July is pure American summer: a glass of lemonade, sun-drenched tennis courts, sailboats on the horizon, and celebration in the air. Fireworks light up the sky, flags ripple in the breeze, and afternoons drift easily into evenings filled with music, laughter, and the scent of sunscreen and charcoal.

My July muse is John F. Kennedy, Jr., an icon of effortless style and East Coast cool. With his tousled hair, navy polos, tennis whites, and sun-faded tees, he captured a vision of American summer that is sporty, classic, and eternally chic. Whether photographed sailing off Hyannis Port or riding his bike barefoot through the dunes, JFK Jr. had a presence that felt both timeless and laid-back.

At the start of the month, my family and I spent time in Boston — a city that lives and breathes American history, especially in July. As we walked the cobblestone streets, inspiration was everywhere: colonial brick buildings with flag-draped balconies, the buzz of boat-filled marinas, and the easygoing style of a New England summer.

This month I’m drawn to clean lines, crisp cottons, and clothes that can take you from the tennis court to the boat dock. I am thinking of white cable-knit sweaters tossed over shoulders, straw hats, navy polos, and canvas totes — pieces that feel as timeless as New England summers themselves.

Click here to explore my latest favorites — easy pieces that nod to summer’s all-American spirit, with lemons, a touch of tennis, and that unmistakable feeling of sun on your shoulders and salt in the air.