Fashion: White Ts, Summer Breeze

WHITE TEES SUMMER BREEZE

When it comes to late summer styling, there's nothing I love more than those easy, no-fuss, chuck-on-and-go pieces that make decisions about what to wear in this weather just that little bit easier.

BY JULIA COELHO

You can't go wrong with the classics, and a plain white T-shirt tops the list of tried and true wardrobe staples. White tees have remained firmly on the scene since the days of James Dean and Marlon Brando, but let’s not forget about a more recent resurgence. I’m sure you all remember the infamous Gucci white tee that made an appearance on every blogger and celeb’s Instagram a couple of years back; a cultural obsession which no doubt helped propel the white tee to even greater levels of superstardom.

Finding the perfect one may sound like a fairly simple task, but one that ticks all the boxes too, from fit to comfort, can actually be quite a feat. After all, the more minimal something is, the more its flaws are able to shine through. It may not exactly be an exciting item to purchase, but whether paired under a silky slip dress,

with a sharp suit, or even with your favourite jeans, there’s no denying that a white T-shirt is one of the most versatile items out there. It possesses a powerful neutralising capability; with a propensity to temper louder pieces like nothing else can.

LEFT: ALICE ORGANIC COTTON RIBBED T-SHIRT IN WHITE, WEEKDAY, £12.00

RIGHT: ORGANIC CREW NECK TEE IN WHITE, MANGO, £6.99

FABRIC

Arguably one of the most crucial elements to consider when looking for a perfect tee, especially in our current climate, is fabric. Most white T-shirts - especially amongst our most-frequented high-street stores - are made out of cotton, or a fabric blended with cotton. It’s important to remember that not all cotton is created equal, and it’s definitely essential that we do our research and become well informed, in order to make the best possible decisions going forward. Some of our favourite retailers are making waves in their efforts to more sustainable business practices. H&M, as an example, is fully committed to an eco-friendly future, and has pledged to use only recycled and sustainable materials by 2030. Even now, they take in old clothes for recycling at any of their stores (in exchange for store credit!), and they also have a popular Conscious range, which boasts a huge selection of organic clothing.

STYLING

White tees don’t have to be boxy and boring. Apart from finding the perfect fit, the rest is all about styling. During the impending

LEFT:

MOM JEANS IN WASHED BLACK, TOPSHOP, £40.00

RIGHT: OLD SKOOL

TRAINERS IN ORANGE, VANS, £57.00

MIDDLE: TRUE CLEAR MULES IN BLACK, SIMMI LONDON, £30.00

tricky period between summer and autumn, when you’re finally ready to ditch the summer mini dresses at long last, I find a tee is a perfect choice as it acts as an ideal layering device, and can be worn with basically any trouser/ culotte. While a white tee may seemingly be an overtly casual choice, you’ll find that it really doesn’t take all that much to dress one up and create an effortlessly stylish look. The options are

TOP: TAILORED CO-ORD SUIT IN MINT, TOPSHOP, £79.00

MIDDLE: DOUBLE BREASTED BLAZER IN LIGHT BLUE, NEW LOOK, £32.99

BOTTOM: OVERSIZED SLEEVELESS BLAZER IN 90'S CHECK CO-ORD, DAISY STREET, £24.99

- - RIGHT PAGE - -

TOP: MIX & MATCH BLACK SUIT, ASOS DESIGN, £53.00

MIDDLE: CROP DAD BLAZER AND TROUSERS, ASOS DESIGN, £80.00

BOTTOM: ALL ROUNDER BLAZER IN GREY CHECK, ASOS DESIGN, £30.00

limitless; consider wearing one under a slinky mini slip dress and rolling up the sleeves, and finishing the whole look off with some dainty jewellery and strappy heels. On the other end of the spectrum, you could also opt for a cropped version to pair with high-waisted jeans, or even tie a knot for a more feminine

twist. I personally love wearing a plain tee tucked into some black skinny jeans, and then pairing it with some chunky boots or eyecatching trainers.

