Summer Wardrobe Fatigue - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Summer Wardrobe Fatigue

aloha emily

South Florida is HOT HOT HOT almost year round. We wear high summer clothes and sweat to death anyway in May, June, July and August. In September, October November and December we still wear high summer clothes but are sometimes actually comfortable in them. I can even manage a lightweight third layer occasionally. In january and February light toppers like a denim jacket work, and I need an actual coat for a handful of days. Then it starts to heat up in March and April again.

I love my beachy climate and lifestyle- ocean swims, salty breezes and lots of time outside. Also I am SO BORED of the summer clothes I’ve been wearing for months and will continue to wear for months. The beachside lifestyle is extremely casual, which adds to my boredom.

Anyone else tired of summer clothes? Or have Budget-friendly suggestions for making things feel more fresh?

Dedicating some time to outfit creation would help me mix up what I own in new ways. I find outfit creation exhausting, though. Hot and tiring and actual work putting things on and taking them off (first world problems, I know). Any thoughts on how to make it more pleasant?

Update- I just put away all my clean laundry and I have lovely clothes. Even some I haven’t worn too much. So I’m especially looking for ideas to make outfit-creation sessions fun.

Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Lisa

Veteran

One thing I like to do with outfit creation sessions is to mix up the colors, especially when I'm wearing the same formula over and over. For example, in summer I was wearing navy shorts with white, yellow, light blue, and pink tees. On our warm fall days, I'm still sporting navy shorts, but now with brown, rust, or ivory.

Another thing I've been doing lately is swapping the footwear. Instead of sandals or sneakers with shorts, I've been sporting ballet flats and light colored short boots. The footwear swap and color swaps have helped my shorts outfits feel "new" for fall.

cat2

Veteran

I have been giving myself a color challenge each month. Like wearing all of my turquoise, cream and tan pieces in August. It gets me to pull out different combinations, wear different accessories, etc.

MizBeeWee

I feel your boredom! I'm in NE Florida. Not quite as hot with more mild to cold days peppered through the winter months. My summer wardrobe is worn most of the year here too. I am originally from a state with four seasons and really missed the seasonal changes with my wardrobe until I decided it can be done with colors as Lisa suggests. I still do a closet rotation for summer and winter but it is mostly about color. I transition to a fall/winter look with plaids and more muted or earth tone colors and black in light weight fabrics. I rarely wear black or navy in summer. I put away all my sundresses, tops and shoes that scream summer time colors like bright pink, coral and breezy white things. We do have more cold than you so I do get to dabble in the lighter weight cold weather clothes which makes me wear something besides flip flops! I also have an assortment of jackets, sweaters, blazers that are necessary if you spend any time indoors with HVAC. I have found this third piece can do wonders for a sundress.

Irina

Veteran

I don’t live in a climate like you (but wish I did).

Years ago when my summer wardrobe was small, I would get bored of wearing it all the time. So, some years I put a few favorite pieces at the back of closet and waited to wear it later in the summer when I was feeling tired of the pieces in rotation.

Sometimes, adding one new statement piece brings older pieces to life.

SarahD8

Veteran

Could adding or revisiting some accessories help? I really like to play with layering lightweight necklaces in summer -- fun to identify new combinations, and the trial and error bit is much less hot and sweaty than outfit creation. Or, maybe a new pair of statement earrings? Or....?

Oh, I just saw your update. For me if I have a visual reference I can do at least some outfit creation without actually trying items on. So that could be putting your items into finds or a wardrobe app, OR a much less taxing approach is to just take photos of the items that you want to work with. These can be quick snapshots. I like to take a photos of all items in a category together (pants, say, or woven tank tops), and then photos of all items in a given color together (all my blue items, all my pink items). Just the process of taking the photos invariably highlights some juxtapositions I hadn't thought of. And then later I can refer back to the photos -- like, "I want to wear this shirt, which pants might go with it?" or "I want to make a column of blue outfit, what are my options?" or "I really like the combination of pink and olive, what do I have in these two colors that might work together?" Of course the ideas you come up with won't always work when you actually try them on, but the hit rate can be pretty good, and it's a great brainstorming tool.

