wiw 7.25 elegant in the heat - hopefully - YouLookFab Forum

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wiw 7.25 elegant in the heat - hopefully

Anonymous

I don't know about any of you, but I am thoroughly sick of myself in my khaki Gap bf shorts or a pair of cutoffs and a tank or t-shirt. I am a one-note wonder in summer heat and it's really starting to get me down. What do you wear when you don't do sporty cute, don't do preppy, and feel that summer boho is getting derivative?

Alyson Walsh , whose blog I really like, is about my age, and she wears some really interesting things . She features women of a certain age and how they dress in the summer : looser layers, more coverage but still feminine and current, and less reliance on the preppy/sporty youthful looks that are typically associated with summer wear.

I bought this linen tunic from one of the stores I sell to - a leap of faith in so many ways. It is really different from my usual look, and I frankly wasn't sure what I'd do with it . The colour and the shape appealed to me and I was really interested in broadening the scope of what I wear this summer. It's been a success ! I wore it once with cropped black leggings and white Birks, and then yesterday with jeans and heels. It was surprisingly cool and comfortable in mid 30's heat and humidity and I felt far more "adult" and hopefully elegant than when I wear jeans or shorts with a tank . I don't care at all about the creasing and in fact am hoping to find something in black linen to wear into fall . New style goal: elegance befitting my age.

Re: photos - yes, I am blending into my bedroom walls, lol. Not sure why the photos are so blah - must look at the flash on my phone camera.

tunic: Bryn Walker
jeans: JCrew Vintage Crop
sandals - Freebird Quails
jewellery - Unode50
lipstick: MAC

Thoughts on summer dressing , comments on life etc - always welcome !

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53 replies

Latest reply was from

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Love those sandals! You look great

Anonymous

You look smashing, as usual. I really admire your style.

I'm also sick of myself in shorts and tees, being a one-trick pony when it comes to summer dressing (olive drab rolled shorts with either a white, gray or black tee and black Birkies). *yawn*

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Blonde haired Lisa's back!

I love this on you. The colour is gorgeous. No wonder you fell for it. Feels cool just to look at it. I have never heard of the company.

The bracelet and earrings are also fantastic. Once again, you win the jewellery sweepstakes!! I wish I could shop for that with me; I'm such a dunce about it. Just don't "get it" on some level and need serious help.

Casual summer sophisticate at its best.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I like it and agree it is more "grown up" in a good way. It does feel more challenging to dress "elegant" in summer heat. I'm not sure I come very close to that. I wear a lot of very light button down style shirts in summer, sometimes semi-tucked, sometimes left out with the bottom button undone. These may be gauze, linen blend, etc. I also wear linen tanks that are substantial enough not to be too sheer and that have a higher neckline and good armholes (I've gotten them from misc. places including jjill and Loft). I like to wear those simple plain tanks with a long simple necklace.

This year I purchased two more A-line style button downs from Madewell that I've enjoyed. One is this plaid that I often wear untucked. It seems shorter on me than on the model and feels just a little A-line in style. Extremely cool to wear! I wear it mostly with white shorts or dark denim. I also have an eyelet navy one that is similar in shape and very light weight - I wear a navy bralette under it.

I bought a couple of different and quite patterned (for me) shorts this year and have been enjoying them as well.

In summer I try to focus on keeping my hair really conditioned and shiny, a little curlier than in winter - I tend to wear it up a lot this time of year. I try to keep my makeup clean and fresh and focus on lipcolor and eyelashes

Academie Shirt in Cadiz Plaid

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA, here's how I cope with the problem you mentioned.

I do the shorts and tee (or woven top) at home. Period. That's because I sit on my couch or on a chair outside in the garden to work or I'm puttering in the garden or kitchen and I need to be comfortable above all else. I do have two super casual summer dresses that I also use this way -- that Arc'teryx one and a Loft trapeze dress. They're kind of like PJs.

The minute, and I mean the MINUTE I think of going anywhere except for a run or to the gym, I put on a shirtdress or a skirt or my linen pants. Sometimes the same top (if a nice woven top or one of my nicer tees) or sometimes a different top. Doesn't matter if I am just going to the market or the drug store, I get "dressed up" (so to speak...recall, we're talking merely about a tube skirt or a pair of linen pull on pants!!)

The exception to this is my evening walks when I revert to the more casual shorts and sandals again.

