THE TREND EDIT
Contributor - Lindsey Friel | Lifestyle Consultant • 7/23/26
Breaking down the summer's defining shifts in food, wellness, travel, fitness, and entertaining.
Although many are fleeting, select trends have graduated from passing obsession to bona fide lifestyle staples. The midpoint of the summer is a perfectly fitting time to break down those that have stuck and the ones that are shaping the way we're eating, traveling, entertaining, and living right now. À la the here and now.
FOOD
A Tomato Summer
Heirlooms continue to dominate both the dining and entertaining scene. Nothing beats the extraordinary plump and not-so-little harvests that end up on the plate or tablescape. They have proved to be the ingredient that really does it all. Tomato carpaccio, tomato martinis, tomato toast, tomato-forward tasting menus. It’s all wonderful, indeed.
Musts: Tomatini at L’Americana.
DRINKS
The Return of the Chilled Red
Rosé still has its place, but lighter-bodied reds served with a slight chill are becoming the bottle of choice this season.
Musts: Parcelle Wine Bar and their cheeky chilled red list.
WELLNESS
Strength Training
Pilates isn't going anywhere, but there's a noticeable shift toward resistance training, walking clubs, recovery studios, and longevity over immediate aesthetics. Muscle has become the new metric.
Musts: Liftonic’s Back, Biceps, and Abs class.
Longevity
The time’s new approach to all things healthcare. Using proactivity as the base for medicine and treatment rather than going in blind. A real magic wand we have at our fingertips.
Musts: A session with Tracy Scott Nutrition to kickstart yourself.
TRAVEL
Remote Destinations
The era of hopping between destinations is giving way to slower travel. Travelers are choosing one exceptional property for longer stays. Think of it as a launchpad to the surrounding area and a home to come back to.
Musts: Too many! Quinta Da Comporta for one.
ENTERTAINING
Lunch as the New Dinner Party
Summer allows for longer lunches with tablescapes, produce, chilled wines (hello, reds!), and more lingering. Plus, less expectations invite themselves to a lunch table.
Musts: Il Buco al Mare’s outdoor garden with an order of Spaghetti and Rhubarb Crostata. Divinity. Or a rendezvous to Stone Barns in Tarrytown.
The Beautiful Pantry
Olive oils, vinegars, ceramics, linens, and specialty ingredients have become as much a part of entertainment as the meal itself. Pantries are becoming more showcases of accompaniments.
Musts: Big Night for a revival of your basics.
LIFESTYLE
The New Clubhouses
Away with sprawling country clubs and in with urban escapades. While some can be overly posh, others have found tranquility in the space. A fun reprieve from urbanity while not leaving the city.
Must: Old Sessions House in London for the ultimate urban escape, perfect for reprieving, rooftop events, or a dip in its hidden heated pool overlooking the city.
Contributor — Lindsey Friel | Lifestyle Consultant
Originally from Pennsylvania, studied hospitality at Boston University but learned the most by wandering through the nooks and crannies of the industry itself. I spent time writing for small publications, highlighting lifestyle and hospitality through storytelling — my favorite medium. Admittedly, my love of the field has grown into an insatiable curiosity: always chasing the newest and coolest, the biggest and smallest, the in-betweens and overlooked. Now based in New York City, I remain enamored with the endless ways people gather, connect, and create experiences that stay with you long after you leave.
