Summer Dominant, Investment pieces, and NAS

For those that live in warm weather dominant places, what are your investment pieces? Also, if you are planning to go to NAS, what things are you looking for?

I was thinking today about how the past couple of years I really over purchased cool weather items and ended up purging a lot of it. I have 2 nice coats, I just got a cute knit moto jacket. I keep seeing everyone in their denim jackets and thinking... that would be great for me...for winter =)

For NAS, I think I'm going to look at skirts and tops that can be layered but also work in warm weather. I think I will look for a lighter colored bag.

Just wondering what others in warm climates choose as investment pieces.

What are classic summer items that you would expect to wear a few years and pair with less expensive trendier pieces.

To me it feels like summer items tend to be replaced more often and updated more frequently, Maybe that is because they are inherently less expensive?Or maybe this is only because my personal style has changed over the past couple of years and I have been rebuilding...that it's not that way in general?

I guess ultimately, I feel like I look really good in what I've been purchasing/wearing lately but I wonder if I'm making the right choices for longer term. Ideally I'd like to get to a place where I don't feel like I need to update things as often.

Would love to hear some other thoughts on this.

13 years ago

kimana517

(website)

Active Member

Sadly, I am not at a point in my life where I can justify buying more than one or two investment pieces - BUT I do live in a hot climate (Florida) and covet everything people pick out at the NAS so I'll throw in my two cents.

In addition to well-made leather bags and comfortable, quality shoes (heavy on sandals), I would think of perfect-fitting, well-made jersey dresses being something we in warmer climates could invest in. I'm talking Maggy London, Calvin Klein, or better. You know, the dresses that don't wrinkle, are super-comfy, can be dressed up or down, and when made right, fit in all the right places. I suppose jersey isn't even a requirement; just a well-made, great-fitting, versatile dress. Also, a light jacket (moto or denim, or something else) or cute cardigan is necessary for many businesses that pump the A/C too much in the summer, so you should have one or two of those. I would also think linen pants and/or a linen jacket are investment pieces for some in warmer climes.

Any of that make sense? I know I practically live in dresses from April-September, because nothing is easier than a dress, almost nothing is cooler, and very little looks better.

Ana

Veteran

I try to stick to accessories and maybe denim if anything catches my fancy. I will probably pick up a couple bras this year as well.

Anonymous

Underwear, bags, a watch, items that can be worn more than one season like a non-wool cardigan styled like a jacket or the Halogen seamed pencil skirts.
I also feel that summer clothing and shoes need replacing more often than winter clothing. They need to be cleaned/washed more often which causes fading and wear at a faster rate. I feel like I need more hot weather clothing items because things are more likely to be in the laundry.

Laura

Not sure how warm your weather is, but a trench coat, shoes, handbags, accessories, blouses, lightweight jersey dresses and denim are all probably good to peruse at NAS. There are a lot of clothing items that aren't super wintery.

I'd say shoes (heavy on the sandals of course), accessories (hats, belts) and lightweight jackets. Handbags if you are a bag gal (I'm not).

I'm afraid I don't really see dresses as investment pieces in general. Especially worn in FL summer weather, they just need to be laundered too often to really hold up season after season after season.

Maybe I just have too many dresses... I don't have to launder mine very often at all! =oD

Hee hee - could be I'm just a sweaty gal in my dresses!!! (I will say that since I don't have a car here and have to walk to all my errands, I do sweat more than someone stepping from an a/c car to an a/c store or restaurant!)

Great post Abie! I am summer dominant and I heartily agree with you. A few months ago I came to the conclusion that for summer, I need quantity over quality. Quality to me equals lined, tailored items and I just don't wear many of those in the summer time, even inside.

Like others have said, summer garments tend to be laundered more frequently and are subject to fading and general wear. Sandals last about the same amount of time for me, whether I spend $100 on them or $10. They just get gross and/or literally wear out. I wear a lot of white in the summer, and it seldom looks pristine into its second season, no matter how expensive it was (unless you don't actually *wear* it). Even summer bags, which are often straw or light colors don't seem to hold up as well as bags that look more winter-y.

I'm not participating in the NAS, but if I were, I'd be looking for seasonless items, which are what I wear the other 3 months of the year (okay, maybe 6 months). That sounds like what you're doing by looking for pencil skirts and layer-friendly tops. I guess denim jackets would fit into this category. The backbone of my summer wardrobe (I can hardly call them investment pieces though) are denim skirts/clams and jackets in dark denim and white. These are like my MOTG suiting separates and they hold up and travel well.

BTW, the items you have been posting are spectacular! I love all of your summer dresses and I wouldn't change your approach to hot weather dressing at all. It seems like you have enough variety, and you can cycle out items as they become worn or dated. One good thing about summer clothes is that trying a trend requires less financial commitment than a fall/winter investment piece does. So at least we can cheer ourselves up with that! Be sure to show us what you find at the NAS!

Abie

These are some really good ideas and food for thought.

Ikimana517 - Linen is something I haven't really explored much. I have tried a few pieces and found them kind of scratchy. I don't mind the wrinkles, but I also don't see a lot of plus size linen that has nice structure to it. I should look more though as I keep hearing about how its great for the heat.

Mo - My dresses take a lot of abuse too. It probably means I don't have enough, even though I feel like I have quite a few. I think I have 7-8 now that are fab and a couple that probably need to go.

Claire your point about quantity sits really well with me. I put away my winter clothes during the summer but I never put away my summer clothes because even in winter we have freak 70-80 degree days. My denim pieces get worn about once a week or more so they wear out yearly no matter the quality. I'm never sure whether to buy more so they last or just wear them out and buy what's available then.

I wear a lot of dresses. Most are patterned or otherwise statementy so I try not to repeat for work within the same two week period.

Everything I have has to be laundered each wear.

I don't want to buy disposable things, but maybe my strategy of buying more decent quality things on sale and having more quantity isn't such a bad thing after all.

Right now I don't feel like I have enough items. I mean, I'm not struggling with putting looks together but summer items start to dry up soon and there's a big gap where all I can find is winter stuff that it's still too hot for.

Also, I have things that I am wearing too often that I would be really sad if I only wore a season or two (My custom dresses for instance) so I need to buy things to wear in between to prolong the life of them.

So, I think I need to stock up on things like short sleeve tops etc. that I can wear a jacket over if needed when it's cool now while summer stuff is on sale, Then maybe in the winter shop for Jeans and underwear.

I've been buying high quality shoes on sale too. I good shoes because I have fussy feet and am hard on them, but I don't feel like I should invest in full price nice shoes (sandals)because like you mentioned, they will typically only last a season or two at most.

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