For example, some of my fall wardrobe snapshots: (1) Non-jean pants; (2) cropped cardigans; (3) burgundy; (4) purple/dusty plum

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Emily, looooooong seasons of the same weather can create outfit boredom! I get it

You DO have a smashing wardrobe, though! Especially since your mega edit and only the cherries remain.

On that note - you might not have enough of what you really want to wear, and that is worth analyzing. Need more jorts! Need more tops!

Also, the group of clothes that you wear less frequently - think about what that is? Maybe they bother you in some way - or you simply need to wear them more? Find the combinations that make them sing.

I'm nodding along with everyone's suggestions. A colour challenge or theme a week is fun idea! As for the outfit creation session - take pics! Not need to try outfits on is that relentless and uncomfortable heat.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I used to live in a climate with an endless winter. And the only way I could deal with it was as Lisa suggested -- by looking for winter weight colours in "springlike" colours, so that April and even May would not feel so deadly dull to me and I'd be wearing colours that responded to the increased light, if not warmth!

It's definitely a slog.

aloha emily

Thank you all for advice and empathy!

Lisa- Great idea! I’m moving away from sandals to ballet flats, loafers and boat shoes.

Cat2- what a fun idea! I will definitely try a color-themed challenge!

MizBeeWee and Irina- putting away some items is a great idea! When everything is available all year it feels more tired than pulling out some items I haven’t seen in a while- even if everything is high-summer-weight items.

SarahD8- I’m so impressed by your photo organization! And yes, accessories are less tiring to experiment with. I’ll try both ideas!

Suz- I think endless winter would be even more exhausting than endless summer! I’ll try your idea of seasonal-appropriate colors in climate-appropriate materials.

Angie- you always ask the best questions!! Your first question made me realize I could use two or three fresh dresses. I am very much a dress person and have worn the ones I own to death- much more frequently than any other items.

Your second question also hits true- I wear some items less frequently because I don’t dedicate time to figuring out why I don’t reach for them. Taking the time to create full outfits should give me clarity between items that don’t work for me and items that do work once I take time to style them.

I also know I need to make time for the details. I get more bored when I’m less happy with an outfit. A killer look- including accessories, makeup and hair- takes much longer to get boring to me! But it’s easier to browse online for new clothes than it is to make time for outfit creation, accessories, hair and makeup. Time for a little more discipline!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I hear you! Our summer is not quite as long as yours but it is close. I have family in South Florida and I know what it is like there in August - and you also have to factor in the rain! Anyway, agree with the great ideas above about challenges and seasonal color changes even when your basic outfits are going to be similar pieces.

aloha emily

Jaime- and the humidity!!!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I live in a summer dominant climate too. I have a few thoughts:

* In shoulder seasons (warm but not high summer), I wear denim skirts or a lightweight cargo skirt with sandals and tee. It feels warm weather appropriate but a nice change from high summer. Also sleeveless and short sleeve cotton knits, wide leg full length (linen or cotton) pants. I also do boots with skirts and tee at that time of year (controversial here).

*In warm autumn I pull out more of my dark colours. Save the lighter colours and lighter colour combinations for spring and summer.

*Re outfit creation: it can be easier just to focus on one item. How many outfits can I create with this one item? Maybe something you are having trouble wearing. That can also assist making editing decisions (it’s really not working for you) or purchasing decisions (you really need x item to make it work for you).

*styling: really pay attention to what you can do with accessories. You can add texture, shine or additional colour via bag, shoes or jewellery. A scarf around the waist, in your hair or tied to your bag is another great way to add colour or pattern without making you warmer. If you live in a summer dominant climate, maybe you deserve more than one hat and pair of sunnies, they can help with variety too.

