Open Thread: Bought & Liked

Flowy and satisfying. Free People’s Outlined High-Low Cami ($58).

With the heat of summer in full swing, my closet is stripped down to the bare bones of hot weather survival. Inside, what I’ve been buying to help me make it through these hazy days and I’d love to hear what you’ve bought and liked!

Come summer Free People becomes more appealing than ever to me. This year in Manhattan I’ve noticed that more than ever displaying pretty bras peeking out from your shirt has become a thing…and as a 34D I can’t say I’m upset! I love, love many of Free People’s bras that support me wonderfully. (A few of my favorite underwire styles: the Galloon Underwire ($48), the Lace Triangle Bra ($38), the Lace Plunge Underwire ($48). Their bralettes do not support me alone but over a bra they make a pretty statement. I picked up both Galloon styles shown above in copper and wear them under the Outlined High-Low Cami ($58) in red shown at the top of this post. (Also thinking about picking it up in mint…)

I take a medium in the bralettes, a 34D in the underwire bras and sized down to an x-small in the cami. It’s still pretty flowy!

Also on my Free People list: the Truly Madly Deeply Halter ($38), the Free Swing Cami ($30), the Moon Dance Solid Tee ($68).

Over at Anthropologie I’ve been checking out their lounge section to see what I can wear outside as a light piece. The Scalloped Tap Shorts ($48) and Torrance Cami ($78) are both winners! I wear the cami with the Level 99 Chambray Shorts ($78) I reviewed here.The Costanza Eyelet Slip ($68) doesn’t pass the outdoors test but it is the perfect summer sleepwear.

My Anthropologie list is overflowing at the moment, but here are a few pickups I plan to make very soon: the Astilbe Swing Dress ($475), the Canalasso Skimmers ($99), the Layla Pullover ($88, review).

Over in shoes I’d been concentrating on basics over the winter. Summer meant going for fun! I adore the VC Signature Pikora sandals — they have a modern shape and after a few wears they’re super comfortable. Admittedly, those first few wears to break them in were painful. Also incredibly fun? The Dolce Vita Hexen Sandals shown middle above. They came in a few color choices. I settled on this crazy mint-spotted calf hair pattern. They’re surprisingly comfortable though not all-day wearable…after a few hours of standing my feet are ready for flats, but if I’m walking some of the time and sitting some of the time they are fine. I grabbed the shoes on sale at Piperlime, but they’ve since sold out. Amazon has them in select sizes and they also pop back on Shopbop occasionally. I took my usual size 9 in the Vince Camuto Pikoras and a 9.5 in the Dolce Vita Hexens. Speaking of Shopbop they are again running a 25% off sale promo and today is the last day!

The Sam Edelman Tyra T-Straps sold out at Anthropologie before I could grab my size but Zappos was there to fill in the gap. These sandals are so, so comfortable and I get compliments on them all the time. I love the glittery squares on top of the straps. They catch the sun and generally feel cheerful. I found my usual size 9 to fit great!

The Puma pumps I’d bought in 2008 (!!!) for exercising finally died this year so I had to hunt down a new pair. I ended up settling on two pairs: one for running and one for my gym classes. For my classes I’m enjoying the New Balance 520s ($60) shown above. The heel is a little low so when I first wore them my foot would slip out occasionally, but now they’re broken in and great. I love the low heel because it yields good flexibility. For running I settled on the New Balance 636s ($60). I bought them in pink at DSW but I can’t find the color online anywhere right now. I also love this lime version of the shoe! These sneakers have elastic laces, which means you never have to tie them. Perfect for me, as I find my sneakers usually come untied all the time! I tested them out for stride on the treadmill at Jack Rabbit sports here in NYC, and they beat out a few much more expensive pairs of running shoes for comfort and correct stride in my body. I’m not sure who was more shocked — me or the store staff!

Along with these purchases, I’ve also been loving the J.Brand Grayson Cargos I picked up on sale a few weeks ago and the AG Beau in 18 Years Flyaway. Whew! That’s quite a list over the last few months. What have you bought and loved recently?


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