Are summer clothes a waste of money unless you go overseas for hols?

[pinkfrocks]

I'm beginning to think so.
It's now mid May and people are still in boots and coats.
Even if we were to get 3 months of sizzling sun in June July and August (and maybe 2 weeks Sept) that's only 14 weeks. And we all know June and July are often washouts.

This season I have bought 2 pairs summer trousers and 2 T-shirt type tops and not worn either yet.

[Wenchelda]

I was thinking the same thing earlier. I bought a couple of pairs of summer trousers and 2 tops a few weeks ago and all are still unworn. As are all my lovely dresses. I too thought that maybe my money would've been better spent on less summery clothes. Come on sun!!

[pseudonymity]

In this country, yes. I bought shorts and a sundress from Zara but I realise I might be able to count the days I can wear them here on my two hands.

[StrawberryMojito]

What annoys me most is the lack of any warmer clothing in the shops from April onwards, especially for dc. It's like the people who stock the rails think we are going to have 4 months of blistering heat, which we almost never have.

[mysteryfairy]

If you're just concerned with how little wear they get then going abroad is still only going to give you two weeks worth of wear which you'd probably also get in the UK.

I think wardrobes should be biased in favour of winter clothes, but also it's possible to buy clothes which are summery but also warm e.g. pale coloured jeans, switch from boots to trainers or loafers if it's not really sandal weather etc

[FrugalFashionista]

I'm in a much warmer climate and even I don't need a full wardrobe of summer clothes. It's been summery for a month already and I'm rotating a pair of shorts, a top and a shirt, couple of dresses, a pair of ripped jeans, a pair of sandals, a pair of espadrilles and an army jacket, plus my sportswear. The thing is, when it is warm, you need far less clothes

[Floisme]

Suits me as I prefer autumn and winter clothes. Plus I can wait and buy all my summer stuff in the July sales.

[louloubelle2]

I've come to this conclusion lately too. We get max three months of sun here and even then many of those days you could wear jeans.

I also seem to have a separate wardrobe for my summer holiday anyway. There I live in cover ups and swimsuits in the day, shorts and vests for day trips, all cheap as they get sweaty and covered in sun cream. In this country I'd wear more outfits and be more coordinated, wear dresses, skirts etc that would be too much for a casual beach holiday.

If I have bought summer clothes in the last few years, the sales start so early usually before the hot weather, you don't need to buy anything full price. Some shops are starting now and I'm about to leave for work in my waterproof parka and scarf.

[GoodbyeToAllOfThat]

I think you're right. I generally summer-ify my year-round outfits in London because it's really too cold to really embrace summer clothes, i.e. I wear flip flops with jeans and a lightweight jumper.

I keep my sundresses in a bag on a shelf in my cupboard and pull them out for holiday and hot London days - they don't even warrant a place on a hanger.

I don't even rotate my winter jumpers into mothball storage bags anymore. I wear them year-round.

[SweetAndFullOfGrace]

I grew up in Sydney and I wore jeans all year round even there, let alone in a cold country, so I'm quite mystified by the prevalence of teeny summer dresses in shops in the UK at this time of year. One or two summer maxi dresses is enough, on the off chance we have a few days over 20 degrees...!

[Dowser]

And I thought all you Londoners had all the hot weather!

That's that illusion shattered then.

True what you say about summer clothes.

Ivebrought a summer ish wardrobe with me for my 2 week trip around the uk. Last night I wore a sleeveless dress, a cardigan , a fleece jacket and a thick coat. Tights and boots

The only difference between that and winter is the dress would have had sleeves and the tights would have been thick leggings!


I was still cold!

[SuperFlyHigh]

My summer clothes aren't a waste of money no.

I prefer nicer skirts/tops (have wasted so much money on tops that are rubbish) for summer and also co-ordinated. I've so far bought some naice Tara Jarmon tops and skirts which are classics and I've worn them so far for the past 4-5 years. Same with naice dresses, Kew etc. I switch these round when I go abroad - if I go eg to a really hot country I'll more likely be in shorts but about 2 summers ago I picked up denim shorts and cotton shorts in Gap that are perfect for here and abroad, and vest tops too (vests in sale).

I also have more summery cardigans (lighter colours, fabrics) Monsoon, Warehouse etc and these come out too. If there is a chill then yes the fleeces come out.

[PetiteBateau]

My summer wardrobe involves removal of cardie & tights, while s wearing the same dresses, jeans & tops & changing boots for sandals

[Pumpkinette]

I was just having a moan to myself about this yesterday. It's the UK. Most of us don't get a warm summer and still require things with sleeves and such in the summer but the shops don't appear to notice. You would think with the vast amount of summer clothing that ends up in the sale rack every August they would realise.

I'm sure last year up here we got a total 3 weeks of warm weather spread out over the course of 3 months. Maybe not even 3 weeks - possibly 2 and a half.

I don't tend to buy summer clothes anymore. I top up bits as needed but I pull out the same stuff year after year. I do need some new shorts this year due to weight loss but other than that I don't think I will be buying much.

I've actually just spent the past 3 weeks hunting for boots to replace my current ones that are in tatters and I have found nothing on the shops. It's been raining heavily for the past week. I need my boots not the stupid flimsy sandals that appear to be the only footwear avalible in the shops just now I will most likey have to take a gamble and buy some online. I hate buying shoes online because I'm between a 5 and a 6 and really need to try them on first.

