Hello from over here, where I am happily folding zines—they’re newsprint this month!—printing, stuffing, and stamping envelopes. The August zine is somewhat of an ode. To what? Anxiety? Fleeting seasons? Preemptive nostalgia? The kind of fun you thought was gone, but by pure force of will you are stubbornly resurrecting?
It’s a list of summer things—to do, to eat, to think about—to make the most of this season while it’s waning, but still decidedly here. It’s structured like a scavenger hunt, for added fun (and to avoid aforementioned weird and cryptic mention of bucket list).
In honor and support of this newest issue, I thought I’d do a special ode-to-summer installment of The Source—loosier and goosier and decidedly more sans graphic elements than usual. Just a list of great things that have been useful or just boosted the mood this summer.
And if you’d like to subscribe to the ::print:: edition of Treehouse, which comes every (!) month, to your own personal mailbox, you can do so very easily by clicking below and upgrading to a “founding membership” a.k.a. “paid + print.”
And now—a bit of a list.
(Primarily for laziness reasons, I usually don’t do a lot of affiliate links, but there are some sprinkled throughout here. It may earn me a commission, if you choose to buy anything, but it doesn’t affect your end price and it definitely doesn’t affect my choices here. Thanks!)
Something Like A Uniform
I like clothes well enough, but I do find the problem of getting dressed, well, kind of a problem. People love the idea of a uniform and, as someone who spent 10 years in one, I can attest to their simplicity! Putting some things on that you know feel good and hopefully look alright is a good feeling.
Here’s what’s in rotation over here and is working (I think).
Linen Perfect T, Sold Out NYC | I wore this shirt too many days in a row to admit because once it was a part of me, it was hard to stop.
Kamakura “Vintage Ivy” Oxford Shirt | This is the perfect shirt. No silly darts (it’s men's), just the right weight, all the classic details. Easily worn open, closed, tucked, or un-!
Leset Kyoto Pants | When I am not in my beloved vintage cut-off 550s, there is almost nowhere I’d rather be than in a pair of these drawstring pants. I’m now on my second pair!!
Reformation Rio + Joy Swimsuits | I traipsed all over the JCrew swim section, knowing they’d at least attempted to reboot some of the classics. Anyway no success. Meanwhile, Reformation seems to have done the resurrecting on their behalf. Really great—and sustainable, deadstock?—swimsuits that harken back to the suit I had as a 90s tween.
For the inevitable schlep
I really dislike having a purse or a bag on my person, but in the summer there are just so many things to bring along with you. I find myself needing bags—usually pretty large—for various things. Markets! Beaches! Outings! Travel??
Alex Mill Perfect Weekend Tote | I think these bags have become something of a thing since I got the one I use… at least 5 years ago? It’s for good reason, though. It snaps up to be compact and structured, unsnaps to be floppy and adaptable. And apparently you can get it monogrammed now, which is fun and wasn’t the case back then!
High Tide Tarp Bag | THIS IS A VERY USEFUL BAG. Put your dank bathing suit and towel in there apres-swim! Did you pick some flowers? Put them in there! Do you have something that could splash while you’re driving? This will help. Right now I have my car collection of bug sprays and sunscreens in there because I know from previous years that when those misfire, it’s a horrible new problem to have to workshop in your upholstery. Also a big fan of the LL Bean game bags.
Big Night x Parker Thatch Mesh Bag | I’ve been carrying this bag everywhere this summer! I wish I had a more thoughtful and scientific explanation. It just comes in handy, fits whatever, and for one reason or another I just keep reaching for it.
Essential Goops
Freaks of Nature Sunscreen | I am fully and thoroughly on this bandwagon. That is all.
Sunkissed SPF 50 Stick | Also on the bandwagon (if there is one?) for this stick-based sunscreen I got at Merci in February, which has become an essential pack-along and makes the dreaded reapply that much simpler and likely to happen.
Manicurist Active Glow | I hadn’t painted my nails since, I think, moving to Maine 6 years ago UNTIL I came across this line. I love the idea of a sort of gummy-transparent nail that somehow, allegedly, infuses health in the process. Is it working? Absolutely no idea! But, it’s been a fun summer ritual to have some sweet nails.
Thanks for reading!! See you next week!
z
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