Summer Style Itinerary

Every time Summer rolls around I have this burning sensation to rid myself of who I was in Winter, and rise like a phoenix as a new woman, cheeks slightly sunburnt and underarms sweating, on the brink of greatness. For me, this Summer is all about evoking a sultry Mediterranean glow, with a touch of girly romance. This is very complimentary to the general theme of my overarching style, which I would classify using three words: classic, gothic, and feminine. While staying integral to these pillars of my aesthetic, I have put together an ‘itinerary’ of style components that I’m excited to incorporate into my Summer wardrobe this year.

Bows on everything

All things ‘coquette’ have been on the rise for a while now. Ribbons, being the pinnacle of an effortlessly coquette aesthetic, evoke an antique sense of femininity without being overstated, and can change the mood of an outfit in a few seconds. They are versatile and inexpensive, and can be tied to almost anything.

1. Bow Dress from Moonkissed Collective, 2. ‘Ballerina Necklace’ from Susan Alexandra, 3. Golden Baby Bow earrings from 999 Ethereal Gems

I love that ribbons can be both dainty and gothic. Lana on the cover of Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard has been my inspiration.

Big brands and fashion houses have been adapting their products to suit this trend also:

1. Simone Rocha FW 2023, 2. Ugg Boots, 3. Chanel SS 2023 Haute Couture

Signature Summertime Fragrance

Choosing a new perfume for Summer has to be my favourite thing about welcoming the new season. Choosing a Summer fragrance is all about envisioning the version of yourself you would like to embrace this Summer. Do you want to be flirty or reserved? Are you travelling or staying home? Are you spending days strolling by lakes and pools or slumbering in the shade? Do you want something striking or something peaceful?

My signature Summer scent this year is Mason Margiela ‘On a Date’. Set in the Italian countryside, it’s a complex layering of sweet berry notes, the air of a warm sunset descending on grassy fields, and wafts of Rosé bubbles crisping and jumping in a cold champagne glass. It’s a very flirtatious scent, and would be perfect for its name’s purpose. From a distance, it leaves a very light, lingering sweetness to the skin, but if you were to catch it while in a hug, it has a distinct heaviness that makes you want to get closer to the wearer.

If you are looking for a more subtle Summer fragrance, I would recommend Cleopatra by Tocca, which is a soft musky scent reminiscent of sweeping sand dunes, tanned skin and breezy starry nights. I find that Tocca fragrances blend out to a really smooth, wispy perfume that absorbs really effortlessly into the skin. They can also be layered really nicely with other Tocca perfumes, or completely different brands.

My favourite performer specifically for nights out in Summer is definitely Chanel Mademoisselle. Honestly, you could get the toilette of this product and still be distinctly recognised for your smell from miles away. It’s dense, but not quite as powerful as no. 5, and it has a sweet tang to it that really makes you smell expensive. Every time I wear it I am complemented by it. It also lingers on clothes after they’ve been washed, and I’ve noticed when the smell starts to fade for yourself, it is still really strong to others. Because it’s so strong, you only need a spray or two and it will conceal your less desirable Summer smells (sweat, alcohol, etc), so for this reason it is great value if you are looking to treat yourself in the new season.

If sweet fragrances are not your thing, ‘Hesperides Grapefruit’ by Fresh is a light, citric perfume with aquatic notes that are awakening and reviving for long Summer days. Mason Margiela ‘Under the Lemon Trees’ is also a fresh citrus- oriented scent, with dense woody notes and hints of tall feathered grass. Hesperides Grapefruit is available at Sephora and Under the Lemon Trees is available at Mecca.

Ballet Flats

Ballet flats have already become a staple in my wardrobe. They make the perfect shoe to compliment a variety of Summer outfits, and remind me of Kate Moss in the 90’s.

Or perhaps what Amy Winehouse wore with every outfit in the 2000’s.

I have been loving them with long sundresses, midi skirts during warm days or with jeans on cooler nights

All ballet flats from Zara

And admiring them in different colours and style

Margaret Qualley on her wedding night in Chanel

@jennaallard on Instagram wearing Miu Miu’s

Spanish/ Mexican Dresses and Sheer Fabrics

Gorgeous Frida has been inspiring me lately, and while she is adored for her precious Mexican Ex Voto art, it should not be overlooked that she too is an icon of beauty and fashion.

Guillermo Davila, 'Frida', 1929- Art Gallery of NSW

In my wardrobe, Frida’s style is echoed in long flowing tiered skirts, frills, lace and colour. I’ve also been trying to incorporate some sheerness to my pieces to give them a bit of a sexier edge for nighttime affairs.

I’ve been loving these archive pieces such as Dolce Gabbana Alta Moda 2016:

And Mirror Palais Collection IV 2019:

And more recent collections such as Rodarte FW 2023 Gothic Fairy Collection:

Ultimately the goal here is to look reminiscent of one of Federico Beltrán Masses’s women:

*Federico Beltran Masses: Under the Stars*, **Stair Sainty Gallery**, London, February 10 – March 24, 2016

Charms on everything

I wholeheartedly believe that charms are devices of magick. And I would really like for this Summer to be magical. I’ve been making a conscious effort to wear a charm everyday, here are some of my favourites:

Rose charm and select bracelet charms from Catbird, pearl and L charm antiques

I have also been really drawn to what ‘siren charms’:

1. Martyrdom necklace, Katinerr, 2. Clam and Pearl Ring, Cece Jewellery, 3. Mira Necklace, En Route Jewellery

And have been loving charms in untraditional places, such as nails:

1. GelXbyJulie- https://gelxbyjulie.glossgenius.com/services, 2. @nycnailroom on Instagram, 3. @nailsbymei on Instagram

Plum Lipstick

It’s a moody Summer this year. It may be hot, but I am still vampy, and I plan for my lipstick to reflect this well. I’ve been layering a lot of deep lipsticks at the moment to find the right combination. My top contenders are Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in ‘Festival Magic’, NARS Audacious Lipstick in ‘Audrey’ and Mecca Cosmetica A-Lipster Liquid Lipstick in ‘Get Naked’, with a special mention to Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Créme Lipstick in ‘Nu Préféré, which I have been using over the top to lighten.

On my wishlist is this Gucci sheer lipstick in shade Diana Amber. A friend gifted me a lipstick from this line in a different shade a year or so ago and I can safely say it’s the only makeup product I have ever used right down to the tube compartment. And I’m still trying to scrape the sides for more. For me, it’s perfect because the consistency is lightweight, it’s not matte but not overly sheer, the colour is potent and it has a really silky, satiny look on the lips. I’m very excited to try a deeper shade.

Metallics

I think metallics sometimes get a reputation of looking cheap, but honestly I think it brings the perfect element of texture and interest to a lot of otherwise simple outfits. For example, these metallic Zara singlets really elevate a pair of jeans or jean shorts:

Metallics on the eyes are always a go to to spice up a daily makeup look. I have been living in this Dior palette, using the brown shade to smoke out my lashline and a combination of the metallics all over the lid and under the brow.