My Fling With Summer - YouLookFab Forum

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My Fling With Summer

Thistle

Veteran

It has been in the low to mid 70s this week, meaning I broke out the skirts and sandals. It drops to the high 50s this weekend, meaning, I need to keep out some of my spring/fall pieces even into June.

However, dressing for this taste of summer makes me realize how much happier I am dressing for spring summer weather. I like wearing skirts, they are flattering, and my legs naturally bookend my hair (yeah, I am pretty low contrast ). I love all of the extra choices I get: skirts, dresses, culottes, ankle pants, capris. Not to mention the variety of shirts and their fabrications.

This shows in how large by spring/summer wardrobe is despite how short the season. While there aren't that many more pieces in my wardrobe than my winter one, the season is half as long as just winter (not counting cold, snowy spring or fall).

I added a few refresher pieces, but my wardrobe from 2 summers ago still works great and offers me a lot more choices and variety than my winter wardrobe.

Makes me realize I need to deal with winter, accept ti for what it is, and still try to find some wardrobe happiness. Sweater + cami + trousers + booties is bound to get boring after a while.

Over to you, how's your summer dressing coming?

Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from Wendi1984

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ah, I thought you were going to post some pics too! It's great to hear of happiness with summer style. It seems like a lot of us here struggle a little to adapt to summer dressing (me included). But after I while I find my groove, and part of that is getting over the initial shock that comes with baring parts of my body -- arms, legs -- that have been covered during the cooler, kinder months. But I think my summer wardrobe is a bit big relative to what one would think is needed for hot weather, so I know what you mean about the size of a summer wardrobe. As I believe was mentioned in another thread, maybe the variety of tops seems more necessary because 1) toppers like jackets are not so feasible, and 2) summer clothes tend to get washed more frequently.

It's supposed to get to 88 here today with humidity levels that will make it feel like 94. Sigh. And it's not even June yet. So I think I'm breaking out the shorts -- real shorts (mid-thigh), not knee length ones -- to work in the studio today. I guess I'm lucky I can wear whatever I want to work. Look out, world, here come the pale thighs!

Beth Ann

Veteran

I love to see you in skirts, too! Something about the proportions, and the feminine touch alongside your low contrast, classic style is refreshing!

I run warm, so one of my favorite things is to wear a sleeveless woven tops under a jacket or sweater. This works well for summer a/c, as well as for cool spring and fall. I choose tops with a wide shoulder band, for a bit more polish, and favor richer colors on cool days and lighter ones on hot days. These tops see plenty of action once the snow melts. Of course, I don't work in an environment that might frown on sleeveless tops.

Next fall, could you add more variety in your boots and lightweight sweaters? Perhaps duplicating a favorite sweater in more than one color?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I was hoping for pics, too!

But I hear you. Like you, I FAR prefer my summer wardrobe and find summer dressing much, much easier these days and more fun. My winter wardrobe bores me no matter what -- and it's not for lack of items or colour -- it is for lack of footwear and silhouette variety.

Like you, I find it much easier to dress cohesively for my low contrast colouring in summer. Bare skin makes everything work better. Sigh.

You and I need to move to a warmer place. That is all there is to it! California, here we come.

Anonymous

While I have been working to add more color to my winter wardrobe, it is still pretty neutral compared to Summer. Summer weather is just starting to arrive and I'm wearing my jeans and transitional stuff as much as possible while I still can. The hot weather season, once it starts, seems endless.
My challenge is to be covered yet cool. I'm too old to feel ok in shorts unless knee length and narrow. My DH really hates Capri pants, but I did lots of rolling and cuffing and got by last year. I have very few bottoms for Summer, but probably enough to get by. Some are probably on their last season though.
I have quite a few Summer tops but may need some very light toppers for air conditioning. My Summer "uniform" is blue or white denim clam diggers with a breezy top and non-sandal Summer flats ( feet must be protected). By August this gets pretty boring.

Thistle

Veteran

I guess I have embraced "pale is pretty". I am not all that worried about people seeing how pale my arms and legs are. And they are really pale, as in whitish pink pale. Maybe its because of where I live. We're covered up so many months of the year or we freeze, so unless you are naturally gifted with color or wealthy enough to travel all winter, you aren't getting color from our thin weak winter sun

Sara L.

Veteran

I love summer. It's my favorite time of year. I like summer clothes, I like wearing less layers and sandals. I like that I can kick the kids outside to play without having to find jackets, mittens, hats, socks, etc. They can just go barefoot or slip on some sandals. I like the heat (I know I'm in the minority here, but I like hot weather), road trips, pool time, summer food - basically everything about summer.

We've had an unusually cool, rainy spring which is great for the drought, but not good for my summer dressing. I'm itching to wear tanks, shorts, sandals, cute sundresses, etc, but the weather hasn't been cooperating. We still haven't turned on our air conditioner and that is amazing for this time of year in Albuquerque.

Anonymous

I love summer too. So nice to bare skin (it just feels good!).
One idea to mitigate my winter blahs is to buy a spendy wool coat that feels and looks high quality. Like, a nice, thick wool. And some nice lambskin gloves to match. My brain is thinking teal or fuchsia!
I've never actually encountered said coat.

