weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. #55

non-dweeby sun protection, overachievers anonymous 101, and can't-miss July 4 sales

Happy Sunday and belated July 4th! I spent the weekend in the Hamptons with my family swimming in the ocean, lathering on sunscreen, and laughing a lot. I hope you had a great weekend no matter how you spent it!

A peek at some classic Hamptons July 4th madness. $36 for twelve squash blossoms! No thank you. Farm & Forage is one of my favorite stops in Southampton for matcha and incredible baked goods, but sometimes their prices are just laughable.

Last week, I dove into how to clock a scammer and the bag stack that keeps me sane when constantly on the road. This week, a deep dive into beauty & politics, a sun-protection brand I’m obsessing over, and some incredible July 4 sale deals.

I’m not a huge fiction reader. There’s enough going on in the real world to keep me engaged and excited. Besides thrillers and rich-people-doing-bad-things beach reads, I’m firmly rooted in the non-fiction genre. Memoirs and juicy non-fiction books are my kryptonite.

But this book is an exception. It’s about the deep friendship of two women in Tehran as they navigate pre- and post-revolution Iran. Such a good one—and has encouraged me to change my tune on historical fiction.

As a beauty fanatic, I lapped up this Vanity Fair read about how even beauty products these days are split by party lines. A deep dive into what brands are “considered” Republican, Democrat, and those who have managed to remain neutral.

And this New York Times Magazine investigation was equally good in a different way. A look at how AI is changing how doctors diagnose, treat patients, and handle their entire profession. I feel like urgent care is already the real-life ChatGPT (nothing ever really happens there!), so I’m especially curious to see how urgent care will change.

I’m always a massive fan of unsweetened ice tea, but especially in the summer. I discovered this unsweetened iced tea brand years ago at The Lodge at Woodloch, and have been addicted ever since. It tastes like there’s sugar in it…but there’s really none!

It’s a calorie-free iced tea made with Yerba Mate, ginseng, and green & black tea. If you're a fan of diet Snapple, you will love this...it's just as good but a little more natural.

On the sugar-free front, this naturally sugar-free jam and these date-sweetened chocolate chips are always in heavy rotation.

With chartreuse and marigold! I don’t know about you, but it feels like the entire world woke up to the magic of these colors this past season. It was like they didn’t exist before—but now, everyone is wearing them in full force.

These colors are flattering on every skin tone, and whenever I wear these shades, I always get compliments! Some of my favorite tonal picks below (and even more here).

1. I own and love this satin clutch in cranberry (which happens to be on sale!) This marigold shade is equally stunning.

2. I have a similar marigold set that I’ve worn to a number of cocktail parties, and am always stopped by those who love the shade. This set is so good and a total statement-maker.

3. Love this chartreuse shift—a true throw-on-and-go moment.

4. Fringe bags are trending, and this chartreuse number is a great way to get in on the fun at a great price.

5. I have a similar bezel set chartreuse pair, but wish I spotted this one first! So cute (and the lab-grown diamonds bring down the price significantly).

6. These yellow jade earrings are simply stunning.

If you know me, you know I’m all about functional clothing. If I’m going to pay up for something, it better be:

1. Unique

2. Made of quality materials

3. Deliver some kind of utility (like my beloved posture bra—SMART20 for 20% off sitewide).

I met the founder of an incredible sunwear protection brand last night, and it’s my new obsession. As someone who is skin cancer prone (and translucently pale), protecting my skin is always top of mind. I’m always clad in a bucket hat, UV lip gloss, and sunscreen, but this brand takes it to the next level.

Every item is made with UPF 50+ fabric—the gold standard for sun protection. UPF 50+ fabric blocks 98% of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays by allowing only 1/50th of UV radiation to reach your skin. By contrast, a typical white cotton T-shirt only offers about UPF 5.

And the brand is running a sale now for the holiday, so it was truly a fated meeting! What I love about this brand is that everything is functional and stylish. You don’t feel like you’re wearing a medical device…instead, you feel like you’re wearing something straight from Net-a-Porter.

What I will absolutely be buying (everything is UPF 50+!):

• This majorly wide brim hat that’s also super chic

• This long-sleeve tee (the founder was wearing a soon-to-be-released printed version last night to the party and I thought it was Etro…the fabric is very high-end and something you can wear far beyond the beach)

• This striped one-piece that also doubles as a bodysuit (the bold print reminds me of Christopher John Rogers!)

Some things, people, and content I’ve been loving this week:

If you don’t know who you are, someone else will determine that for you. Wholeheartedly believe this! (via Dr. Julie Gurner).

• July 4 sales are wrapping up today (and tomorrow!). I never advocate for buying things on sale that you’re not truly obsessed with (and wouldn’t pay full-price for!) That being said, here are the sales and picks that are very much worth your money.

  • Spanx is having a big sale-on-sale. However, be aware that most items are final sale. I’m a massive fan of the brand’s sets (perfect for travel and instantly feeling pulled together!) as well as their jumpsuits (always a go-to when you’re struggling with what to wear).

  • Veronica Beard is one of those brands I always find myself rolling my eyes at. I like the brand—but their prices have skyrocketed over the years. I really only shop there when there’s a great deal to be had. They’re offering up to 70% off sale styles, including this jacket I’ve been coveting for months, this statement-making mixed media jacket, and this adorable belted clutch.

  • I’d be laughing at you if you told me that I’ve become an Ann Taylor fan…but I have. Their clothes are very of-the-moment, and everyone’s jaws drop when I tell them that I’m wearing something Ann Taylor. I’m lusting after this gingham vest, this Monse-esque tie-waist top, and this Missoni-inspired set.

  • The Margaux archive sale is still running! Their shoes are already pretty reasonably priced, but this sale is a chance to snag them at super-steal prices. I look to them for super comfy flats and Mary Janes. The one catch, though—this sale is final sale. Worth the gamble if you’re already a fan of the brand and know your size.

  • The Larroudé flash sale (returnable!) is still ongoing. The brand does an excellent job of making shoes that seem like they’re high designer at a much lower price point. I’m a huge fan of these statement-making floral heels, these raffia heels, and these ultra-high heels (my go-to wedding guest shoe…I’ve danced for hours with absolutely no pain!)

• If you haven’t already seen THE DRAMA, it’s worth watching. Most of my friends didn’t like it for some reason, but I was a superfan. Starring Zendaya and Robert Pattison as an engaged couple about to get married, a secret completely blows up their life right before their wedding. A bit absurdist but so good.

• My sister wore this adorable blue-and-white toile dress to the July 4 party we went to last night…and it was $40. I have a similar one from Reformation from a few seasons ago that (regrettably!) was 6x the price.

  • Other fashion wins from this retailer—these perfectly work-and-play appropriate khaki shorts, these fun tie-waist pants, and this in-law approved one-piece (not cheeky!)

The pieces worth your time this week:

• Love this roundup of easy summer recipes via Nicola Lamb! They’re mostly oven-free and make heavy use of in-season ingredients.

• If you’re an overthinker (or just incredibly type-A!), this piece by Danique Vreeswijk will resonate with you. About how many of us want to be great, but we’re scared…so most often, we’ll just do nothing.

• There’s been a ton of discourse about America’s 250th birthday. No matter where you stand politically, this confessional by Kaizen Asiedu is a must-read. It details his childhood in Ghana and how he truly embodies the American Dream.

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