7 Summer Aesthetics to Live as Your Best Self
- Breakfast in a Silk Dress
- Jun 23
- 11 min read
Every summer promises to be the summer of our lives — and then we end up with unbooked plans, anxiety, and an emotionally unstable playlist. But there’s something about this season that invites us to shed our skin, to try out new versions of ourselves as if each week were a new chapter. There are days when we want to live the peace of the countryside, picking flowers like life were a pastoral poem. And on others, we’re a city it-girl with sunglasses on, a cosmopolitan in hand, and a fabulous closet full of Manolo Blahniks. In this article, we’ve gathered seven summer aesthetics — seven possible characters you can try on over the next few months, each with activities to help you live the season like your own personal reference. Choose your vibe, switch vibes, mix them all — because being just one thing is so... spring.
What’s Your Summer Aesthetic? 7 Versions of You & Activities to Live Like Each One!
f you’re anything like me, you’ll want to live all of these versions of yourself in a single summer — because why choose just one aesthetic when you can care for yourself in the morning, visit art exhibitions in the afternoon, and tap into your power by nightfall? Throughout this article, you’ll find seven moods, seven archetypes, seven excuses to reinvent yourself with intention, charm, and just the right amount of drama. And if you need something a bit more tangible to guide you, we’ve got you — the Summer Dares await at the end: our ultimate printable summer checklist, made to turn even the slowest days into scenes straight out of an indie movie. But first, let’s dive into the activities — starting with the Cottage Princess, like a sighing farewell to the spring that’s slowly slipping away.
The Cottage Princess
Imagine stepping into the world of Pride and Prejudice — the Cottage Princess is the main character who wakes up early with sunlight pouring through the window, slips into a light ankle-length dress, and prepares breakfast using ingredients picked fresh from the garden. Her ideal day begins with journaling under the shade of a tree, followed by a visit to the botanical garden to learn the Latin names of flowers and take nostalgic-looking photos. Later, she might bake bread or make a simple jam with Norah Jones playing in the background. By late afternoon, there’s a lakeside picnic — with fresh fruit, a poetry book, and a pretty blanket spread out over the grass. This aesthetic is all about slow living, finding beauty in the small things, and turning the domestic life into something almost magical. If you love quiet afternoons, nature, ruffled dresses, and tea cups in hand — this one’s for you.
Bake from Scratch
Baking bread, a pie, or jam from scratch is a little domestic spell. The dough rising, the scent in the oven, that first warm bite with butter: there’s magic in it all. You don’t need to be a chef — it’s the intention that matters. Put on a soft playlist, wear something cute just because, and let your kitchen become a slow, sweet sanctuary.
Visit a Botanic Garden
Strolling through a botanical garden feels like walking through a living library of plants. Every flower has a name, a story, a purpose. Go with time, curiosity, and no real plan. Take photos, sketch leaves in your notebook, or just walk slowly and breathe deeply. You might even choose a plant to be your summer guide and research its spiritual symbolism.
Picnic by the Lake
Nothing says Cottagecore like a picnic by the lake. Pack fresh fruit, a crispy baguette, a poetry book, and a blanket that makes you want to lie on it all day. Find a spot in the shade, listen to the water, and let time pass without guilt. Bring flowers, bring style, bring peace.
The Coastal Siren
Living like the Coastal Siren means turning a beach day into a sensual, aquatic fantasy. She starts her day with a surf lesson or a barefoot walk along the wet sand, searching for shells. After a morning swim, there’s time to explore a hidden beach, listen to sun-drenched music, and maybe even craft a seashell necklace with treasures found that same day. In the afternoon, she visits a coastal cave — a place soaked in mysticism, like stepping into a dream. As the sun begins to dip, she changes into a subtly shimmering bikini and dives back into the sea, this time under the golden light of sunset or with the moon reflecting on the waves. The Coastal Siren lives for the ocean and lets it guide her — this aesthetic is about freedom, raw sensuality, and deep connection to water. Perfect for those who feel most alive with salt on their skin and wind in their hair.
Try Surf or Snorkeling
The Coastal Siren isn’t afraid to challenge the waves. Trying surf or snorkeling isn’t about being perfect — it’s about letting your body move with the tide. If you get the chance, swim alongside fish or turtles and feel the ancestral connection between your body and the sea. It’s a way to align yourself with nature at its most raw and intuitive — salty, powerful, free.
Explore Beaches & Caves
Explore secret beaches and hidden sea caves like you’re following clues from a forgotten legend. Bring snacks, a pretty towel, and a book to read between swims. At twilight, slip into the sea under golden skies — or wait for the full moon and swim under the stars. It’s an intimate ritual that makes you feel part of something bigger than yourself.
Make a Shell Necklace
Making a seashell necklace is more than just a DIY — it’s turning fleeting moments into talismans. Gather shells, faux pearls, or sea-washed stones and create something truly yours. Wear it as a reminder that beauty lies in what you collect with your own two hands, with salt in your hair and stories left untold.
The Euro Babe
The Euro Babe is the it-girl of endless vacations — even if she’s simply living her summer in full-on staycation mode. A day in this aesthetic begins with an iced latte on a charming terrace, the kind where you can linger over a good book. Then it’s off to a street market, where she might find a vintage dress or a handcrafted trinket to take home. In the afternoon, she stops by an old bookstore, flipping through decades-old postcards and picking out a new notebook to write her travel thoughts — even if the only trip is to the next town over. By nightfall, maybe there's a spontaneous train ride to a nearby city, just because she felt like seeing something new. The Euro Babe loves style and culture, but with ease. This aesthetic is about living with European charm, romanticizing everyday life, and turning simple moments into Pinterest-worthy postcards.
Brunch on a Terrace
Start your day seated at a terrace with soft European charm, where the cappuccino comes with perfect foam and the morning light feels like a movie still. Bring a pocket-sized book or type on your phone like you’re the main character in a French film. Watch the world go by. Brunch is just the excuse — the moment is yours.
Visit a Local Market
Wander through a street market or local fair and get lost among fruit stands, vintage finds, and handmade crafts. Discover treasures from other times and local artistry — or buy a bouquet of flowers just because it made you smile. These markets are the heartbeat of the city — and a Euro Babe explores them with the eye of someone collecting life’s small delights.
Take a Pottery Class
Discover the pleasure of creating something with your own hands — clay smudges and all. A pottery class is the perfect escape to slow down without losing your sparkle. Shape a cup, a vase, or just an abstract piece with personality. What matters is the process: grounding, tactile, and unexpectedly therapeutic. In the end, you bring home not just a handmade object, but a sensory, aesthetic memory of your Euro summer.
The City It-Girl
Living like the City It-Girl means living with... aesthetic intention. She wakes up late, but always in style, and heads to her favorite neighborhood café where the matcha is creamy and the barista knows her by name. She strolls through shops like she owns the city — always ready to stumble upon something iconic. By night, she knows exactly where the newest rooftop or most electric dance floor is. But she’s not all about going out — the City It-Girl also creates magic at home: she hosts balcony dinners with candles, music, and chilled wine, where her friends feel like they’re in an episode of Sex and the City. This aesthetic is about expressing power through detail, and treating the city as an extension of your personality. If you live for pretty cafés, spontaneous discoveries, and outfits that tell stories — this one’s your vibe.
Matcha & Shopping
The caffeine-and-shopping ritual is sacred. Pick a beautiful area of the city, order a strawberry iced matcha latte, and stroll through the shops. You don’t have to buy anything — sometimes we’re just in it for the inspo, trying on a new perfume or snapping a mirror selfie in a fancy boutique. This daily ritual can also be a way to explore hidden streets, discover indie brands, or even befriend a charming shop assistant. The key? Enjoy the process with grace and a touch of glam.
Check Out a Cool Club
Find a new bar, club, or rooftop no one’s been to yet — or revisit your favorite spot, but with a fresh outfit and a friend who gets the vibe. The lights, the dancing, the glances across the room — all part of the urban fantasy. Being the Dancing Queen of the night isn’t about being seen — it’s about knowing you’re exactly where you need to be, living the moment like it’s a scene from an iconic film. Go to dance, laugh, flirt, and let go.
Host a Balcony Soirée
Invite your friends for a soirée with wine, a curated cheese board, and a well-thought-out playlist. Add fresh flowers, candles, and pretty dishes — even if it’s just on a tiny balcony. The luxury is in the details. You can even pick a theme, like Mediterranean or French Luxe, and serve playful cocktails. It’s your moment of aesthetic curation and real connection. Between giggles and toasts, memories are made — ones worthy of a movie reel.
The Art Darling
The Art Darling lives to create and consume beauty — even when that beauty is strange, melancholic, or hard to understand. Her summer isn’t just for relaxing, it’s for feeling and transforming. Her day starts with headphones in and a visit to a small gallery, or maybe sketching at a café. Afternoons are for writing, collaging in a journal, prepping a zine, or just wandering the city collecting mental snapshots of things no one else notices. At night, she’s at an open-air cinema or an indie concert, heart pounding because of a lyric that struck her. This aesthetic is for those who see the world as a moving exhibit and live like every day is part of a larger story — one that might not make sense to anyone else.
Attend a Concert or Festival
Go to a festival, concert, or try an alternative rave — with glitter on your eyelids and a wild hairstyle. It doesn’t matter what genre is playing — what matters is the feeling. Dance like no one’s watching, yet feel deeply connected to the crowd around you. Take flash photos, jot down random phrases in your notes app, and keep the ticket stub like it’s art. This is your summer in sound and movement.
