Summer Wardrobe Successes

 & WowOnWednesday

Dear friends. I was recently updating some old blog posts and found a recurring theme - every day outfits, or what I've been wearing.  When I was working I used to be the first to arrive and I'd quickly take an outfit photo, usually in hideous lighting. 

It got me thinking about sharing my favourite outfits. Of course now that I'm retired I'm not reaching for work or Zoom outfits.  Life is more leisurely.

There tend to be three categories of outfit:  1) Very relaxed, for when I'm at home all day, perhaps gardening, doing housework, or working on the blog;  2) Smart casual for when I go out on walks with the London walking group, or visit art museums or meet friends for lunch;  3) Dressier, for theatre and dinner trips and the odd wedding   (only one this summer). 

I'm not very disciplined about taking pictures of outfits these days. On Saturday, I hosted a meet-up at Hyde Park of 30 women from the Kettlewell Colour Club, and I didn't have one photo of what I wore! Not even in the group photos, which I took with the tripod.

This is what I wore at the Hyde Park event. I had a couple of criteria:  I needed to look noticeably colourful, because women would be looking out for me at the meet-up point, and I had to wear comfortable shoes plus shorts or leggings because we were going to be sitting down on picnic blankets.

This outfit has been worn a few times this summer (also at the Chelsea Flower Show).  The yellow and pink blouse is wonderfully soft and lends itself to being tied at the waist.  It was new this summer from Kettlewell.  The jacquard crops are also a new buy this summer, from Robell.  Pink fizz sleeveless top and Dazzle Hoop earrings are also from Kettlewell.  I chose to wear dressier earrings and no necklace.  The gold sequin basket got lots of compliments. It's a couple of years old.

Another dressy outfit was for my nephew's wedding, the M&S dress which was a snip at £49.50. I wanted to wear it when I went to see the Australian Ballet but it was raining that day. 

What did I wear for the ballet and dinner? My peacock skirt with bright apricot short tie wrap (Kettlewell) and my signature Georgian crystal necklaces. Plus rose gold boots, as sandals wouldn't have been suitable for the weather.

For the smarter walks I do in London with MeetUp I've been wearing mostly variations of blue. Heree's one, where I've based the outfit around the blue and yellow tones of the necklace.

A scarf bought from Kettlewell has also been the basis for several outfits. It's in light spring colours and I love it. 

My "bottoms" throughout summer are knee-length shorts from Roman or M&S, and three-quarter length crops from Roman or Robell. Below: shorts from Roman. The wedges, old, are from Vionic so I can happily wear them all day. But not on walks. 

For "doing nothing days at home" I wear very old jeans from M&S and a bright top. Sandals from Vionic. 

My favourite outfit by far is the one at the top of the post:  my lime and white striped top from Kettlewell (old), worn with their Limeade leather belt and white M&S shorts. It's a lovely fresh look for summer. I call this pose "Does it feel like rain?"  We've been saying it a lot this summer. 

So What Didn't I Wear This Summer?

Fortunately there's nothing that reproaches me silently from the wardrobe. The weather meant I haven't worn my sleeveless tops very much, or a halter neck top I bought pre-loved. But there's always next year. 

As the weather gets cooler,  I'll be introducing my short tie wraps and moto jackets  (I have quite a few of those!).  I've started replenishing my winter wardrobe. I bought a jumper in the Pure Collection sale. There were a couple of things that caught my eye in the Kettlewell preview.  I'm still waiting for M&S to get more coats stocked - the ones they have so far are the wrong colours. I have a gift voucher waiting.

I've shared a couple of posts below from 2019 so you can see some of my work attire. I've been through a bit of a style metamorphosis since then. 

Have you worn certain items on repeat?  Do you evaluate your wardrobe towards the end of the season to see what you wore the most?  Do let us know in the comments.

Sharing this post with: Weekday Wear at Away from the Blue, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Hello Monday at Sunshine and Books, Tell it to Me Tuesday at Perfectly Imperfect, Rena at Fine Whatever, Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish,  Confident Twosday at I Do Declaire, Style with a Smile at Stylesplash, Talent Sharing Tuesdays at Scribbling Boomer, Curated by Jennifer (Wednesdays), Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #SpreadTheKindness  and #Linkup on the Edge at Shelbee on the Edge,  Thursday Fashion Files at Doused in Pink, #Neverendingstyle at The Grey Brunette, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style,  Traffic Jam Weekend at Marsha in the Middle Senior Salon Pitstop at Esme Salon Crafty Creators at Life as a Leo Wife,  Unlimited Link Party at Grammy's Grid 

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Time to Link Up 

Wow on Wednesday is the weekly link-up where bloggers can find new readers, and readers can find new blogs. I feature three favourites each Wednesday on Instagram, and my five or six top picks at the weekend on Twitter and Facebook. 

Any posts that interest women are welcome: fashion, beauty, home decor, gardening, books, travel, self-improvement, nutrition, recipes. Each week there will be as Featured Favourite for Fashion, Beauty and Other Categories.  There haven't been many Beauty posts - big opportunity!! 

Last Week's Favourites

Cotswolds Holiday by Laurie at Vanity and Me. Like me, Laurie is a big fan of Clarkson's Farm.

Weigh-in Wednesday by Joanne at Slices of Life. Her meals look nutritious and delicious!

Back from the Emerald Isle by Veronica of Vronni's Style Meanderings

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