What are you doing in preparation for Spring /Summer dressing ? - YouLookFab Forum

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What are you doing in preparation for Spring /Summer dressing ?

Isabel

Veteran

A few Falls ago, I instituted a "policy" ( to make it sound official....lol ) for my fall and winter wardrobe : a color palette and a "core " wardrobe ( kind of a skeleleton that everything else could be built on ).

This year, I'm doing the same for the Spring and Summer. Despite the Summer being our shortest season here in MA, it is my largest capsule. Though I only wear pieces once in the summer because they usually need to be laundered after one wearing in that heat and humidity.

I've figured out that about 30 pieces are enough for everyday wear. This doesn't include my exercise, swim or camping capsules.

So this has left me with needing to tailor some of the pieces that were "ok" before but I need them to be more this time around. Like two wide leg linen pants that only work with heels or platforms. And those shoes are NOT in my capsule for warm weather . I also determined that I really need a pair of black linen pants. Every single summer I say to myself " I wish I had a pair of black skinny linen pants. " And then I do nothing about it. haha

Over to you....I'd love to know your plans !

Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from slim cat

smittie

Veteran

I like your policy idea! So are you building a core set of summer pieces?

My “policy” for this summer has really been about intuition and fun, since I don’t need anything. Intuition has let me to these policies:

- stick with 1970’s styles
- stick with Angie’s picks
- stick with saturated colours

Anonymous

Sounds like you're more than ready for the heat wave! We have a long, very hot summer, so prepping for me is mostly packing away all the jeans and sweaters, and switching over to cool-n-comfortable mode for the months ahead. All my summer stuff is cotton and linen, with flip-flops and sandals ready to slip on with them. I agree with you that a pair of slim black linen pants is a necessity. Mine are from Eileen Fisher, and I've worn them about fifty thousand times. (I have an identical white pair.). There are absolutely no signs of wear on them, so they're about to be reenlisted for another season. But just in case they unexpectedly fall apart in the washer, I ordered a black linen cropped sleeveless jumpsuit from Everlane to be standing by. I also got a black t-shirt dress from Gap that will be perfect to wear out for casual dinners.

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chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Now that I'm out of work uniforms, and will be back to being on site fulltime soon, I amon the hunt for summer workwear. I have a few pair of cotton skinny pants, and a couple of dresses, but short-sleeved tops always seem difficult for me.

Style Fan

Veteran

I am going through my wardrobe right now, trying to figure out what I need for the spring and summer. I am very strict about my colour palette and style. I keep to a casual, laid-back look. I need tops and bottoms. Shopping is so difficult because I can only do it online.

unfrumped

Veteran

In addition to switching out some seasonal items, I need to identify clearly several actual activities that are now likely to happen by summer, due to vaccines and easing of COVID numbers:
such as may resume in- person church, with COVID precautions, may travel to visit vaccinated family members, gather with one or 2 close friends, will continue to do some errands.
Because of the pandemic sheltering, I’ve not worn very many complete outfits or anything very occasion- specific nor fully used some of my newer casual wardrobe, so am out of practice! And haven’t put things through their paces the way I used to do with work outfits for 5-7 days of the week, which would disclose what works great, what didn’t work as expected.
So, I plan to start more try- on sessions
to put together outfits I’d actually wear for these types of occasions, with some variations for weather, mood, a little more or a little less casual- outfits and mini- capsules.

Anonymous

Summer is by far my easiest season to dress for. Ok- it's my only easy season....
May- Mid October I dress the same- skirt/sleeveless/sandals- or sleeveless dress/sandals, or skort/sleeveless/ sandals. Shorts for sleep and cycling. Thin little cardi in a/c. Bracelet, earrings, purse, sunnies, done!

rachylou

Veteran

My big plan is to copy Deborah: I bought a long, light-weight skirt to wear under some of my sundresses that were feeling very iffy in length to me. My summer style is still not entirely satisfactory to me, while at the same time I feel functionally prepared. I’m just planning to wear what I have to death since I have not yet found the magic formula for summer.

Minaminu

Veteran

Summers here are a mixed bag: some days with heavy rain, couple of weeks of heatwave and moderate weather with temperature drops.
At the beginning of the year, I thought that a matching top and skirt would have been a fab idea but I can't find anything that I want to buy, maybe it would be best to make some changes in the 2021 shopping list. For now, I am slowly building up a linen capsule wardrobe for heatwaves, focusing on black, cream and charcoal - the plan for this year is to add a linen dress.

cat2

Veteran

I added additional casual summer pieces in the crazy sales at the beginning of the year, and now I am putting them through their paces for the first time. I went with elevated cargos, cotton poplin skirts and culottes and washable jersey skirts. And two shirt dresses. I already had a lot of basic tops and cardigans purchased for work that I am remixing with these more casual pieces. And I bought what feels like way too many shoes, but I have a lot of older shoes and sandals that I am likely to wear out.

