Tips for looking fab when it is too hot for toppers/scarves? - YouLookFab Forum

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Tips for looking fab when it is too hot for toppers/scarves?

Jenny H

You could say that I follow Project 336-- I keep a limited amount of clothing in my wardrobe (slightly higher than 33 items) but I only switch out my wardrobe every 6 months instead of every 3. So as I prepare to switch out my clothes for spring I am also planning for summer. Summers in DC are very, very hot and humid. Highs in the upper 90's are completely normal.

I'm having a hard time thinking through fashionable outfits for when it is too hot for a topper or scarf (which I almost think of completer pieces). Do any of you have strategies for this? One obvious answer is to wear dresses, but I can't see myself having more than 4 or so in my everyday wardrobe since I'm trying to keep my wardrobe so small.

The good news is that my office is freezing in the summer, so I can wear cardigans, scarves, and the like so long as I am there. But anywhere else I will be too hot if I wear completer pieces. Tips/strategies/commiseration appreciated!

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from shemarie

Aziraphale

Veteran

How about statement earrings? Or bracelets? Rings? I'm totally with you -- I struggle with summer. I don't even live somewhere where it gets all that hot. But as soon as it approaches about 27 degrees C, I basically want to wear shorts and a loose tee shirt all the time.

Anyway, the obvious answer, as you've said, is dresses. Loose linen tops are good too -- it's handy that slouchy and oversizes styles are the current look. As for adding something when you can't wear a scarf, I'd focus on jewellery but not necklaces. They get uncomfortable in the heat.

Also, wearing fabulous footwear always gives someone style points in my book.

Peri

Veteran

I love scarves too, and wear them all winter. And like you, miss them in the hot months. How about bold jewelry? Would you like something like the necklaces in my fake pearl post this morning?

April

Veteran

I'm not much of an earrings girl (pearl studs and silver hoops, that's it for my collection) but I always think light, breezy, dangling earrings are a good look in the summer. Statement necklaces aren't great in the heat and humidity but light earrings are like windchimes and don't add to the feeling of heaviness that is so unbearable in the heat.

I also like sleeveless tops with some bracelets as a summer look, but I'm picky about which bracelets. I don't like anything that clanks, or jingles, or keeps my hands from comfortably reaching my keyboard.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I live in the south where it's mostly warm half the year and extremely hot the other half. I still wear toppers but they are in linen, unlined cotton knits, slub knits, etc. I also opt for jewelry such as very comfortable bracelets (light, stretch style work best for me), light weight necklaces (often long pendants so the main part of the necklace lays on my top instead of on my skin.

I'd say invest in some great shoes if you haven't already, since those can up the style quotient of most outfits. And focus on the style of the tops and bottoms you do wear, maybe tops with some interesting details built in to suit your style - jeweled tees, avant garde shapes, or whatever suits you.

JAileen

Veteran

Here in summer it will regularly be in the 90s if not 100s for July and August. So, yeah, no scarves. I like to lay on the couch in the AC and watch old movies on TV.

I would look for tops that look good on their own. Such as a crisp sleeveless shirt with pin tucks down the front, or a tee with an interesting neckline.

El Cee

Veteran

I tend to wear bracelets in the summer to elevate my look. I also think that summer is the perfect time to bring out the fabulous shoes.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Cuff bracelets, interesting sandals, clothing with built in interest, like asymmetrical cuts, details, etc.

Liz

Veteran

What Mo said. Last summer, I found success in our blistering heat in outfits with a colored skirt and an interesting top. Or by colorblocking a colored skirt with a contrasting top. This summer, my goal is to amp up the "great shoe" factor.
I also found I could tolerate an extremely light, cotton gauze scarf, worn very loosely.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I am just four hours south of DC in Virginia Beach with the same climate... I wear a lot more dresses and skirts and add a lot more bracelets... Last year I added in vests over tank tops, as third completer pieces and love how that felt. This year I've purchased a few kimonos to try as well... Thank goodness for Air Conditioning...

abc

Veteran

I struggle with this too, as I tend to want to cover my upper arms and it is hard to find tshirts with longer (elbow length-ish) sleeves. I was looking yesterday for lightweight toppers that might fit the bill. I found one linen blazer unlined that could but once it's 80+ the 3rd topper piece seems to go out the window, even if it is linen. Paying attention to this thread!

carter

Veteran

I've suffered through 10 summers in DC, 7 summers in Houston, 2 summers in Florida and 31 summers in Atlanta. I do NOT like to be hot. I wear more printed tops in the summer to add interest. I also do colored cropped pants with a white cotton button up and big jewelry (bangles, earrings). Great belts, shoes and handbags help up the style quotient. Also, your hair is about the same length as mine. Find a professional looking up do that you can easily get right in the mornings, and add some interest...maybe a colorful clip, headband, pony tail scarf, etc.

Jenny H

carter-- On my, I completely forgot about my hair!! This is the longest my hair has been since the 1990's when I lived in a very different climate. I have self-esteem issues with wearing my hair up but I may need to address this. This may need to become another post down the line.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I search out interesting tops in linen. I like asymmetric linen knits in particular. Also do not discount the value of a classic, perfectly fitting white linen shirt. A good fit adds interest in a subtle and elegant way.

shemarie

I can definitely commiserate, as like texstyle, my two seasons are warm "winter" and unbearably, nasty hot "summer." It's so hard to look/feel stylis dripping and sweaty! You've been given some great ideas, and my summer plan/shopping list is identical to what everyone has suggested above: linen (in loose, fluid, flowy pants, skirts, tees and tops), vests as a "topper" third piece, easy dresses and skirts, earrings/lightweight bracelets, and fab shoes/sandals.