BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

It was a pricey couple of months here as I rounded out my summer wardrobe with a few new dresses (one necessitated by an upcoming event) and a bathing suit I was Instagram-influenced to buy. After 15 months in lockdown, though, it was well worth the splurge to get myself out of Old Navy jersey swing dresses and back into pieces that feel more like my old self.

IN THE WARDROBE
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

• Tory Burch smocked mini dress (available here and here) – I don’t know what it is about this vintage-inspired print, but I am absolutely in love with it. The dress is such a cute shape and unlike other things in my closet with those puffed sleeves. The fabric is incredibly lightweight and comfortable to wear when it’s humid outside. I went with a medium.
• Kate Spade gingham ‘al fresco’ dress – I needed something for a couple of upcoming events and this fit the bill with its sweet fit-and-flare shape. I love the gingham print that can be dressed up with black heels or flats, or take on a casual look with sneakers. I went with an 8, which is the size the True Fit calculator suggested. The smocked back makes it so that it’s forgiving, too. As a bonus, it has deep pockets!
• Old Navy linen-blend swing dress – This dress runs large, so definitely go down a size if your bust allows for it. It’s cute for those work-from-home days or for running errands, but it’s not my favorite purchase of the month.
• Andie ‘The Mykonos’ bathing suit in black – I was influenced by an Instagram ad to purchase this bathing suit and I couldn’t be happier with it. It has a good amount of compression to smooth out bumps and imperfections, the wide waistband accentuates your torso, and the deep v-neckline is both flattering and sexy – and it stays in place! I have never felt this confident in a bathing suit before. The online fit calculator suggested a large and it seems to have been spot on.
• Target maxi dress in yellow and in blue – I’ve been wearing these dresses on repeat since I purchased them. They’re just so easy to throw on with strappy sandals and a big piece of jewelry to feel effortlessly pulled together. It’s true to size.
• Target macramé belt – And for the times when I don’t want the dress above to be too shapeless, this belt fits the bill! So far it hasn’t stretched out, which was my biggest concern about macramé.
• Paravel ‘Cabana’ striped strap in shandy – I use the brand’s crossbody capsule bag a lot during the summer and picked up this strap for a sportier alternative to the leather strap it comes with. It’s wider than I expected it to be so I haven’t used it often with the purse, but I did clip it to my Away ‘Everywhere’ bag and it’s pretty perfect.
• Madewell ‘Harlow’ square-neck top – After including this in two roundups over the past month, I figured maybe I should try the gauzy shirt for myself. It’s kind of like a fancier take on a t-shirt.

AROUND THE HOUSE

• West Elm flameless tealights – I see that West Elm has increased the price for these and the other two items below back to regular price. I paid substantially less when they had a Fourth of July sale. I don’t think these are worth $20, but keep an eye out for a future sale. I like that the subtly flicker and the wax dip makes them look a bit more convincing than other faux candles. Really, I purchased these to put in these holders for candlelit dinners at home and for hosting later this year.
• West Elm mini stripe runner – I paid $15 for this, which is precisely what I think it’s worth. The pattern is versatile, but I don’t think it’s special enough to warrant the full price tag.
• West Elm mini check napkins – I liked the neutral pattern of these that will mix and match with other table linens we have.
• Vintage brass duck bookends – I mean, why wouldn’t I snag a pair of duck head bookends?!

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