With your toes skimming the sand, the pounding surf as your soundtrack and - best of all - no BlackBerry, there’s no better place to get lost in a book than the beach. Here are our picks for this summer’s best reads.

Read Over and Over Again
The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
The Brooklyn Follies, by Paul Auster
Summer Sisters, by Judy Blume

Your Favourite Authors
Heart of...

You may think bangles are boring, but this year we’re seeing fun twists to the age-old wristlet that are putting it back on our radar.  Stack’em high like SJP at the 2010 Oscars, or stack’em low like Miley Cyrus – the more you mix and match, the more on trend you are! 

Splurge

Juicy Couture’s Modern Nostalgia Multi Chain Feather bracelet set ($140)

Lee Angel is a definite trend...

As the modern bra turns 100 this year, we’ve uncovered the newbies your boobies will love from amazing steals to must-have splurges.

The Sports Bra

Splurge: 3 Reasons Support Bra by Title nine. $45 US

Steal: Hanes Sport Full Figure Sports Bra $14 US

The Push-Up

Splurge: La Perla Sea-Shell Push-Up Bra $118 US

Steal: Victoria Secrets Miraculous Push-up bra $49.50-$54 US

Size-Wise

Plus Size: Bali’s...

A diamond is forever, but the setting styles are ever-changing. We check out the most popular trends currently taking on the Engagement Ring market:

Coloured Gems
Although diamonds do come in a few colours like this canary diamond, don’t be afraid to stray towards a different gem. Everything from pink sapphire to green amethyst is hot right now.

We Like: Carats Diamond Direct, $1130

Eternity Rings

Would you believe me if I told you the top Mandy is wearing was only $5?  Oh, and it's Pink Tartan.  That's right.  Mandy got it at a recent sample sale for $5 and we all hate her for it.  Agreed? 

She paired it with this lovely $15ish necklace from Forever 21 and a cute pair of shorts.  It's hard to believe that from the waist up only cost about $20...

We recently told you about this season's “must-have” colourful sunglasses which, admittedly, might not be for everyone.  Luckily, you can still play it safe with a few enduring trends that may be a more palatable investment:

The Classic: Aviators


Audrina Patridge sports an updated turn on the classic aviators that have been in style simply forever.

Splurge: Ray-Ban, $135
Steal: Steve...

There really isn't anything you can wear in + 40 that doesn't feel miserable, but that doesn't stop us from wearing more than shorts and a T.

Pam looks too cute in her Forever 21 top, belt and leggings.  I really want her Little Burgundy shoes too...

Nikki is summery chic today:

I love the simple top with a chunkier necklace from Suzy Shier.  Elegant yet cool, wouldn't you...

I've been browsing around to see what my stylish friends are up to and got some interesting tidbits. 

Gifted has discovered the Tiffany iPhone app.  Could you be any more obvious in hinting which ring you want than with this?


Coco & Lowe dish on Mui Mui's F/W campaign:


Montreal based Kim Vallee is launching her own iPhone ap and announced that her company will be creating these...

Last night at a dinner party, my friends and I were trading stories (and laughing our asses off) about the way men in our lives have abused the expression, "It's the thought that counts."

For example, he says:

"You know what, Baby?  For your birthday, I was going to rent a sailboat for you and your friends for a scenic tour of the lake.  But instead, I ordered takeout for the two of us...

Another day, another pose.  And so it begins with this lovely brown dress.  It's from Joeffer Caoc's fall 2010 collection, but it still looks awfully cute in the summer, wouldn't you agree?  I bought it as a sample and had it resized to fit me and I'm still pinching myself at the deal I got.  It's a wool cashmere blend but it's anything but stuffy.