Summertime Heat!

Yup, it is officially summer and in Florida, that means the weather is really hot and very humid. Sort of like living in a hot sponge!

The dilemma we women"of a certain age" face is how to stay comfortable without looking like we're trying to dress too young.

There are various pieces we can wear in a variety of combinations that respect our need to be cool and still look "cool."

I'll give you some ideas to build from here:

Linen...Light, breezy and wrinkles like a raisin. I do love linen but not in an entire outfit. Try just one piece of linen (top or bottom) and wear it with lightweight denim, cotton or a blend.

Lace...I have seen a lot of Battenberg lace tops and shorts in stores lately. Made with cotton, it is lovely and cool but be sure to try it on before you buy it as several are very sheer and with hot weather, I, for one, don't want to wear layers (camis, tee shirts) under it. It kind of defeats the purpose of being cool.

Strapless tops...this one is tricky for us to pull off. Often having big boobs, fat backs, and wrinkled upper arms means they are all emphasized by this type of clothing. I recommend trying it on and looking at it objectively from front, back, and side before you buy this piece. It may be cooler to wear but may make you look saggy. Strapless bras are very important at this stage of our lives with this style.

Cotton...the fabric of our lives (that tag line is so true). There are hundreds of options in cotton. One of my favorite looks is a sleeveless cotton shirt that has a collar and buttons up the front.  Colors, prints, stripes, pullover, back buttoned...you can look fresh and crisp and be as cool as a cucumber because cotton breathes.

Polyester...although it doesn't wrinkle..at all, it doesn't breathe either. I have many polyester tops, some are even a blend, but only wear those when I know I'll be in air conditioning most if the time. And I do love my yoga pants but recognize that they are not suitable for public use like shopping, dining, or going to the movies.

Knits...there are light summer knits but not for me, unless it is a jacket or cardigan for indoor coolness. I just cannot bring myself to wear knits in the summer because I get hot too often.

Denim...not just in that heavy canvas fabric nowadays, denim can be light, comfy and come in a variety of colors. From shirts and shorts to Capri's, to boyfriend to full-on cowboy length, this is a great purchase for year round wear.

There's that show song that goes: "Summertime...and the livin' is easy...".  Dressing attractively for the summer weather makes that possible and stylish.

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz