Cupcakes and Cashmere: A Guide for Defining Your Style, Reinventing Your Space, and Entertaining with Ease

by Emily Schuman

Based on Emily Schuman’s popular lifestyle blog of the same name, Cupcakes and Cashmere is the must-have guide for those looking to establish their own sense of style, organize and decorate their home, or throw an easy and stylish party. Organized by season, the book expands on Schuman’s blog by including DIY projects, organization tips, party-planning ideas, beauty how-tos, and seasonal recipes. Cupcakes and Cashmere features original material that has not been previously published on the site. With her signature photographic layouts, Emily creates a lifestyle that is chic and achievable for every reader, making this the ultimate style guide for living a fashionable life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fashion, Lifestyle, Coffee Table Books, Self Help, Adult, Design

176 pages, Hardcover

First published July 20, 2012

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure what I was expecting, but I didn't love the book - still trying to understand why she says in her introduction that a book was needed because all of this information simply couldn't go in the blog.....I didn't really see anything that couldn't go in a blog - and if I had wanted to read a blog, I wouldn't have dragged myself to the library for the book!

Maybe it's just me, but I also found the sheer number of pictures of the author in the book to be rather jarring - I felt like I was looking at someone's personal photo book - you know, where you're trying to be polite, but you really don't want to see another picture of how great they think they look in a parka....

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books that makes you think... why couldn't I have gotten a book deal and written this? there are tips on how to shop a flea market that include such whitty remarks as 'don't wear nice clothes cause you will get dirty' I feel like if you need to read a book like that then maybe you should prooooobably not go to a flea market in the first place. However, there are a few good recipes I might steal. The rest UBER basic

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this is going to sound petty.... nearly every full-length picture of the author shows her standing like a five year old who has to pee. I wasn't able to take anything seriously in the entire book after realizing that.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

It could've just been titled "Pictures of me being cute, and ways I think you might want to try being more like me." The advice was very VERY basic, the tips weren't really universally useful, and there wasn't much in it that I hadn't seen before somewhere else. Less than inspiring.

But I do love the title.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lifestyle book based upon the blog, Cupcakes & Cashmere. It is divided into sections by season, and then each section shared decorating tips, fashion tips, hosting tips, and recipes. It isn’t anything particularly new or noteworthy, especially now, given that these types of blogs are so prolific and are available with the tap of a finger.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read - I enjoyed some of the pictures and pretty pages. It also gave me some ideas for style, home decor and entertaining. Unfortunately the contents of this book are definitely from a worldy perspective.... I didn't care for the immodest outfits and I totally disregarded the pages with alcoholic drink recipes and the Halloween party ideas. Because this book is so contemporary I'm only giving it two stars.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book a couple of months ago as I am a huge fan of the blog of the same name and having read so many positive reviews and comments about the book, I knew I would love it. Both the blog and book are written by Emily Schuman who lives in L.A and writes mostly outfit posts with a few lifestyle posts thrown in. Her blog is simple and is very heavy on photography.
Emily is an icon in many ways, her style is impeccable, she has had so many fashion jobs including working for Teen Vogue at the same time when Lauren Conrad was interning there on 'The Hills' season one and not to mention, she is incredibly beautiful.
Her daily blog posts tend to be mostly fashion based, whereas the book has a lot of variety and is sorted into 4 different sections for each season; Style, Beauty, At Home and Food & Entertaining. Described as 'a guide for defining your style, reinventing your space and entertaining with ease,' the book is the perfect companion for any young woman looking for tips on how to lead a glamorous lifestyle.

[JH · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only reason I gave this book 2 stars is because the photos are pretty. The content is dull! If I wanted to figure out what items I should have in my wardrobe I'd pick up a Nina Garcia book or "The Lucky Shopping Manual" (or a fashion magazine). If I cared about recipes I'd pick up a cookbook. If I wanted to know which brand of lipstick to buy I'd check YouTube or a blog. This book is all over the place, and it has no staying power. Yawn.

[Brianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not someone who uses "basic" as a derogatory term but honestly... basic.

