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Dressing

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Speaking of not beeing prepered - need urgent advice - ETA picture

anchie

Veteran

We are invited tomorrow to a birthday party that will take place on the beach from 1-7 pm. We are asked to bring piknick blankets and swimsuits. There will be arround 20 people, mostly familes with kids. It is going to be warm and sunny, around 28c. Playing bagminton and freezbe is expected. I have no clue what to wear. Only thing that I am sure of is I am not going to swim, or wear bathing suit. I am not ready to wear shorts yet either. But I also don’t want to sit for hours in the sun boiling in jeans. Or to be the weird one, dressed inappropriately. What would you wear in this situation? Please help me wing it something at the last moment.

ETA - took a picture this morning. What should I do? This are the most unflattering jeans I ever owned and that is why they are in donate bin. Should I hack them? At what length? Or not wear them at all? I know most of you are still sleeping but I only have few more hours before I should be ready to go.

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Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from anchie

delurked

Veteran

If no swimwear or shorts, I would think sundress, knee or midi skirt, linen pants, or cropped pants (not jeans, as too hot).

delurked

Veteran

Your finds skew pretty dressy - are these cooler pants?

Skinny stretch cargo pant

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anchie

Veteran

delurked - you have figured out my problem very quickly. LOL My whole wardrobe is in finds. And my casual is kind of limited. All my skirts and dresses are office wear. This pants are not very light unfortunately.

Sheila

Veteran

Linen. Cotton.

Helena

Veteran

I know you said no jeans, but the cropped wide legs you have look like they would support better air circulation and not be so hot, especially with a light t or tank? Going to look through more of your finds to see if any other ideas ...

Helena

Veteran

Cropped white jeans and navy tunic? I know you said no jeans haha ... not many choices if you don't want shorts!

LaPed

Veteran

I think I'd opt for a casual dress or skirt, midi or maxi length -- I'm thinking simple jersey, or maybe linen. Something that could look like a beach cover-up and hint at a bathing suit underneath, even if there is no bathing suit.

anchie

Veteran

torontogirl - LOL, I appreciate your effort. No, not many choices. I will start to panic soon. Cropped wide leg jeans are an option that I am considering. I also have this old gray boyfriend jeans that are sitting in my donate bag. They are actually linen and quiet breezy. Should I hack them to be maybe knee length?

anchie

Veteran

LaPed - that is great idea, if I would have something like that I really need to improve my summer casual, I sad that last year already.

delurked

Veteran

Anchie - the linen jeans seem a good option for cool. If they’re on their way out, no reason not to hack. Start long and cut to shorter as you see fit.

delurked

Veteran

You did run into this issue last year. I bet just two or three pieces would help you. A dress (or possibly a skirt) and a bottom (either cropped or long), with a top to round it out if you don’t already have. Something smart, but not too dressy. Fabrication will be key for you.

anchie

Veteran

delurked - do you have maybe example of what you have in mind? I am not really playing freesbe on the beach type of girl, and I am kind of clueless how to dress for this very casual situations.

minimalist

Veteran

Does your partner have a big shirt you could wear as airy sun protection, in a very casualized interpretation of Angie's duster formula? Maybe a t-shirt or tank, and scarf?
Can the linen jeans be cuffed or rolled rather than cut?

JAileen

Veteran

We’ve had this exact scenario with my husband’s office summer picnic. For years it was held at Lake Tahoe, in about the same temps. I usually wore shorts, and cute top, a ball cap and sunglasses, and brought a windbreaker. I should say that I live in a very casual part of the world. We would play frisbee and take the kayaks out, so no dress for me.

If no shorts, then cropped pants and a loose linen top, or maybe a sleeveless top with lots of sunscreen, and a hat.

shiny

Veteran

I am not ready to wear shorts yet either

Why not? I'd wear shorts! If your legs are still pale, just get some spray tan stuff for your legs. Or just go pale - most everyone else is going to be pale anyway!

For future ... I have my beach capsule down pat. I do not like to spend a lot in this category because sunscreen tends to trash everything over time. So I stock up on inexpensive Old Navy knit tank maxis or midis every year. Wear them as cover-ups to the beach with a pair of sandals. After the beach, I change out of the bathing suit and into a bra & undies and wear the dress out to dinner (since we usually stop for dinner before heading home) with a lightweight cropped jean jacket over. When the dresses get pilly, I resign them to sleepwear.

I also have an SPF-rated hooded long sleeve tunic cover-up from Athleta -- but it can get hot in that during the day. Best for cooler beach temps.

delurked

Veteran

These are just ideas - the feeling of what I think you might find useful (for a summer capsule, not necessarily for the beach tomorrow) and I grabbed some finds that were already on the site. I wouldn’t exactly play beach sports in all of these. But it keeps the structure and definition you seem to like with some lighter fabrics, and a lot of them could be dressed up or down.

