I need intervention :) -added finds for current wardrobe

Thistle

Veteran

I would start with laying out what you have and figure out what pieces you need to complete that.

So, if you have a pair of navy shorts, do you have 3 tops you like with them? If not, write it down then go shopping.

6 years ago

anchie

Veteran

Thistle, most likely I need to start from scratch. I have bare bones, and since I don’t like shopping for summer casual I have not refreshed it for years. It means that it is not in great condition and probably ill fitting too.

6 years ago

Christina F.

Veteran

Oh anchie, I have the exact opposite problem! Too many causal summer clothes that I can't wear to work, but I keep wanting to buy them for the beach vacations I'm taking in my head.

Sounds to me like you need to go force yourself to try items on, and have a list with you. Things may be more appealing in person than online. Good luck!

6 years ago

anchie

Veteran

Christina F - can we trade? I will gladly shop for your work wardrobe

6 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Start with bottoms, they're the hard part. What appeals to you? Shorts? Skorts? Clamdiggers or capris? Casual culottes? Find a great pair, and from there you can find a few tops to wear with them.

6 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I agree to start with bottoms - either shorts, skorts or light weight pants (navy linen maybe for a slightly dressier look?) Tops are usually much easier to find once you have a couple of bottoms sorted.

6 years ago

anchie

Veteran

Elisabeth - good thinking. I would probably need at least two bottoms, something very casual to wear to picnics, parks and beach, for that shorts would probably be the best. And then something for running errands, walking in the city, backyard barbecues etc. No idea yet what would be best for that situations.

6 years ago

anchie

Veteran

textyle - navy linen pants sounds like a great idea. I just worry that I would try to double task them and get some for the office

6 years ago

Anonymous

I always think texstyle has the best casual summer wardrobe - and I've thought this for several years. If were to emulate anyone, it would be her. My own summer casual wardrobe is a hot mess, and I'll be following along closely here.

6 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I feel your pain. I never liked casual clothes myself either, for a variety of reasons (lack of structure/ cotton pills easily / lack of petite basics like tees / etc etc etc). But, since we moved, I am in a part of our city which is much more casual, so I've been working on it!

Here's my basic summer capsule for your inspiration:

TOPPERS
Because I do like the "3rd layer" and additional structure, but also it gets chilly at night here in the summer.
- White jean jacket (GAP)
- Blue jean jacket (LOFT)
- (not shown) very faded, cropped light blue jean jacket (LOFT)
- (not shown) white linen "army" style jacket (Old Navy)

BOTTOMS
No shorts. I have one pair of "gear" khaki REI shorts that work in a pinch, but I prefer to keep my legs covered up. No skirts, because they hate me.
- Striped linen high-waisted pants from Anthro
- Silk genie /jogger pants from Anthro
- (not shown) Elephant pants

TOPS
What's not shown here are basic V-neck tees and scoop tank tops. I prefer Jcrew for tees although I have had luck lately with Madewell. I stocked up on tanks from GAP. I stick to neutral colors - white, grey, black, navy -- to keep it simple.

What is shown are two sleeveless blouses that are actually a part of my business casual uniform, but I could wear them with the green pants if I am going somewhere a bit more dressy. I of course have other sleeveless shells that can work as well.

DRESSES
My favorite item to wear in the summer.
- Tank style Midi & max lengths, similar silouhettes. I found a shape that works and I just duplicate endlessly in different colors/stripes/etc. Most from Old Navy, though there's an older Jcrew one in there as well.
- Waistless A-line dresses (navy with asymmetrical hemline and the denim dress (Anthro, new acquisition)
- Tee shirt dresses (I have same dress in olive and in black) from LOFT or ON
- Pant suit -- for when I want to be more dressy and I could even wear this to work.

COMFORTABLE SHOES
- White sneakers
- Flat sandals (in this case Sanuk sling backs)
- Wedge heels
- (not shown) Jcrew metallic thongs, mostly just for the beach/pool

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6 years ago

Greenjeans

Veteran

Hi, Anchie! I can relate because I started rebuilding my wardrobe from scratch two years ago. It took me a year of random purchases before I figured out how to approach and now I'm doing better. Here is what is working for me.