Sloper

Veteran

Went through my drawers of long and short sleeve tees. Tossed the ragged and worn ones, donated some, and reorganized the rest. Found a few buried treasures too!

Thinking about camp-style shirts (short sleeve button ups) but haven't looked much. I don't want to have to iron, and need to find shirts that fit a larger bust.

Spent all of quarantine in sweats - I really am having spring fever and want to wear lots of white (have), stripes (have), lighter, crisper fabrics (new).

I bought the WildFang carpenter pants that Angie had included in a collection a while ago. Also a long dress and top from Sweaty Betty - haven't arrived yet though. Satisfied my crispy craving with a nicer linen blazer. I already have Alex Mill olive pants from 2019.

I wear sneakers and Nike hightops in hot weather. Don't need anything new.

Would really like a colorful summer clutch, but trying to be reasonable and work with what I have already. Did get a long orange scarf from Target. They always have nice ones in the summer.

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Women's Square Gingham Jacquard Scarf - Universal Thread One Size

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2

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Isabel

Veteran

Smittie, yes, I am building a core summer piece capsule. It worked so well the last few years for the other seasons. And my spring/summer clothes numbers were beginning to seem overwhelming. Mostly because I had so many more clothes and combinations than warm/hot days.

Minaminu really described the last few summers here : warm, really hot and humid for a couple of weeks, sometimes rainy and chilly.

I've settled on the following for my "core" :

Colors : grey, black , white, chambray , olive and brights. This year it's yellow and green. White is a brand new edition. I'm feeling a bit reckless. or maybe courageous. LOL

The pieces :

2 Eileen Fisher washable crepe slim ankle pant ( charcoal and white )
1 cropped jean
2 cropped linen joggers from Athleta ( chambray and black )
1 yellow linen cropped wide leg pant
1 chambray cropped linen wide leg pant
1 olive chino pant
2 long wide leg linen pants

1 pair denim shorts

4 linen t shirts ( white, black, olive, zebra print )
4 long sleeve linen shirts ( chambray, white, navy, blue and white stripe )
4 camis
2 short open linen sweaters ( white and cream )
1 long line linen sweater ( light grey )

1 black skirt in cotton
1 bright green wrap skirt ( light silk )
1 yellow wrap skirt ( silk )
1 green print Ripskirt ( great for camping and beach too )
1 black and grey Rip skirt

The slim crop EF pants allow me to layer if it's chilly . I have tons of scarves that I wear every which way.

The above covers practically everything. Though I will add 2 color printed maxi dresses for a bit of diversity. I have a couple that i have worn the last 3 years that I love. This may be their last summer. After all the washing they may be too faded for another round.

I also have a couple of actual cardigans that I wear year round that will be in the mix.

Isabel

Veteran

Rachy...good plan. Then I'll copy you . ( I am not a lemming. I am not a lemming. LOL )

Isabel

Veteran

Sloper, great plan ! I HAVE to have a sandal in the summer. Though I also have lightweight perforated olive green "summer " booties that I LOVE.

But I am going to introduce sneakers this year.

Runcarla

Veteran

After years and years of treating summer like an afterthought, I thought about it early this year, and used data from a year of ‘counting wears’ (2020) to come up with a list and do some shopping. I’m kind of ‘off’ jersey knits (too hot), and looking for ‘V’ neck styles.

The FINDS below are not everything I might wear, but they are the core of my summer clothing. Some are new, and some are old.

Halogen Boat Neck Mesh Top

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Garment-Dyed French Terry Henley Hoodie for Women

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Halogen Boat Neck Mesh Top

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Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I ordered a white dress as my big "summer of freedom" statement (the Find is flax, but the dress I ordered is ivory). Other than that, I've rotated my closet and bought a new pair of sandals. It was 88° here today, so it already sort of feels like summertime!

Bed Stu Bed StuArtemis

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Isabel

Veteran

that's fantastic, Jenn !!! Except for my wide leg yellow pants and the chambray ones, nothing is new for me either. Oh wait....hahahahahaha...i also bought two linen t shirts.

I love you describe your summer wardrobe as an "afterthought". I have never thought of it that way....but it's exactly where I have been. EXACTLY. It struck me that I planned for Sept - mid May, then I winged it Yes. An "afterthought".

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well they start with a pedicure!

