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....

I am quite thin, but with pudgy, white, bingo-wingy arms. Yeah, nice.

I am too ashamed to show my arms and so I always have to drape some sort of blouse over the top of anything.

And in the summer instead of looking tanned and lithe I get all puffy and red the minute the temperature goes above 70.

I look truly hideous in summer clothes.

gramercy have you tried lifting weights to tone your arms?

TK Maxx have some really lovely summer dresses at the moment.

Clarkes sandals, or M&S footglove range are good.

I am in love with that white company dress.

I fel really sad that people let minor body worries dictate what they can and cant wear in the summer

have you SEEN most people in the High Street? London Fashion week it aint!

now I'm sure you are all not so ego -centric that you think everyone is looking and commenting on YOU and your bodily failings so it must be something inside.

please stop worrying and focussing on it.Because rest asured, no one else is.

Carry yourself with confidence and wear what you want

best advice is get a bessie mate /honest sister to tell you if your bingo wings/white legs/stretch marks whatever are really as traffic stopping as you think they are

For work, dresses are a nice option for me. Fitted, but not too tight, I'd rather go a size up and clinch in with a nice belt. Wrap around styles always look nice.
Cotton/linen mix trousers if I can find any that fit and flatter or skirts that sit on the hip and fall below knee and flared / pleated, both with nice t/shirts/blouses and a cardigan.
I am as white as white can be and have am very veiny too so use spray on leg make-up to take off the traffic stopping glare.
I no longer go shopping for clothes, always buy on line, buy two different sizes and try on at home.
At home, when its really hot, a sarong is great, can be a dress or a skirt.
Casual daytime, light jean type trousers or again, dresses.
Having said all that, I have not yet hauled summer clothes out of the loft yet to see what no longer fits post baby.

Cerealqueen - please tell me about cinching in with a belt. What is the best sort of belt - where from?

I like they way everyone on Ugly Betty does that big wide belt nipped in waist look, but sadly I always think I look a bit like a bag of spuds tied in the middle.

I am not very good with summer clothes either. Much more an autumn gal.

A couple of years ago I started getting a few skirts and close fitting t-shirts. Feel quite happy in them. PLus a coupla pairs of linen trousers.

Janeite

The next linen trousers ar emeant to be alright. I've got great plains ones from a couple of years ago. Comfy but not good for short people.

Another one here with the same summer wardrobe problem! I don't seem to have much in the way of summer clothes, probably because I haven't really needed any over the last few summers. Also everything I wear to work seems to be black/grey. I've been thinking of getting some 3/4 length trousers (casual now, not for work) but know that I'll look short and dumpy in them - maybe they'd look better if theu were slim-fitting rather than baggy? Are they called cigarette pants? Or capri pants? Does anyone wear those these days?

Beautiful - thank you. But too much money for something for work, as I'd just get it covered in board marker. Need something darker really.

Obama Uniqlo have slim fitting trousers in all sorts of colours

M&S have some three quarter length cigarette pants at the mo. I tried them on today and they were nice but too saggy on the bum.

Lucklily I have a big bum, so M&S here I come!

Millets have started an organic clothing range, it's a bit similar to Fat Face but cheaper! Also Next do loads of good value stuff. Crop trousers, tunic top and leggings are all comfy and smart. Also try ebay. If you search for items that are new (BNWT - brand new with tags) loads of stuff from Coast, Monsoon, Oasis etc comes up really cheaply!

cut your jeans off and roll them up
linen trousers a must - i love white stuff ones but buy small!
vests - shrugs etc if not that warm
sundresses over jeans...
new look do nice shirt jeans (shorts)
skirts nice and low on hips but full

try here It's a link to ebay selling new Monsoon tops.

Linen trousers and more linen trousers. I usually get through about 2 pairs a season as they get worn every day at work. I have black, brown, navy & dark cream, and a muh loved pink/red faded pair.

My pre-preg choice was boden, who do casual & smart, and cropped for weekends (last time I wore above knee shorts was about 10 years ago!).

I tend to favour vest/cami & light cotton or linen top, or a more fitted blouse for work. I find tighter t-shirts end up getting sweaty esp at work.

I do have a couple of long and knee length skirts but only wear these before the sailing season gets going and my barmy wet-suit boot tan kicks it. Nice!

I am completely dreading the hot pregnant summer. It was 28 degrees in the intervention suite on friday (like an operating theatre). The good thing is we wear cotton scrubs, the bad thing is the lead apron sterile gown, hat & gloves [boiled lobster emoticon]. What is it going to be like tomorrow?

Janeite- was it the autograph weekend trousers you tried on? (they look great, and I don't have any navy ones)

I struggle in summer too- my wardrobe is full of black, navy, grey and more grey... I am a trouser person, not a skirt person (hate having no pockets), and cannot wear anything remotely lowcut, which rules out many items, as I have such a short back.

Luckily, I don't tend to feel the heat much... I was wearing a cardigan today

Not the Autograph ones - I didn't see those.

They were a bit like these but they don't look quite the same as they did irl. They were really, horribly itchy though - there was no way I could have coped with them. I see they get bad reviews on the M&S site too, so probably a good thing I left them!

I am much more of a skirt person - but then you have the whole 'do I have to wear tights for work?' thing!

This was the top I liked, except it is polyester. WHY do M&S persist in making things in such crappy fabric?

oooo- I love summer clothes. So feminine and floaty. Try floral cotton sundressess and maxi dresses. New Look and H and M have some fab ones.
I also love shorts with floaty tops. Go for cotton and avoid synthetic fabrics like the plague. I can't get enough of H and M's garden collection with some fab floaty dresses in organic cotton. So cheap and chic!