Ashley Graham's Must Haves: From a Coastal Bar Cart to Nike Dunk High-Tops

Getty | Raymond Hall
Photo Illustration: Aly Lim
Getty | Raymond Hall
Photo Illustration: Aly Lim
Every editorial product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn commission.

Ashley Graham is a model and style icon, a mom of three, and now, a new homeowner. After decades of New York City apartment dwelling, Graham and her growing family recently moved to a contemporary home in New Jersey. She loves hosting friends and family, so transforming her outdoor space into an entertainer's haven was a top priority. Graham had the chance to partner with Affirm and collaborate with celebrity interior designer Mikel Welch to design her first-ever backyard, and she gave us a full tour on her Instagram. Graham and Welch centered the design plan around the biggest piece: an outdoor wood and wicker sectional overlooking the pool. The end result is a monochromatic and effortlessly chic oasis, sprinkled with kid-friendly fun, like cornhole and a sand station for her little ones.

Balancing mom life and a social life for Graham means having to embrace her inner host. "I'm always inviting people over. We have a revolving door of people, so it actually makes it a lot of fun, and the kids love it when there are lots of people around," Graham says. She likes to welcome guests with a drink and, like a true seasoned host, has mastered the art of assembling an easy but delicious summer spread. Her go-to staples? Wasabi almonds, a variety of cheeses, gluten-free crackers, fig jam with prosciutto, and fruit. The vibe is set with music, naturally, and right now, Graham tells us Beyoncé's "Break My Soul" is on repeat. "Honestly, Beyoncé has said that this summer is a dance mood . . . and I'm here for it," she says.

Beyond backyard inspiration and hosting tips, Graham gave us the rundown on the must-have products she's obsessed with. From the tea strips that help her fall asleep at night to her favorite pair of sneakers, these are the items she reaches for the most.

Ashley Graham's Affordable Must Have: Zulay Original Milk Frother
amazon.com
Photo Illustration: Aly Lim

Ashley Graham's Affordable Must Have: Zulay Original Milk Frother

Graham appreciates a fancy coffee every morning, and with the help of the affordable Zulay Original Milk Frother ($15-$22), she gets the barista-inspired experience right at home. It's a handheld, battery-operated foam maker that will whisk your milk or creamer of choice into frothy goodness. Her go-to morning cup consists of a medium-strength coffee from her Breville topped off with frothy Oatly Barista milk and MCT oil for an extra shot of energy. If you want to know more about the Zulay Original Milk Frother we have an entire review on it. This milk frother is also an editor favorite.

Pro tip: "I don't like my milk hot. I like it icy cold with the hot coffee. There's just something nice about a cool milk and a hot coffee combo in the morning," Graham says.

Ashley Graham's Investment Must Have: West Elm Portside Outdoor Bar Cart
westelm.com
Photo Illustration: Aly Lim

Ashley Graham's Investment Must Have: West Elm Portside Outdoor Bar Cart

One decor piece that Graham adores from her backyard transformation is the West Elm Portside Outdoor Bar Cart ($599). "It just literally goes in my backyard so perfectly . . . I could have all of the things on a normal table, but this just adds an extra flair," Graham says. Although it's on the higher end, Affirm lets you pay in smaller, affordable installments, so you can invest in this stylish bar cart for all your outdoor entertaining needs. The moisture-resistant wooden bar cart has two wheels so you can easily move it around your outdoor space, a built-in wine rack, glass racks, and a removable tray for serving drinks and small bites. Graham loves serving her guests Arnold Palmers with a little crudités board.

Pro tip: "I don't like to do a massive [crudités board] because not everybody eats it. So then it actually looks like people are eating it when it's smaller," Graham says.

Ashley Graham's Morning-Routine Must Have: Fig.1 Pro-Retinol Eye Cream
fig-1.co
Photo Illustration: Aly Lim

Ashley Graham's Morning-Routine Must Have: Fig.1 Pro-Retinol Eye Cream

Graham's morning routine includes the Fig.1 Pro-Retinol Eye Cream ($28). It aims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark circles using ingredients like retinyl palmitate, a gentler form of retinol, and peptides that help boost collagen production. It has a soft, velvety texture, providing a much-needed boost of hydration to the undereye area, which Graham appreciates. "If I don't have anything on me, God forbid I don't have a moisturizer, this is the ultimate eye moisturizer because it just has a little bit of the retinol, and it's super-duper hydrating. I use it on my undereye area in the morning and night, but I will also just put a little drop in my hand in my morning moisturizer if I'm feeling a little dry in the winter," Graham explains.

Pro tip: You can use this daily and nightly; just be sure to top off your morning routine with sunscreen.

Ashley Graham's Sleep Must Have: Olyxir Tea Strips Chamomile Lemon + Melatonin
olyxir.com
Photo Illustration: Aly Lim

Ashley Graham's Sleep Must Have: Olyxir Tea Strips Chamomile Lemon + Melatonin

The Olyxir Tea Strips Chamomile Lemon + Melatonin ($20) is a core part of Graham's sleep routine, and she discovered it because of Kourtney Kardashian. Graham was sent one of the iconic Poosh wellness baskets and was intrigued. When she discovered it was tea, she was excited to try it out. "It looks like a big Listerine strip, like a business-card size," she explains. The tea strips completely dissolve in water, so you don't have to worry about a long steeping time, discarding a tea bag, or straining loose-leaf tea. All you need is one strip, a cup of water, and, if you wish, a choice of sweetener or milk. Each pack comes with 25 strips. This specific flavor has a blend of chamomile, lemon, and three milligrams of melatonin to help you unwind before bedtime. "I really like the melatonin one because it just gets you really chilled out. I drink it while I'm in bed, and then I pass out. I don't wake up groggy or tired or anything from it. I love it," Graham says.

Pro tip: These innovative tea strips can dissolve in hot or cold water, so you can enjoy a refreshingly cool beverage during a hot summer night as well.

Ashley Graham's Sneaker Must Have: Nike Dunk High Sneakers
farfetch.com
Photo Illustration: Aly Lim

Ashley Graham's Sneaker Must Have: Nike Dunk High Sneakers

Graham loves a good pair of Nike Dunk High Sneakers ($156). "They go with dresses, pantsuits. I mean, you can wear them with leggings. You can wear shorts. Just all year round a good pair of high-top sneakers," Graham says. For the summer, she's pairing these shoes with flared light denim jeans, a white crop top, and a colorful bag for a cute but casual vibe. Graham also points out that comfort level depends on which ones you get; some have more cushioning, and others have more of a platform. She went to a concert and wore her pair all night long. You can get them on StockX as well.

Pro tip: Graham sprays her sneakers with the Jason Markk Repel Spray ($15). "It keeps my sneakers white and clean and prevents them from getting scuffed up," she explains.

Ashley Graham's Contemporary and Effortless Backyard
Donna Dotan | Affirm
Photo Illustration: Aly Lim

Ashley Graham's Contemporary and Effortless Backyard

Graham's contemporary and effortless backyard features the Theresa Outdoor Wood and Wicker Sectional and the West Elm Portside Outdoor Bar Cart.