Joy

Veteran

I moved a few years ago from an area of four seasons with the major season being a very long hot humid summer to a place also with four seasons but a cool short summer and long transitional seasons being the major closet challenge. Thus, now I have too much to wear in hot summer. My goal is to wear what I have alot and cull what is now too short or tight in the mid section. I would like to do any refreshing by adding more linen and the color citron green or apple green and pairing colors in new ways. The right prints will be important. I would like to find some color blocking that would fit into my wardrobe.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I’m finally pretty happy with my summer wardrobe but sadly most of it is too tight this year (THANKS COVID). But I probably won’t buy anything new because summer is way too short here. And truthfully, we have no big plans even though we all be vaccinated by mid-June.

slim cat

Veteran

Last summer I switched "shorts/tee-shirt/shirt with rolled sleeves" formula to "cropped tee/midi skirt" ( or "tank top/midi skirt/linen cardigan or shirt" ).
I was hoping to duplicate favorite midi skirt this spring but that didn't work out so far. I'll give it another try because skirts feel great in our warm climate ( and give a little more sophisticated look versus casual shorts ).
I'm not planing to add dresses or pants so far - the older pieces will do for now. Navy, white, light blue as best colors for summer. Polka dot, thin stripes, ikat prints and lots of white&black graphic tees.

Star

Veteran

I have a purple/gray/white/dark denim (with a smidge of red and apple green) capsule and a rust/olive capsule planned, shopped from my closet. I have hacked a pair of white jeans into slightly flared crops in anticipation. Still chilly here for now. Am wearing my cotton sweaters instead of my wool blends currently.

suzieq

I have 5 pairs of wide-legged pants that I had planned to wear with heels. Now that my knees are giving problems, I took them in to have them hemmed up to wear with lower heels.

I got rid of almost all of my shoes & purchased some Alegría sandals that are much easier to wear.

My husband & I are buying lightweight Summer clothing in preparation for retirement in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico (south of Cancun).

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I've cleaned my sandals in preparation - it's currently 'spring' here at already 23 degrees C lol, so summertime is even hotter & more humid (with the occasional typhoon & bursts of torrential downpour), so it's a must that I own machine washable sandals & slippers lol. I also have my lightweight rain poncho ready by the door now, & my floppy hats for chic sun protection

As for clothing, I finally have enough cotton & silk to feel sorted for smart casua tops (lol watch me eat my words in a week, when the humidity shoots up from 50% to 90%+...) but I'm still on the hunt for lightweight cargo pants that don't look too much like hiking gear (I'd prefer a 'proper' button fly closure, & elasticated cuffs/ banded hems instead of those drawstring toggles that you get at the ankle). But I do have some wide leg pants & flowy maxi skirts that can help tide me over in the meanwhile

Isabel

Veteran

Carla ... that’s an amazing core. And it screams “Carla “ to me.

Isabel

Veteran

Joy ... I find that kind of dressing so difficult ... it’s hard to have a small wardrobe when there are so many combinations you of weather. I LOVE the idea of color blocking. I usually only wear prints in the summer .... but colorblocking sounds wonderful.

Isabel

Veteran

Aquamarine .... the whole Covid weight thing is tough. Because it’s not our “normal “ and we don’t want an entire summer capsule for it. : (

Slim cat ... that sounds wonderful. The only thing I’ve really changed for this summer is to not do so many dresses ... and to add white. I LOVE graphic tees. But I just can’t seem to find one that I feel fits me. I tried wearing my “vintage “ Def Leppard on and my kids almost fell over laughing. HAHA

Star , that sounds lovely. And I’m a “hacker “ too.

Suzieq how wonderful to have something to look forward to ! Yay ! I’m also not doing anything with a heel and having things hemmed in preparation for summer. And it’s not because of my knees.

Zaeobi , wow !!!!! That came on fast . You remind me that I also have to clean and polish my sandals. I completely forgot about that. And I think I’ll take my boots in now for re heeling and cleaning up for Fall. Good luck with your search !

suzieq

@Isabel, I’m tired of suffering for the sake of fashion. So the high heels had to go.

slim cat

Veteran

@Isabel - very true about graphic tee-shirts. Some whimsical tees feel too much now ( it maybe appears too young and cutesy ) , some styles/cuts are not working for us anymore ( or so we think ) and there is of course the kids ( very direct in their opinions ).
Last year I collected some tees from Zadig and Voltaire ( on sale ) - in white&black of course. I think they work better than my old ones from GAP, ON, Express and Lucky Brand.
Hope you'll find the right ones too.
However - you should be free to wear the things you like - including "vintage" Def Leppard ! Post a pic if you feel like it.