About this time each year, I start getting antsy for fall. The relentless heat starts to get to me and I start daydreaming about sweet, sweet fall with it’s cooler temperatures and blanket scarves and pumpkin everything.
But wait!
It’s still summer!
We still have a whole month of it left! (Or two or three for some of us.)
As much as I love getting excited about what’s next — whether it be a season of life, an actual season, a vacation, or just the next episode of Stranger Things — I also love being excited about exactly where I am right now.
So, in the name of honoring the present, here are three ways we can enjoy summer pt. 2.
GET INTO THE OLYMPICS
I still remember that day in 1996. I was perching on the edge of my parent’s floral bedspread, eyes wide, watching Kerri Strug stick her final vault, and then catapulting off the bed, screaming and running through the house, while my parents curiously looked on.
My enthusiasm level about the Olympics hasn’t changed much since then.
I don’t know what it is, oh wait, yes I do.
It’s seeing laser focus pay off.
It’s seeing a heart wrenching defeat … then watching as the “get up, try again” attitude takes over.
As a person who’s never been that athletic or competitive, it’s fascinating to watch how athletes deal with victory and defeat. It’s human psychology at play.
SHOW SOME SKIN + WEAR YOUR MOST SUMMERY OUTFITS
Remember in my Summer Style Series post when I talked about how excited I was to wear summer clothes? Summer is where my style hits it’s stride and this year I’ve loved it more than ever.
On the other hand, I always get excited about the idea of dressing for fall … the reality, however, isn’t so golden. Truth be told, I’m still figuring out how to layer, pick the right fabrics for the temperature, and most importantly how to feel like myself while bundled up.
But I don’t have to deal with that right now, do I?
Nope. Right now it’s all shorts and tank tops and straw hats, just like the outfit above.
Soon enough, the chill will kick in, and we’ll all be covered head to toe. So right now, showing some skin sounds pretty great to me.
JAM TO SOME HAPPY SUMMER TUNES
Exploring new music and creating playlists is one of my favorite hobbies. In fact, Aaron and I have this running joke that if “making playlists” was a job, I’d be the first to apply.
Here are a few of my favorite summery playlists right now. Feel free to jam when you need a boost of the summer feels.
- Patio Dinners / When it’s time to cook dinner, I grab a glass of wine and put on this playlist. It’s a mix of 60’s and 70’s soul mixed with some modern R&B and indie. The vibe is happy and a little nostalgic.
- Indie Poolside Chill / Ideal for both poolside hangs and afternoon slumps at work. It’s indie pop with a chill, beachy sound.
- Night Drives / Moody and a little emo, this playlist is great for nighttime, when you want tunes that are chill and quiet, but still have a driving beat.
• • •
Remember how the beginning of summer feels?
So happy, so carefree.
I’m channeling that energy into these last couple of months of heat. Here’s to living in the moment and enjoying the rest of summer. Fall will get here soon enough.
How are you planning to enjoy summer pt. 2?
• • •
Like today’s outfit? You can shop it and support Unfancy at the same time by using the affiliate links below:
01 / Silk cami by J.Crew | similar (made responsibly) | And here’s the no-show bra I wear underneath this top, and a whole blog post about underthings
02 / Shorts by Everlane (made responsibly)
03 / Denim jacket (old) | similar (made in USA) | similar for under $100
04 / Sandals gifted by Sseko (made responsibly)
05 / Bag by Meyolo (made responsibly + my sis-in-law owns this shop!)
06 / Hat (old) | similar
xo
It’s so easy to wish for fall because it is my absolute favorite but I need to be thankful for right now, needed this reminder! And these playlists are just the best!
Your posts are always refreshing to read. Thank you<3
Amanda, thank YOU! :) xo, Caroline
I love this! I’m so ready for autumn, but I’m trying to relish these last sweet summer days. Thanks for the inspiration!
-Lauren
http://www.chic-ethique.com/
I love your blog! I shy away from tops like the one you’re wearing because I have no idea how to wear a bra with it. Not to be too personal, but may I ask what you do to keep the ladies in place while wearing tops with fun straps/no straps?
Hi Katie! I think a lot of people run into the problem, so I actually did a whole blog post recently about underthings! :) You can see it here: http://bit.ly/2beZIR2
Hope that helps! xo, Caroline
Haha. It’s like our brains on the same wavelength. I just finished writing a post this morning about not wishing away the last of these summer weeks and only looking forward to wearing pants again (seriously, though.) I’m finding it tough too! So I’m trying to mix it up by planning my outfits more often (haven’t been doing that a lot lately). But I love your list! Such great action items! ;)
I looooove fall, but I’m also trying to make the most of summer while it’s here. I’m enjoying wearing my Birks, being able to get out the door in no time (because no layers!), and planning on a few ice cream trips.
