Anyone fancy joining me in a summer clothes for HoC Winters thread?

[LongGame]

Hello HoC Winters. I used to enjoy lurking and sometimes posting on the old HoC winters thread on here but there's not been any activity for a while.

I'm looking to add some colour to my summer wardrobe having lived in mainly navy/grey and burgundy for the winter. I know summer clothes in 'winter' colours can sometimes be a challenge - it's easy to end up in just white and navy - so I thought I'd share a couple of my latest buys.

I got this Boden maxi dress in bright pink and this Phase Eight dark emerald asymmetric light weight knit.

I've not bought anything from Boden in ages (as I'm not a patterns person) but it's a plain colour, I love a maxi dress and the cut of the top is very me. I was drawn to the navy which is an 'outstanding' colour for me top to toe but I went for the pink which is close to HoC magenta IRL which is only a 'very good' at 50%. (Still hankering after the navy a bit though).

I've never bought from Kettlewell as the pieces haven't seemed very stylish. But I'm keen to add some bright blues and purples to my wardrobe so took a look last night and might give some of the more fitted t-shirts a go. Maybe this and/or this.

What are you buying or coveting for this summer?

Must admit I tend to mostly wear black and white in summer, plus denim or chambray.

I have found my tribe!
Excellent idea re summer clothes thread!
I want to start moving away from florals (I can’t stand them, I have too many short floral dresses in black and navy) and I was wondering whether I can get away with white linen...🤔....worried that I am so pale that it may look like a nightie...

Oh 👋🏻So I am not an official winter as never had my colours done, but I really suit jewel colours - teal, cobalt blue, crimson, raspberry, blue reds, purple blue, burgundy, greys and of course, navy.
I look awful in pastels so tend to buy a lot of Autumn Winter clothes which I feel great in and then it all goes wrong as the weather gets warmer
Can I join your gang?

at 'nightie' Maraki

I'm on the lookout for a good white summer shirt, I tried a couple from Next but they were a weird cut on me. Boden have one and it comes in Long (I'm tall) so I may give it a try. They've also got it in a yellow that looks like it might be 'acid yellow'. I know that can be one of the hardest colours for us to wear but I have an acid yellow shirt from M&S from a couple of years back that is great with grey or indigo jeans.

Great idea for a thread - I really must move away from black and navy ALL summer! Haven’t bought anything yet though as I’m a terrible shopper.

White doesn’t suit me. My neutral was a peachy colour, but I don’t like it. Ice blue is a possibility.

I'm looking for a red cotton cardigan to wear over a black sundress.

Also desperately looking (and have been for years!) for a full black cotton midi skirt, in an attempt at Audrey Hepburn Roman Holiday style.

Watching, really stuck other than navy , black and white.

I made a mistake really, after my consultation, of interpreting my ability to wear navy, grey, black and burgundy as permission to only wear navy, grey, black and burgundy. So it’s very hard to add colour.

Welcome everyone!

I've been browsing Kettlewell some more and quite fancy this gigi top in raspberry. I have some navy wide leg linen trousers I think it would go well with and also white jeans.

They also have it in what they call 'electric lime' which is I guess their equivalent to acid yellow...hmmm tempted for my hols.

Yay! I'm in. I mainly add cobalt to the black white and navy uniform of summer so other suggestions would be fab. I like these Kettlewell vests as they are double layered at the front so hold me in! www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk/products/vest-camisoles/item/soft-square-vest

I like the look of this

And this

I've just bought this
www.brora.co.uk/shop/gauzy-linen-sundress

I'm in.

If anyone spots a below knee not pencil skirt in winter colours, please shout out. My chubby knees don't look good framed by denim, and I'm bored of the navy blue work dress uniform I live in.

Remus how long is the Brora dress please? I’m 5’10 and worried that I will be flashing everything

I'm in! If only that Brora dress wasn't cold shoulder... I need something like that in burnished / dark winter colours but that I can wear a (substantial) bra underneath without it showing. And ideally cheaper...

I have this Kettlewell raspberry top for work. I also have a red stripy maxi from Kettlewell summer 2017 which did not get a lot of wear so will be coming back out this year. I have a navy stripy maxi from M&S which is ancient so could be in the market for a replacement if anyone has any rec's. I prefer a t-shirt shape maxi to a strappy style as it does not show bra straps.

Hi
The Brora dress doesn’t have to be cold-shoulder. I wore it more on my shoulders, slightly like the picture and it was fine with a bra. It is pricey but the quality is beautiful.

My HOC consultant posted this Zara top on her Instagram feed as perfect for Winters:

m.zara.com/uk/en/two-tone-crossover-bodysuit-p05580401.html?v1=5372521

Thoughts? It feels a bit ‘parroty’ and tge red looks a bit orangey, but she is the professional...

I probably wouldn't wear red and pink together like that. I know all our colours are meant to go together but for me it would be in smaller amounts. I did order a lovely pair of shoes in red and pink but they had a gold buckle and I couldn't get past that so sent them back.

I think it depends on your personal style whether that top would suit.

I think if you're going to go with bright colours like that top, the fabrics need to be really good. In polyester, it risks looking garish at best, or like a jester's costume. I think that particular top looks really cheap, personally.

I've been trying to find a red white and blue combo. Either plain or striped or spotted.
Lots of tops are too short though, and I want a skirt that comes to at least the knee or preferably slightly longer but not ankle length.

Remus and LongGame thanks for the honest feedback.

Belinda we’ll start looking....

What colour swimwear do people wear? I am really really pale, my skin is so white that it has a grey tone. We holiday every year in Greece and I feel really awkward and stand out on the beach. I tried black bikinis and I looked like an elderly grandma (not helped by my extra weight). I tried red but it was worse, it looked fluorescent. I think mid blue is the only safe colour...impossible to find something in jewel tones. Everyone is tanned and wears black or white bikinis with white linen coverups....

@RosieLig Thanks! I will keep an eye out for it if Brora does a sale. How does the sizing come up?

Someone was asking about Kettlewell up-thread. I’ve bought from Kettlewell and liked the quality, though the small size is a bit long on the arms and sometimes a bit baggy on me (and I’m a norky 10), so it wouldn’t work if you’re any smaller than that. I particularly like the ice colours, as they’re hard to find (and impossible to identify from a photo online) but work well for me as work tops with black / charcoal / navy trousers and jacket.