Yesterday I did my seasonal closet turnover and then today, just as most of my hoodies and sweaters were safely packed into garment containers, I woke up to 44 degrees. So, it feels the right time to send some Summer Vibes out again (part 1 of this, which was my #2 most read newsletter ever, lives here and it covers: coffee table books, perfume, candles, things to watch and a cool playlist to set the mood).
Today we’re gonna spend some time on: books, beauty & fashion, though probably not in that order.
Ok! Beauty first
:
I was born with olive-ish, oily-ish skin which is nice because I somehow am still wrinkle-less but not nice because during the winter the yellow undertones make you look kind of sallow and sad. So, here’s a few things that make me look un-sallow and un-sad.
Awesome Bronze Gradual Self-Tanning Drops - I am a big fan of my Beauty Pie subscription which allows me to buy fancy products that really work (this is Marcia Kilgore’s post-Bliss 2nd act) for really good value. And this little bottle keeps getting repurchased. All you need is like 3-4 drops and you apply it at night (As a serum, basically), then slather on some moisturizer and you gradually build up a surprisingly natural looking tan. I use it on face/neck/decolettage but would really use it on anything and everything if it came in a bigger bottle.
They also make these highlighter strobe drops which are insane and truly the best glow-y primer (and I am not a primer kind of person)
I was also quite sad when they stopped making the Lune + Aster Moonrise glow/bronzer stick - but apparently there’s still some on ebay.
For the summer-worthy lips: Clinique black honey (lipstick not lipgloss) + Merit lip oils 4ever.
In terms of fashion:
I got dressed to go to a meeting the other day when it was 80 degrees and my husband described my look as “Annie Hall meets Magnum PI” and I have decided that + tennis-core is my venn diagram for the season.
Here’s what I think is essential:
A very large, very crisp white shirt - you can then tuck it, untuck it, put it over a camisole or undershirt, etc. I love the men’s Alex Mill paper poplin ones for peak Ripley vibes, or if you are more budget conscious Gap Big Shirt (which comes in a variety of materials, but I like cotton the most) is the answer - they come in all sorts of fun patterns but white and black are key cornerstones to your success.
A signature/notice-me shirt - I am very into red this season and while my feelings for Sezane are complicated - they did make the most perfect red floral Max edition this year and I went for it and it was the shirt I was wearing when Jason made that complimentary comment. This cut runs kind of big which is nice and airy in summer.
A loose pant and a good short - I spend the whole summer in these and these.
A slip of a dress - I am a huge fan of whatever is happening in this department at Quince (have slowly been buying them in multiple colors over the last year or so) - just throw your giant shirt over it during the day or let your upper arms do the talking at night.
An all weather sweater - this is critical for achieving peak tennis core and there’s entire companies working on this. I am an old-school fan of the Staud Hampton sweater whether full length or cropped (def an investment), or ye old school men’s cotton sweater department at JCrew (way superior to whatever cropped but overly wide messes are happening in women’s section)
And finally and most importantly - ESPADRILLES. Now, there’s a 1000 expensive and nice espadrilles out there but I personally feel they kind of defy the original purpose of an espadrille as a bum-around shoe - these Kentti’s on Amazon come in a bunch of colors, are basically unisex, (they are weirdly spread out across 9 different search results so just poke around a little for the right colors/sizes) and look exactly like what the Birkin/Gainbourg household, across the board, is wearing in this shot:
Bonus of Grace Kelly in them as well:
OK, and finally - some summer-vibe-y books.
My attitude toward summer reading is two-fold:
A book you can read in one day - something you just GULP UP and actually have time to in one sitting. - the ultimate of luxuries.
A book you wouldn’t have the attention span during the busier times of the year - something to really sing your teeth in.
The list below is books I’ve read and also books I’m PLANNING to read this summer:
The Guest by Emma Cline - just a perfect, sinister, Patricia Highsmith adjacent, grifter-y jaunt to the Hamptons. I keep bringing this book up because I keep thinking about it.
The Sunset Crowd by Karin Tanabe - 70s glamour-fest from Rodeo Drive to Riviera, this feels smart yet dishy. I have this nicely stacked next to my imaginary suitcase.
All Fours by Miranda July - my #1 pre-order for the season by my #1 writer/director/artist crush in the world - an artsy road-trip (or is it?), it promises to be weird, funny, stimulating and not-at-all-what-my-work-week-brain wants to handle.
Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum - A incredibly fun, smart, dishy, modern tale of rich people at their worst, this reads as if you put Crazy Rich Asians (but make them WASP-y) into a blender with White Lotus. Bonus: Very Bad Company is coming out this May!)
Wellness by Nathan Hill - I bought The Nix 6 years a go and still have not read it because it just looks so long, but with everyone (EVERYONE!) obsessed with Wellness, maybe this summer is the summer I tackle both.
Headshot by Rita Bullwinkle - Actually picking this up from the library today - it involves 8 teenage girl boxers, a competition in Reno and in general, it feels like a book you should love if you loved Love Lies Bleeding)
Obviously, all the Hilderbrands, always (apparently her very final Nantucket novel, Swan Song, comes out this June which feels crazy but also what a historic moment to be here for)
And that is that - I am seeing “Challengers” this weekend so there may be a bonus edition of Guadagnino/Zendaya feelings coming your way soon, plus - next weekend is the EVERYTHING I READ/SAW this month - so, let your friends know to subscribe? Yeah? Thank you!