Your Summer Starter Kit
Summer is upon us, guys. It’s happening any day now (namely, Memorial Day Weekend), so now’s a great time to take stock of just how prepared you are for summertime vibes. Are you good on jean shorts? Tank tops? What about easy summer dresses and simple heeled-sandals? Are you covered with cute earrings, woven handbags, and the green-pink lipstick I’ve been writing about for years and will never, ever quit? Take a second to browse through my summer starter kit to make sure you’re good to go on all fronts and beyond!
shorts and tops
Because of the heat here in Texas, there comes a point during the summer where all I can manage anymore is the simplest tank top and a pair of shorts. If you try to make me wear anything more, I will scream. That said, I kept this section super minimal to stay true to form. IMO, a great tan, a cute earring, and the right lipstick IS an outfit, and a simple tank top and great pair of shorts pulls it together.
All of these shorts were featured in my try-on reel and listed on my shorts blog post, and they’re all from American Eagle. The blue jean shorts are the perfect mom short, the black jean shorts feature the popular crossover waistband that is SO flattering, and the white jean shorts are the only ones I’ve ever truly liked on my person. The tanks are all Target and I legitimately have it in 4 colors. I wear them constantly during the summer. Lastly, slides on slides. I’m wearing my new tri-tone Birks daily, the black rubber Birks are EVERYTHING during the summer and serve as both a cute shoe and the perfect beach/pool/water shoe, and the corduroy slides from Target are comfortable and cute as hell. These are my suggestions to you.
dresses and heels
So we are heading out on a 10-day trip along the Southeast coastline in June and Savannah and Charleston are on the list, so I have been LOADING UP on cute, summertime dresses. Literally every single one pictured in this collage will be packed for this trip; I can’t say that I’ve ever been more prepared in terms of outfits for a trip, and I’m proud of me.
Green Wrap Dress: This cutie is from Amazon and super flattering on (what wrap dress isn’t?). It’s also available in 1,500 colors.
Black Racerback Wrap Dress: This is just the most ideal summer dress. It’s easy. It’s mini. It wraps at the waist so it’s wildly flattering. It’s also available in 1,500 colors.
Pink Midi Dress: Hi, EVERYONE NEEDS THIS DRESS. It comes in pink, black, and a very pretty white and blue pattern, and it’s just insanely flattering (say flattering again, Emma). The flutter sleeves are a lovely feminine detail, and it has a partly open back for some flirt. I cannot wait to wear it in Savannah or Charleston!
Reformation Twilight Dress: Just stunt-ting in every way. I feel like a million bucks in this dress. It’s gorgeous, sexy, fun, sophisticated—all the things. It’s one of Reformation’s top-sellers, too. It’s the perfect wedding guest dress, date night dress, birthday dress—the list goes on. TREAT YOURSELF.
Anthro Embroidered Mini Dress: It’s short, it’s colorful, it has 3/4 puff sleeves, it has a partly open back with a flirty tie. IT’S EVERYTHING AND MORE. It’s also very low in stock and sizes, but if you happen to see yours, grab it. It’s summer in a dress, truly.
Smocked Midi Dress: The original pattern I got in this silhouette is no longer available, but this one is and it’s just as cute. I love the fit of this dress; it’s just very easy as a day dress to walk around in or brunch in. I have a feeling I’ll be wearing it more than once during our 10-day excursion. It runs large, so size down for sure!
The Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress: When in doubt this summer, buy this dress and wear this dress. The material is so forgiving with sweat, it has built-in shorts to avoid the inevitable thigh chafing, and it looks super cute on. I fall back on this dress for everything. In fact, I have own it in three colors and am contemplating a fourth. It looks great with sneakers or Birks, too! This is a summer essential for me.
As for shoes, we are doubling down on the Amazon heels, I literally can’t stop wearing the clear/woven Target heels, y’all already know how I feel about the Loeffler Randall dupes, and my best purchase so far this summer has been the colorful New Balances 57/40 sneaker.
woven handbags
Full disclosure: I do not own any of these yet because I legitimately cannot make a fucking decision. They’re all so cute. I am leaning heavily toward the bottom right for this summer vacation, but feel I need a crossbody, too. Amazon has no shortage of cute woven handbags and clutches—this is a simple skim of the iceberg.
Structured bamboo clutch with handle
(comes in so many other colors!)
(comes with detachable gold chain 😩)
summer beauty
Like I said up there, as long as you have a tan and a great lipstick during the summer, you are set. This pink lipstick that comes in a green tube is everything, guys. If you’ve been following me for a while, this isn’t news to you. Years and years ago, the Man Repeller posted about this magical green lipstick on Amazon that somehow reacts to your lips’ chemistry and turns pink upon application, and I have been using it religiously every summer since then. It’s so cheap, always comes in a 5-10 pack, and is somehow the perfect pink. I don’t get it. I never have. All I know is, it’s epic and I will use it until I die. I suggest you buy a pack and give it a try.
Then we have our anti-chafe sticks that are of the utmost importance during summer. I used Gold Bond’s Friction Defense stick for ages before megababe debuted and got me with their marketing, and both are incredible. The only difference is the price point. If you want to save, get Gold Bond ($20 for 3). If you want the cute packaging, get megababe ($14). Megababe also comes in a mini for your purse!
Call me basic, but I fell for the Supergoop! sunscreen and haven’t looked back. We have the big ass pump bottle at the house, I use the Unseen Sunscreen daily during summer, and I’m adding the lip balm to this summer’s rotation for good measure!
Lastly but not leastly, I had no idea that the everyday setting powder I use is available in A MINI??? WHAT! This will be a game changer for me this summer, I guarantee it. When summer sweat does a number on my face, knowing that I will have this mini Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder in my bag provides me a sense of calm I’ve often had trouble finding elsewhere.
the vital extras
And we can’t forget all the little extras!
I am very into these Amazon sunnies right now. This is my favorite color-way, but there are others.
I also will always stan my Ray-Bans. I just can’t quit them. They’ve lasted me for 5 years now!
I think this is the summer I’m going to get into topless visors. I am a hair-on-top-of-head kind of pool/beach gal, so this solution makes sense for when I need to shade my face! I like this one and this one from Amazon.
If you’re a sucker for adorable ass earrings like me, godspeed. I searched “fruit earrings” on Amazon for this post, and have about *checks watch* 15 options in my cart right now. Oops. These cherries, watermelons, and pineapples are frontrunners, though.
Hydration is key for summertime, and I am a fan of reduce’s options. I need another vessel for water like I need an 11th finger, but IDK how I can’t get this color???
I would be remiss to not mention the clear Apple watch band that doubles as a Baby G watch (if you grew up in the 90s and into the early aughts, you know). I break this out every summer—it’s one of my favorite accessory traditions.
Oh! And! A lounge chair for backyard tanning with not only a face hole but a BREAST POCKET. WHAT? This chair was designed with a special piece of material so when you lay on your stomach, your boobs have a place to drop down naturally and not be smushed. Genius.
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