Linen and straw . . . . . . .

Have you gone shopping for your summertime wardrobe this year?

I haven't been in a clothing store for ages but did purchase a couple of

items online from J.Jill - linen pants and a really nice very lightweight

 linen duster coat which will be a great summer travel piece. We have

 planned our annual trip to New England for later in July, having

 missed going last year. Travel time will be here soon, I'm excited.

It's odd that I have no real desire to shop for clothing as I usually do

 with the arrival of a new season. In all honesty I just haven't been

 excited by what is offered this year.

I went through my wardrobe pre-spring, donating a lot of clothes that

I just was tired of, or knew I wouldn't wear. Travel plans were still 

undecided - will we go, can we go etc. at that time.

My favorite Summer clothes seem to be pieces I've had for a while,

 some which I've liked for a very long while and can't give up yet!  

I enjoy the basics for hot, humid days here in the southeast............cotton

 or linen tee shirts, loose linen tops, a couple of longer linen skirts - have

 you noticed skirts are so much cooler than pants in summer - and

 loose-fitting linen pants cropped above the ankle. I now only own one

 pair of shorts - they are longer, to the knee - veins are not pretty on older

 people so remain hidden where possible!

Linen spray brings out the best in freshly laundered bed and bath linens. 

I have to admit that although I really don't mind wrinkles in my linen

 clothing, nothing is more special than resting my head on a smooth

 linen pillow case, and drying my face with an antique linen hand towel, 

both ironed to perfection!

But then there's straw!

Definitely not smooth, but beautifully textured and natural, 

a must have for summer.

Bags, hats, even touches on sandals. . . . . . all look good in straw.

Summer accessories crafted from straw are always fun.

With the hot sunny days ahead I often enjoy a woven sun hat.

It used to protect my color when a red head, but even now

 as a member of the silver-haired club I'll continue to wear one

when out and about, and in the garden. . . . . hopefully those

 wide brims may help to keep the other kind of wrinkles away!

Today I'm remembering fathers everywhere. 

Mine was one of the best . . . . . . your dad too!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.

Cool linen loveliness. . . . . . . . .

I have my cool, natural linens ready for summer enjoyment. 

My much-loved 100% bed linens - sheets and pillow cases - and

 recently I purchased a fabulous heavier linen 'summer cover' as I

 no longer want to use a bulky duvet (plus I so dislike changing the

 covers on them for weekly laundering) in hot weather.

Hanging out the linens - Viviers, France, October 2015

One of my favorite looks for Summertime - simple black and white - and I 

love a linen cropped trouser.

The pieces of linen clothing I already have I love, wrinkles and all!
This season I'm adding a lightweight, pale grey, long linen shirt - I plan to

 use it for hot weather travel later this month.

Of course it's actually not officially summer yet. . . . . . but who would know it

 when it's as hot and humid as it is here! 

Enjoy your weekend - may it be dry and sunny.

Sicily - Summer Fashions. . . . . . . . .

Seems ages since I did a 'fashion' post.

No, didn't do much shopping at all whilst in Sicily - other than a 

useful lemon squeezer - oh my, the Sicilian lemons are the world's best -

and definitely no clothes or shoes this time, bags were already overstuffed 

for the cruise, and this time orders were, "we are not buying another suitcase to

get things home." 

However I still enjoyed looking, and window shopping, and as you probably

 know, I love taking photos of shop windows. Just something really interesting 

 about reflections. . . . . . .and the mannequins are amazing these days.

Being in Italy and NOT buying shoes was hard!  While in Siracusa, I really was

 interested in these handmade sandals in gorgeous black and silver leather,

170.00 euros was just a bit much for sandals! I passed them up - and I kick

 myself daily on these 98F melting days and wish I had them - so different from

 anything I've seen around here.

via Anthropologie

But I do have these pants!  Not from Italy, from Anthropologie, and they 

are my best summertime buy this year!  I could live in these pants, and almost do,

 as they are so comfortable, a bit baggy, lightweight and cool, and despite wrinkling

 as linen does, having the fine stripe seems to mask creases really well. I throw 

them in the washer and dryer and put them back on. They fall just above the ankle

 or can be rolled twice to make them cropped at a good length (I'm quite tall - 5'8"), 

and can be dressed up or down with different tops and accessories.

If you bump into me any day this summer don't be surprised if I'm

wearing these pants!

Here I'm in the car heading west - yes, I even did that recent road trip to the

 North Carolina mountains wearing these comfortable pants.

Did you find something to wear this summer which you are really enjoying?