Happy July 4th weekend! We are officially entering heat season (slightly late in the North East this year, which is fine by me.) To celebrate, a dense newsletter with five categories to crush the sunny days ahead.
Hats. That are not baseball hats.
This came from a reader request from the comments! “What’s a great hat that doesn’t look out of place in the city that is NOT a baseball hat?” Three below that don’t scream “I’m wearing a hat!!!!!” because I do not like when the hat is louder that the lady.
Style First Swim
Swim is such an overwhelming category, no? With so much BAD. Guys, I tried on A LOT of swim. It could be it’s own Sunday read. But for this summer, since this whole newsletter started as a place to spend LESS time thinking about clothes, lets just go over my favorites.
I wanted to find a swimsuit for this summer that felt like it hit the same design criteria I use for the rest of my wardrobe. When shopping for swim, its so easy to forget about your personal style codes, trying to mold yourself into a combo of what is out there and what will flatter. I only ordered brands/styles that felt like they suited my personal style and were not merely functional vessels, which narrowed the search. But then of course they actually did have to be functional vessels! Swimwear designers, I do not envy you.
Here, five swimsuits that feel like fashion, are functional for swim and cover enough to not make me want to run for my cover-up. It was a first place tie for one pieces between Matteau’s Scoop maillot (for a more full coverage bum, the Matteau square neck maillot is IT!) and Lido’s Trentanove. And then I had a little more fun with two-pieces since those are less function-first to start with. Overall, I’m content with my variety. It is getting me excited to for the season…if you have a pool, I’m available. Oh, and notes on all in the captions below.
Chic Sunnies
I ended up ordering this Khaite x Oliver Peoples pair from our “summer off duty uniform” letter a couple weeks ago and am extremely happy with them. Have worn them everyday and not that it should really influence your decision, but they have a soft-shell case in a siren red which has greatly helped me take better care of them. 1) I don’t lose the case. 2) I’m more likely to actually use it because it’s semi-squishy and doesn’t feel bulky in my bag. My laziness usually kills sunglasses but this case, the CASE might just be what makes these my favorite sunglasses for more than one summer.
Summer Face
No, this is NOT a beauty blog. But the internet got me and below are the two things we all must have for summer. Well, at least the two I caved on and do not regret.
Earlier this spring, I took so many Jones Road online quizzes that I ended up going to the store and getting my makeup done, prom style. I NEEDED someone to tell me what to do. (Whoever does JR social media marketing needs a raise!) Anyway, it was a great experience and I’m sold. I got the Miracle Balm in Dusty Rose and have been using it on my cheeks and lips when I have to leave the house for anything non-child related. I even keep it in my bag sometimes. Who is she!?
And then, in case you missed our community Instagram quest to find THIS LIP last month, I’m putting her here so no one misses it. Apparently I was living under a rock. Thanks to all who helped me hunt it down! The lip shade of summer. You heard it here first last.
Just a really great pair of shorts!!
“Boxer shorts” are trending as a swim-adjacent, summery idea but I can’t walk down the street with a straight face in something that looks like I’m actually wearing men’s underwear on the NYC sidewalk. I’m sorry, I’m just too old. Enter these Proenza Schouler White Label “boxer shorts” in seersucker. They are an easy breezy fabric (more on gingham next week - or maybe the following), they have an elastic waist (NOT a paperbag waist). They appear to be proper shorts. And they have pockets! I can dress them up and down and all around. Some outfits below, both town & country, to send us off into the sunshine.
That’s all folks. Happy Fourth of July. Now go outside! (If its not a heat wave or unhealthy levels of forest fire smoke where you live…so like, maybe five of you go outside?)
Yours TRULY,
Becky
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Great letter and mini suit deep dive. I also bought a lot of suits this summer - postpartum madness. I prefer a proper short which used to be hard to find but now there seem to be many fun options. For 3 suits I followed your “stick to your style ” and for 2 I just went full “where the party at”.
For those interested in full booty coverage (as in actual shorts)
-skims (I did black shorts and black crop top)
-billabong a/v division (party patterns with leopard and I don’t even know what rainbow situation. They have a bra top and proper long bike shorts, super cute)
-Nike - I did a papaya full bike short with a red crop top,
I also got a hunza bikini for non/chasing children “working in a sun lounger” days, agree it’s a great bikini.
I’m pretty new around here and I love this post. I love the “fashion only if you already know” idea. Wish there wasn’t a label on that hat, even if it’s subtle.
Great letter and mini suit deep dive. I also bought a lot of suits this summer - postpartum madness. I prefer a proper short which used to be hard to find but now there seem to be many fun options. For 3 suits I followed your “stick to your style ” and for 2 I just went full “where the party at”.
For those interested in full booty coverage (as in actual shorts)
-skims (I did black shorts and black crop top)
-billabong a/v division (party patterns with leopard and I don’t even know what rainbow situation. They have a bra top and proper long bike shorts, super cute)
-Nike - I did a papaya full bike short with a red crop top,
I also got a hunza bikini for non/chasing children “working in a sun lounger” days, agree it’s a great bikini.
I’m pretty new around here and I love this post. I love the “fashion only if you already know” idea. Wish there wasn’t a label on that hat, even if it’s subtle.