Monday Musings- Rethinking My Summer Wardrobe
Happy Monday, ladies. Our weather flipped to blistering hot in the blink of an eye this weekend. While swapping in my warm-weather clothes, I was forced to come face to face with wardrobe items I truly dislike. My style is always evolving, and I expect that, but it’s more complicated than that.
I find that dressing for your location can be a challenge if your taste runs to structured and your weather demands loose and airy. I also live in a very casual environment, so those polished separates I love to wear often look overdressed in my community. When it’s 95+ and not a breeze anywhere, jeans are out of the question, as is anything that’s close to the body. I do want to be happy with what I wear so I’m on the hunt for options that fit my climate, my location/lifestyle, and my style.
I didn’t like how I looked in this caftan (similar print) when I wore it on the beach in Hawaii last year, but I’ve held on to it because it’s so perfect in the heat. I was grateful to have it to wear hanging out around the house yesterday, but I sure didn’t like how I looked. I knew it was a gamble when I bought this caftan but took the risk because they look good on so many other people….just not me.
As I turn more of my attention to my health and well-being, I’m thoroughly enjoying this lovely new book. I sat out in the heat with a cold matcha tea latte and soaked in the beautiful images along with its holistic suggestions.
I’ve always been a black tea lover through and through. It turns out that green tea includes many more benefical polyphenols, glycine and theanine so I’m swapping it in for my afternoon tea. I ordered mine directly from Dr Andrew Weil’s Matcha Kari site here, but you can also find some of his products on Amazon.
To polish of my unflattering caftan outfit, I wore my new Oofos sandals…and my oh my, are they ever comfortable. They’re “biomechanically engineered OOfoam absorbs shock, cradles your arches and reduces stress on your feet, knees and back” These are also not a look I’ll be wearing outside for running errands, but they’re perfect for at home wear.
I was only seen in this outfit by my husband, son, grandson, and Amazon delivery person but that was enough to leave me feeling unstylish and not authentically myself. I’ll be on the hunt for alternatives that are loose, but lot too loose, airy but not too airy and casual without being shapeless options for the blistering hot weather that feels more like my style.
Outfit of the Week
I bought this easy long linen/cotton blend beach shirt last year in a vibrant blue and wore it to bits. I added resin earrings, woven leather bag and easy slides to make this an easy to toss on, comfy look for hot days. When it’s really hot, I forgo necklaces and focus on earrings and/or bracelets. Add a large straw hat, and I’m ready to go.
Does your climate prevent you from wearing the looks you prefer?
For summer, besides linen, I really like Airstretch taper pants from Banana Republic Factory. They are styled like tailored pants but are made from fabric (poly/spandex) used for athletic wear. Very cool and breezy. Similarly, for gardening, I love Baleaf 9″ hiking shorts (nylon/spandex) from Amazon. Enjoyed your post about Amazon recommendations, by the way. My teenagers and I really like the Om mushroom hot cocoa!
My style is tailored, and summer is not my fashion friend either. But I love dresses, and absolutely would wear cotton or linen light summer dresses if my figure allowed. Be that as it may, I look for separates – usually skorts, shorts (not my favorite look but my style tends to sporty) and lightweight tops that coordinate with the bottoms. I have lots more summer clothes than winter clothes, in order to give me multiple options and keep me getting out there!
Regardless of the season; our weather (mid east Canada) has been absolutely crazy even on a daily basis with fluctuating temps and because I run cold usually require some kind of an overlay on my arms . With that being said and as a result; I do love hot weather (without the humidity though) and not travelling as much as I use to, really do miss the warmer climates as less of a wardrobe challenge for myself for reasons given. -Brenda-
I have always wished I lived in a warm climate but reading the posts I can see that it can be tough living in one and knowing what to wear for comfort and style. Still, I’d like to try it for a while. 😏 Right now, it’s swinging from 50 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer clothes and warm sweaters. Shivering in Canada…
Thanks for this discussion Jennifer! Woven tops can be so much more comfortable and airy, compared to clingy knit Tees. They let the air flow through. I live in a humid climate. I sew, so I can make many styles that are cool and comfy. Woven dresses are sometimes hard to find and are great, but only if not lined in poly. Cotton is my go to, as is hemp. The less fabric the better. At 5’7” a full length, billowy caftan is not flattering on me either, but a less voluminous, column-type woven dress with a slit is loose enough and works well for me. I urge everyone to give woven tees and dresses a try.
Great tips, Suzanne. I agree, woven is much cooler
Another good option for warm weather fabric, is bamboo or one of its blends.
-Brenda-
Yes! Bamboo is very soft and cool.
Gosh, Jennifer! With good looking legs and arms like yours there shouldn’t be a dilemma! Knee length dresses are your solution. All you have to be concerned about is the colour, shoulder and neckline shapes. You’ve tried so many on and look terrific in many of them 😊. Go shopping now!! 😂
Thank you :). I knew I needed to go shopping.