Words About Things

It used to be that all you could buy from a vending machine was drinks and snacks and even then there was always a chance that you would get nothing at all when things went wrong. Now you can get a freshly printed book in around 5 minutes using The Espresso Book Machine.

The machine is able to print 400,000 titles which are glued and bound while you wait. An airport seems like the ideal place for a book vending machine although the Espresso Machine is currently in the Blackwell bookshop on Charing Cross Road in London. The machine is worth £68,000 and charges £10 per book plus 2p per page.

As the summer approaches our thoughts turn to those brief few weeks when it is actually warm enough to go outside wearing any less clothing than your average Atlantic fisherman. The English are genetically pre disposed to throwing off their clothes at the first sight of sunshine like a primitive tribe celebrating the fact that the ball of fire in the sky has finally returned. As our thoughts turn to beach holidays and summer BBQs here is a guide to the best type of swimwear to suit your body type. (This guide is for women, if you are a man wear swim shorts, nothing else is suitable.)

rosie huntington-whiteley

Swimsuits.

Those who are slightly less confident tend to wear a traditional swimsuit but it is not just for those who wish to cover up. A suit with a halterneck draws attention to the top of your body so is ideal for those who are ‘pear’ shaped, perhaps teamed with a sarong.

If you are ‘apple’ shaped with broad shoulders and a small waist, a high neck line can draw attention to your waist and away from your shoulders.

Those without a tan will normally look better in darker coloured costumes whereas those who are tanned will look best in bright colours.

Bikinis.

If you want to show off a little more skin then a bikini is the best bet. As you can buy the briefs and tops separately any shape should be catered for. An underwired top can give extra support and a padded top can give the effect of more curves.

The Bikini has been a classic fashion item since it was launched in the 1940′s and there have been many variations on the design.

Tankinis.

A Tankini is basically a combination of a tank top with Bikini bottoms. It is less revealing than a Bikini and can be worn as day wear with the addition of a pair of shorts or a skirt. All types of briefs are available including high leg and low rise.

Tankinis are also suitable for those who wish to cover up from the sun leaving less skin exposed to apply sun cream to.

Choosing the best swimwear is like buying Lingerie: the most important thing it fits well. Other than that it is all personal taste.

Legendary British designer Paul Smith has released his latest collection from his PS Jeans line (not to be confused with Paul Smith Jeans).

PS was launched in 1994 and features relaxed, wearable items with Smith’s signature attention to detail. The colours are muted pastels that remind me of the photographs of William Eggleston with hazy reds and yellows complementing greys and navy blue. The lookbook also reminds me of this painting by David Hockney:

See the catalogue on Paul Smith’s site here.