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37 laps around the sun - yet I still can’t get dressed when it shines! Help!

28 replies

Sweatandtears · 28/05/2026 21:55

I’m 37 years old, five foot ten, and a size ten (kind of eight/ten on the bottom and ten/twelve on top, really). I’ve got pretty broad shoulders and medium sized boobs. I have pale skin and dark hair. Plus two young kids who like to be carried and to cover me in fruit and snot.

I’ve always been interested in fashion and probably care too much about clothes and spend too much money on them. I feel comfortable in Autumn through to Spring. But I literally cannot dress for hot weather. UK heatwaves, holidays - anything above about 22C and it all goes to turnips.

I usually tend to go for a quite basic look. Jeans and a white tee or shirt. Jeans with a cashmere jumper. I like a barrel trouser and often go for a slightly oversized Cos vibe. Nice boots and a wool or quilted coat in winter. Might do a more “fun” shoe if it’s a bit warmer. White, cream, beige, khaki, navy, grey and denim. Mix of high street and more expensive. I like to look kind of ironed and polished, but not in a particularly glam way - hair and make up are very simple and boring.

I don’t like to show much skin (I turn bright pink and blotchy when warm, and burn if not doused in suncream), though don’t mind having my arms out. Don’t like clingy or tight-fitting things. Don’t do manmade fabrics for obvious reasons. Don’t love bright colours or patterns (they wear me/clash with the pink blotchiness). Don’t like anything especially frilly or girly as it makes me look like I’m in drag. Linen trousers should be the answer but they somehow look terrible - I think I need a high waist and structure. My default to iron is made harder because of the weather!

I have one black dress that’s a kind of high tank top at the top and a long cotton skirt and I quite like it but that’s my only summer outfit. Help me please! 😂

OP posts:
dudsville · 28/05/2026 22:09

I have about 20 cotton dresses. In summer it does mean that I have a lot of ironing to do each week, but they are my summer go to "outfit". It doesn't matter if I'm cleaning, gardening, running out to the shops or meeting up with friends. It's just easier to get dresses in a dress. Do Cos have anything in at the moment?

I like the idea of linen trousers, but in the heat of summer, I find that and a top feels like too much fabric.

Summerhillsquare · 28/05/2026 22:19

I mean you have the proportions that all clothes seemed to be designed for, if you can't find anything nice the rest of us are buggered 😅

EmeraldRoulette · 28/05/2026 22:20

But you can wear all the nice clothes! I'm just a blob. A short one.

I'm quite confused to be honest

Sweatandtears · 28/05/2026 22:31

Haha you’re very kind. But when you’re really tall we are talking a LOT of surface area to go bright pink and sweaty. I just want something to mainly cover me up but also not be too hot or too scruffy.

OP posts:
Pyjamatimenow · 28/05/2026 22:37

you will find your options open up a lot with some fake tan on. I’m a similar size and height. I just don’t even attempt summer clothes or anything showing skin unless I’ve got tan on. My skin is very pale and blotchy. My legs are almost purple

WildCherryBlossom · 28/05/2026 22:37

Shirt dresses are lovely to wear, loose enough not to cling in hot weather but tailored enough to feel smart. A khaki shirt dress with Birkenstocks for example - comfortable and chic in a simplistic way.

sunshinehappydays · 28/05/2026 22:39

I get most of my fashion inspiration from Instagram. I just copy styles I like. Do you do that? At the moment I’m liking Melissa Murrell, Phodgie, Emily Tierney and Invest in Style. I’d be lost without IG-I just blatantly copy whatever I see on IG and like.

MittensTheKittens · 28/05/2026 22:42

I'm 5'8 and red haired and about 5years older than you.
This week I have worn:
Dark purple maxi skirt (Tesco) and a cream and purple striped slightly cropped teeshirt (Tesco).

An olive green midaxi linen dress with puff sleeves and a thin belt. (next via vinted)

A black waisted teeshirt dress, full skirt. River island

Leopard print teeshirt dress midi length (John Lewis)

Roulett · 28/05/2026 22:48

I saw a woman at a train station during the heatwave looking so effortlessly elegant. This is going to make me sound mental but I took a photo of her and google imaged her trousers, they were £27 from Zara and she looked so polished. Bought them and love them. Wear with a nice white tee or tucked in shirt.

37 laps around the sun - yet I still can’t get dressed when it shines! Help!
WildCherryBlossom · 28/05/2026 22:51

These dresses are both from Part Two Clothing

37 laps around the sun - yet I still can’t get dressed when it shines! Help!
37 laps around the sun - yet I still can’t get dressed when it shines! Help!
Sweatandtears · 28/05/2026 22:52

WildCherryBlossom · 28/05/2026 22:37

Shirt dresses are lovely to wear, loose enough not to cling in hot weather but tailored enough to feel smart. A khaki shirt dress with Birkenstocks for example - comfortable and chic in a simplistic way.

Yes that sounds great! I find a lot of white or light blue shirt dresses, but they don’t suit me. There’s a lot of navy but I think it feels a bit like workwear? I need to find a not too short khaki shirt dress!

