Is It More Difficult For You to Dress "Vintage" in the Summertime?

[Widebrim]

With temperatures now breaking 100 degrees here in the L.A. area, I'm finding it a chore just to find anything suitable to wear, much less vintage or vintage-inspired. Sure, I can put on a c.early '60s short sleeve shirt, a pair of pleated khakis, some slip-ons, and top them off with a Golden Gate straw hat (all of which I'm wearing now). Yet I'm more of a suit and tie guy, so for me at least the options seem to be more limited than in cooler weather. Perhaps this is more of a "guy" thing, seeing that the ladies can resort to summer dresses, but maybe it's a challenge (or not) for both genders. So, how do the rest of our Loungers feel about it? Do you find that your dressing options shrink in the summer, or not? (Of course I realize that for those who live "down under," the seasons are reversed, but you get the gist of it: hot weather.)

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

How about Bermuda shorts? There's a very vintage piece of summerwear.

 

[lolly_loisides]

I find it more difficult in colder weather to dress vintage, if I don't wear thick tights or stockings, skirts or dresses aren't really an option, and that only leaves wide legged trousers. I have lots of lovely summer frocks (that I can't wear at the moment, it's much too cold) compared to winter clothes, so I'd say the opposite is true for me. I think it may be a gender thing & also Australia is generally a warm climate country, so that's what we are used to & dress for (except today, it's freezing!).

 

[Chasseur]

It depends on the type of vintage you like I think.

I do love warm weather vintage style resort wear: linen jackets, spectators or saddle shoes, Panama hat, ascot, etc. But I generally find is harder to dress this way every day vs. vintage or vintage inspired for colder climates. Mind you I live in Hawaii where I should wear warm weather stuff all year round and I find it gets a bit annoying to live in a place with constant warm weather. I get a little bored with warm weather fashions and many summer items (like light colored linens and Palm Beach fabric etc) are bit more maintenance intensive. I like wearing a jacket most days and with warm weather that can more difficult. Lastly, just my bias but there is a large part of vintage warm weather clothing I just do not like or just doesn't seem to suit me: Hawaiian shirts, those bowling or club shirts that make me think of Charlie Sheen, madras prep gear, seer sucker, etc. So that also limits my options...

In short I tend to agree with you dressing year around for warm vintage weather is a little more trying. However, if I was a person more comfortable with wearing vintage Aloha wear or madras and Panama hats year round it would be less difficult.

 

[Burton]

Spending most of my time in the tropics and preferring safari clothing it always works.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

In germany you only find vintage heavy woool suits. Every summer item would need to come from american ebay or "vintage inspired" like the Ralph Lauren linen jackets and stuff. So yes I find it more difficult for where I live.


PS: Like Chasseur I find the resort look (linen/spectators) more appealing than mandras shorts or seersucker. I am no Prep Boy.

PPS: I also wear workwear inspired stuff like chambray shirts, striped t-shirts, cotton chore jackets, cotton work pants or even jeans.

 

[herringbonekid]

i don't think it's that difficult really; linen trousers, short sleeved shirt (or shirt with sleeves rolled up), summer spectators, sunglasses, optional hat. Bob's your uncle.

 

[Feraud]

I voted no. Our office is business casual. Daily dress consists of shoes, trousers, a dress shirt (no tie on days w/high humidity) and a lightweight fedora or linen cap for outdoors and I am good to go.
Summer weekend wear is similar to above but with guayabera shirts (perfect summer wear!), and loafers.

 

[LizzieMaine]

The main difference for me is that I trade stockings for ankle socks and rarely wear my hair down in the summer -- the humidity is insufferable here, and it makes my hair go flat in about five minutes. Other than wearing more light-colored clothes, there's no other difference in my main wardrobe.

 

[Flicka]

My answer was probably influenced by the fact that I hate hot weather and really dislike summer clothes. Give me tweed and I'm happy.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Wearing dresses with ankle socks and flats is more practical for summer wear than winter wear. However, trying to do a vintage woman's hairdo in 102 degree heat and high humidity and it will be poker straight before I even get to where I am going. So in the summer I don't even bother doing my hair. Heidi braids and a hair flower is my summer 'do.

 

[skyvue]

I wear a vintage (or seersucker) suit or blazer and tie Monday through Friday all summer, but I have many fewer options for these summer months than I do for the other three seasons of the year. I'm not a summer guy at all -- I'm counting the days till October.

 

[John in Covina]

The key for me relies on airconditioning. If I can be in ac I am not as bothered but outside or stepping into a 4 million degree vehicle makes for distress. I sweat easily so wearing a jacket tends to invite heat stroke.

Iwear longsleeves and a tie with khakis and shoes for church, by the end of service I have rolled up my sleeves, by the end of Bible study I have shucked the tie. At home I am in shorts and a light shirt when I can be.

Lucky for us in SoCal that the hot weather tends to go for 4-5 days and we get a cool down. The hot weather is usually not a solid month but broken up into occassional hot spells.

I just heard that it may be 108 in the Valley today. Hold on to a block of ice.

 

[Miss Sis]

If you don't like hot weather, just move to England. We don't seem to be getting Summer this year!

I don't have a problem either way, hot or cold, I have plenty of vintage for either temperature, but I do think it can be easier for women than men, as we can get away with sleeveless dresses and bare legs when it's hot but still look vintage.

 

[Flicka]

If you don't like hot weather, just move to England. We don't seem to be getting Summer this year!

Ha, neither has Sweden. But we have the drawback of cold winters which England doesn't. I much prefer your climate. In fact, I'd like to live in about 10-15°C, overcast, light drizzle optional. I think Iceland may be just what I'm looking for.

 

[Rudie]

In fact, I'd like to live in about 10-15°C, overcast, light drizzle optional.

Sounds like a good recipe to get depression. :rain:

 

[Amy Jeanne]

If you don't like hot weather, just move to England. We don't seem to be getting Summer this year!

I was there the first week in July and I had on my coat the entire time! It was 60 degrees! In July! I loved it!! Then came back to 100 degrees.

 

[Flicka]

Sounds like a good recipe to get depression. :rain:

Yeah. Try sunshine. Now that's depressing.

 

[St. Louis]

I'm with you. The relentless searing hot sun in St. Louis this summer has a lot of us tearing our hair out. Though in the summertime, for me, the vintage livin' is definitely easier ... cool, lightweight cotton dresses seem so much more comfortable than the jeans and tight T shirts that I see everywhere. And Beautifeel makes very vintage-y looking comfy sandals that look great with 1930s through 1950s styles. I know those prices are crazy, but once you know your size, you can often get them on ebay for about a tenth of retail.

 

[MissNathalieVintage]

I use to think it was. Since I've learned from the superfantastic advice from the lounge and the vintage blogs I read. Its a piece of apple pie.