[Victoria Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could tell when I read the title of Emily Schuman's book "Cupcakes and Cashmere" that I was in for a treat. Beautifully laid-out, with exquisite photos and short, pithy text, it proved to be a delightful escape into a world I already love that consists of fashion, beauty, food and interiors. Arranged by season it also reminded me of all of the things one should enjoy about each time of year, whether it's doing something as simple as creating a wonderful bouquet of flowers in the Spring or creating a costume for Halloween in the Fall. Inspired by the blog, of the same name, Schuman has a special talent for integrating her own life experiences with informative tips on such fascinating topics as flea markets, organizing bookshelves and cleaning out closets.
Simple recipes, with easy-to-follow instructions, for "Sugar cookies (shaped like watermelon slices) and decorated with royal icing," "Grilled shrimp and asparagus salad," and "Orange-lime margaritas" made me want to pull out my pots and pans and whip up something wonderful in the kitchen. The same can be said for the beauty tutorials where Schuman demonstrated how to apply "bright lipstick," "how to do a smoky eye" and other cosmetic tricks.
To say I'm a fan of this book is an understatement because it brightened my days so much it's definitely one I'd refer to others who need something wonderful to read and savor.

[Courtney Gawthorp · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading other reviews, I guess I realize I'm one of the few who actually enjoyed this book. But I think I'm also a target audience.

I'm not a reader of Emily's blog, so I wasn't already familiar with the content. And I borrowed this book from a friend after deciding that it was time for me to actually make an effort on my personal appearance and home. I know that most other girls my age already know most of the content in this book, but I have never been very good with hair and makeup and styling outfits, so I actually appreciated this information. This book has been helping me get familiar with makeup products and has been a good starting point for me to know how to start building a wardrobe with items that aren't just jeans and t-shirts from college. My friends and family and husband have all started to notice that I'm taking better care of myself. Don't get me wrong, I'm not an Emily clone

I also really love that this book is arranged seasonally. I enjoy the recipes and and ideas for things to do and also Emily's examples of things she wears during the seasons have been really useful to me. There were things that are cute, but practical.

I don't know. Maybe the other readers were right if all this content is on the blog and maybe the information is a little too basic to be worth the trouble of writing a book, but like I said, I really enjoyed this and have been using it as a reference. I actually bought my own copy on Amazon.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found at the library (today!) and read in about an hour. I like picking up random home/lifestyle books and magazines at the library to see if I can get any ideas from them. I didn't get any from this one, mostly because Schuman shares my aesthetic on a lot of things, down to favored shoe styles and preferred candle and makeup brands. This was indeed a random find; I've never even heard of this blog before. After finishing the book I went to look at the blog, and it lived up to my expectations: little content, lots of pictures of the blogger, lots of mentions of products she was sent. Sigh. I'd honestly just recommend checking out the book if you're unfamiliar with the blog and leaving the blog alone; I like the tone of the book a lot better than I do the tone of the blog. (I should have suspected something when looking at the books on the bookshelf organization part and noticing the only books we appear to have in common are "Brave New World" and "Moneyball," which I suspect does not belong to her--no posts about the Giants in October!)

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had potential, but it totally fizzled out by constantly stating the obvious and lacking any genuine inspiration or original creativity. Too bad. For instance, there's a section about posing for pictures. You would assume a helpful topic like this would cover sample poses, lighting, how to discover your good side, etc. Instead, she advises that you spend a lot of time in front of a mirror.

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was basically a poor attempt to smash a blog into a book format. The recipes weren't very enticing, the "tips" on decorating and entertaining were insanely obvious and I didn't find any of the photography very impressive either. Stick to reading the blog, this is just a waste of paper and nothing that will have any longevity. I would be very surprised to see this on a library shelf in a year or two.

[Rachel Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have just recently found and started reading Emily's blog on a regular basis, and I feel like the book has gotten be "caught up" on the earlier days. The book is fairly basic , but there are definitely some helpful tips and tempting recipes! An enjoyable quick read with nice photography.
I like her style a lot!

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly no new ideas. And I got a little annoyed of all the pictures of her engagement ring - we got it you got a nice rock. The one sticking out of the jeans was the one that made me start to notice it.

Really? it's called cupcakes but she tells you to use a box mix?

[Jenna Hazzard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was like a lifestyle blog all rolled up into a book. I liked the way the book was set up into seasons, but I found that some of the sections in the book were on topics that I had read about a million times before.

Overall, it was pleasant, but nothing super special to me.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute & fun book about living life well. The author (a blogger who can actually write) presents seasonal ideas on fashion, makeup, home decor and entertaining. There are four sections for spring, summer, fall & winter.

I liked a lot of her fashion outfits - mostly preppy/classic & surprisingly modest. Although, our style philosophies do differ a bit. She loves to shop at flea markets, do DIY projects to furniture and celebrate Halloween. Some of her ideas were a bit cheap and clutter-ish for me. She talks about following trends. She seems to live in the "more is more" camp. I prefer a high quality minimalist lifestyle. Still, she seems sweet and preppy. Her outlook on life was positive and her book uplifting.

