July 2026 Favorites | Non-Alcoholic Spritzes, Sexy Coffee Table Books, and Floral Perfumes for People Who Hate Florals

Happy August. But before we get into August, let's talk July favorites.

July is one of those months for me (and August too, honestly) when I just have low energy. It's not my favorite time of year, and I kind of just feel meh. I'm already ready for fall, as that's the time of year I tend to feel most like myself, most confident, and most comfortable. Summer is just meh.

But July has flown by, and now I'm getting into some of my favorites, even though I'm a few days late into the month doing it, which I don't love. But it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot this month. I haven't hit some of my goals around writing and putting out content as often as I'd like, and if i’m being really honest some long term goals with this side of creating haven’t come to fruition yet (like i had set goals for). But i’ve been working on reframing. Focusing on how it’s about continuing to show up and do the thing, even when you aren't hitting those goals or getting the outcomes you want.

There's something about repetition that builds resilience and just keeps you going. I think, in a way, it desensitizes you to feelings of failure, falling short, or even rejection. It's really just about showing up for yourself and saying, "I committed to this thing, so I'm going to do it." When you fulfill your commitments to yourself, whether that's writing, working out, or taking care of yourself in other ways, and you keep doing it, it genuinely makes you feel good. You get to see it in real time. Yes, I'm not instantly getting the instant gratification I want, but I'm still here doing the thing.

That's my little spiel. But that's not why we're here. Let's talk July favorites.

Beauty

My usual scent lane is woody, lived-in, sexy. For summer, I like to go fresh and a little punchy instead, and this month that means Blooming Fire by Orebella. Full disclosure: the brand sent me a travel size, with no posting obligation, and I genuinely love it. I mnention this only because transparency is important to me. This fragrance is warm, floral, and weirdly nostalgic. It reminds me of slathering on sunscreen as a kid, which I hated then and am deeply grateful for now. There's a patchouli base that keeps it fresh, plus jasmine, bergamot, cedarwood, clove leaf, and Tahitian monoi, giving it this lived-in floral quality. It's a floral for people who don't like florals. The travel-size bottle is also just really cute and slides into a small clutch perfectly.

Earlier this year I picked up the Vitamin C Serum from Ursa Major at Merz Apothecary, and it's been in heavy rotation since. Vitamin C is a slow burn for me (I usually don't see results until about two months in), but this one delivers. It brightens, it hydrates, and it's genuinely faded some of the darkness under my eyes. I notice the difference the second I skip it for a few days. Texture-wise, it's not sticky and doesn't sit heavy on the skin. I've layered makeup over it more than once (don't quote me on the technique, but it's worked fine every time), and it's just as good solo on a lazy day in.

Hand cream is where I have real feelings. Sometimes I want light and effortless, sometimes I want dense and rich, and Verden's D'Orangerie Hand Cream is very much the latter. It feels heavy going on but absorbs within a minute, softens the skin more than I expected, and has an orange blossom-and-citrus scent that's present without being loud. I keep it in my travel bag and use it before bed, occasionally on my heels, which deserve some TLC after a day of parading around the city. The packaging is a little mid (I wish it came in something else), but the product more than makes up for it.

Experiences

Earlier this month I went to Boston for work and tacked on an extra day to explore with a friend. First stop: Market Square Jewelers. Incredible. Big, giant cocktail rings everywhere, and the staff just let us play and try things on with zero pressure. As someone who's spent real money chasing the luxury game, I can tell you a lot of high-end stores have completely forgotten how to do that for anyone who isn't a whale, aka established relationship and spending big. This place is the opposite, relationship-first, no attitude, which guess what, means I'll absolutely be back for more vintage pieces, even if there is a slightly higher price on some of them. They lean gold overall, with some silver at the Beacon Hill location. I walked away with a martini shaker charm for my bracelet and a gorgeous sterling silver aquamarine ring. Whatever you're hunting for, they likely have it.

Also in Boston I had dinner at Raffles, whose properties I already love. I had one of the best martinis of my life at their restaurant, La Padrona. The olives are served on ice, which is such a small touch but completely changes the experience. The hotel's long bar serves an excellent Singapore Sling, plus their own Boston Sling twist, if that's your thing. I’ve reviewed Long Bar and their afternoon tea experience in the past on my Youtube.