Go to an Open-Air Cinema
Bring a blanket, popcorn, drinks, snacks — and someone who makes you feel soft. An open-air cinema turns an ordinary night into something cinematic. Sit under the stars, let the story move you, and maybe cry quietly at a scene that hits too close. It’s not about performing emotion — it’s about surrendering to it.
Curate a Summer Zine
End your summer by making your own zine — full of torn pages, scribbled quotes, pressed tickets, and fleeting obsessions. It doesn’t have to make sense. The goal is to archive the feelings, fascinations, and fragments of a summer only you truly lived. Share it with friends or tuck it away in a secret drawer. Creating is healing.
The Summer Witch
The Summer Witch is mystical but grounded, living between the sensitive and the sensory worlds. She wakes with sunlight streaming through crystals on her window, brews a floral tea, and spends the day noticing the signs the universe sends her way. She knows that a walk in nature can be a spell when done with intention. She loves writing incantations in secret notebooks, hosting tarot readings with friends, or visiting medieval fairs where she buys handmade candles, talismans, and ancient books of alchemy. The Summer Witch doesn’t want to control the world — only learn how to flow with it. This aesthetic is for those who want to feel connected to the Earth, the moon’s cycles, and the power of being magical inside and out.
Host a Tarot Reading Session
Host a tarot afternoon with your besties. Set the mood with pretty fabrics, incense, crystals, and soft music. You don’t need to be an expert — the intention is simply to share, listen, and tune into the moment. This kind of connection goes beyond small talk: it’s spiritual, intuitive, symbolic. In the end, you can journal what came up in the cards and even create little group rituals. It's modern magic at its softest and most sacred.
Prepare a Moonlight Ritual Bath
During a full or new moon, fill your tub with warm water, coarse salt, rose petals, cinnamon, rue, essential oils, and maybe a few crystals. Light candles, play a dreamy playlist, and step into the water with an intention — to release or to attract. It’s your private ritual of reconnection with your body, the lunar rhythm, and your own energy. You can write an intention beforehand and burn it afterwards — just because. That’s the spell.
Visit Medieval and Esoteric Fairs
Look for local events with medieval, magical, or esoteric themes. These fairs are full of booths selling old books, handcrafted jewelry, enchanted candles, and oracles that feel like they’ve come from a temple. You’ll meet people with kindred spirits and might even discover new spiritual practices. Bring a notebook to write down everything that resonates — and above all, immerse yourself in the atmosphere and enjoy the spellbound vibe.
The Relaxing Muse
The Relaxing Muse doesn’t rush — she glides. Summer, to her, means discreet luxury, inner peace, and quality time with herself. She loves waking up early in crisp sheets, doing her skincare with slow, intentional movements, and slipping into something silky before heading out for a massage or thermal spa. Her aesthetic lives in the details: polished nails, oils in her hair, soft music in the background. At night, she reads a book stretched out on a lounger with a glass of rosé. She also knows how to care for the energy in her space — decluttering, redecorating with fresh flowers, and turning her home into a sanctuary. This aesthetic is for those who want to turn summer into a season of well-being, deep rest, and luxury that comes from within.
Stay at a Resort
Book a little getaway to a quiet resort — somewhere surrounded by nature or close to the sea, with a pool and breakfast included. You don’t need a full itinerary. The goal is to do nothing but rest, soak up the sun, and let yourself be taken care of. Choose a place where the architecture inspires you and where every detail makes you feel held. This is your temporary temple.
Try a New Spa Experience
Try treatments you’ve never experienced before: a Japanese head spa with hot oils, a lymphatic drainage massage, a deep facial with lavender steam, or a thermal bath inspired by the ancient Romans. Treat this like a private ceremony. Arrive early, sip a calming herbal tea, slip into a soft robe, and let yourself be fully present — mind, body, and soul.
Declutter and Redecorate
Create a space that makes you want to breathe deeper. Let go of objects that no longer reflect who you are and replace them with things that bring peace: candles, flowers, soft fabrics, warm lighting. Turn your home into a haven — and your bedroom into your summer sanctuary. From your wardrobe to your kitchen shelves, say goodbye to what no longer serves you and make space for beauty, new experiences, and the people that come with them.
This summer isn’t just meant to be lived — it’s meant to be romanticized, savored, and boldly felt. We created this Printable Summer Dares Checklist to inspire you to break out of autopilot and step into your main character energy — with salt on your skin, sparkle in your eyes, and stories you’ll find yourself whispering into voice notes at 2am.
Inside, you’ll find 36 dares that are poetic, sensual, and unapologetically main character core — designed to be done solo or with whoever matches your frequency. From trying new things to reconnecting with nature, these small adventures are your reminder that life can feel like a movie… if you let it. Print it out, tape it to your mirror, or tuck it into your journal. Check each one off at your pace, in your own rhythm, on your own terms. There are no rules — only intention and presence. And when summer ends, may the checklist be full of ticks… and your heart full of memories.
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