Hot Jewish Girl Summer

GOLDA gang, 

I want to be real with you. We’ve been holding this feature since Memorial Day. It has everything: Shoshanna! Summer! Swimwear!

But each week it seemed like something terrible was happening in the world—from Washington, D.C. to Boulder to Israel—and it just didn’t feel like the right moment for something so boldly celebratory. 

After a month of this, we started to question ourselves: “Is this really the summer for Hot Jewish Girl Summer?”

But maybe that’s the point. 

Maybe Hot Jewish Girl Summer isn’t about ignoring the heaviness—it’s about facing it head on with pride and with purpose. It’s about finding moments of joy, connection, and identity even when the world makes it hard to.

So yes, the vibes are complicated. But let’s be real: the vibes have always been complicated for us Jews. What we do best is double down on who we are and have a damn good time doing it. 

It’s time, GOLDA gang. We’re officially declaring Hot Jewish Girl Summer. 

Here’s designer and Jewish icon Shoshanna Gruss introducing our favorite new season.

Shoshanna, Hot Jewish Girl Summer is your brainchild. Tell us about it! 

We're bringing our Jewish pride & beauty with us everywhere this summer. It’s that inner glow—our deep connection to our history, our resilience, our courage—we’re walking with confidence, heads held high… on the beach with our sexy magen david and chai necklaces glistening in the sun soaked days of summer!

I’m calling it: this summer is Hot Jewish Girl Summer. I just feel the energy. I was at the Israel Day Parade and I saw hot Jewish girls out there ready to throw on their swimsuits. And what better brand to wear than Shoshanna. 

Can I tell you about my Shoshanna moment? 

I love this, yes.

It was my great-aunt Lily’s 80th birthday in Miami, and she was, at that point, the only Holocaust survivor still alive in our family. She was amazing. My sister and I get there from college, and my mom just looks at us and says, “You’re not wearing that.” Nothing we brought was presentable enough for the party. We went across the street to the Shoppes at Bal Harbour, and I got the most beautiful black Shoshanna dress. It was simple and classic and made me feel so sophisticated. 

I’ve always wanted to tell you that, and I don't think I'm the only one who feels like they need to tell you about these dresses—these moments, really—that just mean so much to them.

We've known each other for a while and you've never told me that story! 

I love that. I love hearing these stories, especially from young girls who share the frustration that I had when I was a young girl. I was growing into my body and becoming this very curvaceous woman. I loved my body, but also found that most clothes did not suit my body. They would always be way too sexy looking or just didn't fit at all, especially swimwear. 

The amount of times that we went to temple and my dad said, “You can't wear that,” and I said, “I don't know what else to wear!” So when I created the Shoshanna line, it was really about solving the fashion issues that I had. I was the customer, and I've stayed the customer. But the best thing about having this line is hearing from my customers.

I've seen you at a lot of Jewish events in particular, where women come up to you to tell you how much your brand means to them. 

Not all, of course, but a lot of Jewish women have a similar body type to mine. I also think that there is a comfort in buying a product that you know is made by someone who aligns with your values. I turn to GOLDA a lot, because I want to make sure that the brands I’m buying from are ones that want me as a customer.

I think there's a comfort in knowing that someone's like-minded, especially when you are buying dresses for these life moments. We do so many mother-of-the-bride dresses, so many bat mitzvah dresses for the parents and the child. It's one of the best parts of being in this business.

Beyond your dresses, you did something groundbreaking. We now think of it as just the way the world is, but no one was selling bikini tops and bottoms separately until you.

We were the first brand to sell the tops and bottoms as separates, especially in department stores. Like I said, I was the customer. I was so frustrated with fashion, but especially swimwear. I needed a bigger top and a smaller bottom, but no one made that.

I had a big argument with my buyer, who wanted to sell them as sets. They said, “That's the only way we do it, it's not going to work otherwise. What if we get stuck with one extra large bottom and one C-cup?”

And I said, “So then you've sold 99% of the product.”

But I had to explain, “You don't sell your bras and underwear as a set, right?” And they said, “No.” And I said, “That seems to work out. It's the exact same thing.” 

I promised I would take every single piece back if it didn't work out. Obviously, it did work out. Now, every line is sold as separates. One of the things that we still do that most lines don't do, is we have A through DDD and petite through extra large. Most lines still do a smaller range.

Also, because I’m not just the designer, I'm the customer, I'm hyper aware of what the fabric is and what kind of support a woman needs. It's not just about looking good, it's about feeling good and feeling celebrated and included. I will never give up on that. The fit is the first thing I think about with all of our dresses and all of our swimwear. And I think that now, 27 years later, it's definitely spoken for itself.

Shoshanna, thank you for making us feel like hot Jewish girls all year round.

We are! We’re hot Jewish girls. 

I'll see you out there for Hot Jewish Girl Summer.

You heard it here first! 

Here are Shoshanna’s picks for everything you need to have a Hot Jewish Girl Summer:

Sezane Beach Bag

I love this bag!!! It’s chic and huge and easy to carry. Goes with everything, holds everything, quality is amazing and can hold lots of weight. Durable and gorgeous!

[Editor’s note: this specific bag is currently out of stock, but Sezane has some other beautiful raffia options available.]

Le Prunier Plumscreen

I have recently started using this brand and so far, I’m crazy about the products and LOVE the smell. I’m trying to only use only natural products these days, and this brand has checked all my boxes!

Darcy Dates, by Jena Kingsley

I am absolutely loving this new book from my close childhood friend Jena.

Rachie Shnay Turquoise Mazel Charm Necklace

I love gold beach jewelry! I plan to wear my Rachie Shnay gold chain and turquoise charms all summer long. I don’t want to take my stuff off in the shower or pool or ocean and this is the perfect, goes-with-everything-from-bathing-suit-to-cocktail-party necklace!

Shoshanna Denim Belted One Piece

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Here’s to Hot Jewish Girl Summer! We have a lot of fun stuff coming your way, including more picks and tips from your favorite Jewish tastemakers.

Stay GOLDA,

Stephanie