It's too darn hot! - YouLookFab Forum

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It's too darn hot!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Haven't been posting outfits because all I've been wearing are sarongs & bathers at the beach & just sarongs at home.
I had to go out today & it's another day of over 100F.
Thank goodness I've discovered cuffs & bangles because it's too darn hot for any other jewellery.
This is pretty casual for me - I feel lost without my jackets, I may have to think about dresses for summer. What do you wear when it's too hot for clothes?

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39 replies

Latest reply was from anne

JulieJohn

Veteran

Caro, no apologies, you look chic and fab! Thanks for teaching me how much the right shoe can elevate a simpler, hot weather ensemble. Good on ya!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, Caro - I LOVE those trousers!! They are fantastic! (What are they?
she asks, greedily...)

And you look lovely in these soft greys. A brilliant neutral for heat.

I am a bit amazed you can tolerate trousers in those temperatures. I find dressing for summer to be SO difficult, and still have not figured out the solution, although I have high hopes for this coming summer. Actually, if I could look as good as this I would be thrilled!

My summer uniform was a sleeveless woven top with a pair of bermuda shorts or a skirt. I felt very dull in this combination (because the cuts were not all that special on these items) and determined to buy some trendier cuts (like your trousers, here) for next summer.

Thistle

Veteran

Looks great on you!

Skirts and dresses are nice for summer. Clam diggers can be good as well!

jenanded

Veteran

and they are saying more heat is to come for us all! i can never wait for jackets, scarves, closed in shoes etc etc as well! but you are looking fine now!

Deborah

Veteran

Caro, you look gorgeous (those shoes are amazing) but I feel your pain. I know its hotter where you are but seriously this is just too hot. I am beginning to think unstructured knee length summer dresses are the go, but its just not a look I love on me:( and do you think I can find any with sleeves?? I did just buy some slouchy, hi low hemmed tshirts from Cotton On for my beach holiday next week and for January while Im on leave from work... At home, I have been wearing three cotton dresses that I bought in Thailand last year and swore I wouldn't wear anywhere but there! I really do not enjoy not being able to wear jackets and not being able to layer. When you work out how to do 'stylish' in intense heat (and you are looking pretty good to me) please share:)

ironkurtin

Veteran

I tend to wear one item structured or tailored when another is loose and blousy. I know it's broiling where you are, but a trimmer-fit top might look less casual to my eye.

And be careful with jewelry! When it gets hot here in Texas, I can't wear necklaces with chains because I sweat, they rub, and I wind up with neck rash. Ugh.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

JulieJohn - good on ya right back:) I so agree about the shoes - I start all my outfits from the shoes up.
Suz the trousers are French Connection - they were one of my few purchases for spring/summer - they have been so useful. If you do find them note that they shrank upward the first time they were washed (which was annoying as I liked them longer). Other than that they are so comfy & easy to wear & better than linen as I can get more than one wear out of them when travelling.
Thistle - I'm just not a dress person but I may have to rethink:)
jenanded - yes me too, I miss my booties. At least it's a dry heat in Adelaide. I come from Melbourne & that was worse because I'd come home looking like a beetroot & dripping wet:)
Deborah - I know I have one unstructured dress & it's really nice but not "me" now if I could layer it up with tights & jackets & booties I'd be happy but I'd die of heat exhaustion. Maybe we should go into business making dresses for women who do not like dresses (we can make them in all sleeve lengths).

Caro in Oz

Veteran

ironkurtin - I know, even just to have the necklace on inside where it's cooler felt like I was going to break out in a rash.
Good advice about the structured piece - not so easy to find them in summer fabrics.

ElleH

Veteran

Cute outfit but I've been wearing loose fitting lightweight dresses here in Australia, when it is hot. Today is 37 C. I wish I could post pics for you Caro but can't do that on the iPad. I have a silk maxi I got from FCUK, a couple of synthetic ones I borrowed, one maxi, one hi-low hemline, that are loose so it doesn't matter that they are synthetic, & a white cotton eyelet maxi. I think any loose dress is the best. Find them in different levels of dressiness & choose different shoes depending on the occasion. A cropped denim jacket is good for air-conditioned restaurants etc.

They are sleeveless but that is what I prefer when it is this hot.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Caro, I look for structured linen blouses, or knit linen in more fitted cuts (nothing boxy). I know American brands to recommend if you like. Linen does wrinkle sometimes, but it works!

Also, I had all my necklaces restrung on leather cords. I find this reduces the chain rub.

Anonymous

hot or not you look amazing. Like IK said, Linen- it's the best for hot humid days. I like loose linen pants, and skirts.

ElleH

Veteran

Caro one of the dresses I borrowed was this label, purchased in Melbourne at Husk. I see some items with sleeves. http://www.clovercanyon.com/summerpre-fall-2013-3/

I've been wearing the maxi dress in this collection http://clovercanyon.com/holiday-2012/

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Thanks elle - I can't wear synthetic or silk in this heat unfortunately:( I do love some of those dresses though.
tracina - yes I agree linen or cotton are about the only fabrics that work when it gets this hot.
ironkurtin - I'd love some advice for more structured linen pieces, they sound like exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks.

carolbee

Veteran

Caro, you look lovely,although how you can bear to even wear shoes is beyond me. You guys are now copping the heat we had in Perth over Xmas and New Year. We are back to mid 20s now.

