the roundup #26
beach bags, barbecues, and the beautiful game—plus my latest CASETiFY favorites, World Cup fun with Nuuly, and everything else that made this week unforgettable.
Be sure to follow our IG (@theseptember18) and note that some links in this roundup are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you! Every product featured here is something I genuinely love, obsessing, and/or recommend!
There is no cultural whiplash quite like spending three weeks back home in Mississippi before returning to New York in the middle of July.
For nearly a month, my days revolved around radiation appointments for my dad, my mom’s eye surgery, pharmacy runs, and unofficially becoming the family’s designated driver. I traded packed subway platforms for quiet highways, dinner reservations for waiting rooms, and a city that somehow makes 90 degrees feel fashionable for Mississippi’s 98-degree humidity that reminds you who’s really in charge.
By Saturday evening, I was back on a direct flight to New York.
In true New York fashion, I didn’t even make it an hour before jumping back into the city’s social calendar. I dropped my suitcase at my apartment, changed into my new AFRM dress, and headed straight to Madeline Marcella dinner with Haricot Vert just a few blocks from home. The theme was pure Y2K Lisa Frank fever dream: charm collaging, elevated SpaghettiOs, smiley fries, and enough colorful nostalgia to make you forget Monday morning was less than forty-eight hours away.
While I was gone, the city—and more importantly, the internet—kept moving.
Some people are still riding the post-Brinity high (I know I am). Others have spent the better part of the week dissecting the Phia drama after allegations of cookie stuffing sent affiliate marketers, fashion peeps, and tech reporters into a collective spiral. If you’ve somehow avoided the discourse, congratulations on having what I can only assume is a healthier relationship with your screen time than the rest of us.
Thankfully, I managed to land on the winning side of the week because somewhere between returning home and re-acclimating to city life, I got promoted at work.
Naturally, I celebrated the only way I know how: by making a financially questionable but emotionally sound purchase.
I finally tracked down one of my all-time wishlist pieces—the Perry Ellis America black-and-gold American flag sweater from Marc Jacobs’ tenure at Perry Ellis. Yes, the exact knit Julia Roberts wore in the November 1989 issue of Mirabella. Thanks to Vogue Shopping’s partnership with eBay hosted by The Millennial Decorator, one surfaced at exactly the perfect moment, and my self-control never stood a chance.
As if Haute Couture Week hadn’t already left enough for us to obsess over, Zendaya and Law Roach have happily picked up the baton with The Odyssey press tour. Every appearance somehow manages to outdo the last, culminating in Zendaya floating into the New York premiere wearing an angelic custom Matières Fécales look that looked less like a red carpet outfit and more like wearable art.
Which makes what happened next sting just a tiny bit more.
Zendaya and Law made a surprise appearance at Monday night’s stop of Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour.
I went Tuesday.
Missing the duo by exactly twenty-four hours feels like one of those uniquely New York experiences where you’re simultaneously incredibly lucky and painfully unlucky. Still, screaming “we can’t be friends” alongside thousands of other Ari fans did soothe the blow.
But thankfully, I did end the week with a few wins of my own.
Between the chaos, the comebacks, and my ever-growing list of things I somehow “need” to know about, there was plenty to celebrate. My current Off Campus addiction got even more exciting with Ella Bright becoming Rare Beauty’s first-ever brand ambassador, while Gracie Abrams officially stepped into her Chanel era as the face of Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu Fragrance. Glossier also managed to bottle up a little piece of New York nostalgia with their limited-edition I Love NY Balm (one of the perks of living one block away from a Glossier is that I will, of course, be stopping by later today to pick one up).
And in fashion wins, I somehow managed to snag a pair of the Hailey Bieber x Gap The Hailey Extra Baggy Jeans in Medium Indigo. If you missed out, don’t worry—the jeans are set to restock this Saturday, July 18th at 7AM ET, so set those alarms!
