In Which I Share Some Summer Outfits in October
HELLO PALS,
As discussed in my last post, it’s now Officially Fall, and it’s my favorite season to dress for—jackets and boots ALL DAY EVERY DAY PLEASE AND THANK YOU. My least favorite season to dress for has always been the boiling-hot days of summer, when anything you wear becomes sticky and gross within .02 seconds of stepping outside. (Or, perhaps, of sitting in your noble truck, whose air conditioning has been broken since late summer 2020. I am pleased to announce that it is now officially Fixed!!!)
Anyway, part of starting this Style BlogTM was an attempt to figure out what to wear when I don’t know what to wear, because at some point along the way, I ought to be able to start noticing patterns that work well, or something. (Pattern #1: jackets and boots all day every day, except on the boiling-hot days of summer.) And while there was Many A Day this summer that I relied on Ye Trusty Combo of gym shorts and a t-shirt, this was also the first year that I felt somewhat in control of my summer outfits. Did I post them in the summer? No! Am I going to do it now even though it’s not summer anymore? Yes!
Both of these outfits feature a pair of pants that were originally wide-legged and too short, so I tapered them to make the length look IntentionalTM. Bonus: they feel like pajamas and are cool like linen. Not A Bonus: they wrinkle. Perhaps that will also look IntentionalTM.
I also fixed the tank top in the Left Look by pulling the sides back and safety-pinning them together, which looks kind of like making a half-ponytail with a barrette. (I don’t have a picture at the moment.) Without this Expert TailoringTM, it looks very much like a tent.
Outfit Details - LEFT:
Shirt - Old Navy Luxe High-Neck Swing Tank, bought 3/2021 and altered as described - similar still available, wearing size Medium Tall
Pants/Belt - JC Penney, bought 2020 and altered as described
Shoes - Target Mossimo Supply Co., bought ca. 2018 - also worn here
RIGHT:
Shirt - Ann Taylor Factory, bought 6/2021
Pants/Belt - JC Penney, bought 2020 and altered as described
Shoes - Adidas Grand Court (?), bought ca. 2020 - same or very similar still available, true to size - also worn here and here
Sunglasses - secondhand and thoroughly cleaned!!!
Here we see some of what I wore while visiting a pal in South Carolina, when we both expected the heat and humidity to be Absolutely MiserableTM and were pleasantly surprised. These outfits have also been on repeat all summer.
OUTFIT DETAILS - LEFT:
Dress - Amazon Zesica “Women’s Bohemian Floral Printed Wrap V Neck Short Sleeve Split Beach Party Maxi Dress”, bought ca. 6/2021 - still available. This dress requires pinning at the neck and thigh to avoid Wardrobe Malfunctions, but it’s my go-to hot weather LookTM. Also note that it’s midi length on me (6’). I bought it when it was recommended here.
Shoes - Adidas Grand Court (?), bought ca. 2020 - same or very similar still available, true to size - also worn above, here, and here
Temporary Tattoo - a must from the gift shop at the South Carolina Maritime Museum!!!
MIDDLE:
Dress - Target, bought prior to May 2013. It is A+++.
Shoes - Converse, bought 2011 (now pretty worn out)
Tote - Kohl’s, bought Spring 2022
Also featuring a boll weevil at the South Carolina Cotton Museum in Bishopville!
RIGHT:
Shirt - Kohls Draper James RSVP, bought 3/2022
Jeans - American Eagle High-Waisted Skinny Jean, bought 8/2020 (this style no longer available, but I consistently wear a 10 X-Long at AE) - also worn here
Shoes - Adidas Grand Court (I think???), bought in 2019 or 2020 - same or very similar still available, true to size
This outfit is almost the same as one worn here, but with different jeans and the shirt tied instead of tucked in.
These were taken as I was trying to Meticulously Plan what to pack for South Carolina, which is my excuse for the General Chaos in the background, but I also wore them throughout the summer. They illustrate some of my top tips for not looking Extremely Sweaty, which are 1) prints, 2) light colors, and 3) light-colored prints.
OUTFIT DETAILS - LEFT AND MIDDLE:
Shirt - Venus Cold-Shoulder V-Neck Top, bought 5/2022 - still available, wearing size Medium
Green Shorts - Kohls, bought Spring 2022
Denim Shorts - Meijer, bought ca. 2017 (?)
Shoes - Converse, bought 2011 (now pretty worn out)
Necklace - Handmade, materials from a craft store (can’t remember which one)
RIGHT:
Dress - Handmade, altered from a pattern sometime between 2010-2012 (it is Not Uncommon for sewing projects to take me YEARS to actually finish). The original goal was something similar to the one in this music video.
Shoes - Adidas Grand Court (I think???), bought in 2019 or 2020 - same or very similar still available, true to size
Here are my final two LooksTM, taken after I moved into this apartment but before I found a quality Night Photo System! (I am still looking for a quality Night Photo System, which I work around mostly with what I did for the Right Look, Take All Outfit Photos In Daylight.)
OUTFIT DETAILS - LEFT:
Dress - Kohls, bought ca. 2017
Shirt - Target, bought ca. 2017
Shoes - Adidas Grand Court (I think???), bought in 2019 or 2020 - same or very similar still available, true to size
Necklace - Inherited from my grandma - it’s a baby ring from an earlier relative.
RIGHT:
Shirt - Gap, bought 8/2018 - also worn here
Shorts - Kohls, bought Spring 2022
Shoes - Adidas Grand Court (I think???), bought in 2019 or 2020 - same or very similar still available, true to size
Purse - ??? The odds are either Target, Kohls, or JC Penney, bought within the last few years.
Necklace - Inherited from my grandma
What were your go-to LooksTM this summer? What do you wear when it’s approximately 12 Million Degrees? Leave your wisdom in the comments. I am looking forward to returning with actual October-Appropriate LooksTM, but until then,
I remain,
YOUR PAL.