The Decree · Volume II · Summer 2026
The
Summer
Issue
Presence without performance.
The Decree · Volume II · Summer 2026
Presence without performance.
Chapter I
What to do with this season.
Summer does not ease in. It arrives — full light, full heat, the calendar suddenly loose in a way it wasn't the month before. And then, depending on where you are, the rain. Afternoon storms that leave the air smelling like something opened up. Summer is not one season. It is several, sometimes in the same day.
The question is not how to optimize any of it. The question is what to do with all of it.
Summer asks something different of how you move through it — alone and together. Choose a way in.
Spend a morning at a botanical garden.
Open early, well-staffed, designed for unhurried time. Summer is when they're at their fullest.
Take yourself to a rooftop or waterfront bar in the early evening.
Not to be seen. Somewhere with a view, one thing to order, the city doing what it does at that hour.
Find a bookstore you've never been in and spend an hour.
Not to buy anything. Wander, pull things off shelves, read the first page of something unfamiliar.
Visit a museum on a weekday morning.
Before the crowds. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are the quietest. The art doesn't change. The experience does.
Stay in when it rains.
Not reluctantly. A film, a long meal, a book, nothing. Let the storm do what it came to do.
Eat
Peaches
At their peak from late June through August. A ripe peach over vanilla ice cream is summer's most honest dessert.
Corn
Roasted in the husk, grilled with butter and salt, cut off the cob into a salad. Buy it at the farmers market.
Heirloom tomatoes
Sliced thick with salt, olive oil, and fresh basil. Nothing else required.
Watermelon
More than 90% water, naturally cooling. Eat it cold, in large slices, outside if possible.
Cherries
Short season, June through July. Eat them fresh, straight from the bag. Over Greek yogurt with honey.
Zucchini
Shaved raw with lemon and parmesan. Grilled whole. Folded into a frittata.
Blackberries and blueberries
Both peak in summer, both high in antioxidants. Eat them daily without overthinking it.
Fresh herbs
Basil, mint, cilantro — as ingredients, not garnish. Mint in cold water. Cilantro in anything that needs brightness.
Grilled fish
Salmon, snapper, or branzino with lemon and herbs. Summer is when fish makes the most sense.
Cold noodle dishes
Soba with sesame and cucumber. Vietnamese rice noodle bowls. Korean naengmyeon. Summer cooking at its most satisfying.
just B.E.
The philosophy is simple: Being, Not Becoming. You are not a project. You are not working toward a better version of yourself. You are already here, already whole, already enough for this season.
Move through the words drifting below. When one calls to you, click it. Your just B.E. phrase for this summer will find you.
Chapter II
Where to go when no one is watching.
These are places built around the idea that slowing down is not a reward — it is a practice. No women-only restrictions. Destination resorts, boutique wellness hotels, and contemplative centers across every US time zone and territory.
Visit each property's website directly or use Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia for deals.
Castle Hill Inn
Newport, RI
19th-century mansion on the water. Boutique spa using Rhode Island-made Farmaesthetics botanicals. Nature trails, harborside calm.
castlehillinn.comCanyon Ranch
Lenox, MA
Michelin's number one wellness resort in New England. All-inclusive. Berkshires setting with interconnected nature trails.
canyonranch.comArt of Living Retreat Center
Boone, NC
380 acres of Blue Ridge forest. Yoga, meditation, Ayurveda. Hosts the Yoga Retreat for Women of Color. Most accessible price point.
artoflivingretreatcenter.orgNaples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort
Naples, FL
Brand new 30,000 sq ft Sanctuary spa opened 2026. Aquatherapy circuit, treatments rooted in Indigenous Calusa coastal tradition.
fourseasons.comBarnsley Resort
Adairsville, GA
North Georgia countryside. Guided forest bathing, reiki, reflexology, organic botanical treatments.
barnsleyresort.comOak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard, MA
The historic Black summer community on the Vineyard since the late 1800s. The Inkwell is the beach. The town is the destination.
