The Weekly, 06.29.21
A day late, but better than nothing! I had a packed weekend, followed by a day at the DMV yesterday, so my plans to get a Weekly together were very much delayed this week. But I have so many things that I wanted to share, especially as I shift fully into summer mode. It’s been so hot, and I am heading to the beach this week, which means today’s Weekly is featuring some major summer essentials for you. Let’s jump right in…
01. If you’re on Instagram, then you know that this is the summer of the nap dress, round two. If you have no idea what I am talking about, or why you would nap in a dress, let me explain. Hill House Home was a bedding company that launched a smocked midi-dress dubbed the Nap Dress that went viral some time during the pandemic when people were desperate to get out of sweats, but also wanted to be comfortable at home. Enter, a dress so comfortable and breezy you could sleep in it, I guess (?). Released in random drops, this collection of cotton dresses in very preppy patterns and prints are extremely comfortable and the perfect dress for summer. I just grabbed my second one, and there are still some in stock from their latest collection, like this adorable sea shell patterned print. Their collection of styles is definitely growing, but they really are a super easy and flattering dress to just throw on in the summer or dress up for a special occasion, especially as the temperatures are rising and many of us start to travel again.
02. All I want to wear in the summer is dresses and denim cutoffs (we’ll get to those in a minute) – those are my primary two clothing groups. Especially with temperatures already hitting the high 90s with shitloads of humidity, there is no time like the present to say goodbye to constricting clothing and hello to adorable summer dresses that allow a nice breeze. I have been growing my own collection of dresses in preparation for our trip to Italy in less than month (AHHH!), and this dress I saw on Olivia Muenter was an immediate add to cart. Unfortunately, I sized up because it was H&M, so I had to exchange it (stay true to size!), and am waiting on its arrival this week, just in time for the holiday weekend. I love the neckline, and am trying to avoid dresses that swallow my curves. So this one feels perfect for our upcoming travels to pair with sneakers for day time, or with a sandal for dinner.
03. For me, summer means lots of tank tops and off-the-shoulder outfits. Enter, the unfortunate need for a strapless bra. And while I am going to be experimenting with some other options this summer (stay tuned), this strapless bralette is my tried and true from last summer, and even great for larger chests. If you read my post on the best bralettes, then you know I am a big fan of Skims for underwear. This bandeau is no exception; it’s so comfortable, leaves you with some natural shape, but doesn’t have the uncomfortable wire that I detest no matter how many times I try with other bras. If you’re looking for something quick and easy to throw on under your tanks, this is a great option. I wear a large in this one.
04. Chris and I have started dabbling in facials, and we are now committed to quarterly facials at NYC’s Rescue Spa. If you have been to their storefront, it’s gorgeous and basically a boutique of luxury skincare and beauty products I could easily get lost in. When we went a few weeks ago, I was browsing their store as we finished up, and tested this perfume from Byredo, a brand I had heard a lot about but had yet to try for myself. Well, I was blown away by this warm, musky scent that just screams summer to me. I had to have it, and as someone with migraines who is sensitive to scent, this one has yet to bother me. I’ve been reaching for it on the daily. If you’re looking to splurge on a little something, this is a great gift to yourself.
05. You can’t have summer without swimsuits, and I have quite the collection. I love swimwear, and am just most at ease and myself on a beach. I am very on board with the one-piece swimsuit, but keep it sexy with a higher cut leg and a cheeky bottom. I talked about their sports bras a few weeks ago, but I grabbed this swimsuit from sustainable and inclusive brand, Girlfriend Collective, and I am in love. I got this bright orange color, and the cut is so flattering on a curvier figure. The suit is made from recycled materials, which means it does take a little bit longer to dry, but this is a definitely a favorite fit for summer beach wear, and could even double as a bodysuit with some denim shorts or a flowy pant.
06. Jumping into summer skincare essentials, I just reordered my tried and true summer makeup staple – the Super Serum Skin Tint Foundation from Ilia. If you buy one makeup product for summer, this is it! Everyone I know who has tried it has loved it, and I just reordered myself. The shades are super forgiving, it really sinks in like skincare to give you a beautifully natural finish, and it has SPF built it for some added protection (or baseline protection if you’re not already wearing daily protection). I put four drops on each quadrant of my face and rub it in with my hands, and it is truly a blend-able dream product.