1. Start with shoes. One to a few pairs that you can wear with casual clothes. I have 2 pair street sneaks, 1 pair walk-to-yoga slip-ons and 1 pair light-colored oxfords that work with dresses and pants. Still shopping for sandals.

2. Next: bottoms for reasons others have mentioned.

3. Casual tops that match shoes and bottoms.

4. Toppers. (I have one gear-y windbreaker type jacket and one jersey moto.)

5. When you find something that works duplicate in colors. This works especially well for casual clothes like t-shirts that wear out quickly when they get a lot of wear.

6. Be thoughtful aobut your palette (limit it) so everything matches.

7. Focus on one category at a time and shop for that thing until you find the piece (or pieces) that mesh and move on.

Hope this helps! I struggled terribly before coming up with this system. It's taken some time and I still have wardrobe holes but things are coming together. If I had more to spend things would go more quickly. It's been a joy this spring to be able to pull out treasured shoe purchases I made last year and wear them and have budget to spend on other things.

6 years ago

Anonymous

-1 pair mules
- 1 pair white or blush sneakers
- 1 long line white jean cutoffs
- 1 long line dark wash jean cut offs
- 1 straw or canvas tote
- Angie and others will have to help you with tops as I fall apart in this area!

6 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

omg...you were me this morning! not to encourage you, after all this is an intervention...but there are some lovely looking and inexpensive dresses on the old navy site. i have 14 in my cart (in various sizes).

6 years ago

Christina F.

Veteran

I feel your pain! Since I can't send you anything, here are some examples of the type of item I have. In general, I've been trying to choose pieces I can dress up or down, but of course my workplace is fairly casual and I just need a little effort to dress some of these up (though it's not possible with all of them.) Good luck!

Nordstrom

Caslon Handkerchief Hem Slub Knit Tank Dress

View Info

Top Pick

3

Custom Find

by Christina F.

View Info

Nordstrom Rack

SUSINA Drawstring Utility Linen Blend Short

View Info

Top Pick

0

Custom Find

by Christina F.

View Info

Old Navy

Embroidered Tencel Swing Top for Women

View Info

Top Pick

0

Boden

Valencia Top

View Info

Top Pick

3

Loft

Fan Floral Flutter Shell

View Info

Top Pick

1

Zappos

Birkenstock Mayari

$94.95

View Info

Top Pick

7

Nordstrom

Ecco Damara Sandal

View Info

Top Pick

3

Zappos

Teva Tirra

$80.00

View Info

Top Pick

0

J.Crew

J.Crew for the Xerces Society Save the Bees T-shirt

View Info

Top Pick

2

Loft

Striped Vintage Soft Racerback Tank

View Info

Top Pick

0

Loft

Verão Em Porto Vintage Soft Tee

View Info

Top Pick

2

6 years ago

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I love casual summer clothes so I m quite envying you planning a casual summer wardrobe from scratch,I d start with an idea of what I admired.For this I find Pinterest helpful and the ensemble posts. That then gives me an idea of what I like and You can take it from there.lt s up to you whether you go very casual or smart casual depending on your lifestyle but don’t lose heart there are some really lovely summer clothes out there and from your posts I can see that you wear clothes well so enjoy!

6 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

anchie - these are the linen pants I own. But it's been a few years and these are out of stock, I'm sure you can find other options. They can actually work both casual or slightly dressier depending on what you pair them with. The tee would be ultra casual of course.

lisap -- making me blush

Athleta

Gap Linen Ankle Pant

View Info

Top Pick

3

J.Crew

"Salut!" T-shirt

View Info

Top Pick

3

6 years ago

Dianna

Veteran

I understand your pain, I was in a similar situation about five years ago, when I moved from a big inland city with a two season climate with two short transition seasons, to a small coastal one with a "two season climate" (summer and hot summer). I continued to be attracted to the less casual clothes, and I could not picture myself in shorts and capris all the time, and it was way too warm for jeans. Shopping for casual separates was so hard for me, that I started looking at casual dresses instead. Dresses became my casual summer uniform, and to my surprise they were more comfortable than I expected, while at the same time, I felt they were dressier and more "me" than shorts and t-shirts.

