Rant of an hourglassy, deep winter tomboy dressing for spring/summer

So here's my most recent roadblock. I'm an hourglassy/pearish deep winter and, while I feel perfectly fine rocking out some bright colors and pencil skirts at the office, that's not my weekend personality. I am much more of a tomboy and need my jeans, combat boots, and gear-ish jackets to feel comfortable. I also prefer the low-key colors when I'm not at work.

This goes over fine in the winter, when it's easy to do jeans, boots, and a killer coat and be done with it, but I struggle with spring/summer. Summer colors don't feel right or look right, and it's harder to do a "tomboy" shorts-and-tee combo without ending up just looking like a boy -- and a chubby boy at that, since tight/fitted clothes are impossible in 80+ degree summers.

I have a couple of things worked out... I just bought an optic white windbreaker and some plain white tees that I like to pair with denim and navy, and I really like how that turned out. Last year, I also liked doing neutral outfits with a bright bag to bring a little color near my face. Still... it seems like the seasons and my style are working against my body lately. Bleah...

15 years ago

malcontent

Active Member

I also have classic "winter" coloring, but I find that white, navy, red, or chocolate brown look summery in the right fabrics, especially in cottons, eyelets, or linens. I will also wear black linen dresses in the summertime and feel seasonally appropriate. I have summer dresses in cobalt and deep green as well. These colors might be associated with cooler months, but I think they are quite wearable in the summertime if they are flattering to the wearer. And a bright azalea pink works wonders for winter complexions while seeming tropical enough for summer wear.

I realize you were asking for low-key colors that might work for you, but I wonder if it is really possible for a winter to wear such colors successfully. As well, since winters have high-contrast coloring, it is hard to blend in, even in beige. I would guess the chocolates and navies would be the best way to go low-key while still flattering, as pastels and muddled colors can just look so bland on winter coloring.

We seem to have some similarity in looks, because I am an hourglass too. I don't give up my fitted silhouette in the sticky summer heat, but I can create it with a looser dress or blouse that has been cinched at the waist with a belt. Fabric matters a lot to me as it heats up, and I try to stick to natural fibers like cotton (or bamboo even) as much as possible.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh how I hear you!
I went up looked up a deep winter color palette, and what I found suggested olive and khaki, dark purple, dark brown, black and white, as well as a brighter red blue and pink. That seems like it would- pick a dark color for the bottom- brown, black, olive, or dark denim (or even light- white or khaki).What about walk shorts with drapey sleeveless knit tops? A printed top or solid with some embellishment in a cowl neck, banded bottom, or floaty style. Look for studs and rivets for that more masculine feel, and pair with flat sandals.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How about boyfriend jeans? Grey? A bit of yellow? Black? A fedora? So many options!

I guess I am not really understanding the problem. Help me out, Rae! There are plenty of silhouettes to choose from - and you have youth on your side. Do you want to wear colour over the weekend?

rae

Hi Angie, thanks for taking a look!

I think the main problem is that it gets so hot out here. The only things that seem comfortable are unflattering short-shorts and baggy tunics that make me feel pregnant/frumpy/boring OR dresses that make me feel like I am not myself. I can't put on a form-fitting cargo coat to add structure and personality like I can in the winter.

On the topic of color, I know I look washed out in light gray, beige, taupe, olive etc., but it feels so wrong to wear black all the time in the summer heat. I tried out some red, which I love for work, but I feel so conspicuous and childish in red outside of the office that I go back to the colors that wash me out.

Does that make any more sense? I admit that sometimes these frustrations with my weekend wardrobe hardly make sense to me!

I ran out of time before, but I also wanted to thank malcontent and chewyspaghetti for chiming in. Malcontent, I think you are right about winters not being able to wear those muted colors well... I think I need to just get over the idea that dark colors are "wrong" in the summer. chewyspaghetti, thanks for the list of colors -- I like the idea of dark brown and dark purple. Maybe I can find some plain tanks in dark, almost-black shades, and add some interest with a rugged belt or something. I will go home and play around.

stringy

Does navy blue or another strong blue look ok on you? If so, I'd be trying out a nautical vibe - white, blue, red, denim, striped tops or striped accessories. As if you were just about to go yachting on a summer's day. So: navy clamdiggers, white top, red cardi or windbreaker or other light jacket. Or denim walk shorts, blue and white striped top, red necklace or bracelet, that sort of thing.

Vildy

I have always loved and worn dark, dark colors in summer. Have you thought about
deep purple of some variety? That's somber. I also live where it's hot and steamy. The last thing I want on those days is a pop of sizzling color. I feel so hot that I have ripped off a necklace. I have the need for some figure definition, too. Without some indication of a waist or midriff I look boxy, dumpy and like puppies fighting in a sack. I can just about tolerate a lowish belt. Have you thought about some tops or even dresses! in cotton gauze with rows of stretchy elastic threads giving definition? Nothing wrong with wearing that with a shoe/ankle boot with some tough authority. If you do want to wear tees, what about tissue weight tees that can be "relaxed" to shir up a little through the midriff and give waist definition. And maybe very thin silky cargo shorts?

To add: young woman in my neighborhood - tall, curvaceous, dark brown skin and black hair - is not a feminine type and I envy how she looks in A-shirts (wife beaters) in white and athletic grey. She does *not* look anything like a boy, chubby or otherwise, even though she actually does carry (beautifully!) a lot of weight. With those she often wears some baggy urban style long shorts - like basketball shorts in length and volume. Still does not look like a boy.

LuAnn

I am also a deep winter and live in a hot climate. I love wearing turquoise, purple, teal and kelly and emerald green in the summer. I can pair these colors w/ white, tan, and denim bottoms. There are some great v neck t's out there now that are cool and confortable w/ out that skin tight fit that you could layer under your white jacket.

what about a poor boy fit in a top - small vertical ribbing - defines all curves. Or a gingham/check shirt, can be tomboyish and has contrast built in.

Hm, I had always kind of written off A shirts, but I like the suggestions here enough to give them another try. Vildy, I have also stripped off my jewelry because it got too hot and sticky! When I get a chance, I am going to dig out my blue A shirt, dark purple shorts, and dark colored tanks and see if I can't create some kind of capsule for the dead of summer. Hopefully I can take some pics and see how it goes over.

I'm excited, Rae! Bring on your new casual tomboy look :0)

anne

I had to google A-shirts and wife beaters! We call these singlets in Aus and wear them as underwear! (well my husband occasionally does but his mum thinks he should all winter, and my children do in winter. I wear spencers or camis) Actually I think some macho blokes wear them as outerwear, with shortish shorts.

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