Things I’m loving right now, in the swell of August:

01. Trespasses by Louise Kennedy.

Are you reading this month’s Magpie Book Club pick? OMG; I am loving it. A book for Sally Rooney fangirls, of which I am a card-carrying member. I am nearly finished and I have found myself writing “Joyce!” and “Cinema!” over and over again in the margins. Can’t wait to dig into it. My book review will be out next week! (Side note: below, I’m wearing the CUTEST $148 dress. It reminds me so much of La Double J!)

02. The Bandana Print Trend.

I wrote about this nano-trend earlier this summer but have been going crazy over the print right now. I ordered these shorts (on sale in select sizes here), this tote, and this scarf in the past week, and two other finds I can’t stop thinking about: this sports bra and these statement pants.

UPSIDE SHORTS // CALL IT BY YOUR NAME TOTE // MAISON LECOMTE FLAMENT SCARF // ALIX OF BOHEMIA PANTS // UPSIDE SPORTS BRA

03. The Mille Saffron Dress.

Mille Saffron dress. Last week, I slipped on one of my three Mille Saffron dresses and was reminded that it is, in fact, the perfect summer house dress. Loose fitting, easy-breezy, and the most joyful prints! I am constantly stopped by strangers when I wear these dresses; I feel like they are woefully under-represented out in the ether. I don’t think I’ve ever run into someone else wearing Mille! Is this our secret?! My code JEN15 gets you 15% off sitewide, and they are also (hopefully this is still live by the time this post is born) running an extra 50% off sale. (This shorter version of my Saffron dress is included!). But OMG, do we need this top for fall?! Tucked into high-waist ecru denim? BTW, Mille runs really generously — go down a size.

04. Culture Pop Soda.

Culture Pop soda. Have you tried this? I’m probably the last person on the planet, but I’m newly obsessed. The flavors are phenomenal, and I love a fizzy drink with lunch. To me its more like a stepped-up Spindrift — not too sweet, not too over-powering in flavor, but more concentrated in taste than Spindrift (and under 50 calories/can). Straight-up fun to drink. The most important thing to me: they do not contain any fake sweeteners. I have become so sensitive to that chemical taste! I can’t stand it. I have loved every flavor I’ve tried (we got the sampler with all of the flavors), but Mango/Lime and Strawberry/Rhubarb have been standouts. I tagged them on social media and they sent us a code – JENSHOOP10 if you want to try.

05. Doen’s Fall Collection.

Doen’s new fall collection. Ugh. I mentioned earlier this week but I truly want one of everything. I finally narrowed it down to this skirt, which I ordered this week, but I still have this dress and this gingham top in my cart.

LEFT: VERONICA BEARD TANK // BAUBLE BAR NECKLACE // TOTEME CLUTCH (ON SALE IN A DIFFERENT COLOR HERE) // LOEFFLER SANDALS // DOEN SKIRT

RIGHT: NACKIYE JACKET // MADEWELL BOAT SHOES // DOEN SKIRT // DONNI TEE // LIFFNER BAG

LEFT: J. CREW EYELET SHORTS // DOEN GINGHAM TOP // RL SUNNIES // CALL IT BY YOUR NAME TOTE // LOEFFLER SANDALS

RIGHT: DOEN GINGHAM TOP // MADEWELL BOAT SHOES // EVERLANE WAY-HIGH JEANS // LIFFNER BAG

06. Bubblegum Necklaces.

These $68 Bauble Bar necklaces have gone viral and are selling out in select colors — they’re also 25% off today! I own in two colors!

07. Ralph Lauren Redux + “The Materialists.”

Slightly (majorly) influenced by Dakota Johnson in “The Materialists” — a movie I loved?!?! have you seen?! I couldn’t get over the scene where she’s wearing the trench coat, Nikes, and this RL hat. I literally ordered that hat from the couch. The styling was a 10/10 for me; I will be recreating her under-cover look. (Side note: Dakota also wore DOEN (!) in a few scenes in the movie. The stylist knew what was up. I loved her Doen wedding guest dress look!)

TRENCH COAT // NIKES // DOEN DRESS // SUNNIES // HAT

Related: I’m falling back in love with RL in general. I’ve never exactly been out of love (I think my striped oxfords date back to my high school years, and I still wear them every season), but I feel a new energy. I recently ordered this denim button-down from them and it’s going to be my fall calling card. Looks SO GOOD paired with white eyelet now, with suede and corduroy later. The wash is perfection.

TEE // RICKY JEANS // BUTTON-DOWN // FAIR ISLE SWEATSHIRT // SUNNIES // TOTE // QUARTER-ZIP

08. “The Materialists” Movie.

“The Materialists” in general. This movie has been polarizing among friends and Magpies I’ve polled — some of my friends hated it, others found it “smeh,” a select few liked it. I thoroughly enjoyed it in spite of imperfect plot mechanics (some of it just didn’t hang together for me); Celine Song is insanely talented. The aesthetics of the movie, the texture of it, the scale of the frames she uses! She has such a photographic eye. I’m not crazy about either of the male actors in the film but I found Dakota captivating and some of the script knee-bucklingly romantic. (“When I look at you, I see gray hair and children who look like us.” OMG. If it’s not that, I don’t want it!). I thought it prodded the institution of marriage in interesting ways–Landon and I paused the movie multiple times and had generative conversations about some of the topics broached–and ultimately landed where I wanted it to.

09. Summer Moisture.

Summer moisture favorites: I’m sorry; I can’t stop raving about this eye cream (currently 25% off in Biossance’s Friends and Family sale!) and this moisturizer. Just so good. Both contain niacinamide, which reduces dark spots/brightens, and I find it actually well and truly works. They also have fantastic textures — I apply and feel like my skin is bouncy, happy, bright…! Finally, the eye cream’s rollerball applicator feels divine during these summer months.

10. Aplos N/A Aperitivi.

I mentioned this a few months ago, but Landon and I are trying to avoid or limit alcohol during most weeknights, but we still have the ritual of cocktail hour engrained in us, and find ourselves looking for a little something to mark the end of the workday and the beginning of our home life. I find this is an important ritual to maintain during this era of work-from-home, when work can feel boundary-less if you let it! We’ve tried a bunch of different brands, some shrubs, some teas. Landon likes select N/A beers, too. I’ve lately really enjoyed Aplos’ aperitivi–especially the Ume Spritz. They are not too sweet but have complex, interesting flavors. I also like to have these on hand for when we have non-drinking guests over for dinner. Something fun and interesting to sip on!

What are you loving this month?!

P.S. Elevated athleisure looks.

P.P.S. Who are you when no one’s looking?

P.P.P.S. In case you needed the reminder: you might as well…!