From a Reader:
I have a question for this intelligent community. When the temperature reaches 90++++ what is your favorite outfit? I prefer white and creme linen and cotton with flip flops and a straw hat. I'm wondering if both males and females have other useful suggestions. Hats and foot gear suggestions appreciated! Love the warmth but enjoy being comfortable
I wear a white seersucker shirt and shorts with a Montecristi Panama hat and soft leather sandals. Outside the house, I wear seersucker pants and driving loafers. Linen, especially Italian, creases too easily and quickly.
ReplyDeleteFlip-flops, which I personally loathe, are for the pool and beach only. There are plenty of smarter and more stylish alternatives.
Critical qualifier: What's the humidity or more properly, the dewpoint? If it's in the 60s or higher, the air feels muggy and tropical, so loose-fitting cotton is best. I've never, um, "cottoned" to seesucker, but take your choice. And leather Birkies, are all right.
ReplyDeleteHowever if the dewpoint is down in the 30s, as it is in Arizona in June, then the air feels warm but remarkably comfortable even as it nudges 100+, and you're good to go as-is.
OK, OK. This is the Salt Water New England blog, so I guess we'll go with Plan A above.
Khaki (or faded olive green) shorts with surcingle belt, any one of several Madras or seersucker shirts, and Sebago dock-siders. Standard summer uniform, whether it's a comfortable 70F., or anything above. Luckily, we don't have too much of the latter here in Mid-Micigan.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Heinz-Ulrich
Personally people who grew up in a aka Preppy surroundings, know the summer fashion drill,and are not concerned about how fashion judging unwashed masses perceive them! Over time certain contemporary accessories do come and go to your ensemble, but the staples do not! Personally not a big fan of linen! One wearing and it looks like you slept in it! FYI to much Preppy overkill(aka anchor pants two tone topsiders) tells real preps you are Poseur!
ReplyDeleteTo is a preposition with several meanings, including “toward” and “until.”
DeleteToo is an adverb that can mean “excessively” or “also.” Just to be clear: two is pronounced the same as to and too, but it can't be used instead of either of them because it's a number.
Seersucker and linen shirts, perhaps shorts or lighter cotton khakis. Almost always Sperrys (with crew socks but sometimes hidden). I don't like Madras or some of the other summer staples that some here prefer. In Idaho we got hot and dry summers so this wardrobe works well for this aging former easterner.
ReplyDeleteFellow Idaho resident here. Love seersucker, Khakis and Espadrilles in the warm weather. Also, skip clinging knits.
DeleteMaryAnne
For the office or court: a seersucker suit.
ReplyDeleteFor casual: Madras shorts, white OCBD, and boat shoes.
First, cotton. Second, the other night, I wore the same as the last comment, Madras patchwork shorts and a white cotton button down (from Michael Spencer). I wore a pair of chacos instead of shoes.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think I agree or at least see the points made in each of the comments, I find the most interesting comment is about “dew point”. Given the staffing size of meteorologists and weather readers at all our local TV stations, I find it interesting that only one goes on about dew point while the others just say, as in the past few days, “It is hot and humid”. I must admit, I have no formal meteorological training but I have read a good bit and admit to YouTubing dew point but I seem to instantly grab “90% humidity” but feel as I have to do some calculations if dew point is to be meaningful. A bit of a warning: Dog Days begin on July 3rd and here...Dog Days are scorchers, Southern torture....
ReplyDeleteCalling a day as "90% humidity" is fine for most purposes, especially in summer. The Heat Index was created to give a single number that rolls together temperature and relative humidity. It works for most purposes.
DeleteAs I'm writing this, the air temperature in Phoenix is 108°, the dewpoint is 44°, and relative humidity is 11%. In Miami right now, it's 92°, dewpoint is 74°, and relative humidity is 56%.
That cold can of beer/soda is barely wet in Phoenix, but dripping all over the deck and brightwork in Miami.
The dew point is simply the temperature that must be met for the air parcel to be saturated, so that the relative humidity would be 100%. Relative humidity is variable and relative, but still useful and much easier for most to understand.
