Beauty is what you buy

Whether vacationing in seaside hotspots like Saint Tropez, Santorini, and Positano, or sightseeing in cities like Lisbon, Barcelona, and Amsterdam, European destinations call for an aspirational (yet attainable) wardrobe. This might explain why the chic “European summer” aesthetic surged in TikTok views last year — and why it’s back for round two as people plan their vacation outfits.

While these summer styles often include minimalist wardrobe staples — think relaxed matching sets, flowy maxi skirts, and comfortable walking sandals — they’re not without a playful side (you’re on vacation, after all). This translates into silky printed scarves, retro swimsuits, and kitschy handbags, as well as designs that lean into the fisherman aesthetic and “sardine summer” territory.

So whether you’re actually packing your bags for Europe or just want to channel the easy-breezy, laidback vibe for staycation outfits, we’ve rounded up the top fashion staples to help you effortlessly tap into the on-trend summer look.

European Summer Essential: Linen Matching Sets

Matching sets are perfect to pack for vacation since they can be paired together or mixed and matched in various ways. But a linen set is even better, thanks to the breathable fabric (and the fact that the wrinkled effect looks natural — not like it was squished in your suitcase). From oversized button-downs and tank tops paired with matching shorts and loose pants, there’s a combo that can be styled for every scenario from sightseeing to beach walks, and al fresco dinners.

European Summer Essential: Leather Sandals

When walking along cobblestone streets and up rocky cliffs, you’ll be grateful you packed a pair of sturdy sandals instead of stilettos or flip-flops. Look for leather flats with thick soles or supportive straps that are comfy enough for all-day adventures, yet stylish enough for nights out. Fisherman and gladiator styles are especially on-trend — and give off that handmade-on-the-side-of-the-road-in-Greece kind of vibe.

European Summer Essential: Relaxed Sundresses

You’ll want a throw-on-and-go sundress in your lineup — something that works for a morning espresso, boat excursion, and on-the-fly dinner. Europeans have mastered the art of unfussy polish, and an A-line maxi or airy cotton mini fits the bill. Prioritize breathable fabrics and loose silhouettes that won’t cling or cause a sweat spiral.

European Summer Essential: Woven Leather & Straw Bags

Accessories are where the real fun starts. While a belt bag or crossbody is great for travel days, a statement woven tote or raffia top-handle bag brings the full European summer fantasy. Pack one for beach days and one for dinners — trust, you’ll want both.

European Summer Essential: Retro Swimsuits

Sure, you can keep swimming around in itsy-bitsy triangle bikinis. Or, you can lean into the romance of a holiday with nostalgic swimwear. Channel Old Hollywood in the riviera or Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” aesthetic with halter necklines, boy shorts, underwire bikini tops, and classic gingham or stripes.

European Summer Essential: Printed Headscarves

Silk scarves are the perfect accessory to add color and print to otherwise minimal outfits, whether you tie one over your hair or around your neck to emulate Sophia Loren (or Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday). If it’s large enough, it can even serve as a scarf top or swim sarong. Go for playful styles in stripes, florals, and seashell prints that scream “summer.”

European Summer Essential: Flowy Maxi Skirts

If you’ve already packed shorts, pants, and dresses, a flowy maxi skirt is your final must-have. Easy to dress up or down, it works just as well for beach lunches as it does for sunset drinks. Look for special touches like delicate eyelets, flouncy tiers, or fish prints à la the Mediterranean.

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Spoilers for Materialists ahead.

Toward the end of Materialists, Celine Song’s exploration of the contradictions of dating and modern love, pragmatic professional matchmaker Lucy (Dakota Johnson) reaches an epiphany.

“When you love someone, it’ll be easy,” she says. “There’s no math.”

Until then, Lucy relied on a quantitative approach in determining matches for her clients — and herself. Her data-driven methodology also comes through in her professional aesthetic, full of straight lines and formulas of solid neutrals, as crafted by costume designer Katina Danabassis. But, as Lucy allows love into the equation, her wardrobe begins to bloom, sometimes literally with florals.

