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....

Yearofcat, I've got couple of those belts that have no holes, you feed the belt through quite a big buckle. They are not hard leather but soft, hope that makes sense? I think the hard leather ones are uncomfortable and do not flatter. They are a couple of years old I'm afraid. Hope that helps.

Champagne you will be spoilt for choice, honestly. A lot of the maxidresses and tunic dresses are gathered or stretchy under the norks and voluminous below, so they're perfect. And mostly made in light/cool cotton. I got pregnant last summer and I wish this floaty maxidress trend had been happening then!

Oh dear I have got very white legs and have been out in shorts today!
I much prefer this "English Rose" look to the perma tan gone horribly wrong effect I always get whenever I attempt any form of fake tan.
I usually go for white trousers with sandals in neutral colours.
Cotton tops either blouses for work or strappy tops for day time.
Skirts of most lengths but not maxi.
dresses and cropped cardi/bolero with heels.
I wish there was more choice of tops with short sleevesand made from cotton rather than nylon fabric and sleeveless or low cut/loose cut which is often inappropriate for work.

JANEITE
For dresses,I go to White Stuff,Warehouse,Oasis,Boden,Great Plains.
For linen trousers,I like Autograph and Autograph weekend,also Fat Face as they are thicker linen ,ifyswim.

Trouble is, practically all dresses and tunics in places like White Stuff are Empire line which is hopeless for me. And cap sleeves just make me look like Popeye. Frankly cap sleeves make most people who I see wearing them look like Popeye. It's not a great look for anyone over 8 yrs old.

okay
Have caught up on thread. (was too wrung out after Greg 'n' Jack's exploits to post last night)

So I too have milk bottle/frozen chicken legs but am not keen on the streaky orange of the self-tan.

What do we think about usual dresses with some cropped leggings a la these ones??

I am v pale too so struggle to find vest tops that suit me without washing me out. I find that shrugs/cropped cardis in various colurs work well with cotton camis - but of course can only get away with this if not that warm - which was most of last summer! No idea what I will wear if its a hot one this year . Something like this combo from Fat Face (pink cardi)hereor Monsoon have some nice printed camis at the mo? here.

I struggle in the summer. I have a good figure but my legs don't tan and I have varicose veins. Also, don't feel comfortable in flowery, girly stuff - I like a bit of simplicity.

However, I do have nice arms and shoulders so I have finally decided (after many years) that simple trousers (summer weight work) but with sleeveless, halter neckie tops. Anyway, I hope the look works!

Builde I too ahve variicose veins. I have realised folk look at your face not your legs

And if you are really conscious Sally hanson leg spray is FAB

I am always very self conscious of my white legs - and I mean VERY white! Glow in the dark, porcelain white, a complete no no in public. As SF said however, Sally Hansen spray is great, and is also waterproof. I would recommend it!

NO to leggings and leg obsessions
i think there are two issues here

1. you arent wearing colours on your legs that suit your skin tone, dont wear black if you are pasty white, wear a shade that goes with yournatural colouring so that youlook right

1. if your legs are white nad you dont like them then dress accordingly - loose trousers or longer skirts/dresses

mate of mine who thinks legs are terrible suprised self with boden slim leg crops and wedge s- looked VERY nice on 0 and she said she would never have bought theslim leg ones

..and i have good legs but yearn to have nice tiny upper body - have never evenwhen 9 stone been able to wear strappy tops/halternecks
so wear them and be proud

I find winter outfits easier to put together for some reason. Not sure why. My tip is to have a smart casual jacket that you can throw on over virtually any outfit. Example here

in the summer?

Do the boden crops come in good colours then?

dunno
hold on

how typical that teh green is sold out - the vilest shade

Hi - I also have been having the same type of problems and dread summer clothes. Having posted here already, earlier on this Summer, I've gotten some great advice from other MNs and here's my Summer wardrobe which I hope might help some one: -

2 pairs of capri pants try Wallis lovely pairs in white, beige and navy so a great staple to have
A couple of tops to match, try VILA this has a suprisingly good selection of summer wear this year, great basics in peach, pink, white, green which you can easily mix and match, some long so skim the hips nicely
A couple of those swing type long cardis perfect for hiding any lumps and bumps and great layering for our typical cold/hot summer. I have one in white,pink and green which you can then mix easily with your plain tops. Some very pretty flowery
long-ish type Summer tops in Dorothy Perkins at the moment and good value too.
Dresses - agree with previous posters, these are the complete outfit! They are great if you work in an office too as can be topped with a little cardi and flats to look the part.
Maxis - Cant get the concept of maxis, think you need to be quite tall to carry them off! I am average height and build and they make me look eternally pregnant!
GAP for a selection of basic cami tops in white/black/beige/pink/green for wearing under your cardi etc
Cardis just get a couple in white, and maybe pink (depending on your colouring)which you can then wear over your dresses/camis etc
Nice pair of full length white trousers, try cotton not linen for a non creased look, good pairs in Wallis and Oasis at the moment.
Wedge heels, maybe a couple of pairs if you can manage it. I always feel they make my legs look a bit longer and leaner!
As our Summers tend to be generally so poor, I dont invest too much in Summer clothes as I get such little wear out of them.
Re the white legs problem, I also have varicose veins, and white pasty legs. Discovered Rimmel instant tan this weekend - lifesaver!! Its a cream you rub in only lasts 24 hours and washes off but makes your legs look healthy and tanned in minutes. Hope this is of some help!

coderoo the green makes the model look pregnant in the pic!

It's a close call but I think I would award vilest shade to the coral one though.

Hi Jessica

I think you need to rethink your survey. There's no way of knowing whether 1=good or 1=very bad.

And you seem to have ignored the one thing that determines whether or not I go to a clothes store i.e. whether or not they cater for my size or whetehr all the clothes are designed with 18 year old hipless breastless girls in mind. Cost is also a factor you know.

so coderoo,
Maxis are good yes (cf me going on and on about that red twist Phase 8 one I bought (!))
And if I get jersey it will cope with my jelly baby belly but need to be LONG not finish above ankle and make me look like a ladies toilet sign with little legs sticking out from under me skirt. am 5 ft 8 but chunky atm.
Where else does good ones? apart from LT sally [yawn] and boden=££££ but I do like the blue one.

Jessica - I think it would be worth thinking about the following, these are (or have been in the past) very important factors for me:

• size range (up to 18 is important to me personally, but it would be good to see standard sizing going higher in some shops)

• price range (personally I avoid super cheap and trashy, but can't afford to spend huge amounts either)

• are the garments easy to see at a glance (if you're shopping with children your browsing and concentration time is very limited)

• is it easy to find the size you're looking for or do you have to rake through overpacked rails (again, if you're with children you don't have time)

• are the aisles easy to get round with a pushchair

• are the changing rooms easily available, and large enough for a pushchair (or to take young child(ren) in with you as you can't leave them standing around the shop on their own)

• colour range (very annoying when it seems the only colours that are in fashion are the ones that don't suit you)

• and of course the style is very important, I can't wear the skimpy stuff that under 30s can get away with, but I also avoid what I perceive to be frumpy

Have been dying in the heat today
Need to get some maxis people
Please help