Pandemic notwithstanding, I have been realizing that in retirement, summer- or very warm/ hot weather, whenever, is going to be , not exactly dominant season, but a more important season, for my wardrobe.
When working, I did do a shift from my warmest clothes- sweaters especially, to lighter weights and colors, but because of cold hospital temps ( to me) , there was more overlap with some of my wardrobe essentials. In addition, I tried to find summer things in more “ professional “ fabrics, colors, styles. And, because of working days, weekends, holidays, i had a smaller % if time I could be in casual summer clothes.

Now, I am seeing that I may have wow, 10-12 weeks of warm weather at home ( including out & about, of course, but home is not kept as frigid as hospital, stores, restaurants ( whenever we return to those!).
Granted, part of many of these hot days is spent in outdoor grimy hobbies such gardening, for which I have a specific very function- oriented capsule.

But i think it will take some effort and retail research and style-pondering to
develop my “ pretty good casual “ summer capsule, using some of the principles I tried to use for workwear, but for much different items. Not necessarily different styles, in the sense that I know certain fits, lengths, proportions are part of my enduring preferences-but, fabrics- need to be washable, not very precious- but not settling for bad fit, poor quality, fast fashion, wrong colors , things that don’t play well. And how might my style actually evolve, over time?

Though we have a lot of summer left here, I feel I should sit on my hands a bit for most of the rest of it, almost like doing research for NEXT year. That I will want a high level of comfort in how things “ feel” , but with as much , I admit, figure- flattering fit and style as possible—-what ARE those items? Who makes them? I won’t need a lot, but would like to find the best for me at the right price point. Which could vary a lot if I run smaller capsules and wear things more often.