Lucy’s chic, straightforward lineup of suit separates and classic, fine-knit cardigans is partially informed by Song’s own experience working as a matchmaker in New York City — a fun fact that adds depth to the character’s style.

“It was important to convey that [Lucy] wasn’t stealing anyone’s shine when it came to her clients. It has to be professional, and appeal to a high-end clientele,” Danabassis, who led costume design for Song’s last (and very different) love-triangle film, Past Lives. “When you’re millionaire matchmaking, you have to look the part. But also not come across as someone who’s necessarily available.”

Lucy eventually allows herself to be available when confronted with two options: the seemingly-perfect financier Harry (Pedro Pascal) and her ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans), a struggling actor who still lives with roommates.

Ahead, Danabassis takes us through how Lucy’s love story unfolds through her wardrobe.

Lucy’s Power Suit

Always focused, Lucy targets new clients as she commutes to work — and her outfits support the pitch. In the opening scenes, she confidently strides in a strong-shouldered Aritzia blazer and knee-high Paris Texas boots, nearly causing finance bro Robert (Eddie Cahill) to have whiplash as he walks in the opposite direction.

“I was really interested in the idea of putting her in a power suit,” says Danabassis. “Not only because it’s a little bit fresh, but also it seems to be something of a bygone era.”

Reflecting a NYC, always-on-the-move sense of dressing, the costume designer teamed the navy pinstripe blazer with a black, wide-striped mini skirt from a Versace suit and a white satin Banana Republic blouse. ”It just felt very New York; timeless, but powerful, modern, but throwback — and iconic,” says Danabassis, referencing a standout memory of a woman in a skirt suit and Dries van Noten-esque thigh-high boots strutting across Bowery Street in Manhattan.

Danabassis also dropped in an Easter egg.“It’s also a nod to Working Girl,” she says, referring to the 1988 classic starring Johnson’s mom, Melanie Griffith, whose character famously wore sneakers with skirt suits to the office.

Lucy’s Blue Gown

Lucy’s a top performer at work — with nine marriages to her credit. She’s even invited to the latest nuptials of two high-net-worth (and high-maintenance) individuals. Lucy opts for a strapless, draped Proenza Schouler dress in a striking peacock blue that attracts the eye of the viewer and Harry, the rich, swoon-worthy brother of the groom.

“We need something that pops. But simultaneously, it shouldn’t be something that’s going to steal any shine from the bride,” says Danabassis of her thinking, which led to the pairing of the “origami-style dress” with silver Bottega Veneta heels. “Also, the dress is not too fussy. In reality, yes, it was a fussy dress. We had to make sure that it was tied perfectly [at the back]. But it was really simple. Like, you can function in it.”

Lucy multitasks like a pro: crisis managing the bride’s cold feet, charming potential new clients, and slipping out of the opulent ballroom to reconnect with John, a cater-waiter at the reception. She also agrees to a steamy dance with Harry, in exchange for him agreeing to call her agency.

“It’s a work function, basically. She’s there to support, but not be a wallflower entirely,” says Danabassis. “Because she’s still a woman in New York and doing her thing.”

Lucy’s Date-Night Looks

She ultimately agrees to consider Harry — “a unicorn, an impossible fantasy,” as Lucy describes him — as a prospect for herself, and not her loyal clients. Over a series of dinner dates (where they strategically assess each other through their methodical view of relationships), Lucy wears refined, uncomplicated pieces, like a dark St. John blazer over a Leset tank and a strappy black halter dress from Laundry by Shelly Segal.

“She’s appealing to his sensibilities, which is just classic, chic, upscale, and a little bit minimal,” says Danabassis.

When a previously skeptical Lucy agrees to go all-in with Harry, she elevates her signature black monochrome with a sheer Simkhai top, layered over an Only Hearts bra, and a vintage double-breasted blazer. Her knee-length Another Tomorrow skirt, with dynamic tasseled fringe (a more fun take on the business-like skirt she wears earlier in the film), takes on a life of its own as she and Harry do a dance of sorts through the hallways of his sprawling $12 million Tribeca penthouse.