07. If you’re not going to get to a beach this summer, but want to keep a natural summer glow, then I cannot recommend these D-Bronzi drops from Drunk Elephant enough. I wear them year-round, and just repurchased again from Sephora yesterday. Put a small pump into your daily lotion in the morning, and you get a super subtle glow for your foundation. This is such a staple in my skincare routine, but it gives you a great no-makeup glow, especially mixed in with my favorite sunscreen from Supergoop. Added bonus? Pollution protection is built in, so it keeps your skin safe from all of the other gunk we interact with on a daily basis outside.
08. One of my absolute favorite skincare products for summer is finally back on the shelves! After a major recall last year (I never had any issues, but you can read more here), the Jet Lag mask has a new and improved forumla and is one of my ultimate must-have masks to keep in your regular rotation. It’s a hydrating face mask that you can use as a mask or as a moisturizer when your skin feels dryer. I love to use this after the beach, especially if I got too much sun. Stick it in the fridge for 5-10 minutes, and you get the most insanely refreshing skincare experience when you come out of the shower. This bottle will last you a long time, and it’s by far one of my all-time favorites.
09. I have really been trying to embrace my natural curls over the last few months, and have been doing a lot of experimenting with new products as a result. I saw SJ of @alwaysplayingwithmakeup use this product from Elvolvh, a brand I had not heard of before, but was eager to try after seeing her achieve a beautiful natural wave. This Wonderbalm is meant to prevent frizz whether you wear your hair naturally or blow it out, and it definitely has not disappointed. I find I still need an enhancing product, like a gel, when I wear my hair naturally, but it really shines when I used it to blow out my hair this weekend. It kept frizz at bay on the most humid day when I was standing outside, and really gave a beautiful shine to the hair. I can definitely see myself using this product throughout the summer, and if you’re looking for a product to tackle frizz and give shine, this is a highly recommend from me.
10. Planning for Italy has now become an all-consuming shopping habit. I have some lofty goals with trying to pack everything in one medium sized roller bag, but just truly have no idea what to expect in terms of temperatures and travel needs in a COVID-world. What I really don’t want is to be lugging more than one bag to Italy, and so I wanted to find a bag that could serve multiple purposes. Enter this adorable belt bag from Senreve. It can easily transition from belt bag to cross body with the adjustable leather strap it comes with, or you can it off and use it as a clutch at night. There’s also a chain you can purchase separately, but I think clutch is even better for travel and evenings. If you’re looking for a travel staple, this bag is a great find. I got it in the white, and it’s more of an ivory that I think will really go with everything.
11. I have finally found this summer’s perfect jean short. If you watched my Instagram stories yesterday, I posted a picture of these because I could not contain my excitement. These shorts are perfect if you want a looser cut relaxed short that doesn’t feel like sausage casing on thicker thighs. I had to play around with sizing on these, and had to exchange for two sizes smaller than my usual size (I went with a 29), but I think that these are going to my go-to shorts for summer. They are not super high-waisted in comparison to other brands, and they really give you that effortless loose short look without being a stretch denim, similar to the AGOLDE jean shorts you see on just about every blogger that would never fit my body type. I am in love, and have heard that so many of you appreciate denim shorts recommendations, so this had to be included for the start of summer!
12. I have big goals for myself to maintain a workout routine this summer; last summer, I really dropped the ball for myself at the start of the summer, and it hurt my mental and physical needs, big time. This summer, I want to keep my energy up and the strength I have built up at Orange Theory by walking, playing tennis, and keeping up with my strength workouts on the Peloton app. And the idea of wearing a workout pant is just not cutting it, so I have brought out my absolute favorite pair of bike shorts for summer – this pair from Beyond Yoga. The softest fabric, the perfect amount of hug without discomfort, the right length for a shorter frame, and just really cool in the heat; I absolutely adore these workout staple shorts! Looking for style inspo or feeling your too _____ for bike shorts? I love these looks from Maddy Gutierrez.
Now that summer vacation is alive and well, I will be trying to get more content on the blog when and where I can, especially pre-Italy! I am counting down the days, while of course my anxiety is building, about our upcoming trip. I hope everyone tries to find some time for rest and recharge over this holiday weekend, and what always feels like the official start to summer!
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