Summer dressing

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

I am rubbish at it. The rest of the year I look quite presentable (at least I like to think so), but I never know what to wear in warm weather - particularly for work, where the arctic air conditioning means I'm essentially dressing for two different climates.
I'm tall and quite slim but big norks, so no spaghetti straps, pasty skin, so don't really want to expose arms and legs (and too pale for fake tan), hate maxi dresses... Bah. Anyone else?

[capet]

I'm not great at it either but I normally wear light chino type trousers/cigarette type pants, vest with light blouse over to cover arms but still feel cool and ballerinas/smart sandals.
I have a light cardigan nearby in case it gets chilly.

Otherwise I wear below knee dresses- cotton or light jersey, with short sleeves or else with a light cardigan over them.

Last summer I had a light kimono type top so I wore that over a scoop neck vest and it looked quite smart and I wasn't too hot.

What kind of thing do you normally wear? Is it a very formal office?

[lurkingfromhome]

Yes! Another sufferer here. I long for warm weather then spend the entire summer in the depths of a clothing crisis and can't wait until autumn arrives so that I can get back into my uniform of tights, boots, knitwear & scarves.

I think the problem is mostly my colouring - I am very pasty and so don't like exposing my bare legs. Fake tan is just too much of a faff (and I'm so pale I'd have to apply it all over or would have tanned legs and white everything else and that is just not an option), so that eliminates all the lovely dresses and little skirts that everyone else seems to float around in. I also have fairly big norks and a mid section that is a bit bigger than I would like, and so have to be a bit careful with what I wear on the top half. Maxi dresses make me look like a sack of potatoes. Jeans are too warm and restrictive.

Last year I bought some white skinnies and wore those with long-ish but lightweight tops and sparkly ballet pumps. This year I have my eye on a couple of kimonos which might look quite nice over a simple vest top & skinnies. Would love to dress up a little bit more, but the pasty legs are such a hindrance...

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

I tend to go for chinos/boyfriend jeans and a top, and have a jersey blazer to cover up (it's not a formal office really). That works most says though not if it's really scorching. I hate wearing skirts as well, too restrictive. I'd like a jersey-type midi dress but all the ones I've seen either have some stupid cut out bit at the back that would show my bra or that thing where the front hem is higher than the back. Because all women like to showcase their knees, don't they?

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Bumping for evening style queens...