The Summer Version of You

There is something about summer that makes me feel like a slightly different person.

Not a completely different person. 

But there is a version of me in summer that feels a little lighter.

She says yes more easily. She eats outside. She wears the dress. She does not overthink the second glass of wine.

And honestly? I like her.

Then August arrives, and slowly, the real world starts knocking again.

Kids go back to school. Work emails get more serious. Everyone starts saying things like “September strategy” and “fall planning,” which I personally find aggressive.

But here is the thing: I do not think we need to abandon the summer version of ourselves the second we come back home.

Of course, we all need to return to real life. We cannot live forever in a linen dress... Although, to be fair, some Europeans have built entire cultures around that concept and seem to be doing fine.

But maybe there is something worth keeping.

Maybe summer reminded you that you like color more than you thought. Maybe you felt better with less makeup. Maybe you wore dresses every day because they were easy, and now you are wondering why you make your life so complicated the rest of the year…

That is always interesting to notice.

Because the summer version of you is not just a vacation fantasy. Sometimes she is showing you what you actually want more of: more ease, more softness, more fun, more spontaneity, more color, more time outside, less overthinking, fewer “outfits” and more clothes that simply feel good.

And no, this does not mean you need to come back from vacation and change your entire life.

Although if you read my July newsletter, you know I fully understand the temptation to move to Lisbon after one good glass of wine.

(Definitely had a moment here where I thought, maybe I should just move to a lake in Austria. The surroundings were ridiculously beautiful.)

But before we call the real estate agent, maybe we start smaller.

What did you love wearing this summer?
What made you feel good without effort?
What did you keep reaching for?
What felt like a relief?

Maybe it was a loose dress. Maybe it was a color you never wear at home. Maybe it was wearing your hair up, gold earrings, and no foundation. Maybe it was the fact that you stopped saving your “nice things” for later and just wore them.

(This is me loving how I felt during a hot summer day walking around. Favorite breathy dress, hair half up, blush and mascara only for make up, my favorite jewelry, and comfy sneakers)

That is the part I want to bring back home.

Not the suitcase. Not the fantasy. Not the beach version of yourself.

The feeling.

The ease.

The little reminder that style does not always have to be so serious.

So as we slowly head back into routines, schedules, and the general violence of knowing what day it is, I think it is worth asking:

How can we keep a little bit of her?

Maybe it starts with wearing the summer dress in the city with a flat and a real bag. Maybe it is keeping a brighter color in rotation. Maybe it is making dinner outside on a random Tuesday. Maybe it is letting your wardrobe feel a little less controlled and a little more alive.

Because yes, fall is coming.

But not yet, mon amie.

Let’s not give up the summer version of ourselves too quickly!

Bisous my friend, 

Lili