to think that most people do not know how to dress well for warm weather

[KiteKit]

It is a beautiful sunny warm day here and I am working (boo!) but took my lunch at a place where I was able to indulge in a spot of people watching and it struck me as I was sitting there that the vast majority of the people walking past me looked awful. I know that is a harsh thing to say, but on the whole they were wearing badly fitting, unflattering summer clothes with acres of red sunburned flesh on show.

I saw every combination of vest top and shorts on both men and women etc. I started looking for anyone who looked good to my taste and in the space of 40 mins only about 2 walked by out of the many who passed my table and they both looked Italian as it happens!

It does sound very judgemental and I certainly do not hold myself up as a champion of summer dressing whatsoever, it is because I struggle to find nice, heat appropriate clothes for a very pale skinned 45 year old that I am especially tuned it it I think.

I really wish we could go back to olden days when clothes were elegant - I love the style of the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's - after that elegance sort of went out the window imo!

For what it is worth a vest top with spaghetti straps, bra straps showing underneath, fleshy upper body (it was also surprising how many overweight people there were) spilling out of it, cargo shorts and ecco style walking sandals may feel comfortable but my god they look bad on 99.9% of those I saw today!

It is a struggle isn't it? Or is it just me? I want to find beautiful summer clothes that make me feel great and I don't seem to be able (I am wearing a cream cotton shirt with cream embroidery, dark skinny jeans with the bottoms turned up - my nod to the warm weather today and snake skin flat sandals -hardly setting the fashion world on fire!)

[mrsfuzzy]

a lot of people kid themselves that they are 3 sizes smaller by wearing too small clothes but then it's each to their own, all that flesh on show should be enough to turn anyone veggie if not off their lunch ! seriously though, after being smothered up in layers for months on end i guess it is a natural reaction to strip [ must admit i'm a big fan of the '40's and i wear vintage most of the time !

[Bunbaker]

And I am wearing jeggings, long sleeve T-shirt and thick, woolly cardigan because summer hasn't happened here yet .

I agree though, that many people don't always wear weather appropriate clothing regardless of the weather or time of year.

[WorraLiberty]

The thing is, lots of people are far too busy/too happy just getting on with their lives to care.

As long as they're comfortable and they like what they're wearing, that's all that matters, especially if they're comfortable in their own skin.

[namechangeagaimm]

I'd like to be comfortable and happy with myself without feeling other people are judging me, or looking down at me, however I looked.

[ginmakesitallok]

Thank fuck I live in Scotland and don't have to worry about my summer dressing offending you.

[LashesandLipstick]

Most "trendy" clothes are ugly and disgusting. Garish neon monstrosities soiling the eyes of anyone unfortunate enough to step outside on a summers day.

[mrsfuzzy]

bun makes sure you've got your tea cosy woolly hat and gloves on, feel for you, it's muggy here in the south.

[NerrSnerr]

I don't know, I don't really notice what others wear. I probably look like shit but I feel comfortable in what I'm wearing.

[thornrose]

You must live somewhere horrible. I saw lots of lovely summer dressing when in town today.

[KiteKit]

I know exactly what you mean worra and namechange and I want to feel like that about it too but there have to be better options for feeling comfortable in heat. I sort of blame the clothing industry which sounds nuts but it is SO much easier to buy cheap summer clothing of that style from places like Primark etc than to find nice things. Even finding a nice everyday summer dress can be hard work (I decided this year I was going to try out wearing dresses on holidays). I think for a lot of people it is handy and budget friendly to pop into primark and grab some vests and everyone is wearing them, so it must be ok.....iykwim? I don't think I am articulating this very well though.......

[mrsfuzzy]

lash, totally agree and they mainly seem to be worn by a certain type of person, and no i'm not talking about 'the poor' who usually have a lot more respect for themselves.

[ninaaa]

It is a beautiful sunny warm day here
Where are you?! It is cold and miserable here.

[KiteKit]

Perhaps I do live somewhere horrible thorn it is a large city and that was also something that I noticed - tons of people wearing clothes that you might expect on the beach (obvs not bikinis!) rather than a city.

[Chillyegg]

Didnt kate moss issue some form of plea a few years ago for women in the uk to leave more the imagination in the summer? Personally i prefer a good pair of harem pants and a top. Shorts are too much work what with leg shaving etc.

[KiteKit]

ninaaa perhaps that it partly the problem, it is usually cold and miserable here too! This warm spell has caught eveyone off guard!

[mrsfuzzy]

kite, there is nothing wrong with primark for topping up clothes but they need to be the right size for the wearer. rolls of flab on show is not a good look in any brand of clothing,

[WorraLiberty]

There's nothing wrong with Primark clothes imo.

You say 'and I want to feel like that about it too'...

So why can't you? Are you very unhappy with your looks/style? Or insecure about yourself?

Apart from a few people I know who have always been 'into' clothes/fashion as a hobby...the only other people I know who think about these things to the extent you are, are people who (for various reasons) are unhappy with themselves/their lives.

There's so much more to life than clothes and shoes.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

I think a lot of people can't be arsed hunting for stylish warm weather clothing when 95% of the year they're living in a cold or slightly cold climate. So they just put on whatever clothes they wore when in Spain or France or wherever.

[fattymcfatfat]

does it matter if some random stranger is overweight? really? you don't know why they are overweight. I am overweight because of mobility issues making it difficult to exercise without being in excruciating pain, then when I finally start to lose weight I fell pregnant again, making mobility worse. now I can barely get to the downstairs loo without being in tears, and that's using crutches. I wear what I'm comfortable in and what is easy for me to get on. being 35 weeks pregnant, and unable to move means I usually live in maxi dresses, and yes my fat arms are on show. I'm sorry. if that offends you.

[LashesandLipstick]

Fuzzy it does as well. nothing to do with money, you can buy decent clothes quite cheaply. Money doesn't buy good taste

[KiteKit]

No, I am neither insecure or unhappy with my looks. It was an merely observation that a lot of the people I saw today were badly dressed for their size and shape.

[Socalled]

I agree that for a lot of people, there doesn't seem to be a warm weather middle ground between 'work' and 'beach'. Winter coats cover a multitude of sins.

I find buying summer clothes difficult - pale-skinned, red haired 42 year old, who doesn't like anything uncomfortable or too baring - and it shouldn't be.

[AntiHop]

Couldn't give a fuck what other people wear. I can barely give a fuck what I wear. As long as it's comfortable and has a pocket for my phone.

Yabu.

[thornrose]

Aha, well I live right next to the beach so maybe that's the difference! We can get away without having to do city summer dressing which is probably a whole different ballgame!