Summer Aesthetic Goals: 9 Affordable Ways to Bring the Island Girl Style into Your Life

You can take the girl out of the island, but you can’t take the island out of the girl. If you reside in the city but still want to live the island life, you can bring the summer aesthetic to you with these nine simple and affordable ways.

White sheets, white linens, and white sofa covers are the foundations of a summer aesthetic. Using white fabrics in your home is an invitation to live every day as if you’re on vacation. It may remind you of luxurious hotel living, or it could bring to mind memories of pristine white sand. It creates a sense of lightness in a room, ventilation, and vibe-wise. Don’t be afraid of staining them! Part of living the island life is being easygoing and carefree.

Natural materials such as wicker, rattan, cotton, linen, and bamboo can give your home that summer aesthetic. Use wicker as extra storage for trinkets, groceries, toys, and other dry items. Bring in at least one piece of rattan furniture, be that a rocking chair, side table, or room divider. It's an easy and affordable way to establish an island feel in your home.

Any kind of plant can add life and positive energy to a room, but if you want a summer vibe, bring in tropical plants. Palms are huge, inexpensive, and accessible in the city. They’re also pretty easy to care for. Place a few four to five-foot palms in room corners to add warmth to your space.

Wearing tight, stuffy clothes is counterintuitive to your island girl goals. To achieve a summer aesthetic through your wardrobe, wear loose, breezy pieces such as wide-leg linen pants, cotton shirts, halter tops, and shorts. Of course, if you like leggings and leather, no one can stop you from wearing them. At the end of the day, embracing this look is all about being comfortable and unrestrained.

If you think about it, living in the Philippines is living the island life. It would be a pity if you don’t get to experience this to the fullest because you’re always cooped up in your home office. Stretch your legs and take a walk outside and breathe in the fresh air for at least 15 minutes per hour. According to a study by the University of Waterloo, however, we need to spend 30 minutes of every hour moving to reap health benefits.

You don’t have to be a so-called hubadera to have a summer aesthetic, but it sure helps. One thing a hubadera has that anyone would benefit from emulating is confidence. If you don’t have it, fake it. Being confident in your skin takes time, but small baby steps — such as starting to wear shorts and sleeveless tops while engaging in more physical activity — can help you get there slowly. The World Health Organization recommends 150 to 300 hours of exercise a week.

Keep cool and fresh while working out with Rexona Women Shower Clean Antiperspirant Deodorant Roll-on. This gives you 48 hours of sweat and odor protection while you move.

There is nothing like a fruit platter to put you in a summer mood. Try to stick to seasonal fruits because they’re cheaper and better for the planet (they also taste better!). Fruits that are in season in the summer months of April to June include mangoes, melons, pineapples, and watermelons. Meanwhile, bananas, papayas, and some pomelos are available throughout the year. Bonus: they’ll give you glowing skin!

A scented candle inspired by Mediterranean destinations? Yes, please. You could, however, take it a step further and fill your cabinet with skin and hair products that remind you of the beach. Shea butter moisturizers will soften your skin and transport you to the seaside. You can also use Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Volume and Bounty Shampoo to leave your hair glossy and envelop it in a fresh coconut scent.

Any responsible, self-respecting island girl wears sunscreen. If you don’t feel like doing it for yourself, do it for Future You — the one who’s going to have all the wrinkles and sunspots you incurred from unprotected sun exposure. The American Academy of Dermatologists recommends wearing an SPF of at least 30 indoors and outdoors. The city gets just as much sun as the beach!

Make sure to stock up on POND'S UV Bright Sunscreen. It's your first line of defense against UV rays and their damage to the skin.

Embrace the summer aesthetic with the recos above and fully dive into the season.