With so much happening this week—and plenty more already waiting in the wings—I hope you enjoy this week’s roundup. Consider this your little catch-up on everything I’ve been loving, bookmarking, and adding to cart.
Let’s dive in!
The essence of my Fourth of July could probably be summed up by one image: me standing behind a blue-and-black grill in 98-degree Mississippi heat, brushing sweet honey barbecue glaze over chicken while foil-wrapped garlic butter asparagus, hand-pressed hamburger patties, and hot dogs sizzled beside it. It was hot, smoky, a little chaotic, and one of those simple summer traditions I didn’t realize I’d missed so much after spending the past year in New York.
Of course, I wasn’t grilling alone. My trusted grill assistant, West—my German Shepherd—made sure to supervise every flip, turn, and trip back inside, patiently waiting for the moment something might accidentally find its way onto the ground.
Later that afternoon, we made our way to Mobile, Alabama, to celebrate my uncle’s birthday with the rest of my mom’s side of the family. The rest of the day unfolded exactly how a Southern summer should: catching up with family, cooling off in the pool at my grandparents’ house, and soaking in one of those slow, unhurried afternoons that somehow make time feel like it stands still.
As much as I love New York, there’s something about summers back home that always remind me why they’ll forever have a place in my heart.
There are few things I love more than a perfectly packed beach bag. The art of beach preparation is truly underrated—you need the practical things (sunscreen, water, a towel), the little luxuries that make the day feel elevated, and those “thank me later” items that somehow always become the MVPs of the trip.
After spending plenty of time chasing sunshine, salty air, and long afternoons by the water, I’ve curated my ultimate beach bag lineup: the products I actually reach for, the essentials that have earned a permanent spot in my tote, and the little extras that make a beach day feel less like a trip to the shore and more like a mini vacation.
For the past three years, I've been using the same light brown phone case. Functional? Absolutely. Inspiring? Not even a little. It was the kind of accessory that quietly blended into the background—until CASETiFY convinced me it was finally time for a refresh. After spending June testing out new cases while I was back home in Mississippi, I can confidently say my plain brown phone case era has officially come to an end.
The three cases I selected are part of CASETiFY's Resort: Hot and Unbothered collection, a summer collection built around the idea of bringing your personal aesthetic with you wherever you go. Inspired by peak travel season, vacation souvenirs, and those little details that make a trip feel special, the collection proves that everyday essentials can still feel like part of the outfit. From durable designs made to withstand travel days to playful prints that feel like the perfect summer accessory, CASETiFY created a collection for those who want to stay stylish, coordinated, and (of course) hot and unbothered.
The first case that immediately spoke to me was the Please Do Not Disturb Compact Case—and honestly, I think I was spiritually connected to this one when selecting it. Maybe it was the universe sending me a very clear message, but during my time away back on the Gulf Coast, the reminder to simply do just that felt very fitting. After a busy year, being home gave me the chance to slow down, spend time with family, and embrace a little more quiet. This case felt like the perfect accessory for that season of life: a tiny reminder to protect my peace (while also protecting my phone, naturally).
The standout of the three has easily been the Apple Net Mirror Case. First of all, there is a mirror on it—which feels like the kind of tiny but genius detail you don't realize you need until you have it. Beyond the obvious practicality of checking my lip gloss or fixing my hair on the go, something about this case instantly reminded me of a New York City summer. It feels like the accessory you would throw into your tote before heading out for a coffee run, wandering through SoHo, or meeting friends for dinner downtown. While I spent most of June wearing it back home in Mississippi, it felt like carrying a little piece of the city with me while I was away. It quickly became the case I reached for most, and it has officially earned its spot as my everyday favorite.
The Tiger Fur Print Impact Clear Case was another easy favorite because, if you've been following along on Notes, you already know this print has been having a major moment in my summer wardrobe rotation. I mentioned tiger print as one of my must-have summer prints, and so many of you agreed, so naturally I had to bring that energy to my phone too. What I love about this case is that it feels playful without being limiting—it works with everything. Whether I'm carrying a vintage bag, wearing something simple, or leaning into a more maximalist outfit moment, it always fits the vibe. It's the kind of year-round accessory that feels like a small statement piece without requiring a full outfit commitment.
