Let’s be real, friends. Not every summer night needs to end with fireworks or closing down the restaurant at 2am. While we love a summer adventure, there’s a special kind of delight that comes from low-key summer hangouts — the kinds that involve just enough planning to feel special, but not so much effort that you need three recovery days post-hang. We’re talking bout the intimate, cozy, summer hangs with soft lighting, good food, your favorite company and the most ideal detail: getting you to bed before the clock strikes 10pm.
We know the holidays and the school year will kick our routines back into high gear, so for now, we’re craving slow, easy, relaxing summer nights. If you are too, we’ve got a few of our favorite ways to bring a little lowkey luxury to your summer nights and connect with friends and family. And if you slip into your favorite silky robe to enjoy them, you’ll practically be ready for bed. Here are our summer suggestions:
Photo by Ashley Streff
Bring the Spa to You
Skip the overpriced spa menu and turn your own bathroom into an at-home sanctuary. Light a eucalyptus candle, slice some cucumber, and fill a pitcher with water (bonus points if you add a little lemon and fresh mint). Queue up a playlist of gentle instrumentals or rainforest sounds, and indulge in a DIY facial with your favorite mask and some of our gua sha tools. Make the hangout feel like an updated childhood sleepover by inviting a friend or two to bring over their plushest headbands and their own best robes. Let it be a gossip-free zone where you only talk about your hopes for the second half of the year, the books you haven’t been able to put down, and your favorite new skincare finds. Everyone can wear their ladies' silk robes to ritualize the hang a little bit more. There’s something truly luxurious about lounging in a silky robe with your besties, while you do a whole lot of nothing. You’ll be in bed by: 9:45pm with perfectly moisturized skin.
Photo by Miranda Tillinghast
Outdoor Viewing Party (with a Projector)
A white sheet, a projector, and a handful of friends are all you need to make your backyard a cinema. Add buttered and popcorn with rosemary, your favorite dry rosé, and your favorite movie theater guilty pleasure. That’s all you need for a dreamy backyard film night. Choose a lighthearted movie like Amélie or even My Neighbor Totoro, or a comfort classic from the 90s, and you’ve got your own nostalgic drive-in movie experience. You can spread out quilts and floor cushions, and don’t forget to provide bug spray and use a couple of citronella candles. Wear one of your favorite kimono wraps over linen shorts and a tank. It’s a perfect lightweight coverup from day to night and makes you feel like you’re wrapped in a cloud. You’ll be in bed by: 10pm after the credits roll and you make plans to do it next weekend.
Early Bird Dinner Date
Let’s take back the 5:30pm reservation. The food is fresh, the kitchen’s not slammed, and you’re home before the hungry crowds show up. Whether it’s sushi, tacos, or wood-fired pizza, you can still have a “night out” and be in your PJs before the sun goes down. Or host your own early dinner at home: grill some veggies, open a crisp bottle of white, and serve dinner al fresco on your balcony or in the backyard. If you can clear the dishes by 7pm, you’ve won the early bird game. And if you’re hosting, slip into the best robe you own — the kind of hostess outfit that says “I’m elegant, but I’m also fully committed to my own comfort.” You’ll be in bed by: 9:30pm, with a cup of digestive tea.
Photo by Ashley Streff
Backyard Happy Hour
Pick a Thursday, text your crew, and tell everyone to bring their favorite summer beverage. Set up a few chairs, put on a playlist that feels like you’re on a sunset-lit rooftop, and set out some olives, chips, and dips. You don’t need to host a full-blown party to have a good time. Just create a mood and give your friend group a chance to see each other’s faces (outside of the group chat) and talk about nothing important. Kimono wraps are perfect for this exact setting — easy to throw over whatever you wore to work or wrangle kids in, and breezy enough to feel just right in 80-degree summer weather. The silky robe you usually save for spa days? Let her shine with a pair of oversized sunglasses for golden hour and a low bun for a little extra sophistication. You’ll be in bed by: 10pm sharp, with your favorite summer read.
Photo by @thejoanadias
Golden Hour Walk + Gelato
Summer walks feel extra luxurious when you head out during that magic hour when the light softens and everything looks like a movie. Text a friend to meet at your favorite neighborhood spot or local park, and plan to take a slow lap and end with gelato or an iced matcha. Zero pressure, just good energy and maybe a deep talk or two. Wear your ladies’ silk robe loosely open over a maxi dress or biker shorts and a cropped tank. Tie the sash back in a loose bow for a casual lighter layer. It’ll catch the breeze as you walk, and the flowing silhouette will make it feel like a glamorous constitutional. You’ll be in bed by: 9:15pm, giving yourself a foot rub with a little lotion and sinking into your comforter.
Photo by Ashley Streff
Creative Club (That Ends at 9)
Get your friends together for a casual “creative night”. Make the goal of the evening simply to self express. You could choose any small, crafty activity that speaks to the group: painting flower pots, collaging vision boards, writing haikus, or pressing flowers into old journals. Lay down a drop cloth, set up a spread of easy-to-pick-at snacks, and wear your most paint-splatter-appropriate outfit. It’s surprisingly motivating to make handcrafted works of art in a community of friends. It creates presence, focus, and stimulates much more interesting conversation than the usual topics. You’ll be in bed by: 9:50pm, wrapped in your best robe and feeling creative and free.
Summer doesn’t have to be all neon lights and spontaneous road trips. There’s real magic in winding down instead of turning up. So let the party people have their fun. You’ll be wrapped in your best robe, dreaming by 10pm.
