Summer Wardrobe Planning

Summer has *officially* begun Down Under, and while the weather hasn’t yet soared to the dizzyingly high temps that we faced last year, I’ve been starting to think about some outfit combinations that I can wear while still keeping cool. Living in a hot climate, there are a few considerations I tend to apply as a general rule. Firstly, the majority of my summer wardrobe must be constructed from natural fibres. It gets too hot to wear anything synthetic, plus as I steer myself towards a more sustainable wardrobe, I’m trying to reduce how many polyester items I own.

The second consideration for my summer wardrobe is sleeve and hem length. When you’re days deep in a heat wave, all you want to wear are barely there tanks and denim cutoffs. As much as I love that combination, I’m keen to have a few other options that are a little more ‘dressed up’.

Finally, I don’t want it to be boring. As a prelude to the warmer months, I decided to part with a huge chunk of my wardrobe, and have kept what I own to the basics. I’ll be relying on minimal prints like polka dots and stripes in addition to earthy tones to help keep things interesting.

As usual, I’ve been pinning some images that are inspiring the direction I want my summer wardrobe to take for the months ahead (you can view the whole board here). There’s lots of oversized silhouettes, basic outfit combinations, and linen.

I’ve alluded to the fact that I’m planning to start up the Five Piece French Wardrobe again in 2019, so my actual shopping list is pretty scarce. I keep a running wishlist in the back of my notebook, to help keep myself on track. Plus, I’m trying to go by the rule of thumb that we have most of what we need already. No point breaking my resolve before I’ve even begun, right?

My Summer Wardrobe Shopping List

White high waisted trousers | I’ve had these on my list for a while now, but haven’t managed to track down the right pair. I’d like something that fits snug right up on my waist, and has a slim tapered cut through the leg. Earlier this year, I bought this pair from Mansur Gavriel, but they didn’t quite cut it. The fabric creased a lot around my hips, and that was just out of the box. Ideally I’d like a pair in a lightweight fabric, but I’m willing to compromise on a few elements if I can find the perfect cut.

White cotton tank | Cotton tanks used to be a huge part of my summer wardrobe when I first moved to Sydney. I’m not sure when, but somewhere along the track this changed. Given how hot it tends to get, I see these as being a core foundation piece of any summer wardrobe. The cotton helps to keep you cool, and I personally prefer exposing my arms and shoulders when it’s warm. I spotted this one a couple weeks back, and am currently *patiently* waiting for it to come back in stock in my size.

Linen shorts | You all know that I have a serious love of linen. It’s a hardy fabric, that is actually much more sustainable to produce than cotton (something I’d like to go into in another post). I tend to find myself reaching for denim a lot when it gets warmer, and I’d like something that feels a little more dressed up. I spotted a pair a month or so back which seem to fit the bill, however it seems I’ve now missed the boat as I wanted to wait a little while before pulling the trigger. The search continues…

Tan leather slides | I’ve been wearing so much black of late, that I’m looking for a few ways to add a warmer hue into my closet. Working from home, slides tend to be a go to for me, and I think a tan pair would gel pretty well with my existing summer wardrobe. I’m not 100% settled on anything yet, but I do really love this style from Saint Laurent (also here), though it might be a little out of my budget at the moment.

What does your summer wardrobe look like?

All images via Pinterest