This week’s Amazon Sunday is the last call for the little summer things, the fun, low-lift pieces you can throw in a bag for a long weekend or a last-minute trip before the season slips away. Nothing here asks for much of an investment. They just add a pop of color, a bit of joy, or the kind of pool day extra that makes an afternoon in the sun better.

There are crochet cover-up shorts and easy matching sets to pull on at the end of a long day outside, along with the pool accessories worth having on hand: a waterproof deck of playing cards, a to-go coupe for a poolside drink, and a pink and green float to drift the afternoon away on. And to capture it all, a fun reusable film camera for the last moments of the season. Browse the full edit below, and explore more in our JB Amazon Shop and Amazon Storefront, refreshed weekly.

You know my philosophy on spending: You don’t conserve your cash by buying cheap stuff. You do it by focusing on value. And value is the relationship between what something costs to buy and how much you use it.

That value equation underpins my cost-per-wear philosophy. If you can estimate how much you’ll wear a new top, you can assess its value relative to the price. Simply divide that price by the potential number of wears. A $200 jacket worn 100 times has a low cost-per-wear of $2, while a $50 top you wear once cost you $50 for a single use. The jacket is the better buy.

You can apply this value formula to any purchase, small or large: lipstick, a new car, and, yes, even cosmetic surgery. A cost-per-use analysis becomes particularly interesting when you apply it to big investments. It forces you to decide what you want to achieve with the purchase, which can help you make a more practical and less emotional decision.

Read next: Can fashion beat finance? How luxury handbags performed against stocks

Cost-per-wear applied to cosmetic surgery

According to the most recent Complete Plastic Surgery Statistics report, the most popular facial procedures are eyelid surgery, facelifts, and nose reshaping, aka rhinoplasty. Let’s use rhinoplasty as our test case because it has appeal among the widest range of women and men.

Cost

A rhinoplasty procedure can cost $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the surgeon, the complexity of the procedure, and where you live. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons pegs the average rhinoplasty cost at $7,637.

Use

The “use” you’ll get from a nose reshaping is unlimited. The results are permanent and, assuming you love the result, you’ll “use” and enjoy your new nose for the rest of your life.

Forgive me for getting morbid here, but the average lifespan for a woman in the U.S. is 81.4 years. Say you’re exactly 28 today. Going by the average, you have more than 19,000 days to enjoy that new nose even after accounting for the recovery period. The cost-per-day for the procedure works out to somewhere between $0.26 and $0.76.

You could also work out a more conservative analysis based on a set timeline. A $7,637 investment works out to $4.18 per day for five years or $2.02 daily for 10 years.

The cost of beauty workarounds

The analysis gets more interesting if you’re spending money on makeup to contour your nose daily. You’re buying a good contour palette or stick, concealer, highlighter, setting powder, plus brushes, sponges, and setting sprays. You could be spending $30 monthly, which adds up to $3,600 after 10 years.

And then there’s the time you spend applying that makeup. Ten minutes a day equates to 60 hours a year, on one makeup step that you wash off every night. 

Read next: Why am I broke? An expert answers

The confidence factor

Think about the clothes you wear most often. It’s likely you feel confident wearing those pieces. That’s why they’ve earned a regular spot in your rotation. In the cost-per-wear formula, the confidence factor encourages more “wears,” which makes the purchase more efficient over time.

The math doesn’t work the same way for a cosmetic surgery analysis, because you can’t help but wear a reshaped nose or newly lifted eyelids. Even so, renewed confidence has value. Research indicates that not liking an aspect of your face can be draining. You might feel uneasy about photos, video calls, and social gatherings. Over time, those feelings can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. That mental energy has a cost too, even if it does not show up on a credit card statement.

Research also finds that rhinoplasty in particular can improve quality of life, self-esteem, and anxiety symptoms in well-adjusted people. You can’t quantify that value of that in terms of dollars, but it has value.

Read next: The big budgeting mistake you might be making and how to fix it

Value case for cosmetic surgery

To be clear, I am not saying you should run out and get your nose done, face lifted, or tummy tucked. But an expensive procedure can make sense for you financially when all of these are true:

You are self-conscious. You worry about how you look in different situations, and you’re regularly spending on temporary fixes that aren’t very effective.

You are confident the procedure will boost your self-confidence. You’ve done your research, interviewed surgeons, asked questions, and confirmed outcomes. That last one can come in different forms, such as analyzing rhinoplasty before and after photos or conversing with other women who’ve had the same procedure.

