Monday morning starts with an apartment in the trees.  On the West side of Providence, somewhere on Broadway, I sit in a yellow kitchen surrounded by the most vivacious potted plants I have ever seen.  I don’t think the owner of this apartment has ever thrown away an empty bottle of liquor; he chooses instead to make the many vessels into candlesticks and homes for dried lavender.  This is a sentimental touch that I, of course, appreciate.  Samara buzzes all around me, and when she stands back my hair is curled, lashes applied and lips fully glossed.  Melissa dresses me in a way only she could, romper and tank layered and ready to “lounge”.  There’s a python peaking out from a rock across from me, and she’s growing longer by the minute, clearly curious of my intentions here.  Under Evan’s direction, I rifle through records, thumb through ghost stories, and dance- freeps style- to Magpie Blues Collection, Volume 1 on vinyl.

Emily joins, her blonde tresses mirroring mine, and together we prepare for the outside world.  Outfits changed, hats and sunnies placed and replaced, we take to the streets for record shopping, bike riding, and other “first day of summer!” tom foolery.

When the evening is closing in and my architecture class drawing near, a few polaroids by the river commemorate the end of our “Best Day of Summer”.  And all sarcasm aside, with (free- thanks Evan!) lunch at Geoff’s, a cuddle sesh with Hudson, and an introduction to some talented new friends, this day really is going to give the next 72 a run for their money.

hair + makeup: Samara St. Martin

styling: Melissa Csigay

first 3 photos by Frame & Anchor, all others by Kelly Louise Photography for Free People.

stay tuned for more about the making of this collaborative video…