*re dresses. I know they have a huge fan club here but it is very hard to change up the look of a dress in a significant way. That could be part of the boredom problem. I urge you to consider separates. I have almost all separates with almost endless mix and match possibilities. And I absolutely love my summer wardrobe

Carol

(website)

Veteran

In New Mexico I also have a lot of summer/summer-adjacent days. I found I couldn't even tolerate normal summer things like a t-shirt this year--perimenopause and hot flashes are taking their toll.
It was gauzy cotton or linen for me, or really nothing.

The simplest way to "winterize" a summer wardrobe, I would think, is just to NOT wear the most summery pieces. Like I have a mud-green linen dress that would be great in winter, because of the color. Then I have a gauzy salmon maxi dress that I would not wear at all, because of the color. You could also add a couple "wintry" accessories--like a dark-colored lightweight scarf wrapped like a winter scarf.

Bijou

Veteran

I second Brooklyn's great advice, although I do own and wear summer dresses. I don't get bored of my summer dresses because:
1. I have a good selection of summer dresses and buy them even off season if I see something that I know will work for me; and
2. Have accessories to change the dresses up.

Many of my dresses can be belted, so changing things up with different belts, bags and shoes can really change the tone of the outfit.

Sal

Veteran

I can feel like this at the end of winter more than summer.

My strategy is

- to put away things I know I won't wear again - for example even though it's still cool I won't wear my black knit dress or turtlenecks any more.
- I do agree that one or two new pieces can make all the difference - I have two new winter/transitional pieces to wear now that I will enjoy wearing for early spring and then pull out again in autumn.

RobinF

Veteran

My first thought was about color too. Switch out and wear "seasonal" colors and put away your out of season colors for a while. Agree also about one of two new items - it can make everything feel fresher.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Emily, like Suz's past experience, I'm more likely to get bored in winter. I'm glad you asked the question, because there are so many good ideas here. I just had to say, this comment of yours rings a bell with me:

"But it’s easier to browse online for new clothes than it is to make time for outfit creation, accessories, hair and makeup." Bingo! It makes me realize one thing I may be avoiding when I'm aimlessly scrolling shops online.

aloha emily

Brooklyn- I love the idea of focusing on one item for a styling session and really getting creative with accessories. Less overwhelming.

Carol and robinF- yes, colors can make such an emotional difference!

Bijou- I don’t do much accessorizing with dresses. A good idea to try!

Sal- putting away some items just to make them feel special again is a great strategy.

Firecracker- this is a key aspect of dressing I need to be more intentional about. Better for my budget and more thoughtful.

judy

Veteran

Oh the downside to paradise, one hardly needs clothes! I lived in Hawaii for two wonderful years, but I missed having a need for a real wardrobe. Being near the equator there wasn’t even much difference in long/short days or light. Perhaps a change of color and pattern could make you feel like there are seasons? Or for outfit creation, take inspiration from other cultures in hot climates?

Ket

Veteran

I lived in the Florida Keys, so I feel you on this. My wardrobe got very boring at times. For me, I just bought new and let go of old. It didn’t fix the root problem of not wearing sweaters and such, but it kept things interesting. I also got toppers and jackets that I could wear in air conditioned buildings. This helped by giving me a little variety even if for an hour or two.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I sympathize! Even here in Maryland we seem to have gone back into summer the last couple of days. At least it has been cooling off at night.

During this early transition phase I put away the most summery items — no sleeveless white linen top or very summery printed skirts. Yesterday I wore linen blend breezy trousers in a dark color (navy) with a sleeveless silk top in shades of deep blue and green, and I paired that with my old blue suede brogues, rather than a more summery shoe like a sandal. The dark color palette and closed shoe helped keep the look from feeling too summer for me. I’m wearing my non-sandal shoes — loafers, flats, sneakers — a lot right now before boot weather takes over!

I also put away the most summery bags and accessories too. Paying attention to materials, textures, and colors, while choosing lightweight fabrications, can help me feel more autumnal even in warm temps.