PatP and Jules - 2 tops per day sounds reasonable for sweaty hot days. I am covered (ha!) with layering toppers like jackets, cardigans... I think duplicating bottoms in order to have a tight formula could be smart.
JAileen - yep, it's an upcoming trip to Florida that got me thinking about this (again). Last year I wore hiking pants for travel and baseball season, but they really weren't cool enough. The only shorts I own are board shorts, so maybe I need to explore adding a pair.
Carla - You nailed it: summer items have always been an afterthought. When I worked in an office and spent most of my time in A/C, my transitional items worked great - high summer stuff was for weekends and maybe travel, so roughly 20 days? Actually, not even that because it was freezing in SF in summer, and I lived in a puffer vest and hoodie on the weekends... Now, I am running kids to camps and ball practices, and going to the lake. Even when I am working from home, we keep the house on the warmer side in summer, so jersey, polyester, and spandex are not going to work! 3 tops per bottom sounds like a solid formula. I share your discovery of button down shirts being cooler than tees in summer. They can serve as toppers in some AC and transitional weather, so maybe that is a good piece to look at.
Gretchen - I DO have one linen skirt; the other skirts are satin (ew, not great for summer). I think adding a dress would be smart; I don't have one now, but maybe after I get sorted on mixable pieces. I should be able to pull toppers from my transitional pile (cotton jackets; linen cardigan) - thanks for the reminder!
Brooklyn - Yes! Two tops in a day does sound reasonable.
SarahD8 - I laughed out loud at "Breton tank day". Yes. You know me well! 10 is a great target minimum, and I love what you said, "If I had exactly the right balance of things for different silhouettes,
everything for a given silhouette went with everything else, and all the
items were 8-10s I think it would be ok." YES. The magical life goals wardrobe! I hear you on the orphans - I have lingering ones in my closet I just can't let go of or seem to find friends for. Sigh. That's part of the reason I want to put as much into planning as possible. I am not a good emotional shopper (see: orphans)!
Kathie - yes, how my time is spent in summer needs to stay top of mind. Thank you for the reminder, as I still struggle here.
smittie - thank you! 8 is a good minimum to keep in mind!
Joy - Yes! I want ENOUGH and not too much. Thank you for reminding me about shoes! I had not considered a dress, but can see how they would be much cooler for summer.
Suz - your numbers make perfect sense. And, you are dead right - I am NOT wearing office clothes, and without summer-weight pieces it will be difficult to get dressed! I don't have shorts, or a dress, and I find gear-type things are too uncomfortable to me for weather here. Thank you for the finds; they are really helpful!
Jenn - I've had two true summers now, and they were HARD. I have graphic tees, but found them to be too heavy last year (it rained much of the summer, so high humidity, plus heat, and sweat was just. too. much) Your numbers give me great ideas, thank you!
rachylou - I remember those triple digit days in San Jose without AC - OMG it was hell! Granted, it was only a few weeks, but still!
Thanks, TheCat - those numbers are helpful! Looks like it maps out to 2 tops per bottom.
Thank you SO MUCH, everyone! I have a great formula to go on! I went through my closet for a quick minute last night and came up with the following potential pieces:
Bottoms:
- tencel jogger,
- linen blend jogger,
- linen skirt,
- cotton chinos (these may be too thick for really hot days)
Tops:
- 2 linen shirts,
- 4 thin cotton tees (thin, but may still be too hot for summer);
- cotton boatneck tee (it's pima cotton, but I'm hoping it's breezy enough to work)
Shoes:
- 2 birks
- 2 slip on sneakers (1 canvas, 1 microfiber that may be too much for summer)
Hats:
- sun hat
- ball cap
Bag:
- cognac crossbody
- olive tote
I have white skinny jeans that are too clingy for summer, my only shorts are a pair of board shorts, other skirts are satin-y, and I have no summer dresses. I have an athletic sneaker that may be more breathable than the microfiber one, but with two sandals (plus a pair of low-heeled dressy ones) I think I can manage.
For potential wishlist, I am thinking maybe a matching woven top and cropped or culotte bottom that can be worn as a makeshift jumpsuit, and maybe a pair of wide leg linen pants or long shorts...
I'll riff on it and see what I can come up with. You all have given me fantastic advice! Thank you so much!