“We theorized that it should [evolve from] her not trying too, too hard to ramping up to, ‘Okay, I’m gonna do a little bit more here.’ But keep it very New York, chic, [and] clean,” says Danabassis. “That black outfit popped against the warmth of his apartment, and the Gucci shoes were amazing because of the shine and the metallic chain at the back.”

Lucy’s Flashback Florals

A flashback reveals Lucy and John’s emotional breakup, occurring when they were both cash-strapped actors but chasing divergent goals and lifestyles. Lucy’s delicately ruffled floral Dôen top, Nili Lotan straight-leg jeans, and Loeffler Randall mules feel sentimental and hopeful.

“It’s that cute look that you put together for going out for your anniversary,” says Danabassis. “That’s not trying too hard or trying to match the same level as the guy. It’s really just her.”

Lucy also wears a sweet, thrift-store-bought heart necklace that reflects a differing mindset from her present-day sleek Spinelli Kilcollin rolo chain that telegraphs geometry.

“When she’s dating Harry, she’s in this city mode,” says Danabassis. “When it’s John, it’s more naturalistic, grounded, floral, and ethereal.”

Lucy’s “Reveal” Outfit

John finally lands a role in an off-off-Broadway play and invites Lucy, who brings her now-boyfriend Harry. Her outfit — a long ‘90s-style black leather jacket by Coach, white MNG cami, and Zara high-waisted, wide-leg jeans — fits the venue and post-show dive bar drinks.

“She knows what world she’s entering into, like a dingy Brooklyn playhouse thing. But Harry doesn’t know where he’s going. So he wears his ‘Oh, this is my country blazer,’” says Danabassis, about Harry’s ‘fit: a tweedy Ralph Lauren jacket, caramel-brown Zegna button-down, Hermès dark jeans, and Bottega Veneta oxfords.

But the casual-cool ensemble also feels like a slight reveal of her long-suppressed feelings for John — and harbinger of an impending divide with Harry.

Lucy’s Wedding-Crasher Dress

A traumatic event pushes Lucy to accept and follow her feelings, instead of crunching the numbers. She shows up on John’s doorstep with luggage packed for a now-canceled Iceland jaunt with Harry. Lucy and John then take a spontaneous drive upstate to crash a rustic wedding. Luckily, John keeps a cater-waiter suit in the trunk of his beat-up car. Lucy presumably plucks a floaty, buttercream yellow Dôen dress out of her suitcase and doesn’t change out of her black Nike sneakers. Although the dress — with a curved empire waistline, watercolor florals, fluttery ruffles, and floral appliqués — evokes country wedding more than the luxury vacation she was on her way to take.

“I mean, sure, she could have packed that for Iceland. Like, [Lucy and Harry] were going on a date somewhere, and she’s trying to do her special thing and get more in tune with herself. That’s the idea there,” explains Danabassis. “Really, it’s just a romantic dress that hits the hidden theme of flowers as a symbol of love that was carried throughout the movie.”

Kind of like completing a complex math calculation by maintaining all the variables along the way.

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Word on the street is that folks believe that romance and yearning are dead. But those of us who read Black romance novels know that both are alive and well in the pages of our favorite books.

As more Black women join book clubs and profess their love for romance novels on social media, it has become very clear that the demand for literature that depicts Black women as desirable, autonomous and fulfilled in their romantic lives is sky-high. That’s partly due to the still unfortunately limited representation of Black love stories we see today and social media chatter that often disparages Black women. Not to mention the trash dating pool many have to navigate today.

With romance novels, there’s a needed level of escape — and hope — that Black women authors, in particular, are providing readers. And ahead of summer 2025, authors are turning up the heat with spicy reads that give Black women the happily ever after their heart desires — and no two endings look the same.

If you’re a lover girl, new and forthcoming releases, including Kennedy Ryan’s Can’t Get Enough, Tia Williams’ debut young adult (YA) novel Audre & Bash are Just Friends, Regina Black’s August Lane and Danielle Allen’s Plus Size Player, are sure to be on your summer reading list.

