I felt I had ‘missed the mark’ last year on holiday… what is this year's white linen shirt?

[Lessbest]

Last year I went on a Med beach/city holiday, spent time beforehand buying new clothes and thought I’d packed sensibly — light, natural colours & fabrics, tried to go for stylish but practical.

But the one thing everyone seemed to be wearing (but not ME!) was an oversized white linen shirt. It looked great on everyone, so relaxed and effortless, worked over swimsuits beside the pool, over shorts for shopping, tied loosely over a dress in the evening and was clearly the thing.

Off again soon and wondering — if you have been away recently, have you noticed what the current version of my ‘white linen shirt’ is?

Any particular item or look that was everywhere? Also curious what item of clothing people wish they’d packed but didn’t.

Thanks in advance — would love not to miss the mark again and I'm clearly not cool enough to be in the know! (My partner would also appreciate not spending our holiday trawling shops and markets for ‘a white linen shirt’).😘

The problem with following clothing trends is that trends change frequently (of course, because millionaires and billionaires would like to keep getting richer at our expense thank you very much), and so people end up buying a new summer ‘wardrobe’ every year which is incredibly wasteful and awful for the planet- especially when people can’t really afford it so buy their items from Temu, Shein, Primark etc. I sometimes feel like people give no shits at all about the planet and it pisses me off. If you wait until things are out of fashion then you can buy them cheaply in charity shops or Vinted 😀 (And if the style suits you, it will still suit you whether other people are wearing the same thing or not).

@Waitingfordoggo people are not necessarily buying completely new wardrobes. This thread is about that one item that might be a fresh update or " more current".

The waistcoats were long then. I had a hip length one bought from the local market and I wore it with long skirts.

"Seems to be lots of shirring (I love a shirred bodice so I'm loving it) "

I like them too, but they make my tummy look big as it seems to expand under the shirring - got asked if I was pregnant!

That’s a fair point @onehorserace although there are also unfortunately a lot of people (mostly women as far as I can tell) who buy pretty much a whole new summer ‘wardrobe’ every year. Trends change very often- people don’t want to ‘miss the mark’- that’s how the game works 😩

Trends change very often- people don’t want to ‘miss the mark’- that’s how the game works

they don't really change that often, it normally takes years for a trend to become mainstream eg the move to wider leg cuts, away from jeans. Or sambas which started trending years ago.

White cotton kaftans never seem to go out of style.
Either knee length or ankle length. Normally slightly waisted, with a drawstring & with some sort of lace edging. I've been wearing mine for years.

I’m sure you’re right- I know nothing about trends and have no idea what samba is apart from a type of music 😂 But I do still think that too many people buy too many clothes 🤷🏼‍♀️ Whether that is because of trends or something else, I don’t know.

I'm sorry for you that you spent your holiday feeling you'd "missed the mark". How sad!

However, some trends get adopted really quickly. So you might have a completely new look one season.

However, some trends get adopted really quickly. So you might have a completely new look one season.

Not by the masses really, it takes time to filter down.

It's surprising how quickly things catch on though. It all looks completely different sometimes.

I might have a different perspective as I work in buying.

I think the better trends filter through quicker than the designer marketing ones.

I notice horizontal stripes ( especially navy) and spots have vanished . People are bored to death. Bring on pattern’s. But bet they come back. I have worn them in various incarnations every decade.

Heels are still worn by the rich and famous when dressed up and they look good. The masses still hang on to flats being infinitely better in comfort and practically. It will take years for them to relaunch - even kitten heels haven’t really launched.

Polka dots haven't really caught on, maybe next summer they will.

Horizontal stripes are still big trend for AW. There isn't that much pattern apart from
animal prints but lots of texture. Brown is a big colour.

I've not seen many people in ballet flats/mary janes despite the shops really pushing them. Chunky sandals & trainers have been in for years now, I am bored of them.

Not sure about the return of slouchy boots!

weird comment.
I doubt OP hid in her hotel room crying rather than be seen without the ubiquitous white shirt. She hasn't suggested it ruined her holiday or anything. Just that she noticed lots of people wearing one item and thought it would look good on her too.

What am I missing about Chat GPT - what gives it away?

I've seen loads of women wearing Mary Janes, especially the DM version, with colourful socks. Often with those Lucy and Yak dungarees.

I bought a lemon print shirt a few weeks back on Lake Garda, and I agree, it will probably look a bit daft at home or in a British seaside resort. We are planning Sorrento for next year so I’ll be ready for that!

I've seen loads of women wearing Mary Janes, especially the DM version, with colourful socks. Often with those Lucy and Yak dungarees.

Presumably it's location specific & I wouldn't say the DM MJs are the style that was being pushed. If you look at the current sales you will see a lot of ballets & MJs in the sales because they haven't caught on as hoped. By caught on I mean everyone of all ages wearing them.

Boho was still emerging this year, it will be interesting if it hits in SS26.

I’m seeing a lot of black and white/cream, eg black top (loose knitted vest/tank) plus white/cream linen or satin trousers, or white blouse plus black linen trousers

Boho still emerging - funny! For some it has never left 😂

You're so right, @onehorserace ! Boho never stopped and some people have continuously worn it!

Boho still emerging - funny! For some it has never left

Of course, that's true for many trends. Same with skinny jeans for example.

But loads of young people aren't wearing boho skirts. As a buyer we see the sales figures every Monday for items and that determines what we need to repeat buy etc.