Temps have been hitting the high 20s and mid-30s since this time last month, so the warm weather wardrobe is out in full force. And there are a few non-negotiables for my spring/summer style staples that I’ve noticed I’ve leaned on heavily over the years. Knowing this data – whether your personal preferences align with mine or not – is really useful especially if you’re trying to maximise the wear count of what you own. AKA end up with less items that aren’t worn on frequent rotation. For me, the focus is heavily on ease of use. Practicality reigns supreme, as evidenced by my non-negotiables…
Wearing Sezane tank; Assembly Label linen blazer; Assembly Label linen trousers; Aeyde sandals; Loewe straw bag; Pamela Card earrings (10% off with JAMIELEE10); Monica Vinader heart necklace & red beaded necklace
#1 | Natural fibres reign supreme
If it’s not breathable, chances are I won’t want to wear it. This is non-negotiable number 1, and usually my top priority when seeking out new styles for my spring/summer wardrobe. Growing up in Wellington, this wasn’t high on my checklist. It wasn’t unusual for me to sport my winter coat mid-summer; a side effect of living in a city with blustering gales that can turn icy on a southerly wind. But when you know the average temperature is going to hover around the 30 deg C mark, something that feels cool against the skin is a must. I tend to favour lighter fabrications too, for an airy feel. Cotton, linen, ramie, silk knits and tencel are usually my top picks. This linen suit (with cotton lining) being a great example.
#2 | Shoes *must* be comfortable
Life’s too short to wear uncomfortable shoes. And there’s nothing worse than getting a painful blister on a hot day. Feet swell, and any pinching or rubbing feels almost unbearable. Just not worth it. This one can be a little more difficult to judge on first impressions. As really, you have to wear the shoes to get a sense of any pain points they might have (though there’ll always be some where you just know). I’ve added a fair few pairs of sandals to my wardrobe recently in search of styles that fulfil a specific mood, and it’s been frustrating to realise that despite good first impressions both on quality and comfort, they’ve been lacking in the latter when worn for more than an hour.
#3 | Can it be easily laundered?
I bought a dress a few months’ ago, not quite realising just how delicate the fabrication was. A viscose-blend, naturally I assumed that I could handwash it at the very least. Not a chance. An unlucky spill at a restaurant saw me dropping it off at the drycleaner the same day, and fortunately, they could remove the stain. But I’ve not been so lucky in the past. And it reminded me how little patience I have for high maintenance clothing. It’s also one of the reasons why I tend to favour all black outfits. Two kids under the age of four means most of my neutrals are in the firing line from breakfast ’til bedtime. And as much as I want to just “wear the clothes”, the preservationist in me wants her favourite pieces to stay looking pristine.