Lisa, those all sounds like good ways to round out summer! :) xo, Caroline
Unfortunately, I know this all too well. I just finished posting my business appropriate summer capsule, and I’m happily thinking about fall – but abruptly interrupted by the daily heat advisory happening in Dallas. *womp womp womp*
I’ve been trying to enjoy summer by eating as much ice cream as I can, and getting in that vitamin D!
Sincerely, Tania
Tania, way to look at the bright side — ice cream and vitamin D! Doesn’t get much better! :) xo, Caroline
Dear Caroline,
I just have to take a moment and tell you how much I love your blog! I’ve been reading itor quite some time now and really like your approach on things!
I don’t have a real capsule closet (yet) but I like to think that I’ve started to be more aware of how/when/why I buy things ever since I found your blog.
Keep up this amazing work!
More on the topic: As I live in Berlin, Germany, I’m not too much looking forward to fall to be honest… Summer is always a bit short here :D I try to enjoy it as much as I can and as long as it lasts. I think I’ll need a reminder to enjoy fall once it’s here… haha
– Katharina
Katharina, thank you so much for the nice comment! Enjoy your summer, as short as it may be :) xo, Caroline
I feel like our summer has only just begun, summer has been slooow to come to the UK this year. I spent a lot of June and July in a raincoat, but we’ve started to have some hot days but we never know how long they will last, so it’s a case of grab them while you can! Thanks for the play lists.
And I say all this as someone who definitely prefers autumn (fall). I feel myself covered up and in layers, as it’s how I spend most of the year!
Tanya, hopefully you get a few more warm days in there! :) xo, Caroline
I have the opposite problem. I know how to layer & dress for cooler weather, because Canada, but when the temperatures get spikes in the summer or when I go on vacation I’m stumped on how to dress for the heat.
Charmaine, I guess we all have our seasons. I’m envious of your cool weather dressing skills! :) xo, Caroline
I feel this way too, also because Canada. I feel so at home in layers and coziness. (I lived in Winnipeg the winter that was described as “colder than Mars” and was like BRING IT.) Summer used to be a nightmare for dressing. Largely because of your blog, Caroline, this was the first summer I actually planned for, and so was actually able to find summer clothes I like and feel good in! It’s been a whole new world. Thanks!
Very into your Patio Dinners playlist, that vibe sounds preeeetty perfect to me.
I also get excited about fall and possibilities with how to dress, but this year I’ve felt most relaxed and okay about not rushing it (plus, we’re talking about Texas…fall comes, maybe, in October). I think just thinking about using transition pieces is enough of a thrill for me right now, ha. Also, I want to try that strapless bra you recommended…my current one is killer, and not in a good way. :)
Jenna, haha! Hope a new bra will be less painful! Enjoy playing with those transition pieces (eventually!) :) xo, Caroline
loving everything about this – most of all the fact that i have all of these ingredients already in my closet :) gorgeous as usual!
Hi Caroline! This is spot on. It’s so easy to get caught up in what’s next, and so important to remember to live in the present.
I’ve been reading your blog for a while and I love your style. I think we dress pretty similarly, actually. And when I saw this outfit I laughed because I was wearing ALMOST the same thing this weekend when it was in the 80s up here near Seattle! The top I have is actually from Grana, but it’s super similar to yours. You should check Grana out if you haven’t already – I just found the brand and their philosophy seems similar to Everlane, producing socially responsible and affordable high-quality pieces.
I hope you’re having a great week so far! Enjoy the heat down in Texas! :)
Claire
Hey Claire! Great minds think alike! ;) I will check out Grana, thanks for the recommendation. :) xo, Caroline
This post was perfect timing for my heart strings. The past few days I’ve been battling in my mind thinking too much into a future season of life, allowing my brain to pick apart a bunch of “what ifs”. After a good talk with my hubs, he reminded me, it’s the here and now that we’ve got to set our eyes on. Living life intentionally, right now. God will help us work out the kinks. This post was another great reminder for me. :) I love that your blog always brings me life. Thank you for that!
P.S. we just finished Stranger Things tonight. I can’t wait for season 2!
Hannah, what wonderful advice from your husband. They come in handy sometimes, don’t they ;) Love that mentallity to live life RIGHT NOW :) xo, Caroline
You’re so amazing!
The look is so fresh, simple and light! I love it so much.
It perfectly macthes with your shapes, your smile and your semplicity!
Love it.
Thanks for sharing.
That’s JUST where I am right now. We finally got some relief from our disgusting july heat (it was especially dreadful this year… at least for a california in kentucky. yuuuck.) and weird rain patterns that just left you with a headache and no relief. okay and kerri strug is so much yes. I think we must go and re-watch her like every olympics. so so much fun!!
