I really struggle with a summer wardrobe, I'm much more a tights and boots gal myself....

[DrNortherner]

Summer always causes me problems. I can put together a winter outfit but summer leaves me clueless.

Come and share your summer wardrobe staples with me please....

God I know how you feel. I'm okay for slobbing in the garden but otherwise I have nothing - and work is a total nightmare.

I am answering in the hope that somebody comes and helps you - so am marking my place.

In the meantime, tell us what occasions you need to think about - work, play?

Both really. Work I normally wear trousers heels and a short sleeved blouse, don't like bare legs in the office.

Casual I just tend to do jeans and vest tops. Don't do skirts as legs are white....want a maxi dress but look ridiculous in every one I have tried on.

Three-quarter length trousers.

Good for looking summery but not too much white leg on show. Baggy for casual, fitted for work.

a gradual fake tan will take care of your pale pins...if you wish (do you ahve to wear tights at work?)

I wear skirts (kind of low on the hip quite full ones) with vest tops

cropped trews (but not the kind you woudl wear on a cruise liner)

dresses dresses dresses

jeans too hot and restricting for summer

I have a holiday wardrobe, but I would never wear it in England - anyone else do this?

No I wear my normal gear on holiday.

this dress is lovely in Rl, esp in the navy, smart for work but summery

I'm similar, I like my skirt, tights and boots winter look. In summer I like dresses. I'm not happy to flash my legs much so I like just-below-knee or maxi length (luckily very in this summer, Gap have nice ones). Or a minidress/tunic length over jeans when not too hot.

I have some 3/4 length baggy linen trousers which should in theory be great, but in fact make me look very wide.

whats with you lot and the legs?

My legs are white but I don't care (it's the wobbliness of thigh and knobbliness of knee I prefer to hide) - white is fine IMO if you work with it. Lovely cherry red toenails and nice floral print dress go with pale skin.

this is what I WANT to look like in the summer

The Everyday Linen Short?
Has it only got one leg?

What about footless tights or leggings instead of noraml tights - I wouldnt show off my legs, leggings give me a bit of security and they feel bit more summery - I wear them with tunics and dresses though, not shorter tops. Bum too big!

For work I'd go for some nice linen trousers like this perhaps - M&S have a good selection in different cuts depending on what you like.

Then wear with a nice shirt.

Lots of variations of these around.

Also agree with cyb that dresses are your best bet.

This is lovely but not sure if you want sleeveless

Linen dress with sleeves

For maxis - take a look at Dorothy Perkins:

knot

bandeau

tiered

white co

Not maxi but nice for summer days/nights out

Any of these any good?

God - just looked at your profile picture and you're young, slim and pretty - in which case I'd go for lots and lots of pretty dresses.

Zara, New Look and H&M are full of them.

And don't forget the new look rolled up chinos

Love that Jigsaw linen dress, hmm.

I'm struggling, I recently went for the house of colour style day and she said that cropped trousers should only be worn by chinese fisherman !

They're my summer staple!

She suggested more dresses, skirts or linen trousers, the transition may take some time.

Oh I nearly started this exact thread yesterday. I have this problem too - especially at work

Off to read thread

i am also bright white of skin and hate wearing summer clothes. I can't wear a skirt without tights cos of chafing (fat) thighs and won;t wear anything even vaguely clingy (cos of fat everywhere else).

Over the weekend, at gatherings/barbeques i wore thin loose fit jeans or thin cotton/linen type ones with thin summer tops. I wear similar for work with smart pants and a cardi (if necessary). I bought this one a few years back - and wish i'd bought more! it's still going strong!

I have trawled around the shops this morning (I know - I am an idiot) and found nothing. The M&S linen mix trousers I tried on fitted really well but were horribly itchy.

All of the tops were sleeveless, which I couldn't/wouldn't do for work or else horribly voluminous fisherman style shirts or nasty tunics. The only one I found that I liked - fitted, scoop neck with frill, short sleeves - turned out to be a 100% polyester, which is a VERY bad idea in classrooms that easily reach 40 degrees.

I also couldn't wear maxi dresses to work, even if I was willing to wear one as a shortie, which I'm not.

Please, please keep Northerner's thread alive so that I can pinch some ideas.

I need -
work trousers;
a work style fitted dress with tiny sleeves in cool cotton;
short sleeved tops;
maybe a short sleeved jacket that I can wear over camisoles;
something to wear on my feet that are comfortable and professional enough looking.

Northerner - have you found anything yet?

janeite
I love White Company's tees and vests.
Excellent quality and fit.
For sandals I love Clarkswedges,not the grannified ones,they have some trendier styles that are still comfortable.
I'd do tea dress type thing with wedges,or top and skirt,or good quality linen trousers,with wedges and top.
I love chunky silver jewellery too.

Any idea where I could get non-itchy linen trousers for a short-arse?

I looked in Clarks but nothing grabbed me and I must have funny feet because the fours are always slightly too big but the 3 and a half are usually too small.

Will look at White Company but will have to wait for the sale I think.

Any links to the kinds of things you mean for dresses?

Thanks btw!

teaonesugar I think it would be perfectly safe to disregard that pearl of wisdom about 3/4 trousers being for chinese fisherment. I think it is a comfortable and summery look, which is very stylish with flats and very comfortable for work (think Audrey Hepburn - never saw her with a fishing rod). It also is my summer staple flat with sandals or french sole ballet style pumps.

I really struggle with footwear in the summer. I have stupid skinny feet which are fine in boots and trainers, but slide straight through sandals. Even worse with flip floppy sandals with a toe post - I get a toe wedgie! Painful...

I'm not sure about any other shoe options to wear with skirts or shorts. Any suggestions? I can't stand ballet pumps and can't walk in heels.

Oh, and a note for those of you considering linen trousers this summer...please make sure they're either not white or cream, or they are made from substantial material. I've seen some real horrors through thin pale linen trousers...nasty lacy underwear in full detail, cellulite, unkempt ladygardens......

My staples at the moment are linen trousers (some full length, some 3/4 length), tunic tops and maxi dresses. So basically staying cool without revealing too much!