042: summer serve

long lunches, second bottles, clothing optional

Jun 29, 2025

Last weekend I rewatched La Piscine, and now all I want is to be poolside, unbothered, and very well-dressed at the center of a long sun-drenched table. Preferably somewhere along the Côte d’Azur with people who know when it’s time for another bottle, no discussion required.

Jane Birkin, obviously, is the blueprint: white cotton clinging to damp skin and a basket bag filled with god knows what. True summer je ne sais quoi.

Whether you’re seaside or stuck in the city, consider this your summer hosting guide. For long lunches that roll into second bottles and the kind of days where clothing is optional but good taste isn’t.

Bon appétit.

Sunglasses, Dress, Bag, Sandal, Fragrance

Carte Blanche

She’s wearing white, drinking red, and not worried about the consequences. Butter is the main course passed around like gossip. The backgammon’s gotten loud, someone’s moved to the floor, and no one’s keeping score.

Candle, Plate, Placemat, Backgammon, Butter Dish, Wine

Her Table:

Loewe Ginger Outdoor Candle
Sharp citrus and spicy ginger, grounded by sandalwood. Keeps the mood lit and the bugs away.

Valsa Home Teresa Hand-Painted Dinner Plates
Hand-painted, sun-warmed, and practically begging for something buttery.

Valsa Home Crochet Placemats
Well-made, low-maintenance, and always invited back.

Throwing Doubles Travel Backgammon Board
Portable. Playful. There before the wine kicks in.

Valsa Home Lina Hand-Painted Butter Dish
A small ceramic stage for the true star of the meal.

Jajaja Glou Glou Red Wine
A chilled red is the chichest plus-one at the table.

Necklace, Dress, Clutch, Sandal, Fragrance

Sangria State of Mind

Lightly spiked and heavy on charm. She pours without asking and changes the subject at just the right moment. It starts as a casual drink and ends with three new inside jokes and no one ready to leave.

Dinner Plate, Strawberries, Cocktail Mixer, Cookbook, Serving Set, Salad Plate

Her Table:

Valsa Home Stripes Hand-Painted Ceramic Dinner Plate
A colorful guest at every great dinner party.

Flamingo Estate Strawberry Fruit Snack
It’s for the cheese board, but you’ll eat half the jar while plating.

Sophie Lou Jacobsen Mixer
Turns the sangria into a centerpiece and the party into your best idea yet.

Vintage 1940s Cookbook
Forget sourdough starters. Experiment with pickling techniques.

Sabre Pop Salad Set
Bold, bright, and ready to serve

Valsa Home Red Flowers Hand-Painted Salad Plate
Hand-painted and made to charm, right down to the last bite.

Necklace, Bikini Top, Bikini Bottom, Pareo, Cuff, Clutch, Heel, Fragrance

Coastal Behavior

She's been up since sunrise, setting the table between swims. There's a chessboard mid-game, shells drying on the windowsill, and maritime delicacies from the morning haul. This is how endless summer feels.