The perfect not so scorchio top
For those days when it's normal Summer as opposed to hotter than the sun hot. (there is no hiding my dislike for the properly warm, I tell you)
One of my favourite tops which I find the most reliable year in year out and also layer with under sweatshirts in the A/W are the magical linen tee.
This year though, I have also discovered the rather fabulous viscose tee. I snagged an amazing T by Alexander Wang one from TK Maxx a month or so ago (although it's languishing at the bottom of the laundry basket as it's handwash and I'm too scared to wash it in case I trash it. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this?)
My favourite way of wearing mine? Under a blazer with a pair of jeans. Add any sort of footwear you fancy from sneakers, sandals, ballet flats to ankle boots or heels. For me, this is the classic, not so hot day, Summer go to outfit.
And there are some bargains to be snagged at Gap. This for me wins hands down due to the finish at the bottom. I love the curved thick hemmed hem. Much more flattering than a straight cut one.
V neck linen tee from Gap was £19.95 now £12.99
Not reduced but personally this would be my choice of colour in heather grey £19.95
White at John Lewis Collection WEEKEND - another bargain now in the sale although my choice would still be the Gap ones. However it's handy to have a choice of necklines. Plus you can collect these from Waitrose with Click and Collect which still means John Lewis is my favourite retailer online.
Linen Blend Cotton slub tee shirt was £29 now £14.50
Upping the budge at Jigsaw but these are gorgeous and rarely go into the sale in my experience. These are new season ones.
Linen v neck roll sleeve top in Eucalyptus £49 from Jigsaw
Some longer sleeved ones at The White Company in the sale. These are really fantastic quality and whilst not the cheapest, it's worth grabbing them in the sale. Some longer sleeved version which are ideal for going into Autumn. Remember, they do make the best layering tops as well.
Split hem linen t-shirt was £50 now £30
The other fabric I love that I've mentioned is viscose. This has the most wonderful soft, drapey fluidity to it and I think generally looks smarter than its 100% cotton counterparts.
V Neck Box Tee from Me+Em was £35 now £17.50 Lots more colours online.
But the bargain of the day has to be from Me+Em, in a fabulous stripe.
Stripe V Neck Box Tee from Me+Em was £45 now £13.50
New in at Mango but a bargain price and this one is great if you really don't like anything vaguely clingy round your waist. For me thought, this would come into its own over a pair of shorts. But also ideal with skinnies when you want something with a bit more volume to balance your silhouette but don't want a blouse (and yup - still feel 60 when I use that word)
Pleated t-shirt in heather grey £16.99
And in the white
Whilst we're on the subject of swing tops, this is a shape I have totally embraced and especially love it in a vest top. Vest top at the age of 42 - a generic "vest", I have to say I can't do. My stomach muscles have long since left the building and I need nothing clingy at all anywhere near my midriff. (however it is my plan to spend the 6weeks summer holiday getting fit. Oh yes, as I'll have oodles of spare time with the three children doing their homework and playing convivially with each other - board games, I'm anticipating.... or puzzles..... YEAH RIGHT. They'll be fighting, lots of tears - mostly mine, whilst I'm rocking in the corner with a bottle of gin and a straw. Why should this Summer holiday be any different from any other? But one has to have faith..... albeit of the blind variety... I WILL have a washboard stomach and buns of steel by September 7th. Snort)
Swing Vest from ME+Em £28 in Indigo Also in black, navy and white stripe, white, red and...
...khaki. Love this one.
And linen again back at The White Company
V neck pleat front sleeveless top was £65 now £39
And in the navy again with 40% off at £39
So there we have my pick of the cream of the basic tee crop. Soon on the agenda I shall be tackling the harder to master white shirt..... it's up there with jeans for being so ubiquitous but so impossible to master.
Outfit from a dinner party on Friday night. So this dress I have had in my wardrobe for years and have worn literally about 4 times. It cost me a fortune from Reiss but as a maxi dress was just impossible to wear. So had it shortened (dear god, how expensive is it to have something altered??!) and I have to say I absolutely love it now. Will be wearing it loads - you have been warned.
Dress - Reiss
Shoes - Zara
Bag - Coccinelle
Outfit from yesterday.
