7 Things I'm Loving This Summer
And SIBAL staples on serious sale
Today’s issue of Shit I Bought and Liked is presented by Swap. Swap replaces static e-commerce sites with AI-led storefronts to sell directly to each specific customer. They also create (free!) insight reports on everything from tariffs and compliance to integrating AI into your business. Whether you’re a marketer, a merchant, or just want to learn more about using AI tools, I highly recommend checking out their work, especially their most recent report, Agentic Commerce 101 (I work with the Swap team on their content and wrote that one myself!). I think what they do is so innovative—thank you to Swap for supporting SIBAL! If you’d like to work together, reach out at priyanka.aribindi@gmail.com.
Shitters! I know I was just in your inboxes earlier this week, but somehow it feels like it’s been forever since I’ve sent a good old fashioned letter of favorites?! The following are my best finds/ MVPs/ most frequently used products as of late—basically, shit I love and think you all will too!
The Going Out Top
Stop what you’re doing. I’m serious. This is THE going out top. The 8pm first date at a cute little bar top. The former flame RSVPed yes on the Partiful and I thiiiink we’re both single top. The fuck it, I want to look GOOD tonight top. It has all the hallmarks—sheer but not too sheer, off the shoulder, slouchy but fitted in the right places, and is still comfortable, soft, and easy to wear. I think everyone needs one. Mine is black (duh), but there are plenty of other neutrals/colors to pick from. I tend to waffle a little with new clothing purchases, but there was zero waffling here—instant keep.
The World’s Best One Piece
I’ve tried a lot of swimwear in my life (including a recent Eres impulse order to try this nearly $500 suit that is supposedly the best on the market). This one’s better. Hands down, by FAR. The fabric is soft and comfortable (that feels bizarre to say that about swimwear, but it’s true), they’re smoothing and flattering, but not a full on compression garment, they come in a million and one styles and colors (this one is my personal favorite—the cut and neckline feel similar to the Eres—but they have other options geared towards larger cup sizes, longer torsos, pregnancy, etc.). I first discovered the brand last summer, and they were VERY popular with you all then, but I’m here to confirm that they really are the best out there. They also have an easy return/ exchange policy, which is key for swimwear. I order a size up from my usual in clothing, which is what I typically do in swim.
The Five Minute Event Face
It’s wedding season, and if there’s one thing I don’t want to do after I’ve traveled a long way and am reuniting with a bunch of long-distance friends, it’s retreat to my hotel room to spend hours getting ready. My five minute event face is simple, but it delivers. Skin prep (moisturizer + Rhode milk), underpaint (I like this concealer and this easy cream bronzer, though Rhode’s new one is even better), and buff it all in with this sheer, perfecting foundation on top (it never looks cakey, but still gives you coverage—truly a miracle foundation). Follow up with blush* (Garconne), mascara* + a touch of eyeliner*, and a lip (Overdrive), add powder + spritz this to finish and you’re golden! Five minutes might be exaggerating with waiting for things to dry/settle, but there’s no way this takes me more than 10, and it looks like an event-worthy step up from my normal routine! *PRIYANKA15 always works at Violet Grey!
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The Big Workout Tee
This sounds simple, but for the longest time I didn’t have a go-to lightweight tee that I could throw on over leggings and a sports bra for a walk, run, workout, pickleball, etc. In an ideal world, I would have an arsenal of perfect vintage t-shirts for this, but the going rate for the soft/fun ones feels mismatched for things I just want to sweat in, and the array of Comfort Colors that I do own are heavier than what I want to run/sweat in. I did a big Shopbop order recently in an attempt to remedy this, and this was my winner! Bonus points for price point and 100% cotton. (I also kept this set from Splits59—very flattering!).
Bed Accents!
I love love love my bed (outfitted in these sheets and this cotton blanket for when it gets a little too hot with the duvet), BUT I got the itch to make things a little less plain white recently. I picked up this quilt (on even better sale now) and this XL bolster pillow + insert, and the whole room feels transformed as a result! The bolster is super supportive to lean on while you read or watch TV in bed (I know TV in the bedroom is supposed to be the biggest no-no, but to me it’s one of the greatest luxuries of being an adult!). And speaking of the bedroom, I may or may not have another big addition en route as we speak…!!!!!!!
Nostalgic Notebooks
Who remembers these?! I had completely forgotten about them up until recently when I was searching for a spiral notebook that was this size and not ugly, but kept coming up short. These are obviously not spirals, but they lay flat and fold easily (the main selling point of a spiral to me), and feel vintage-y and nostalgic for those among us who grew up using them in grade/middle school (I don’t even want to know what the iPad babies are using these days). For my fellow journalers, these are a godsend. They’re so much less expensive than the “cute” notebooks out there (most of those are either overcomplicated on the inside, or cutesy in a way a 10-year-old would like), and feel chic and writerly to me!
The Most Comfortable Underwear
I’ve said it before, but these continue to be my favorite thing in my underwear drawer. So soft, so comfortable, genuinely well made and constructed (I’m not just saying that—you’ll feel the difference when you try), and 100% organic cotton. I just feel cute when I wear them! 90’s girl meets Coppertone baby vibes. Their signature light purple color is my personal favorite—it’s fun, but still light enough of a shade that you can wear it under most light colored dresses and pants. I like their thongs too, but this style has become my new favorite (these cloud cotton ones from Negative are nice too!).
SIBAL Favorites on Sale:
This is the only thing I care about on Prime Day (plus, some fresh Shopbop hearts for anyone taking advantage of the Prime discount). After years of getting us to expect Prime Day in July, shifting to June was stupid.
My go-to chic hand soap is 20% off (even with the shipping cost, it’s cheaper than anywhere else). I stock up on the refill sizes when they run sales.
I never shut up about my electric toothbrush (I’m sorry, find me another that lasts for a month on a single charge), and now it’s 20% off. It’s literally half the weight of my last one, and so much sleeker/easier to travel with.
Our favorite rugs are 15-20% off (I like this Scalamandre collab, but have yet to tire of my burgundy).
My ride or die for fighting jet lag (and whenever I just can’t fall asleep) got a price cut too.
This clean brand is my skincare (and candle!) obsession of the moment, and 20% off goes a long way (discount shows up in the cart).
And not on sale, but I finally got my hands on some Salomons (it’s generally impossible to find good colors in stock, but somehow these are in most sizes?!), and I love them. Call me the latest adopter of all time, I know.
