I generally avoid white. It doesn’t suit me, it skews high contrast with most colours, and it is impractical. Tan is usually as light as I go.

Last summer I felt attracted to white for the first time in years, and I started wearing some white tops.

This summer marks a bigger change: white bottoms. Super impractical for my (doggie in tow) lifestyle, and with no Angie superpowers to assist. But, because my dog has had TPLO surgery, I’ve not been taking her to the dog park. I can stay clean! That has given me an opportunity to try out wearing more white in summer.

Next summer I will have to either hit the bleach or hit the dye.

Pic 1: Inspiration. I love this Alexander McQueen-ish look of a long, full skirt with a nipped in, tailored waist. Modern Victorian. (Source: WhoWhatWear)

2-3: White dress. I found the dress at budget retailer Target. I like the length, volume, fabric (cotton) and pin tuck detailing. It has a square neckline and spaghetti straps but I don’t plan to wear it with my chest and shoulders fully exposed (not a good look for me, plus I’m sun phobic). I will wear it with a layer over the top: a vest, open knit top, sheer top, jacket or cardigan. This was the first wear on a hot day. It felt a bit like I was going to an outdoor music festival. (Just add Hunter boots.)

4-8: Ecru skirt. I bought 2 of these linen blend ecru skirts with the intention of dyeing them. (I am trying to replace my everyday skirts.) I dyed one teal but it didn’t take the dye very well. I had to dye it twice. I decide not to dye the second one (for now).

4: Ecru with ivory. The ecru skirt with an ivory top on a VERY humid day. A graduation of whites. I do like ombré

5-6: Ecru with bronze. The same skirt with a linen knit top on a cooler day. The top is one of the oldest items in my (otherwise youngish) summer wardrobe. Over 10 years. I like the greenish-bronze colour, which is hard to find. Years ago, I used to wear the same knit top with white jeans. Looks like I’ve come full circle. The top is long with a curved hem, not a good match for the horizontal line of the basque waist skirt. I just softly semi tucked the top at the front and let the back hang loose.

7-8: Ecru with aubergine. This combination was inspired by my patterned scarf, which I thrifted. I rarely see white paired with aubergine. Perhaps because white is such a summery colour and aubergine is not a traditional summer colour. But aubergine is one of my best colours so the combination appeals to me. It was too hot to tuck in my tank top so I just semi tucked it at the front of my skirt and let the rest hang loose. That worked fine.

9-10: Black and white. About 10 years ago I used to wear a lot of high contrast black and white combinations, but then my preferences changed and I switched to lower contrast combinations. I saw this black and white skirt and loved it instantly, which surprised me because it’s SO high contrast. I think my attraction to it harks back to my ancient obsession with Audrey Hepburn’s (Givenchy) dress in Sabrina. Plus I love wearing “yards of skirt”, as Audrey would say. I grounded it with some brown, tan and bronze.