ETA: spelling

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think I like summer too. I used to really wish for fall/winter but the past few years I think I've been cold so much of the time that I realized maybe I'm not cut out to live in a cold climate anyway, so I might as well embrace the south's sometimes brutal June-October. I've added a lot of sleeveless tops and light weight tees and have a large collection of shorts and sandals - and I don't mind wearing some jewelry even when it's 90 outside, so it kind of works for me. Heck, I'll even wear jeans when it's in the 80's - not the thick kind but the lighter weight light wash ones that are just a little loose feel pretty good in the AC.

Summer

Veteran

Summer here has been a bit stop and start so far, so I haven't really got into my stride with summer clothes yet. I've worn sandals only once, ditto my white jeans. Two new, sleeved tops have had a few outings though, and I've been quite happy with those.

This year I have decided, once and for all, that I'm no longer comfortable with sleeveless tops, so I'm experimenting with strategies for covering up - at least when I'm out and about. I share Joy's issues with shorts, also, so I need to add more cropped jeans/pants to my wardrobe, as well as skirts and dresses.

So, all in all, my summer wardrobe is still in a state of flux at the moment, but at least I have enough to get me through for now. I just need the sun to co-operate!

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I enjoy dressing for all seasons, except maybe really arctic winter (which fortunately for me we only get for about 2 weeks here). But summer is by far my favorite season. It looks like next week will be in the 80's so finally time for lighter clothing. I like being bare legged from mid June through the end of September - in a skirt or dress for work, shorts on weekends. Short sleeves or sleeveless top with a jacket for indoor a/c. Sandals or peep toe pumps. As much as I love my coats, it's freeing not to have to think about that extra layer and which one works with the outfit of the day. I didn't really "need" any summer clothing, but I did pick up a few linen tees and a couple pair of shorts that are a bit dressier than my usual cotton twill version.

Thistle

Veteran

I hear ya on sandals. I do really love them, and painting my toes as well. I feel like it is so much easier to find a chic and comfy pair of sandals than any other kind of shoe.

And yeah, my arctic winter here lasts for months. It snowed for Halloween and was in the low teens and single digits through much of November

Too bad all of our family live around here.

celia

Veteran

Another vote for pictures, actually if it is an item you still wear I hereby challenge you to show us an outfit with the Talbot skirt I also have
I get what you are saying about winter vs summer wardrobe.
I believe I also have more summer clothes than winter and my winters are also bigger ( at least the cold weather is ).
Besides that spring /summer allows for more variety in shapes and types of shoes/sandals I also find that in warmer months I crave more variety. When cold weather settles in I don't feel to worried about wearing the same pants several times a week.
Besides that spring /summer clothes are usually cheaper and they don't take so much space so you are kind of lulled into believing you don't have that much. ( that's my story and I stick to it )
Regarding white legs, mine are white and pass their first blush of youth. But I am very happy in skirts and especially dresses so I don't think overmuch at what others think.

Thistle

Veteran

Ha! I wore my navy blue fit and flare Talbots skirt with white polka dots with a navy v neck, silver and blue fordite necklace, silver Buberry watch and patent leather red wedge sandals. No pics as I am home now with DD2 nursing on my lap and changed into loungewear.

Yesterday was a Talbots Fit and flare teal and red skirt, teal v neck, gold wedge sandals and gold Movodo watch.

All pre baby, but that doesn't really count with fit and flare skirts.

unfrumped

Veteran

I'm glad you're getting to have your fling!
You raise a good point. You can invest heavily in you'd dominant season, or you can invest where your heart is and do " just enough" for winter. It's not that simple, of course, but just reminds me, it's all choices, and you don't have to follow some rule. I could see someone having just the bare minimum pairs of winter boots in rotation in order to " save up" ( $ and space- wise) to be able to have a large array of summer footwear for all the types of outfits and also acquire a whole array of skirt and pant styles. . While another person would have lots of boots and coats and then run a lean summer wardrobe with repeats.

celia

Veteran

Both outfits sound beautiful. I have thr red and teal one and wore it with a short sleeved teal cardigan. Don't remember the shoes anymore :0)

rachylou

Veteran

Ok, listen, Summer has stood me up! I destroyed my closet and room looking for my turtlenecks, which I had started to pack up with my other winter stuff. I just don't know what to do!

... sorry, what are we talking about?

Wendi1984

I've lost weight since last summer, so I purged my closet a couple of months ago and have been doing some shopping. I think I got a little carried away with all the cute print shorts! I found one very lightweight topper (this one: https://www.nordstromrack.com/.....K2167WHITE), which I am thinking of getting in another color. I live in a hot climate (Arizona), so my challenge in the summer is that it is often too hot for layering. However, I loved Angie's outfit formula including denim shorts and a hat, and have had fun trying that out. My next purchase will be a straw cowboy hat.
I'm also looking for some wedge sandals in a light neutral color, and some pendant necklaces (I have some statement necklaces that sit higher on my collarbone, but I notice a lot of cute long pendants lately). Those should help spice things up. I'm enjoying mixing and matching all my shorts and cute tops, and I have a new black midi skirt (a-line) that I'll be wearing a lot for church and events.