Gransnet forums

Style & beauty

Top tips for a cool summer

(36 Posts)
LucyGransnet (GNHQ) Mon 14-Jul-14 14:58:32

With the <sometimes> hot weather we've been having, we're been finding ourselves revisiting the old summer fashion conundrum again - how to dress with style when most clothes shops look like an explosion in a) a neon paint factory and b) teenager's holiday suitcase.

So, we got in touch with The Women's Room Blog for a few helpful suggestions, but what are your summer style dos and don'ts?

Galen Sun 20-Jul-14 15:00:11

Today I'm wearing a low cut green Tshirt with neutral coloured shorts.
Lousy look but comfy for playing with my bow and arrows. First time since I fell my arm's been up to it.

janerowena Sun 20-Jul-14 14:44:16

I lined mine with tissues at our concert last night, that worked really well.

Tegan Sun 20-Jul-14 14:19:33

What's making me hot at the moment is wearing a bra. I don't always wear one [on the flat chested side] but I did start to feel a bit sore by not wearing one, so have just put a very soft one on again and I'm immediately feeling clammy. Mind you, just had a cunning plan and will put a bikini top on and see if that feels better.

Soutra Sun 20-Jul-14 14:06:06

The young can get away with wearing a black (linen of course) bin bag but I live and die in loose white or cream linen (or linen mix) trousers, loose tops, linen or cotton tunics (Phase 8 had some in the sale) or kaftan tops and espadrilles. I have ugly feet and ankles which swell up so don't like to show too much foot (!) Doesn't stop me feeling like a boiled lobster much of the time however smile

Tegan Sun 20-Jul-14 13:56:57

I've just bought two pairs biddy. Because they're so loose they're very forgiving and designs such as jungle print also hide thighs and bottoms wink. I'm going to wear mine with my Crocs, a plain t shirt and a bolero with a few bits of ethnic jewellery. I wouldn't wear them if they'd only just become fashionable but they've been around for a while now. The reason I bought them [I mentioned this earlier] is that when the weathers like this I just want to wear my cotton pyjamas all the time. Mind you, I don't think I'd wear them to a Christening confused. I bought one pair from New Look [cheap] and another pair from a local boutique type shop [not cheap]. They both look pretty identical confused. Go for it!

Nonu Sun 20-Jul-14 13:06:56

if they make YOU feel comfortable , go right ahead and wear them !
smile

biddymarie Sun 20-Jul-14 12:48:30

The trouble with me as a older a person shall i say lol.I want to look fashionable but do'nt want people laughing at me behind my back so to speak.I have looked at those loose what do you call them?Lounge trs? They look like they are made of cotton and they come in all crazy colours & patterns.When a relation recently came to my Granddaughter Christening she was wearing a pair in jungle print!My daughter as just brought a pr in leopard print reasonable priced she said how comfortable & cool they are.
I have a pair of pjs similar material & must admit i put them on early in the night as feel so cool/relaxed.Do you think older people should wear these trs you know the sort that have elastic at the heel,Or do you think no after a certain age? i do'nt want to look like mutton dressed as lamb.smile

annodomini Fri 18-Jul-14 21:29:59

Today I saw a woman (of about my age) in the village looking so comfortable that I wondered why I wasn't dressed the same way. She was wearing a loose, long-sleeved cotton top, loose trousers and a protective-looking sunhat. The ensemble didn't look pricey but was appropriate and that's what matters in weather like this - or in any weather come to that. I had lightweight denim-look crops, mint-green tee-shirt with elbow-length sleeves and grey sandals.

rosequartz Fri 18-Jul-14 20:57:38

I must walk round with my eyes shut. I always catch up with what is fashionable just as it is about to go out of fashion!

Tegan Fri 18-Jul-14 18:23:45

Kimono tops everyhwere now; have they been in the shops all summer and I haven't noticed them or have they only just become fashionable? I did try one but I think it would just make me hot but still not stop me being sunburnt [which would defeat the object of wearing one].

Daisymay1 Fri 18-Jul-14 07:19:38

Prices on blog are far to expensive for a grandma like me !!!!