6 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

Maybe you can think in terms of shopping for a summer vacation capsule? To me, that sounds a lot more exciting and romantic than everyday running around. And actually, what you want is a workable capsule since you are starting from scratch.

Angie taught me that one doesn't have to have t-shirts; she doesn't wear them. And YLF taught me that wovens are cooler than knits. I happen to like the added structure that wovens provide.

Since shorts and t-shirts don't do it for you (from what I surmised based on your original post), maybe you can look for dresses? Just be forewarned that many sleeveless ones are cut really big in the armholes, are really short, and/or are made of polyester. Just keep soldiering on because others aren't.

6 years ago

Sal

Veteran

For me loose lightweight dresses are brilliant as they are cool and a bit dressy. I have a few but if starting from scratch I would get two. I now have one black long, one blue maxi, one blue floral, one white and red floral, one black and white stripe and one blue check. Some are a bit dressy but they all work with flat shoes on the beach.

One pair of comfy practical shorts for those times when shorts are the best. These are the hardest for me to find.

One pair loose linen or cotton pants - mine are genie style.

Three tops - one with long sleeves, two short sleeve or sleeveless.

Two pairs of casual sandals or shoes - I wore my pewter slides so so so much this summer. Second were some tan leather sandals. Third white sneakers.

Sunglasses and a flattering hat always make you feel more stylish!!

6 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I agree that dresses may suit your summer needs better - if you like to feel more "dressed up" especially.

6 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I need to see what you have anchie, in order to make accurate suggestions. List it in Finds, or pull it out and take a photo on your bed. We always work from what you have and how you feel about it first.

6 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

Linen pants are nice for summer. I am interested in seeing what Angie suggests.

6 years ago

Kathie

Veteran

I will be following along. I could have written your post. My casual summer wear consists of three skirts (2 of which are worn and need to be retired), 3 T’s, a 20+ year old pair of shorts, and a worn out knit, dolman sleeve dress. And two woven sleeveless tops that can cross-over from work to weekend.

So, I’m pretty much with you, in terms of starting from scratch.

6 years ago

Anonymous

I would start by making a list of casual activities and go to Pinterest to see what might fit the bill for those lifestyle events to get ideas before you shop.
That said- my personal opinion is that a casual capsule should include AT A MINIMUM-
2 jeans ( light & dark)
skirt- if you like them (denim or twill ) or reversible does double duty.
casual dress (chambray or knit or fabric of your liking)
Capri or cropped
shorts if you like them
tops in your favorite style/ fabric ( tees, polos, buttoned, flowy etc)
Jacket ( in fabric of your preference) I have 2-white denim , blue denim
Sweater
Footwear to your liking
The above capsule could be modified for warm or cold climate based on fabric. Once you have basics add as you please but that minimum should be able to take you to all casual events.
Happy shopping ANCHIE

6 years ago

binkle

Veteran

I think I had a sorta of minimalist approach to "casual" when I was working full time. I liked dressing up for work, I lived a quiet life without a lot of weekend/evening social activities, and since the weekend is "only" two days of the week, I didn't feel justified on spending money on a lot of casual stuff.

So it depends what you need the casual stuff for. For me, it was mostly a movie/lunch with husband, or local outing/rare long weekend away. At one point I realized I had devolved into a uniform of jeans or cargo style pants (no shorts for me), a big white or chambray shirt (think boyfriend style), maybe a tee or three, cowboy boots or black moto-style boots. A pair of platform open-toed clogs. I do NOT expose much to the sun

Sounds boring, but everything was of good quality and neat, not trendy but not non-descript, and I added some of my chunky turquoise jewelry or a big cotton scarf.

A lot of good check-lists are provided above. Maybe think about what your most regular activities are, with a piece or two to see you through the occasional surprise event?

