I know, I know...it’s almost autumn...why are you dropping this right now? Well, I’ve gotta say, sometimes that’s just how life works.

I meant to shoot this way back in mid-June/early July but decided that I had other priorities at the time (like educating myself on racism). I’ve gotten into a groove with pursuing ongoing education in that space, and have finally carved out the time to shoot this series of outfits.

You can consider this summer lookbook a log of the outfits that I wore this summer as well as a documentation of how these past few months have gone for me.

Outfit 1: Hello Darkness My Old Friend

This outfit is a combination of the comfortable garments that have become my stay-at-home uniform and darker details like the fishnet tights. I wear this exact look (minus the fishnet tights) when I go for my afternoon walk and it’s safe to say that this combination will now always be a reminder of what it was like living under COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.

This past summer has been one of the darkest times in my personal history. While I’ve found some comfort in slowing down, our current societal state combined with the inability to leave has left me struggling with control and deeply questioning my place in our current society.

Grey crop top, Thrifted 2014
Denim bermuda shorts, #RaidedMomsCloset
Black fishnet tights, Old Fast Fashion
Black combat boots, Old Fast Fashion 2016

Outfit 2: In Honor of Ice Cream

The spumoni skirt is back! When I first shared this skirt on social media, you guys voted for it to be the spumoni skirt (versus the choco-mint skirt) and I’m still going by it. 

This outfit was created in honor of my all-time favorite dessert--ice cream. I paired a graphic, pink tee with an equally busy printed skirt, and the result is a colorful, refreshing, and summer-appropriate look.

I like to think that this softer look ties in with some of the collective loss that we’ve all experienced during this period of time. Whether your personal grief is coming from the loss of justice, freedom, or connection, I hope that you’ve found some space in this period of time to sit with that so that we can better heal and move forward.

Pink tee, #RaidedMomsCloset (styled by tucking the bottom into a sports bra)
Spumoni Skirt, #RaidedMomsCloset

Outfit 3: #IWoreThisBefore

I wore this exact outfit last summer for a collaborative photoshoot that happened in Pelham Bay Park. I miss people. I miss traveling.

This is your quintessential summer look with a flowy, floral, mini-skirt and a casual, light-blue tee. I hated wearing this outfit last year because the skirt was too short so I decided to give it another go to see if my thoughts would change, and nope, it’s still too short. At least that’s one thing that’s still the same. 😂

Blue tee, Old Fast Fashion 
Floral mini skirt, Old Fast Fashion (high school days)
Black sandals, Old Fast Fashion, 2018

Outfit 4: Never Not A Witch

Seriously though, I always feel like a witch when I wear this dress. The oversized denim jacket is one of the few items that I thrifted earlier this year before stay-at-home orders and now that the weather is getting cooler again, I’m excited to wear it more often.

There’s nothing super emotional or complicated about this outfit. It’s just a go-to for days when I want to look thoughtfully put-together and still be extra comfy.

Black dress, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Oversized denim jacket, Thrifted 2020

Outfit 5: Pastel Aesthetic

It’s my first time wearing this combination! I always stayed away from this outfit because of how oversized the fit was, but thanks to the #EffTheStyleRules challenge, I’m less inclined to care.

These two colors are complementary on the color wheel, but the reason this outfit still works is because they’re similar in saturation and tone. Both colors are slightly muted and fall on the pastel spectrum which allows for the creation of a cohesive and relaxed combination.

Green button-down top, Old Fast Fashion 2018
Purple floral skirt, #RaidedMomsCloset

Outfit 6: Still Waiting For My Hogwarts Letter

First off, I’m so, so, so, so, so sorry for the quality of these photos. The exposure was way off and no amount of editing in Lightroom could save them. Please bear with me as we work through it.

This outfit is inspired by the dark academia aesthetic. Earlier this summer, I found a creative outlet in putting on outfits that fell into different aesthetics. After styling a look for dark academia, I fell in love with the aesthetic and knew I would be incorporating it more in the long-run.

This look is relatively simple. I styled a casual, black, t-shirt dress under an oversized plaid blazer and threw on my trusty platform boots. 

Have I mentioned that I could use a getaway to a magical castle yet?

Black t-shirt dress, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Plaid blazer, #BasementFind
Black platform boots, Old Fast Fashion 2016

Outfit 7: Nothing Like Golden Hour In The Summertime

I took this at dawn, btw. It’s too painful to take photos outdoors at dusk. Too many mosquitoes. 

The silhouette of this outfit is my summer go-to but the color and garment choices were out of the norm for me. I frequently stay away from orange and brown shades because they bring out the yellow pigments in my skin and tend to make me look darker, but that’s definitely some internalized colorism that I should work through.

This outfit (minus the shoes) is once again, completely at the courtesy of mom’s closet. Thank you, mom.

Orange scarf styled as a top, #RaidedMomsCloset
Brown skirt, #RaidedMomsCloset
Black sandals, Old Fast Fashion 2018

Outfit 8: (Almost) Monochrome

The denim shorts are actually a really light wash of blue. All-white is very unlike me, but it wouldn’t be a summer lookbook without something that mimicked monochrome white, right?

White is also representative of new beginnings and hope. So here’s to renewed energy come this fall and hopefully positive action in the right direction.

White blouse, Gifted by a photographer friend, 2019
Light blue denim shorts, Old Fast Fashion 2017
Black platform boots, Old Fast Fashion 2016

What’s your summer been like? Are there any outfits that will remind you of this time?

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