We asked these authors about their latest Black romance novels, self-love, the importance of fantasy and the message they have for Black women navigating love and romance today.

Kennedy Ryan, author of Can’t Get Enough

On Can’t Get Enough:

“I wanted plus size women to see someone who is completely confident in her body and has an expectation of being desirable,” Ryan said at Amazon’s Book Sale Event in New York in April.

“I think there’s something really powerful about the expectation of the presumption of attraction, which I don’t know that we always see with plus-size women in fiction. [Hendrix] is a woman who [knows she’s] not ‘beautiful to be big,’ or ‘beautiful to be brown’ but just beautiful period.”

On centering self-love with her characters:

“It’s really important for women to know ourselves, preferably before we commit to a lifetime partner. If you don’t have a strong sense of self, it’s very easy to be shaped into what your partner expects. And that’s why a lot of my heroines are older. Hendrix, in this book, is 40 years old. She’s never been married. She doesn’t want children. And [she doesn’t] want a man for the sake of him just being in [her] life. I think the foundation of a romantic relationship starts with self-love. That’s why in Soledad’s book (This Could Be Us), All About Love, was a book that she really leaned into. If you don’t have that foundation of loving yourself when you get into a relationship, all those emotions can pull you into a shape that fits the person you’re with.”

On what she wants Black women reading her books to know:

“Not to settle. That’s easier said than done because we get lonely. And the temptation is to take whatever feels as close to what we’re looking for as possible, even if it might hurt us. Love where you are loved. I do think that waiting for the right thing is great, and if you can find somebody who is only for now and get some of those yearnings and desires satisfied, do that. But when you are in the market for something that’s permanent, it’s a different criteria.”

Tia Williams, author of Audre & Bash are Just Friends

On Audre & Bash Are Just Friends:

“Audre became a huge fan favorite in Seven Days in June,” Williams said via a Zoom interview. “She was the 12-year-old daughter of my female protagonist. She’s just like this wise-cracking, hilarious little lady, wise beyond her years. I would get all sorts of texts and emails and DMs like, ‘Where’s Audre’s story?’ So I decided to age her up four years and have her be a teenager and experience first love during one balmy Brooklyn summer.”

On the importance of romance novels:

“I think now more than ever, we really need escapism. We need to dream. We need to raise the bar and aim high. And read about women that are being outrageously loved. If you spend too much time in the wrong [social media] comment thread or listening to the wrong podcast, you would sort of start to feel that you’re—as a Black woman—not being appreciated or loved. We need to know that it’s real and worth fighting for and know why it’s important not to settle.”

On what message she wants Black women and girls to get from her work:

“Audre is a very rigid girl. She has goals and ambitions. But she hasn’t really slowed down enough to live her life and learn about what she wants and doesn’t want socially or romantically. This is her summer, where she’s learning how to live. And sometimes, you get the most important life lessons through play. I think that girls and women can kind of get the same takeaway that being on the path to success is a great thing. But you may be missing the best parts. Slowing down and allowing yourself to be seen and loved is a wonderful thing.”

Danielle Allen, author of Plus Size Player

On Plus Size Player:

“[Our protagonist] Nina has a roster of four men she is navigating, not putting the expectation on one man to fulfill all of her qualities. You get to see her navigating her life as a content creator while she juggles these men and the twists and turns of life. It’s also about setting your boundaries and not letting people disrespect them, as well as being clear in your communication. Even though it’s Plus Size Player, she’s not playing these men. She’s very honest about what she wants, who she is, and that she’s dating other people.”

On fantasy in Black romance:

“It isn’t a fantasy to be treated well, to be loved, well, to be respected. And, unfortunately, those things start to feel like a fantasy world. There’s a disconnect somewhere because those things that we are looking for are not ridiculous. It gets lost, and if you aren’t seeing it, then that’s when it becomes a fantasy because you feel like, ‘I’m asking for too much.’ But you are disconnecting yourself from that very real desire to be seen, heard, loved and cared for in the right way.”