Galen Thu 17-Jul-14 22:32:41

Jing I liked it and it would have suited me (with pearls of course) but I'm a 20 at present. ( don't think Mao wore pearls did he?confused)

rosequartz Thu 17-Jul-14 21:52:14

Wore a very light silk and cotton top today and was still very hot and bothered.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 17-Jul-14 19:50:18

You don't think the "shirt dress" had something of the Chairman Mao about it?

Ridiculous prices! Useless blog. hmm

Ana Thu 17-Jul-14 19:30:24

I love viscose! Doesn't crease like linen does, and is cool and comfortable - I've got a couple of pairs of loose trousers I bought about five years ago from Store21 and they're still going strong! They don't shrink in the wash, either.

Galen Thu 17-Jul-14 19:23:21

Ridiculous! Some of us are a larger size than 16 which is all the (very nice) shirtwaist er goes up to.

Magrithea Thu 17-Jul-14 18:35:25

Have to agree that the blog did rather state the obvious!!

M&S have gone downhill hugely IMHO - I can't find a thing there these days. Thank goodness I bougth 3 pairs of their linen trousers a few years ago as I really liked the style. One still unworn (hope they still fit! grin) but the last couple of years offerings have been dire.

A local boutique has the kimono style 'cardis' but I hate fringing so wouldn't have bought one! Matalan is a good hunting ground for reasonable prices and so is TKMaxx

Nonu Thu 17-Jul-14 18:16:00

Not because I am a prude , far from it , just don"t fancy the idea.

Marilyn was supposed to commando !

grin

Nonu Thu 17-Jul-14 18:14:51

Don"t know whether I would want to go commando !!

Laugh !

janerowena Thu 17-Jul-14 15:13:09

Viscose jersey is ok, it makes lovely cool t-shirts and drapey tops, but the woven fabric creases horribly unless it is mixed with something else. It's worse than linen. I do wear quite a lot of linen, it is so cool and comfortable that it spoils you for anything else. However, cheaper linen is the stuff that crumples. I have some ancient expensive linen skirts that cost a small fortune way back when I had more money, and they crease very little. I bought a navy linen blazer 20 years ago in Chicago in a sale, reduced from $200 to $20, and it is brilliant. Also thick silk shorts, now sadly rather too tight. They know how to dress for muggy weather over there. I think our fashion buyers are at fault here.

Tegan Thu 17-Jul-14 13:10:31

I was checking out viscose and polyester yesterday, having bought some trousers in both fabrics [you know, the Waynetta sort that everyone seems to be wearing at the moment blush] and was surprised to read that they are supposed to be very cool to wear. Mine will be, anyway because they're very loose and baggy, but I always thought cotton was the fabric of choice if it was hot [silk if money is no object]. It reminded me of a friend that set up a school in Ethiopia and wrote to me saying 'so much for all the white cottony things I've brought with me; the most practical clothing to wear here is made of brown polyester'.

suebailey1 Thu 17-Jul-14 12:29:47

I did used to love cotton shirtwaisters- I haven't seen one for a long while they look very tropical but smart. I'm at home or on the golf course mst of the time and I can tell you we are a pretty sight there. I wont wear shorts - I'm assize 14 and 5ft 4 so it looks like I'm standing in a whole and DH will only say ' sing lofty' so that's out but plenty do and don't care its the golf that matters to them. Cut offs for me for golf, Boden dresses for outside the house or Masai, M & S maxis at home in the evening - for some reason not wearing knickers makes me feel cooler and more comfortable. A nice long Campari and Tonic is refreshing but not wine if its very hot- very drying!

rosequartz Wed 16-Jul-14 23:29:48

Not saying I wouldn't wear one - I would like one if I could afford one - but would probably not wear it on a 'really hot day'.

annodomini Wed 16-Jul-14 23:17:16

I saw a lot of bright, cheerful kimono style jackets in various shops yesterday but none in my size which suggests that well endowed women have been flocking to buy them!

rosequartz Wed 16-Jul-14 22:17:19

They recommend swapping a 'nan' cardigan for a kimono style jacket on really hot days.

On really hot days I would wear neither.