6 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Anchie, I think you should actually start by looking at the types of activities you need this wardrobe for and how often you'll be needing them. You can buy a fantastic casual wardrobe but if it isn't actually suited to your needs it won't be useful. For example, if your activities primarily include urban outings you would likely need very different sorts of things than if you are doing lots of outside and active outings. You might also be better off going and trying the casual things on in person to get a better feel.

As someone who needs active casual clothing but doesn't actually like most casual clothing I feel your pain! It can be tough for Team Dressy. It's doable though, promise. One thing I'd like to point out is that you can designate some pieces that might be considered dressier to your casual wardrobe with the knowledge that the wear on them will be harder than if it were in another capsule. And that's OK!

6 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

I went through a phase about 8 years ago that involved lots of jersey dresses. Jersey maxi skirts are another good option. They can be quite casual, but its dress/skirt so it feels a bit less casual (or haphazard or whatever)

6 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

I only started building a summer wardrobe over the past couple years, but for reasons that are the opposite of yours: I used to spend practically all summer in outdoor gear, due to the type of work and travel I do in the summer. I finally decided I needed some "around town" options and have put a lot of work into building up some options. Starting from near-zero actually means my summer wardrobe feels more "curated" than my other seasons!

I'm not big on shorts, so I've built my summer capsule around linen pants and knee-length or longer dresses. I'm hoping to figure out skirts this year! I have a button-front linen midi skirt on order. On cooler summer days, I really enjoy structured culottes and wide-leg crops.

I've been relatively disciplined about not buying more t-shirts, and instead adding short-sleeve and sleeveless shirts in linen and lightweight woven cotton.

Last summer I added 3 pairs of casual sandals (2 flat, 1 with a slight heel and closed toe) and a pair of canvas espadrilles; this year I'm adding a pair of lightweight oxfords in blush and a pair of classic sneakers (Adidas in a fun colour).

For toppers, my heavy hitters are a white denim jacket, chunky cotton sweaters in crisp colours, and an unstructured linen blazer in navy. I have a couple field jackets too, but reach for them more in spring/fall, despite the fact that they aren't any warmer than my denim jacket. They are longer, which makes them a bit harder to work into summer outfits -- I really prefer boxy/cropped for summer toppers.

My summer palette is quite similar to my winter one (black, white, olive, denim) but does contain a few different colours (rust instead of burgundy, navy instead of charcoal, and a few softer colours like sage, sky blue and a smattering of blush). It's worth giving some thought to which colours feel summery to you and which don't; I dislike wearing navy in the winter but love it in the summer, and charcoal is just the opposite. Ditto rust/burgundy. It's nice to have new colours and silhouettes to look forward to as the weather changes.

6 years ago

anchie

Veteran

Thank you all. I woke up to find all this great advises and check lists. I am taking notes. Lot of endorsements for casual dresses, so I will be definitely looking into it. Linen jogger type of pants also sounds useful and practical.
Using my office wardrobe in casual settings is not really in an option in the heat of summer. My office is pretty cold, so I dress mainly in layering sweaters, cotton blazers, full length pants and closed shoes. All this is too warm for wearing on weekends in summer. I also don't like wearing jeans or skinny pants in summer heat.
Regarding activities that I need wardrobe to dress for - it is ranging in dress code from beach wear, picnics, nature walks, light biking and hiking, playing in parks, backyard barbecues to meeting friends in city for drinks and dinner, running errands, shopping, sightseeing and traveling. I don't like wearing a gear and don't have almost any to speak of, so for light hiking and leisurely biking I would not wear activity specific gear. I do have a gear type of rain jacket though.
And regarding my current options, it is really embarrassing. Almost everything is couple of years old and it is showing its age. And because of my weight fluctuations over those years, some things are little tight, and others little big. I would not mind burning everything and starting from scratch. I have zero casual dresses and zero casual skirts. Only my casual footwear is kind of OK, so I am not looking for it unless you see some glaring hole in that department. You can see EVERYTHING I own in finds that can be considered casual, I even added some primarily office items like BR and Boden pants, BR jacket, J Brand jeans and Esprit sweaters that can be worn casually in pinch. Ducking down in shame.