On what she wants Black women reading her books to know:

“You are deserving of love and romance, no matter what it is that the media tries to imply. Everybody’s idea of romance looks different. Know who you are and what you want, and then ask for it. In my experience, Black women don’t ask for what they want in romance because it’s always presented to us as if we already don’t deserve it. So when we get a little crumb, we’re supposed to be thankful as opposed to us saying, ‘I’d like my meal, please.’ I want women to ask for what they want, to stand firm in who they are and know that they are worthy of love.”

Regina Black, author of August Lane

On August Lane:

“I very intentionally wrote a Black romance set in the South in a small town because I wanted to write about my experience,” Black said during a Zoom interview. “A lot of the content in the book, the experience August has, is based on my life. And it just so happened that Beyoncé released Cowboy Carter. Everybody has started talking about these things that I have been researching, reading and writing about all this time. And so I’m very excited [about it].”

On fantasy in Black romance:

“I do think it’s important to buy into fantasies. I think it conveys the message that it’s okay to pursue love, particularly for Black women. Many of the messages we receive focus on our strength or perseverance. But we don’t get as many messages about vulnerability or softness. But vulnerability is also a strength. Connection is also a strength. And this is what it looks like in this context. And this is what it should feel like when that happens. “

On what she wants Black women reading her books to know:

“The primary love in my books is self-love. Loving yourself is the key to loving someone else. All of the characters in my books go through this journey of forgiving themselves, loving themselves, getting to know themselves and that love story is the way they do it. They are seen by this other person in a way that allows them to heal. The message I always want to convey with my books is that this could be you, and the pathway, the map I’m drawing to that joy and that happy ending is self-love.”

Can’t Get Enough and Audre & Bash are Just Friends are out now. Plus Size Player and August Lane hit bookshelves on June 10 and July 29, respectively.

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It doesn’t seem like that long ago that our feeds were flooded with images of hyper-glowy skin that looked fresh (but never sweaty), with a healthy sheen. (Dewy makeup got so big, it even permeated pop culture; “my skin is gleamin,’” whisper-sang Ariana Grande in 2019’s “7 rings.”) Glow was the antithesis of the “Instaglam” look that predated it in the mid-2010s; think heavy highlight and contour, a full-coverage base, and bold, matte lipstick.

But if there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that trends come, go…and find a way of coming back again. And sure enough, one word has been popping up everywhere in beauty launches lately: Blur. It’s not quite matte, but not quite glowy either. The blurred makeup trend occupies an interesting place between dualities that seems to be striking a chord these days. It delivers all the luminosity of dewy makeup with the diffused velvetiness of ultra-matte glam.

“The trend seems to be gaining momentum in response to the sharp makeup looks that have dominated social media for years,” makeup artist and Sephora Beauty Director David Razzano tells Refinery29. “Bold black cat eyeliner, graphic eyeshadow, intense contouring, and ultra-defined lip lines are beginning to feel a bit dated and overdone.” In comparison, ‘blurred’ makeup has a “fresh, effortless vibe,” per Razzano, that lends the skin a “filtered,” poreless effect. (I never thought I’d say this, but was Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse…ahead of its time?)

The more I thought about it, the less surprising the trend was. After all, digitally airbrushed skin via social media filters had given way to products like e.l.f.’s Poreless Putty Primer and Milk Makeup’s (sadly discontinued) Blur Stick. But the 2025 version of blurred-finish products isn’t just about poreless, diffused skin. Instead of bottling blur in primers and touchup products, the soft-focus effect has made its way into lipstick, blush, eyeshadows, and more.

Ahead, get the scoop on how to wear blurred makeup from lids to lips — and the pro-approved products to get the look this summer and beyond.

Eyes

When it comes to eyes, there are several ways to achieve a soft, diffused wash of color. I personally find cream-to-powder eyeshadows like Glossier Skywash or Merit’s new Solo Shadow the quickest, most foolproof way to get a blurred finish. “The Sephora Collection PRO Eyeshadow Brush #18 is my go-to ‘blurring brush’ for both eyes and lips,” says Razzano. “It has a small domed tip, which can be used to blur eyeliner or lipstick out – just gently sweep on the edge of any area.”

