By Jordan Nassif.

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MILK Face Spray: I was a bit skeptical of this product at first. I went into Sephora looking for an affordable alternative to the Dior primer spray I had been using for a while. There was a representative there at the store who just happened to hear and offered up the $38 Blur Spray. The selling point of their products to buyers is their cruelty-free, pro LGBTQ[IA+] makeup (i.e., If you buy their Glitter Stick online, they will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Transgender Youth Community Center). I was pleased with the product after one use. Not only does it function as a primer, but it also doubles as a setting spray which, like a BB cream, nourishes your skin as it primes.

Le Fash Sunshirts: I recently ordered a Paulo Alto shirt in black and white from Le Fash because of its similarity to the Equiline Catherine shirt without the $198 price tag. The Paulo Alto, while certainly still expensive, is cute and a fabulous take on the classic sunshirt with mesh sleeves (Editor’s Note: The mesh is super durable, so it doesn’t catch on sharp things like other sunshirt mesh.). While it doesn’t boast the “stable to street” versatility that their breeches do, it’s still a nice shirt.

Denim accessories: Although denim shirts and chambray have been making appearances on the runway since 2012, I’ve only begun embracing the trend in the last year. Aquazzura’s denim and crystal Christy flats made their debut in my closet about six months ago, and even with their statement piece status, make regular appearances in my outfits. Valentino, Stella McCartney and other big names have also embraced denim accessories, reinventing the denim bag that Louis Vuitton debuted in the 90s. In equestrian fashion, denim breeches have been around for about 8 years, but only recently have brands been rolling out fresh-takes on the dated denim breech. I decided to give Le Fash’s Uptown/Downtown City Breeches a try (they are based off of denim, as is their Williamsburg City Breech – their newest denim print piece) and was pleased with the breeches’ interchangeableness from street to stable. However,

the material is a little thin and is not real denim. If you are looking to add a pair of denim breeches to your wardrobe, I suggest looking at Horze breeches. I purchased a pair for around $70 and get compliments on them all the time. And yes, you can wear them outside of the barn.

Longchamp’s S/S 2017 Ready-to-Wear: I only recently discovered that Longchamp sells more than expensive plastic bags, and I waited for weeks for their Spring/Summer 2017 line to go on sale. Longchamp’s clothes and accessories this season are easily recognizable with their bright pink and blue stripes and creamy florals. I ordered these flats to match a salmon-colored wool Gucci blazer.

Lana del Rey: Okay, I’ve been following Lana since her Lizzie Grant days, but to be fair her new music this summer has revived her sad strums of summertime blues out of my car’s speakers. Her new song, Summer Bummer feat. A$AP Rocky, set to be released on June 29th before her new album’s debut in July, has me checking YouTube every day for leaks. Ever since Lana worked with Rocky on her song Ridin’, and the rapper appeared in her National Anthem music video, I have been obsessed with the pairing. Unlike Lana’s previous albums, however, the music this summer is set to be more upbeat with her title track Lust for Life feat. The Weeknd.

Solow Sport clothes: I don’t want this obsession to be misleading— I hate everything about exercise, except the clothes. I love lounging in cute exercise clothes, whether at school or at home. I love the idea of a messy ponytail, sporty Alexander Wang bag and all-white exercise ensemble. Solow combines the comfort of exercise clothes with street style. They are priced around the same as Lulu Lemon but with an edgier look and darker colors. Like most boutique brands, they run about a full size small, so definitely size up. You can also check eBay for discounts and deals. Add a leather moto jacket and a nice pair of tennis shoes to your exercise outfit, and you’ve got an outfit worthy for dinner.

EquiFit leather half pad: I’ve been using EquiFit products for years (girth, boots, pads, etc.), and I’ve owned two or three of their back pads over the course of that time. But every summer I remember how much I love my low-maintenance, clean-looking, extremely helpful half pad. It cleans up with just water, stays clean, protects my horses’ backs and doesn’t look sloppy like some other brands. It’s barely noticeable underneath a saddle.

Blaze Pizza: My mom got a coupon for this pizza place in the mail which promoted $8 pizzas with whatever toppings you can imagine. Each pizza is handmade in front of you according to your specifications (goat cheese,  garlic cloves, extra pepperoni and parmesan is my favorite combination), baked for a couple of minutes and served to you. It really is a good deal, and the pizza itself is actually delicious. As it turns out, Blaze Pizza is located all over the country. I was skeptical, but now I know where to go whenever I want a cheap, but good, full meal.

