There's a specific magic to the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, especially when you're young and the entire summer feels like it's one long unfolding possibility. I have a distinct memory of this day circa 1999 or 2000. I was a high school freshman or sophomore; our school's field day had just concluded; exams were finished, and the school year was practically over. Kathryn and I were with our best friend, baking in the back seat of her dad's Suburban, as we reviewed crushes and long weekend plans. The mood was sanguine, and the promise of summer had us buzzing and plotting. Thinking back on that, I can practically taste the excitement of summer's first long weekend. Sure, Memorial Day can be a total rainout in the Northeast. And yes, these days I'm often working hard finalizing a Resort collection, but I'm still captivated by that start of summer sensation. The moment Memorial Day weekend arrives, I want sandals on (weather be damned!), color everywhere, music playing, and summertime revelry in the pipeline.
So, for anyone else craving a jumpstart to summer mode, here's a roundup of recent discoveries giving me that school's-out, long-weekend energy. Dive in!
Starting off with a bang: This compact knit, tomato-red dress from Ashlynn New York will make you the best dressed guest at any summertime soiree.
I’ve been wearing Incendiarie from Chanel a lot recently; it’d be a perfect match to the Ashlynn dress.
La Veste’s Pippi pouch screams start-of-summer-good-vibes. It could go in a tote bag filled with necessities, and get pulled out for the evening. I love the idea of dressing up a simple look with this clutch after hours.
Look no further for good accessories: The Sirena Shell Necklace is a fabulous summertime companion and looks equally great with an evening look as it does with a sarong and beach shirt.
Daytime contents of your Pippi Pouch should positively include SPF. I love this mineral option (with very little white cast) from Shiseido.
It should also contain a hydrating lip color in my all-time favorite hue.
I - like so many others - am pretty obsessed with this summer’s sarong trend, which we owe to Dries Van Noten’s fantastic SS26 assortment. This version brings me a lot of joy & I’m keeping an eye on it for my July trip to Sicily.
I’m very into dressing up my Dries sarong, but could also see styling it for daytime with a crisp shirt and a pair of loafers. How chic are these in Bermuda blue?
Add in the daytime Ama Bag from one of my favorite female-owned, domestically produced lines, and you’ve got a near-perfect work or lunch-out look.
Another item that would get a lot of mileage in my home – I’d use this wicker tray at my coffee station or to bring hors d’oeuvres out to the porch – and I love the pop of red.
Never enough wovens; I love the wide brimmed Jeannette hat from my dear and incredibly talented friend Gigi Burris.
My mom recently linked me to this Lisa Corti ottoman, and now I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s a gorgeous way to bring all these vibrant summer hues to your home, not to mention being an extremely versatile piece.
13. I adore this whole look from Róhe Frames. The textured anorak gives nostalgic New England vibes, while still looking completely modern in optic white, and I can imagine dressing this up (with a High Sport pencil skirt) or down (with khaki shorts; these if money is no object) endlessly.
14. Pair it with these comfy yet refined (I’m into the heel) woven mules from Bembien. Sis just ordered these, and I know she’ll wear them all summer.
15. We made this adjustable necklace in super limited quantities because it features vintage resin components, and it has since sold out on our site - get it before it’s gone.
16. For anyone feeling adventurous, double up on necklaces. The adjustable necklace (above) is so cool with this creamy resin collar (we’re sold out of this too, but a few retailers have it) and will pack a punch.
17. I love pairing red and blue, and am very into this little striped scarf in this cool palette. I’d wear it as a neck scarf and layer both of the necklaces above on top of it. Trust me on this one.
18. A pretty perfect nylon bag (giving old Prada) to top it all off.
19. Another woven shoe option with your white anorak outfit: I’m obsessed with these sandals from Spanish brand Hereu Studio. There’s something about red on the feet that I find so compelling.
20. Recently I’ve been gravitating towards narrow skirt silhouettes. I own them from Tibi, High Sport, and Diarte, and think they work on me because I can pull them up high (giving the illusion of longer legs), and wear them with flats (key for my constant running around). I’m very into this one from Rachel Comey.
21. It would look so pretty with an oversized, Italian cotton shirt from Chava Studios. If you’re not familiar, this brand can tailor items to your measurements and monogram pieces. I love their personal and artisanal approach.
22. I call it “vacation buttons” when you unbutton one more than you typically would, and I fully support that look here with this pastel pink bralette peeking out.
23. Wear these small drops in your ears to call back to the peek of pink.
24. This whole palette reminds me of Kitchen In Bloom, a gorgeous original acrylic by Natalia Bagniewska, who I discovered through Jill Singer’s excellent guide to buying art.
25. And a slightly more cost-effective way to bring these pink and marigold hues indoors: this handmade, minimalist Ikebana vase, which looks so good with a single orange stem.
26. Okay, here is a dress that begs to be danced in. I have a similar black and white tasseled one from Simon Miller (the fabric is so stretchy and flattering), and just thinking about it makes me want a red lip, good music, and a gin gimlet.
27. Accessorize your raffia fringe with my favorite chrysoprase gumball necklace and the Nautilus Studs with a coordinating hint of turquoise.
28. For anyone who believes more is more (like I do), consider this epic, vintage Robert Lee Morris brooch in oxidized green brass.
29. This is a look that could start at an afternoon soiree and take you late into the evening. Before the sun sets, pair it with these statement sunglasses from Cutler and Gross.
30. And if by chance you’re attending a pool party in it, make sure you have a towel that looks as chic as you do, and a roomy, cool-girl bag to tote all your things.
Okay, enjoy the weekend!
xx,
Lizzie
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