Summer dressing wiw 6.22.21 - YouLookFab Forum

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Summer dressing wiw 6.22.21

Anonymous

Surely I can't be the only one who has no particular style in the summer? I don't even attempt to put together any kind of cohesive collection of pieces for summer anymore - it's so bad. Summer is the hardest season to dress for - many of us agree , I know - and it's also pretty short here in the Prairies, so by the time I've figured out what I like, want, and what my weight/physique is going to be, the summer is half over. I fuss over trying to find dresses that suit my style sensibilities, fuss over finding tops that are right, fuss over everything it seems, except for sandals and sneakers of which I have too many Fall and winter are SO much easier for me to stick to a look/colour palette, and I really hit my stride during those months of the year. I've given up on summer, and just buy stuff and wear it - ha. This outfit is the perfect example : not a look I would strive for and nor are they pieces I think are interesting/edgy/modern. But I have them, so I wear them. I bought this t-shirt a couple of summers ago because of the colours, but wasn't thrilled with the knotted front bit. Janet changed my mind on that though, and now I'm wearing this top a lot (it fits, is cool and breezy and I don't have to worry about any clinging/body con bs) . The shorts are my usual suburban mom Jags in all of their pull-on glory, but they fit and are easy to wear. I've stopped worrying about looking edgy or cool in shorts - I'm 60. The earrings and bracelet aren't aspirational either, and don't represent what I want in jewellery anymore, but I admit they are kinda fun for summer. Gold slides are a few years old and when they die, I might too. My fav summer shoes ever.

One thing I do love though is summer makeup - I LOVE the oranges, pinks, bronzes etc, and am having fun with makeup again

Tell me I'm not alone in my random summer looks?

shorts - Jag
t-shirt - Dex
earrings - N&S
bracelet - local maker
slides - Sam Edelman

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37 replies

Latest reply was from

Jonesy

Veteran

I am with you on much preferring colder weather when I can layer--the colors, fabrics, and layering just feel more like me. Summer is very casual for me and I do sort of default to more basic clothes, especially when I'm working from home. But this outfit of yours doesn't look so basic to me--it looks modern and chic! The color palette is interesting, everything fits immaculately, the striped top is trendy, and your sandals, earrings, watch, and hair bring some personality!

Helena

Veteran

Yep, I'm with you ... summer is primarily about comfort from the heat ... everything else is secondary. So silhouette, fabric, etc. is all about easy and breezy. I will say the "Lisa" comes through in the earrings, nail polish, shoe and hair, as well as the earthy colour palette.

Aside, we're almost twinsies today as I have a blue and white striped linen tank with a tie waist on today ... I wasn't sure about the tied style too as I'm not seeing it as much this year, but it does give a nice bit of finish to a slouchy shirt so I'm going with it!

Mirjana

Veteran

Lisa I agree with you, it's not easy to dress elegant in summer, no jewellery, but I like summer looks. I like your simple summer outfit with short and nice top and especially nice slides.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I think it's cute! I think you just have to see summer on it's own, and not compared to your rest of the year wardrobe when you can layer and wear full length items without roasting. It's like judging a fish by how well it can climb a tree, if you know what I mean.

Irina

Veteran

Simple and cool, well done, LisaP. Love your jewelry and the watch!
I’m in minority here, I love summer dressing. Two pieces only plus shoes (I still can’t find a dress or a jumpsuit). What can go wrong?
Colder months are challenging for me, I’m not good at layering and too many things to consider: will I be too warm or cold, shoes must be practical, hats. No to interesting shapes, they are hard to wear under coats. I’m so bored in FW season. Lifestyle also plays a huge role - I don’t drive, so practicality beats any attempts to be stylish. I can’t wear contemporary, oversized outwear or modern, lugged sole boots without looking funny.

I’m glad that you are more aligned with your actual climate than me ::

bella

(website)

Veteran

I am very much with you about the summer. Our summer is actually pretty long, but super hot and humid, so any attempts at wearing interesting outfits are useless. It is pretty much tops and shorts for me as well, and it turns out none of the tops (or shorts!) I have in my closet feel right right now! Grrr... So I feel like I am constantly wearing random outfits. I think with all these constraints, you did very well. I am really drawn to these shades this year, as well.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Well, you already know how I feel about summer and about dressing for it! I do feel like I compromise a lot of my preferred style in summer, but I just kind of go along with whatever seems to work each year and grit my teeth until October, LOL.

