The Ingredients of a Nancy Meyers Summer
The Ingredients of a Nancy Meyers Summer
📍 Boothbay Harbor, Maine
The following content may contain affiliate links.
When you click and shop the links, I may receive a small commission.
Sweater || Button-Down || Shorts || Sandals || Tote Bag || Hat
There’s something about a Nancy Meyers summer that feels almost impossible to recreate. It isn’t just the linen shirts or the charming beach houses. It’s the feeling that every day has room for a slow morning, an impromptu dinner outside, or an afternoon spent wandering a coastal town with nowhere particular to be. The good news is that you don’t need a Hamptons estate or a movie set to capture that feeling. Over the last few summers, I’ve realized it’s less about where you are and more about the small rituals you choose. This summer, I’m leaning into those moments and creating my own version right here in New England.
Start the Morning Slowly
A slower morning has become one of my favorite parts of summer. Opening the windows, making coffee at home before heading out for a walk, and getting dressed in something that feels effortless sets the tone for the rest of the day. Even on workdays, putting on a crisp button-down or a favorite striped sweater instead of staying in athletic clothes makes the day feel just a little more intentional.
Spend More Time by the Water
There doesn’t have to be an elaborate plan. Some of my favorite summer afternoons have been spent sitting on a dock, watching sailboats come and go, or reading a book on a quiet beach. Whether it’s the rocky coast of Maine, a beach in Connecticut, or simply a harbor at sunset, water has a way of making everything slow down.
Dress for the Season You Want
One of the easiest ways to embrace the feeling of a New England summer is through your wardrobe. Lightweight linen, woven bags, striped sweaters, white cotton dresses, comfortable sandals, and a playful lobster cardigan all feel equally at home from morning coffee to dinner overlooking the water. These are the pieces I reach for again and again because they make getting dressed feel effortless.
Make Everyday Meals Feel Special
Some of the best summer meals aren’t elaborate at all. A lobster roll on a picnic table, fresh blueberries from the farmers market, grilled vegetables on the patio, or a bowl of pasta enjoyed outside somehow feels more memorable during the summer months. A linen tablecloth, fresh flowers, and candles can turn even a weeknight dinner into something worth lingering over.
Wander Without an Agenda
Some of my favorite memories come from days that weren’t planned down to the minute. Walking through Kennebunkport, browsing bookstores in Newport, stopping into antique shops, or discovering a quiet beach simply because we saw a small sign pointing toward the water often become the moments I remember most. Summer feels richer when every outing doesn’t have to accomplish something.
Bring People Together
Nancy Meyers homes always seem to have an open door. Friends stop by for cocktails, family gathers around the table, and someone is always arriving with dessert. While I can’t recreate the movie set, I can invite neighbors over for drinks, pack a picnic for the beach, or host a simple dinner with grilled fish and a blueberry crisp. Those evenings often become the highlight of the season.
A Nancy Meyers summer isn’t really about decorating your home or buying a new wardrobe. It’s about choosing a pace that allows you to notice the little things: hydrangeas spilling over white fences, the first bite of a lobster roll, a sweater draped over your shoulders after sunset, or one more walk along the beach before heading home. That’s the version of summer I’m chasing this year. Not perfect, just beautifully lived.
Love from Maine,
Katie
Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about my travels and style, be sure to visit throughout the week! Be sure to check out my exclusive adventures in NYC and New England.