I hear you and others re dresses. I'm mostly a pants girl myself. After my closet review all 3 skirts I owned went into the holding area as all my tops seemed too long. I have bought one dress this summer, after a lot of looking. I also want sleeves, mine only has cap sleeves but I figured that was better than sleeveless. It just skims my body and is much more comfortable than a skirt and top. Its not dressy and yet I still haven't worn it much, must remind myself that I will not be overdressed.

Deborah

Veteran

Caro what a brilliant idea!

missvee

Veteran

You look really good considering the blistering heat. I don't think there's any easy answer for hot weather dressing, but linen and cotton are certainly the best fibres. My downfall is not having enough clothes for the heat, since I often change twice a day. My favourite outfits are usually built around a simple skirt with a lightweight cotton or voile shirt. Something that looks slightly wrinkled already so that I'm not standing over the ironing board :). Dresses are great too if you can find them. For some reason the stores here stock a lot of polyester knits - I can't imagine wearing those in the heat, unless you spend your day in an air conditioned office.

Anonymous

Well this is a lovely polished outfit. You look nice and cool in those greys.

It gets super hot where I live (over 40C for months at a time) but I still haven't figured out a good formula. I do switch to skirts from any kind of short or clam because they are so much cooler. I can never find dresses that I like, the really cool ones are bare and strappy and meant for much younger women, a lot of them are polyester (I die! And not in a good way) or lined with polyester, or they are cotton, but necessitate wearing a slip (I only have a nylon one--gross). Also breezy dresses don't provide a lot of structure and I end up feeling very "loosey goosey" and exposed in them. All in all I feel your sartorial pain!

Like you, I'm in a swim suit and sarong or gauze cover-up around the house, since I'm in and out of the pool much of the day. But next summer I want to do better! I think I'm willing to spend on a couple of really good, practical dresses if I can find something I like.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Well I think you look fantastic, especially given the temperature! Love those breezy trousers on you and the sandal/shoes are just gorgeous.

Dressing for the heat is something we've all complained about from time to time on this forum so do know you are not alone in your misery! I totally relate to missing your jackets in the heat.

I love linen for the heat as it breathes so beautifully and I do think there are more structured linen pieces available now. Definitely worth checking into - I think Eileen Fisher does some beautiful linen pieces for summer.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Caro, I like

- James Perse
- Eileen Fisher
- J Crew
- 120% Lino
- CP Shades
- Inhabit

Their summer collections typically include linen in more structured shapes.

Anonymous

Caro, linen is essential I think also! I really love those shoes and the drapiness of the top and trousers makes you look cool, even if it is hot. I, like you and Suz feel a bit lost in the summer without my jackets and layers....looking forward this summer to figuring something out!

Gaylene

Veteran

Our summers can get quite hot as well, with temperatures staying above 100F for days at a time. Since I'm not a fan of voluminous layers or dresses, my go-to outfits are usually a pair of easy fitting, but tailored, linen or light cotton trousers and an architectural-style top made of the same fabrics. I'll sometimes substitute a knee-length, straight-cut or slightly flared, cotton skirt for the pants. I make sure all my tops work with both types of bottoms and look for simple cuts without collars that can be easily washed and hung to dry.

I also used color-blocking this past summer; for example, I'd pair a simple orange top with my cobalt-blue/white ikat cotton skirt or a turquoise/acid green print top with my navy linen trousers. This color-blocking meant that I didn't have to add jewelry or scarves to make the two pieces look like an outfit. My watch and my sandals were my only accessories.

rachylou

Veteran

Did you get a haircut, caro? I love you with the hair and blue and grey. When it's too hot for clothes I wear super fine, see-through cotton voile. (I think it's called voile anyways.) I also wear full length sleeves and a big hat. Sunburn.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Thanks everyone - there are some great ideas here, very helpful:)
Ironkurtin - thanks this is very helpful. I had some 120% lino pieces & a CP shades shirt that I worn to death. I'll also check out the other brands.
rachylou - you are observant - yes I had my ears lowered. Hats are another problem (I have a big head - don't you dare laugh).

DonnaF

Veteran

I don't believe in ironing, esp. in hot weather. Misting linen and cotton, then finger stretching works for me. Also, loose but covered up can be cooler than very bare since the fabric can absorb the perspiration. Think of the bedouins.

anne

Veteran

Caro, as you know I wrote about this a few days ago - and as carolbee said, we are enjoying cooler weather now. My solution is dresses, but I am not hugely happy with them.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Donnaf - you are right covering up is the way to go. I worry that if I dress as a bedouin I'll end up looking more like their tents:)
anne - I am so not a dress person but I think I may have to try again.

Lyn D.

Veteran

Hot in Melbourne today too!
I am wearing knee length cotton shorts- I don't like the way my thighs stick together in dresses in the heat- and a Rivers high-low button through shirt with a botanical pattern for interest.
If I take the dog for a walk later will add fit-flops, hat and sunnies.

Deborah

Veteran

Gosh ladies it is a scorcher:). I'm wearing a tshirt fabric sleeveless dress with black and neutral stripes. I don't plan on leaving the house:)

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Lyn & Deborah - Got to 44 (that's 111F for most of you) & it's still 43....
I'm in a sleeveless linen dress diagonal stripe in grey/blues.
I put the washing out this morning but haven't been game to go out since.
May go for a swim later.

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