Midsummer review (June and July)

After shopping for high/hot summer early (February and March) and selecting items based on my notes from summer 2020, I was going into summer 2021 well prepared. However, the weather has been more temperate than last year, and jersey knits that were too hot last summer, have been comfortable, and even desirable this summer. I picked up 4 short sleeve V neck t-shirts in July and promptly put them into rotation. I also bought a cotton knit hoodie mid July - already worn 4 times.

The numbers: June/July 2020 I wore shorts outfits 51 times, and dresses or skirts on 10 occasions. This summer I’ve worn shorts outfits 21 times, jeans/pants 34 times, and a dress or skirt outfit 6 times. (I rotated through 17 different tops, 5 different bottoms, 1 skirt, and 2 dresses.)

In and out: An edit end of June brought my closet more in line with a modern classic style direction I’m pursuing, as did some recent acquisitions. Though the new purchases were intended for F/W, I’ve already had the opportunity to wear them (black loafers, LLBean jacket, black brocade trousers, lilac hoodie. Pastel floral trainers are my summer wildcard.

Surprises: love, and constant wearing of Levis’s 721 jeans in white (10 wears June and July), in blue (16 wears) and black batwing mock neck welted top (7 wears). Absolutely no boho itch to scratch this summer!?

Going forward: I foresee ‘dressing up’ a bit more as Ontario has been opening up after a 3 month lockdown that started end of March. There are going to be a few social occasions, and with a short trip (to check on my mother) scheduled for mid-month, and another for a medical
business first week of September - I need to put together a travel capsule suitable for urban adventures!

(Items I’ve written about in Finds below)

Were you prepared for summer? Has your closet served you well, or have you had to suss out something new? Any surprises?

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2 years ago

Jaime

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Veteran

Interesting about no boho - I have been feeling more boho. Who knows why? Also interesting about the jeans cut. I am still looking for my new favorite. Floral sneakers are the perfect statement piece in the middle here.

Irina

Very cohesive and well thought purchases. We are having much cooler summer this year, no surprise your jeans are so useful.

Like you, I went into the summer well prepared and only added a dress in J/J. I’m also wearing now tops and shoes that I got for the fall season.

rachylou

I love Love how your wardrobe really truly functions! My wardrobe functions now, but 2/3 of it really has no opportunities to get out and about. The Goodwill near me was shut down last year: I need an alternative.

JAileen

It makes sense that you wore shorts in lockdown, and are now wearing a dressier variety of clothes this year. Of course, I love your utility jacket, but I also like that lilac hoodie.

We’ve been having very hot weather. Until yesterday I’ve worn shorts or skorts almost exclusively. Last year I bought a bunch of skorts and they are very functional for my life. They are a little bit dressier than shorts even though some are just as short. I treat the short ones like shorts, and the longer ones like skirts. The longer ones are still pretty short. It seems to work.

Cardiff girl

You articulate the issue that summer dressing has for me in the uk.No two years are the same so no matter how prepared l think l am there always an unexpected weather eventuality to dress for..This year it was 30plus degrees for more than a day so cue unplanned summer dress shopping.l think it’s easier to plan for consistent weather in the summer or else maintain a wardrobe that is on the larger side.

Windchime

I really like the lilac items that you’ve recently added to your wardrobe!

Last year I was home much of the summer; this year I’m at work several days each week, so I’m wearing a lot of things that hung in my closet all summer last year. I ended up buying four pairs of summer footwear in late spring/early summer and have worn them a lot—navy blue espradilles, some Merrell water shoes, some very casual Merrell sandals, and new sneakers for walking. As summer went on, I realized a need to refresh/update my summer tops for work. I’ve added two so far and am wearing—and enjoying—them a lot, also.

Anonymous

I haven’t had jeans on - white or blue in at least a month . As a matter of fact , ever since I sent back a pair of white Massimo Dutti jeans for crazy stretching , I haven’t even thought about replacing them . It’s been SO hot here throughout July that all I’ve worn are shorts when I’m not at work . I haven’t purchased a lot of clothes this summer as there was nothing I needed or missed having . I did pick up a pretty new cream cross body bag that I’ve paired with some cream sandals I already owned . I started a late summer edit earlier this week with the intent to weed out the tops I haven’t worn and donate them before the season ends . I have moved almost completely away from tshirts and have a bunch I doubt I’ll ever wear again . I much prefer wovens at this point in life . But ……I ran out of gas during the process and started doubting myself . I’ll try once more next weekend . I have a few new fall pieces stashed away - with the intent to do an outfit of the month , a la anchie .

Sal

Interesting how the boho urge is not coming this year.... and I do relate to the changing weather changing your needs. This is just what happens (and will continue to do so(

This winter for me has been wetter and colder than the last two, and of course with no travel. As a result denim has been on such a high rotation. I did purchase the amber cords and the sweater dress to try and get a bit more variety for winter as I realised my wardrobe was becoming a bit too transitional weather focussed, and it is okay to have cold winter pieces for those bleak damp months.

Unless I happen upon a coat (or reconsider the sportscraft ones) or something irresistable, I am going to wait until spring/summer clothing starts coming in. I will be wanting a couple of footwear options and something to replace my white jeans (which may be white wide leg trousers or cream jeans...)

nemosmom

The way you leverage your wardrobe to work for you is pure magic. When you are challenged, you seem to just know the perfect pivot!

I've been living in jeans (thanks to an unusually cool, wet, long-lasting Spring). I've got a new work schedule as well, so I'm not outside as much as last year. My go-to outfit has become more structured (less boho) this summer: oversized button-up shirt with straight leg jeans, on repeat. Sometimes the shirt is worn as a topper over a tank or sports bra, if I am feeling fancy

I hit a cycle of buy/return in attempt to freshen up my summer footwear (my only sandals are 2 birks), but nothing feels quite right. Sneakers feel hot/too sporty, loafers too dressy, and sandal season is too short to justify several pairs... I've been too indecisive about color to commit to anything.

Biggest surprise for me this year - graphic tees. I have worn ONE since January. I used to live in them every summer/fall. Maybe when jacket weather returns I will reach for them again?

Joy

I love how your wardrobe has evolved. My goal this year was to shop second hand unless a real HEWI turned up. Our summer has been hotter than normal. I added thrifted or consignment pull on bottoms and some boho tops and I have felt well served by my wardrobe this summer. I wear Capri or ankle pants instead of shorts and they with sleeveless natural fiber tops have been cool enough. I have worn mostly linen or silk. My flat espadrilles are my go to footwear for summer. The boho tops and some bright or patterned bottoms have given variety and a change of direction. I have continued to wear a dress or skirt at least twice a week although more casual tee shirt dresses and the rip skirt have had more wears. August brings on the black dress challenge and I started by wearing it yesterday alone and with a long black linen cardi. My summer neutrals are white and navy with accents of coral and olive. This year I have worn black as much as navy, and navy as more of an accent.

Coming back to add : no boho for me either this summer. Weird , eh? It's not because I don't like that look - rather I realized that I typically pick up those kind of tops when shopping in person. They are always the fun finds in a store and not something I go looking for. With not doing much b&m shopping in the past year , those fun pieces are missing from my closet. The older boho tops I do have - now down to 2 , are looking a bit tired.

Stagiaire Fash

Interesting how the same items can skew differently for each of us! Were I to add floral sneakers or brocade trousers (love that fabric, but the cut looks like chinos, which don’t work for me), it would absolutely read as “boho”. In your wardrobe, not so much.

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