British summer clothing

[Kione]

I have to say, just discovered this part of the forum and I am loving it, I love clothes and make up!

So here my dilemma to see if anyone has ideas (I am sure you will :o)

I am spanish although been living in britain for 10 years, but still struggling to wear summer clothes without freezing. I love summer dresses but never but them because I am too cold if I put them on? I love at the moment the flowery dresses, tan sandals and denim jacket, but I would really suffer if I went out in anything like that!

If the sun comes out is ok, but where I live is very windy...

Any ideas? or I just have to get used to it??

Thanks!

In our famously wet part of the country, summer dressing means wearing what you wear in winter, but take your waterproof jacket off if it's not raining.

Zara have loads of scarves in bright colours, they are perfect for livening up neutral coloured knitwear or jackets and making them look summery such as an orange scarf worn with a beige trench. Primark also do good scarfs and they are really cheap.

As cardigans seem to be universally popular (have to be careful with them myself because they can look frumpy on large busts) just to say that Boden are doing a 'catch of the day' with 20% off. Today the catch is their whole their cardigan range.

The good thing about this offer is you can use it with others - so when I bought something yesterday I got a further 15% off with my Red code RE 15. Alas, i'm such rubbish at links I can't link to Catch of Day. Will start separate thread on the offer and I'm sure someone will be able to.

Kione - if your style is rock chick then google Emmanuelle Alt (have just been recommended to do the same on another thread). If you look through some of the images of her I think you will get some inspiration for Rock Chick does Summer . Lots of little jackets, tees and scarf combos.

oh and my other tip is skinny jeans in bright colours - full length and cropped. Okay so they are still jeans but when the weather is crappy you can at least feel summery. Team them with a loose fit vest, scarf and either Converse or flat sandals.

I am in Scotland and I'm quite a chilly person anyway, so I just don't do summer clothing - I wear what in S England you'd wear at the end of September. Leggings under dresses and a pair of cotton pumps. Long sleeved top under a short sleeved dress. Cardigan.

I take a voluminous cotton printed scarf everywhere in case the wind makes my neck cold [precious]

Thanks tulpe going to check right now!

I like her style but it doesn't lokk too summery, I have a biker jacket like that, and the skinnies and that type of scarf, but I am wearing that now! And I don't like wearing black in the summer. I have a biker jacket of that shape too but is red and fabric, not leather, so I suppose I will have to fetch that from Spain.

I just love the dresses in shops for the summer but I see no way of wearing them :(

Talking of the coloured jeans the mother of one of my student´s the other day pitched up wearing these gorgeous bright green jeans (zara again I think) with a white top. She looked amazing. It inspired me but I
don´t think with my thighs I can carry them off.

Would coloured jeans look silly in England?

Kione - how about taking a linen biker-style jacket or shrunken blazer and teaming it with dress and leggings?

Layering, as others have said, is key to UK summer. I have strappy dresses that I could not wear for most of the summer here but I layer with a contrasting vest.

It is frustrating - I totally get that :)

sahminspain - I wore coloured skinnies last year and am already doing so this year. I have red, purple, candy pink and am hoping to add deep pink via Zara. They don't look odd, imo although it is quite unusual to see them here in the UK (much more Spanish/French look).

"Would coloured jeans look silly in England?"

I certainly haven't dared to wear them here! But I used to have green, purple (I promise I didn't looked too silly) and the latest one red. The red ones are back home, never wore them here. My totally favourite jeans now are a white pair of Levi's. They are almost my summer uniform with light grey tops or loose shirts.

tulpe, yeah thats why I think I should bring the red jacket. Not too keen on dress+leggings but I'll have to give it a go. See the only way I like leggings is with wither boots, never tried them with sandals or anything like that. Don't think they would look good on me.

I meant "winter boots" not wither

I've been out this morning and scouted round OXFAM. Loads of floaty summer tops and flowerey scarves all less than £5 each. That's me sorted and could afford a Latte and choc brownie post shop. Hooray... 1st sunglasses day.

I was shocked today to see people in dresses ans flip-flops! Ok, its sunny but come on, I took my jacket off pushing the pram in the sun but then it was chilly. I think I just haven't got the skin :(

I just bought this dress today, totally my style, wearing it with opaques and red ballet pumps today to a party, but also like it with my blue Dr Martens! :o
I would wear it with a denim jacket in the summer or the red one but is the legs bit that I don't know what to do as it is not a dress that takes leggins, hence my question about the nude tights in the summer.

dress