When it comes to celebrating July 4th, Eleanor Ylvisaker, a native New Yorker and mother of two, seems to have a crystal-clear understanding of the one rule we all should have plastered on our wall: less is more. Having spent years in the swirl of the fashion world, as a founder of Earnest Sewn Jeans as well as the personal styling website Feyt, she’s been-there, done-that when it comes to over-the-top parties, velvet ropes and dancing in stilettos. Here, she tells us about a weekend that sounds like the perfect mix of family time, fireworks and fresh summer food.
This July 4th weekend…
I’m visiting my mom in Spring Lake, New Jersey.
My days will be spent…
On the beach with my kids, swimming and surfing in the ocean.
And my evenings will be filled with…
Early BBQs in the back yard, movie nights with the kids and visits to Hoffman’s Ice Cream shop.
My favorite July 4th tradition…
Fireworks and town carnivals.
My best July 4th memory from childhood…
Running through our backyard in Spring Lake with sparklers in the dark.
My favorite spot for watching fireworks…
On the roof of my friend’s West Village apartment.
My menu for a summer BBQ…
Grilled corn, baked beans, Simchick meat burgers and watermelon.
And my cocktail of choice…
Ginger beer mocktail.
My soundtrack for summer includes…
Alt-J, Vance Joy and Milky Chance.
If you peeked in my suitcase you’d find…
Kiini bikinis, Vita Kin embroidered rompers, Heidi Merrick dresses, Ryan Roche sun hat, Lemlem cover-ups and Rainbow flip flops.
My summer beauty regimen…
Ocean-rinsed hair, Oribe Gold Lust Hair oil, Colbert Illumino face oil, Elta MD UV Shield SPF 45.
And summer fitness regimen…
Running on the beach, paddle boarding and learning to surf.
Tricks for getting bikini ready…
Chop’t salads, lemon/ginger water and running.