As for kids clothes -not a jacket to be found anywhere just now. Poor DD has grown and her jacket is now too short in the sleeves but no replacement can be found. I think I might have to head to eBay / charity shops to get one.

I'm glad you started this thread OP. I thought I was the only one.

[vintagepink]

I don't buy a new summer wardrobe every year. I have lots of summery dresses and tops but I don't get enough wear out of them to justify buying more each year. Thinking about it, I've barely worn any of them since I got back from holiday last August! I have a weakness for nice dresses though so I keep on buying them when I see something I like anyway.

[GoodbyeToAllOfThat]

I agree pumpkin, it appears that UK retail is not really tailored to the British climate. You might need a skimpy sundress only 2 or 3 days out of the summer in the UK (10 at a push?) but they dominate the rack space. Why?

[hippospot]

I don't think they're a waste of money if you buy things that won't go out of fashion so you can wear them for several years.

I rotate my wardrobe (lack of hanging space) and it means each spring I look forward to getting out my "old favourites" and maybe adding a few new vests or something. I never get bored of my summer clothes because they get so little wear. But then my tastes are fairly classic and not at all trendy :)

I agree it is madness though that the shops are so crammed of stuff clearly designed to be worn in very hot temperatures. Though last year in London it was lovely and hot for most of June and July and part of September.

[Oly4]

I agree but I get so sick of
Jumpers and winter clothes that I buy new summer clothes anyway. Just for the change of scene!!!

[pinkfrocks]

Thanks goodness it's not just me then.
I need to go to such an effort to wear a dress with no tights- legs done and need false tan to cover veins etc- that it's not worth it unless we have a scorching few days.

I have 2 summer dresses that I would wear- one a sleeveless, fitted, linen shift style which is a staple and another one which is yet unworn bought last year. I have 2 other dresses with short sleeves which again need to be worn without tights really, so that's it.

If it warms up a bit I'm in capris, tops and cardi with Superga or converse or maybe sandals if it's really warm.

I can't mix winter dresses with summer because my winter dresses are merino tunics or knitted dresses and far too warm; I think it's a 'young' thing to be able to wear the same dresses all year round even with a cardi on top.

[FoodieMum3]

I agree. I've lost a lot of weight and I was pregnant with DS last Summer so this year, I've treated myself to an entire new wardrobe of Summer clothes that I've yet to wear anything from, bar the odd vest top under a blazer.

I follow shops in my town on facebook and they've been advertising summer clothes since February

[SuperFlyHigh]

You know one of my pet hates is shorts shopping, when I was in Gap the other year (or 2) ago I was trying on denim shorts (got a great review) and slightly distressed, I was worried they'd look yucky on me but the woman in the next cubicle reassured me and they look great with a tan.

I think when you see shorts that you know won't date you'll get them!

[specialsubject]

it is May so it is not summer yet.

Here in not-London and not-Scotland we've had some lovely warm vests and shorts days. Not today but it is forecast to warm up.

and surely you don't need to buy new clothes each and every year if you are an adult? Buy what you need when you see it, but most of us have tons we never wear and don't need to buy anything.

[BrendaBlackhead]

I think it's also a case that as one gets older one feels the cold more. The thought of wearing shorts and flipflops at the moment is horrendous . I know I have embraced middle age when if I'm truly honest then an anorak is the one piece of essential clothing in this country. In fact I now have three anoraks for all seasons. I haven't yet bought a beige one...

And I do live by "Ne'er cast a clout till May is out" - it could still snow yet (and I live in the south of England...).

[carrie74]

We're lucky that we go to Florida most Easters so (a) we get a good burst of hot weather while we're there and (b) I buy 90% of our summer clothes cheap while we're there.

I really feel the cold (and have been very pleased this week that I didn't pack away my cashmere jumper, as I'm wearing them again this week), so it really has to be pretty darn warm for me to expose my legs and arms. I've found a good workaround is blazers with short sleeved Ts - then if it does warm up or the sun comes out, you just shed a layer. But for me, shorts are only to be worn when abroad (and the 3 days we get over 23 degrees). I've got a good selection of shorts now, some of which are 4+ years old (before that it was baby weight, so threw out my previously slimmer stuff, and then had to throw out the bigger stuff - my weight's stable now!), all classics. Ts I find I get good wear out of, and then as you say, they can get stained really easily so need regularly replacing. Bikinis, I buy at least one a year, to replace the stained or bobbly ones - they don't last very long IMO.

Now Birkies - well I generally live in these end May-September at least (as well as the Easter break), so I buy a pair a year, wash regularly and wear them out completely.

Summer dresses - I have a few, many are a few years old, all are classics, won't need to buy another this year, I wouldn't have thought.

[UmiSays]

Definitely, OP.

I have managed to get it down to a 'capsule' wardrobe for British summers, because its so pathetically shaky and short. There is usually a warm week or two in June, some decent ish in July, weird hit and miss weather in August, and a 'last throes' mini heatwave in Sept..so, probably only 5 or maximum 6 actual weeks when its warm.

If I'm going on holiday, i'll also dress differently to how I would in a british summer - much lighter, bit skimpier, more beachy. Wouldn't wear half of it in London, so no point buying unless you've got a holiday booked, iyswim.