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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

335 replies

MarmaladeTwatkins · 08/07/2013 13:11

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?! Confused 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?

OP posts:
Skinheadmermaid · 09/07/2013 07:04

I've bern wearing fit and flare dresses or skater skirts and vest tops. I do have to wear thin tights to cover my fat knees...i wish i didn't but i'm self conscious about them. (Used to be about 7 stone overweight and i'm not now)
My god i've seem some hideous tattoos while out and about...i'm actually shocked that such bad tattoo artists haven't been pulled up by trading standards. My tattoos look like masterpieces by Leonardo da vinci in comparison! (and they are old school style) are people just buying themselves a tattoo gun and scrawling some vile tribal horse up their hand then picking at it so the ink goes all patchy then melting it in the sun....
If you want your tattoo to last and not disintegrate into a blurry mess in five years-sun block and shade!!!!!

Sorry got a bit carried away there....

FinallySaidMama · 09/07/2013 07:13

Slightly over-dressed for the Bigg market, mind

ARF! Grin

SelectAUserName · 09/07/2013 07:45

God OP, judgy much? Your maxi dress comments in particular are just downright bitchy. We're not allowed to wear thin plain stretchy ones in case they show - gasp! Horror! - a bit of VPL or the outline of any bulges but if we wear patterns (which are more likely to hide the above) we're "lurid". So what exactly are we supposed to wear? A dress of your exact design and making? A burka? Or are we just supposed to stay indoors and not offend your precious sensibilities?

Fortunately, since I don't actually give a flying fuck what you think, I'll continue to wear my "lurid" patterned maxi dresses with my little shrugs and enjoy being cool and comfortable. Occasionally I may even wear them with wedges. Try not to have a sleepless night.

Original poster
MarmaladeTwatkins · 09/07/2013 09:01

Oh goodness. I hadn't thought of those dreadful little shrugs...

OP posts:
Vagndidit · 09/07/2013 09:28

I have to say that I found it much easier to dress while living in a much warmer climate (central Texas, y'all...) than here in the U.k. In most warm climates you tend to limit your exposure to the heat and sun during peakmtimes just as a matter of survival. Shops and restaurants are air-conditioned to the point of near freezing and you hop into your air conditioned car or other transport to get somewhere. You dress normally and get by.

Here I've found a much more outdoorsy/pedestrian culture that requires you to be exposed to the elements a lot more. So yes, 24C is going to seem as uncomfortable as higher temps would to those more conditioned to the heat.

I'm blown away at how hot and stuffy interior spaces are in this country...and it's NOT EVEN HOT.

FreudiansSlipper · 09/07/2013 09:28

i have to dress smart today pants so black linen pencil skirt black blouse later cropped jeans and flip flops. i keep my legs knees up hidden because i like to think of others and what they may have to endure

go to france, spain or italy most people look stylish, casual and comfortable key is not trying too hard to achieve the often cheap and tacky summer look

digerd · 09/07/2013 09:38

Years ago, I was wearing a black vest top with my back to sun. Suddenly I was roasting. Changed into a white colour and was fresh as a daisy.
Black absorbs the heat from the sun, white reflects it.

SacreBlue · 09/07/2013 10:17

Today I shall mostly be wearing a bikini 😎 aside from that I wear floaty little numbers or nothing at all.

Once was coming back from work in a white number with hair in braids & a bunch of flowers & a man shouted across "oy fairy, lost your glade?" Grin

lustybusty · 09/07/2013 10:28

feegle thanks for the info, I'm guessing it wouldn't be quite so "maxi" on me then. Sad the search continues....

TeeBee · 09/07/2013 10:36

I don't really give a hoot what other people are wearing, too busy getting on with my life. Suits the wearer, bugger the starer.

digerd · 09/07/2013 10:41

After having an earwig climb up the inside of my very full tiered knee length skirt, years ago, getting back into the car and being nipped on my bare upper thigh/cheek, when I was stitting, wore culottes from then on.

To be sure of no creepy crawlies getting up there, I wear harem pants which have a welt round the ankle. Especially when in the countryside.

amessageforyouYoni · 09/07/2013 10:46

Its taken me until these last few very hot days to accept that is summer and I must make an effort to dress appropriately. I am always in denial up until the very end, because the weather is just so bloody unpredictable and crap most of the time. last week, i wore sandals one day and it pissed down with rain and felt a right twat. the following day I wore tights and ankle boots and it was about 75. I was sweltering.