Fruity drinks: I feel like I don’t even have to explain this one. I freakin’ love fruity cocktails in the summertime. My favorite flavor this summer is grapefruit. A vodka grapefruit soda goes perfectly with breakfast, lunch or dinner. (Editor’s Note: Grapefruit does have an adverse reaction with some medications. Make sure to check the interactions with any medications you are on before indulging in grapefruit-based drinks or talk to your doctor.)

Colorful Summer Blazers: Black and grey blazers are so tired. Give your funeral ready-to-wear a break this summer and invest in a few colorful additions. I’ve always believed that if you’re going to invest in a certain part of your work wardrobe it should be in blazers. Add a nautical-pattered blazer with white and blue, like this one from Equipment, or a brightly colored one like my favorite salmon-colored blazer from Gucci. For less expensive options, check out LOFT or J. Crew Factory, which frequently hold major sales events. ‘Wow’ your coworkers with a floral embroidered pink blazer, white silk twill pants and a white button down. Tie it all together with a belt with a small crystal accent and peach-colored shoes. It’s so easy to get creative this summer with just a couple of bright blazers.

Pokemon Go: Yes, to answer your question, I “still play that.” Nothing, not even my own health, has motivated me to get up and go outside like the Pokemon Go app has. And with Niantic’s release of 80 new pocket monsters and Gym raids, there are more reasons than ever to get walking. I have actually stayed in shape because of this little game. And my dog loves going Pokemon-ing with me, too.

Stella McCartney: This could possibly be my favorite brand of all time. Not only is the Stella McCartney brand such a fabulous and youthful 100 percent vegan high-fashion brand, but she also does a collaboration line with Adidas that makes runway-worthy exercise clothes. Stella’s signature chain-lined vegan bags are trendy yet quickly becoming a classic in the same way that Valentino’s Rockstud and Chloe’s Drew purse lines are becoming classics. Stella also brought us the platform oxford tennis shoes this year.

Sleeping: Here is your daily reminder to close your laptop and go take a nap. We often do not get enough sleep during the summertime as fun events and longer daylight keep our minds stimulated way past 9 p.m. If you’re looking to treat yourself to something this summer or want an extra ‘oomph’ for the coming school year consider investing in a new mattress pad or Tempurpedic pillow. After all, if you can’t relax in your own bed then you’re likely to stay tightly wound. I love my white linens and the clean lines in my bedroom which keep the atmosphere crisp and refreshing. Loud colors and patterns in your safe space can sometimes affect your breathing pattern or keep you from relaxing. Consider cleaning up the clutter so you can be prepared for the busier fall and winter seasons.

Brooklyn Edgy with Uptown Chic: RHOBH’s Erica Girardi brought us the chunky Chanel necklaces and Moschino shirt dresses with the classic glam of a pair of Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps this year. My style inspiration this summer is graphic tees and pumps, baggy Wildfox sweaters and classic heels. I love the classy/trashy wardrobe mash-up. First, your outfits double when you mix mediums, and besides that, most of this trashy-chic looks can crossover from daytime to nighttime. Pull a graphic tee from your closet, add a pair of leather pants or black or dark wash jeans and finish the outfit off with a clutch and pair of classic black pumps for an updated chic look.

Bai Water: I have two packs of these (28 ounces each/packs of 12) auto-shipped by Amazon every two weeks. Not only is the autoship convenient, but it holds me to a sort of water schedule to make sure I drink plenty of fluids each day. Bai’s “anti-water” is antioxidant-infused electrolyte water that tastes better than any type of bottled water I’ve ever tried. I keep them on me at the barn, at work, in my bedroom and in the car so that I always stay hydrated.

REVOLVE: It’s no secret that this is my favorite online store. Actually, I do most of my shopping online. Revolve is perhaps the greatest online boutique for someone who likes anything from boho chic to edgy downtown style with brands like For Love and Lemons, Giuseppe Zanotti, WILDFOX, Stuart Weitzman, Fenty by Puma and more. Use the code CANDY to get 10% off of your order, plus 2 day shipping is always free. 

Stealing mints at work and bringing them to the barn: I’m not advocating employee theft, but my horses just really like those soft little mints.

 

All photos courtesy of + property of Jordan Nassif. Do not use without permission.