I’m back in Manhattan after a really quite perfect week out in Sag Harbor, and—as much as I love it out there—there is something about summer in this stinky, dirty, steaming-hot city that I can’t help but adore. I’m always brought back to my earliest summers in the city this time of year, and how much I used to run around back then: to hear music in Central Park, or to Mets games, or the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island. I always feel more connected to my younger self during this season, and to the sense of possibility I felt back then. It’s not always easy to access those feelings in grown-up life, so I’m grateful to summer for doing that for me. And with that, I conclude my little meditation, and direct your attention to this really quite cute striped hat.

I don’t know that I ever wrote about this shirtdress after I acquired it because it was already sold out in so many sizes, and I feel a little guilty writing about it now because there are even fewer sizes available (you might get lucky with their blue and white striped iteration, though). Traditional shirtdresses like this one never look right on me because I have hips, but this one flares out in a little A-line, which is quite magically flattering.

I went to the Maria Cornejo boutique on Bleecker the other day to try on this silk jersey dress, which I already own in black, and wear endlessly. I was thinking of the old if-you-like-it-buy-it-in-more-than-one-color rule, and was further motivated by the fact that Cornejo’s silk jersey dresses drape so beautifully and are perfect for travel because they pack down to nothing. Sadly, that glorious shade of orange looked all sorts of wrong on me, but if you’re the type of person who pull that off, you might want to give it some thought.

What I did buy: this top, which I agree looks like nothing special here. But click through and check out the rear view, and then imagine wearing it backward, which is what I plan to do. If you’re having a tough time picturing that, it looks like this.

I dig the subtle metallic threading on this Xirena shirt.

These cute military pants look a lot like a Nili Lotan pair that cost almost twice as much.

I haven’t liked anything designed by Marc Jacobs in a long time, but I do appreciate that his clothes are no longer stratospherically expensive. This dress isn’t cheap by any means, but it’s nowhere near as pricey as his stuff used to be, and I think it’s really cute: retroish without being costumey, which, as I always say, is the key.

I visited Universal Standard’s site the other day, and was so pleased to see all sorts of new stuff (do also check out their J. Crew collab, which is available in straight as well as extended sizes). I think this side-knotted top  is really lovely, and it comes in a very pretty green, too.

You’ve got to click through and zoom in on the print of this cool side button top, also from Universal Standard, because it’s pretty standout, and quite elegant.

And finally: Another Xirena top, this one in their wonderful light gauze.