oakbluffsma.govMiraval Austin
Texas Hill Country, TX
All-inclusive, device-free. Equine experiences, farm workshops, guided hikes, watersports on Lake Travis.
miravalresorts.comThe Allison Inn & Spa
Newberg, OR
LEED Gold-certified boutique in Willamette Valley wine country. Forest bathing, guided hikes, yoga, sound bath.
theallison.comWillows Lodge
Woodinville, WA
Built from 100-year-old Douglas fir timbers. Outdoor hydrotherapy pool, dry sauna, soaking tubs and private balconies in all rooms.
willowslodge.comThe Jenesis House
Sedona, AZ
Adult-only wellness estate on 4 acres. Ten Japanese-inspired suites. Sound bath, watercolor therapy, botanical bath house, organic farm.
thejenesishouse.comCIVANA
Carefree, AZ
20 acres of Sonoran Desert. Daily complimentary wellness classes, spa, healthy cuisine. Desert Slowdown summer offer July through August 2026.
civanacarefree.comMii Amo
Sedona, AZ
Adults-only, 23 casitas in Boynton Canyon. All-inclusive journeys in 3, 4, 7, or 10-night stays.
miiamo.comSensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort
Lānaʻi, HI
Adults-only on Hawaii's most secluded island. Science-backed wellness, private spa hale, onsen garden, Nobu dining.
fourseasons.com/senseiDorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Dorado, PR
50 acres of beachfront. The Caribbean's only Forbes Five-Star Hotel and Spa.
ritzcarlton.comHyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
Río Grande, PR
Full-service spa, rainforest-adjacent. The accessible option in Puerto Rico.
hyatt.comThe Buccaneer
St. Croix, USVI
Family-owned since 1947. 340 tropical acres, oceanfront spa with sound healing, reiki, and private yoga therapy.
thebuccaneer.comDusit Thani Guam Resort
Tumon Bay, Guam
Devarana Wellness spa using Thai herbs and indigenous CHamoru ingredients. Sunrise yoga, sound bath, Chamorro massage.
dusit.comChapter III
The body, honestly.
Summer puts the body on display. The clothes get smaller. The outings move outside. The body becomes visible in ways the other three seasons, with their layers and interiors, do not require.
There is a particular weight that comes with visibility at this stage of life. The weight of what the gaze expects. A summer body, in the cultural imagination, is a project completed. Firm. Ready. Arrived.
Most of us are living in bodies that carry what they carry. Bodies that have shifted in weight, in shape, in how they hold heat, in ways that were neither planned nor announced.
This is the context: perimenopause, menopause, post-menopause. Estrogen shifts change where the body stores fat, how it regulates temperature, how it responds to food and movement that once worked reliably. That is physiology. Almost never discussed in the same breath as summer.
The body in summer is not a problem to be managed. It is a body in a season. That has always been true.
Eat: what summer asks for — scroll to explore
Watermelon and cucumber
Both more than 90% water, actively cooling. When heat compounds hot flashes, water-rich foods regulate temperature in ways water alone does not.
Berries
Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries. Antioxidants that reduce inflammation and support brain clarity. Eat them daily.
Mung beans
A traditional cooling food recognized across Chinese medicine. High in plant-based protein. As a cold salad, light soup, or sprouted.
Whole soy
Edamame, tempeh, tofu. Isoflavones that gently support estrogen levels. A 2025 study found a 92% drop in severe hot flashes after 12 weeks.
Cold-water fatty fish
Salmon, sardines, mackerel. Omega-3s shown to reduce hot flash frequency and support mood stability.
Leafy greens
Spinach, kale, bok choy. Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin K in one place. Bone density becomes a real priority now.
Coconut water
Restores potassium and magnesium lost through sweat without the sugar load of sports drinks. One glass on hot mornings.
