Here’s What To Do If You Love Summer But Hate Summer Clothes

Summer is meant to be the most carefree season on the calendar. But - and this might be a controversial opinion - what if you don’t like the clothes that come with it?

Maybe you’re just more comfortable in layers instead of a flimsy summer dress. Or maybe, it’s the lack of sleeves and the fact that everything’s shorter that is putting you off. Regardless, if it wasn’t for the blessed relief from the cold, some of us would actually be quite happy to zip through to September, when, along with autumn, the need to wear a jacket also arrives. But all is not lost because, with a couple of clever styling tricks, you might just be a summer clothes person after all. Now is the time to find out...

Figure Out Your Summer Persona

This sounds fairly wishy-washy, but all it means is: do you want to dress the same in summer as the rest of the year? Think about it. You might have a tastefully minimal wardrobe from September-May, but feel an urge to throw caution to the wind in June, welcoming punchy colours and prints as you switch to out-of-office mode. Or maybe, you’re most comfortable in black, whether you’ve got goosebumps in bundles of layers or are squinting at the sun in a bikini.

Find Your Comfort Zone

The key is deciding what areas you want to celebrate (e.g. your arms) and then figuring out that fine balance between revealing and concealing. If you’re wearing an off-the-shoulder blouse, for example, you might want to pair it with some fluid wide-leg trousers. On the flipside, if you’re styling out a miniskirt, a long-sleeved body or a loose button-down on top will do the trick.

Pick A Do-It-All Summer Dress

Unless you hate dresses, in which case, skip straight to the next tip. But otherwise, the summer dress is your easiest throw-on-and-go solution to getting changed when it’s hot. The trick is finding your forever style. Do you prefer form-fitting silhouettes or something oversized? What about prints v plain colours? Are you a mini or maxi girl? What do the dresses you wear most often look like? Answer these questions and you should have a reasonably good idea about what you’re looking for in a summer dress. Arm yourself with that list the next time you go shopping and, whatever you do, don’t impulse buy.

Don't Forget Accessories

The accessorising potential in summer is truly something to write home about. Frankly, you’d be mad not to enjoy swapping sturdy winter boots for flirty summer sandals. And, while you’re at it, don’t forget about straw baskets, sunglasses, bucket hats and beaded necklaces, all of which will immediately tip your basics into summer territory.

Embrace The Oversized Shirt

A lightweight shirt, preferably in linen, makes you look effortless, especially if it’s unbuttoned and slumped over one shoulder. Generously proportioned cuts inspired by men's shirting work best for this look and will deliver optimum comfort when it feels like a million degrees outside, without compromising on style.