Happy weekend! The weekly Friday post is a round-up of fun things noted from the week for your downtime. It’s a bit of brightness for your inbox.

Thank you to J.Crew for partnering with me and unlocking today’s post for all subscribers. It is such a dream collaboration come true. 🫶 Alisha

A few quick things I noted this week before we get to the main event…

1. This is the breezy shirt I’ll be living in this summer. More on this below…

2. Vowing to wear this perfect nail color all season. It’s vibrant and leans warm. Joyful, even!

3. Now that it’s summer, I’m getting into the outdoor entertaining and lounging headspace. I’ve been looking at this brand and this brand’s social feeds for a jolt of excitement and table-setting inspiration. I love the idea of dressing up a basic outdoor table (ours is from Home Depot :)) with fun linens, pillows, and vintage serveware. If you have any Etsy shops in mind that sell lovely outdoor-friendly textiles and vintage tableware, please do share in the comments.

4. I’m currently reading this new book by Miranda July, which was highly rated. It’s about a married woman who decides to go on a midlife-crisis-adjacent cross-country road trip but takes an unexpected detour closer to home. If you enjoy a quirky, wild romp of a read, you may like this one. There are a few observations on motherhood in the book that stopped me in my tracks, among other passages.

5. This Instagram account is a fun treasure trove of archived J.Crew catalog pages for endless style inspo. I mean…!

6. Two baby/kid recs:

   1. I mentioned this in our subscriber chat, but I added this baby-friendly sunscreen to my cart during their sale last weekend, in case anyone is looking for one that requires less wrestling of little ones. (Thanks for all your great sunscreen recs in last week’s post!)

   2. Felt right for summer: These watercolor-design bibs are so pretty (and waterproof). I picked up the veggie one. 🥬

Looking for more recs? There are 49 other issues to flip through in the archives. You can also give and receive recommendations in our subscriber chat. 💬

Is this the color my closet’s been missing?

Predicting a red hot summer for me, and maybe you, too.

I’d describe my style as classic and laid-back with a hint of romance, a vibe perfectly captured by J.Crew time and time again, which is why I’ve been wearing their clothes for many years. So when they invited me to collaborate, I jumped at the chance.

I’m naturally drawn to summer whites (very classic, my safe zone), but I couldn't resist the gorgeous, vibrant REDS in J.Crew’s latest collection that were calling my name.

Below are a few favorite looks I pulled to inspire you to add bold hues and fun prints to your summer wardrobe…

How to style: A striped beach shirt

In store, I immediately gravitated towards this red striped button-down; the color is much brighter and saturated in person. It’s hard to miss. The slight warm lean of the red feels right for my olive skin tone. Just one note—the material is meant to be a beach cover-up, so I’d wear it as such or pair it with something on the bottom. Here are a few ways I’d wear this piece.

How to style: A printed midi sundress

Why I love this dress: The strawberry print! 🍓 It’s just the right amount of whimsical without being too much; the small scale of the pattern helps. Second, I’m drawn to an empire waist style due to my height (I’m 5’); it helps elongate the body. As a bonus, the regular length still works on my petite frame (technically, this is a midi dress). Lastly, the garment itself is incredibly flowy and lightweight—perfect for hot and humid D.C. summers.

To make a dress like this work for the every day, I’d tone it down with a solid color sweater or more casual accessories and shoes (shown in the second photo).

~ If you’d like to see more items styled on me, I’ve been sharing quick photos and links more often in my IG side chat here. ~

Red, white, and [pale] blue: A color palette you can count on

Lately, I’ve been drawn to pairing a bright red with a pale blue (or “French blue,” as I’ve recently learned it’s called), sometimes with white or off-white in the mix. Red and blue are complementary colors on the color wheel, which may explain why this combo is so exciting to me.

By keeping this color palette¹ in mind, I’ve been able to purchase pieces to add to my wardrobe more confidently. When you know a color combo suits you, clothes become easier to mix and match effortlessly. (The pale blue hue also extends to light-wash denim, too, btw.)

Considering this palette, I pulled a few looks using just 5 items…

What’s catching your eye most on the J.Crew site right now? Leave a comment with your favorite thing, and I’ll randomly choose three people who’ll receive their pick as a special gift and my way of saying thanks for being here. ❤️

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Note: For new readers here, I’m petite (5’) and typically wear between an XS or S, or a size 2, in this brand.

• If you’re in D.C., come hang out with me at Big Night’s book tour stop at Bold Fork Books on June 11th! I’ll be chatting with Big Night founder Katherine Lewin. (What should I ask her?!) There will be a Spritz Bar and snacks. 🫒

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A post shared by @bignightshop

• Loved this podcast episode on the concept of being cringe—and embracing it. I am thinking a lot about this.

• Check in on your local literary sad girl: The new Sally Rooney ARC’s (advance reader copies) are dropping all over my social media feed, and I am seated. And begging for my own copy. :)

• Literally me. 😂 (ty Joanna Goddard)

• Ms. Rachel’s now-viral commencement speech on impostor syndrome was touching and worth a watch.

• On my summer mood board: Barefoot Contessa, 46 years ago.

• To bookmark: Art lessons to try at home with littles (or really…by yourself!). This was compiled by a dear friend of the newsletter, artist Riley Sheehey. Don’t miss this helpful blockprinting tutorial, either.

• Reads:

  • Are Millennials Having A Midlife Crisis? [The Cut] — “Today, the real crisis isn’t about mortality; it’s that our lives and stations are unchanged from when we were 30 — or, hell, even 20. It’s about a distinct lack of comfort, of resources,” writes Amil Niazi.

  • A glitch in the matrix of online shopping — A fascinating read from Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends about the weird world of furniture retailers who sell…the exact same pieces.

cozygirlsread

A post shared by @cozygirlsread

Thanks again to J.Crew for partnering with me on today’s newsletter. A lot of their stuff is on sale right now, and I’ve pulled all my favorites into one spot here.

P.S. I appreciate everyone who left golf wear recommendations last week. More soon. 👀 Have a wonderful weekend. x Alisha