5 Editors, 40 Hot Summer Must-Haves

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Every year around this time, we unpack those go-to summertime items we’ve kept stored away. But somehow, those standbys can’t compete with the allure of the newest buys, coolest gadgets, and downright prettiest must-haves that give our closets a well-deserved seasonal pick-me-up. 

And this year, well, the goods are even more irresistible than a fro-yo in the middle of a heat wave. Tempted yet? Just scroll ahead for summer’s hottest ticket items, according to us.

1

Christene Barberich, editor-in-chief

Mary Katrantzou Ziggy Printed Silk-Habotai Dress — “Don’t look at the price…just keep your eyes on the DRESS…this is THE ONE for all times, forever and ever. Amen.”
$9,255, available at Net-A-Porter

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color In Hot Raspberry — “Even when it’s hot (like REALLY hot), I never forgo my bold lip, which is why I love Bobbi Brown’s ultra-moisturizing sheer formula, which delivers gorgeous color with some serious shine. And, this hot-pink shade is definitely my lips’ summer staple.”
$25, available at Macy’s. 

Zara Metallic Sandals With Rhinestones — “Hello, my name is Christene, and I shop at Zara…a lot. In fact, I just bought these jeweled gems, and much to my delight, they are actually comfortable. My advice to everyone is buy these while you can and partake of the party on my feet going on Right This Instant.”
$79.90, available at Zara

John Masters Organics Moroccan Clay Purifying Mask — “For some reason, my skin likes to act up during the warmer months (probably all that sunscreen and sweating). But this easy, green mask not only soothes and detoxifies, but it makes my skin look like I’ve been on a weekend spa trip — clean, bright, and very well-rested.”
$30, available at Dermstore.

2

Peter Sutherland, “Dog Years,” Archival Inkjet Print On Canvas — “I want to put these huge, hypnotizing, make-me-wanna-cry blue eyes somewhere in my house immediately.”
$75, available at R29 Shops.

NOCS NS2-009US NS2 Air Monitors — “I’m overhauling my whole stereo system and have become obsessed with these new NS2 Air Monitors by the Swedish company NOCS. They can sync with any iOS device, and the sound is WAY bigger and better than anything you’d imagine from these funky little cubes.”
$449, available at Amazon. 

Clare Vivier Canvas Striped Tote — “I just want to use this all summer long, day or night, workday or weekend…it’s just so good.”
$276, available at Clare Vivier

Urban Outfitters Geo Stud Earring Set — “Confession: I’ve been wanting to get the top part of my right ear pierced for, like, five years. This set might just push me over the edge…though, I’m still scared it’s going to hurt like hell.”
$12, available at Urban Outfitters. 

Juice Press Love At First Sight — “I am embarrassed that I spend almost $11 on a beverage…often. But there you go…it just happens to be the best-tasting green juice I’ve ever had, and I truly believe the moment I drink it, something good happens. At least, that’s what I tell myself.”
$10.99, available at Juice Press.

3

Neha Gandhi, deputy editor

Elaine ShowalterThe Vintage Book of American Women Writers — “I took a class on the American short story with Elaine Showalter in college, and it was amazing. She’s brilliant and hilarious (fun fact: Her son is the Showalter behind Wet, Hot, American Summer) and really understands the entire landscape of women in American fiction. Going through her curated picks of the women who count is exactly how I want to spend this summer.”
$14.70, available at Amazon. 

Mulberry Small Clipper — “I take the same teeny-tiny, child-sized rollerbag with me on all trips under a week. And it’s starting to look a little beat-up. I think this wedding season, I’m going to do my weekend traveling with an upgraded bag. This one isn’t cheap, but the leather is so buttery soft, it might just entice me to pack a little earlier than the morning of my flight (wishful shopping?).” 
$1879.37, available at Mulberry

Dolce & Gabbana Crayon Intense Eyeliner in #8 Blue — “When the weather warms up, I essentially give up on makeup, but when I don’t line my eyes, I end up getting a lot of ‘Oh, are you sick today?’ which is generally upsetting. So, I’ve started using a smudge of navy liner instead of black for summer. It feels softer, but still does the trick. And this shade of crayon is the absolute perfect shade of dark, deep blue.”
$30, available at Saks Fifth Avenue. 

Stella McCartney Fine-knit wool jumpsuit — “I’m so reliant on boring neutrals in my day to day that I have to make myself buy at least two intensely bright or printed pieces each season. This certainly checks the bright box, and I think this shade of pink pops nicely against my skin. Plus, the narrower, slightly cropped pants mean it’s a lot more flattering than the average jumpsuit.”
$449.94, available at The Outnet.

4

Sea Trimmed T-Shirt Dress — “I love this dress because it’s simple and easy, but the black trim adds a little something extra to it (anyone else think those little lines across the front look like they’re winking at you?). Plus, it doesn’t touch my body, which is hugely important, especially in the summer, when everything is so sticky and gross.” 
$267.40, available at Shopbop. 

Philips Hue 3-Bulb Starter Pack — “So, I’m a little obsessed with lighting, and just recently bought some new lamps that are beautiful. But ever since I found out about these guys, I’ve felt a touch disappointed with my current setup. Basically, you can control these bulbs with your iPhone and set them up to replicate the feel of the light from pictures you love — and most importantly, get them to do that natural morning light thing that slowly wakes you up, rather than jarring yourself awake with an alarm.”
$199.95, available at Apple. 

J.Crew 3″ Chino Short In Roller Girl — “One of my favorite things about summer is J.Crew shorts. I own an obscene number of them in a range of prints and solids, but I just can’t keep myself from buying at least one new pair each season. 
$54.50, available at J.Crew

Marni Patent-Leather Sandals — “I’m mostly a flats girl, but in the summer, all that walking in sandals with no heels ends up killing my feet. So, I’m in the market for a perfect sandal that will let me change it up a little bit. This one’s the front-runner, partially because it looks wearable and can function as a neutral, and partially because that gold heel feels reallyfun.”
$516.60, available at Net-A-Porter.

5

Connie Wang, senior global editor

Sorelle Kate Hoops — “These gold hoops are dainty but definitely not precious. I love how they manage to be simple and ostentatious at the same time.”
$50, available at Opening Ceremony. 

Aldo Wanette Shoe — “I know it’s cheating since I already own these shoes, but I love them so much I’d buy them twice. Besides being a really awesome ’90s throwback, they’re ultra light, super-comfortable, and wipe clean (I wore them all weekend long at Coachella and they still look brand-new — how’s that for a testament?).”
$110, available at Aldo.

H&M Bikini — “On a recent trip to Rio, I overcame my fear of teeny-weenie bottoms…this H&M bikini with all those teeny-weeny palm tree pendants is the perfect suit to celebrate my newfound confidence. Viva!”
Bikini Top, $19.95, available at H&M; Bikini Bottoms, $4.95, available at H&M

Josie Maran Argan Lip Gloss — “It doesn’t matter how humid it is or how much water I’ve had to drink. My lips are always chapped, 365 days of the year. This argon lipgloss from Josie Maran provides a really delicious sheen (while helping me stay moisturized), and I won’t feel too bad if most of it ends up getting licked off.”
$16, available at Sephora.

6

Brook&Lyn Woven Tapestry — “I’m moving into my very first Big Girl apartment this month, and I’m finally slowly upgrading all my starter furniture and artwork. As for my first piece of art, I’m definitely splurging on a woven tapestry made by the super-talented Mimi Jung of Brook & Lyn.”
price upon request, available at Brook&Lyn.

Muji Gel-Ink 0.38 Ballpoint Pen — “I have this weird obsession with finding the perfect gel-ink pens, and these Muji ones are the closest the world has come to perfection. The .38 ballpoint head is so unbelievably, amazingly thin, and the gel ink is dark, flows well, and never bleeds. Plus, it comes in 10 different colors so my notebook can now be even more annoyingly organized than it already is.”
$1.50, available at Muji. 

Kenzo Patterned Shoulder Bag — “For all the money I’ve saved in the past by only using free tote bags, I feel justified in spending a good chunk of change for this Kenzo shoulder bag. It’s roomy, structured, with just the right amount of pizzazz (read: a lot of pizzazz).”
$1,425, available at SSense. 

Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation — “I’m on my iPhone from the second I get up in the morning to right when I crash at night, and between my 1,000+ emails a day, apps, and camera, I can go through a 100% charge in a couple hours. This Mophie external battery is a great backup for days I can’t get to a charger.” 
$79.95, available at Mophie.

7

Lisa Dionisio, production editor

CB2 TPS Mint File Cabinet — “With our company moving to a new office next week, it’s the perfect motivation for me to get organized at home, too. I love the mint color of this filing cabinet. It’s so much fun, but still means business.”
$159, available at CB2. 

Madewell Zip Pouch In Pearl Ivory — “I love the print of this pouch. It can double as a cute summer clutch, or for me, the ideal stash-and-go bag.”
$26.50, available at Madewell. 

Soludos Dali Espadrilles In Peach — “Slip-on shoes are a godsend. And these espadrilles will be on heavy rotation in my summer wardrobe, protecting my feet from all the city-sidewalk grit.”
$28, available at Soludos

Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment — “Connie got me addicted to Fresh Sugar Lip balm many moons ago, and now it comes in a new glossy, shiny formula I can’t wait to try.”
$18.50, available at Sephora.

8

Rachel Antonoff Miriam Printed Silk Dress — “Rachel Antonoff creates dresses that are the perfect balance between sophisticated and flirty. This aerial print is so eye-catching. I can see myself wearing it at parties and at the office.”
$460, available at Revolve Clothing. 

Netflix Subscription — “Yep, I might be the only one who doesn’t have a Netflix subscription. And with the launch of the newArrested Development season and must-watch shows like House Of Cards, I think this will be my summer guilty pleasure.”
$7.99, available at Netflix. 

John Derian Melamine Faience Slice Charger Plate — “Right now, my dinnerware is a mishmash of cheap plates and family cast-offs. Not only is this melamine plate shatterproof, it’s grown-up and major eye candy, as well.”
$16.50, available at John Derian. 

J.Crew Biennial Medium Satchel In Stripe — “I love the classic shape and color of this satchel, but it still has that fun, quirky twist that keeps it from boring-bag territory.”
$295, available at J.Crew.

9

Willow Lindley, assistant fashion editor 

Illesteva Murdroch II Stripes — “I’ve been obsessed with these striped wonders since I first laid my eyes on them. Classic and contemporary, these are the ultimate summer accessory.”
$230, available at Illesteva

Zimmermann Allure Peplum 1 Piece — “I’ve never been much of a one-piece girl, but Zimmermann has me convinced this season. I’m seriously in love with this pattern.”
$330, available at Zimmermann. 

Cole Haan x Jen & Oli T-Strap Lo Sandal — “These shiny, black Jen and Oli for Cole Haan sandals take me back to my ’90s youth and the era of jellies. With their patent leather and little block heel, however, these shoes are seriously sharp and will look great no matter where you take them, making them the best option to throw in your weekender.” 
$248, available at Cole Haan

FujiFilm Instax Mini 8 Camera — “This new little instant film camera harkens back to the days of Polaroids, and being able to snap and share pictures with friends, sans the iPhone (which is not always best at the beach).”
$68.90, available at Adorama.

10

Uniqlo Women Print Legging Pant — “I can’t rave about these pants enough. They look like trousers, feel like leggings, and let me indulge in my summer gingham obsession.”
$12.90, available at Unilqlo

Annelise Michelson Thorny Ring — “I’m all about stacked silver rings this summer, and this silver ring from French designer Annalise Michelson reminds me of a crown from Where the Wild Things Are. I want to get a few in different sizes and where them staggered on my fingers all summer long.”
$226, available at Annelise Michelson. 

Labello Fruity Shine in Pomegranate — “This lip balm gives me the prettiest sunkissed look while hydrating and protecting my lips with SPF. Day or night, this is my go-to summer beauty product.”
$7.25, available at Amazon. 

Everlane Snap Backpack — “From walking everywhere in the summer to weekend getaways, this backpack is the perfect new purse and weekender to keep me ready for any call to adventure.”
$65, available at Everlane.

By Us

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