Basically, l consider the shorts and top as loungewear vs. real clothes. What this means is I often change a couple of times a day. But that is not such a bad thing either. I'm wearing all my clothes, and well...summer.

Column

Veteran

Ooooooo. Love it!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I adore Alyson Walsh. She's almost exactly a decade older than me, but I follow her on Instagram and, through her photos and features, I can see a path ahead. I also love that she came up through the fashion ranks as a journalist rather than as a model. I love writers. They're my people.

This look is great on you. Honestly, Lisa, pretty much everything you put on looks fantastic, but there's a lack of artifice in this outfit that really appeals to me. It speaks to the simplicity of life in the summer, but you've edged it up just enough with your jewelry and shoes to keep it out of rachylou's proverbial "milkmaid" territory. Definitely elegance befitting an adult.

Now, I should probably change out of my current outfit of leggings and a tank with no bra, shouldn't I?

kellygirl

Veteran

Wow, gorgeous outfit. You look modern and hip--a look I would love to own!

Lisa

Veteran

A lovely look for a hot day. And the color of that sandal is a great neutral on you too.

Dee

Love this. I live in Florida so I am always interested in hot weather options.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YOU ARE BLONDE AGAIN. Looks great.

A super fab look, Lisa. Very Euro. Linen is sooooo Euro. Great with the flares and statement RATE cage heels.

Is the top a size too big? It's hanging over your shoulder and the armhole looks long. Perhaps the linen is hanging stiffly making it look that way though.

rachylou

Veteran

Lol. I love it. And you HAVE fantastically styled it out of milkmaid territory A cow would immediately appear by my side, I would not be able to help myself. I think it's interesting. I do think we like rather the same things, but style so differently.

Anonymous

Angie - interesting - I didn't even notice the shoulder and sleeve in my excitement over it fitting across my chest . I'll have to look at it again later today. I didn't even try it on at the store - just popped it on at home . Nothing I can do about it now though .....
I am going one step further with the blonde - soon , I hope . I hated the one-dimensional look of that previous shade - ugh .

RobinF

Veteran

I want that bracelet! Love it!

This is a great tunic. I would be too hot in jeans, even crops, but they look really nice with it.

Anonymous

Thanks Robin The jeans are ultra lightweight so no warmer to wear than any other cropped pant . I was pleasantly surprised !

Anonymous

I love this item.
The thing is, it's simple, without complicated frou frou. I like that about it. And the wrinkles are nice wrinkles
I can't help you with summer style. I just wear shorts all the time on the weekend!
I guess one thing I noticed while people watching the other day, is that the most put-together women all seem to be wearing skirts and dresses.

chouette22

Veteran

The top looks great on you but just like Robin said, I would be way too hot in jeans in the mid-30s! How do you do it? I know you are in and out of AC, but still. I guess I just answered your question about summer dressing with my post.

catgirl

Veteran

Love this look... It has a breeziness to it that is really pretty and cool.

skylurker

Veteran

That job of yours, selling to stores, sounds very, very dangerous...

On hot summer days, I wear sleeveless dresses at work and shorts on weekends, we don't have many hot summer days, so I don't get bored with the formula.

An unusually serene palette for you, blue and silver, I like it. Good proportions, too.
My first thought opening pic 1 was that the tunic was too big in the shoulders, but looking at pic 4 I'm not so sure, it might be the pose/angle.

Anonymous

skylurker - you're right, it IS a more serene palette than usual.....and I wonder if it translated into how I felt in it - very quiet and comfortable yet not ordinary. Interesting observation - and food for further though. Thank you ! And Angie also commented on the fit. I'm not the most observant that way and perhaps I should be. And yes, selling to retailers is dangerous in the best possible way It also explains why I know which store has what and when - I am full of useless information like that.

chouette - my house is air-conditioned, but not overly so, and yes, I was in and out of a car yesterday, and honestly did not feel hot and bothered. The tunic is very airy , which was wonderful , and the jeans are very, very lightweight too. I had to rip the whole outfit off after finishing up work and grocery shopping though - and changed into shorts and a blouse (another new look I like) for drinks on my patio with my bff.

rachylou - you crack me up . And I agree, we do like the same things, just in a different way. Cows. lol.

