New England Summer Style
By Caroline Downey
J.Crew’s revival, the brainchild of creative director Olympia Gayot, has me feelin’ some type of way. The once-bankrupt brand is returning to its roots, harkening back to vintage catalogs that featured tanned, glowing, and fit models rocking the best of seaside prep. Along with J.Crew’s comeback, New England style is also generally experiencing a renaissance. Starting with the “coastal grandma” aesthetic last summer, the look books are now mimicking mermaids with lots of pearls, embellished mesh, and shiny sequin scales. These are the latest trends, but every ship first needs a shell. If northeastern dressing is uncharted waters for you, start with these basics.
KNIT SWEATER
Is there anything more quintessentially New England than a cotton-knit sweater? This summer, nod to the nautical with a quality rollneck, perhaps with an embroidered American flag or lobster. This staple will take you from boat to clam bake and every scene in between. Built to weather the coastal elements and keep you warm on cool northern nights, this piece should last many fourths of July and Labor Days. Invest in a sweater of American craftsmanship for ultimate patriotic dressing. This item is also appropriate for captaining any sea-worthy vessel, including on blustery days pushing high knots.
PEARLS
New England orients its style around its water-themed topography, which features serene, sparkling lakes and the roaring Atlantic ocean. Formed by marine oysters and freshwater mussels, pearls polish up any outfit. Lean into the imperfect with the baroque style-slightly abnormal and chunkier than the classic round bead- that highlights nature’s diverse beauty. Faux or real, the gem of the sea is the perfect complement to your New England-core. We’re adorning bags, pants, and our necklines. You wouldn’t be mistaken to dabble in other shell accessories as well. Mignonette sauce not included.
RAFFIA
While parts are glamorous, New England is also rustic. The best days are often spent frolicking at the farmer’s market or shopping local artisans’ stores in quaint, historic towns as the salty breeze rolls in. A light and versatile material well-suited for such activities is raffia or straw. Swing a raffia tote and wear a straw bucket hat while buzzing about outdoors from dawn till dusk. Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors. This bag is spotted across posh playgrounds such as Nantucket, Massachusetts and relaxed harbor villages such as Kennebunkport, Maine.
OVERSIZED BUTTON-DOWN
It’s the shirt you can do anything in, from baking a blueberry pie to rowing in a canoe. While shielding you from the sun, the button-down is also breathable and easy to move in. Roll up the sleeves to tend to the vegetable garden or lounge in a hammock with a good book. The extra roomy version of the shirt can be thrown on as a cover-up after a day paddling among the loons. Masculine yet feminine, the button-down is ready for fun festivities and handy tasks, from a backyard sunset fête to starting a campfire.
RETRO ONE-PIECE
New England is unapologetically vintage. In many parts, you’ll find colonial houses turned into post offices, old general stores, and Moxie, a Massachusetts-founded soft drink that was one of the first to be mass produced in the U.S. The clothes of the region can be retro too. I say, make a splash in a one-piece swimsuit that can double as an outfit with a pair of shorts. While a cheeky bikini will never go to waste soaking up rays on the dock, the temperature fluctuations of New England sometimes call for more coverage.
GINGHAM
Outside marine-wear classics, there have been signs of trends that remind me of Lana Del Rey’s National Anthem, such as red-and-white-stripe patterns. Consider gingham, a picnic basket in clothing form. Whether worn as a sundress, top, or even capris, gingham just feels like the good ol’ days. Even better with an ice-cold glass bottle of cherry cola. The fabric evokes a nostalgia for childhood, all the more reason to sport it. Roll around in the grass and eat a juicy slice of watermelon like a little kid.
Caroline Downey is editor-in-chief of The Conservateur and a staff writer at National Review. She can be found on Twitter @carolinedowney_.