On Repeat In July
A staple travel tote, the one good air dry product, and my dream hair/makeup team
Shitters! July came and went in a blur of travel, friends, and World Cup matches (is anyone else having major WC withdrawal?!). Usually this is a sleepier time of year for me when it comes to shopping/ browsing, but I do have a few things I loved, relied on, and reached for that felt worth sharing!
My Dream Headshot Team! I was VERY overdue on new headshots (we’re talking 7+ years), and I decided that if I was going to get new ones taken, I wanted to work with people I was really excited about. There was only one photographer on my list—McGuire McManus. Her work is gorgeous, and she made it SO easy to get comfortable in front of the camera (especially if you’re like me and have zero clue what to do). Reagan Baker does the best blowout in town, so stopping by her salon beforehand was a no brainer. And the incredible Lila Childs did my makeup—I’ve truly never been happier with it. This was not technically “on repeat,” but if you’re in the market for any of the above (hair, makeup, photos), I couldn’t recommend them more!
The Only Air Dry Product Worth Buying (PRIYANKA15): I’ve been burned by MANY a product that promised an effortlessly perfect air dry, but left my hair looking worse than when I started. This is the first product that has EVER actually worked for me (someone with lots of fine-ish, naturally wavy/ frizzy hair). It’s a super lightweight mousse that you scrunch into your hair post-shower, and from there you can either let it dry or go in with a hot tool (it has built in heat protectant too). I went the air dry route with admittedly low expectations, but to my surprise, the next morning I woke up with perfectly soft waves—no frizz to be found! I have since repeated the process multiple times and can confirm it’s a winner. I love my blow dry brush (currently on sale here if you haven’t tried), but sometimes, especially this time of year, I just want to be LAZY. This lets me do that without paying the price of half a week of bad hair days.
The Perfect Travel Tote: This is quite literally THE perfect travel tote. I held out on buying it for ages, thinking I had more than enough tote-style bags already, but WOW do I regret waiting! It’s roomy, but thoughtfully organized with so many pockets and compartments to keep everything in place and easy to locate, which is my number one complaint about other large bags. When you’re carting your life around in an airport, everything doesn’t get all jumbled together, and when you rummage through your stuff you can actually find what you need without having to unpack half of it in a frazzled mess. Bonus points for the waterproof material (easy to clean/not something you’ll feel precious about keeping off the floor of a plane), and the sleeve on the back that fits perfectly over your luggage. 15/10, perfect gift or treat yourself purchase for a frequent flier (or regular pool/beach-goer, mom in need of a good diaper bag, etc, etc.).
Easy Oversized Button Up: I wore this set on a bachelorette trip to Nantucket a few weeks ago and two of my friends ordered it on the spot (do we think the No Influencers sign was about me?!?!). It’s a great color combo, and an easy/unfussy piece you can throw on and look put together in. (Eagle-eyed readers will remember this first caught my eye back in May, congrats to everyone else who scored it then!) The matching shorts are out of stock, but mine shrunk a lot in the wash anyways (rookie mistake), so I mostly wear the top paired with denim, open over swim/white tanks, etc.
Summer Sweats: Keeping with the burgundy theme! I’ve written about emotional support sweatshirts before (these from The Great are the perfect summer weight for cooler evenings), but these FreeCitys are without a doubt my emotional support sweatpants. While I mostly opt for neutrals in my day-to-day clothing, I LOVE a good FreeCity color. They’re just fun! And cozy without being fleecy/or too hot for summer or to wear to sleep. New colors sell out quickly, but restock notifications tend to come through. They shrink a little in the wash and I prefer them to be longer, so I size up to a medium.
Over-The-Door Organization: This isn’t a flashy purchase, but it’s made a big difference in my day-to-day life. In anticipation of my new arrival next month, I finally got all of my cleaning products out of the cabinet under my sink/floor of my laundry closet and into this easy organizer. While it was meant to be kitten-proofing, the real benefit has been visible organization. Instead of things being shoved under the sink and in various spots, they’re now in one place and I can see, reach, and use them easily. The only person who loves it more than I do is my cleaning lady!
The World’s Best One Piece (again!): You’ve heard me talk about these swimsuits nonstop, but it continues to be the first one I reach for every weekend (even over my usual Hunza G’s). I love the straight neckline, the fabric really is so soft and comfortable, and similar to the Hunza’s, they hold you in, but they’re less heavy/thick, so they’re better for hot days. They also have a tall version too for our longer-torso friends!
Poolside SPF: This was a highlight of our SPF testing earlier this month. So much so that it’s earned a permanent spot in my beach bag this summer. It’s just SO easy. You apply it onto your face from the stick, no rubbing required. It’s not greasy, doesn’t have white cast, works over makeup, fits easily in your purse—you really couldn’t ask for better protection on-the-go!
Summer PJs: I’m usually pretty particular about lounge clothes vs. actual PJs, but these straddle the line for me. I’ll wear the pants with regular t-shirts after work or for lowkey nights in with friends, the cardigan open over a tank while working from home, or the set all together to go to sleep. It’s light enough to keep me cool and comfy, even on hot summer nights, and makes me feel cute, which I’ll never say no to!
Simple Brush Cleaner: And last but not least! My makeup brushes were in DESPERATE need of a clean (whose aren’t?), which reminded me that this + hot water is easy, inexpensive, and does the trick every single time.
