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!)

I'd just like to be able to wear some of my summer clothes. It's not that cold here atm but there's a monsoon started up so decided against going out. But if I was going out it would be difficult to know what to wear - sandals in that rain? Boots?

alsmutko - dress however you like, whatever suits. I'd wear ankle boots in the current monsoon we have here...

Lashes, Whatever gives judgey strangers the best view of my fat rolls and bad tattoos

re the shoes - never come across anyone who has worn shoes which actually hurt, how strange!

I applaud your sensible friends and relations. i have known plenty of people, mostly women, who simply expect shoes to hurt, who will tolerate shoe pain because the shoes they want only come in regular width and they Won't admit they need extra wide shoes. my DD is fixated on wearing a size despite the fact she actually out grew that size since buying her first pair of heels as a teen. She needs at least a hlf size larger, but won't buy that size and is so used to tight shoes that she describes the right size as too loose and floppy.

This threads confirms that I'm not just being paranoid that I'm being judged by strangers for being overweight!

I think the cleavage or legs rule can also be applied to cleavage or shoulders/arms.
I have large boobs which can make me feel brassy in a vest top.

Loose knit or crochet sweaters or cardigans are a good cover up and not too warm.
As is a short sleeved shirt open or knotted at the waist.
I have some lightweight gypsy style tops with three quarter length arms, these also go well with jeans or summer trousers so are preferable to vest tops.

I agree re the expanse of sunburnt flesh looking awful but then I think skinny people look as bad with sunburn too.

bit surprised about us Brits wearing too much blue and stripes. most of my wardrobe is blue as it suits me, alot in the shops.

Have to admit I do like dresses in summer! Vintage tea dress for work & similar shape but a bit shorter for outside work. Cool on the mergers & don't have to worry about a belt that can make me feel a bit sweaty.

On holiday it goes out of the window a bit as a dress can look odd when hillwalking!

Finding maternity clothes for the summer is a challenge. I don't want dresses and shorts that barely cover my backside or huge tent like dresses. Just something middle ground that isn't horribly expensive will do.

I'd like it to be warm enough for me to dress like shit. It's reet cald as owt up north.

I agree with you OP, you do see some real sights. & I wish glamour would come back too, I really love 40s & 50s style dressing, I tend to rock a lot of vintage I think it flatters women of all shapes and sizes

But on the other hand I think people can wear what they want. There's enough to worry about in this world without over-worrying what you look like to others. At the moment Im trying to get my stomach to go down, deluding myself that when summer really hits I will skip out of that door in a vest top and slinky jeans. Its a dream, really..but doesn't mean I won't wear the vests top, Im not hiding myself away people's eyes will just have to be assaulted

Coconut maternity clothes are hideous full stop. :(

I dread Summer dressing

I don't like sandals, I don't like showing my armpits. I have to do all sorts of fair removal. Summer clothes are often cheap and nasty

I think it is harder to look good in Summer

hair removal, even

I agree with the OP. I think dresses are great for summer and there are lots of nice ones available now. Can be a bit hit and miss regarding material but still lots of choice. And they are comfortable to wear.

I think there are lots of styles of dressing for summer that look great depending on age, colouring, size etc and some people get it absolutely spot on even if they dress in a style that would not be mine. Doesn't mean I can't appreciate that they look good. But lot's of people (male and female) don't make an effort it seems.

I also think that Summer is so elusive that it's not worth investing in much Summer stuff.

Finding maternity clothes for the summer is a challenge. I don't want dresses and shorts that barely cover my backside or huge tent like dresses. Just something middle ground that isn't horribly expensive will do

I have just taken delivery of some M&S summer maternity trousers that seem nice and light. But tried on yet but seem promising. I'm technically challenged and on phone though so struggle to link!

Yarp, I used to think that and then I got so sick of feeling shit every summer and not feeling like 'me' when the warm weather did arrive (even if it was only for a couple of days at a time) so about 3 years ago I started trying to build a summer wardrobe. I bought things in sales that were classic enough and suited me and I spent a bit more on them and put them away when summer was over and I have added to them each year. But it is harder work to find the right stuff than it is in winter.

Ghosts

Yes, I think that's right.

I just don't really know where to start with it.

I do have a couple of dresses, but then without tights the shoes are a problem (I'm a boots or Converse woman).

My favourite summer shoes are floral DMs with cut-out sides but they don't go with everything

I sense a foray into Style and Beauty

I hate summer dressing. My shape's all 'wrong'. I have big thighs/hips, chunky legs and sadly no boobs (they used to be ok but after breastfeeding they flopped). I'm a crap shape. Ideally I'd wear a dress to work but they look rubbish with no boobs to fill them, and then there's my chunky dazzlingly white legs.

I have wide feet so I need comfy birkenstocks,nothing with heels for me.

And my hair goes frizzy with the humidity, so 'elegant' is never going to be my look.

I couln't give a flying fuck what anyone thinks about what I wear. I HATE fashion and wear what I feel comfortable in - mostly baggy short sleeved dresses.

Comfy, have you tried fitting a bra how they recommend in the style section? Makes a massive difference!

Obviously people dress to suit themselves.

This OP might have got better responses if it had beeen in Style and Beauty.

It is a fair point and a legitimate discussion as is any discussion about fashion or style - does not mean the OP is a bad person.

It is nice to look good and to feel that you look good. I also think - although I don't expect much agreement - that there is something about being amongst people who dress well. I used love working in the City and there was an energy and interest to being with people who had dressed well, (thoughtfully, stylishly, creatively.) It is fun. It is attractive. No-one is saying that you have to dress like that but it is, I certainly feel, a bit depressing, to see crowds of badly dressed people

I agree OP and I find summer dressing very difficult now I the worong side of fifty and fat, (and poor)!.

DP and I put on matching t-shirt and shorts to go shopping earlier. Naturally stripped them off again when we got home. Sunbathing in garden - love the warm weather!

meeyemeyes

Two things I'd say to your Franco-Italian survey:

1. Those lucky blighters get to see a lot of sun. Maybe they don't need a kick of bright colour to cheer themselves up like we do

2. In rural France, where my ILs live, people are just as bedecked in polyester supermarket-bought clothes as they are here