Monday Musings- Habitual Dressing and the Outfit of the Week
Happy Monday, ladies. I’m thinking long and hard about my wardrobe this week. Where it’s working, where it’s failing me, and how I need to adjust things. When triple-digit temperatures struck last week, I found my wardrobe sadly lacking, again! I am also sharing a wide-leg pants outfit of the week that has elements I may need in my evolving style recipe.
My habit (yes, it’s a habit) of reaching for a pair of jeans and a simple top just won’t cut it for day after day of blisteringly hot weather. And because I love jeans, I own more of them than anything else in my wardrobe…which makes my habit easy.
I do have some cotton and linen blend dresses but they require ironing, which I just don’t want to do in the hot weather. They could be worn straight out of the dryer but I prefer them ironed. I have a few denim skirts but in that kind of sweltering heat, even they feel too warm because their structured shape and fabric allow less airflow.
I’ve tried the caftan route and know it to be totally unflattering on my shape so I’ll reserve them for tropical holidays, trips to the pool, and days when I’m not leaving the house. I don’t wear shorts and think capri pants are unflattering. I know that’s not a popular opinion. Many of you love them and brands aimed at midlife women continue to churn them out, so I’ll continue to style them for you…but I don’t plan to wear them.
See also- 6 Things That Look Matronly
We need to adjust our wardrobe as our bodies, location, and lifestyles change. I am obviously past due for a change because of our climate. We can radically modify how we want to look, or make subtle updates. I’m going for subtle right now and will share more in the coming weeks. I have always gravitated to structured garments because of my body shape and taste, but I plan to experiment with looser silhouettes and see where it takes me.
Outfit of the week in natural Fibers
This wide-leg outfit of the week features natural fibers that will breathe and comfy shapes that feel easy on the body. The shapes are semi-structured but have a looser silhouette.
I love the shape of this palm leaf boater. Its dipped brim adds a fun touch of drama and it’ll provide plenty of protection from the sun. My sunglasses are always polarized because I’m as serious about protecting my eyes from the sun as I am with my skin and this shape is fun!
This inexpensive straw bag holds a lot so I use mine as a tote.
This Johnny Was long cotton shirt could be worn open as a duster, or buttoned halfway like this over pants. I just ordered these wide-leg organic cotton gauze pants and think they’ll be a perfect addition to my “looser, less structured” pant collection. I finished the look with natural wood bangle and some cute raffia earrings.
Do you have wardrobe habits you’d like to change?
Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident and happy.
I absolutely love the outfit of the week: I think that if only I could find that Johnny Was top, I’d make it my outfit summer through fall! It’s gorgeous — and it is sold out in my size. Boo. For our ridiculously warm summers, I enjoy loose, flowing maxi or midi dresses for most occasions.
I put away the jeans for summer and like you, I’m not comfortable in shorts or capris. I wear dresses and skirts, and light weight pants. I stick to loose-weaved cotton and linen as much as possible. Those linen tees you showed once from J Crew are ideal! I live close to Lake Michigan so don’t have to run the AC often, but it does get hot and humid sometimes. I do think dressing for the summer in a hot climate where everything is air conditioned is much more of a challenge because of the extreme change in temperature from inside to outside.
Since you’re not a fan of shorts – have you tried skorts?
I have 3 that I bought on Amazon & they are in my weekly rotation. They are casual but dressier than shorts & are cooler than shorts or jeans.
Willit Women’s Outdoor Skort Golf Skort Casual Skort Skirt UPF 50+ Quick Dry …
I keep forgetting about skorts but they are great! I only have one and keep forgetting to wear it.
I had to rethink my wardrobe when I moved to this hotter climate a few years back. I ended up with light weight cotton dresses as my favorite. Then light cotton / rayon/ linen items, dresses, skirts, tops with sleeves. The jeans and tees were too hot for me. Skirts were more airy than shorts also. Then I switched to espadrilles, hats and basket bags. Anything plastic or polyester is too warm also, natural fabrics are much cooler. It’s interesting that I moved to a place that you need less clothing, yet need to be more covered and protected from the sun! Goofy me.
Being a native Texan and sixty-eight years old, I’m used to the heat. Having said that, I don’t linger out in it. Back door to car, car to store, store back to car…you get it! I don’t wear dresses or skirts so my summer wear is crops, tank or short sleeve tee and sandals. Shorts are reserved for in the house and walking the neighborhood early morn.
In other news, I learned of a fade cream from “Doctorly” on YouTube. It is “Faded” by Topicals. It’s at Sephora but is out of stock now. If you are not familiar with that channel, it’s two dermatologists with great info.
Being sandal season, shout out for the Amlactin you recommended. I love it!