texstyle - I remember you posting about those Madewell blouses and really liking them. If I were to find such a thing, I would be all over it. Same with an interesting printed short. Your pics here are perfect: not too preppy, not too youthful/sporty, and just the right bit of an elegant adult modern look. I'm obsessed with dressing like an adult now, clearly . In the spirit of this type of look, I am wearing a silky printed sleeveless blouse with a tie neck today with my UGH olive green cargo shorts (I only have 3 pair of shorts left now after my recent purge) . I'd love to get my hands on some interesting new ones like yours.

jenn - I am a little obsessed with Ms Walsh and secretly want to be her. I love what she wears. And yes, you should change out of your tank and leggings immediately

suz - I often change a few times a day too, but even sitting at my desk in my home office, I am SICK to death of how I look in sleeveless knit tops. There is something all-of-a-sudden unappealing about bare aging arms, aging breasts in a knit tank and the whole frumpy dumpy look I seem to have going on .There is zero elegance or sex appeal in it. I know you don't experience that sight because your body is very different than mine - but when you've gained more than a few and no longer have the same lithe look going on , what was once a uniform has now turned shlumpy. One too many glimpse of myself in a store mirror the other day at IKEA and I was just cringing. (I was wearing our Arctryx dress at the time )

Anonymous

Suz - re jewellery - buy what you like! It's that easy There is no right or wrong - that's what makes it so easy! It is one easy thing we can add to our outfits that can defy trends and add personality. I bet you would find the things that would work for you in independent funky boutiques (not jewellery stores) and bookstores .

Anonymous

Don't let the IKEA mirrors get you down. I recently got my hair cut at a new place where they had IKEA mirrors. My feet looked like gigantic Hobbit feet.* The stylist's feet looked huge, too. But yeah, I know the feelings you describe. For what it's worth, I think you always look stylish, whatever age you are (I have no idea! Couldn't even guess!).

* I'm 99% sure I don't have Hobbit feet.

Anonymous

Love. You look great. Every piece adds something.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

lisap - I remember when my mom in law first started mentioning her concerns about going sleeveless many years ago and I'd say "no way, you shouldn't worry about that." Fast forward a couple of decades and I worry about it myself! I do work out and try to stick to my weight and all, but still, we all change -- plus, it's not always that I don't want to show my arms but I don't like to be cold when I go into a store, or other AC place or on the other end of things - not to be gross - but wearing sleeveless can feel icky under the arms when you get really hot and often I've noticed the fabric from some tops will end up under your arms in little balls which is not an attractive look at all should you have to wave at someone.

ETA: sorry for that long run on sentence

Anonymous

Oh, I like the serene palette too! I think the proportions work well here. Loving your hair and jewellery too!

Jules

Veteran

I really like the tunic - it has just enough shape, I think.
And I'm sitting at the nail salon drying my new aqua pedicure Now I know it was a fab choice!

kerry

Veteran

I love your new linen tunic. You look great. I also love linen for summer but try to keep it to tops and maybe dresses. I don't love the look of linen pants on me but a blend I'll do (JCrew joggers from last year - high wear). I like cool but covered.

Here's what I find frustrating about shopping in Canada. I looked up who sells Bryn Walker and found a store in Vineland (small town Ontario) that my mom shops at. This is not a store that I'd find too much to like so not one I'd frequent. But if I knew I'd find a gem like this I'd take a look. But how many times would I need to "pop in" before finding something like this? I don't have the patience. Why can't I find it online, in Canada, with free shipping and returns? Please?!

Anonymous

kerry - I know exactly how you feel. The store I found it in was not one I would go to to shop for clothes either. Had I not had them as a client, I would never know they had the clothes they did. Finding these different items and lines is a lot of work and often a crapshoot. I find a lot of things on Facebook too - where I like and follow interesting retailers and brands on my business page. It seems that the more I did that, the more I discovered, too.

texstyle - I agree and get it! There is nothing wrong with my arms. They are fit and decently toned , but they belong to a 55 year old and at my age, the skin just isn't the same. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed by it, I'm just sick of seeing it. It's not as youthful a look anymore, and that was the lightbulb moment for me. And if it's not balls of fabric or lint, it's balls of antiperspirant appearing . lol.

Anne - haha to IKEA mirrors! And to huge feet I'm 55, for the record. Thanks for the style compliment - I do appreciate it !

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I agree, it is more challenging to dress elegantly in the summer heat. I do love wearing linen - it's so breathable, and I care not at all that it wrinkles. It's supposed to wrinkle, that's part of the charm of the fabric.

What a pretty color that tunic is, and it looks great on you. I like how you've styled it with the cropped jeans and fun sandals and bracelets.

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