If you prefer outdoor/hiking clothes to fashion stuff

[Tressle]

What do you opt for in summer when NOT hiking/working, just a casual day, or a nice trip somewhere?

I struggle a bit with trends, and really haven't liked much in the regular shops for over 8 years now. A lot of the outdoor brands do offer the odd dress but they are often floral, flouncy or just plain meh.
I need some new togs and have looked at everything recently from H&M to Me&Em and it's all the same, I just don't like it. Every single store has the exact same styles, everywhere, from Barbour to Primark; mad long crotches, too much fabric, crazy patterns.

I don't like wide, oversized, flapping about styles, so a lot of high street stuff is out, for me.
Leggings a bit too hot for summer, and I sometimes want to dress up just a bit, but am sort of lost

Just to clarify, I don't want links to products, am looking for chat and ideas, what your fave styles are. I hope that's ok:)

Last summer I bought a couple of summer dresses from Weird Fish, of all places, that have fitted really well and squeeze into my cycle commute bag for work.

Look at brands like Finisterre.

Jeans / shorts / skirt and t shirt or sleeveless top.

Thank you!
I love Finisterre, although they have fallen for the ultra wide boxy look recently, I wanted their jeans but fear the rise might reach my neck

Weird Fish! It's been a while, I am off to check if they do plain coloured dresses now..

I wear finisterre (see you’ve discounted on the loose aspect, which is understandable) or Findra - which I love.

Just now marks and Spencer’s is actually quite good for this brief. The stores are chaotic in layout and presentation so easier to do a long list online then go looking in store for those items.

You could try 'workwear' brands like Carrhart.
The brands that are aimed at more mature customers are good for not going too fashionable. You might need to see past the styling.

Tu at Sainsbury's is surprisingly good for a supermarket.

What about a denim skirt ?
Or there's plenty of different styles of 3/4 length, or cropped trousers which are neither floaty nor flowery.

I love Finisterre, although they have fallen for the ultra wide boxy look recently, They have.

This company started with the idea that you could have one merino dress and wear it for everything: https://eu.wooland.com/pages/30-100-day-challenge
the idea being that the fabric makes it incredibly versatile (warm in cool conditions, breathable in warm conditions), and you can use accessories to vary the look. Might that work for the scenarios you’re thinking of?

how about a simple pair of linen trousers and t shirt or linen shirt? I have some simple trousers from M&S , they do some similar slightly tapered ones every year. Also Uniqlo for linen shirts, very reasonable.

Uniqlo linen/cotton trousers plus t shirts.

I also have a load of dresses from various places that are simple colours but I agree the current dress fashions are vile and I’m struggling to buy new ones.

Hobbs have a good one in pink.

Mountain Warehouse do simple dresses that look comfortable.

Howies, Findra (I like their merino jumpers with a pair of jeans), Finisterre, Passenger? I have a nice black dress from Patagonia but it’s a few years old. I also like snow/ skate/ surf brands eg Vans, Volcom but it tends to be more on the casual side too. I go to Levi’s for jeans - I like a wide leg which can look smart. I’ve found a few items I like at & Other Stories and Lucy & Yak too. I used to find the odd thing in Fat Face but not so much of late.

I have some simple linen shift dresses from Next