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Black Coffee and Red Lipstick: Notes on living
Not yet published
Expected 24 Nov 26A new collection of thought-provoking and engaging memoir-based essays from columnist, commentator and Sunday Times-bestselling author, Alexandra Shulman, the longest serving Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue.
Praise for Alexandra
“Self-deprecating and stylish, this is sure to become a classic.” - Vanity Fair
“Alexandra Shulman's style is unaffected, immediate and hilariously dry. She's brilliant at observing everyday feelings in a joy-sparking turn of phrase.” - Helena Bonham Carter
Roast Chicken and Red Lipstick is a collection of essays that weave ideas about our domestic and daily life - hence the roast chicken - with thoughts on style and the way we present ourselves - hence the red lipstick.
It combines anecdotes and observations from Alexandra Shulman's 25 years spent editing British Vogue and her current life as a freelance writer and commentator. She draws on her experiences as a magazine editor but also a mother, daughter, sibling, girlfriend, housekeeper and lover of shopping.
Alexandra left her job at Vogue in 2017 to embark on a different way of life and while this is in no way a book of self-discovery it does touch on the question of things or patterns of behavior that make us who we are?
The essays will be a mixture of ideas from her quest for the perfect eyeliner, to why picnics are so delightful. How it is that men and women see different things in the home - is there male pattern blindness? - to why our hair matters so much to us. Friendship, siblings, gardening and grey hair will also be explored with Alexandra's characteristic wit and incisiveness.
Praise for Alexandra
“Self-deprecating and stylish, this is sure to become a classic.” - Vanity Fair
“Alexandra Shulman's style is unaffected, immediate and hilariously dry. She's brilliant at observing everyday feelings in a joy-sparking turn of phrase.” - Helena Bonham Carter
Roast Chicken and Red Lipstick is a collection of essays that weave ideas about our domestic and daily life - hence the roast chicken - with thoughts on style and the way we present ourselves - hence the red lipstick.
It combines anecdotes and observations from Alexandra Shulman's 25 years spent editing British Vogue and her current life as a freelance writer and commentator. She draws on her experiences as a magazine editor but also a mother, daughter, sibling, girlfriend, housekeeper and lover of shopping.
Alexandra left her job at Vogue in 2017 to embark on a different way of life and while this is in no way a book of self-discovery it does touch on the question of things or patterns of behavior that make us who we are?
The essays will be a mixture of ideas from her quest for the perfect eyeliner, to why picnics are so delightful. How it is that men and women see different things in the home - is there male pattern blindness? - to why our hair matters so much to us. Friendship, siblings, gardening and grey hair will also be explored with Alexandra's characteristic wit and incisiveness.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 16, 2026
A really cosy collection of essays. I’ve always enjoyed the way Alexandra Shulman writes, so this felt like a little treat to read. The essays cover a range of topics, including hair, mothers, and the experience of being alone, all explored with honesty and warmth.
My favourite essay was the one about hair. As someone with perpetually troublesome hair that seems to be constantly breaking, regrowing, and sticking out at different lengths, I could completely empathise. It often feels impossibly messy, so much of what she wrote struck a chord with me.
This is the sort of book that feels best read slowly, with a cup of tea nearby and no particular rush to get to the end. It won’t be a book that stays with me for years, but it was a thoroughly pleasant read and one I looked forward to picking up at the end of the day
My favourite essay was the one about hair. As someone with perpetually troublesome hair that seems to be constantly breaking, regrowing, and sticking out at different lengths, I could completely empathise. It often feels impossibly messy, so much of what she wrote struck a chord with me.
This is the sort of book that feels best read slowly, with a cup of tea nearby and no particular rush to get to the end. It won’t be a book that stays with me for years, but it was a thoroughly pleasant read and one I looked forward to picking up at the end of the day
October 6, 2026
★★★★★
Black Coffee and Red Lipstick is a thoughtful and beautifully reflective collection that captures the many sides of everyday life with honesty, warmth, and personality. The writing encourages readers to slow down and appreciate the small moments, personal experiences, and quiet lessons that can easily be overlooked.
What I enjoyed most is the book’s sense of authenticity. The reflections feel relatable without trying to offer simple answers to life’s complicated questions. Themes of relationships, independence, resilience, personal growth, uncertainty, and finding confidence in who we are are explored with an engaging and thoughtful perspective.
The title itself perfectly reflects the spirit of the book. There is a wonderful balance between strength and vulnerability, seriousness and pleasure, and the realities of life and the little things that make it enjoyable. The observations often invite you to pause and consider your own experiences in a new way.
This is the kind of book that can be picked up whenever you need a thoughtful reminder that life does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. Its pages offer encouragement without being preachy and reflection without becoming heavy.
Warm, honest, and quietly inspiring, Black Coffee and Red Lipstick is a lovely read for anyone who enjoys personal reflections and thoughtful observations about living. A charming and memorable collection that earns five stars.
Black Coffee and Red Lipstick is a thoughtful and beautifully reflective collection that captures the many sides of everyday life with honesty, warmth, and personality. The writing encourages readers to slow down and appreciate the small moments, personal experiences, and quiet lessons that can easily be overlooked.
What I enjoyed most is the book’s sense of authenticity. The reflections feel relatable without trying to offer simple answers to life’s complicated questions. Themes of relationships, independence, resilience, personal growth, uncertainty, and finding confidence in who we are are explored with an engaging and thoughtful perspective.
The title itself perfectly reflects the spirit of the book. There is a wonderful balance between strength and vulnerability, seriousness and pleasure, and the realities of life and the little things that make it enjoyable. The observations often invite you to pause and consider your own experiences in a new way.
This is the kind of book that can be picked up whenever you need a thoughtful reminder that life does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. Its pages offer encouragement without being preachy and reflection without becoming heavy.
Warm, honest, and quietly inspiring, Black Coffee and Red Lipstick is a lovely read for anyone who enjoys personal reflections and thoughtful observations about living. A charming and memorable collection that earns five stars.
November 2, 2026
I bought this book as a gift for a friend and thought I’d just have a quick,flick through it but ended up reading the whole thing. Alexandra Shulmans musings on life were often very relatable ( not so much the super yacht holidays ). Surprisingly quite enjoyable.
October 9, 2026
2.5
Unremarkable, unrelatable, and unseasoned.
Unremarkable, unrelatable, and unseasoned.
October 21, 2026
Didn’t want the book to end! Wish it was a longer volume.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews