It's a Gallery Girl summer

Honing in on personal style when it's so, so hot

I still want to be the Gallery Girl.

In the fall of 2023 I started my Niche Aesthetics series on TikTok and one of the most viral of these digital creations was someone I dubbed The Gallery Girl.

While the name was borrowed from a silly and short-lived Bravo reality show, the similarities ended there. The Gallery Girl was inspired by ‘70s and ‘80s downtown dream girls like Norma Kamali, Tina Chow and Elsa Peretti. She didn’t just love art, she was art.

Crafting the parameters of each of these niche aesthetics was my way of channeling style pages from my golden days of magazine consumption. They’re mental collages dedicated to influences I’ve collected over the years, and working through each one has helped me focus in on my own sense of personal style and taste.

Since chopping my hair off last year, no dream girl feels more right to me than the Gallery Girl. In the process of trying to become her, I finally feel like myself.

The Gallery Girl has also morphed into my perfect summer muse. The temperatures are soaring, and finding outfits that are literally cool is as important as feeling stylish. I’ve been focusing on my ever-expanding sunglasses wardrobe, sleeveless tops with simple-yet-interesting details (everyone needs a faux-Pleats Please tank, they’re plentiful at the thrift), breezy knee-length silk skirts and wide-legged pants all feel comfy and chic enough for the downtown character in my brain.

I consider Halston an honorary Gallery Girl, as I sometimes end up dressed like him.

I’ve also loved building up my collection of vintage sterling silver jewelry, which feels cool-to-the-touch and cool-to-the-eyes, mixing metals in my ring stacks and various ear piercings.

But first and foremost, I’m a beauty gal. For the Gallery Girl, I love the sculptural, medical aesthetic of Isamaya’s rebrand, though I know it’s a sore spot for some compared to the line’s previous rubberist vibes.

Prada, Fluff, and a recently thrifted mid-century tray.

I’ve also added some goods from Fluff into my beauty rotation. The heft of their refillable compacts feels solid and luxurious in the palm of my hand, and I love the subtle, buildable warmth their Bronzing Powder provides. When I’m ready for a gleam, I’ll dab on Haus Labs’ cream blush and glassy highlighter balm sticks, each housed in futuristic tubes.

Lips are getting the Gallery Girl treatment too. Prada’s logo-adorned matte-finish, floral-scented lip balms—also refillable—make my magpie heart sing. I’m a simple girl! For mirror-like shine and gorgeous sheer shades, I’ve been swiping on Eadem’s Le Chouchou. Guava Fresca, in particular, has the most intoxicatingly realistic scent, and my lips feel more nourished than usual.

Lastly, having short hair feels like the key to staying sane and chic in this weather. Yes, my increasingly shorter chop has been an ode to Tina and Elsa, but it also keeps me from going into sensory overload. A healthy dose of got2b Glued gel and hairspray keeps my hair slicked out of my face, and regular trims keep my neck cool and comfortable. Long, voluminous hair is gorgeous and so versatile, but it’s definitely no longer for me.

Elsa Peretti in the ideal summer uniform combination: tiny top, hair that’s cropped.

If the heat gets to be too much for you this summer, make like a Gallery Girl: slick your hair back, don minimal layers and head downtown to someplace dark and chilly. Stay cool, cuties.