Go the Guru, Gonzalez
Bastien Gonzalez is a globally renowned foot guru – a French podiatrist with such a reputation that women all over the world flock for thousands of miles to see him for one of his signature pedicures. Part proper podiatry, part pampering session, his specialist approach is second to none. For those of us not quite lucky enough get some face (or foot) time with the man himself, however, luck is at hand. His team of personally trained technicians are stationed at his Pedi:Mani:Cure salons in hotels all over the world from the Maldives to Monaco.

Treat them, Shanghai Style
Cited by Vogue as ‘The best pedicure in the world,’ the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong’s signature Shanghainese pedicure performed by Samuel So is where women in the know head to revamp their feet. I first became addicted 2 decades ago when Mr So, the elder, did the honors. Sarah Rutson, the Global Buying Director of Net-a-Porter, likes to head to him for monthly maintenence. Based on principles of Chinese medicine, the Shanghainese pedicure involves the use of a scalpel to remove all the dead skin from your feet, and nothing but a buffer to make your nails gleam like mirrors. A great way to kick start your feet’s big reveal.

Buy into a bit of Blush
From candy tones to bright blues, there are nail trends aplenty this season. What’s caught our eye though are the peachy pinks doing the rounds from Lançome to Essie. With just enough color to them, these pretty alternatives to bare foot chic gives enough gloss to be dressed up whilst still keeping it all pared back enough to wear with even your shoutiest sandals. Personally, we have fallen for Essie’s peachy Perennial Chic.

Come over all Cleopatra
For the Egyptian Queen (and her English counterpart Elizabeth I,) the go to beauty secret for baby soft skin was to be found in bathing in milk. (Donkey milk, to be precise, so the legend goes for Cleopatra.) These days a more savory alternative is recommended for a bit of a home foot spa – and said to have similarly soft results. This recipe for a homemade peppermint and milk footbath promises to detox, exfoliate and soothe tired feet, and surely that’s surely something anyone can dip a toe into.
Find the instructions for a homemade Soothing Peppermint and Milk Foot Soak here

Go Naked
As recommended by Nadine Ferber, Co-Founder of Tribeca’s Tenoverten salons (also in Vogue,) letting your nails see the light a bit is a great way to shape them up for summer. Before you enter months of polish wearing, she recommends going naked on your nails, using a nourishing base coat such as their tincture The Foundation instead. Rich in Vitamin E, it helps fortify your nails before you subject them to the perils of summer.

Photo Courtesy of Bastien Gonzalez, Mandarin Oriental, Motherearthliving.com, Ten Over Ten

Favorite Holiday Destination: The Amalfi Coast. I adore the dramatic  coastline with the combination of mountains and sea. I love Positano and Capri for the view, the shopping, the food, history and best of all the Italians

AERIN Bronzer - I love bronzer. I use it all over my face for a natural glow.

AERIN Gold Essentials Bangle – my mother always wears her bracelets stacked, a custom that has been passed on to me.

AERIN Beach Rose Lip Gloss - Beach Rose was designed exclusively for my AERIN Southampton store. It has just the right amount of color.

AERIN Small Summer Makeup Bag - I love my signature geometric batik print for summer. And the bag is the perfect size, it holds everything I need for a summer holiday.

AERIN Oliver Peoples Sunglasses – a necessary accessory.

Favorite Holiday destination: The beach is my favorite summer holiday destination. I always have a few essentials I bring; a neutral lip gloss, bronzer and gold accessories. They are all extremely versatile and must-haves for any warm holiday.

A bucket load of swimwear… because who knows what you’ll be in the mood for? I go to Eres for basics, We Are Handsome for gorgeous, photographic-type prints, Lisa Marie Fernandez for stiffer neoprene type swimwear that could double as day wear and Norma Kamali for classics… and the list goes on

Tanning support My fave is Maui Babe Browning Lotion.  It smells good and gives you a nice subtle sheen right when you put it on.

A good juicy book to read  – although I haven’t found one for this summer yet. Any recommendations?

A large hat to keep you cool and to cover up just the face when tanning! I always love buying the local hats at whichever tropical locale I’m at.

A loose, linen cover up like an oversized men’s linen shirt and a long loose dress to wear during the evening - Mara Hoffman and Zimmermann are great.

Flat sandals for day and some wedges for the evening.  I’m loving the sandals I bought in Capri, where you can choose your colour and type of straps, heel height etc and they size them to your feet. It was so much fun I bought 6 pairs!!

Holiday Highlights:  I loved the restaurant Il Riccio which sat on the edge of the Capri cliffs. Beautiful view, food was delicious and fresh, plus my favourite part was the huge room just for desserts with a buffet of everything sweet you could imagine.