Peppermint and chamomile, iced
Both have documented cooling effects. Chamomile supports sleep quality, which heat and night sweats already strain.
What to limit
Spicy food, alcohol, and caffeine are known hot flash triggers. Summer heat amplifies each. Not forbidden. Worth knowing.
Move: what summer supports — scroll to explore
Swimming
Full body, cooling, and forgiving on joints that estrogen loss makes more sensitive. This is the season for it.
Early morning walks
Before the heat arrives. Cortisol regulation, bone density, and clarity. Before 9 a.m. if possible.
Evening movement
When the day cools, the body loosens. Gentle yoga, slow walks, restorative poses support the sleep that summer heat disrupts.
Strength training, twice a week
The most protective thing for bone density and muscle mass at this stage. Indoors, out of the heat. Consistent matters more than heavy.
Dancing
Cardio that does not feel like cardio. Joy in your body. In your kitchen. With the windows open.
Water-based movement
Paddleboarding, kayaking, aqua walking. Low impact, high return, and the water itself is part of the benefit.
What to skip
Hot yoga and heated classes compound what the body is already managing. Move within the heat, not against it.
Chapter IV
Swimwear, specifically.
Six body types. Specific silhouettes, construction details, and brands that carry extended sizing. No flattering language. No hiding. Just what works and why.
Black-owned brands marked. Mixed body types are common — start with your primary proportion and adjust from there.
01
Shoulders, waist, and hips read close to one clean line. Best silhouettes work with that line or introduce curve through the cut.
What works: bold prints, color blocking, asymmetric cuts, one-shoulder styles, low-back one-pieces, side-ruched two-pieces.
Construction: double-lined fabric, interesting seaming, architectural details rather than padding.
Brands
Nakimuli· Black-owned Reformation Swim02
Broad shoulders, muscular build, low hip differential. The body is already defined — the suit works with that energy.
What works: sporty one-pieces, racerback silhouettes, color-blocked two-pieces, high-neck styles.
Construction: wide straps or racerback, fabric with good recovery, minimal padding.
Brands
Jolyn Left on Friday03
Defined waist, bust and hip roughly equal. The silhouette is already there. The suit honors it without overworking it.
What works: wrap styles that follow the waist, belted one-pieces, high-waisted two-pieces, plunge necklines.
Construction: stretch that moves with the body, adjustable straps, waist definition built into the cut.
Brands
Andrea Iyamah· Black-owned MBM Swim· Black-owned04
Significant bust-to-waist differential that needs real structural support, not a shelf bra.
What works: bra-sized swimwear D through K+, underwire or molded cups, wide adjustable straps. Separates allow independent sizing.
Construction: underwire or firm molded cup, wide straps, double-lined cups. Avoid thin string ties for extended wear.
Brands
Bravissimo Nomads Swimwear· Black-owned Galamaar05
Narrower shoulder, fuller hip and thigh. The suit balances visual weight rather than drawing attention to one zone.
What works: embellished or ruffled tops; darker or solid bottoms; high-waisted cuts. Avoid side-tie bottoms with large bows at the hip.
Construction: flat hip seaming, waistband above the hip curve, tops with padding or ruching.
Brands
Diarrablu· Black-owned06
Fuller through the torso, bust, and hip with softer definition. The goal is support, comfort, and ease.
What works: one-pieces with structure without compression, tankinis, swim dresses, ruched fabric. Bold color and print read beautifully here.
Construction: firm but not compressive fabric, wide straps, built-in underwire, flat seaming, waistband that does not roll.
Brands
Nomads Swimwear· Black-owned Ashanti Swimwear· Black-owned Swimsuits for AllMixed body types are common. Start with the category that describes your primary proportion and adjust from there.
Some summers are all sun. Some are storms that break mid-afternoon and leave everything quieter than it was before. Some are just a breeze you didn't know you needed.
We gather in all of it.
When you're ready for more
Be the first to knowHerDecree · The Summer Issue · 2026