Fashion & Beauty Summer Essentials 2023

**Rat & Boa Bikini and Skirt Set | Loewe Sunglasses** **& Amazon Dupes | Fenty MVP Lip**

My favorite season is finally here! It’s SUMMER and I couldn’t be any more thrilled. I love the hot weather! It’s probably why I moved to sunny Miami Beach. It’s truly the vitamin D for me. I’m just a happier person when I wake up to palm trees, sunshine and the ocean a few blocks away. I also think I dress better in warmer weather. I’ve never really been a layers type of girl. I was born in the south, North Carolina to be exact and even though I lived in New York City for over 15 years, I never got used to the cold and the snow. It’s summer 365 days a year now that I live in Miami, so I know a thing or two about all the fashion and beauty essentials you need to get you through the most lit time of year (pun intended). Ahhhhhhhhhhh, I can smell it now…the BBQs, rooftop nights, house parties and picnics in the park, all in New York City of course because that’s where I’ll be spending the majority of my soft life summer. I’ve rounded up my fashion and beauty summer favorites that will get you through summer with ease. Bookmark this post and send it to your best girl friends! Don’t be stingy.

**Halston Dress (size Down 1 size) | Ancient Greek Sandals | & Other Stories Sunglasses | Cowrie Shell Anklet | Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Tote | Chunky Sunglasses Chain | Fenty MVP Lip**

FLAT SANDALS

Since moving to Miami, I’ve fully embraced the flat sandal lifestyle and my flats range in style and price range from Hermes Orans to Steve Madden. I’ve linked a few of my favorites above for you to pack on your next warm weather vacation! Don’t worry, these are all tried and tested and are great for the beach as well as walking around town without getting blisters.

**Norma Kamali Swimsuit | & Other Stories Sunglasses | Bottega Earrings**

BATHING SUITS & BIKINIS

In case you find yourself at the beach or the Soho House Pool in your town, I got you covered. I love a good one piece bathing suit because I’m a little more modest when it comes to showing my kibbles and bits but I do love a good coverup. Some of my favorite beachwear of all time is from Rat & Boa because they just do beautiful sets that are pretty affordable as well as photogenic. If you see me in a matching bikini and coverup, 99% of the time it’s from Rat & Boa. I also love the ease of Norma Kamali swimsuits as well because they come in classic cuts, tons of colors and look great on every body.

Oversized Totes & Beach Bags

My Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Tote has saved my life on plenty an overweight luggage incident by being the hugest bag that I can stuff not only shoes but entire outfits in. The canvas is super chic too. I love this bag so much I recently got it in a smaller size in black with stunning raffia to carry more locally as an everyday bag and when I venture to the beach. Rive Gauche totes elevate any look too. I’m also a huge fan of raffia woven bags (that you can practically find anywhere) for a summer and picnic vibe. The more I can carry the better because if I’m going out in the heat, I need all my essentials.

WHAT’S IN MY SUMMER TOTE

There are a few things I never leave home without in Miami starting with a portable fan! Amazon has a ton of chic ones that also function as chargers and even flashlights. Trust me it’s the best $20 you’ll spend this summer. I once took this fan with me on the road during Carnival in Barbados and it didn’t die for the whole 7 hours I had it on! I also never leave home without an iPhone light, especially as it nears the evening and night time. How else do you think I get fire photos and video images for my social media at night!? It’s the portable iPhone light and friend, it’s a game changer for elevating your night time content. I always take my Chanel Double Sided Compact Mirror, a Dior Lip balm and Lip Glow Oil, as well as my Dior Le Baume hand, lip and body moisturizer (this just came out last month in May and I’m obsessed). I always have a small leather good for my credit cards too and I just got this one in from YSL that’s a beauty. By the way, Use Code: MONROE23 for a free gift with purchase over $125 when you create an account at Dior Beauty! (You already get 2 free gifts and my code gets your a third!)

BODY & HAIR PRODUCTS

When it comes to having glistening shiny well moisturized skin, my go-to is Kiehls Creme de Corp Body Lotion. It is literally the best lotion in the world. It doesn’t have a fragrance which is great if you’re sensitive so I always layer it with Dior J’adore Body Cream for a heavenly fresh summer scent that lasts all day on my skin. My go-to SPF is Unseen Sunscreen by Supergoop which has proven to be the only sunscreen that doesn’t clog my pores and end up breaking me out. Then there’s my hair… I have to protect my edges and my scalp from the sun and use this edge control to lay my edges (and they dont sweat off in the humidity) and this all natural hair heat protectant to keep my scalp in tip top condition and smelling divine all summer long. For my protective styles this and this are my go-tos!

**Something By Sonjia x Monroe Steele Desert Oasis Clothing Line XS-3XL**

SUNGLASSES

I have a whole Ikea Roll Out Tray filled to the brim with sunglasses. They are one of my favorite accessories for setting off a look. My current favorites are these from & Other Stories that I wear religiously. They are Celine dupes and worth every penny of the $29 I spent on them. Then there’s my new in Celine Sunglasses (the color is nothing like I’ve ever seen before) and my YSL sunnies with the red top rim and gold side rims. Honestly, you can’t tell me sh*t when I have these on. I feel like I’m embodying everything that THAT GIRL stands for when I have these sunglasses on. Oh and don’t forget my new clothing line that dropped in May, also offers 2 styles of sunglasses, The Sonoran Shield Sunglasses and the Gobi Geometric Sunglasses. They each come in 5 colors giving you 10 options to choose from. If I were you I’d get these stunning clear Gobi Sunglasses and these Marble Print Sonoran Shield Sunglasses too.

SUMMER DRESSES

My collection of summer dresses is pretty spectacular so I know a thing or two about a summer dress that will get you through from day to night. Some of my go-to brands for dresses include Jacquemus, Sir The Label, Norma Kamali, Reformation, Free People and Jean Paul Gaultier. I’ve linked a few of my favorites above for all occasions but check out my Top 6 Dress Brands YouTube Video for more and to see a few of my favorite dresses in motion. Speaking of dresses, The Outnet is currently having an up to 85% off hundreds of styles sale until June 5th and it’s worth taking a look at all of their incredible dresses too, like this Herve Leger one I just got in that perfect for a date night or graduation, (size down as it runs a bit big). You should also definitely check out the Something by Sonjia x Monroe Steele Clothing Collection because we have 2 of the hottest new summer dresses that everyone will be rocking this month! Orders having already started going out and I’m loving reposting all the babes wearing the Desert Oasis Collection! Remember we have a few pieces left in sizes XS-3XL so don’t miss this limited collection!