This week we welcome our newest writer Sophie Putze to FashioNZ. Sophie is a wonderfully talented beauty blogger with a great eye for style and specialises in beauty and books. She has been writing on her popular blog Nana Wintour since 2011 and is currently completing an exciting fashion course offered by Parsons and Teen Vogue.
Three of my current favourite beauty books. Image by Sophie Putze.
Books about beauty are something we tend to find a bit hit and miss. They tend to feature variations of the same makeup looks, DIY face mask remedies and of course the eyeshadow to suit every eye colour. Snooze. Thankfully there are three rather fabulous books out there which make up, if you’ll pardon the pun, for it.
Sali Hughes is no newcomer to the beauty scene and she has the years, knowledge and enthusiasm to fill what is quite simply the beauty bible. No stone is left unturned, from makeup for the non-enthusiasts, to dealing with the peskiest of counter staff. Each chapter is so detailed but not in a University reading way. It’ll leave you engaged, inspired and eager to soak up every ounce of beauty knowledge crammed into its three hundred odd pages. Whether you’re new to beauty, or a seasoned lover, you’re bound to love this book.
There’s something magical about fragrance. It’s transformative, sensual, nostalgic and enchanting-sometimes all at once! The title of this one really breaks it down for you. Within this hefty tome you’ll find in-depth musings about many of the iconic fragrances from the past one hundred years. From Chanel No. 5 to Tommy Girl, and everything in between. This is one of those books you can dip in and out of, depending on what perfumes interest you or immerse yourself in the details of every scent included. Whatever you choose, it makes for fascinating reading.
Kiwi expat Lisa Eldridge has made quite the name for herself in the UK and beyond. As well as her successful YouTube channel and her creative direction for Lancome, she is the makeup artist of choice for magazines like Vogue and starlets like Keira Knightley, Rosamund Pike and Alexa Chung. She’s also an avid makeup collector, particularly of Vintage Makeup from yesteryear. Last year she released a book all about makeup and the stories behind it. She goes into the history of makeup by colour and products. This book makes for fascinating reading and will probably make you grateful that we’re no longer expected to apply dangerous, deadly substances to our faces.
– By Sophie Putze from Nana Wintour.