Skin

When I hear “blurred makeup,” I first think of a soft, creamy complexion resembling something from a Vermeer portrait. Foundations like R29’s Beauty Innovator Award-winning Huda Beauty’s Easy Blur and Covergirl’s new (and already sold out) Clean Fresh Blurring Skin Tint SPF 30 are great options for one-and-done coverage with a petal-soft finish.

You can also achieve a beautiful, blurred effect with your finishing products. Razzano loves Kosas’ Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder for lending a soft veil that reduces shine, not glow. “I’m obsessed with this powder! It sets your makeup in place while delivering an ultra-soft blurring effect, all while maintaining a natural, radiant finish,” he says. “This powder works particularly well when it comes to setting concealer — it blurs out fine lines and wrinkles, without creating dryness under the eyes.”

Cheeks

The blush craze shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and the latest launches all seem to have blur as a priority. There’s the Dua Lipa-fronted YSL Beauty’s new Make Me Blush, which comes in eight candy-colored shades and contains squalane to lend an optical blurring effect on skin. Some of Razzano’s go-to’s include Lawless’ Pinch My Cheeks Soft-Blur Cream Blush, which our editors also loved for its longwear properties and beautiful pigmentation. Another fave comes in the form of Danessa Myricks’ Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder, which also happens to be among my most-used products as well. “This formula is nothing short of pure brilliant beauty innovation,” Razzano declares. “Danessa created a hydrating balm-to-powder that instantly blurs the skin, while maintaining a hyper-natural look and feel. Plus, she has carried this formula into blushes and highlighters – so you can blur and add glow simultaneously.”

On the bronzer side of things, Makeup By Mario’s SoftSculpt Blurring Bronzer offers the same sun-kissed glow you’d get from a bronzing powder with ingredients like spherical powders that provide an optical blurring effect.

Lips

Make it a summer of blurred kisses with products that have a soft, romantic finish that’s never dry or flat. “Refy’s Blur Liner boasts a domed tip, creating a natural, soft, and blurred look — an easy step in your routine,” Razzano explains. He also loves Prada Beauty’s Monochrome Soft Matte Blur Lipstick, which has the creamy texture of your favorite lippie but with a velvet finish. “No need to perfectly line your lips, since it softly blurs itself,” he says. “A few taps of your finger will blend it to perfection.” We also love Rhode’s Peptide Lip Shape crayons, which come in a variety of beautiful neutral tones with a soft matte finish.

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I remember growing up when the most popular high school sports for girls were track and field, volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, cheerleading and cross-country. But Rugby? It was never even part of the conversation.

So when I was asked by Quest Nutrition to participate in an Olympic training experience with the United States women’s national rugby sevens team, I didn’t hesitate. I was all in.

Admittedly, I was nervous. However, that changed the moment I received the roster and recognized not one but two women who looked like me. Two Black women, smiling from ear to ear, standing tall as part of an Olympic history-making team. My anxiousness gave way to curiosity and pride.

Rugby has long been perceived as a predominately white sport. A 2020 report by The Guardian found that fewer than 8% of players identified as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background. And if you isolate that figure to solely Black athletes? The percentage drops even lower.

With representation so limited, the challenge isn’t just physical—it’s mental. It’s knowing you’re one of the few. It’s pushing your body to its limits while also carrying the invisible weight of visibility. But it’s also a gift to compete, to create space and to reshape the narrative in real time.

As two-time Olympian and Bronze medalist Ariana Ramsey reminded me after training, “Great and hard work shapes you into the athlete you’re meant to be. Your willingness to go to practice every day and be consistent is a life skill you’ll always need and use.”

Those words stuck with me because, as a Black woman athlete, or in my case, a journalist, showing up is only half the battle. It’s never just about the game or profession; it’s about rewriting what’s possible, even when the narrative was never written with us—Black women and many others from historically marginalized backgrounds—in mind. Is it about being seen? Yes, absolutely, but it’s also more than that; the older I get, the more I realize it’s about making sure the next little brown girl sees herself, too.

