To think that the British just don't know how to dress for summer?

[MarmaladeTwatkins]

Me included.

During the heat wave, I don't think I've seen a single person dressed nicely/appropriately. Same when I've been abroad. I fully accept that it might just be where I live/go on holiday, btw.

I just don't think that the British can do summer clothes very well. Maybe because we don't get that much of it? And what is this thing for men wandering around public areas without a top on? When did that become acceptable?! You don't see the men of Greece or Italy wandering around the streets without a top. It makes for grim viewing.

Am I being a miserable twat?

[LaFataTurchina]

Since reading this thread I've been checking out what everyone else is wearing during my train journey to work.

I've concluded that the women at my local train station all look nice and weather appropriate!

Here's what everyone's wearning -

teens/early 20's - little summer dresses and converse, or clingy maxi dresses/skirts and little denim jackets.

Mid 20s - 40s - more structured cottony summer dresses, light weight work dresses and cardis - lots of nice smart sandals.

middle age + linen trousers and nice floaty tops.

[digerd]

I went out 4 times today.
9.30 to walk the dog in the fields. Blue south leggings, orange v neck cotton top and a lightweight jacket as weather was sunny but cool
10.30, walk to shops round the corner.
Cotton cerise top, same jacket and velour smart trousers.
3pm dog walk in fields
Leggings, top and jacket
6.30pm Ditto.

All with a white bakers boy peaked cap, and rust coloured soft cushioned clogs.

[BellEndTent]

There is much hate for the maxi dress on this site but all I can say is that they cover a lot of the flesh that would otherwise be protruding from years-old, ill-fitting shorts and tops and out of the bottom of regular dresses for which I'm sure we are all very grateful.

I'm seeing a lot more dress/sandals/nice jewelry combos this year. Boring maybe but I think the average British woman is getting better at this dressing for summer lark. Some of the men though.. Grim!

[burberryqueen]

i found a great cotton men's shirt, pale blue with a red needlestripe, quite old, (made in England) fine quality - charity shop of course - to be worn undone over a t-shirt and prevent burnt bits - teamed with light cotton combats in hot pink. I think it looks cool of course I might look like a bag lady who knows?

[TheSmallClanger]

I hate threads like this.

I also have a violent hatred of floaty clothes. On me - everyone else can wear what they want. Floaty looks shit on me. I don't do summer dresses, maxi dresses or gypsy tunicy stuff.

Unless I fancy going down the linen separates route, which I don't, my options are limited. There's shorts or short skirts, but I am 39 and cannot be arsed to depilate all the way up my thighs, so I need to wear tights with these. This isn't a problem in spring and autumn, but right now is seriously not tights weather, unless you want thrush.

I would like the option of knee-length shorts, but I have yet to find a "tasteful" pair that fit, so I wander about looking like Huckleberry Finn in combats and MTB shorts. This probably isn't stylish, but it is MY look and I'd rather that than gynae problems or floatiness.

[persimmon]

I LOVE maxi dresses if they are cut well and not strapless (unless you are small of boob and non-crepy of decollage). I am tall and feel like a Greek goddess in mine PLUS I don't have to spend hours of my life depilating, exfoliating and fake tanning my legs to make then less disgusting semi-presentable.

[BookFairy]

I'm 5ft late twenties and atm wear maxi dresses and jersey maxi skirts in/out of work. It's so close here in the SE I don't think I could manage anything else! Plus I look short in whatever I wear so I ignore the 'short people look shorter in maxi dresses' rule

[IfNotNowThenWhen]

Not read full thread but OH yes Marmalade, you are not wrong.
I remember having been living abroad for years, coming back to London , mid summer, and walking through The City, seeing all the poor office girls just looking so uncomfortable, and rubbish in nylon-y black skirts, pastel frou frou tops, and cheap flip flops.
Dressing for work in hot weather is the hardest for us Brits I reckon.
Having lived in a hot place, I tend to either wear a selection of 1950's/1940's style printed cotton sun dresses (square necklines, nipped in waist, full skirt, or cotton/linen trousers with a thin blouse, often tied at the waist, and HUGE sunglasses (think Lauren Hutton 1970s).
And sometimes I go Rock chick and wear a band T shirt and cut offs, but usually only round the neighbourhood.
The most vital thing is decent leather sandals that I can actually walk in. A nice wedge is good, but NOT cheap nasty fabric ones.
And no burn ever due to factor 1000 and the realisation that I need to stay in the shade, rather than frying my pasty skin in the midday sun.
I still look sweaty and flustered though!

[HerBigChance]

In Muswell Hill. Don't be ridiculous

Haha, brilliant

[cocolepew]

I was behind a woman in the spar this morning. I was wearing a cotton tea dress and Birkinstock Madrids and appeared to be melting. She had on a maxi dress that was straightish and she telling her friend to smooth down her lumps and bumps she had to wear control underwear. She must have been dying with the heat.

I love linen, I have a black pair of ankle skimming linen trousers that I wear with a loose linen shirt or top and look fabulous in them .

Mind you I'm now sitting in the garden with cropped leggings and a vest top on and look like a bag of spuds tied in the middle.