Barbara Diane - my worry exactly about Boden - if I can get a promo, I might try one or two just because the quality is so good.
Jenni NZ - oh yes, air conditioning is a whole other animal. Always need a topper for the grocery store! I find tanks so hard - figure flattery is one issue but huge arm holes are the other. In the interest to being open to all of the suggestions here, I tried on some tanks yesterday - no go. I think the issue was the shoulder was too wide. I wonder if something veering toward racerback would be more flattering?
Irina - silk tops would be great for work - they feel too dressy for my very casual summers and how about sweat? I have this idea in my mind that it’d really show up?
always trying - I agree with staying away from spandex when it’s hot and you’re right it’s almost impossible to find cotton bottoms without it. A few seasons ago Gap had 100% cotton shorts. I bought a couple of pair and they became workhorses. When I tried to buy another pair the next season they only had ones with spandex! Now I’m babying the ones I have for fear I’ll never be able to replace.
Roberta - maybe it’s TMI, but I find dresses have their own hot weather issues - thigh rub! Skimmers help but they make things hotter too. Oh the challenges!
epgal - I’ll check out Madewell offerings. Thanks! I’m also thinking of trying tanks with a lightweight kimono ... something like Loft seems to carry.
RainB - I like patterns too especially because I tend to plain bottoms so it does double-duty of camouflage and interest. Outside of stripes, I find a lot of summer patterns too preppy/twee/something - not sure how to describe it. I absolutely agree with your “avoids” list.
Fashintern - I agree that many summer tops seem throw-away and it’s so depressing for the environemntal impact but also for the work needed to replenish every summer. And although my season is rather short, I still need quite a few to avoid having to do laundry every other day!
lisa p - agreed! I also don’t think summer dressing is kind to those who are more ample of the chest. Lots of cute, modern summer tops look much better *to me* on the flatter-chested. Except for the west coast, I think most of Canada never gets the ‘ideal’ weather for fashion - we’re either bundling up or stripping down!
