How to look elegant in the summer when you're not waif like?

[WildFlowerBees]

I'm 5ft 8 but have broad shoulders and big boobs, I never feel elegant or 'put together' in summer.

Floaty dresses just aren't me and I'm not a fan of showing my cleavage.

What are you wearing this summer that makes you feel elegant or similar?

I'm about the same height as you, 32F and size 14. My staples are:

• Wide-leg, capacious shorts (sort of paperbag style) in linen mix,.cotton, light denim etc - favourites are from M&S, Mango, and Passenger
• A couple of wide-strap linen-mix midi sundresses that are quite loose/floaty (but not Scandi art teacher wonky-hem type - that doesn't suit me at all)
• Sunglasses ALWAYS!
• The only strappy-type tops I have are a couple of black and navy vest tops with braided/grecian straps which are much nicer than normal ones (ancient ones from Sainsbury's)
• I tend to avoid big patterns in summer - not completely, but I lean more towards chambray, plain block colours, a few stripes, the odd small floral top or similar
• Sandals are usually Fitflop Gracie or neutral Birkenstocks or Tevas, but I'm in the market for some chunkier flatform types

I'm not saying I'm that stylish in summer but I'm pretty much always comfortable and still fairly put-together. It's all subjective though, isn't it?!

Where do you get your dresses from @Belmondo please?

I like tailored, so in the summer I struggle, I don't mind wide leg linen trousers but the top half is difficult. I'd love to waft about in some of the gorgeous dresses I've seen but sadly I never look good in them.

Midi straight linen or jersey skirt and looser linen shirt

Uniqlo linen shirts on offer atm lovely colours and cool, they also do shorter sleeves

I find this shape dress useful https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/rosa-v-neck-jersey-long-summer-dress

@WildFlowerBees my favourite ones are from M&S and White Stuff but both pretty old. How do you feel about any of these?:

Next striped blue and white sundress, £42

Great Plains cream stripe button sundress, £32

WoolOvers soft green button-through midi, £45

I bought a baukjen jersey dress from a charity shop. Mid-length but fitted skirt, slight sleeve, but nothing floaty about it. Perfect summer dress.

I'm similar in height and frame and I often buy summer clothes in a size bigger (as long as they otherwise sit right) to give them that loose feeling. I like

A-line shorts which have a bit of tailoring
V -neck simple cotton/linen dresses
Long-ish skirts with a slightly cropped t-shirt as I look really tall!
Wide-long long trousers
Button-down shirts

I don't do really strappy tops, but I do have few vest tops from Uniqlo and COS which have slightly wider straps that hide bra straps. Also bravissimo do a few bras which you can clip to racer back which helps with the vest-wearing

Just checking in here, not tall or big boobed at all but also feel a bit meh about summer clothes.

If you like taylored the vaguely 1950s/60s dress shape always looks more put together than floaty linens or florals (i look like a sofa in these!).

The Great Plains one posted above reminds me of that classic shape. you get a waist, boobs covered and a lovely airy circle or a-line skirt.

i had a couple of vintage ones in that shape but the older fabrics don't have much give.

I'm not a similar shape, but some ideas:

• wide leg trousers (cropped or otherwise) with a sleeveless top. Monochrome or in different tones of one colour. Add a belt, gold hoop earrings and sunglasses.
• Loose cotton jumpsuit
• midi skirt with plain sleeveless top

I got really into Kibbe styling as a way of focusing on shapes that work for me. It's a bit of a rabbit hole, but you might like to look at the recommendations for 'flamboyant natural' summer clothes.