After long beach days on the Gulf Coast, being tossed around in my tote, and surviving the ultimate test of being West-proof, these cases have officially earned their place in my everyday rotation. CASETiFY managed to turn something as simple as a phone case into another way to express your personal style—and I'm officially retiring the boring brown case for good.
MADE YOU LOOK BY TANYA GRANT - A fast-paced psychological thriller where a group of elite social media influencers head to a secluded Catskills retreat. When a sudden snowstorm traps them with no Wi-Fi, no cell service, and a killer on the loose, their dream trip quickly devolves into a desperate bid for survival.
SINGLE GIRLS BY JOHN SEARLES - This charming, lively novel offers a fictionalized look at the early years of the iconic Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown. It follows the ambitious group of young women she took under her wing to help reshape the magazine—and modern womanhood—in mid-century America.
THE HOUSE GUEST BY JENNIFER PASHLEY - In this suspenseful domestic thriller, a talented but down-on-her-luck personal chef takes a live-in gig at a secluded Cape Cod beach house for a bestselling author. She quickly finds herself caught in a toxic, manipulative, and ultimately deadly game of cat-and-mouse between the writer and his seductive wife.
INDIE DARLING BY LAUREN NOSSETT - Set against the gritty and glittering backdrop of Nashville, this mystery follows a Dolly Parton-loving private investigator named Kelly Williams. When a polarizing, feminist indie pop star is shot on stage and her ambulance mysteriously vanishes, Kelly is pulled into a dark web of toxic stardom, secrets, and obsession.
GO GENTLE BY MARIA SEMPLE - A witty, zany comedy of manners centered on a divorced Upper West Side Stoic philosophy scholar who thinks she has her life entirely figured out. Her quiet, structured existence in the legendary Ansonia building is hilariously upended when a chance meeting with a handsome stranger drags her into international art-world intrigue.
Don’t hate me, but I have a confession to make: I’m not a huge soccer fan. Growing up, my sports rotation was always football, basketball, tennis, and cheer, so soccer was never really part of the conversation in my family. But when the World Cup landed in New York, I knew it was the perfect excuse to finally make new memories around a sport I never truly got the chance to appreciate before—all thanks to Nuuly
For those unfamiliar, Nuuly is a clothing rental subscription service that lets you experiment with your wardrobe without the commitment of buying every single piece. Members can rent six styles a month from a rotating selection of fashion-forward brands, making it the perfect way to try new trends, build outfits for special occasions, or simply have a little more fun with getting dressed including game day. As someone who loves fashion but also loves finding ways to be more intentional with my closet, it’s basically the dream solution for those “I have nothing to wear” moments.
So when Nuuly invited me to celebrate the summer of soccer with Perfectly Imperfect at The Ground on the Lower East Side, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to step outside my usual sports comfort zone. The World Cup Gameday party brought together everything I love about New York—fashion, community, food, and a little bit of friendly competition—for an evening featuring live tournament action, treats, drinks, and the chance to catch the Norway vs. Iraq match.
The space was transformed into the ultimate soccer playground, with every corner offering something new to discover. The Patio featured food from @shysburgers, drinks, a @checkpoint.pictures photo station, and plenty of room to hang out and soak in the atmosphere. Inside, The Indoor Field hosted the livestream of the match, a cozy picnic area, and an embroidery station where guests could customize their gear. And upstairs, The Rooftop Field brought the energy with open 5v5 pickup games, a DJ, and plenty of opportunities to get involved—whether you came ready to play or were happily cheering from the sidelines.
Here are a few of my top Nuuly selects from this month’s box, plus a couple of pieces I already have my eye on for my next one! If you’re interested in trying Nuuly for yourself, you can get $30 off your first order with my LINK and start building your dream wardrobe rotation.
Such a good find!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️