OP posts:
Sweatandtears · 28/05/2026 22:53

dudsville · 28/05/2026 22:09

I have about 20 cotton dresses. In summer it does mean that I have a lot of ironing to do each week, but they are my summer go to "outfit". It doesn't matter if I'm cleaning, gardening, running out to the shops or meeting up with friends. It's just easier to get dresses in a dress. Do Cos have anything in at the moment?

I like the idea of linen trousers, but in the heat of summer, I find that and a top feels like too much fabric.

Going to have a better look in Cos. They are usually my summer go-to. Quite like the look of this but think the colour might be too ghostly on me.
www.cos.com/en-gb/women/womenswear/dresses/sleeveless-dresses/product/gathered-tiered-cotton-maxi-dress-ivory-1328980001

OP posts:
BuddhaAtSea · 28/05/2026 23:01

I have the navy v neck like the one you linked. I’m wearing it tomorrow. They also have it in reddish brown.

Look in white company, their linen dresses aren’t giving work vibes. Haven’t bought any this year, but I have about 5 of them.

Me and Em are also good for summer dresses.

Sweatandtears · 28/05/2026 23:08

BuddhaAtSea · 28/05/2026 23:01

I have the navy v neck like the one you linked. I’m wearing it tomorrow. They also have it in reddish brown.

Look in white company, their linen dresses aren’t giving work vibes. Haven’t bought any this year, but I have about 5 of them.

Me and Em are also good for summer dresses.

Ooh thanks. Love this, though bra situation would be tricky.
www.meandem.com/gathered-halterneck-maxi-dress-rich-olive-green

OP posts:
dudsville · 29/05/2026 08:21

Sweatandtears · 28/05/2026 22:53

Going to have a better look in Cos. They are usually my summer go-to. Quite like the look of this but think the colour might be too ghostly on me.
www.cos.com/en-gb/women/womenswear/dresses/sleeveless-dresses/product/gathered-tiered-cotton-maxi-dress-ivory-1328980001

That's lovely. I have several of this style, but yes mine are blue, pair grey, dark grey, a random red.

sunshinehappydays · 29/05/2026 08:30

@Roulett love those trousers too! Just bought them and a few other bits from Zara. What do you wear on your feet with the trousers? Flip flops?

sunlightspringgg · 29/05/2026 08:37

Maybe a t shirt dress with nice accessories could work?

https://www.arket.com/en-gb/product/t-shirt-dress-black-1292936001/

They have them in a maxi too as well as good shirt dresses -

www.arket.com/en-gb/product/cotton-shirt-dress-red-1343779002/

Roulett · 29/05/2026 10:08

@sunshinehappydaysthey’re great so easy to wear! I wear leather slider type sandals with them, flip flops would be fine too I think they’d work with a neat trainer as well.

Kinfluencer · 29/05/2026 10:23

Im tall size 12
I wear neutral colour linen culottes or trousers, not the floppy thin ones but more structured with a waistband and pockets,cropped boxy tee, short flutter sleeve shirt suits larger shoulders, tshirt dresses ,linen dresses.

Agree look on Insta for inspiration
Uniqlo has all of the above

Wowsersbrowsers · 29/05/2026 10:31

You have similar proportions to me. Try schoffel for linen shirt dresses or noa noa. They tend to have the little clips to keep bras in place too.

Oversized cotton shirts have been my saviour in this weather, super lightweight to cover shoulders and worn with some shorts and sandals or light trainers. Pick a pattern so they don't show the stains - the dream is with nothing underneath but they are spenny.

Sweatandtears · 29/05/2026 13:32

sunlightspringgg · 29/05/2026 08:37

Maybe a t shirt dress with nice accessories could work?

https://www.arket.com/en-gb/product/t-shirt-dress-black-1292936001/

They have them in a maxi too as well as good shirt dresses -

www.arket.com/en-gb/product/cotton-shirt-dress-red-1343779002/

Thanks! I like the shirt dress though not sure about any of the colours. Might order and try!

OP posts:
Sweatandtears · 29/05/2026 13:33

Wowsersbrowsers · 29/05/2026 10:31

You have similar proportions to me. Try schoffel for linen shirt dresses or noa noa. They tend to have the little clips to keep bras in place too.

Oversized cotton shirts have been my saviour in this weather, super lightweight to cover shoulders and worn with some shorts and sandals or light trainers. Pick a pattern so they don't show the stains - the dream is with nothing underneath but they are spenny.

Thanks - I’ll take a look! I don’t really wear shorts though. Interestingly, I have a couple of shirts from WNU but I don’t think they’re cut that well for tall people.

OP posts:
Sweatandtears · 29/05/2026 13:34

Cos are usually my go-to but I’m struggling a bit this year. I think it’s the colours. I lean towards black but it looks worse as I get older. Really pale colours aren’t good on me.

OP posts:
meltingmoaner · 29/05/2026 14:38

I lean towards black too and find some lipstick and fake tan helps these days.