You can afford it. If you are behind in your rent or struggling to buy groceries, now isn’t the time for a big investment. Consider reworking your budget so are meeting your regular obligations first. Then start a savings fund for your planned procedure.

Should you finance cosmetic surgery?

Many board-certified plastic surgeons offer payment plans or work with medical financing companies that break the cost into monthly installments. A $7,500 procedure financed over 24 months comes out to roughly $312 per month before interest. That is less than many women spend on beauty subscriptions, salon visits, skincare products, and makeup combined in a given month. It is not pocket change, and interest charges increase the investment. But the spend may be closer to your existing beauty budget than you thought.

Still, this is a major purchase that requires spending discipline. Here’s a solid approach:

1. Set a timeline.
2. Budget an amount to save monthly.
3. Know what you are spending in cash and time on beauty workarounds. You may need to track your current beauty spending for a month or two.
4. Research your options. Seek a realistic expectation of the outcome and its permanence.
5. Make a clear-headed judgment: Is the cost worth it? Then, wait a week and think it over again. If you come to the same answer, it’s probably the right one for you.

Read next: The Budget Fashionista’s intro to budgeting

The Budget Fashionista takeaway

Being financially responsible does not equate to depriving yourself of luxury. In my view, being financially responsible enables indulgence in a way that’s sustainable.

So if you’re dreaming of a different nose or smoother eyelids, do the research. Learn your options and the costs. Consider how your current beauty routine may change. Think about the confidence factor and what that may be worth to you. Then you can make the decision the way a Budget Fashionista would: with the full picture in front of you.

Gold may have retreated from its highs achieved earlier this year, but the yellow metal remains a hot commodity compared to a few years ago. In early 2025, the gold price was less than $2,700 per troy ounce. In mid-2026, it’s about $4,000.

Gold’s price appreciation may be a good catalyst to sell pieces you no longer wear, but there’s a caveat. Selling gold jewelry on impulse can increase the chances of a bad result. Namely:

• A lowball price from a bad operator
• Selling the jewelry for scrap gold when it’s worth more on a resale marketplace
• Giving away gemstones that may have value

The bottom line is, if you want to capture a fair price for your jewelry, you’ll need some know-how first.

Read next: Silver linings: Should you cash in your silver jewelry?

What to know before selling

You can protect yourself from low-ball prices by knowing the composition of your gold jewelry and how that relates to its value. You should also understand how to verify the legitimacy of online gold buyers. Lastly, it’s worthwhile to compare your piece’s value on a resale marketplace to its value as gold scrap metal.  

Karat and weight

When selling your gold jewelry as scrap metal, karat and weight should drive its sales value.

• Karats measure the purity of gold. Top purity is 24 karats, or 99.9% pure gold. 18k and 14k pieces are alloys, containing gold and other metals. The other metals make the gold more durable, but they are nearly deadweight with respect to resale.
• The gold’s weight, not including gemstones, is what’s important. The unit of measurement is the troy ounce, which is about 10% heavier than a standard ounce. A single troy ounce equals 31.1035 grams, and a standard ounce equals 28.3495 grams.

According to Brandon Aversano, CEO of jewelry buyer Alloy, the jewelry’s condition and completeness should not be pricing considerations for reputable gold buyers. In other words, you can sell a bracelet with a broken clasp or a single earring. The karat and weight still dictate the price.

Pro tips:

• Broken gold pieces, especially dated ones, may be your best candidates for selling to a gold buyer. 
• If your jewelry has valuable gemstones, remove them before selling to a gold buyer.

Read next: Can fashion beat finance? How luxury handbags performed against stocks

The spot price of gold

Knowing the spot price of gold can help you identify lowball offers, if you know how gold resale math works:

• Gold buyers generally pay 70% to 85% of the gold spot price.
• For pieces that are not 24-karat, the weight is adjusted by the karat value. A 14-karat piece, for example, is worth 58.3% of an equally weighted 24-karat piece. The math is 14 divided by 24 equals 58.3%.

You can also use Alloy’s gold calculator to check a piece’s value.

