House of Colour
Summer dressing to keep cool Whether you love summer clothes or find hot weather dressing frustrating here’s my guide to keeping your cool in the warmer months. Summer Dressing • We’re very good at wearing very little as soon as it gets hot in this country (often little opportunity I know!) but it’s not always doing us a favour. The more flesh we expose the less authority we hold. If you’re in a professional setting, and even on a zoom call, keep your shoulders covered. A light weight jacket or even a fine knit cardigan at work is great to have on call. • In warmer weather we can lose our own style in an effort to keep cool – anything will do! Think a little bit about your lifestyle and have a few items that serve you, give you style and shape, in really warm weather (it does still happen here!). Not all of us can work a linen peasant dress but all of us have some styles that we can use in really hot weather to keep cooler. For example I can’t do the maxi or midi dress (look like a small child lost in a grownup outfit!) but I can do a neat halterneck. • Quality – buy less buy better. I think as our summer months can be so erratic we splurge when its warm on cheap clothing to get us by. Investing in a summer wardrobe can seem a waste when our weather is so unreliable. But, our summers have been getting warmer and it looks like that will continue. Look for those quality items that you will wear every year in versatile colours, and the ones you absolutely love. A neutral item on the bottom half will always be more useful that a bright shade. Also, be critical of your clothes. Are they still looking good? Have they seen better days? Remember your clothes are speaking for you. • Sales – tempting I know to go for the bargain options around but if you wouldn’t have bought it at full price then why are you buying it now? It won’t be a bargain if it sits clogging up your wardrobe. • Grooming, grooming, grooming. So this is a challenging one currently but it is really key to looking good in the summer months! It’s tempting to give up on make up too but a light dusting of foundation and some lipstick will help to define your look. • Invest in good underwear for the summer. Underwear should not be visible! Generally it needs to be a nude shade and smooth to avoid lines. If you’re stuck or hate underwear shopping
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there is a virtual solution from BraSense. She’s a miracle worker. • Accessories – again we can forget about our accessories in warmer weather. They’re a quick way to update our look if we aren’t into investing in clothes. More importantly they complete our look, making us look finished and put together. Think about that cameo area in your online call too, you’ll look the part with your jewellery on. They aren’t just a piece of fun, they’re important! • If you’ve had to have a massive clearout recently because you’ve not been wearing most of your wardrobe and are worried you might make the same mistakes again, find your local stylist for free no-obligation chat. Enjoy your clothes this summer! By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk
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