Seasonal Dressing Observation

Transcona Shannon

I've noticed that during the colder months, I prefer a more structured dressing style with more form fitting items but as the weather warms up and summer approaches, I'm preferring more waist surrendering, floaty items. Does anybody notice this?

13 years ago

Dressing

38 replies

Latest reply was from fashionista

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Absolutely. Funny you post this, because I almost started a similar thread the other day. When the weather warms, my style softens, and my color palette goes lighter and brighter or softer. I find it a little challenging to keep up the edgier end of my style in warmer months, but I think I'm figuring out bit by bit (ie, last night's WIW post).

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

That's a really good way of putting it Janet - "challenging to keep up the edgier end of my style in warmer months". Maybe it's not a bad thing that our styles change somewhat during different seasons.

BTW - I absolutely LOVED your outfit last night.

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Me too, Shannon.

Although I am totally softening my look all together.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

so here's a question Angie: can I still stick to my rubric with a softer dressing style?

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Remind me of your rubric?

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Classic
Structure
Colour
Vintage
Urban

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sure! You'll have less structure, but it's not void

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Perfect - thanks! I'd hate to think I'd have to start over!!!

13 years ago

teeandcee

Active Member

I've definitely noticed it in myself. As I type I'm washing up a pile of loose linen items I thrifted yesterday. If it's linen or cotton, loose, and soft I'm falling all over myself to incorporate it into my wardrobe.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Janet, Angie, and teeandcee - how do you keep yourself from feeling "sloppy" when dressing in soft and looser items?

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

For me, I think a few things help me to still feel a little polished and not sloppy:

- keeping some structured item in the mix -- a denim jacket, straight jeans or shorts, even something like substantial wedge sandals, a structured bag, or a simple bold cuff bracelet.

- styling my hair straight and sleek (well, as sleek as it gets, anyway) or pulling it back in a neat ponytail

- wearing fabrics that don't wrinkle easily or bag and stretch as the day goes on. Nothing makes me feel sloppy like a baggy or wrinkly item.

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I've just discovered vests! Structure despite the soft under-layer. And as I'm also going softer for summer, I've found it's even more important to me to have a perfectly fitting shoulder and sleeve. There's no room for error in this for me, since covering up with a structured jacket happens less.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Janet and Rae - these are great points to keeping myself looking "neat and tidy" despite softer silhouettes. Thanks for the tips!

13 years ago

Meredith1953

Veteran

Wow! This is a terrific discussion. I feel sloppy in floaty items and feel I need some sort of structure in my outfits. This makes dressing in the warmer months problematic. Dreamy floaty fabric just doesn't seem to have enough of the structure I feel I need to counteract figure flaws and I can't always rely on jacket when it is hot outside.

13 years ago

Meredith1953

Veteran

@Rae
Vests? Can you post some pics?

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Rae, I like the vest idea! I have a denim vest, but my only other structured vest is quite wintry -- I have a floaty, light, sequined vest that's great for summer but not exactly structured (the DC YLF ladies saw me wear that on our DC shopping meetup day).

I had a semi-military style short-sleeved olive jacket/top that I wore a lot in the summer a couple of years ago, but it doesn't seem so fab now that I've lost weight. I toyed with the idea of taking off the sleeves to wear it as a vest, bit I think the problems I have with it will still be problems, so I'm now on the lookout for a cool structured military-inspired vest in a versatile neutral.

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Good points! I'm with Janet in the ways to keep a bit of edge in the floatier looks. Also, short sleeved jackets can work like vests, as Rae suggests.
I actually like the shift with the weather. It's a nice change to feel girly now and again after wrapping up in structured layers for so many months.

EDIT: just saw Janet's second post lol! Yes, the short sleeved jacket acts much like a vest. I am looking for the exact kind of vest you are now that I ditched my olive green s.s. I wore all last summer in FL.

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I liked the ways to wear a vest demonstrations shown here. http://www.puttingmetogether.c.....20wardrobe

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13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Thanks for the visual Mo - I think maybe I need to hunt down a vest! I also think a cropped, fitted denim vest can work much the same way as a cropped, fitted denim jacket.

13 years ago

christieanne

Veteran

I love the way AJ rocks her cropped denim vest (and she's in hot weather zone) but also maybe a menswear inspired linen vest or stripes? Start stalking the mens area of thrifts? Seems like if you find a great fabric, Wonder Woman could add some darts and tailor it for you easily.

Structure in your rubric doesn't only need to come from the jacket layer I guess.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Christieanne - I love your idea of a menswear inspired vest. I'm definitely going to start stalking - Wonder Woman could definitely fix fit issues.

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Soaking up all the great info here...thank you for the thread!!

Funny...my under layers tend to be softer in winter (layering Ts, sweaters) and I wear more crisp cotton shirts in summer. But without a jacket and/or belt there is definitely less structure. Plus, when it is really hot, surrendering the waist becomes super-appealing.

I love the idea of vests, too, and need to get a few to try. I used to have some summer-wear ones, plus a short-sleeve denim shirt that worked as a jacket over a tank.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oooohhhh Suz - fab idea! I have a dark denim short sleeved shirt with a crisp collar that could work as a jacket over a tank.

13 years ago

lyn67

Veteran

Yess, mee too! I usually wear a short sleeve cropped jacket for this reason, but I like Rae's and Suz's ideea. I think the 3rd piece will give a bit of structure, even if it's not that sructured, if that make sense. I have some longer length crochet vests, and one cropped light knitt which do the job, too, but I'm too on a hunt for a white/off white/beige(denim/cotton?) vest for summer.

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13 years ago

Anonymous

Shannon, you can always add the structure via your accessories, your bag and your purse.
My transition to summer months usually means: Softer colors. soft tops, dresses harnessed by light weight cardis and jean jackets (as toppers when in frigid AC areas) and flat sandals with everything.

13 years ago

Anonymous

There sure is a lot of loose and flowy stuff out there. I'm actually moving in the opposite direction with tops. This year I'm changing from knit tops to woven shirts. I'm hoping they will be cooler and give me the coverage I want at the neckline. I can wear them untucked with skirts at home, and then throw on a belt and sandals if I'm going out. Two of the skirts I've gotten for summer would classify as *soft* though. They're woven, but cut on the bias and flowy.

13 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

Yes, I just get much more laid back, partly because I mostly work from home during the summer, do lots of gardening, etc.

13 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Yes, me too. I just want air flowing between me and my clothes when it is hot. I don't want to feel "cozy" in any way during the Summer.

13 years ago

Anonymous

About vests: I love them as toppers. I've seen a few good ones at NY&Co, Express, H&M. There was a faded jean one at H&M - by LOGG - that almost made it home with me.

Vests are hard to come by, not too popular anymore.

13 years ago

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