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LD Tuttle LD Tuttle Women's The Tumble Flat Sandals

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Gabor Womens Karen 82.824.54 Leather Sandals

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Elisa Jersey Dress

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Banana Republic

Logan-Fit Stripe Linen-Blend Crop Pant

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Anthropologie | Anthropologie Striped Linen Pants

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Bow Linen Trousers

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Eileen Fisher Faux Wrap Organic Linen Skirt

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Pure Jill tiered linen dress

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Checked Linen Skirt

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Pure Jill seamed wrap dress

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Sam Edelman Khloe Espadrille Flat

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FAITHFULL THE BRAND Seine Linen Midi Skirt

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SIMON MILLER Kinney Linen Blouse

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anchie

Veteran

JAleen - It seems like shorts would be the most appropriate solution. Truth is, I had a very stressful winter and had put back on some weight that I lost last year. I am dreading to try on shorts, I am not sure that they even still fit me. But I have to face the music eventually:) I just thought that I had some more time before the summer.

shiny - it is good idea to stock up on inexpensive casual items. There is no Old Navy here, but I think H&M could serve the same purpose.

anchie

Veteran

delurked - thank you so much, we cross posted. Off to check your recommendations in more details.

Anonymous

All great suggestions.
If I attend any beach or pool event I would wear the bathing suit underneath even if I had no intention of going into the water- because there is one in every crowd that will try to get you into the water one way or another.
That said- I am not a shorts person either and dark wash jeans are way to warm for a day of sun beating down. I have been know to wear either a light wash denim skirt or light pants rolled up with a Tee shirt and a big shirt over top to reduce direct sun.
Good luck and have fun...It is nice to get out in fresh air and sunshine after a terrible winter!

shiny

Veteran

I have those Anthro striped linen pants! Just bought them for my summer business casual / smart casual capsule --they are too nice to wear to the beach!

Beach wear should be able to withstand sunscreen, bug spray, sand, salt water, and muck... or perhaps our beaches are just muckier.

Review of those pants if you are interested: they are pretty high waisted. I think I got the petite. I have a proportionately long rise, so they are ideal. They hit perfectly on me for a high waisted-but-not-too high look. They are really cut nice all over. Very comfy.

Suzanimal

I also have this old gray boyfriend jeans that are sitting in my donate bag. They are actually linen and quiet breezy. Should I hack them to be maybe knee length?

Try standing in front of a mirror in the shoes you plan on wearing and fiddling with the length before you hack but yes, you should definitely give them a shot. Have fun!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I agree with hacking the old boyfriend jeans that were going to be donated anyway. And some layering items on top. I always end up getting cold at picnics and need some slightly warmer layer with me.

Colette

Veteran

If it were me, I’d wear a breezy maxi/midi dress or skirt and wedges. I’d bring beach shoes in my bag for the sand. No swimming for me but I’d be playing badminton nonstop! Love the J Jill maxi dress delurked recommended.

Bijou

Veteran

I like the idea of turning your linen pants into crops and wearing a light shirt or blouse with sleeves that you can roll up. I often wear crops with a tank top with a shirt opened up to the beach or a cotton sun dress.

I hope you really enjoy your day at the beach. I am sure your friends will be feeling exactly the same - the first day of being out of layers and into light summer clothing always feels a bit weird!

anchie

Veteran

Took a picture this morning. What should I do? This are the most unflattering jeans I ever owned and that is why they are in donate bin. Should I hack them? At what length? Or not wear them at all? I know most of you are still sleeping but I only have few more hours before I should be ready to go.

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Bijou

Veteran

Do you have other cropped jeans that you could wear? I don't mind these, but they do look big on the waist and a bit slouchy. I like the colour and you have paired them with a beautiful top, belt and shoes, so they are what I am seeing rather than the jeans per se. The good thing about them being a bit oversized is that they will be comfortable. Can you post pictures of your alternatives??

Jane

Veteran

I think these jeans look okay and if you want to hack, and they are genuinely in the donate bin, hack. I would think start with two inches above the ankle bone and then see how they are.

Can you select your preferred top and rest of the outfit before you embark on the hack, so that we can see how it all fits together.

Suzanimal

I think the outfit you put together looks appropriately beachy.

I agree with Jane. I would start at two inches above the ankle and then take a pair of tweezers and pull threads where you cut them (you may also want to hit the edge with a rough sandpaper) to give them a raw edge look.

anchie

Veteran

Thank you all. It was so damn hot today that I eventually surrendered and wore shorts. Gray jeans go back to donate bin. But I really need to start working on my casual summer capsule and will keep all your recommendations in mind. This summer looks like I will be working less and have much more opportunities to spend time outside in parks, on the beach, biking, hiking etc and I have to be more prepared. Appreciate all your help and advice in this regard.