1. Tanel Veenre’s NEFFI collection. I have said before that I’m very picky when it comes to jewellery: apart from earrings, I pretty much only wear Tanel Veenre’s* things. His latest collection is among my favourites from him ever, rivalled only by his sea horses and of course my own tiara (yes, it also has sea horses). NEFFI is inspired by Egypt and Nefretiti, featuring scarabs and beetles of different shapes, shades and sizes. The longer silver bugs are my favourites (one of them pictured above), but everything is highly recommended.

2. Couture update. The autumn 2018 couture shows took place in the beginning of July and I must say Valentino won this round for me, again. It’s an interesting situation, with former design partners Maria Grazia Chiuri (Dior) and Pierpaolo Piccioli (Valentino) pitted against each other. Don’t get me wrong, the Dior collection was beautiful, extremely tasteful and modernly elegant, exquisite and discreet. This is not necessarily what I look for in couture, though (I probably would if I was a client and could afford everyday pieces from this collection). Valentino offered a complete contrast to Dior: an over-the-top vision of fabulousness, featuring giant hair, extreme proportions and unlikely colour combinations. I tend to think I’m a pretty advanced mixer of colours, but I’ve got nothing on Piccioli (check out outfits 10 and 12, for example). I don’t love everything in the collection, but it’s undoubtedly a tour de force.

3. Frida Kahlo exhibition in London. V&A is one of my favourite museums in the world even based on their permanent collection: I can look at Chinese lacquer boxes and Etruscan gold for ages. Their big exhibitions are often magical, however. Remember Alexander McQueen? At the moment, they are displaying Frida Kahlo’s personal artefacts and clothes and I am extremely excited to see this. I hope to make the trip across the channel in August, the exhibition is on until 4 November.

4. Summer reading. I really should not be buying more books, I’ve got so many great things lined up for July and August. But buy them I will, surely, as I cannot resist getting excited about new things. All the right people are full of praise for Ottessa Moshfegh’s The Year of Rest and Relaxiation, so I have no choice but to read it. And both Barack Obama and The Guardian, two major authorities in my life, have come out with their summer reading lists. I will publish mine soon as well. For which I will certainly buy more books.

5. Benedict Cumberbatch. If there is one person who can get me to watch TV, it’s Benedict Cumberbatch. We don’t own a TV and I almost never watch it online, but I have watched a fair bit of Sherlock and I am thoroughly tempted by Patrick Melrose. I’d like to read the books first, though, just haven’t been able to find them in separate editions (there are five books all together and I only see the two volume omnibus version everywhere and I don’t like it).

6. Product porn. In the latest skincare news, I’ve been able to order the elusive Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask – still available on Cult Beauty as I write, in case you’ve been hunting it as well. And I’ve also bought the Joanna Vargas Daily Serum, beloved of many an American beauty guru. Will report back.

7. Oprah Vogue cover. I’ve not been fully convinced that Edward Enninful has lived up to the hype as the editor-in-chief of British Vogue. But getting Oprah to be on the cover is definitely a major, major scoop.

8. Negronis. Artfulreader has made me drink these and I proclaim them the drink of summer 2018. Approach with caution.

9. World Cup final. Last but not least, there is still one game to go. I’ll support Croatia, but no matter what happens, it’s been an exciting tournament.

What have you been reading, watching, eating, wearing – or plan to?

*I cannot wear his earrings, as he only makes them for pierced ears. And yes, I nag him about it constantly. But as he did make an exception for me once, I cannot be too upset.