Gold buyer red flags

Gold buyers set their own prices. Reputable operators use a formula based on the gold price and the karat and weight of the pieces. Bad actors try to low-ball jewelry owners who haven’t estimated the value of their pieces. You can sometimes spot these early by how they present themselves online. Aversano recommended watching for these gold buyer red flags:   

• No BBB accreditation
• Lack of customer reviews or only positive reviews
• No information on who is running the company or the business history
• No explanation of pricing estimates
• Catchy domain names, like sellgoldquicklyforcash.com, with no brand or company information

On the other hand, reputable online gold buyers should:  

• Be easy to research, with readily available information on the business, location, and contact information
• Offer customer support by telephone, text, or email
• Explain all estimates clearly
• Offer free insured shipping and returns

Read next: The Budget Fashionista’s intro to budgeting

Peer-to-peer resale

Aversano noted that jewelry in excellent condition can be worth more on a peer-to-peer marketplace like Poshmark than it would be to a gold buyer. To get a sense of resale pricing, search Poshmark and eBay for recently sold pieces. If you have jewelry consignment stores nearby, you can also walk in and ask for an opinion on pricing.

Once you understand the piece’s potential value, decide how much time you want to invest in selling it. You may want to set a timeline, as in: If the piece doesn’t sell in X number of weeks, you’ll sell it for a fair price to a gold dealer. Know that the gold price fluctuates, so the piece’s value to a gold dealer can change.

The Budget Fashionista takeaways

Inherited gold pieces, broken or incomplete jewelry, and items you don’t wear are good candidates for resale to a gold buyer. To protect yourself from lowball pricing, remove any gemstones, weigh the piece in troy ounces, and check the karats. You can then use Alloy’s gold calculator or a similar tool for a quick estimate.

Having a realistic estimate of your jewelry’s value helps you avoid lowball offers. But you’ll still want to research potential gold buyers before you commit. For the most value and best experience, look for transparency, fair pricing, and free insured shipping and returns.

OUTFIT DETAILS: Emporio Sirenuse Dress, Gabriela Hearst Sandals, Magda Butrym Scarf, Cordera Bag, Saint Laurent Sunglasses (similar here)

There’s something about yellow that feels perfectly at home in summer. It’s a shade that instantly lifts the whole day, making everything brighter and more cheerful the second I put it on. And there are so many versions of it to fall for. Whether it be marigold, mustard, deep golden, or limoncello, every shade shares that same sunny warmth.

This dress felt made for a garden, standing amidst golden blooms like it belonged there. That’s the allure of the color really, it doesn’t just fit into a place, it seems to glow a bit brighter because of it. Everything in this edit lives in that happy space, the pieces I reach for when I want summer to feel more golden.

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• Allure spoke to Lorreta Rocha, one of Cabo Verde’s braiders at the World Cup, who are behind the players’ intricate hairstyles.
• Harvard Business Review shared data about how men and women experience leadership. For one, in a survey, 35% of men said that women are judged more critically in executive roles, while 90% of women agreed.
• The New York Times [gift link] spoke to people in San Francisco who say that typical $180,000 tech salaries are no longer enough, as OpenAI and Anthropic prepare to go public.
• The New York Times [gift link] also focused on treatment alternatives for women who are unable to use hormonal replacement therapy during perimenopause/menopause.
• The 19th asked the key question, “Why is gynecology still using a Civil War-era tool?” and highlighted a new device that could lessen patients’ pain during, for example, IUD insertion.
• ProPublica reported that the Trump administration is planning to weaken the main protection workers have over their 401(k)s — the right to hold an employer accountable when retirement savings are mishandled.
• The Wall Street Journal [gift link] explained how some older IKEA designs are becoming highly sought after on the secondhand market.
• NPR listed seven creative ways to turn your leftovers into a new meal.
• Your Laugh of the Week comes from The Belladonna, with “My Last Will And Testament In The Event I Am Murdered, As It Applies To My Life Rights.”

Noteworthy Threadjacks This Week…

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

On CorporetteMoms Recently…

Are you a mom or mom-to-be? Don’t miss this week’s news update at CorporetteMoms. 

Feeling social? You can check us out on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, X (fka Twitter) or via Bloglovin, Bluesky, or Threads! Also, please add us to your “preferred Google sources” (you can read more about this here).

OUTFIT DETAILS: Emporio Sirenuse Dress, Valentino Bag, Ancient Greek Sandals, Sherman Field Necklaces

One of my favorite things about the villa we stayed in in Mallorca is that I don’t think a single surface went unpatterned. There was print on the bench in the dressing room, on the canopy over the bed, in the linens, even on the tile I caught on the way to breakfast. One pattern handed you off to the next, and instead of feeling like too much, it felt exactly right. Print on print on print, and I have never felt calmer or more inspired.

That richness follows me straight into what I want to wear. A dress that could just as easily be upholstery, a tasseled hem that belongs on a pillow as much as a mini, a bag that picks up the color of a painted room. The line between fashion and interiors blurs in the best way here. Print, texture, fringe, embroidery, glass, and linen all start speaking the same language, and I want to answer in every one of them.

