lifestyle ideas for my modern midsummer romantics 🌞
messy floral cakes, jane birkin'd tennis shoes, honey fruit plates, beaded bags, colorful crossbodies and caps 🌼
Hey y’all—
April showers have passed; hopefully, they will bring those beautiful May flowers. I wish I could say that was completely true for the weather in Austin lately. However, it seems we haven’t escaped the rain and humidity yet. Most days are filled with bright rays of sun bouncing off of endless cloud coverage like the entire city is lit by god-awful fluorescent lights. I constantly check the weather app, hoping the next week will be different. (So far, it’s not.) Maybe I’ll miss the overcast once the sun is in full Texas force … big maybe.
When I think of May, I think of my mom, the end of a school year, days by the water, a sandwich and chips in the sun, the stars on a clear night, and the somewhat haunting sound of a fiddle in folk and bluegrass songs.
When I think of June, I think of adventure, hot wind, relaxing on a patio with the low buzz of conversation, ice cream, looming green trees, driving late at night, and myself. A mid-June baby who always downplayed her summer birthdays. I’m trying to turn over a new leaf this year — more on that later.
When I think of July, I think of fireworks, the smell of mesquite from roaring firepits, driving my dad’s old F150, the shadows of trees at dusk, and a constant layer of sweat on my body.
Yes, August is technically summer, but it feels like a prelude to fall. In many ways, August is the start of a new cycle and a second chance in the same year.
I feel gaslit by society into thinking May and June count as summer months. To be fair, my entire life has operated around the academic calendar. Most of my family members are educators, and I work in higher education myself, so when I think of summer months, I think of May, June, and July.
This is not the correct science, but for the sake of this article … would you let me hand-wave that away?
Amazing! Lately, I’ve been thinking about all the possibilities for filling these sunny months with vibrancy, delight, and a little whimsy. Most of my inspiration comes from Pinterest and Instagram and revolves around the Nordic celebration of Midsummer and the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. (With a modern twist, of course.)
My mood board has slowly been growing because it’s also the theme of my birthday party. Remember when I mentioned wanting to turn a new leaf? I’ve slowly started to do this by hosting more small parties at home. So— why not one for my solar return? 🌞
With love from Austin,
Mariah
Messy Floral Cakes
I love the renaissance of vintage heartcakes, and I think they are still a fabulous option. But if you’re looking for something a little more in tune with the seasons, and if you don’t mind giving your baker some artistic freedom, I may have another option for you.
This style incorporates fruit, flowers, and a piping style that doesn’t follow the rules. I love seeing the creative expression literally escaping from each cake. If you’re in need of a non-traditional Mother’s Day cake, a dessert for a special occasion, or just because … give this idea a chance.
Jane Birkin'd Tennis Shoes
The iconic Hermès Birkin handbag is named after the late singer and actress Jane Birkin, who was known for using the luxurious bag as God intended—with personality, without guard or preciousness, and every day. A Birkin is not an affordable or accessible bag, so people took the inspiration presented by Jane and began applying that style to their own handbags.
The same idea is finding its way onto tennis shoes. That said, there’s definitely more beadwork involved. But as all customizations work, they can be as extreme or subtle as one wants. I personally love seeing the incorporation of color over a monochrome look. But any of the styles incorporated elevate the casual street style.
Delightful Fruit Plates
This one is pretty simple, but I think we’re going to see the move away from huge charcuterie spreads to refreshing small plates. A combination I’m seeing appear as appetizers at recent dinners has been cantaloupe, prosciutto, and burrata with olive oil, flaky salt, and pepper. It’s a perfectly balanced plate. Another combo I love to see (and eat) is goat cheese, honey, seasonal fruit, and toasted bread. Can you tell I’m a Taurus rising yet?
Bold Handcrafted Bags
Leave your traditional black and brown bags at home. Dare I say, leave your cute beige totes too? I’m sorry for the offense! However, may I persuade you in some eye-catching options? This statement has been proven correct because each time I wear my Staud beaded bag, I’ll get approached for more details.
Handcrafted shoulder bags with beaded designs scream sunshine! Alongside those are also bright crossbody bags made from bright ribbon and other sustainable fabric.
Full disclosure: I’m not pushing exact brands on you. Because I 100% Afterpayed by Staud bag as a birthday gift last year. So, take the inspiration of the piece over everything else!
Baseball Cap
Somehow, I have become a collector of various baseball caps or dad hats… whatever you prefer. They provide a pop of color to some of my simple outfits, and they’re functional as originally created. Here are some of my favorite finds recently. (All images are hyperlinked.)
Thank you so much for reading. My Substack subscribers are steadily growing, and I’m so excited to have each and every one of you join the Sunday Romantics Club! I have so much in store for this space — including cute print pieces, so let me know if that’s something y’all would be interested in. But regardless, I’m so happy you’re here! 🫶🏼
And you know I can’t leave y’all without a themed playlist!
P.S. I got to witness Hozier live this past Tuesday and his vibes are fitting for this article. So check out my short vlog if you’re curious. ☕️🖤
Ummm OBVIOUSLY I would love to see a Sunday Romantics print piece!!!
Me, a taurus, also here for the floral cakes and fruit plates. 😛