I don't know if it's bad luck, but I definitely wear my linen dresses — even the white ones — way past Labor Day. As long as the sun is shining and the air is warm, you will usually catch me in one of these comfortable, breathable, and obviously adorable little pieces. Another great thing about linen is that it generally will never go out of style, so don't be afraid to invest in some pieces that will be a part of your wardrobe forever. There are so many great options to choose from, but here are seven linen dresses that make the perfect summer (or any warm weather) outfit.
Abercrombie & Fitch
You guys, I'm not even kidding when I say this is the best dress I own. As a broad shoulder girly, the neckline is SO flattering. Plus, the material is thick and durable, but still breathable for a hot summer day. I own this in black which allows me to dress it up for dinner or wear it to work, but this vibrant pink — and the several other colors and patterns — is so cute for the summer time. At $60 (was $80), this is a steal!
J.Crew
I need to be wearing this dress with a spritz in my hand ASAP. This dress is a J.Crew best seller for a reason — it makes the perfect warm weather staple. This design is so simple, yet with the help of some fun accessories, this dress can be a hundred different outfits. You can shop this dress in white, red, or black for $178.
Zara
You can never go wrong with a little slit in the summer. This linen blend dress is simple, yet elegant — perfect for any vacay dinner or date night. Throw on some cute sandals and chunky earrings and hit the town in this little green number. Plus, the tie-up back gives you easy adjustment depending on your chest size. Make this your next summer dress for $36 (was $49).
Madewell
Great, I'll take 10 of them! No seriously — this dress is fabulous, the square neckline is just perfection, and stretchy chest area make this dress fit anyone like a glove. You can get this dress in white for a classic summer look, or it's also available in a light blue. If you're a tall girl, this style shows off your beautiful long legs. You can also get it in a wide range of sizes for $93 (was $110).
Abercrombie & Fitch
Oh my god, the color of this dress is everything! I also appreciate a strapless dress in the summertime to show off my tan lines — there's something so luxurious and indulgent about it. This piece is so simple, which means room for you to customize with accessories. Although it's true to size, always be careful about sizing with strapless! A perfect linen staple for $72 (was $120).
Abercrombie & Fitch
There's something about a dress with an open back that always gets me. It makes for a fun little surprise you wouldn't expect from looking at the front of the dress — and it's a great excuse for an updo. This piece would be perfect for any more professional setting like work, happy hour with your fave coworkers, or lunch with the in-laws. You could be its next prideful owner for $42 (was $70).
H&M
I cannot think of anything more summer appropriate than a linen slip dress. It's lightweight, super comfortable, and you can dress it up for a fancy dinner, or literally use it as a bathing suit cover up. Everyone needs a slip dress as part of their summer capsule closet. Add this one from H&M to yours in white or black for $55!
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This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.
Chris Andre
Chris Andre
Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.
Chris Andre
Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.Chris Andre
Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.Chris Andre
Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.Chris Andre
Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.Chris Andre
Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.Chris Andre
Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.Chris Andre
Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.Chris Andre
Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.Chris Andre
Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.Chris Andre
Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.Chris Andre
Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.Chris Andre
Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!Chris Andre
A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!
DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried
Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.
This post has been updated.
Summer is officially here! That means swapping out the raincoats for cover ups, and sneakers for sandals. Whether you're at the beach or on a rooftop bar, you will always look cute with the right summer essentials. Though the warm weather welcomes all kinds of clothing, I can confidently say that there are a few staples that everyone should include in their wardrobe. These 8 summer basics are total must-haves to building the cutest outfits this season.
Free People
Every summer calls for at least one (preferably more) reliable flowy maxi dress. You can be going to a wedding or a picnic in the park with your girlfriends, and a long colorful dress will suit any occasion! Make a statement this summer with a maxi dress that makes you want to frolic in a field. A few good places to look for the perfect flowy dress are Free People, Anthropologie, and Nordstrom. Don't be afraid to make an investment in a maxi dress, because they will never go out of style.
You can find this Free People dress in sizes XS-XL for $168.
Anthropologie
Gold accessories complement a tan complexion like no other. Be bold this summer with some chunky statement earrings to level up any outfit! Even a plain tank top and some jeans will look extra-chic with a statement jewelry piece like these gold earrings. You can find endless styles out there, but I love the durability Anthropologie's jewelry offers.
Add a pair to your summer essentials for $44.
J.Crew
I cannot stress the importance a button-up top has to offer. Bonus points if it's comfy and oversized! You can style a button-up top for literally anything. Wear it to dinner, to the office, or even as a beach cover-up! The thin material these shirts are meant to bear and beat the summer heat. Plus, they encompass the chic Euro girl style everyone wants. You can quite literally find them everywhere, but I would highly recommend the Étienne Oversized Shirt from J.Crew.
Find this pick in in endless colors and sizes at J.Crew for $98.
Levi's
Three words: white tank top. Arguably the most important basic in your wardrobe, everyone needs the perfect white tank. I personally love a ribbed tank with thicker straps, so I can wear a bra underneath my top. There are so many options on the market right now, so finding the perfect fit for you is crucial. It’s important to remember: a good quality top will last you a lifetime.
This Levi's tank is available in sizes XXS-XXL for $20.
J.Crew
I don’t know if it’s just me, but my Instagram feed is filled with blue and white pinstripe shorts. So, something tells me it’s a comfy short summer. Bye, jean shorts! You can opt for a casual boxer shorts vibe or lean into the athletic vibe with some cute Adidas shorts. I'm in love with these J.Crew bottoms for running errands.
Get yourself a pair for only $33 (was $40).
Zara
Little black dress? Never heard of her. It’s time to embrace a playful white dress this summer season. Whether you’re going out to drinks or to the beach, a flowy white dress is effortlessly cute. This will be a rotating staple in your closet that can be dressed up with heels, or casually with sandals. You can find the perfect LWD like this one at Zara. Some more cute options can be found at J.Crew, Reformation, Aerie, American Eagle, and Lulus.
Shop this style from Zara for $40.
Nordstrom
It is the summer of sandals, people! We are embracing the chicness and practicality of a slip-on shoe this season. Give your feet as much love as the rest of your body when it comes to sun exposure. These are the perfect pairing for a skirt, but can also dress up a pair of jeans. There are endless ways to style a pair of sandals. You may opt for a chunkier sole for more support, or keep it dainty.
These sandals could be yours for $70.
Abercrombie & Fitch
The easiest way to look effortlessly put together this summer is with a matching set. Not only do they look amazing, but they make figuring out what to wear a breeze. I love a good set for any event this summer, like a concert or birthday party. Plus, it's 2024 – matching sets are not limited to workout clothes anymore. We are hitting the town with our matching patterned top and bottoms. Personally, I'm a big fan of the long skirt-small top combo, like this one from Abercrombie & Fitch.
Add the top and bottom to your wardrobe for $110.
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Lead image via Zara.
Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.
If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.
Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!
Kaboompics / PEXELS
The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.
Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS
Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.
Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.
Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.
Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!
Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS
If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.
The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.
Ron Lach / PEXELS
You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.
Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.
In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.
Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS
Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.
Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.
Kaboompics / PEXELS
Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.
At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.
We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:
Kaboompics / PEXELS
The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.
“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”
Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS
Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!
“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”
Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS
Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.
Kindel Media / PEXELS
Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!
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The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!
Starbucks
Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.
Starbucks
Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:
Starbucks
Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.
Starbucks
Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.
Starbucks
Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!
Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.
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This post has been updated.
