Rachel Shoshanna

I’m going to start off this post with perhaps the most important favorite of The Blogger for this summer is YouTube - I’m finally following through with my desire to make videos, and so far I’m six for six on my goal of one video every Sunday! I’m really proud of myself, and even though the equipment I have available to me is limited, I’m having a lot of fun stretching a more technical part of my brain with the editing involved. Please go check out my most recent video and give me some views!

This consistent YouTubing also means I’m making some changes to the content on here - I’m going to make this blog solely a lifestyle blog. That means books, books, tv/movies, music, and such will be what you see here. Favorites will also probably be here as well, though I may do videos for that every once in a while. My YouTube will host exclusively beauty and fashion content, so if that’s what you’re looking for a highly recommend subscribing to stay updated! Now without further ado, here are my favorites from this past summer.

FASHION

If you watched the video, you should have figured out that chambray shirts, specifically this one from Old Navy, have been my jam this summer. I’ve also been living in these sandals from Old Navy. Maybe I should just say that Old Navy is one of my summer favorites.

I can probably count the number of times I’ve worn a real bra this summer on one hand. I’ve definitely been favoring bralettes in this hot weather, and this one from free people is by far my favorite one.

BEAUTY
I’ve been sticking with really minimal makeup this summer for the most part, so I’ve been using my bareMinerals Tinted Gel Complexion Rescue in the shade birch and the L’Oreal Lumi Glotion in the shade light religiously all summer. And when I feel like experimenting with my eye looks, I’ve pretty much exclusively used my Ace Beaute Paradise Collection palettes - I specifically have Classical Paradise and Paradise Fallen. Also, basically the only blushes I’ve used this summer are the bareMinerals Gen Nude Blush in That Peach Tho and the Burt’s Bees blush in Shy Pink.

I’ve also been loving a really bright pop of color - whether it’s in my clothing (similar to the one I have) or my lips. It elevates a look in two seconds and gives any outfit a bit of attitude.

BOOKS/TV/MOVIES

I read The Husband’s Secret, by Liane Moriarty, earlier this summer, and I loved it. The epilogue was one of the best things I’ve ever read in contemporary fiction. I also read the first book in the Darker Shade of Magic series, by V.E. Schwab, and it’s one of the coolest, most original fantasy series I’ve read in a while. It took me a second to get into it, just because it moved kind of slowly, but it picks up and the ending managed to completely surprise me.

All I’ve got to say as far as TV goes is Degrassi. I didn’t watch it back in the day when it originally aired, so I’ve been binging it for the last week and it’s honestly the best decision I’ve ever made.

A lot of great movies have come out this summer, but one of my favorites was Sorry To Bother You, the directorial debut of Boots Riley. I also had a blast at Ocean’s 8 and Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again.

LIFESTYLE

I started working out again this summer, and I’ve been feeling strong so that’s definitely a favorite. For days when I either don’t have the time or the energy to go to my gym, I’ve been loving the at-home, equipment-free workouts that are abundant on YouTube.

Some of my college friends and I do trivia basically every Wednesday, which is a great time and often the highlight of my week - we go to Amity Hall on the UWS, which in addition to having fun trivia nights, has great food and great drinks to enjoy with friends as well.

I’ve also been exploring New York City a lot more, and found some new neighborhoods that are really fun to walk around and find cool historical things - my favorites so far are Tribeca and the Lower East Side.

I’m going to end this favorites list here, before it gets too long. I hope you found some cool recommendations! Until next time 😁

Living in NYC, it’s imperative that you find ways to stay cool in the summer - the humidity here could knock out the strongest woman. Lightweight fabrics and as little material as possible without feeling overexposed (for me, at least - you do you!) are key for me feeling comfortable, even when I feel sticky as hell. Here’s a peek at the pieces in my wardrobe that I love for those hot summer days.

1. Rompers

Rompers are a really useful piece of clothing when you have thick thighs like me - there’s not too much tight fabric making you hot, but you’ve still got that barrier between your legs to keep them from rubbing too bad. These are all of the ones I have, and I love them all, but I’ve especially been loving the middle white one from free people this summer.

2. Chambray

Chambray is commonly mistaken for denim, which it isn’t. It’s actually usually linen or cotton, grained to look like denim, which makes it considerably more lightwight. These are three chambray shirts that I own that I’ve been loving this summer. I love it in a button down, clearly, but you can also find really nice chambray dresses, and I also love that it’s easy to make casual and dress up.

3. Flowy dresses

Despite my thick thighs, I do love wearing dresses in the summer - you just pull one thing on and you’re out the door. As long as they breathe enough, it’s probably the easiest thing you can wear during summer, minus maybe a tank and a pair of shorts. I thought I’d show my favorite (read: only) maxidress and my favorite jersey dress, just for a little variety.

4. Denim shorts/skirts

If you want to let your legs out during the summer, a good pair of jean shorts is a necessity. I actually have three pairs, all of which I love, but this one pictured has a really comfortable relaxed fit that I’ve been gravitating towards recently. A denim skirt is also a really useful thing - I love this style, with the buttons down the front, because it makes it really easy to look pulled together without looking too stuffy.

5. Crop tops

I love a good crop top. I feel like they’re flattering on pretty much everyone, and they’re also a fun way to experiment more with patterns and textiles. All of these hit me just above the belly button, which is cropped enough for me, but obviously you can go higher if you want to! I love the whimsy of the camera print one, and the lace one from Madewell is also great with a bralette underneath on super hot days.

It’s pretty obvious what colors I gravitate towards during these months. Something about blue and white, with touches of color here and there, makes me feel less weighed down, and looking at them makes me feel so chilled out - which is exactly what I need in the summer.

I hope this post gave you wardrobe ideas! Share your favorite summer pieces with me in the comments below, and don't forget to check my most recent video 😁