Bipolar Summer - YouLookFab Forum

Category

What I Wore

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Bipolar Summer

skylurker

Veteran

Mid-Summer.

I've worn every item of my summer wardrobe now, except my 3 tunic tops.
It worked fine and though I'm mostly repeating outfits with little variation, I'm not bored with it.

It took me years to find the right formula for this season.
I had to understand I needed 2 categories of clothes : hot summer and cold summer clothes. That meant more clothes for this short season, and few wears per item, but I'm much happier now I can adapt to the fickle temperatures.

I'm posting an example of weekend wear #1 it's hot, #2 it's cold.

Did your summer wardrobe work well for you ?

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

29 replies

Latest reply was from skylurker

AJ

Veteran

Oh, very nice! I like the polka dot button down with the white denim shorts and how FAB it looks with stripes for cooler temps.

Your summer is similar to my fall. It's still very hot until the end of October. So I end up buying summer items in fall colors to accommodate the "hot fall" capsule.

To answer your question, yes my summer wardrobe worked well for me, except a striped top (see below) that shrank even with a cold wash and air dry. Bought during end of spring sale, so not much money lost, but I was really looking forward to wearing it all season.

Meadow Rue Palermo Embroidered Striped T-Shirt, Blue

View Info

Top Pick

2

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I am splitting my time between my very hot, mostly dry climate, and my parents more humid but less hot climate so I have also had to build a dual wardrobe. My cooler summer clothes will follow me all through fall (and in many cases, winter!), so this will actually work well for me. I have been very happy with my summer wardrobe!

skylurker

Veteran

chewyspaghetti : not familiar with your style yet, but you seem to have a boho streak, which must work brilliantly for summer. (Somehow I find boho a more summery than wintery, style).

AJ : aargh, I hate when that happens - the item that desintegrates in the first wash, I feel so cheated!
A hot fall capsule ? that must be a hard nut to crack.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I like your outfits.
Our weather has been much more all over the place this summer. We had a lot high nineties, so I ran out and purchased a very lightweight, loose pair of pants, etc. Because that is cooler than my crops. Now it is cold for summer and I am in thicker pants again. Luckily in January I purchased a few tops with 3/4 sleeves but spring/summer looks; I didn't expect to be wearing them in August.
And since our weather has not been reflecting our weather reports, and changes if the cloud cover moves, I can't predict what weather to dress for.
We actually put on some heat today after being cold all morning, while wearing sweaters.
The one thing that saves the day is that the heat here is dry heat. Exponentially better than humidity.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like both of these outfits very much and especially the polka dot shirt!

And I understand what you mean. This year, our summer has been very hot, but that is not always the case, and a few years ago I had to build a small capsule of "cool summer" wear for the unseasonably cooler temperatures.

I also have to do a similar thing for both fall and spring.

I have been happy with my summer wardrobe, yes! I mainly bought footwear and a few new tops and for the rest, my last year's things are doing me very well. I don't get bored in summer even though I often repeat. I think it is because there is more light so I feel happier in general. And also because I sometimes wear my dresses and denim jackets. (Just teasing you since I know you dislike both of these!!)

Anonymous

Your hot and cold Summer outfits look fantastic Isabelle. As for me...I've struggled and not enjoyed our UK Summer at all. I have barely worn sandals or dresses and skirts. The rest I feel meh about :(.

Anonymous

It's probably something I need to do too: have both hot and cooler summer clothes . It's also necessary for fall too - which can be tricky . I like both your iterations which look like they came from the same closet : a sign of someone who knows what they are doing

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good job sorting your seasonal needs so effectively, Isabelle. It takes practice and forethought - and you've succeeded! Great that you don't get bored of your outfits, either. Love hearing that.

As Lisa mentioned, both outfits look like they came from the same closet - a sure sign of a signature style. And you wear these Preppy Modern Classics with the best of them. I love the casual ease and Elegant Tomboy vibe of #1. Fun with your kinky hair and Le Corbusier-esque specs.

(Your fun frocks are part of the hot Summer capsule too).

I LOVE my Summer wardrobe, and want to hug my closet over and over again. For three years - thanks to global warming unfortunately - we've had our fair share of better weather, which has meant having more fun with my style. Hello gladiators, frocks and skirts!

Sally

Veteran

Summer hasn't arrived yet here. I really like both outfits and you have a definite style. Really like that shirt in picture one and it goes well with the shorts. I have just purchased navy trousers like the ones in picture 2 and you've given me ideas...I'll be wearing mine with my striped shirt too.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Your style is very cohesive and cool. I love the pattern mix in 2. I wish I could wear something like outfit 2 in summer but that would be more a late autumn/early spring outfit for my climate. I really struggle with summer style because it is consistently hot and humid here. I enjoy wearing frocks and sandals but I get so sick of wearing shorts. I am going to try wearing skorts more next summer.

Peri

Veteran

My summer just alternates between hot and oh god why do I live here?

Last year I found a great pair of very lightweight pants and this summer I found another plus a skirt. I also had great luck with tops this summer and ended up buying about 8 I think. I've definitely been more satisfied with my summer wardrobe than at any other time of my life. Like you, I've worn everything and have repeated many times, but don't feel bored at all. Feels good, doesn't it?!

Bonnie

Veteran

I like both of your outfits but I would wear #1 for summer and #2 for winter/spring on warmer days. I am beginning to see the need for a hot fall wardrobe after living here in the desert for almost two years. I've just purchased a couple of lightweight cotton shirts in fall colors to wear with my chinos. I'll be ready for a change from summer colors for Sept/Oct.

Sara L.

Veteran

It's nice to hear that your summer wardrobe is working so well for you. I love summer and so far I'm enjoying the hot weather. I bought a few new sandals and frocks this year but the majority of my wardrobe hasn't changed much from past years.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

How nice to hear that your summer wardrobes are working well for you! We've had a good old fashioned hot summer here, and I purchased some lightweight shorts and tees that are helping me through these hot, humid days.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Looks like warm winter and cold winter to me, but leaving aside seasonal definition variance, both look excellent and I am glad you are giving your polka dot blouse a workout. I was locked into a few pieces of clothing for July and I have not yet registered what I can wear for the rest of the summer (luckily I still have at least two more months of it).

crazyone

Veteran

we also have had both seasons here--cold summer through most of June and some of July, and now hot summer for the last few weeks. I generally use lighter spring pieces for the cold summer, but the hot summer capsule is its own separate set of clothes--and one I quite enjoy wearing because it's such a short season of wearing breezy clothes.

I agree with Angie that both outfits look like they belong to the same cohesive closet. Glad that you figured out a formula that works for you.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like the two versions of this outfit. It strikes me that your hot and cold summer styles look very cohesive. Sometimes I feel as if I dress like a different person when summer rolls around, or I've felt that way in the past. I'm impressed that you figured out your summer wardrobe needs in this way, too. I could probably use more of a cold-summer capsule, or to at least think of my clothes in those terms. It makes a lot of sense. My summer wardrobe is working pretty well, though. I'm glad I didn't buy more shorts this year. I have three pairs that are newish (bought last year, I think) and that I like to wear, and they have been just right this year--not too few, not too many, and the right styles for days when I really want to wear shorts. I'm glad I refreshed my jeans capsule this spring, too, because I have enjoyed wearing my jeans, including my cropped flares, on cooler days this summer. And I have a little grouping of jackets that are taking me through the summer in style--my blue jeans jacket, cropped black denim moto, stone denim, and a purple-gray crinkled sort-of moto style.

skylurker

Veteran

Barbara Diane : dry heat feels better to me than humidity too. Must be difficult to dress in the morning if you can't trust weather forecasts!

Suz : it's not a polka dot shirt, it's a pac-man shirt
I enjoy the light more than the warmth, too.
No, no, I don't dislike dresses. I just dislike wearing them with toppers, and I dislike wearing them with tights, so that seriously narrow the occasions to wear them...

Diane : you need a vacation, my friend, hope Greece will be heavenly as usual.