Upgrade your workout wardrobe with Bornnouli’s 30% off warehouse sale. From the Lightweight Shell Track Jacket Storm to Airsoft High Waisted Seamless Leggings, discover premium athleisure designed for comfort, performance, and style. Don’t miss bestsellers like supersoft sweatshirts, fleece gilets, and yoga pants—perfect for gym sessions or everyday wear.

Lightweight Shell Track Jacket Storm – Shop Now

Supersoft Half Zip Sweatshirt Black Cherry – Shop Now

Motion Teddy Fleece Zip Gilet – Shop Now

Supersoft Half Zip Sweatshirt Marl – Shop Now

Elevate Y-Back Sports Bra Black – Shop Now

Supersoft Longline Sweatshirt Cloud – Shop Now

Tula Harem Yoga Pant Mulberry – Shop Now

Airsoft High Waisted Seamless 7/8 Legging Black – Shop Now

For any questions/feedback regarding the above mentioned products/brands,
please do contact us anytime by clicking here

Vilebrequin Swim Trunks for Men collection is synonymous with luxury, vibrant design and premium craftsmanship. Inspired by the brand’s Saint-Tropez heritage, these swim trunks combine bold prints with exceptional comfort. From iconic turtle motifs to modern lightweight styles, each piece is designed for effortless summer wear. Whether at the beach or poolside, they deliver both style and performance. Discover timeless swimwear that defines refined holiday dressing.

Men Swim Shorts Pescador – Vilebrequin x Fabrice Hyber – Shop Now

Men Swim Shorts Jungle Turtles – Shop Now

Men Micro-Perforated Ultra-light and packable Swim Shorts Bubble Turtles 3D – Shop Now

Men Swim Shorts Medusair – Shop Now

Men Stretch Short Swim Shorts Aquatic Carnival – Shop Now

For any questions/feedback regarding the above mentioned products/brands,
please do contact us anytime by clicking here

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

This cheery floral polo from Nanette Lepore is just screaming “summer” to me. I love the retro-inspired flowers and the Johnny collar for a more relaxed business casual vibe. It does look like it might be a bit more cropped than I would normally prefer, but I think it would look great paired with a swingy midi skirt and some flats for a casual Friday look. 

The sweater is $29.97 at Nordstrom Rack and comes in sizes S-XL. It also comes in two other color combos. 

Sales of note for 7/3 (Happy 4th!):

• Nordstrom – Designer clearance, up to 60% off!
• Alexis Bittar – 20% off sitewide thru 7/5
• Alex Mill – 40-70% off some of their favorite, small batch pieces!
• Another Tomorrow – Final days of sale, new styles added
• Ann Taylor – 50% off everything + free shipping — readers love this blouse and I always love the variety of colors/textures for this jacket (it’s a great separate)
• Athleta – Extra 20% off semi-annual sale, up to 60% off reader favorites like Brookyn and Endless pants
• AYR – Ooh, good sale section — but lots on final sale. Readers love (LOVE) these comfy work pants and these jeans.
• Banana Republic – Summer sale up to 60% off sale styles + extra 20% off
• Boden -Up to 60% off plus an extra 15% off – readers love these dresses, these blazers, and the brand’s fun suiting
• COS – New pieces added to sale, up to 60% off
• DeMellier – Summer sale: Final Reductions (ends soon!)
• Evereve – Extra 30% off sale!
• The Fold – Up to 50% off, further markdowns
• Hobbs – Up to 50% off, extra 20% off sale
• J.Crew – Summer sale – up to 60% off summer styles, and 40% off select cashmere
• J.Crew Factory – 50% off all stores and sitewide, plus 60% off clearance
• Jenni Kayne – Semi-annual warehouse sale
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off (but 10% off sitewide!) (love their new weekender!)
• Lululemon – Summer sale!
• Margaux – Save up to 50% off, including archive sale
• M.M.LaFleur – Sitewide sale, up to 70% off! (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
• Nordstrom Rack – Clearance, new arrivals up to 75% off! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss and Rag & Bone, a ton of affordable work dresses from Calvin Klein, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Donna Morgan
• Ruti – 15% sitewide
• Sarah Flint – Extra 30% off select styles (we just ranked these shoes as some of our top 10 most comfortable heel brands)
• Strathberry – Up to 30% off select styles
• Stuart Weitzman – Summer styles now up to 40% off
• Talbots – 50% off your entire purchase + free shipping
• Veronica Beard – Extra 25% off sale