I think you look perfectly modern and a bit of your signature style comes through in your colors, accessories, hair and makeup, shoes, and the easy fit of your clothes.

I have to give you props on your hair too. I’m starting struggle with my hair — I hate what it does in the humidity and I am learning that my new unprocessed hair texture seems more frizz-prone than it was when I was having it colored. One more reason I miss my dark hair. Today I feel like I have a scraggly grey mop on my head!

Roxanna

Veteran

I've found my moniker Urban Luxe fits me perfectly in Fall/Winter/Spring - but goes out the window in summer. And i'm okay with that. My favourite store in summer is Old Navy, my favourite material is french terry, and my favourite silhouette is pull-on. I'm TOTALLY ok with that. I don't usually want to look (or feel) edgy and polished and put together in summer - I want to feel breezy, casual, ready for anything (including melting ice cream down the front of my shirt.) So i embrace the summer me, and then go back to Urban luxe me when the seasons change.

Anonymous

I had my hair cut very short a week ago - shorter than intended - because growing out colour AND layers was making me crazy . If my hair doesn’t look good I can’t function - that’s how shallow I am If no one saw it I wouldn’t have cared as much but I still have to go to work and see people-so , off it came . I like it like this , I’m quite sure my husband doesn’t , but it’s not his hair and I can’t be *that* terrible to look at . I have thin fine hair and there isn’t much I can do with it. It’s also a lot darker than I expected - with less grey than I expected too . Whatever .

These knotted front tshirts of yours , Janet , are perfect in that they add that finished look that a plain tshirt-over-shorts doesn’t have . I might want another one

Sal

Veteran

Haha you make me laugh. I was expecting something so much worse than this simple modern look. The colour palette makes this to my eye - very harmonious.

And I love dressing for summer.....but ours is not extreme in the most part. I am getting better with the transitional seasons now but winter is a bit of a repetititive jeans and knit, rotate the scarves snoozefest for me.

slim cat

Veteran

You look cool with signature jewelry/shoes shining through - fab look!
I like summer dressing but never do "polished", "refined" and "immaculate" - it's always breezy, casual, uncomplicated uniform looks.
Your make up, hair and fun nail polish all add interesting finish ( that I'm never able to achieve ).

rachylou

Veteran

Great ensemble! Great colour match!

My summer wear is so complete a departure from my identity… well, I don’t know. It’s probably best not to meet me in summer because winter will be a rude awakening. And anyways… I’m carrying around a puffer to wear INSIDE… ok, I guess that’s consistent. Insane but consistent…

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

You know, you've just gotta go with what works in summer, wear what you have and what's practical, and daydream about when you finally put on a jacket again. I do think your natural polish and skill with hair/makeup make simple outfits feel more modern and intentional.

Meanwhile over here, I've worn the same dress three days in a row because at least it doesn't touch my skin. Much.

Sloper

Veteran

Yes, I agree about summer - not my favorite fashion season by any means. I don't like being hot, and I don't like bits and edges of clothing getting in my way especially collared shirts - I've given up on them totally. I'm irritated when the edge of the collar touches my sweaty made-up face.

I haven't done it intentionally, but my summer stuff is minimal - Gap tees, Alex Mill Expedition pants, James Perse sweat bottoms. In a limited palette of greys, whites, olives, stripes.

So speaking of olive and stripes - LOVE your outfit. And the addition of gold slides too.

kkards

Veteran

Normally i had some kind of style in the summer because i was going places, and most places had AC…but now I’m on summer #2 of really not going anywhere most of the time…so I’ve really fallen into the skort or shorts and tee on repeat…if anything, i feel like I’ve reverted back to my days at summer camp LOL.
i do like these longer shorts and front tie tee, and the metallic footwear just really makes it pop!

Carla

Veteran

I’m with Irina, and love summer dressing - as well as spring and fall. Winter is a bear! This summer I’m set after having thought about it earlier in the year and crunched some numbers after counting wears last year (and keeping notes on what I wore month-by-month). With sleeveless tops and crisp button downs, I’m skewing a little 1950’s retro.

I like your shorts outfit and find you whole look to be elevated casual. Yay! for good hair days, too. Those I don’t have when humidity becomes a thing.