I found your blog pretty recently (and read through ALL the archives!). I love your style and your sensibility. These posts where you give us little snippets of your philosophy on life really resonate with me. I’m not doing a capsule wardrobe, but I have recently aggressively pared down my closet to about 50 items total (kind of one permanent capsule instead of a rotating one since I live in a mild climate). I had a few holes to be filled, and one thing I got was a pair of those Sseko sandals you’re wearing in this post. I love them, both the aesthetic and how comfy they are. Thanks for sharing the playlists! I love discovering new music.
Maureen, hope you enjoy the process (and the new shoes!) :) xo, Caroline
I am off work since yesterday, so I can’t bear to think about Fall yet. I am at my happiest and most productive during summer (I am a July baby), so I’ll gladly enjoy the last month – or two – left. Still too many beaches to lay on, too many watermelons to eat and too many long days to enjoy.
Chiara, your summer sounds simply dreamy! :) xo, Caroline
Great post, Love the outfit. Can’t wait for fall, especially since summer in Poland is not that hot this year so no typical summer clothes for me this year, and I so love dressing for fall!
I’d like to take this opportunity to ask one stupid think:P
I have been just going through your example capsule planer, and one quick question popped to my mind.
What kind of black fabric doesn’t show dog hair?
I absolutely love black clothes and have a longhaired dog, so I would be sooo grateful for some advice.. I also have a pretty strict dress code at work, so I wear a lot of elegant trousers/blazers etc. Mostly in black..
Thanks in advance!
Marta
Marta, good question! I would imagine leather and silk would be the best repellents of dog hair, but I know those aren’t necessarily “every day” fabrics. Maybe a tightly woven cotton and/or a crisp linen would also do the trick – the hair should slip off instead of getting tangled in the weave of the fabric. Hope that helps! :) xo, Caroline
Perfect timing for this little reminded. I have a 6 week slog to get through to an exciting new phase in my life. I shall try and remember to cherish these weeks
I have the exact same mentality about the Olympics and love your description of why! Also, I am the same way with fall clothing – still trying to figure out how to feel like MYSELF, while all bundled up like that. Although I’ve been living in New England for 23 years, so you would think Id have it figured out by now!
Danielle @ afloat on a full sea
I basically long for autumn year-round, to tell you the truth, but this post has made me excited for the last few weeks of summer. Merci!
Abby! Ah, I’m so glad. Enjoy it! xo, Caroline
I’m usually not into sports, but I get super excited when watching the Olympics too! I love how it unites everyone from all over the world! Also, everyone has been raving about Stranger Things! My boyfriend binge watched it and can’t stop talking about it. I’ll have to make sure I have lots of time to watch before I start it!
http://www.thebeautydojo.com
Andrea, between the Olympics and Stranger Things, there is lots of TV fun to be had! Enjoy :) xo, Caroline
I’m exactly the same, I actually just went OOOHHH BLANKET SCARVES when I read this!
Eloise, haha right?! Gotta love those blanket scarves! :) xo, Caroline
This week the highs have been mid-70’s to low-80’s, and the lows have been down in the 40’s. Kind of feels like Fall Part 1 here. I am so not ready for it because after fall comes winter, and winter is long. ;p Clothes are easy, though. My fall wardrobe is pretty much summer clothes+cardigans.
Thank you for the reminder to live in the moment! And I’m so happy that you will be posting twice a week now! :)
I love your blog, and I am so happy you are back! I live in a beach town, so your casual yet stylish, fit for hot weather, style is perfect inspiration for me. I also love your focus on doing more with less. Keep up the great work!
One thing … The last few weeks it seems that the font is very light and I find I’m really struggling to read it. Did something change?
Hi Sha! That’s so strange. I haven’t changed the font… I’ll test it from a few different computers/phones and see if I can figure it out. :) xo, Caroline
Loving this mindset of loving what you have instead of wishing what it could be. Cherish every moment is the best motto I say!
Hi Caroline! Can I ask your thoughts on those Everlane shorts? I was so close to ordering them but hesitated because I’m not sure about the pique material it says they’re made of. I feel like pique had a tendency to stretch and could make shorts look a little…skirt-y, for lack of a better word :) I’d love to hear from someone who owns them and has worn them enough to give a solid informed opinion!
Hey Elizabeth! So far, for me they’ve stretched a tiny bit, but not near enough to be a deal breaker. I will say, when I first got them, I felt like the shape of the shorts was a little more flare-y than I’d like (to your skirty-y point). I’ve thought about getting them altered a little, and maybe someday I will. But for now, I enjoy that they’re a little different than my other shorts, and they are on heavy rotation. :) xo, Caroline
I really love to read at post from yours.
You write in a fresh and light way!
Thanks a lot for inspiring us and for sharing your article.
You’re amazing in that outfit!
Consulente d immagine
consulente bellezza
cheers
I had to come back to this post a few
days later because I wanted to read the message again. It was such a great reminder! I’m also in Texas and have quite a bit of summer ahead of me and you reminded me to soak it up while I can. Thanks for that. xx
Enjoy it Hannah! xo, Caroline