Thought I looked ‘effortless Mediterranean cool’ — actually looked more like a harrassed scout leader 🫠 Help!

[ExcuseUs]

Looked back at last summer’s holiday pics and… wow. I thought I was nailing effortless Euro chic, I had bought new, planned better — a couple of black cotton dresse, linen shorts, black cami, espadrilles,. But in photos (taken from behind, of course 🙄), I looked less like a glam goddess and more like a scout leader on a mission. Not the hoped for.

So — how do you actually pull off that breezy, stylish holiday look, I am always envious of others, sashaying along the prom?

Dresses, coords, whatever — I’m open. Just want to look effortless and not thrown together in a melted heap.

Tips, combos, links — please hit me with your summer style wisdom!

Unless one is blessed with spectacular legs, my view is that most women should avoid shorts after 35, possibly ever!

That's a mean view. There's nothing offensive about less than perfect legs, male or female. I'm happy for anyone who puts on clothes they're comfortable in, their varicose veins and knobbly knees are not a problem for me.

Always like a read of that classics thread. The triceratops neck frill makes me laugh every time I see it

There is a solution to that. Don’t let anyone take photos of you wearing linen, don’t look in a mirror and definitely don’t look at what you look like from behind.

embrace the fantasy of being chic. Who needs reality to intrude, especially on holiday?

Omg I live in France, have done for 18 years now. There are no chic Frenchwomen who are my size (18). It’s barely even available in the shops here, I have to shop online. I’m also tall (180cm) and big boobs (38H) so I am doomed to shop online from the UK forever.

I’m not being mean. I’m a great devotee of wear what you want and rock it and don’t care what others think. ( Recently looked
at myself in white jacket and thought looked like the milkman’s maw who’d borrowed his jacket.)
But the poster said she felt like a scout leader!! So my post was to someone not wanting to look like that and the very natural response is no shorts.

I always associate linen shorts/linen trousers with Brits on holidays rather than with Mediterraneans themselves 🤷🏻‍♀️

Can you post any photos of outfits similar to yours?

Suzi Quattro’s fat nan 😂😂😂

I actually find linen shorts one of the hardest things to pull off. I’m slim too. But they have to be the right shape otherwise they look middle aged and crumpled.

I just wear dresses all summer, of different lengths. Linen, cotton, floral etc.

Loose linen shirt dresses are really comfy for slouching,

You can easily find items like that at M&S, Uniqlo, etc.

I just watched the video for fun. I don’t agree with the idea that everyone always has to look chic, and some of the outfits were pretty boring BUT in general there was quite a lot of truth in there.

I love linen on a holiday but it creases like hell. I always ask if the cleaning person for the rental can do some ironing if I pay them (or if the host knows another way to send out laundry). 9/10 times someone is up for it. Get all the clothes out on the bed, go to the beach on day 1, and when I come back they're all ironed and put away. Worth every Euro cent.

Just revisited the expectations vs reality thread on classic mumsnet .
The lady that had a perm on her black hair that went so curly and made someone say bloody hell it’s colonel Gadaffi is still one of the best laughs I’ve ever had on mumsnet , that thread is brilliant!

No, that's not at all what I was saying, have you seen Demi Moore, Salma Hayek, Helen Mirren, Mariah Carey ..., ...? It's just that most people's idea of young seems to be under 35 and too many women give up on their love for fashion too early and feel like they need to look practical. I intend to wear whatever I want til death and would encourage OP to do the same, it just sounds like she feels constrained by 'the rules' from her post. So few women are fashion forward these days and age should never restrict you.

Yes, it's recycled polyester, what are affordable items of clothing going to be made of? Artificial materials produced by poverty wage workers operating around the clock in poor conditions.

I'd love to say 'buy this ethical tailor made in the UK item' but I'd get told off for that because most people live in a reality where this won't be affordable. Most people shop on the high street and spene below GBP 100 per item.

I'm happy to cheer on other women wearing a high street dress that suits most shapes and sizes and makes them look amazing. If another woman looks great, I will go and tell them, and maybe ask where the items is from, and won't tell them off if it's not ethically sourced organic silk, or an item I wouldn't choose for myself.

If they feel great in it and the confidence shines through, that's what matters most.

I aspire to the 1920s Dorothy Labrador breeder look..x

Shamelessly googling Zendaya Tenniscore! Thanks x

Strongly agree @ElleintheWoods and the Dove comes in maxi and mini lengths - I think I have 5 or 6! Always get compliments, the belt really cinches the waist in.

Yes you're right about finding the outfits she determined as chic relatively easily. It's a very limited view of chic, however!

I heard someone say a while back that so often when people say chic they mean thin, white and rich, and that stayed with me. This lady's approach writes off, for example, any kind of traditional African or Indian batik or block print, and cultures that traditionally wear bright colours, or any bright embroidery or embellishment. She is of course entitled to think whatever she wants, but I'm uncomfortable with her categorical pronouncement that that's the only way to look stylish.

(That's without delving into any of the other somewhat problematic stuff in her vid! 😁)

I bet you look fab in it...

Saw a lady in the navy bloom one on the train the other day and everyone's eyes turned as she walked past, it's a very flattering cut and so comfortable in hot weather.

Other clothing items are available 😉

The best thing to do is not take photos, then the illusion is never shattered. Or if you.must, take them sitting down and obscured by a large drink

Linen shorts?! Just why?! Linen is just about passable in t-shirt form, but on your lower half it’s going to crease and look horrendous as soon as you sit down.

I can’t do shorts in public, I do wear them in the garden at home, because my legs are ridiculously thin. I’m a size 6 or 8 if they’re cut small, but I can’t walk unaided so my legs have wasted away a lot, so all shorts look ridiculous on me. If I go outside, or when I’m on holiday, I tend to wear a shorter dress or skirt because for some reason they don’t look as bad.

@ElleintheWoods , where are Dancing Leopard dresses made? How green is the recycling process?
The Dove one looks ok but given that I don't like recycled polyester, I wouldn't wear it, and certainly not somewhere warm.

You specifically mentioned age, and whether or not late 40s is youngish is debateable. It's not old.

I wear what I like, but I don't want to turn heads.

Maybe it’s one of those styles that requires a young, beautiful, slim person. I find so many of the clothes that look effortless and chic on models look like bin bags on me.

Going to go against the grain here and say maybe it’s not the shorts, maybe it’s your DH’s photography skills that’s the problem. Wear the damn shorts, teach yourself to take decent outfit selfies, and have a bit of faith in your own style.

haha @Gingerwarthog I’m bisexual and have no issues with looking a bit androgynous, but there’s soft butch and then there’s…whatever the fuck this was 😄

I looked like I should be wearing gaiters and shouting briskly at ‘the help’…

Follow Laura Byrnes on Instagram for inspiration - she always wears beautiful holiday outfits.