Lisap : yeah, I wouldn't define my style as "eclectic"

Angie : can't say I'm surprised to hear you're happy with your wardrobe
Yes, my hot summer capsule is made of 3 sleeveless dresses for work and 2 pairs of shorts with 2 opaque (=don't need camis) shirts for weekend.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

skylurker

Veteran

Sally : I like cotton pants for summer, breezier than jeans. And striped tops are so easy to style, I've always be attracted to their graphic design and nautical vibe.

Brooklyn & Karie : yeah, dresses and shorts, I see nothing that would work besides dresses and shorts in hot summer. We have so few hot summer days that I have no time to get bored with them, though.

Peri : lol! I understand, I like cool summer much better than hot summer.
I'd probably live in sack linen dresses in your weather.

Bonnie : #2 as warm winter outfit, wow, that's hard to picture for me. You could look up AJ's WIWs, she says she needs a hot fall capsule too.

Sarah L : not much turn over in my summer wardrobe either, because items see little wear each year.

Jaime : my shirts get a lot of wear, I wear them year round.
How did it feel living out of a suitcase for a month ? Do you shop when you're in the US ? (Stuff is supposed to be cheaper there)

Crazyone : yes, my spring and cool summer wardrobes overlap too.

Firecracker : cropped jeans and jackets are essential to my cool summer work wardrobe, too. And I've learned to stop overbuying for hot summer.

Summer

Veteran

It looks as if you've found the perfect balance for your fickle climate, Skylurker. You have both cool and warm summer weather covered beautifully.

My own wardrobe works well for spring/early summer and late summer/autumn, when I'm usually in layers. What catches me out is a sudden hot spell (rare!) that requires me to take off the top layer - revealing a less than interesting outfit underneath. So, either I swelter in my jacket or cardigan, or I am left feeling far short of fab in a basic top.
So, no, my summer wardrobe hasn't worked as well as it should have done, but at least I know what I'm aiming for for next year, namely: more dresses and statement tops. We learn all the time!

Colette

Veteran

You know your style so well and wear it with such grace and ease. The button down with shorts for your hot summer is brilliant. I like the way you identified your hot summer and cold summer wardrobe. Since I live in four seasons, I definitely need to do this for spring, summer and fall. Winter is just winter, cold!

JAileen

Veteran

I like both outfits. Very nice. I envy you having summer temps that are cool at times.

Our summer varies between hot (90s) and blazing (100s). i would not wear a sweater in either temp. Or even long sleeves.

skylurker

Veteran

Summer : funny, I was thinking along the same lines recently. I don't have summer tops, I use my shirts - same ones I wear layered the rest of the year - as summer tops and I was wondering if they were good enough to stand alone or if I should look for summer blouses next year.

Colette : thank you. Yeah, winter is just boring. Dressing in the dark takes all the fun out of dressing, anyway.

Jaileen : thank you. I love cool summers, esp. as pollution makes it difficult to breathe when it's hot.

RobinF

Veteran

These are great summer looks, so nice that you like your summer wardrobe. Mine is a work in progress, some days I like it and some days I don't know where I'm going with it.

skylurker

Veteran

Robin : thank you - it took me years to figure it out.

Tanya

Veteran

Both versions look so sophisticated on you, Skylurker, you wear button-downs and stripes like nobody's business.

We have mostly very hot and humid summers here in the East Cost, so I would have to wait for October to wear something like your cold summer outfit. Back when I lived in Europe, the lack of humidity made such outfits needed far more often.

skylurker

Veteran

Thank you, Tanya, button downs and stripes are definitely in my comfort zone.

Sisi

Veteran

Very pretty outfits, and flattering on you, but they seem to me .... Autumn outfits! Clearly your Summers are colder than mine. My Summer wardrobe is more or less working, but I'm not happy with it. Too skimpy, too many wardrobe holes. And in the stores, nothing that I like.

skylurker

Veteran

Thank you Sisi. What ? Nothing in stores ? In Milan ??? Can't be. Maybe you shopped too late in the season ?