Anonymous

Lisa, I think of you as a summer modern classic. You have a style that stands out as polished and natural. Love your hair but don’t have the courage to go there myself. I was too mortified as a child forced into a very short haircut (duckbill) and then my mom trying to fix it with a home perm.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Very nice! Great colour combination. Love the metallic slides and the touch of pink. I really like olive green with dusty pink. It’s a combination I’d like to do more once I find the right pieces.

I used to feel the same way about summer but I feel like I may have cracked the code now. Last summer went well and I’ve got some ideas for next summer (building a shorts capsule) too. I’ve already started because it’s such a long season for us. I still love winter style. I struggle more with the in between seasons, especially Spring.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, I love summer dressing mostly because I love the heat. I take to it much easier than the cold. To a point. But I think I have a lower bar to what I consider an outfit, because what you are wearing here is pretty much the goal. One interesting piece, good shoes and earrings is my definition of a summer success! (So with you on the hair thing, what was I thinking?)

bj1111

Veteran

If this is a random summer outfit, I aspire to this.

Bijou

Veteran

I agree that summer style is hard. My default is summer dresses, but I guess I am lucky that easy, breezy summer dresses are plentiful where I live because we get so much hot weather. The real bonus of summer is those lovely evenings, when it is warm and fun to be out and about, catching up with friends over an easy summer dinner. Covid lockdown takes away one of the really nice things about summer.

I am enjoying layering up but amazed that anyone leaves the house in cold temps - all I want to do is stay rugged up at home.

RobinF

Veteran

You hit the nail on the head with why a tie-waist top is good with shorts - it seems more finished (and doesn't have to be tucked in!). I like your outfit, the modern edgy comes in with the cool slides and earrings.

Anonymous

Thank you all for your comments - glad to hear I'm not the only one who gives up on maintaining a particular summer style and lives in shorts.

Bijou - your dresses are wonderful and perfect for evenings you describe (which now seem like out of a fantasy life - who are friends and what is going out ??) The dress market is quite different here - with most retailers carrying "office" dresses or seasonal formal wear in the summer . There aren't a lot of elegant yet casual interesting summer dresses around . Maybe it's due to the short season - I don't know.

Brooklyn - thank you - but no pink in this outfit ! I do like olive and pink together but my pink is a brighter, warm pink than your softer version.

Carla and Irina - my fellow Canadians don't like winter dressing ? I'm shocked! Give me all of the coats, sweaters, boots, scarves, layers and I'm in heaven .

Roxanna - I'm right there with you. French terry , pull on bottoms, and ON for the win (although I didn't buy anything there this summer other than the slides) .

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Jonesy said! To me, this IS aspirational, for ANY season! I love it! Beautiful casual elegance, and nobody wears shorts better than you. The top is lovely! So glad you kept it. Sometimes items just need a season or two in the closet to come into their own.

I'm wearing Nickel and Suede earrings today, too. And a tube skirt and 4 or 5 year old tee. So here's to that!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Apologies Lisa. Your watch looks like a blush pink on my phone. And I thought there were pink and lilac tones in your bracelet. Anyhow, food for thought!

Anonymous

Ah - right. Yes, bracelet has some colour in it , you're right. Watch band is white.

Synne

Veteran

Nothing random at all here, an excellent outfit! I really like the mix of nautical preppy classic with etheral (green and the earrings and metallic shoes). Very fab! IMO you nail it when you don't overanalyze. Maybe you are a very intuitive dresser.

Style Fan

Veteran

You look very pulled together in an effortless way. I don't mind Summer dressing if I can find what I am looking for. It is the Winter that I find challenging.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Well, even if you consider this to be a 'thrown together' kind of look, I think that YLF! I've seen you wear similar earrings in another colour right? They suit you even if you don't think they align with your current style direction.

I was very much like this living back home (UK). In fact, the first few summers here were torture, because there was no way was I prepared with enough warm weather clothing to last me from May until October lol!

I'm finally getting better about dressing for this weather though (no more polyester tops or anything that will make me sweat buckets). But in all honesty, I still don't think I have a set summertime style. Maybe it's because most styles well suited to hot weather are a bit too casual for my usual preferences (like 'boho', crumpled linen or resortwear)? Layering works better for my modesty preferences too.

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