1. The Printed Frock: As seen on Jessica Alba, a printed dress works perfectly for a slice of grown up summer chic. Keep your prints directional, your shapes simple and your accessories statement (and don’t be afraid to clash your colours here, either,) and you’ll be set with an outfit to see you through many a summer evening. Pictures: Jessica Alba in Mary Katranzou, McQ by Alexander McQueen pattern lace dress, Mary Katranzou woodland printed dress and Gianvito Rossi gold and perspex heels all from www.matchesfashion.com, J Crew green boucle dress and McQ by Alexander McQueen Kaleidescope dress both from www.net-a-porter.com and KOTUR Aqua Globe available here.

2. Little Candy coloured Dress: Sienna Miller knows the power of a short, summery coloured dress paired with sleek accessories for a knockout look. Take yours in candy colours and your accessories in cool metallics for the sweet take on summer nights. Pictures: Sienna Miller at the Premiere of The September Issue, mint green Band of Outsiders dress, lilac Tibi dress, nude and pink embroidered Alice by Temperley dress, pale pink Valentino dress and Kenneth J Lane earrings all from www.net-a-porter.com, pale pink Alaia frock from www.matchesfashion.com, silver metallic pumps from www.jcrew.com and KOTUR Morley in embossed croc available here.

3. Statement Shorts: Supermodel Candace Swaenpoel is a vision in summery chic in her crisp white blouse and sparkly shorts. Wear yours in bold colours and prints with simple silk blouses for an easy take on the look. Pictures: Candace Swaenpoel, J Crew jacquard shorts, Roksanda Illincic bright pink shorts from www.net-a-porter.com, aztec embroidered shorts from www.topshop.com, nude loose shorts by See by Chloe, Freda silk T shirt, DVF tuxedo style blouse and balloon sleeve silk Alexander McQueen shirt from www.matchesfashion.com and KOTUR JB Renna Bonnet available here.

The Negroni

Care for a slice of the Amalfi life? Sip on a Negroni. This classic Italian cocktail made with that classic Italian Aperitif Campari is the stuff of movie stars, dramatic coastal drives and a  lot of living la Dolce Vita.

Ingredients:

1 part Beefeater Gin
1 part Martini Rosso
1 part Campari

Combine all ingredients over ice in a rocks glass and stir. Garnish with an orange slice.

The Caipirinha

For those not currently strutting their stuff along Ipanema beach, a Caipirinha should do the mental trick for you – itsby bitsy bikini, optional.

Ingredients:

1 lime
1 tablespoon fine sugar
2 ounces Cachaça
Crushed ice

Cut up a lime into 8 wedges. Muddle the wedges in a rocks glass with sugar. Add Cachaça and top with ice. Stir and serve.

The Southside

1. Printed Shorts: As seen on Olivia Palermo, the tailored city short is a surefire way to chic and sleek whilst keeping it very summer friendly. Clash your prints for the fashion forward look, right down to your bag and shoes. Pictures: Olivia Palermo, Erdem blue floral shorts, Theory geometric blue shorts and Stella McCartney yellow floral shorts all from www.matchesfashion.com, J Crew ballet flats from www.jcrew.com, See By Chloe floral T shirt, Boy by Band of Outsiders white floral T shirt, J Crew printed pink short sleeve blouse and cloud print frill bottom shirt by Kenzo from www.net-a-porter.com, Stella McCartney sunglasses and Kotur Breen in Snake Print available on sale here.

2. Nude Story: Rosie Huntington Whiteley ably demonstrates the power of nude in an extremely chic summer city outfit seen here. Pair your pale pinks and creams with nude heels and a snakeskin clutch for the ultimate ladylike look. Pictures: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Osman Yousefzada pink jacquard dress, Bottega Veneta pink wrap front dress, Duccio Venturi nude heels and Alaia cut out skirt from www.matchesfashion.com, pink midi pencil skirt from www.topshop.com, Belstaff blouse and lace Chloe short sleeve top from www.net-a-porter.com, aviators by Tom Ford and Kotur Margo in snakeskin available on sale here.

3. Maxi Magic: Alessandra Ambrosio’s statement printed maxi is the ideal take on relaxed city chic. Go for super bright prints, statement shades and easy sandals for this season’s take on the everyday run-around look. Pictures: Alessandra Ambrosio, Cool Change tie dye bandeau dress, Anna and Boy two tone pink and yellow maxi, Marc Jacobs floral print halterneck and Sam Edelman sandals all from www.matchesfashion.com, Topshop pink printed maxi dress from www.topshop.com, panama hat from www.jcrew.com and BYT by Kotur Freida clutch available here.

