An update…
I am so glad to have finished with my docent graduation tour. I promise to write a post about it soon. I have already scheduled my first public tour as well as scheduling additional training for two different kinds of docent experiences. I’m so glad Nigel doesn’t mind me being gone so much. Today, though, is the third Thursday of the month which means it’s time for another Ageless Style challenge. This month, Amy chose “Beat the Heat.” Last month, Mireille selected tropical prints. In the past we have worn tropical prints, graphic tees, fuzzy, and many other ideas. If you’re curious, you can find some of my looks here, here, here, and here. Next month’s prompt is “Back to School” if you’d like to join us! Please do visit the other hostesses of the link party (oh, yes, there’s a link party) at their various sites!
*…
I’m also doing a Quince review on a few pieces later on. Want to guess what they are?
Is it hot where you are…
We have had so many days of heat and humidity. In fact, I’m beginning not to even notice the humidity that much. We have had several storms with lots of rain, but the ground just soaks it up like a sponge. I’m constantly watering my plants. We are not in a drought condition in the least this year!
My poor yard…
My yard is a crunchy mess. When the house was being built, they (whoever they are) just dumped a big load of pea gravel in what became the front yard. The contractors used a lot of that in various places, but what was left was just kinda mixed in with the less than stellar soil we have. I’ve been told when areas are being built up, the contractor scrapes off the topsoil and sells it to whoever sells topsoil. I don’t really think that was the case here. Homes in our neighborhood were built higgledy piggedly meaning the people selected lots based upon where they wanted to live. When we first moved here in 2015, we saw this neighborhood and thought it looked nice. But, Nigel was determined to live in the last neighborhood. We would have been better off building in Maple Grove then because the prices were sooooo much lower, and we could have had a bigger selection of lots upon which to build. As it was, we were on a waiting list and jumped when our lot became available. Only one other home was built after ours. I think, this fall, we are going to have the landscapers dig out that stuff and put in better soil then reseed it.
Our back porch…
Unfortunately, our back porch faces the western sun, and the house behind us is only a single storey. Our neighbors to the left and right have two storey homes behind them. They get lots of shade later in the evening while we get barely any. We do have a shade we can lower, and I was amazed how much it helps. We had intended to put a ceiling fan out there, but we just use an oscillating fan when it gets too hot. We haven’t sat outside as much this year. Those 90 degree (32 C) temperatures are just too warm. But, gosh, does the porch look better since we got rid of our Blackstone© Griddle. I just couldn’t handle it because, of course, we bought the biggest one! We passed it on to our youngest because the other two had either a Blackstone© or a nice big grill. Now, I have a just right (I feel like Goldilocks) two burner gas grill that I can handle. My plants are going like gangbusters, too. Well, the ones that don’t get eaten by the bunnies!
So, the heat…
When it’s super duper hot, I stay inside. I do. I’m not made for hot weather. My mom used to tell everyone I was hot blooded. I always wondered why people laughed about that. Now, I know that we’re all warm blooded. I think what she meant was that I tend to run hotter than most people (though I do have a terrible temper…ask anyone who truly knows me). And, if I’m inside, chances are I’m wearing shorts and a tee shirt. But, I have begun dressing up more for the weekends because why not! I also dress up whenever I have anything to do at the museum.
So what to wear…
When it’s hot, and I have to go somewhere, I like to wear linen. Yes, I know it wrinkles. Yes, I know that is a problem for some. No, it’s not a problem for me. I do iron my linen things when i first get them. That’s only to get the fold marks out of them and to, I don’t know what it is, soften them, I guess. But, rarely do I iron my linen again unless I’ve washed the item. And, I’ve got lots of linen…pants, dresses, shirts, shorts, even tees (those are probably linen/cotton blends though). It’s one of my favorite fabrics!
Quince review…
Last winter, I bought a cotton fisherman’s sweater from Quince. It’s a really nice sweater, but it hasn’t been on the blog. It’s 100% cotton, and it’s well made. I think it was around $50. Quince’s whole schtick is they make quality products for less by eliminating the middle man. You can read more about their business model here. I like the sweater and wear it often in the winter. It has held up very well though I haven’t washed it. I do use their size charts when placing an order because I really dislike returns by mail. So, this spring, I decided to try some of their linen.
The pants…
I’ll be honest. I love Old Navy’s linen pants. They are inexpensive, wear well, and come in a petite! The Quince European Linen Wide Leg pants are a more substantial linen. One of the best things about them is being able to choose your inseam! I honestly can’t tell you if I got the 26 or the 28. I almost think I got the 26 because they’re a wee bit short. Another thing is the lining of the pocket is white and is kinda wonky. I think I just need to press it down. Do I think they’re better than the Old Navy? Yes and no. Yes, they are a better quality, but they were also 2-3 times more expensive than the Old Navy pants. Now, I have to add a caveat to that. Most of my ON pants were bought when they’d run sales, and you could grab them for $10. That hasn’t happened in a long time! And, I do have to buy the petite size which is just a titch short in the rise. By the way, I’m wearing the Weekend Collection Geo Crochet Sweater Shell. I admit I felt guilty ordering it for two reasons. One is that it’s very difficult to crochet by machine. If this were truly crochet (I really think it’s a knit stitch made to look like crochet), it was probably made in a sweat shop by a worker making very little money. The second reason was I fully intended to return it. I wanted to see it up close so I could make my own version in colors I wanted. Nigel loved it the minute I put it on so I kept it. I still intend to make a couple more in different colors, but I’m going to actually crochet them.
