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?

Now I'm not saying I look a million dollars but there were some sights for sore eyes in our town. First of all, bare chested men walking outside are bad enough but it should not be allowed indoors. Now if it were Hugh Jackman I would not be complaining but good god, fat, skinny, they all seem to be at it.

The very worst had to be the overweight Mum pushing the trolley wearing a short black vest and short mini skirt. Your top bum cheeks were out love, I was even embarrassed walking behind you. I also spotted lots of Beckham type tattoos on males and females. Lots of pretty young girls looking effortlessly stylish but then others full of fake tan, false eyelashes, extensions, tribal bodycon dresses, how does all the slap not melt ?,it's boiling here. There was me feeling conscious because my silver flat sandals had broke and I had to wear my school run one's that did not go with my dress.

I'm in Glasgow and the Taps Aff men are hurting my delicate eyeballs. Acres of squidgy pink flesh.

Just to clarify, my tap is definitely not aff. That would not be a good look.

Is it bad that I feel better about my dress now that you've okay'd it Marmalade ? I'm not sure what that says about me

Thank you, though I am just pottering around at home

I very rarely consider myself stylish but I went to my local carnival day yesterday and felt like Kate Moss if she was a size 16. Loads of jersey boob tubes with tiny denim shorts, lobster red skin, huge wedges and sweat. I also saw quite a few 'denim look' jersey mini skirts around teamed with those skin tight aztec print crop tops. There would be some serious sunburn last night.

I felt all cool and sophisticated in linen pencil cut trousers, a cotton top and sandals. Do people really not realise that denim + jersey + sun = sweaty?

And don't get me started on boobs falling out of maxi dresses - if you have huge norks please don't wear a strapless maxi dress with no bra then go on the bouncy castle

How can anyone wear bodycon when it's hot. That must feel so restrictive.

Feegle.

I live in Maxi dresses and I'm quite big. I don't care they keep me cool and balls to anyone else

YABU.

I have been informed that I look bad wearing small summer dresses, because I am too skinny and have milky pale skin. I don't give a shit what anyone thinks and will wear whatever I like, when I like.

If you don't like what people are wearing, don't fucking look at them.

Awww Feegle.

What about that dreadful material that most tops/frocks seem to be made of in Primark/Matalan? The material that I call the sweaty material. It looks like chiffon but it is shiney and feels rank to touch. It actually sets my teeth on edge and makes me depressed. That fabric should NOT be worn in temperatures over 5 degrees.

Im wearing a tight, bodycon dress, comes just above the knee, its aztec print with lots of gold, black, pink and turqoise. With black and gold sandals.

I saw a woman today with a thick black hoodie on and thick black jogging bottoms, her face was like a tomato, why would you do that to yourself?! Its like 24* here

Taps aff types in Scotland always seem to be either pigeon chested skinnies or hugely overweight, and always badly sunburnt. Never a happy medium.

Again, I emphasise my own beauteousness.

"If you don't like what people are wearing, don't fucking look at them."

Are you familiar with peripheral vision and the term "take that chip off your shoulder, young lady"?

I do love "taps aff"

^"I was standing behind a woman yesterday and she had a giant tattoo on the back of her neck that said 'Only God Can Judge Me'

I thought 'You have never been on Mumsnet have you?#"^

Hilarious!

That's a bit rich coming from someone who is judging people based on what they choose to wear.

'Taps aff types in Scotland always seem to be either pigeon chested skinnies or hugely overweight, and always badly sunburnt. Never a happy medium.'

And the skinniest one who is probably called 'Wee Tam' is best friends with the fattest one who is usually called 'Fat Rab'. And they both strut along together as if they're on a bloody catwalk in Milan.

Gotta admire that kind of body confidence.

I was commenting to my husband about this the other day. I said there are two types of British people in the summer. Too many clothes or too few. The ones wearing hats, sweaters, long pants, and the ones wearing tight tube top/no top, and tiny shorts. I don't understand.

I'm in uniform - polyester shirt, thick combat trousers and combat boots

I'm not judging anyone. I included myself in my OP. I think, as a collective group, the British are bad at summer dressing.

Sorry that you've been told you look awful for being slim but I'm sure you'll find a way to live with it...

I know exactly how to dress for summer. If I was a size 8. Being a 12/14 and 5'4" not so much. Cropped jeans and tunic tip for me too.

I was going to say YABU... but I'm sat here in a swimming costume, shorts, a straw hat and an old net curtain, because cotton is too warm.

I don't mind being shit in the heat, I love winter. I don't understand 'hot'.

I'm having a lovely time, but I am suffering in this heat, it's just not for me. So I will moan, and I will acknowledge that YANBU.

I grew up in Devon, and was a barmaid for many a long summer, sweaty smelly barely dressed notherners were the bane of my life (I've lived up North for 25 yrs, it's not a sweeping statement, but an actualy experiential fact) and it didn't matter whether these semi-clad stinkers were fat, thin, hot, not, male or female, they all looked stupid and all smelled rotten.

"And the skinniest one who is probably called 'Wee Tam' is best friends with the fattest one who is usually called 'Fat Rab'. And they both strut along together as if they're on a bloody catwalk in Milan"

Is anyone else imagining Squoosh talking like Mary Nesbit?

Taps aff is a very evocative phrase isn't it. I like it too.

Last time we had a decent summer in Edinburgh (about three years ago I think), I visited Princes Street Gardens.

It was like a sea of milky white and red.

squoosh, brilliant!