I hear you. I bounce from AC to AC in this heat 🙂
You said “I do have some cotton and linen blend dresses but they require ironing, which I just don’t want to do in the hot weather.” Me too! I love wearing cotton & linen blend dresses in the hot Texas summers and also hate ironing at anytime. This is what I do: I wash the dresses and hang to dry. Then wring out one wet washcloth and throw it in the dryer with the dresses & dry on medium for about 10 min. Just enough steam is created to release the wrinkles in the garments. Remove dresses and hang up to cool off. I’ve done this for years – a huge time-saver!
This topic resonates with me so much. How to keep cool and covered without looking frumpy or overexposed and still feel at least a bit stylish. I know there are bigger problems in the world but this one affects me more personally than most. Added to that, I don’t have a big budget to work with and I love creatively mixing the pieces I do have. I appreciate any help you can give me.
This is definitely worth a try! Thanks for the suggestion!
WOW!! You are brilliant Linn! Thank you for sharing
Dresses. I have casual knee length, midi, and maxi dresses in lightweight cotton, rayon, and/or linen blends, and none of them need ironing. They are sleeveless or short-sleeved, and none of them fit tightly anywhere. On a really hot day it’s especially nice not to have a waistband, and dresses provide great air circulation. I have a few pairs of short and a couple of skirts, and I love wide leg denim, but when the temperature is 90 or above I stick to dresses,
Smart!! There really is nothing cooler than a dress.
We on the MS coast are pretty much experts at hot humid weather dressing….. Cotton gauze is great and rarely needs the iron: Soft Surroundings and Petalura. And linen, linen, linen for sundresses, unlined! Johnny Was linen is a dream, but they are doing fewer of the linen tees🙄. Indian cotton dresses of dreamy lightweight cotton: Marketplace of India for S/S dresses, tops and pants!
Jennifer, I live in the Southeastern USA and sweltering pretty much sums up summer here! This year I am doing the wider leg linen blend pants and for more casual I wear cropped white pants ( not capris). I could use some help with better looking “at home” outfits. My stretch big leg cropped yoga pants and old tees are certainly not flattering and I would like to wear something a bit more pulled together but comfortable. Ideas???
I hear you, Jules. I always like to suggest we shift the category we’ve put our outfits in. The “stay at home and hope no one sees me” outfits get donated. Then the next level up of our outfit gets downgraded and worn at home and so on. You will feel more pulled together and get more wear out of the wardrobe pieces you love.
Your wardrobe habits and dislikes sound like my wardrobe habits and dislikes, although we are different in body shape, size and height. I have some cotton dresses ready for the summer heat, but they are not needed yet.
Jennifer, how is the fit of the Lifestride espadrilles? I have slim feet. Are they true to the size chart in length?
I have medium feet with a bunion which takes a bit of room but they are not a wide shoe.
Oh my gosh, Jennifer, I must have been channeling you. Just spent the last 2 days doing a deep dive into my spring/summer closet. (Just short of a Marie Condo.) Discovered: 1) I have too many clothes and that contributes to feeling “I have nothing to wear” 2) The clear out was calming and creates a feeling of calm when I walk into my closet 3) I need to pay more attention to the fit of a piece of clothing before purchasing 4) finally understand a capsule wardrobe 5) how happy I am when I wear a piece of clothing I LOVE, which also lead to getting rid of almost all skinny pant that I don’t wear with boots (I have finally come to grips with my dislike of skinny pants and how bad they made me feel, also had to admit my calves and thighs are just bigger, nothing to do with weight). Sorry, maybe TMI but as usual your thoughts resonate with me.
Thank you for sharing, Suzi!! We have all been there, and if not recently…we probably need to with our own closets.
Third layer is my go-to habit! Hard to do in Texas heat right now. You all have inspired me to revisit my old favorite brand Flax. They make good quality, loose-fitting, machine washable linen in great colors. Third layer isn’t needed because the clothes are interesting on their own. Perhaps a little jewelry, if going out. Oops is that another third layer? LOL
Lol, jewelry is not a third layer 🙂 Flax was fabulous!
Saturday we had lunch with a couple we have not seen in 25 years. It was joyful. The waiter took a cell phone picture of all of us after the lunch in front of the restaurant. My friend posted it on face book. I was so discouraged by my image in the photo. The split v neck wrap top made my bust look enormous and my J. Crew slacks looked dumpy. My makeup looked washed out. In short, just a mess of fashion misses. My take aways: wrap stretchy tops can be very flattering or not so much. check carefully. Comfortable pants don’t always have flattering lines. Make sure your lipstick is back on. thanks for your observations and comments, Jennifer.
I’m sorry Mary. We’ve all had that happen. Wrap tops look best on women with fewer curves who need to create the illusion.