Summer Fridays

Tis the season.

Happy Tuesday, everyone. I hope you’re all feeling rested after the long weekend. I know I am.

As I was leaving a waxing appointment on Thursday, my esthetician told me to “enjoy the memories.” This, I realized, was because I told her I was going to Connecticut for Memorial Day. I’m obsessed with her saying that.

I wrote half of a post that was very negative and judgmental. Before finishing it today, I thought about it, and decided there was no reason for me to be so pessimistic. Life is good, so I should act like it!

For somebody so reality TV-obsessed, I’ve had a hard time indulging as I usually do. I blame The Valley. It’s so horrible and disgusting the way people act on that show, it’s left a bad taste in my mouth about other shows like Summer House and Mormon Wives, which I usually love. In this time of abstinence, I’ve started watching The Pitt (incredible) and movies from my Letterboxd watch list. Last week, I watched Buffalo 66 (I read up on Vincent Gallo after—doing some serious separating the art from the artist), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and The Brown Bunny. Eternal Sunshine was definitely my favorite, I thought the entire thing was so beautiful to watch and unfold. I love a happy ending. I also love the projector I got for my bedroom, which really elevates my viewing experiences.

Next on my list is Brokeback Mountain. I listened to Michelle Williams on the Armchair Expert podcast and thought she was so elegant and movie star-esque. I read something recently that Sean Penn thinks Jennifer Lawrence is the last real movie star, and I do agree with the sentiment that they are few and far between now. I was waiting for her to talk about her relationship with Heath Ledger, but it was, obviously, something difficult for her to do. She was short, gentle, and succinct in saying that he was just special. I went on a Michelle and Heath deep dive afterwards. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the two of them.

I have an obsession with famous tragedy. I feel the same way about Heath as I do River Phoenix. The cultural impact for the short time they were on this world is so fascinating and devastating. I didn’t even become aware of them until not long ago, but twenty, thirty years after their untimely departures, they’re still posted on Instagram, Pinterest, used as fashion inspiration and idolized. I also don’t really have any celebrity crushes in the current stratosphere. Paul Mescal, but that’s kind of it. I look back at these heartthrobs and my heart throbs. I would say they don’t make ‘em like that anymore, but I do live within a five block radius of Dimes Square, which has a lot of imitation Heaths and Rivers. Like I mentioned before, the inspiration lives on.

As I watch these movies, learn about the people in them, read memoirs like the Keith McNally one I’ve been slowly but surely working my way through for the past three weeks, and listening to podcasts, I’ve been gathering my own inspiration for summer. For us corporate warriors, summer starts when Memorial Day Weekend hits, and most importantly, the summer Fridays start up. I strategically spread mine out so that I have every other week of bliss that is a four day work week for the whole summer. Like I said, life is good.

This summer, I’m sticking to the basics. The flip flops I got from Amazon are incredible beyond words. You should all invest in them. Arch support is very important, and flat shoes tend to hurt me pretty badly. Archies provides comfort while still very much giving Jennifer Aniston in 2005, which is obviously a vibe. White tank tops, flowy pants, my Cleo Tee, and stretching my paycheck thin for cottons from Cou Cou intimates. I just got their shorts and this matching henley.

Cou Cou set, Archies flip flops.

I found Mint Candy Apple from Essie on the kitchen table of my mom’s house when I arrived for the weekend, which felt like a sign from the universe. A sign of what? I’m not so sure. It brought me back to a time that was so simple and awesome. Truly the definition of simpler times. I think a lot of people are feeling nostalgic given the rise of photos taken on old iPhones. None of mine would turn on.

I would be remiss if I didn’t take the time to acknowledge the Knicks. As many of you know, I am a big fan. Dear friend of this letter, Kaitlyn, sent me this fake Knicks Birkin on Poshmark. I feel so lucky to have it now in my wardrobe. If/when they make it to the Finals, I will be carrying it around the city all day every day. The amount of memorabilia in my apartment is a little much for a 24-year-old girl, but I can’t help myself. Timothée Chalamet is on his way to getting a key to the city.

The highlight of my first long weekend this summer was the new sauna that my mom had just installed. It has bluetooth, so I listened to Lorde while basking in the heat. Heaven, I’d say.