How to Look Expensive (in the summer)

[diamondsandrose]

Please can we resurrect my favourite EVER thread, but with a summer twist?

I think I'm pretty stylish in cooler weather but struggle in the heat.

I know the usual drill ..natural fabrics, linen cotton silk in neutral colours. Light tan courtesy of gradual tanner. Tan real leather sandals. Straw or heavy cotton beach bag. No gaudy colours or prints. No bra strap showing under vests.

But I still feel I don't look as good as I could if I tried a bit harder! I get freckly and I think that stops me looking expensive!

Please tell me your tips and stories of fab expensive looking stylish people you've seen on holiday

"No prints"??

Me & Em is where the DoC gets her Breton tops, apparently.

weekfour my Me & Em palazzo pants skim the ground on me (I'm 5'7") and I took them up an inch. I bought mine 6yrs ago, and they had a regular and a long, a quick look at the website shows they suggest using the deep waistband to adjust the length. They are £59 now, I paid £49 6 yrs ago. I would say they are good for both summer and transitional (not wet) weather. They might end up in the sale.

I like the zara dress, but I'm sure it would be too short on me. The m&s dress looks nice, but I think it would make me look too straight up and down.

"No prints"?? Surely that doesn't include polka dots?

Or a few stripes?

I love a pin stripe, I can't help it...I'm drawn to them...might even go a bit crazy and pair them with a polka dot.

I'm not sure about 'no prints'. If you're looking for the French chic look, then yes, nothing but a breton stripe. But you can also look expensive in a London boho way with floaty crepe de chine botanicals and good tan sandals.

I've been lusting after that roll top skirt for a while unknown, but have never bought from Em&Me before. Can you advise on sizing? I'm a 12 in Hush trouser, a 14 in structured Boden Richmond, and I just bought a pair of Next linen trousers in a 10. . Im not sure whether to go for a 12 or a 14 - I'd order both to try, except it's a lot of money to sit out if their returns are slow. The size chart isn't helpful as the hip measurements they give are smaller than the waist. I've lost a huge amount of weight in the last year, so I'm not super toned in the tummy area, so I don't want super-tight. Thanks for any guidance

Bit of an over use of 'super' there!

I wear wedge espadrilles in the summer or havainas, also ballet pumps. Can never find sandals I like except the expensive jewelled thong ones.

@Ilovecherries I think it's true to size, maybe a tad generous, but that's good because you don't want it to cling. One thing I should say is that it is quite long. I'm 5ft 8in and it's a good length on me.

Thanks, unknown, I'm 5'7 so hopefully it would be ok length wise. Think I probably just need to choose a size and try it, given I have no actual clue about what size I am given my size range depending on store.

Thanks for that quirky.
And thanks for reading the website for me. Should have done that myself. I was speaking before thinking, which is an unusual attribute on a chat board.
Anyway, I’m ordering some trousers. Hooray!!

Ok my hips at their widest are 100cm and my waist is 72cm and I bough a medium.

Thanks, unknown, think I will go for a large in that case, as I don't want too figure hugging, and my waist and hips are both 2-3 cms bigger than yours. Got my introductory discount code burning a hole in my pocket :)

Place marking! I'm such a frump at the moment!

Lovely massimo Dutti via eBay blazer arrived today
Pale grey and white thin stripes, cotton, with a thin white edging.
Lovely and so fresh looking

Just thinking about my "fresh" description
A friend ( v stylish) and I often laugh as we very often talk about clothes ,shopping outfits etc and one of our most used adjectives is "fresh"!

As in "ooh yes a white cotton loose blouse with chambray shorts would go lovely with those tan leather sandals..lovely and FRESH!"

This thread to me is about looking expensive and "fresh" in the summer!

Diamonds, I think it would only be right to show us a picture!

I am really liking the shirt/blouse with denim shorts combination atm. I seem to start the day with jeans, when it's been a little chilly and then change into shorts.

I'm still on the lookout for gladiator sandals. I sent back a Sorel pair with laces in taupe, as the front strap was not adjustable and too tight. I need slightly cushioned soles (previously had plantar fasciitis and also walk a lot on hard pavements) and have a high instep. I have just ordered a dark grey pair from Etsy, thank you to pp who mentioned this, I used a different seller, as the reviews for the others seemed to suggest they were quite narrow. Fingers crossed these fit well.

The denim shorts need to be really faded though.

Thanks for the Boden wide leg tip- hadn't thought of them tbh, and half my wardrobe is Boden.

Loving this thread. I find it much easier to dress in winter/between seasons than in Summer. I have size 9 feet so just find it easier to find/wear brogues, smart trainers, boots etc. Often an outfit has to be put together around footwear and the difficulty of find flattering sandals means it's difficult to wear many Summer clothes. I don't like anything with a toe-post as I feel it's too foot-y, as someone else said.

Size 9-er here too! Really struggle to find a comfy fit that fits my 'fashion' requirements!

I'm so cross that Hush Puppies no longer have a UK website. I found a lovely pair of sandals on the US one bongs. I've ordered them and a friend in the US is going to ship them to me.

More places are doing bigger sizes, but finding sth comfortable/flattering/non-frumpy is a nightmare. I have quite slender ankles too and am v conscious of looking like a golf club. (I'm not that tall at 5'7").