Shop my Summer Essentials

The instafamous pineapple float! Floaties were the blogger accessory last summer. Unicorns, swans, flamingos, pineapples, watermelons, donuts, you name it. I honestly don’t know a single instagrammer that didn’t photograph themselves on some kind of floaty last year. While my pineapple awaits me in Mykonos, you can get yours from Amazon.

The second favourite summer bloggable item was the floppy hat. Any floppy hat will do, but most bloggers also got something cute like “do not disturb” or “out of office” written on it in sequins. Of course, I had to get one too, which I wore all summer long after my June wedding.

Although I live in London, where summer comes and goes as quickly as Christmas, I still need a few new things to wear. Last year, I wrote this post about my Mykonos summer haul and wanted to do something similar. Since I already have a lot of clothes and moving towards the slow fashion ethos, I’m only buying a few pieces.

The slow movement, whether for fashion, lifestyle or food, is a topic I really feel strongly about. Slow fashion is basically about more careful buying as well as investing in products that are made to last. Two ways you can support the movement is by reducing your impulse buys and shopping from more independent and ethical retailers.

Shop My Summer Haul

Reiss Bikini

Greek Sandals

Prada Sunglasses

Oysho Crochet Swimsuit

Calvin Klein Bikini Top

Calvin Klein Bikini Bottoms

Kindle Paperwhite

Reiss Bikini

Greek Sandals

Prada Sunglasses

Oysho Crochet Swimsuit

Calvin Klein Bikini Top

Calvin Klein Bikini Bottoms

Kindle Paperwhite

One of my favourite independent retailers is a Greek sandals and handbags designer called Alasia Lifestyle (formerly Love From Cyprus), who took this photo of me below wearing her black Kamares slides. I wore these everywhere last summer as a trendier alternative to flip-flops. This season, I have my eye on some new gladiator-style gold sandals that I think will look amazing with this Reiss bikini. Check out my interview with Anastasia from last year.

I won’t be buying any new heels, as my favourite ones are still the barely-there sandals I bought from & Other Stories last year. Mine are in leather, but they are currently selling this patent version. The heel is so low I can wear them all day and night without my feet complaining. I’ve worn them to weddings, dinners, and most recently, partying until 5 am in Hong Kong! …which was only 10 pm London time.

Recently, I was at House of Fraser looking for one of those deep U-plunge bras to wear under my dress for the UK Blog Awards and fell in love with this marble bathing suit from Calvin Klein. Ok, not an independent brand, but I definitely thought twice before buying it. It’s a really flattering fit and I also like that the top and bottoms are sold separately as I’m an S up top and an M down below.

Somehow I also stumbled across this Oysho crochet swimsuit online. Immediately I thought it looked super Instagrammable and it was an absolute steal at just £39.99. This one is nearly sold out, but they also have a lot of other cool designs. I already had the opportunity to wear it twice, to a girls spa day in Malta and to the jacuzzi soon after landing in Hong Kong! The brand also does amazing pyjamas.

Another great buy was this striped summer dress from Anthropologie, which my lovely mother-in-law bought for me while we were out shopping. It was the first time I properly had a nosy around an Anthropologie store and I guess like everyone I also fell in love. I had no idea they did homeware too. I wanted to buy everything but remembered ‘slow fashion, slow consumption‘ and managed to leave with just the one dress.

This year, I also bought a pair of new cat eye sunglasses from Prada. Each summer I go to Mykonos, where women wear make-up and jewelry to the beach. And so, in an effort to blend in, I bought these.

Last but not least, I think it’s time I get a new Kindle. I haven’t bought it yet, but it’s on my to-do. One of my favourite things about summer holidays is long lazy days reading by the pool. I’ve had my kindle for a couple of years now and while it hasn’t failed me yet, they’ve since brought out some much cooler models, like this latest one in white!

What are some of your favourite buys this summer?

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Lara Olivia

Freelance writer and blogger obsessed with food, travel and good stories.

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