LET’S CATCH UP 7.24.21

It’s been a long week. A long month really. But I’ve finally got my feet propped up, watching the Tokyo Olympics and thought I’d catch up. Below – what’s been on my mind, on my bookshelf and in my cart lately.

ON MY MIND:

  • When I’m not rooting for team USA this weekend (how can you not be charmed by Simone Biles?!?), I’m hoping to go to the movies and see Roadrunner in theaters, the documentary about Anthony Bourdain.
  • My sister and I booked a weekend away at the end of August and I can’t wait to hop on a plane to go sip cocktails poolside for a couple of days. I’ll definitely be packing these heels (shown above) that are miraculously comfortable after a year spent largely in slippers. Code: STEELE15 gets you 15% if you want to try the brand for yourself.
  • After realizing I was spending wayyy too much time on my phone in the evenings, I wanted to find something to do with my hands while I could still watch TV with Adam. I ordered an embroidery kit from a small, female owned British brand – The Fabled Thread – and have been having the best time slowing stitching in the evenings. It’s going to take me awhile since it’s pretty intricate but it’s so satisfying watching it come together.

ON MY BOOKSHELF:

  • I hate reading on a Kindle or iPad, but I tried listening to audiobooks for the first time ever this year (borrowed from the NYPL using the Libby app) and with the right book and the right circumstances, I surprisingly love them! I’m currently listening to Yearbook, Seth Rogan’s memoir, which is narrated by him. He has such a distinct voice and hearing him read it allows for comedic timing, so the jokes really land. It’s highly enjoyable so far.
  • In actual hard copy books – I finished Florence Adler Swims Forever this week. It’s the story of a Jewish family living in Atlantic City in the 1930s and an event that sets in motion a series of family secrets and change. I really liked this one – I feel like fans of WWII era historical fiction (Lilac Girls comes to mind) would like this a lot.
  • And I’m nearly done Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb. It’s a memoir from the perspective of her grandmother (as told to Bess throughout her life). Not only is it a really interesting way to write a book, her grandmother and their relationship is so, so special and reminds me a lot of my own late grandmother. I’m flying through it and already don’t want it to end.
  • I’m just about halfway through my Summer Reading List and will share reviews on the books I’ve ticked off so far tomorrow! I started Libertie today and so far so good.

IN MY CART:

  • I’ve been really conscious these past couple of years of trying to build a wardrobe that I’ll love and wear for a long time to come. Part of that has meant leaving behind most of the fast fashion that I shopped in my 20s and discovering and investing in brands with higher quality and a much better fit. I’ve had my eye on Veronica Beard blazers for ages now and their summer sale is an extra 20% off. How chic is this collarless black blazer? I’d keep this in my closet forever.
  • Why are great jeans (that aren’t like $300) so hard to find? I recently bought this wide leg pair and judging by the reaction in my DMs – you all loved them. I’m also likely going to pick up this slightly more relaxed pair from a brand that I know and love for quality denim.
  • I’d wear this cute little checked cardigan set with cut-off jean shorts now and with those wide leg jeans and suede mules later this Fall.
  • I’m almost ashamed to admit that I haven’t made the switch to ‘clean’ beauty products with so many great options out there – but after noticing my usual mascara was starting to bother my eyes after long days, I was more than happy to try Merit Beauty’s Clean Lash Mascara when they reached out to me. I’ve only been using for a few days, but so far so good! And it doesn’t hurt that their packaging is wayyy prettier than my usual drugstore brand.

SHOP THE POST:

CASUAL NEUTRALS + 2ND HALF OF SUMMER PLANS

I knew at the start of this year that it was going to be a big one in terms of my full time job – with the busiest season being this summer. Which can make it hard to feel as carefree as the rest of the world seems to with restrictions finally loosened up and summer vacations in full swing. That being said – I’m excited about the work I’m doing and am trying my best to squeeze in some fun moments wherever I can.

Day trips out to the beach. Hopefully making it back to the lake. Working my way through my summer reading list and making time for my new embroidery hobby. Planning a weekend getaway with my sister for late August. Basically eeking out any spare moments I can during the rest of July and August for a bit of relaxation and enjoying summer weather. And I expect to be wearing this simple, button-front midi dress for much of it. It’s light as air and smocked in the back so it’s super comfortable.

If you’re reading this and are in a less busy season of life – savor summer for me, will you?

SHOP THE POST:

MY 2021 SUMMER READING LIST

Last year I made myself a ‘Summer Reading List’ and it was a fun way to prioritize a set of books for the months ahead. I’m happy to say that my goal since last year to read more broadly (different genres, diverse authors) has really enhanced my reading life and I feel like I’ve got a really great mix lined up for myself right now. Hope you find something on this list that you’ll be excited about reading this summer as well!

1. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid – After devouring Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – this is my most anticipated “beach” read of the summer. In all likelihood, I’ll read it in a single day on the dock at the lake.

2. Anna K by Jenny Lee – A modern retelling of Anna Karenina set in a similar world to Gossip Girl. Claire (my other half @prettywords) read this last summer and loved it and the sequel is already out, so if I love it too I can jump right into that one next.

3. Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge – Inspired by one of the first Black female doctors in the US, set in reconstruction-era Brooklyn – this is the next book club pick for my New York group and one that’s been getting a lot of good buzz lately.

3. Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland – A family saga that spans generations and begins in 1930s Atlantic City. This one has been on my list for a while now!

4. Find Me by André Aciman – The follow up to the best-selling Call Me Your Name (which I finally read last summer and just absolutely fell in love with) – while I know it won’t live up to the first book, hearing from those characters again will be worth it to me.

5. Luster by Raven Leilani – This book has been all over #bookstagram since it came out last year and I want to see what all the buzz is about.

6. The Switch by Beth O’Leary – I like to balance some more literary books in the summer with a few that are short and sweet and feel like a hug. Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare was that way for me last year and this one (about a grandmother and granddaughter who swap lives á la The Holiday) sounds so heartwarming

7. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro – Claire sent me her copy of this after reading it – and while it’s not my usual genre, when she loves a book I usually love it too. I think it’s essentially a robot story? I’m going into it blind which I often like to do with books that Claire recommends and just trust that the story will take me where I need to go.

8. Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson – A story about young divorced women staying at a Dude Ranch in Reno in the 1930s. This gives me City of Girls vibes which means I’m very excited about it.

9. Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion – A new curated collection of early short stories from Didion. I’ll read almost anything she writes.

10. The Mothers by Brit Bennett – After reading The Vanishing Half last year I wanted to go back and read an earlier work by Bennett. The Mothers sounds equally compelling.

11. Pet by Akwaeke Emezi – A YA novel that explores themes of identity and justice from an author that has been receiving (what seems like) very well-deserved accolades lately. Pet is apparently like a modern day monster story.

12. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – Our virtual book club pick for July, this one imagines a library that continues the other stories of your life – the missed chances or what-ifs. I think it will make for a good chat!

13. Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi – A complicated story of sisterhood, I’m waiting patiently for this on hold at the library right now after seeing so many people rave about it online.

14. Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates – This book came out 20 years ago and I’m so glad that Claire read it recently and recommended. It’s an intimate reimagining of Marilyn Monroe’s life and the real story behind the star everyone thought they knew.

15. Come Fly the World by Juila Cooke – A look at the golden era of travel and the Pan Am Stewardess life that was glamorized along the way. Bonus points for having such a great cover.

SHOP MY SUMMER READING LIST:

A WEEK OF REAL OUTFITS: 5-21-21

I’m sure a lot of you felt the same, but this spring – after a year of pandemic life – my usual interest in putting together outfits was all but gone. And then last week I took a few days off work, the weather hit a consistent 75 degrees and all of a sudden I was excited to get dressed again. The results were 7 days of outfits that I couldn’t wait to put on and go out into the world wearing. Talk about a mood booster. Hoping you all have a sunny weekend ahead and are inspired to dust off some real outfits of your own.

These outfits are a mix of things already in my closet and a few new pieces. In the case that something is no longer available, or vintage, I linked a similar item.

WORK FROM HOME DAY:

Beach Boys T-Shirt, Vintage Skirt, Statement Earrings, Sandals

MARGARITA HAPPY HOUR:

White T-Shirt, Bag (old from Anthropologie), Polka Dot Shorts (gifted), Sandals (old from Marc Fisher)

MID-WEEK ZOOM CALLS:

Cardigan and Shell, Jeans, Gingham Heels (old from Talbots)

PICNIC IN THE PARK:

Dress (gifted), Bag (old from Talbots), Stud Earrings, Sandals (old from Talbots)

FRIDAY DATE NIGHT:

Earrings (old from Lulu Frost), Vintage Silk Top, Jeans (old from H&M), SJP Heels

AFTERNOON AT THE MUSEUM:

Suede Jacket, Grey T-Shirt, Printed Midi Skirt, Sandals + Bag (Old from Talbots)

DINNER AL FRESCO:

Black Dress, Hoop Earrings, Leopard Heels

NAP DRESSES AND THE START OF SUMMER

I took a couple of days off of work for a long birthday weekend – which just so happened to coincide with the nicest stretch of weather we’ve had so far this year. Coupled with the new vaccine mask mandate and it really felt the whole city was outside celebrating alongside me. Which made it easy to cross quite a few things off my post-pandemic bucket list. Explore the Upper West Side, visit the Natural History Museum, eat at the Central Park Boathouse and get a mani/pedi – check, check and check!

On Saturday we spent some time picnic-ing in Washington Square Park and it really felt like the start of summer. I was happy to break out this new blue dress for the occasion. Blame it on Bridgerton’s Regency-era costumes and Hill House’s infamous “nap dresses” – both well timed for a global pandemic audience – but these smocked, empire waist, puff sleeve dresses are everywhere this summer. This floaty version is from Few Moda – an online retailer that sells clothing made in the same factories as brand’s like Reformation and Zimmerman, but offered at a fraction of the price when you subscribe to a membership. I was a little bit skeptical but they sent me this dress and I can attest to the fact that the quality is great and I would have gladly paid $54 instead of the $200+ that those other brands would charge. Especially on items like this that are a bit trendier. And if I just so happen to be able to wear it from for a picnic and also for a nap? All the better.

SHOP THE POST: