This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Somewhere down the road, the steamy season got a rep for being lazy and hazy — which is not really a bad thing — but this time around, summer is going to be somuch more. And up ahead, we’ve got 29 reasons to prove it.
We’ve created the ultimate checklist of what to buy, what to do, and what to absolutely not miss before fall creeps in once again. Sure, we can’t promise summer ’13 will bring you perfect weather or a dreamy fling, but this list is filled with guaranteed hits. Read on, and then get to checkin’.
The Royal Bundle Of Joy — It’s kind of like the royal wedding all over again, except instead of waking up at 5 a.m. to watch the bride make her entrance in McQueen, you’ll be on steady baby-watch alert for when Kate and William officially become a trio. Even though most of us will never step a foot near the royal bassinet, we’ll all merrily toast to him or her with aroyal baby cocktail, while giving ourselves a royal mani/pedi, and squeeing over all the adorable royal onesies.
Photo: Tim Rooke/ Rex USA
Culottes 2.0 — They’re back, they’re better, and they’ll look awesome with your favorite summer wedges.
ASOS Culottes In Geo Print, $41.58, available at ASOS.
Go Low, Low Maintenance — We don’t typically like to spend too much time primping in front of the mirror, especially when the temps are averaging around 95. Supergoop, thankfully, has come to our rescue with a product that is totally swipe on and go. This new formula acts as a primer, foundation, and evens skin tone. Plus, it helps minimize pores and fine lines. Your makeup bag just got so much lighter.
Supergoop SPF 35 Daily Correct CC Cream, $32, available at SkinStore.com.
Mrs. Carter Takes Over — After painstakingly chasing down the hottest tickets of the summer, now’s the time to cash in. Let the hair flipping, booty shaking, singings/screaming/crying commerce — it’s gonna be a magical night. (P.S. We hear there are still tickets on sale at SeatGeek, but as expected, not for much longer.)
Photo: Courtesy of The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour
All The Gay Marriages — We can think of no better way to celebrate the overturn of DOMA than with a summer of love and marriage. Just be sure to bring the tissues when they finally announce your friends husband and husband or wife and wife.
Photographed by Winnie Au
Getting Our Flick Fix — We laugh, we cry, we snack while we escape the harsh sunlight for a few hours: It’s all a part of the summer-movie experience. And, this year, we’ll also be thoroughly entertained by the lineup of could-be hits from some of our favorite talents in Hollywood, including Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine (released July 26); Kristen Wiig and Annette Bening side by side in Girl Most Likely (July 19); Amanda Seyfried as Linda Lovelace in the biopic Lovelace (August 9); and Lake Bell-directed and starred-in In A World…(September 13).
Photo: Courtesy of Sony Classic Pictures
Be Beach-Ready ALWAYS — Okay, maybe a bikini top is not appropriate for, say, the office, but your swimwear actually makes a great layering piece — whether or not it’s a beach day. Go bold and mix your two-piece with high-waisted shorts, or slip your one-piece under a flowy maxi-skirt or semi-sheer dress. And, if you suddenly have the urge to take a dip, nothing will stand in your way.
Photo: Courtesy of Net-A-Porter
Your Drinks Have Never Looked So Pretty — Yes, we do judge a cocktail by its cover appearance. And, that’s why all our favorite libations look even more delicious in the summer months when accompanied by fresh seasonal fruit. It’s no longer a mojito; it’s a watermelon mojito. It’s not a gin spritzer; it’s ablackberry gin spritzer. And frankly, booze is not even booze — it’s a boozy popsicle.
Photo: Courtesy of A Beautiful Mess
Putting On A Spec-tacle — Shades are not just about safety and comfort (although, that’s definitely important). The most wonderful ones are an extension of your style, so we say: Go for it. Pick a statement-making pair that truly feels special — better yet, pick a few. What else are you going to do with more hours of sunlight?
Thierry Lasry Therapy Sunglasses, $395, available at Steven Alan.
The NYC Mayoral Race — Sure, it’s technically a New York thing, but this year’s mayoral race is one that could go down in history. Will Anthony Weiner be able to triumph despite his scandalous past? Will Christine Quinn become the Big Apple’s first female and openly gay mayor? Or, could Bill Thompson swoop in to crush the competition? Either way, we’ll all be watching closely as this race goes down in history.
Photo: Courtesy of NYC Council
Embrace The Ugly — No, we don’t want to walk around all season in a sky-high wedge or flimsy flip-flop. We want a shoe with substance, with character, and that’s truly sensible for carrying us through the summer. Thankfully, the chic and smart option not only exists, but is being widely embraced — by us, included. Some may equate sensibility with “ugly,” but we believe it’s truly a thing of beauty (and we’re pretty sure our feet would agree).
Riudavets sandals, $120, available at Riudavets USA.
Your New Summer Anthem — Need a jam that will keep you head bopping until September? U.K. duo AlunaGeorge‘sBody Music drops on July 29 with plenty of hits, like “You Know You Like It” and “Attracting Flies,” which are a must for all summer-party playlists.
Photo: Courtesy of AlunaGeorge
It’s Turban Time — Down with the bad-hair day! This summer is all about an amazing accessory that means you’ll never have to deal with your limp or frizzed-out tresses in the humidity. We’re ready to try on a seriously chic turban that adds an extra punch of print to any outfit. And, it’s as easy as one, two, three.Promise.
Photographed by Winnie Au
Museum Exhibits Worth A Road Trip —You may have to travel outside your city or state to see some of the coolest exhibitions, but if there was ever a time for a good, old-fashion road trip, this would be your green light (so to speak). Gas up the car, stock up on snacks, invite a friend who won’t mind sharing the miles, and find a little inspiration inside the walls of a beautiful building.
Some of our dream destinations include James Turrell, at The Guggenheim, New York; Helmut Newton: White Women, Sleepless Nights, Big Nudes, at Annenberg Space For Photography, L.A.;Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion, at the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle; and if your travels take you oversees, Behind the Seams. An Indiscreet Look At The Mechanics Of Fashion, at Les Arts Decoratifs, Paris.
Photo: Courtesy of The Guggenheim
Stay Smooth, Never Slimy — The last thing we want to do is slather on a greasy lotion, but a dry oil spray, like this new iteration from Moroccan Oil, is the perfect seasonal solution. It’s a spray-on formula that hydrates, but won’t make your sun-kissed legs feel like they’re ready for the frying pan.
Moroccan Oil Dry Body Oil, $38, available at Moroccan Oil.
Plaid, Re-imagined — The classic, uniform print was quite popular on the fall runway, but plaid’s taking on a whole new look right now. It’s one that’s light, airy, sheer, and in a range of much more colors. It’s kind of like an awesome back-to-school trend. Without the actual school.
Photo: Courtesy of Forward by Elyse Walker
The Most Fun Dates Are The Free Ones — By now, practically every city has some sort of free outdoor movie schedule for the summer. Picture it: the big screen, under the stars, watching a classic, and possibly with a special someone. It’s like your hometown knows you need to find the perfect date on the cheap. And to that, we say thank you. Check out some of these events in your ‘hood.
New York
SummerScreen, in McCarren Park Williamsburg
Syfy Movies with a View, at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
Flicks on the Beach, at Coney Island
Riverflicks for Grown-Ups, at Pier 63
Intrepid’s Summer Movie Series, at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum Complex
Chicago
Movies in the Parks, 195 screenings in 150 citywide parks
Los Angeles
Movies on the Green
L.A. River Bike-In Movie, at Marsh Park
Moonlight Movies on the Beach, Long Beach
San Francisco
Wind Down with Wine and Movie, at the Top of the Mark (and, complimentary wine tasting!)
Movies on the Square, at Courthouse Square
Film Night in the Park, at various locations
D.C.
Screen on the Green, at the National Mall
Drive-In movies, at Union Market
Capitol Riverfront Summer Outdoor Movies, at Canal Park
Photographed by Julienne Schaer/Brooklyn Bridge Park
Your Summer Memories, In Motion! —Photos of your beach blanket and dripping ice cream cone were so last year. This time around, summer will be all about the moving memory. We’re talking Vine and the recently launched Instagram video. It’s not enough to see the a snap of sunset off the coast; we want to watch the waves crash from where you stand. Good times will be immortalized in a whole new way for summer ’13. Well, at least six to 15 seconds of them.
Photo: Courtesy of Refinery29 Instagram
Free At Last…Our Toes, That Is —You’ve already stepped up your summer-sandal game, but if you haven’t embraced the brightest, most playful summer nail colors, then you’re just plain missing out. Give yourself 10 reasons to look down and smile with a pedicure that makes a sunny statement.