Being in the center of it all at Chula Vista Elite Training Center, one of the top Olympic training campuses in the country, the game itself challenged every physical limit I thought I knew.

It was exciting, yes, but it also sparked something deeper. It created an internal shift from imposter syndrome to embodied power. I began to understand that true strength in all forms isn’t just about physical ability. I missed a few kicks. My athleticism definitely didn’t kick in the way I hoped. And when it was time to race, did I come in first place? Absolutely not. (laughs)

But the real win had nothing to do with numbers. It was in letting go of the mental chains, silencing the inner critic and quieting the outside noise that sometimes held me back (and at times continues to do so) in my everyday life. The silent whispers of discouragement, defeat or doubt. The lingering question of “What if I’m not enough?” What if things don’t go as I planned? “What if I’m not ready or live up to the expectation?”

That day, I didn’t just show up on the field. I pushed through the noise. And not only did I show up for Dontaira K. Terrell in her full entirety—I proved something to myself and no one else. Even if I didn’t make the field goal, land the tackle or run my fastest race—I laughed through it all. No pressure. I was present. I enjoyed the moment. I took what I couldn’t do and turned it into a lesson, not a curveball.

It took time to get here. For so long, I carried the weight of trying to be perfect. To be a winner. To overachieve, no matter the cost. That pressure has caused me more harm than good. But letting go of those limiting beliefs? That was the freedom. Who cared if I didn’t catch on as quickly as the person next to me? That was the push I didn’t know I needed.

If I’m honest, I grew up in a household of excellence. College-educated parents. High-achieving siblings. World travelers. Trophy winners. My older sisters aren’t just entrepreneurs and businesswomen—two are attorneys, and one is an audiologist (in fact, the first Black woman to receive a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree in the Midwest). So, as you can imagine, anything less than my best never felt like an option.

“Growing up, I worked really hard but didn’t immediately see the payout, so it kind of made me feel like what I was doing wasn’t worth it,” American rugby union player Nia Toliver said, reflecting on the advice she’d give to her younger self. “But when I think about where I am now, it’s because of the work I put in. It was a long-term gain—not immediate success.”

Talk about words that resonated.

In today’s society—from television to TikTok, Instagram and everything in between it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. When everyone else seems to be gaining momentum, racking up wins or living their so-called best lives, it can leave you crashing out and wondering, “What about me?”

We’re in a microwavable culture. Everything looks instant. But real success? Real alignment? It takes time. And that’s why I’ve had to learn to separate the two to put things into perspective. Just as Maya Angelou reminded us: “All great achievements require time.”

That’s also why I’m adamant about celebrating the small wins. They’re the proof of grit, grind and perseverance behind closed doors. The effort you’re putting in when no one is watching. When the applause is quiet. When the likes on the ‘Gram are few and far between. I know firsthand that those moments are the hardest.

It’s about reframing the narrative: you don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to keep going and keep showing up. After spending the day with the team, when it came time to leave the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, another realization struck me. The roles of coaches, sports psychologists, team nutritionists, personal trainers and the list goes on in rugby mirrored something I’ve come to understand in my own life: your support system matters just as much as your skill set.

If you want to win at anything on the field or in real life, let me tell you, that foundation has to be solid. That encouragement, that accountability, that belief in you when you’re doubting yourself? That kind of support is top-tier because no matter how gifted you are, you can’t do it alone. To win in this thing called life, both on and off the playing field, you need people who help you stay in the game, even when life is doing the absolute most.

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“To all the ladies in the place with style and grace,” this one is for you! Summer’s here, and we’re not just outside; we’re showing up, showing out and smelling like a whole vibe. Not only are we trying to look good, we’re trying to smell good too.

But let’s be real—perfume isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your signature scent should match your energy. I’m talking scents that still linger in the room long after you leave, giving off that main character energy that’ll have heads turning and your presence unforgettable. Is it soft and sweet? Bold and spicy? Warm and woody with a little intrigue?

Either way, that’s why we pulled together this list of handpicked must-have perfumes that are, of course, made for us, by us. Ready to smell like your higher self? Get your wallets ready, and let’s get into it.

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