June Reveries:
What I Loved, Wore, Read & Sipped
If June was a feeling, it would be rose mist and a battered leather bag over shoulder. They say that whatever happens in the thirty days of this month of honeyed sun and syrup, is always in divine alignment; exits, arrivals, and even stillness. For me, June is always the old faithful and whimsical reverie back to summers spent at home in girlhood.
Cancer season, a pink edged lily flower if any, unfurled in the haze of a heatwave and limestone dust. It was a month for femininity and returning to s
low pleasures.
Pocketed satchels. Split pea dips. White linen dress with black beaded necklaces. And colours? Aqua blue and soft pink, always.
Here’s everything I loved this month, in no particular order but all in deep affection.
I’d tuck June moments away in…
Vintage Chloé Paddington - She’s girl with bohemian coolness, with an urban and earthy appeal. The kind of louche yet polished style that could only come from Phoebe Philo’s era. Think slouch, soft leather, hardware that doesn’t try too hard.
Balenciaga City Bag - A forever problem child with the Olsen seal of approval. The original It Bag that still knows how to cause a new wave. And don’t get me started on it’s capaciousness! Ideal for a girl who has adopted the Mary Poppins’ mode of packing.
Firkin — Not quite a Birkin, but not actually trying to be. A tongue in cheek commentary on our relationship to exclusivity and luxury in fashion. Loved to death, humorous and certainly not taking itself too seriously, bootleg but not cosplay. She’s redefining the classics, find her in denim, or camo, or however the brand has decided to knock off the original. Love it.
Mulberry Roxanne — The utilitarian dreamboat. All those pockets. She’s a working woman with secrets. And really, aren’t we all?
June’s Book: The White Album by Joan Didion
Joan Didion remains the omniscient voice of generations. I introduced myself to The White Album this month and it felt a little close to the bone: the disjointed narrative, the detached recounting of cultural chaos, a necessary mirror to the turbulence of today. Didion doesn’t lead you; she lets you sit next to her while the world unravels. "We tell ourselves stories in order to live." and in June, I needed stories more than ever. Hers are a tonic, bone-dry, and oddly comforting.
Album on Repeat: Addison by Addison Rae
Say what you will, Addison Rae's debut EP Addison is the soundtrack of summer. Every moment feels like a dreamscape. A daring to try harder, to allow the possibility of fantasy, to have fun while doing it. This is high-vibrational pop at its most sincere. Personal favourites? Summer Forever and In The Rain. Dare I say she is moving to territories only marked before by the greats of Britney Spears, and even… Madonna?
Rose Oil Rituals
I’ve been wearing rose essential oil this month - not necessarily as perfume, but diluted into water as a face mist, gifted by my mum one evening that required a relief from heat. Rose is Cancer-coded: nostalgic and romantic with an air of meloncholic comfort. It’s also the ultimate scent of divine femininity. I spray it on post-skincare and its cooling benefits are instant.
Chanel Is Having A (Quiet) Moment Again
I go through phases, oscillating between the grunge and dystopia from the likes of Balenciaga and Rick Owens, to the classics of Isabel Marant, Marc Jacobs, Chloe. But for now, Chanel is back in my heart. My vintage gold bangle makes every outfit feel more expensive than it is, and I’ve been living in my white quilted Chanel pumps as sourced in a gleeful frenzy from some unsuspecting on Vinted. They’re the kind of shoes that appeal to the prim and proper, and the fashion girls that can note the subtle irony and respect the juxtaposition.
Accessory of the Month: Black Beaded Necklaces
These feel bold and are able to elevate any minimalist outfit. I’ve been layering mine over doubled ivory and sheer tank tops with linen trousers and Haviainas. Think 1990s Italian widow meets Olsen twin. Understated and maybe a little unsettling.
Taste of the Month: Split Pea Dip & Sparkling Wine at Flawd
Not to be too frivelous now, but I could write poetry about the split pea dip from Flawd. It’s earthy, creamy, vaguely lemony, and the more grounding counterpart when paired with their flirtatious Quarticello Despina, a lightly sparking natural Malvasia. This is food that romances you quietly. The kind of plate that makes you believe that life is worth living again - especially when shared with your sister on Ancoats Marina. Also, the kind of plate that makes you think three bottles of the sparkling is totally doable (it is, but at what cost?).
Soft Colour Crushes: Aqua & Pink
This month, my mind is adorned with a contrasting combination in colour: Aqua and soft pink. A far cry from the usual monochromatic black, whites, and ivories that I gravitate towards. Aqua feels fun and dreamy and soft pink feels like my long awaited return to femininity.
I’m here for it and am keen to get my hands on the token aqua dress as designed by At First Studio, both casual and playful at once.
Favourite Video: "Put Love at the Centre of Your Life, Not Discipline" by Josephine
June brought me to Josephine’s beautiful video essay, Put Love at the Centre of Your Life, Not Discipline. It’s a gentle but fierce reminder to soften our approach to ambition and to let feeling lead. To achieve your wildest ambitions and to characterise your life by joy requires a more sensual approach to living. We won’t get nearly as far by travelling with a crucifix on our back. It feels like an antidote to grind culture and a warm invitation back to self.
To avoid short-changing this insightful video any further, watch it here.
Final Thought:
I don’t believe in how-to guides, but I certainly hope that these recommendations enrich your summer - or at least encourage you to romanticise the mundane. If there’s one thing to take as gospel, let it be Flawd’s split pea dip…
Until next month x
