It has been fun reading this thread. I learned that I like casual summer dresses and skirts, I do not want any summer polyester clothing. I like grey in summer with white, especially linen. Earrings are my favorite accessory because they do not feel hot. I need to think about collecting a wardrobe of sun hats. It is hard because my head is smaller than average. One size fits all will not work.

You remind me, Joy, that I need a packable, crushable sunhat. My current hat is lovely, but really impractical.

Well we are ending winter officially this week but spring and summer are not always early to arrive around these parts so I won't be transferring any clothes over for another month - I have a lot of transitional clothes anyway in my main wardrobe.

I love grey and white actually - and I can see it suiting you well. I also like it with a bit of pink (blush or bright) in the mix or denim.

I think in an active child focussed summer you do work upwards from the shoes so if you need to wear flats or sneakers then sometimes options are limited. But I do agree the holding zone is a good idea - keep the pieces and see if next summer changes your needs.

FYI Sal, it is not correct that it is spring on the first of September. I hear many say this as fact, though scientifically, astronomically and climatically speaking, spring begins at the time of the Vernal or spring equinox. This is a variable each year, between the 19th and 23rd of September. This year spring will officially begin at 11.54am (AUS EST) on September 23rd. The other seasons officially begin around the same day (19th-23rd) with the autumn equinox in March, the winter solstice in June and the summer solstice in December.

TG - I too prefer lower contrast color combinations in heat. In cold and winter, I find high contrast energizes me. Black and white, pearl gray/black. But in summer, it's so hot, that the high contrast is overwhelming. That's why I prefer black/washed black, pearl/charcoal, cool off white/pewter. To me it's an energy thing. I think white/gray is very elegant. I'm also not a shorts girl and I rarely wear dresses for casual wear. Mostly chinos in the summer black or gray and the JCrew Jackie shell with a nice belt. Pop on a blazer to go out. I'm done. Clean, minimalist, comfortable and totally unfussy - that's what I look for in summer. Your outfits sound great. Plus a great ponytail can't be beat, whether sleek or messy. My hair is too short for one, I just have to deal with the frizz!!

Yess, I echo You and Jenn about dressing ever so simple possible in the big heat-and like Jenn I tend to forget this when summer starts, too:-((.

Griffin I would die to see your black/washed black low contrast outfit for the heat! I love white bottoms and intense color top( with or without a print) AND DRESSES the most.

Last summer I did lots of all blacks as mourning my DM... and I LOVE black (and wear it often in other seasons) still I cannot do all blacks for summer with joy other than in a dress (with some or no pattern/textural interest) and I know you don't wear dresses...

Like many others here, I experienced a lot of really hot, humid weather, and it could continue well into September. This was the summer I decided to not buy any more polyester summer tops—ever. I found cotton and silk to be much more comfortable in heat and humidity.

My biggest winner was my BP white mules, purchased last spring. Not only have I worn them several times a week all summer, but also they have proved to be surprisingly comfortable and supportive for lengthy amounts of city walking. It doesn’t hurt that they receive lots of compliments. :). Another winner has been white wide leg crop pants, made of a very soft denim, which I’ve worn to work a lot.

My summer consisted of work, travel, and leisure, and for bottoms I wore shorts (not to work), crop pants, and skirts. I almost always carried a cardi or light jacket for cold air conditioning.

I found myself getting frustrated with some of my summer wardrobe in the last couple weeks. I think a big overhaul is in the near future. I’m going to start with sleeveless polyester tops. I’d rather have less things and really love them and wear them a lot.