Greetings. I’m here at the shore and happy to work remotely in one of my favorite places. Turns out I’m a Jersey Shore girl. Loving it here as always, and after spending a week in Rehoboth Beach, DE, last week, I can confirm the Jerz is far more my tempo.
And after writing a humorous take on packing for my Ageist column, I am happy to report that I am enjoying my expansive wardrobe, even though I could have packed less, and bonus for my intuition about overdoing it because we decided to stay another week and work from here. As for what I’m wearing on the regs, my fav pieces on this trip have been my lightweight cotton dresses from Brooklyn mainstay Meg. Nobody does a Summer dress like her.
This “It” dress more than lives up to its name and also looks great with a thin belt. I own it in pale pink and black.
I find myself reaching for minimalist, loose basics in this scary heat. No prints. No nonsense. And believe it or not, lots of black. It’s working for me with the blonde hair, which will need top-notch tending when I return to the city. Oy. Blonde hair is a lot of work. But I like it.
Also packed for the first time was my new Laura Geller makeup set, bought on a whim after being served her schtick on social ad infinitum. For those who don’t know, she is a home-shopping superstar and mature makeup queen. Famous for her iconic baked foundation (not included in the set, but they are having a huge sale), I finally gave it all a whirl. The verdict?
I’ll stick to my old routine but will use this for quick touch-ups or on-the-go glam, as it’s simple and easy to apply.
The powder-based foundation feels a bit drying, and the airbrushed look is not my thing. I do love the Spackle primer, but I prefer liquid over powder on my skin, so that’s that.
From a shopping perspective, what are you darlings waiting for if you haven’t been to Cape May? A bonafide retail renaissance is happening on the Washington Street Mall, a walking street with charming shops and restaurants. You can't go wrong with chic stores like Philly’s own Vagabond popping up for the Summer and my fav Givens Circle showcasing Black Crane and my beloved Jung Maven tanks and tees. Also cute is Cash and Clive for men’s and women’s basics, and Galvanic is an upscale go-to with women’s brands like Nili Lotan, Moussy, and Ulla Johnson downstairs and racks of cool men’s brands like Onia, Stussy, and Rains upstairs. The curation of the store is fantastic. I also love Tommy’s Folly for feminine boho chic dresses. Add a gin and tonic on the lawn at the delightfully preppy Congress Hall, and you have a lovely mid-afternoon beach break. Oh, and a special shout out to People People in nearby Stone Harbor.As good as low-key beach luxe gets with everything from Natalie Martin to Free City to Xirena.
On the workout front, I can’t stop doing reformer pilates. No exercise in recent memory has felt better on these old bones. It’s strengthening and restorative, and I live for it. Also living for Negronis and want Stanley Tucci to make me one, but that’s another story entirely.
Oh, and here are some things I’ve been eyeing for Fall, a season I find myself longing for every day:
The much-anticipated release of this jumpsuit is exciting. Get one.
Xirena is doing denim. I dig.
These new cashmere v-necks in soft neutrals are pure transitional magic.
Anything Electric Feathers. ANYTHING AT ALL.
In the very aspirational category, I love this bag— a lot.
Over in beauty land, this body oil was a great discovery at one of my fav shops at the shore, Sunset Outpost in Margat—literally sunshine in a bottle. Regarding drugstore finds, this Garnier mist my husband found for me is excellent for the heat. I love to refrigerate it and give myself a bit of spritz when I come home from a scorcher, plus it smells so pretty. And this facial scrub is an exfoliating elixir for sensitive skin. ISO smooth skin after weeks of hastily applied self-tanner. Oh, and since I dehydrate quickly, I can’t live without Liquid IV. Trust.
Finally, I have not seen Barbie or Oppenheimer, which feels equivalent to not having had COVID. Perhaps the pandemic has caused a herd mentality regarding everything, but all this bandwagon jazz drives my rebel heart to palpitate. And don’t get me started on all the brand collabs. As a young girl, I was an enormous Barbie enthusiast, which leaves me cold. Barbies and bombs. What a summer.
On that note, happy August. The world is hot as hell, and I’m guessing we will all spend more time indoors in the future. Be safe and stay cool, with love from Jersey. The heat has broken, and I feel human again. XO