The summer sun is sunning (well, kind of) and I, like the rest of us, am in the mood to embody a sunny disposition for as long as I can. So in the spirit of embracing the season and all the little joys that come with it, here are my top picks of July Monthly Favourites. From new beauty loves to the accessorising phenomenon I’m obsessing over, it’s time to discuss all the things that are making my summer. Let’s go!

By now we’ve all seen the Jane Birkinification of bags phenomenon. It pays homage to the incredible woman behind the famous Hermès Birkin bag, British and French actress and singer Jane Birkin. She was known for translating her iconic laissez-faire style into the use of the accessory which bears her name by decorating it with charms, trinkets and filling it to the brim. I’m a fan of any trend that embodies a love of practicality and effortless style and this one is so fun to partake in.

I’ve been decorating my Birkin 25 with pendants, leather charms and a selection of micro Hermès sticky notes with a leather bound cover (let’s get organised, but make it fashion). I’ve seen others decorate theirs with Hermès twillies, vintage Chanel chain belts (OBSESSED) and ropes of pearls for a super-chic and personalised effect. You can do this with other bags too, any oversized design would do the trick – my recommendations are the Miu Miu’s large, boxy top-handle bag and maybe some vintage Louis Vuitton.

In the spirit of Euro Summer, the new Gucci Lido collection is all about celebrating the joy of coastal living. It centres around vibrant colours that scream summer, care-free accessories and ready-to-wear staples that act as the building blocks of your holiday wardrobe. Pieces I’ve been loving include a straw sun hat embroidered with pastel-hued lettering, silk co-ords and logo slide sandals in pink monogram canvas.

In the spirit of holidays, I’ve finally taken the plunge and purchased a Kindle. Being able to read in the sun and bring as many books as I want away with me without weighing my hand luggage down – yes please!

Another Gucci favourite up next, the Rosso Ancora lipstick. I’ve already documented my love of this gorgeous rich burgundy colour in my May Monthly Favourites so it should come as no surprise that my newest obsession is Gucci Beauty’s lipstick in the shade. It’s perfect for creating a statement deep red lip that you can really build your whole makeup look around. Plus, it’s so pigmented that I love using it as a blush too for creating rosy looking cheeks. Great with my other Gucci Beauty favourites and, of course, ready-to-wear pieces also in the colour.

My love of a good LED red light therapy mask is well and truly established. It’s one of those high-maintenance beauty rituals that I do in order to be lower maintenance down the line. For me, it’s one of the best things you can do over time for your skin as it boosts collagen production, soothes skin and helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, it’s a great way to utilise downtime!

I’ve been loving the colourful addition that Rhode’s products have been to my makeup collection this summer. For July, the latest staple in my makeup bag has been the pocket blushes. Six shades of creamy blush sticks that are perfect for on the go, I love blending in with my finger for super-easy application. They all look great with a summer tan but my favourite is piggy, a pretty baby pink shade that makes it easy to create a rosy cheek look.

Specifically designed for when your hair is exposed to sun, the Soleil Huile Sirène hair oil mist from my favourite bunch of hair care gurus at Kérastase has proved a must-have for July. It’s my trusty weapon for protecting against the drying effects of sun, chlorine and salt water so is a holiday necessity and it always leaves my hair feeling softer. The jasmine and solar tuberose fragrance is an added bonus.

And that rounds up this monthly favourites. I’d love to know what you’ve been enjoying this month.