The Film: Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine opens on July 26th. Starring the impeccably chic Cate Blanchett, it promises a return to more serious form for the director. Telling the story of a fashionable Manhattan housewife (Blanchett, of course,) who’s husband (Alec Baldwin,) turns out to be a crook, it examines her move from the upper eschalons of society to a life lived with her sister in San Francisco after the collapse of her marriage. Poignant, timely and with signature Allen razor sharp social observations and what’s being billed as a knockout performance by Blanchett, it’s one not to miss this summer.  Out July 26th.

The Book: A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams. A love affair, a betrayal and a story set in the picture perfect Rhode Island seaside community that is 1930′s Seaview give this all the perfect ingredients for beach read of the summer.  www.amazon.com/A-Hundred-Summers-Beatriz-Williams/dp/039916216X

The Exhibitions: London is having a moment. Photographer Miles Aldridge’s exhibition at Somerset House shows his extraordinary colourful prints from now until September, whilst ‘David Bowie Is’ at London’s Victoria and Albert museum is a biopic of his extraordinary life as told through his extraordinary fashion. On show also until September, it’s a must see for anyone passing through the city this summer. Or, for travellers keen on further flung inspiration, Mate, Mario Testino’s non profit Arts Foundation based in his native Lima, Peru has a show featuring the supersnapper’s extraordinary shots of his country’s indigenous tribes from Cusco. (And, for those who cant’ quite make the trip, there’s always the T Shirt to buy via Net-a-porter.com here!)

The Album: When it comes to the feelgood factor, it’s all about the Great Gatsby Soundtrack this summer. From Lana del Rey to Florence and the Machine, Beyonce to Bryan Ferry, it features too many of our favorites not to be our pick for sound of the season.

The Destination: Dedon Island, found on the Siargo island in the Philippines is the latest barefoot luxury hot spot on the map. Conceived by it’s German founder Bobby Dekeyser, who runs an outdoor furniture company with the same name and designed with a ‘barefoot state of mind’ at the forefront of it’s concerns, it has just nine eco friendly villas perched on the edge of it’s perfect white beach. Add in crystal clear waters, mangrove filled forests, it’s hanging wicker day beds, cotton voile adorned rooms, open fronted villa porches and infinity pools, and this place is a million miles away – in all senses. www.dedonisland.com

And the one to keep the kids occupied on the plane: The National Parks Pop Up Book. Just out this month, this brilliantly conceived compendium features fabulous pop up imagery and ‘who would have thought it’ facts on 18 of America’s most famous national parks. From Yosemite to the Everglades to the Grand Canyon, it’s a kid’s book designed to provoke a bit of old fashioned wonder – and one that donates it’s profits to benefit the parks, too.  www.nationalparkspopup.com

1. White Lady: As ably demonstrated by Miranda Kerr, sometimes the simplest formula is the most effective. Wearing a white kaftan with simple sandals and a very chic hat (the bigger the better) gives a timeless look that’s romantic in summery in equal measures. Pictures: Miranda Kerr on the beach, Cool Change strapless dress and Emamo off the shoulder dress from www.matchesfashion.com, Sensei Studio hat, Melissa Odabash neon green embroidered kaftan and Tara Matthews lilac bikini from www.net-a-porter.com, Lem Lem striped kaftan from www.jcrew.com, K Jaques sandals from www.shopbop.com, Kotur BYT Theo bag available here.

2. Sporty Stripes: For a more active day on the beach, Rosie Huntington Whiteley’s simple stripes n’shorts formula is a tried and tested classic. Pictures: Rosie Huntington Whiteley, denim shorts, striped long sleeve tee and striped peasant style blouse from www.jcrew.com, white denim shorts from www.topshop.com, two tone sandals by Ancient Greek at www.net-a-porter.com, Ondademar blue printed one piece from www.matchesfashion.com, classic aviators by Ray Ban and Kotur Luna Abaca bag available here.

3. Colour your Kaftan: As seen on Jessica Alba, summery coloured Kaftans work wonders for a more glam beachfront look. Pair yours with organic jewellery and some metallic sandals for a fabulous beach to cocktails outfit. Pictures: Jessica Alba, Missoni multicoloured mini dress and gold and amethyst Zara Simon bangle by www.cavan.com, Emamo off the shoulder kaftan, yellow printed Melissa Odabash kaftan from www.matchesfashion.com, Mara Hoffman peach aztec coverup from www.net-a-porter.com, white bikini with rope tie from www.heidiklein.com, panama hat from www.jcrew.com and Kotur Barnett Cicada available here.