August 3, 2020

My Summer Uniform & Where To Buy It

ALL. THE. LINEN.

This post contains ad affiliate links (denoted by a ‘*’) & gifted items (denoted by ‘ad - gifted). You can read my full disclaimer here.

I’d love to be one of those people who stand at their wardrobe every morning and pull on something that’s completely different to the thing they wore yesterday. One day a skirt and a shirt. The next a dress! Shorts! Culottes! A jumpsuit! But I know myself and I know that I am a woman of routine and each season a new uniform is created that is very, very similar to the one that I wore the season before and I ain’t mad about. The comfy jeans and long-sleeved shirt combo of spring (see that post here), has mutated slightly to a more breathable, summer-friendly outfit go-to that I wear pretty much everyday no matter what the plan is. Here are my favourites and here’s how I wear it…

THE TANK TOP

How many years have I been buying black vest tops for?! I always call it the most boring purchase of them all – and there’s no denying that it really is – but there a few things that I’ve learnt to look out for so you don’t end up buying them fresh every summer. I find that a slightly ribbed fabric lasts better than a smooth one. They keep their stretch for longer and don’t look as worn after a summer of continuous wear. Also don’t break the bank when it comes to white vest top purchases, no matter how you care for them the dreaded yellow underarm will always come after time so be sensible and conscious when buying them, but I personally don’t go all out on white clothing that comes anywhere near by pits. I have a grey, black and grey – the full house! – set of the *Everlane Prima Micro Rib Tanks, but the *& Other Stories Ribbed Strap Top has a similar vibe and comes in a wider range of colours too. The *ARKET Ribbed Strap Top looks cool as well; I love the ‘twist on a basic’ vibe of the slightly racer back straps.

SHOP THE TANK TOP EDIT*

THE LINEN SHIRT

Because I live in the U.K where summertime is one big lie that lasts for approximately seven days MAXIMUM, sometimes a tank top alone just doesn’t cut it. A linen shirt is the perfect layering piece for those occasions because I can always wear it on it’s own, open over the tank top as more of a jacket vibe or wrap myself up and double layer because am a cold blooded person who always wonders if it’s appropriate to turn the heating back off winter-only mode. The best ones I’ve found are the *ARKET Oversized Linen Shirts. They wash well (I pop them in a delicate 20℃ wash cycle) and are a nice oversized, but don’t ‘completely swamp you’ fit. If you fancy making a more sustainable purchase then I can’t recommend the ones from With Nothing Underneath enough. I have the Lapis Blue and Lemon (ad – gifted) style and both are lush. Slightly crisper and stiffer in fabric, but still a beautifully relaxed fit.

SHOP THE LINEN SHIRT EDIT*

THE LINEN TROUSERS

I never really saw the appeal of linen trousers till last summer. As a semi dress-hater, I’m used to sitting there slowly boiling myself in thick denim. You get used to it you know? But once I’d hopped on the linen trouser bus I didn’t want to get off. MY BITS CAN BREATHE! They are comfy and if bought in the right style can look chic as hell too. I have the *ARKET Elastic-Waist Linen Trousers in Black and *Beige and yes you read that correctly – E-L-A-S-T-I-C-W-A-I-S-T! They are heaven and the cut and fit is just spot on and roomy without feeling too baggy. Wear them sitting at your laptop or down the beach or park, they are perfect. They flit in and out of stock though, but they are worth keeping an eye on as they always come back. Other options are the *H&M Wide Linen Trousers which a nice if you fancy a navy pair, and and the *Mango Straight Leg Linen-Blend Trousers if you want more of a colour range to pick from. Basically what the hell have I been doing wearing jeans for the past 29 summers?

SHOP THE LINEN TROUSERS EDIT*

THE SLIPPER SANDAL

Here’s the thing. I love my *UGG Scuffette Slippers (ad – gifted), I really do. But thick and fluffy sheepskin just isn’t what you want when it’s 29℃ inside with no air-conditioning. It is not the one. So instead I’ve invested in a pair of the *Birkenstock Arizona Eva Sandals, which are something that I’ve been looking for for months, but have never been able to successfully find in my size. I FOUND THEM and they are wonderful and light and basically the perfect summer slipper for when you want to wear something around the house, but don’t want to put thermal clouds on your feet. Other options are a simple of pair of *Havaiana Flip Flops, or the *& Other Stories Leather Flip Flops which look like a FAB dupe for the ridiculously priced The Row pair. Light? Check. Easy to slip on and off? Check. Won’t make your feet turn into sizeable lakes of sweat? Check.