Clothes That Don't Feel Like Clothes For August & September
We are fully enmeshed in Peak Summer, or as I like to call it: shower after going anywhere, for any reason, season. It’s hot, it’s gross, and the only kind of clothing I can tolerate is that which does not actually touch my body. At the same time, I do want to wear clothing, as I see no reason to saunter about town in fabric with the coverage abilities of a dish towel. Somewhere in between my seasonal discomfort and my affinity for keeping my body my business, there lives Clothes That Don’t Feel Like Clothes. Basically what you’re looking for are light, loose fabrics that don’t hug you at any point in time. I have outlined several options for the overheating among you, below.
The Cover Up Dress: Cover ups count as clothes when you live in the depths of hell. You have my permission to use beachy sheathes as clothing, utilizing whatever underpinnings you so wish. I have been known to wear a bathing suit under one of these things when I’m going nowhere more exciting than the grocery store.
Short Linen Dress: The linen clothing Etsy rabbit hole is ENDLESS, but what you’re looking for are casual, wearable shapes that drape the body nicely and have some style to them. I like this for anyone who isn’t a fan of low-cut dresses and who appreciates a tie waist. Most linen items on Etsy come in SO MANY colors, I wish you luck. (But how cute is this watermelony color?)
Linen Tank: A whispy linen tank will never steer you wrong in summertime. It’s functional while also being cute and not touchy on the body. Pair this cropped tank with a high waist short and you might actually be able to leave the house.
Head Wrap: Honestly if my hair could just get out of my way all summer, that’d be swell. These head wraps by BreezyTee are made of comfortable silk touch stretch jersey fabric, and are soft and lightweight. Whether you’re looking to protect your hairstyle or just keep your hair off of your forehead and neck on superhot days, you really can’t get cuter than these wraps. (So many colors available!)
Striped Jumpsuit: This suggestion of a garment is the sort of thing I wander about my house in until fall. It’s a jumpsuit made of linen than keeps you covered and comfortable without causing you offense by actually touching your skin. I love this stripe pattern, it reminds me of slightly nautical vibes without the added effort and toil of actually owning a boat.
Wrap Front Linen Dress: Another lovely linen option, a v-neck wrap dress is your friend for much of the year, honestly. It’s a one-and-done outfit that works for everything from (socially distant) gatherings to extra hot workdays, once we’re back in offices. If you’re a person who has to walk around a sweltering city as part of her commute, this is a smart move.
Tee Shirt Dress: Ah, the classic tee shirt dress. You really can’t go wrong here. It’s a close cousin of the nightgown but you can, you know…go outdoors in it. I wear mine with bike shorts underneath to avoid any thigh discomfort. If you’d prefer something without so much a hint of a sleeve, opt for a more spaghetti strap version, here.
Tiered Jersey Dress: Sheathlike dresses are allowed to be cute, too. It really doesn’t take much more than a tiered ruffle strategy, as you can see here. This dress comes in a few different colors and sizes range from 0-16.
Off-Shoulder Caftan Dress: It’s a beach house dress for an apartment reality.
Printed Skirt: Skirt people, check this out. Kemi Telford’s prints are unmatched, and her garment shapes are ideal for this time of year. Pair one of her standout skirts with a tank top for a summer outfit that appears to have required far more effort than it actually did. You’ll keep (and wear) Kemi’s designs for a lifetime.
A Light Tee: A classic tee that’s light as essentially air will serve you well all summer. I buy mine oversized to further increase my comfort and decrease the chances of something touching me. These pair well with denim shorts but I’ve also been known to run errands with them thrown over a bike short. If you’d prefer a round neck, you’re in luck.
The Ideal Sheath: The dress that’s basically not even there. This effortless, tunic-like dress manages to have style due to its neckline and length, and also comes in more colors than I know what to do with. You can absolutely use it as a beach cover up, but it also makes a good running-around dress with some light undergarments as well. Opt for a darker shade to avoid any see-through situations, if you’re concerned. I’m leaning toward navy blue…
Linen Robe: This is my personal favorite item on Etsy as a whole. It is a linen robe that I intend to wear in my Lanai once I’ve retired and all my neighbors should be comfortable seeing me in little else. All of you have my permission to “take to the robes” immediately, as we cannot possibly be expected to either leave the house OR wear actually clothing in this heat. I’m going with a rose color, because I’m lovely.
The Event Dress: If you do have an event this summer (or any summer after) and the temperatures are soaring above what makes sense, you need a dress like this one by Sika Designs. This dress is handmade in Ghana of lightweight batik cotton, and as you can see it’s one of the cutest dresses on earth. This is such a smart summer investment for years to come, as it works for everything from summer weddings to your birthday dinner. If you need a special occasion dress for steamy weather, look into this. Note that because it’s handmade, there’s a five-week period before it ships.
Cami Dress: A simple camisole dress turns into cute clothes with nothing more than a simple ruffle at the hem. This is just the kind of detail I appreciate when I’m melting into the floor, because it doesn’t require any effort on my part but looks like I gave a damn while I was getting dressed.
Linen Overall: I live for a good linen overall. Casual, effortless, and kind of reminiscent of a baby onesie, these are amazing to have around the house when you’re not going anywhere but you don’t actually want to wear your pajama tee shirt all day.
Resort Dress: Investing in a resort dress like this one means that this summer, and for every summer from now on, you have a “going somewhere” dress that you can wear regardless of how much the temperature resemble’s that of the sun’s surface. lemlem is known for its light-as-air fabrics that still somehow manage to have shape and style. It’s a vacation in a dress and I love it.
The Almost A Dress, Dress: This is the one you wear when you can’t. You simply cannot. The idea of movement much less dressing yourself seems daunting. When you have the desire to do nothing but sit inside your refrigerator, wear this dress. We are going to make it, everything’s going to be fine. In October.
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