Let’s also not forget that a white tee is aptly appropriate for the upcoming National Day celebrations. Regardless of social distancing and a lack of events this year, the dress code remains the same, and a white tee is an easy go-to if you’re not in the headspace to think or care about an exciting outfit.

SUITS

While a basic like your favourite white tee may cut it for casualwear, making that shift into the office can feel somewhat trickier. But as the cool-girl alternative to a crisp shirt, pairing a plain white tee with a blazer and tailored trousers is

They have remained firmly on the scene since the days of James Dean and Marlon Brando.

a contemporary take on suiting that is becoming more and more popular these days. Tailored additions bring structure and refinement to any outfit, whereas a T-shirt helps to bring the whole thing down a notch and create a perfect balance. The best part is that you can opt for both trainers or heels, depending on personal preference or dress code.

ACCESSORIES

Accessories are a failsafe way to add an injection of personality to any outfit, so consider pairing a plain tee with a pair of bold statement earrings or cool layered chains for a more put-together vibe.

Another personal fave, the white trainer trend burst onto the scene quite a few years back, and even though there have been various colour trends that have emerged since, our affinity for the classic white is showing no signs of slowing down. It’s a classic combo; as long as you have a crisp white tee and a pair of white trainers in your sartorial armoury, the rest of the outfit really isn’t that important!

TOP: MULTIROW NECKLACE WITH COIN PENDANT IN GOLD TONE, ASOS DESIGN, £8.00

BOTTOM LEFT: CLASSIC OLD SKOOL TRIPLE WHITE TRAINERS, VANS, £60.00

BOTTOM RIGHT: STAN SMITH TRAINERS IN WHITE AND GREEN, ADIDAS ORIGINALS, £75.00

PESTO &

PETIT POIS PASTA

Recipe by The Gibraltar Vegan, follow http://www.instagram.com/ thegibraltarvegan for updates

It’s September, it’s back to school time, and with the evenings still so lovely no one wants to spend ages prepping food for school lunches. This Pesto & Petit Pois Pasta is easy to make, is served cold and you can prep for days ahead. Kids love pasta and peas are a great source of protein too.

INGREDIENTS

500g whole-wheat pasta

300g frozen peas

20 cherry tomatoes

120g vegan pesto (if you can’t make homemade then the brand Zest is a great alternative)

METHOD

1. Boil the pasta, when cooked strain the water away and rinse it under the cold water tap 2. Cook the Petit Pois and cut the cherry tomatoes in half. 3. Stir the peas,, pesto and cherry tomatoes in with the pasta. 4. Keep refrigerated when possible, but it does not need to be refrigerated while the children are in school.

COLD

BEETROOT SOUP

Recipe featured on MamaLotties.com

If you are a fan of gazpacho or salmorejo then you may just like this. A creamier and thicker alternative with beetroot. A great option for the summer. Swap out the ingredients for a vegan alternative.

INGREDIENTS: • 1/2 Ltr chicken stock • 2 cooked beetroots • 2 gherkins • 2 garlic cloves • Dill • Chives • 2 tsp vinegar • 400g fresh cream • 400g kefir • Salt • Pepper 3 eggs

METHOD:

1. Place 3 eggs to boil and leave them to cool.

2. Start off by preparing the stock; this can be done by using a stock cube. Once all mixed together and dissolved set aside and leave it to cool.

3. Grate the beetroot, garlic and peel the cucumber, grating into a bowl with the beetroot. 4. Next, finely chop down the dill and chives, leaving a sprig of dill to one side for decorating.

5. Once the stock is cold, mix all the ingredients together, and add in the cream and yogurt and combine all your ingredients. Season to taste and finally add the vinegar.

6. Leave this in the fridge for 30 minutes to cool throughout and serve, cutting up a boiled egg.