This is my second post about how I’m refreshing my style this (southern hemisphere) spring/summer.

The inspiration for this refresh came from the forum. Last summer I wore a drapey white top with a gold skirt and Star (Lise) and others suggested my outfit had a Grecian vibe. I took that to be a reference to Ancient/Classical Greece.

I liked the idea and decided to pursue it some more. To me, that means focusing on length, drape and flow. Wearing more white (Angie will be pleased). And strappy sandals - anything that has a whiff of gladiator about it.

So far, so easy. Drapey tops seem to be trending. Long skirts are my preferred summer uniform. White is always available in summer. And strappy sandals - I have a few.

Some limitations: I’m not interested in wearing synthetics in summer. And, even though they are pretty, I’m not interested in one shoulder tops, halter tops or any other style that creates bra problems or excessive skin exposure. There are a lot of these around ATM.

But I found some suitable additions. Some drapey cotton tops, with good coverage. And some long a-line skirts, which make a bit of a change from my basque waist style skirts (which I still like and wear).

I’ve also been trying out a few styling changes:

*Belts and scarves

Sometimes I’ve been wearing a belt with my long skirts. In fact, I’m enjoying my wide asymmetrical belt (from COS) so much that my husband has offered to make me some copycat versions in other colours. He is so handy!

Also, I’ve been playing around with draping a scarf around my waist or hips (similar to pics 4 and 5). It appeals to my Bohemian side.

*Amulet necklace

I prefer a high neckline because v necks and scoop necks look awful on me. Many drapey or wrap style tops involve more chest or neck exposure than I’m comfortable with. I like to fill in the gap with a necklace. So I upcycled some old necklaces and brooches into short, amulet style necklaces. The shorter length allows the pendant to fill in the neckline and a leather cord modernises the look. It’s a nice nod to the Grecian theme.

The pictures show the evolution of this idea, starting with last summer. You can see I’ve got myself a bit of a formula going. I especially like this vibe to dress up an otherwise casual summer outfit. I wear virtually all of my summer skirts as everyday wear. This method of styling enables me to give them a more elevated look for occasional wear.

I might pursue this vibe in winter too (eg pic 5).

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Pictures

Pics 1-5: Inspiration. Pic 1: Chanel resort 2018. Pic 2: Third Form. Pic 3: Bec+Bridge. Pic 4: Dissh. Pic 5: & Other Stories.

Pic 6: Some of my upcycled necklaces.
*The rectangular brass pendant (from the 90s) was previously on a heavy, red beaded, multi strand chain and had red beads hanging from it. I pared it right back by removing all the beads and putting it on a black leather cord. Since then it’s enjoyed a renaissance. I wear it all the time now. Very satisfying when that happens.
*The green pendant (vintage) was on a chain. I put it on a gold leather cord, just for something different.
*The large diamond shaped gold pendant (from the 00s) was previously on a heavy, opera length gold chain. I rarely wore it because it swung about and got in the way during everyday activities. The shorter style is more practical.

Pic 7: Going Grecian last summer. The outfit that launched a thousand ideas

Pic 8: Brown Grecian.

Pic 9: Dark floral Grecian.

Pic 10: Gothic Grecian.

Pic 11: Burgundy Grecian. The top is a duplicate of my Zara wrap top in pic 7. I dyed it deep wine. The sandals are a duplicate of the brown sandals in pic 8. I treated this pair with burgundy polish to make them a wine colour.

Pics 12-13: Purple Grecian x 2. Both skirts are DIY dye.

Pics 14-17: Aubergine Grecian x 4. The skirt is a Zara dress I converted to a skirt because I decided it was too short. Converting it to a skirt allowed me to use part of the bodice as the skirt and make it longer. When combined with the top in pic 14 it practically looks like a dress again.

Pics 18-20: Teal Grecian x 3. Lots of DIY dye here.

Pic 21: Neutral Grecian.

Pic 22: Urban Grecian. Drapey top with overdyed cargo skirt. Taking some liberties with my “classical Greece” theme here