Love Autumn/Winter clothes but I’ve no idea in Summer...Please help me find my Summer style! (Pics included)

[okyeahnoworriesyeahcool]

For years I’ve tried and failed to sort this, so I’m turning to you stylish lot to help...

I love Autumn/Winter clothes and always wear a variation on the same theme - bright fair isles, Arran style knits, checked flannel shirts, jeans, denim fit & flare dresses, LL Bean duck boots/cowboy boots/Dubarrys, a bit of tweed, Barbour jacket. Not the height of fashion but I love it and really look forward to getting dressed every day. I’ll attach some pics to show the sort of looks I mean...

When it comes to Spring and Summer I literally have no idea what to wear. I’ve got a few pairs of linen mix trousers but although they’re comfy in the heat they’re just not ‘me’. Floaty dresses tend to look odd with my big arse and boobs. I don’t know if I need something more structured? Thicker material? But then I’d probably be too hot!! I’ve tried the preppy look (chinos and a white shirt/smart tee) but although I feel that it should, it doesn’t really float my boat.

I’m an hourglass figure, size 12-14 (more 14 at the moment as I’ve just had a baby), with 34FF chest. I can wear short (t shirt) sleeves but not cap sleeves or sleeveless, and nobody needs to see what’s going on above my knees. I’m a SAHM so don’t need to look ‘work’ smart, I just want to love getting dressed every day like I do in the Winter!

Examples

Here are some more

Lightweight jeans and shirts? So basically your winter wardrobe in lighter fabrics.

Shirt dresses? You’ll have to pick carefully with your bust, but they could be the structure you want without the bulk.

Also I’m jealous of how fab your winter look sounds. Feel free to come dress me

I love your a/w style!

I think shirt dresses or maybe the button through dresses that are in the shops at the moment, like this one www.warehouse.co.uk/gb/clothing/dresses/linen-button-through-dress/031500.html?dwvar_031500_color=36&position=13&cgid=dresses#q=Dress&start=13&categoryID=null

Are those images from Pinterest? Could you look at the people who pinned them, see if they have some summer outfits pinned for inspiration?

I’m useless at summer too. So would like to see what comes up!

Good idea princess they are from Pinterest - how do I figure out who pinned them?

cat I love shirt dresses, especially denim/chambray! Off for a google now...

Just bumping to see if anyone has any other ideas

I was always useless at summer, because I hated getting my legs out. A few years ago I saw a lady in a lovely stripy midi length dress and trainers, and thought, yes, I could do that. I hunted down her exact dress, and wore it with some Nike Roshe trainers and the dreaded bare legs - the sky did not fall in. I grew it from there, and my summer uniform is now:

Midi dresses
Wide cropped trousers with tucked in t-shirt
Midi skirt with tucked in t-shirt

Footwear is trainers (Stan Smiths, Gazelles, Nikes), brogues or sandals depending on the weather. Denim jacket or leather biker. I have dresses from AsOS, Topshop, Zara and New Look, skirts from Whistles, M&S and Zara, and trousers from Topshop, Whistles and Miss Selfridge. Warehouse do good basic t-shirts in lots of colours, and I am also fond of a slogan tee.

I’m a 10/12, small waist and bust but giant hips and arse.

I burn easily, I need clothes with a bit of structure and I prefer to cover my arms and knees. Oh and I'm also lazy and I refuse to spend whatever is left of my life tanning/waxing or painting my toenails.

So in the summer I have a bit of a uniform going: trousers (loads of styles around at the moment which is great, just as long as they're not saggy arsed linen) with a silk/cotton or linen shirt or slouchy lightweight V-neck jumper plus brogues or leather plimsols. (Not sandals - my feet burn.) Hell it's almost a capsule wardrobe.

And I save up for autumn.

I do like your winter wardrobe!

It looks like you prefer colour and patttern on your top half? How about cropped jeans with converse type trainers, and a short sleeved fitted patterned shirt (fitted or will hang tent like from the boobs!). Personally I would ignore any arm hang ups and wear a vest/ two vests/ sleeveless shirt as I think that is cooler and less bulky looking.

Have a read of this post on summer dressing, it may help:
onthespike.com

Thanks for the article...I haven’t worn culottes since school! But I’m going to order some linen ones to try. I’ll either look effortlessly cool and elegant or like a massive sweaty crumpled balloon

I actually think they look nice on. With the right shoes/top... it’s a minefield! Good luck.
I also agree with the one nice black dress advice. I wear mine all the time in summer casually with a denim jacket but it can be smartened up with the right shoes.

