by Agnes Fagerudd
The second, ever so slightly less shut down corona-summer has arrived, in all its sweaty
glory. Although many restrictions are still in place, the light at the end of the tunnel is visible
and shines in the shape of a vaccine-filled syringe. And with this hopeful light, an attitude
shift seems to have taken place in many of us. We might not yet be able to travel, attend
festivals, parties, or go clubbing like normal, but this summer still represents the beginning
of the end of a one-and-a-half year-long shitfest. So, in honor of this newfound optimism,
consider these tips for a summer of celebration, relaxation, and joy.
Dresses for everyone!
Dress trends are the best this year. Are voluminous maxi dresses in flowy materials
your thing? Brilliant – right on trend. Are you more of a mini-dress with dainty
patterns-kind of person? Great! Do you prefer fitted midi-frocks with cut-outs any-
and everywhere? Fantastic, go off. Whatever look you fancy, there are trendy
selections on the market. And keep in mind that comfortability and personality are
always in style.
Dilf-wear.
When one embraces the practicality of dressing like a dad, there’s no going back. And
looking at the street style from various fashion weeks, glamourous dad-fashion is
here to stay. Do yourself a favor and thrift a pair of Bermuda shorts, sandals, and hats
and crack your worst best jokes. Or try channeling the style of a dad in another
decade, for example with a 70s leather jacket or a fitted vest.
Read all about it.
The glorious thing about reading is that you can spend an entire day in a hammock or
on a beach doing nothing but reading and still feeling productive. How about
dedicating these next few months to those classics you always wanted to read?
Listed below are some of my all-time personal favorites.
- Anything and everything by American icon Joan Didion (Slouching Towards
Bethlehem, A Year of Magical Thinking, Let Me Tell You What I Mean.) Didion is a
legend for several reasons, one of which being the way her writing resonates with
everyone and sucks you in with the first sentence. Whatever work of hers you
choose, you won’t be disappointed.
- What I Loved – Siri Hustvedt. Thrilling, psychological, and beautiful, about art, love,
loss, and confusion. With Hustvedt’s intriguing language and storytelling, you won’t
be able to put this one down.
- The Patrick Melrose Novels – Edward ST Aubyn. A collection of spectacularly well-
written novels about the messed-up lives of British nobility. Maybe not the happiest
of works, but phenomenal, nonetheless.
- A Single Man – Christopher Isherwood. A rightfully classic short-story, with a
beautifully tragic description of love and loss.
- The bell Jar – Sylvia Plath. If you haven’t read it, read it now. And if you have read it,
reread it. Plath’s way of depicting anxious feelings is famous for a reason and
manages to stay fresh, relevant, and necessary.
Let it Gogh.
It’s a cliché, but it’s relevant, so I don’t care. Making art in any way should be fun. If
you disagree, chances are you had a bad art teacher in school (most of us did.) But do
try to make something for yourself and not force yourself to produce something
perfect. 90% of the fun in painting is not caring too much. Easier said than done, of
course, but remember that you don’t have to show your creations to anyone but
yourself. Pinterest is a wonderful source of inspiration, whether you’re looking to
paint, draw, embroider, or sculpt.
Make it, eat it, drink it.
Picnics might be a God-sent gift to humanity. The possibilities are endless: bring a
safe portable grill and marinated vegetables, some gorgeously decorated cakes, a
deconstructed charcuterie board, or why not ingredients for your favorite drinks? A
hot tip is to make your own simple syrup from rhubarb, elderberry, or flowers and to
use that to create the ultimate summer drinks.
Sources
1. https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/best-street-style-
sydney-fashion-week-resort-2022-ready-to-wearPhotographed by Dan Roberts
2. https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/best-
street-style-sydney-fashion-week-resort-2022-ready-to-wear Photographed by Dan
3. https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2016/02/joan-
didion-writer-los-angeles, by Henry Clarke, the condé nast archive
4. Agnes Fagerudd
5. Agnes Fagerudd