I put all the hand wash stuff together in the washing machine and cross my fingers. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it's a big hot mess. Lorraine x
ReplyDeleteYou see I've had a mare with this - still scarred by my middle child at the age of about 2, turning the washing machine up to a 90 wash when I'd had it on a cold wash. The ENTIRE contents were trashed which of course were the most expensive things in my wardrobe. Admittedly I can't remember, 6 yrs later what most of them were but I do still lament the loss of my BRAND NEW Joseph Breton top (ARSES ARSES ARSES) and two Whistles jumper dresses which I would still wear. Not bitter AT ALL tho... (hence I now panic like hell whenever I put a handwash on!)
DeleteLove those tees from Gap, just what I've been looking for, THANK YOU!!
ReplyDeletePs I love your hair this length :) x
You're welcome and thank YOU! (we'll wait to see what happens when I do it myself.. got a party on wed so let's see!)
DeleteWow that Reiss dress is stunning - gorgeous colour and shape - see, you do have a waist! I once left a white handwash blouse ( shudder too at that word) so long in the bottom of the laundry basket that it grew mould! X
ReplyDeleteI don't have a waist I promise - this is just the perfect dress that gives me a waist! And pmsl about your blouse.. all the class.!
DeleteOh the dress looks fabulous x
ReplyDeleteThank you - am v pleased with it x
DeleteLove the swing tops, they are perfect for summer especially paired with shorts! Unfortunately I have a thing about my upper arms which have not been exposed since 90's. And how inspired of you to shorten the Reiss dress - love how it looks on you!
ReplyDeleteYes, there is that issue for some people I appreciate. But considering only 50% of people have noticed I've had half my hair cut off - I'm going with they're not going to notice a little bit of bounce on my upper arms!! And thank you about the dress - I"m v chuffed with it x
DeleteLove these. I found amazing V-neck linen t-shirts in H&M of all places this summer. Snaffled a navy and a grey one and have been wearing them constantly. Bargainous at £16 (if I remember correctly) and wash beautifully well (sounding like my mum there). Kat, any chance you might do a blog on blazers that don't look like office wear? I'm now entering my third season of trying to find one that doesn't make me look like I'm wearing a suit jacket with ripped skinnies ...
ReplyDeleteoh lucky you - H&M is so so hit and miss, isn't it? RIght, I'll definitely be getting on to blazers shortly but my best bet honestly are the ones in the sale at Me+Em that I had on the last blog I did. They are amazing value I promise. Other place that always comes up trumps for blazers although they either fit you or they don't - are Zara. Good luck xx
DeleteKat you look absolutely beautiful in the Reiss dress-everything is fab, from your hair, to your makeup and then the dress itself. I literally said 'wow' when I saw the pic. Stunning! I really love the new hair length on you. You look radiant.
ReplyDeleteOh and I think I LOVE you! Thank you so so so much xxxx
DeleteLove the Reiss dress, even more so when you said it used to be longer and you had it chopped, wise move x
ReplyDeletehttp://mama-of-boys.blogspot.co.uk/
It was quite inspired wasn't it? Very much in love with it!
DeleteThe Gap ones wash terribly, they end up about twice the size. I have to wear mine to bed now! They're huge.
ReplyDeleteoh noooo! Sometimes it does pay to buy more expensive ones. I always have the same issue with tees from H&M. Everyone else seems to rave about them but mine always shrink.
DeleteLove a slubby tee. I am tempted to look at h&m again as I have some organic cotton v neck tees from a couple of years ago that are that perfect loose, thin fabric which is slouchy but fitted enough to be flattering. I wish I'd bought them in more colours. I will see if I can find those linen ones mentioned above. I have a long-sleeved one from anthropologie too which I really like.
ReplyDeleteTanya
oh gosh you lucky thing. I've always had a rocker shocker with H&M tees. Am all over their denim but their tees have eluded me. Good luck!
DeleteLove Banana Republic since my style crush Marissa Webb took over as the new creative direction. Love your outfits. You seem to getting great weather. Meanwhile it is like winter in Ireland!
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel any better - it's going to be blowing a literal gale here with torrential rain and 16 degrees as the top temp....bring on A/W stuff!
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