Nars Madness, $19, available at Nordstrom.
It’s On, U.S. Open — Even if you don’t catch up with tennis on the regular, theU.S. Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium is thetime to watch, if not attend in person. The matches don’t kick off until August 26, and while a lot can happen between that time, we anticipate a dramatic Open.
The Williams sisters always provide plenty of action (and often, a few cool nail-art designs and ‘dos), but this year sees Venus recovering from a back injury and Serena, last year’s champion, was just defeated by Sabine Lisicki at Wimbledon. Maria Sharapova will likely go head-to-head will Serena again; and we have a feeling that she’s looking to officiallyrecover from her loss to the Williams sister at the French Open.
On the men’s side, Roger Federer is always one to watch, and it’s likely that Novak Djokovic has his sights set on #1 again, after cinching the Australian Open earlier this year.
Photo: Tim Clayton
The Big (Ad) Reveal — The September issues are just so damn pretty. And that’s thanks in part to the new crop of dreamy, drop-dead gorgeous ad campaigns making their debut right now. So far, we’re loving this season’s Givenchy campaign with mother and daughter Carine Roitfeld and Julia Restoin Roitfeld, a feathery Mulberrycampaign fronted by Cara Delevingne, and the supermodel-filled Prada campaign — all of which we can’t wait to see in their glossy glory.
Photo: Courtesy of Prada
Putting Guacamole On Everything —Please don’t judge us — we really mean EVERYTHING. Not only are avocados delicious and a source of healthy fat, but according to a UCLA study, adding some avocado to your summer hamburger can even help reduce inflammation that usually occurs when eating a burger without avocado. In addition, the avocado may help with proper artery blood flow, which can be otherwise restricted after eating a hamburger. Hear that? It’s science saying bring on the BBQs! And, don’t forget the guac.
Photographed by Erin Phraner
Marc By Marc Jacobs By Luella By Katie — Between two namesake labels and Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs is one of Fashion Month’s most famous workaholics. But since he welcomedLuella Bartley and Katie Hillier to his Marc by Marc Jacobs team as design director and creative director, respectively, we’ll get to see a fresh, rejuvenated Marc by Marc when the collection debuts at Fashion Week. Not to mention, we’ll finally see how Luella gets her groove back.
Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
DIY Projects Without The Awkward Camps Tees — Relive the days of summer camp with more gown-up, and frankly, more productive DIY projects. Spruce up your pad with an urban garden, revamp your closet with a set ofcutoff shorts, or perhaps take on feats ofepic proportions.
Photographed by Erin Yamagata
Orange Is The New Black — While we seek refuge from the heat, we’ll be snuggling inside by the AC watchingOrange Is The New Black all summer — aNetflix adaptation of the Piper Kerman’sOrange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison. (That and, of course,Arrested Development, if you’ve not caught up yet.)
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
Man Repelling, Now In Print Form —Leandra Medine’s Man Repeller: Seeking Love. Finding Overalls. releases on September 10, giving us all a reason to add one more tome to our (late) summer reading list. What to expect? We’re guessing nothing but straight-up candid accounts from Medine and amazing style that’s far from repelling to us.
Man Repeller: Seeking Love. Finding Overalls. by Leandra Medine, $16.98, available for pre-order at Amazon.
Getting Back On That Horse, Erm, Bike — No more excuses. We’re not letting one more season get away from us without getting back on that two-wheeler and fully taking advantage of cycling to work, to the weekend flea, to the country…wherever the summer leads us. Channel Brigitte Bardot on your cutest set of wheels — just don’t forget a helmet, please!
Papillionire Sommer Maya 3, $629, available at R29 Shops.
Phillip Lim Releases (& Soon Sells Out) At Target — Think of it as the best end-of-summer-present ever when the designs of 3.1 Phillip Lim finally become available in the same store where you pick up your laundry detergent and cereal. The collection officially launches on September 15, but we’re hoping for a full peek at the goods much sooner.
Photo: Courtesy of 3.1 Phillip Lim
The New R29 — Sorry everyone, this summer treat is still our little secret. We’re only spilling a few details right now, but don’t worry: You won’t have to wait much longer to find out what we’ve been hiding up our sleeves. The new Refinery29 arrives this month.
Illustrated by Ammiel Mendoza
Click HERE to read more from Refinery29.
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