She wears a conspicuous wedding ring, but there is no mention of a husband (or spousal influence) in any of her writing. Odd since she covers home decor & entertaining, which would presumably effect both people and involve compromise. I kept waiting for her to mention her husband, but she never did.

This was a pleasant book to look at and read through. It got me excited about thinking seasonally with my wardrobe, home and entertaining.

I would own this book and review it seasonally for inspiration.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has now read a handful of fashion and style blogger books that seemed to be everywhere in the early 2010s, I think this is one of the more successful examples from this genre of style blog-turned-book. Less pretentious than say, Garance Dore's book, what works most in this book's favor is that Schuman knows her audience very well (then college-age millennials or young women entering the work force); she knows their budget, she knows where they shop as well as what would be aspirational to them, and she knows what Pinterest-friendly photos to include that will appeal to her readers.

There's nothing ground-breaking in this book and it does read like a selection of blog posts, as there's no over-arching theme besides seasonal basics tying everything together. While the style portions of this book are the most dated, the DIY elements, beauty basics, and recipes are evergreen enough to avoid the book becoming a time capsule of 2012.

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is based on the blog of the same name and is a collection of lifestyle posts, covering topics including fashion, interior design, entertaining and beauty. This isn’t an awful book but it’s very basic; there doesn’t seem to be any original or new content. I would think this book was great when it first came out (2012) or maybe 10 years ago but now (2018) the majority of people are well accustomed to getting information from YouTube and blogs, it’s maybe a bit less useful. It does have a blog feel to it (particularly with pages titled ‘5 fall beauty must-haves for any budget’...), so perhaps this book would be an ideal gift for someone who doesn’t read a lot of blogs or even a teenager. I do like how it is split into seasons and visually it is laid out nicely so is very easy to read and flick in and out of.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a whim at my local library. This book has just the approach I like when it comes to blogs related to personal style: practical, accessible, down-to-earth, and fun (not in a loud, in-your-face way, but in an easy-going way). I care about fashion less than 10% of the time, but this book as some really good advice that I'll be implementing as far as wardrobe staples. There are some good how-to's and guides for hair, make-up, entertaining, and not a lot of long-winded anecdotes you find in some blogs when you have to scroll forever just to read a recipe. I hadn't known about Emily's blog prior to reading this book, but this book makes me want to hear more of what she has to say. This book is like Real Simple + Martha Stewart + a little Kate Spade, but for millennials. Everything in here is good.

[RebeccaReviewedIt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love coffee table books. Maybe because I'm a more tactile, book-loving person, but I loved flipping through this book more than clicking through Pinterest for inspiration. And this is probably more than just your typical coffee table book. Emily has (at least) 2 books for your enjoyment. Cupcakes and Cashmere was first - named after her blog. Cupcakes and Cashmere at Home was my favorite of the two. Some of her tips gave me The Home Edit vibes, yet less focused on making everything into a rainbow pattern. There are all kinds of things within these pages - personal style, styling furniture with accents, food and drink recipes, party ideas, and more. I especially loved the rent vs buy pages in Cupcakes and Cashmere at Home. Overall, I really enjoyed these books! I also love that they go so well together aesthetically.
#bookstagram #RebeccaReviewedIt

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this because the title reminded me of a good friend. I think I was the wrong audience for this. I’m an older woman in London U.K. I looked at the seasonal clothes advice and thought I’d freeze. It was also so privileged and relied on style over substance. It assumed the reader wasn’t as clever or as pretty as the author and definitely assumed a high budget certainly there was no suggestion that some (most younger) women have to manage on a relatively tight budget. I admit it was written some time ago but it hasn’t aged well.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prequel to Cupcakes and Cashmere at Home, a creative book on how to make small changes with a big effect in your house. Though her clothing style is not in parallel with mine, her design tastes are!

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2012 me would've loved this!
2021 me kinda like knows everything in this - it's your basic white girl "life guide" - nothing special really - although I really love Emily Schuman and I enjoy her IG and her blog from time to time now.

[Brandy Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic tips from a seemingly classy woman. I'm putting all of it on Pinterest!

[Jeanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was truly terrible. Just a series of blog posts on random topics, with a liberal dose of narcissistic selfies.

[Corinnagoodwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cute, simple little book but with the world of pinterest... it is completely unnecessary now

[GMM · Rating 4 out of 5]

More great decorating advice. She has great style!

[Cynthia Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable flip-through read!