Late Summer: What I’m Watching, Wearing, Listening To, and More
Ah, late summer— those last few weeks of August that feel like the “dog days”, yet you know autumn is just around the corner. I always feel a shift in mood at this time (as kids head back to school, vacation season slows down, and the nights start to become just a bit cooler), and I wanted to share a late-summer wrap-up of what I’m watching, wearing, listening to, eating, and beyond. Here goes—
Me, wearing Balenciaga spring/summer 2021 distressed teal pullover hoodie in our apartment in Philadelphia, PA.
Late summer 2021 trends: what to watch, wear, listen to, and more
Lately, I’ve been rewatching a lot of older Tom Cruise movies (I know, I know— but he’s a great actor, though). This week I dove into two of my old favorites, which are:
Eyes Wide Shut (Dir. Stanley Kubrick, 1999) — A mind-bending favorite of mine, Eyes Wide Shut reminds us all two things for a fact: Kubrick was a visual genius, and Tom Cruise gets himself in some deep, dark sh*t in this thrilling, sensual, and somewhat scary masterpiece.
Interview with the Vampire (Dir. Neil Jordan, 1994) — A far-cry from the simple bravery explored in Top Gun, Interview with the Vampire stars Cruise as the enigmatic and sexy Vampire Lestat, and there’s so much to unpack there. Seriously, it’s like Twilight for adults (before Twilight was ever even thought of), and it never gets old.
Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut.
Listening-wise, the latest Billie Eilish album mixed with some Tyler, the Creator (AKA, “Tyler Baudelaire”) and some other pre-fall jams have been the move, including songs like:
“Oxytocin” (Billie Eilish) — This edgy, low-key-yet-ratcheted-up song by teen pop sensation Billie Eilish is catchy beyond description, and the lyrics, “I want to do bad things to you / Don’t want to treat you well…” will have you living out all your wild, late-night fantasies of being a seductive, modern-vampire type in seconds. Trust me— it hits.
“Hot Wind Blows” (Tyler, The Creator ft. Lil Wayne) — This celebration-of-success song takes not the typical, braggy, anthemic approach (a-la, “Over” by Drake back in the day), but takes on a “Hey, I’m in Switzerland on a Yacht, life is luxury, want to join me?” tone a-la Wolf of Wall Street, and upon listening you’ll feel transported to champagne day-dreams in no time.
Wondering what to wear as summer winds down? It may seem odd, but I’m certainly a hoodie-and-shorts or long-sleeve-t-shirt-and-shorts wear-er this time of year, and some of my more recent fits have been selections from brands like:
Balenciaga (luxury, spring/summer 2021) — My favorite hoodie I own, this Balenciaga spring/summer 2021 distressed teal pullover is one of my favorite fashion pieces to flaunt, mostly because I’d never really worn much brand-name stuff before buying this gem (which may have cost an arm and a leg, but oh well— kidneys can always be sold, right?)
H&M (more affordable, pre-fall 2021) — A recent short-and-sweet shopping trip to H&M had me exploring silky, satin-lined tops and bralettes plus blazers and jeans, which are my usual pre-fall uniform. I love this black blazer and satin bralette combo, which only cost me like $15 total.
Me, wearing a black satin bralette top with a silky, black blazer and jeans, all from H&M.
We all know that another fantastic part about late-summer/pre-fall is that the weather finally becomes somewhat bearable outside, meaning outdoor (or “al fresco”) dining picks back up in full force in most cities. In Philly this week, I’ve especially enjoyed selections from local Stephen Starr restaurants like:
Parc (Rittenhouse Square) — A Stephen Starr classic in Philadelphia, this french-bistro inspired Rittenhouse mainstay is always worth taking a brunch date to when you’re in the city on a Sunday afternoon. Tip— try the champagne cocktail called “The Hummingbird” if you like bubbly bevs!
Buddakan (Philly, Old City) — Dumplings, anyone? Another Stephen Starr staple in both Philly and NYC, Buddakan in Philadelphia’s Old City serves up lobster fried rice and edamame dumplings that are nearly to die for.
My beautiful friend Liz enjoying brunch at Parc in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia.
Bonus round— what I’ve been reading! Calling upon Interview with the Vampire once again, I’ve been obsessively reading and re-reading Anne Rice’s ‘The Vampire Chronicles’ series (upon which the film is based) and I can’t put them down. A series of 13 books and two spin-offs, this 15-book-total series blows my mind every time and I can’t wait to see the show being developed for AMC based on the book series.
So, what are you enjoying as summer winds down? Movies, music, food, books? Let’s discuss—
Xoxo, MM.