The worst arena is work. What do you wear when you have to dress conservatively, yet flatteringly for your body shape... and for 80 degree heat? Arghhhhhh. It does my head in.

I disagree in general, though. I have seen some lovely outfits out and about in London. And I have got my groove now at weekends and have a 'style' that suits me and is cool and comfy - knee length, print or floral summer dresses with cap sleeves & pretty sandals. Actually dreading going back to boots and jeans!

chrome100 · 09/07/2013 10:54

I just wear tea dresses, they cover your shoulders so you don't get burnt and hide enough leg to be tasteful.

I fucking loathe maxi dresses, especially the big colourful ones. Looks like you're wearing a circus tent.

OneLittleToddleTerror · 09/07/2013 11:01

amessage I think for work, you can wear a nice dress, sandals, and a cardigan if the office air con is cold. But tbh, my office air con is so cold that I can wear my normal British summer clothes with black trousers. (aka stuff for 18-20C). As long as I don't venture out during the peak of the day, I'm fine!

retroelle · 09/07/2013 11:12

Having grown up in the North, went to uni in the Midlands, and then lived around London and the Thames Valley, my (dull) addition to this thread is that I think Londoners are actually pretty good at dressing for the hot weather, while those from my hometown were generally appalling (spaghetti strap top that shows half the cup of your once-white bra, anyone?). I think it's a money and length of season thing - southern city folks are more likely to invest in a couple of decent summer outfits than their northern brethren.

Short-arses may be interested to know that ASOS sells petite maxi dresses.

Summernow · 09/07/2013 11:21

Maybe for the same reason that Latin American, including me Grin dont know how to style a scarf as british woman...

LittleMachine · 09/07/2013 11:23

One of our dinner ladies had her school badge fleece on yesterday. I nearly passed out looking at her.

On the other hand, many dads came to pick up the children in my class with no tops on. They were all chest thrusty and thought I was looking at them.
I was. But I wanted to be sick.

frissonpink · 09/07/2013 11:24

Think I'm looking quite European today Grin

Lovely floaty floral-ish lightweight trousers, and a strapless top. Hair is up in a chignon. Sunnies are on.

But no, YANBU. Not enough people take note that you should dress for the shape you have, not the shape you want !

Sallyingforth · 09/07/2013 11:45

Sitting at my desk in the home office, entirely as nature made me. Very comfortable!

Sallystyle · 09/07/2013 11:53

I have been wearing short shorts but not the kind where you see any arse, with vests.

Not exactly lovely but keeps me cool enough and I don't look hideous and they do fit Grin

Sallystyle · 09/07/2013 11:54

Oh goodness. I hadn't thought of those dreadful little shrugs...

That made me snort! I love how people are getting all fired up and then you reply with that Grin

wigglybeezer · 09/07/2013 12:20

I was looking quite classy in a long white sleeveless linen shift dress ( with a slim leather belt on top to stop itlookinglike a nighty) but then I dropped some egg mayonnaise on it an d now have a grease stain. I can't actually go out in it either as I am a gingery Scot and have to wear factor 50, which leaves a horrid yellow stain on white clothes. Anyone know a good sunblock that doesn't?
I work part time as a gardener and am seriously overheating this week as I have employed the fit, tanned 18 year old son of a friends a labourer and am don't want to expose any of my peely wally flesh in front of him!

threestars · 09/07/2013 12:21

I think British people would look great in the summer if there were decent clothes in the shops. Today I was looking for a dress and despaired of finding anything wearable.
Either the waist was way too high, ("grecian") making my stomach look massive (and it's not too bad at a size 10);
or a gorgeous looking slim dress but with the back cut out so no bra allowed and a tanned back essential;
or a lace insert that was too low down;
or all lace, with no slip on sale nearby to wear it with;
and all way too short.
And only micro mini skirts on sale.

I ended up buying a silk dress but needs a strapless bra and it's a bit low under the arm and short in skirt but the best of a bad bunch.

Maybe I'm just visiting the wrong shops?

pommedechocolat · 09/07/2013 12:24

Summer is so much harder! Dresses do the job in really nice weather but in the UK a dress with no tights leaves you shivering and you cant wear opaques in August can you?!

pianodoodle · 09/07/2013 12:57

Thermometer is sitting at 35 in the sun here.

DD and I are sitting under the tree in the garden in nappy and pants respectively.

I have my feet in a tiny paddling pool full of leaves and plastic toys.

I'm Northern Irish and not used to this heat especially with no sea breeze to cool things down.

It's hot and I'm pregnant and I'm not moving :)

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