Fashion & Style

I am, apparently, a pants girl now. I got a pair of high-waisted trousers from BAACAL earlier this year and had them tailored, and they've become the most versatile piece in my closet. Genuinely the pair that made me comfortable wearing pants again after 10-plus years. I wore them to the airport with a T-shirt, vest, and sneakers, and dressed them up with heels and a tank for dinner and drinks. I have them in black, though they come in other colors, and yes, the price point is steep, but the cost-per-wear math works out. I wore them five times this month, which I never expected to say about a wide-leg trouser in the middle of summer. Cannot wait to bring them into fall.

I also dug out my Sophia Webster Carmen Rose flats, picked up secondhand via The RealReal a while back. Sexy for a flat, vintage in feel, extremely comfortable, and I wore them all over the city with a friend and they elevate literally any outfit. Got them for well under retail and had them redone at the cobbler; good as new. The RealReal always has something from this brand on a good price, so check it out maybe?

Schiaparelli, Schiaparelli, Schiaparelli. I am, and have always been, a Schiaparelli girl, and their Fall/Winter 2026 Couture runway did not disappoint. I'll admit this collection was kinky, in the best way. The silhouettes read like an homage to every domme I've ever known: powerful, hyper-feminine, and subversive, yet polished. The collection was full of reflective materials that read almost latex, I had to do some more research on construction! Sculpted bust elements lit from underneath, some pieces bordering on overtly anatomical imagery of vaginas. I loved every second of it and am already scheming how to work it into my own wardrobe. I will say picks don’t do it justice, gotta watch the full show!

Food & Drinks

I know, I know, a basic bitch loving an Aperol Spritz is not breaking news. I love the bitterness, the sweetness, all of it, but I've never found a non-alcoholic version that actually tastes like the real thing rather than a vague gesture at it. But not ISH Spirits. It nails the bitterness and the sweetness, with a hint of vanilla underneath that makes it one of the best spritzes I've had, period. Perfect for winding down in the evening.

Also deeply into freeze-dried mangoes from Trader Joe's this month. They taste like mango ice cream (creamy, somehow, despite being freeze-dried) with a satisfying crunch. Everything you want in a snack, honestly.

Home & Lifestyle

Taschen makes, hands down, the best coffee table books on the planet. My collection includes The Big Book of Breasts, several of their men's-magazine reprints, architecture volumes, music books, basically everything. Their newest one, on sexy record and album covers, is both hot and cool: it touches music, sex, and culture all at once. Taschen always manages to honor the legacy of the work while still making it feel alive, and I love flipping through one of these for a hit of inspiration for my own creative projects.

While in Boston, I also shopped at December Thieves, which carries candles from the line A Pleasant Thought. These are the kind of candles I'm almost too precious to actually burn. The Venus candle and the gothic cathedral pillar are stunning, and there's also countless other candles. From Medusa, modern pop-culture ones (Marilyn Monroe, Wednesday Addams), and, naturally, curvy body-shaped candles, because who doesn't love one of those. Great for an altar if that's your practice, or just as a display piece; I've got a couple of the heart ones out in my place right now.

Media & Entertainment

On repeat this month: Future Islands' album From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youth, especially the track "Calliope." Brand new discovery for me via a Spotify recommendation: soft, chill, great for driving.

I also watched Five Star Weekend, and I loved it. Chloë Sevigny can, in my opinion, do no wrong, though I'll admit that might just be my parasocial relationship talking. The show does a genuinely interesting job of forcing you to confront the different, contradictory versions of yourself you perform for other people, and what happens when that performance finally cracks. Good background watch, but rewards actually paying attention.

Also currently mid-rewatch of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, specifically every season with Eileen. We had it so good and didn't even know it. Now we're stuck with a big fat nothing burger of a cast. I miss the old crew: messier, less polished, completely unbothered about how badly they were behaving. I know the discourse right now says people should be "good," but honestly? Bad people make good TV. Bring back the villains……including Jax Taylor. SORRY!