Delete"It’s like walking through soup out here."
DeleteSummer in Boston, MA- 90% humidity @ 98 degrees, the air was silver.
White cotton shirt, long sleeves rolled up, tan poplin trousers, bean Mocs sans socks.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Sometimes switching to a navy linen shirt for evening outings in Cambridge.
DeleteTan cotton shorts, mid kneecap, white mesh polo shirt, topsiders (brand doesn't matter). In the evening out to dinner, change the tan shorts for tan chinos. Maybe a fresh shirt. Nothing ironed. All 100% cotton. Well, not the shoes, unless I've swapped the topsiders for white canvas boat shoes (not new looking. My eyes!). Sometimes, if I'm feeling sporty, I'll wear a pair of madras patch shorts. The Mrs. hates them though. They do kinda look like you forgot to put on your pants. "Mom! Dad forgot his pants again!"
ReplyDeleteAnything "breeze" cloth, Deva by Cammy.
ReplyDeleteHere in Alabama, I choose loose-fitting linen sundresses with sandals. The less touching my skin, the better.
ReplyDeleteTry La Cera, cotton sundresses.
DeleteThey only touch the top of your shoulders, have pockets are a God send.
My hot weather summer uniform consists of a Ralph Lauren or Lacoste polo, seersucker, madras or chino shorts, a panama hat, and canvas sneakers.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the Penaud Clubman Talc. Sprinkle some in your shoes to absorb moisture and to help keep your feet cool.
ReplyDeleteI'm a 67-year-old female. A loose-fitting, OPAQUE (important!) sundress which swings loose, with gathers/pleats, from the shoulders is best. Length should be below the knee to mid calf. The Vermont Country Store offers many of these.
ReplyDeleteIn hot, humid weather, a loose flowing dress means you don't have the sweaty constriction of the waistband of shorts (do you really want to display your varicose veins?) or, the ghastly awkward "crops" (the most unflattering garment EVER for mature women.)
Muu-muu time.
DeleteI love the Vermont Country Store.
DeleteMid 30s woman and I mostly wear cotton or linen dresses. Wrap styles or shirtdress style belted are most flattering. Also love wearing linen skirts with a basic v neck tee tucked in. Etsy is my main source for summer dresses. Lots of great linen clothing made in Baltic region for reasonable prices.
ReplyDeleteAnything cotton for me. Or tropical wool. Love seersucker and khaki. Tropical wool is hard to beat if you have the budget.
ReplyDeleteIt is shocking to me how acceptable polyester has become in a tshirt, either as a blend or as a full synthetic "tech" fabric. Peter Millar. Patagonia Capilene. And the like. No thanks.
77 year old male who dresses the same as he has for decades...shorts and an untucked shirt (usually with a button down collar that has not been buttoned down) with rolled up sleeves. For shorts I like Madras or seersucker and have found O'Connell's cotton gabardine a tad cooler than twill. For shirts I like linen, Madras, or gingham. Billowy, loose fit is key! Footwear is usually sockless Quoddy camp mocs. I have flip flops from Eliza B/Leather Man I like a lot, but I find that wearing flip flops too much to wreaks havoc with dry heels. Ratty old Tretorns, also sockless, are also in the rotation.
ReplyDeleteIn New Orleans, we fight the temperature and the humidity all summer. I usually wear a madras shirt and Polo khaki pants with a braided leather belt and a pair of top siders. Bills Khakis had poplin khakis at one time that were very comfortable, but either ripped or fell apart after frequent use. Natural fibers only , dear.
ReplyDeleteOption 1: Pool water. Option 2: Light-colored linen, seersucker or thin cotton camp shirts (untucked) and shorts. Add on a big straw hat and some shades if you gotta walk in it. Make yourself a cold cocktail if you gotta sit in it. I'm. about to head to my local wearing the above outfit and eager to order said cocktail. It's currently 104 here.
ReplyDeleteWhoops! It’s 106.
Delete