nobody else has eyeliner game quite as strong as Alexa. If I can grow up to be as freakin' rad as her one day I'll be really happy.

Keira Knightley-When I think Keira I think modern day Audrey. Aside from her enviable couture outfits and her parisian chic street-style, she also has that presence which makes you forget whatever else is going on in films and editorials. She's just so beautiful. Her makeup is also so simple and effortless. Are you noticing a trend here? I love her Chanel campaigns and also her faux-wedding video in Love Actually. Google 'em and prepare to have emoji hearts for eyes after.

*Who are your beauty icons?

When two of my favourite things, Makeup and Alexa Chung join forces you can guarantee that I am bound to be excited, like a child on Christmas morning. Over Christmas Beauty Bay had this on sale and it just happened to fall into my cart. Happy late Christmas to me. Before I get started on the review I have to mention that this kit was so beautifully packaged and presented. Once opened, a layer of eye-covered tissue paper appeared. Inside were the products of course, but there is also a poster and a guitar pick adorned with Alexa's writing and illustrations. This set is limited edition so if you're after one then get online or in store today to snag yourself this beauty (#seewhatididthere). 

Eye Do Mascara I've been using this mascara religiously the past week and love it. The wand is the perfect size and shape for coating each individual lash. Alexa is right when she says this mascara stays on forever. While it is not waterproof, it does not smudge and is easily removed with a decent eye makeup remover. I also love that it contains a lot of natural ingredients to condition and promote natural lash growth. This may well be my new favourite luxe mascara.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Stellar, Mac All That Glitters and Amber Lights eyeshadows, Mac Matte Lipstick in Lady Danger.

Daisy Tea Dress, It by Alexa Chung, Chanel 2.55, Party Flats, Hourglass Liquid Lipstick in Muse, Diptyque Ofresia Eau De Toilette, Super Duper Strength Sunglasses. 

♥ I love this dress from Topshop. It's so pretty and it reminds me of something Alexa would don walking the streets of New York with her signature Chanel bag. I can't see Alexa walking around with her book anytime soon. Maybe she'd do it ironically? Nevertheless I had to include it because I can't wait to read it. It's out next month. 

*Which famous face should I feature next month? Leave your suggestions below! x

Elle Fanning in Valentino, February 2012. Benefit Benetint*, ring by Lovisa, hairband from Diva and Figs & Rouge Lemon Berry lip balm.

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Pictured: Miu Miu Flats, J.W. Anderson Dress, NARS Laguna Bronzer, Mulberry 'Alexa' Bag.

I'd quite like all of the above but if I was to pick a favourite item from this list it'd have to be the Mulberry 'Alexa' bag, inspired by the one & only Alexa Chung of course. I need a decent sized handbag which is big enough to fit all my essentials in, but not so big that I can't find anything & this one would be perfect. Again, when I win Lotto this would be one of the first things I bought.

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