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7 In fashion

the British summer outfit struggle

Oh British summertime, you’re an absolute delight to dress for aren’t you?  I’m pretty sure we’ve experienced all 4 seasons in one day today.  Definitely had some biblical style rain, followed by drizzle, followed by bright sunshine, followed by gale force winds.  How one is supposed to dress for this is quite the struggle.  I can hardly claim to be the most practical dresser (if you follow my Insta you’ll know I’ve had my fair share of faux pas) but I like to at least try.  So much as I’d love to dress for the sunshine filled summer that all the adverts imply we’ll have, sometimes you gotta keep it real.  Sounds like I’m about to write a post with my top 10 raincoat recommendations here doesn’t it?

Fear not, no raincoats today (maybe another time though).  Today is about the cute summery outfit that is’t OTT summery but is still very much summer appropriate.  You get me?  I hope so.  You see, there’s quite a difference between dressing for ‘holiday summer’ and ‘home summer’ – for approximately 6.2 days in every 365 they’ll overlap and we’ll have one of those glorious heatwaves, but for the most part it just ain’t happening.  Doesn’t stop us wanting to dress like we’re on the Med though, does it?  Let’s face it – how many times have you seen (or been) that girl determined to wear short shorts and a cropped top because it ‘looked kinda sunny’ when in actual fact it’s freezing?  Yep, happens all too often.  Dressing for British summertime is a whole other kettle of fish to dressing for the summer we’d like to believe we have.  And more often than not it results in either goosebumps in a flimsy dress, or sweating profusely under a jumper.

Enter the ‘summery but not too summery’ items I’ve become a no.1 fan of lately – the culottes, and the not-too-cropped crop top.  I don’t know about you, but I’m bored rigid of wearing jeans all year round.  Yes they go with everything and ‘jeans and a nice top’ is the cliché outfit for any girls night, but it’s boring.  Bare legs with a side of goosebumps aren’t all that fun either though.  Culottes, voila!  Bloody loving them.  The whole gingham print and cute ruffle has that summery vibe, without being OTT and making you look like you’ve mistaken a meal at the local Italian for a night in Ibiza town.  Yes, culottes, I like you.

I’ve loved the look of culottes for ages and have a trusty M&S pair that I receive compliments on every single time, but I hadn’t found others that fit me quite so well yet.  Until now – what a pleasant surprise to see A) how long, and B) how high waisted they were.  Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about whether I’d fit my bum through the elastic waistband, but this gal needn’t have worried.  They fit perfectly, and you hear no complaints from me about a comfy elastic waistband.  Any trousers that are comfy enough to not make you want to take them off the second you get home receive a yes from me.  Bonus points for looking equally good with a denim jacket and flats as with cropped top and heels.  Hallelujah for finding a cropped top that isn’t bralet length too – I’m not prudish or bothered by flashing a little belly, but sometimes I’m just not feeling the super cropped look (which seems to be the only option for us tall ones).  Can see this one getting lots of wear!

Who relates to the summer dressing struggle?

trousers: WearAll | top: WearAll | shoes: New Look | bag: Yumi | watch: c/o Timex

This post is sponsored by WearAll however all opinions are 100% my own.

Lily Kate x

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7 Comments

  • Reply
    Holly
    30th July 2017 at 8:46 am

    Every single year I forget that British summers are rubbish! It gets to about April time, and I’m so excited for summer after 6 months of cold, so I go out and buy dresses, shorts, skirts, sandals and jumpsuits, then I never get to wear them. Why do I never learn?!

    Those trousers look incredible. I’m loving the gingham trend.

    • Reply
      lily kate
      14th August 2017 at 2:17 pm

      We always forget just how little ‘summer’ we actually get haha! I never learn either, and then spend most of summer wearing the same jeans I’ve worn in winter. These trousers are actually fab for the days when I’m sick of jeans!

  • Reply
    Sinéad
    30th July 2017 at 6:00 pm

    I friggen loooove culottes! You’re so right, jeans can get so tiresome but culottes are a fab way to mix things up in the trouserwear department! These ones you have are sooo nice, i love that cropped flare fit and the gingham print is just to die for! You’re definitely giving me Sandy from Grease vibes, but in a really good way (maybe Sandy from Grease if she was a fashion blogger? Haha)

    Sinéad xo Fabuleuse Du Jour

    • Reply
      lily kate
      14th August 2017 at 2:20 pm

      I’ll take Sandy from Grease as a compliment! This pair are so comfy too, which is always a bonus! I’ve got loads of wear out of them already, I’d definitely recommend!

  • Reply
    Kate
    3rd August 2017 at 3:04 pm

    I love your look! Probably also because you are simply gorgeous. 😉

    • Reply
      lily kate
      14th August 2017 at 2:24 pm

      Thank you so much Kate!

  • Reply
    gilberto
    12th August 2017 at 3:43 am

    te vez lindísima felicidades,sigue adelante.

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