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A rhetorical question, in fact, as I have now started one.
My observations from 3 days of summer weather:
1. Change your handbag. Saw woman in v lightweight summery outfit with clunky great across the body black leather handbag.
2. Unkempt toenails - should go without saying but sandals and toenails aunaturel look a bit grim if you are over about 8.
3. Buy clothes that fit - hell, buy the next size up. Tight summer-y clothes which pinch a bit and make you feel - and therefore look - all hot and bothered are not a good look.
That's it so far, but I might make a perambulation of the office and come back with some more...
i have a particularly ferocious sander which I got from one of those very scary looking pharmacies in France (all suppositories and minceur products) and need to have a duel pronged attack with that and the Flexitol this weekend.
Oh yes, pleaasseeee pedicure ladies. If you aren't a proficient fake tanner then avoid it - streaks and orange nails are not a good look.
Change to some summery make up, not thick foundation that melts! Oh and just because it's hot doesn't mean you have to wear stupidly low cut/short clothing.
Oh, I dunno. I think summer is licence to, you know, flash it all about a bit. (Granted, I need no seasonal excuse to flash it all about a bit, at least as far as my norks are concerned.) A general jollity is to be condoned, IMO.
If your norks really need a wide-strapped supportive bra, do not think you can get away with a pretty thin-strapped one. Your norks will suffer. If you don't want wide straps on show, wear something else.
Don't wear a normal bra under a racer-back vest, I find that extremely irritating. Buy one of those clippy things to clip your bra straps together or wear a strapless one.
Ditto above for halterneck tops as well.
Please remember that you can get burnt the first time it's a sunny day. There are huge numbers of people walking round like lobsters at the moment as they seem to have forgotten during the course of the winter that the sun burns and have stripped off the minute it peeked out from behind a cloud.
I hate painted toe nails - it just draws attention to a part of the body that's never gonna look pretty. Have you ever actually admired someone else's toes???
judge anyone who hasn't got a bra for each outfit, or new clothes that haven't seen several summers and faded, or who haven't sanded their feet properly, or who got burnt doing normal day to day things the first day the sun came out.
oh no i love long tops/tunics/dresses over a pair of trousers, skinny jeans or slim cropped trousers {rushes off as well to sort out my heels, never noticed them before
no - i'm sick of feeling self conscious in whatever i wear because I can't pretend that people don't care or notice, because I know that people DO notice.
i'm sick of knowing that i look shit and that everyone else thinks it and discusses it.
Agree with flame - who gives a sh*t? At the end of the day there are those with natural style, those without, and most that have to work at it. However, working at it means finding items that make you look good, not painting your toe nails the latest shade of dior or sporting st tropez tanning moisturiser or donning micro shorts etc etc. You just look like a try hard.
They weren't mentioned. Just using it as an example of seasonal sartorial pieces. Actually they look great on some people. Yes it's light-hearted but HATE 'governing rules' for fashion however nonchalant they seem. My tip for summer mistakes is don't try and do what someone else tells you to do!!
Flame I love the flameboy picture with the stairgates.
Check my profile, I've just put a pic of the DC in our old house and it is almost the same. Just one stairgate, but same double clothes rail in the alcove behind. Spooky!
Flame I do think this is supposed to be a light-hearted thread, not a criticism of anyone who might do/have done any of these things. I think actually a lot of people who have mentioned some of these so-called 'mistakes' are doing so having made them themselves. I certainly don't claim to be perfectly groomed or styled at all. I have my feet exposed without toenails painted as we speak
I don't think anyone on here genuinely goes around checking all these things on people and thinking they look like 'shit' if they haven't followed the 'rules', I know I don't.
But Flame this is mainly about grooming, isn't it, and grooming is as much about attitude as money.
(FWIW I have both faded summer clothes and ones that are too small and pinch my kidneys and make me look like this by about 4pm.)
Those of us with lessthannaturalcoloured hair also have to be a bit careful: sun can make it go a bit of a wonky colour and can make newly dyedconditioned hair look a bit brassy.
i'd agree Karathace, it all depends on the person and their own style, but generally I am a firm believer that less is more (and i mean less bare flesh rather than clothes) particularly in summer -have a chocolate flame, will all seem better,
lmao I think I had you as more of a striking older lady (your appearance striking... not a photo of you bashing some old bird with a stick), rather than traditional pretty iyswim. The older is because of the devil thing.
Re blokes in cropped trews in cities ... I saw one of those tall, trim, very-short-salt-and-pepper-hair chaps (think Architect) in long shorts - just below knee - this morning. Looked very right, loads better than those mid-stodgy-white-calf flap-arounds, anyway. (The general figure may have had a little to do with it.)
Part of my school run is a walk along Ken High St & I always see someone who's got it exactly right. Eg fitted luxe-fabric polo shirt (in dark colour) with similarly sober coloured but interesting print White Stuff type skirt.
The cases in question were several young women I saw yesterday (so very fresh in my memory which is why I posted it) who had the classic low-rise jeans 2 sizes too small, cropped top and muffin tops and tummies on display with angry red stretch marks everywhere.
They would have looked so much nicer if they'd simply worn a top that covered their mid-riffs.
I'm sorry if I sounded harsh or offended you -I don't have an issue with stretch marks , its just when they are paraded on the High St complete with acres of flesh and skimpy clothing.
Oh dear, I think I may have committed a number of the faux pas listed here . To name but a few:
1. Crop top with a bit of a muffin - my tummy's not bad bad but certainly no gym-bunny 2. Flip flops to work - although even if I do then nobody sees them for long as they stay under my desk all day, but then I suppose barefoot around the office should also be on the list? 3. Bikini top under halter - usually because I have been in a hurry and haven't had a chance to change for the school run
If "short skirt, bare legs, high heels" is a no no then does the same apply to my short skirt, bare legs, bare feet? Have to admit my feet when I get home are often a sorry grubby sight that definitely should be on the list but I won't be changing that for anyone!
remember wearing flip flops to work in the summer. Suspect I also had cracked heels. I can't walk in flip flops any more so that's saved everyone from a yucky sight!
I'd say chipped toenail polish is worse than none at all tho'. Buffed shiny toenails are better than polished. But who has the time...? Not since I had DS. Because since I've had DS I've spent every spare moment on MN
im not sure about white trousers whether linen, floaty or not. Sort of ok on super slim, not flattering on most - navy/charcoal more sophisticated surely?
The what are you wearing today threads always make me feel like shit, not only because I don't own anything like those clothes, but also because I don't have the money to buy them. However I do have two gorgeous dc that I get to stay home with <justifies to self>
Particular the ones about the perfect school run dress!! I'm just happy if I can find something in the wardrobe that covers all four limbs and is clean and ironed
i dont really care but some amusing observations on this thread
i am far too lazy to paint toe nails tho i did do it before i went on holiday last year but it mostly came off my big toes in bed and stayed that way for the week no one died
i dont have cracked heels tho how do you make those?
i am just thankful if the weather is warm enough to enjoy
i am not one for rules
my dd1 is obsessed with rules and clothes and stuff
Tights! why can't some people ever let them go? Girl in the office in last weeks heat with lovely summer dress over thick black tights, and she's a young thing and has great legs.
I always wear a bra, but last night I decided to go without as I was wearing a sheer top with a cami underneath and bra straps would have shown. I thought it worked really well, I had a more natural silouette and I enjoyed the feeling, it was not at all obvious
Today I tried it again with a regular top down the shops. More bounce than usual, more natural shape, some nipples showing through.
Cripes I am scared to go out now in fear of being arrested by summer fashion police! For having crabby feet, unwieldy hair, the wrong kind of sandals etc. etc. etc.
In my defence can I just say it is very difficult to dress just right all the time when pregnant, and I am likely only to be going to the local shop or playgroup anyway.
I will come quietly if I can go for a spell of rehab at Monsoon
. Thongs protruding above the low rise rear of floaty trousers. 