I love your a/w look. For a similar country / outdoorsy look for the summer I would go for plenty of denim with white cotton, linen, seersucker, cheesecloth type shirts, bohemian / folky tops (embroidered, beaded for example), and natural leather accessories.

Judy where do you find nice midi dresses?

spartacunt I have some from Topshop, New Look, ASOS, and got a fab one from Warehouse lately. And Other Stories have some really lovely midi dresses in currently.

Oh, some of my cropped wide trews are actually culottes - I just didn’t like to say because I know they are often hated! I wear them in winter with fitted, slightly cropped (on the waistband) jumpers, and fishnet tights underneath. I think the trick is to have something tucked in or fitted on top for balance.

You can still wear your shirts open as a second layer, with a vest top or short sleeved T underneath.
Denim shorts or cropped jeans you could wear when its hotter.
Always loads of nice sandals around to wear instead of boots- gladiator style ones might suit your look?
Shirt style dresses but in a thinner material. And some pretty tops in a thinner material to replace your fairisle knits

Also maybe try a maxi skirt or dress? Something like this or this

Are you in the uk? The looks you have posted are very American. Particularly the duck boots. I think you'll have most luck with American brands.

The reason I'm asking if you're in the UK is that the summer clothes required for the uk climate are not the same as if you live elsewhere.

Your winter style is very like mine. For summer I like denim or khaki below - so boyfriend jeans, cut off shorts, denim pencil skirt, chino type trousers and the like, paired with white cotton shirts, chambray, eyelet or broderie anglaise t shirts or sleeveless tops. I also love just a plain white of grey cotton or linen mix t shirt.

I'm not in the UK so maybe not much help with shops, but I have found good pieces in Gap - cargo utility jacket, chambray shorts, eyelet Tshirts and sleeveless tops, and a couple of nice summer skirts over the years - one in chambray, one in black cotton with an eyelet hem that I wear with a white tank top and sandals. At Abercrombie and Fitch I found some nice cotton boxy short sleeve button up shirts in a pale blue, and white with a white stripe. JCrew is also good for a slightly preppy, outdoorsy style. J Crew's sister company Madewell might be worth a look for inspiration, even if it is wrong price point/ not available in the UK.

For summer accessories I like leather wrap bracelets and thin bangles, sunglasses and a panama / fedora style straw hat if it is very sunny. Footwear, I am usually in Birkenstocks of various styles, trainers or, for smarter, D'Orsay style flats -usually in a tan colour. I tend to just stick with the same tan leather crossbody bag year round.

PP's idea of looking at pins from posters whose Pinterest winter style images you have pinned for other inspiration is a good one. You might like the style of Caroline at the Unfancy blog, she is also on Instagram I think. There is another American blogger I think you might like but I cannot for the life of me remember her name...

Anyway, hope that helps! Duck boots are the best by the way - I live in a rainforest!

Does the Fat face /white Stuff /joe browns look appeal? As long as you avoid the droopy tunics and dull colours. Leather sandals, Birkenstocks, cropped jeans, linen t shirts etc. It sounds like you need a couple of light layers or a scarf to make your look interesting enough. Also surfy stuff (surf dome,) or fair trade (Nomads) can have nice detailing. Tk maxx have loads of linen tops in at the moment as well.

Thanks everyone who has taken the time to respond! Some great ideas and I’m feeling a lot more sorted now. I’ve accepted that I might never love summer fashion as much as winter and that’s fine, so I’ve decided to try and get a capsule wardrobe together. I’d rather have 3 or 4 warm weather outfits that I really like, than a wardrobe full of summer clothes that don’t really work.

Yika I like the look you’re describing. Love tan leather accessories and have a few tan bags and sandals that would work.

Mulberrysilk I am in the UK but yes it is quite an American look... inspired by an old thread about how your partner would describe your look DH described me as a ‘busty lumberjack crossed with American college student’

I do love J Crew and Madewell Kahu, but I seem to have a great knack for discovering pieces I love after they’ve sold out (I’m looking at you chambray dungarees and last year’s market tote)

I’m not keen on Fat Face etc. although they do make very warm hoodies which are excellent for Autumn/early Winter outdoor jobs!

Right I’m off to make my shortlist (and make sure that the tops are breastfeeding friendly )