July 4th weekend is officially here, which means summer is in full swing. Whether you’re heading to a beach house, hosting a backyard BBQ, or just spending a long weekend relaxing by the pool, having the right essentials makes all the difference.
But here is my rule for holiday weekend shopping: I refuse to buy things I will only use once. No cheap, flimsy pool floats that pop after an hour, and no overly themed outfits that will sit in my closet until next year. I am all about investing in high-quality, aesthetic summer essentials that I will genuinely use from now until September.
Here are my absolute must-haves for the long weekend (and the rest of the summer). You can find all of these items linked on my Amazon Storefront.
1. The Perfect Oversized Linen Button-Down
If there is one piece of clothing you need for summer, it’s a high-quality linen shirt. It is the ultimate versatile piece. I wear it as a swim cover-up during the day, and then button it up with denim cut-offs and gold jewelry for a casual BBQ in the evening.
I have been living in this oversized linen blend button-down. It is incredibly breathable, drapes beautifully, and looks so much more expensive than it actually is. I bought it in white and a gorgeous subtle stripe.
2. A Chic, Insulated Cooler Tote
Gone are the days of lugging around a massive, ugly plastic cooler that bruises your legs while you walk to the beach.
I recently upgraded to this aesthetic insulated cooler tote bag. It looks like a stylish canvas beach bag, but the inside is fully insulated to keep drinks and snacks ice cold all day long. It’s lightweight, easy to carry, and fits perfectly in the trunk of the car.
3. The Ultimate Sun Protection Hat
I am extremely serious about sun protection, but I also want to look cute in photos. Finding a hat that provides actual coverage without looking like you’re going on a safari is surprisingly difficult.
This wide-brim straw fedora is the perfect balance. It has UPF 50+ protection built in, the brim is wide enough to protect my face and neck, and it has a hidden adjustable band inside so it won’t blow off when the wind picks up at the beach.
4. An Aesthetic, Sand-Free Beach Towel
Standard terry cloth beach towels are bulky, take forever to dry, and somehow bring half the beach back into your car.
I have completely switched over to these Turkish cotton beach towels. They are incredibly lightweight, dry in minutes, and most importantly—sand doesn’t stick to them. Plus, the subtle striped patterns look so chic draped over a lounge chair.
5. The “No-Makeup” Summer Glow Routine
Nobody wants to wear a full face of foundation when it’s 90 degrees outside. For holiday weekends, I rely entirely on a glowing, minimal makeup routine that won’t melt off.
My holy trinity is: this invisible SPF 40 as a base, a few drops of bronzing glow serum for warmth, and a swipe of hydrating lip oil. It gives you that perfect, sun-kissed “I just got back from vacation” look in under two minutes.
6. A High-Quality Portable Speaker
Whether you’re on a boat, at the beach, or just hanging out on the patio, good music is essential for a long weekend.
We take this waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker everywhere. The sound quality is incredible for its size, the battery lasts all day, and it’s completely waterproof, so you don’t have to panic if it gets splashed by the pool.
What are your plans for the long weekend? Let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to check out my Amazon Storefront to shop all my summer essentials.
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