My kids are 8 and 10. Regularly on a Sunday we take them somewhere in town for lunch, and every time I have an argument with them about how they are dressed. My son will do board shorts and a t-shirt, finished off with crocs. My daughter will wear a tank top and frilly skirt with flip flops. I know what you are thinking - who is the fool who allowed crocs in the house. Yes, that'll be me and I have regretted it every time I lay eyes on those dreadfully hideous monstrosities. Soon they will magically disappear to the land of shoes that "no longer fit".
So I have the chat with them - when we go into town, I would like you children to dress appropriately. Which means shirts with collars for boys and a top with sleeves for girls. I am happy with short sleeves, but tank tops belong nowhere near a city center no matter how young you are or how fabulous your arms are at any age. And proper leather shoes or sandals for my daughter, while I am happy for my son to wear Converse All Stars.
Inevitably we find ourselves in a restaurant surrounded by mainlanders and apparently crocs are a popular choice of footwear among adult men there. There will be basketball tanks screaming Kobe, and a whole lotta arm on display everywhere. My kids delight in pointing out all these fashion choices - in their mind the majority must be right.
If dressing for summer in a hot and humid climate is impossible, try adding a cosmopolitan city center in the mix and there you are - up shit's creek without a paddle.
The reason why arms are better covered, is that very few people in the mom age bracket have perfect arms. And you know what, if your arms have no flaws, no one notices them. But an arm a tiny bit too pale, too flabby, or with uneven skin color will be noticed and will detract from your outfit. A slightly looser three quarter or bracelet length sleeve is perfect for summer. And it will protect you from the sun at the same time. The only exception to this (if you have good arms) is a sleeveless fitted dress in a woven fabric. If you have good arms, I think those can be quite nice.
But don't just throw on a linen peasant top for the city. I know Isabel Marant is very fond of them, but they look good with young flawless faces. On a middle aged mom they look like the seventies. I mean they look like you still got all your tops from the seventies. If you value thriftiness and you want to convey that in your outfit, by all means, go to Isabel's shop on Ice House Street.
If you sweat, it is extremely important to pick the right colors in summer. Either go very light or very dark. A medium blue with turn into very dark blue when wet, and the same is true for a shade like watermelon pink for instance. When you are about to buy a summer top, put some spit on your finger and rub it over the fabric to see what happens... and then put it back and buy something black! I love black for summer - I know it makes you hot when you are in the sun, so walk on the shaded side of the street. Or the shady side if you prefer. But black clothes in summer, especially with gold sandals and gold jewelry, are just stunning.
Summer shoes are tricky too. Sandals are best because your feet swell in heat, but there too is a fine line between city and beach. I think a covered heel with an open toe is a good combo. There are few things more out of place in the city than an unkempt craggy heel.
My children are right, I am a fascist fashion dictator. But that's fine. For many years when I have had to wait in line or wait for a train I have played this game of checking out the passersby and counting the well dressed versus the not so well dressed. Especially in summer the badly dressed are outdoing the well dressed by 20 to 1. What is it about summer that makes people think anything goes?
The best gift you can give yourself fashion wise is a JCrew navy blue Perfect Shirt with three-quarter sleeves. If you wondered why the picture of Michelle Obama above, look at her shirt. Put that on and I don't even care what you put on the bottom. You will look good and appropriate, and you will be only marginally more hot. You could also have the same shirt made in navy blue cotton voile, which is a bit lighter still. If you are not sure what to do, the key to summer dressing in the city is to never wear shapes that you would not wear in winter.
Often when women discuss the pitfalls of getting dressed every day they say "men have it so easy". Yes they do have it easy because they put on failsafe clothes every day. When a man puts on a shirt, he's done and he looks nice. When he walks around the city in a sleeveless T-shirt, however, we laugh at his builder's tan, his body shape, and his inappropriateness. Why is it any different for us???
I have posted a picture of this Kate Moss outfit before - but this www.fabsugar.com triple Kate version really drives the message home
Summer in the city - simple and tailored is the way to go
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