The dresses…
I wasn’t prepared to like these European Linen Sleeveless Swing Dresses quite as much as I do! They’re a basic little sleeveless shirt dress. They have some pintucking. I’m just a fool for pintucking! I do wish they came in more exciting colors. Quince’s response would probably be along the lines of “that’s how we keep prices down. We limit our colors and prints to timeless classics.” The dresses have a nice deep hem for those of you who are taller. As you can see, the dresses hit me at or just below my knee. I would prefer them just an itty bit shorter, but I’m not going to tackle that hem! They have side seam pockets which are really nice. Again, the linen is a nice weight. I bought the flax and the blue striped versions. Would I buy more? The answer is yes with a stipulation…I want some bright colors like a magenta, a celery green, a deep teal, maybe even an amethyst color. How about a polka dot? Once again, I used the size guidelines and ordered a medium. The fit is spot on.
And, another thing…
One of the things I like (I think) is the transparency on each item. Quince shows you a table comparing the product to other major retailers with things like price, shipping costs, return policy, etc. I could have sworn they once used to break down the item’s cost to manufacture, too. But, I don’t see that on the page for the dresses I ordered. This is a good article about Quince and is relatively recent.
Lewk 1!
I wore these old Born sandals with the tan striped dress. The earrings and two necklaces are old and from J Jill. I think the bracelet is from Premier Designs which is now out of business. I really like the combination of blues with browns, don’t you?
Lewk 2!
These are the Delight Slide sandals from L’Artiste. I think they’re the navy version, but they seem more grey to me. The Cream Mixed Media Peyton necklace and the Assuta White Drop earrings are from Sylca Designs. The bracelets are from Amazon and were part of a mixed batch. I think they worked well with the neutral colored dress.
Last Lewk!
Everything here is old. I put together three different necklaces here. In fact, one of them is actually snowflakes! I thought they looked like flowers, though. Can you tell which one it is? One of the others is Kendra Scott; the other is Stella & Dot. The earrings are Kendra Scott as are two of the three bracelets. The one that looks like bamboo is an old eBay purchase.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
Whew! That was a lot and picture heavy. But, I wanted to show you both linen dresses and the linen pants. While I really liked the dresses and think the price point is really good, I don’t think I would buy another pair of pants. The linen is just a little too heavy for my liking. I really think you can’t beat Old Navy for linen pants. So, can we talk? Have you tried Quince? What products do you like? What do you think of the idea of price comparison they provide? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
Affiliate links, discount codes, and such:
Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. I have a code for April Cornell. It’s a one time use only code so I’d save it for when they have sales. The code is MARSHA15 for $15 off $100. Use Marsha12 for 12% off any order of $65 or more at Buykud. I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. I am also an affiliate with Clara Sunwoo. You can use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
Bo ~ Bo’s Bodacious Blog
Blog / Instagram /Pinterest / Bloglovin’
Jen – Joyful Jen
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook
Joanne ~ My Slice of Life
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie ~ Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
And, now, it’s your turn!
Please link up your favorite posts about denim, DIY, baking, gardening, fashion…you name it…as long as it’s family friendly! Here are links to all of the lovely ladies in the Ageless Style collaboration. Please do visit them on their various media. Link up with us, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two! No worries if you don’t have a blog, just look around! You may find a new blog just waiting for you!
Very pretty, keep cool in those temperatures. I think that your plans for your garden are good too. Builders dump so much rubbish in ‘gardens’.
Thanks, Rosie! I can’t wait to have that fixed, but now, we have Japanese beetles to contend with. Do you get those? They are starting on my roses, of course! Our back porch is cement, and I was shocked at the trash they threw down there. They said they were just going to cover it with the cement so why worry. I picked out as much as I could.
Oh no, about the beetle, we can get it in Europe. I would try planting some catnip (Nepata) as a companion plant as the beetles don’t like it. but the bees do!
You cut your hair! Looks good! We live in a bungalow and have the sun everywhere. I love that because I am always cold. I’m in love with your top, what a fun one is that! And the dress and trousers are so perfect to wear now. I never liked linen because of the creasing, but it wears fantastic when it’s so warm. Enjoy your day Marsha!
Thanks, Nancy! I wanted to try something shorter to see if that would work better. It also got rid of the orange which had faded to the point of just making my silver hair look really nasty. It was the color my hair would be if I didn’t use purple shampoos and conditioners because our water is that bad. I do wish we had more windows even though it is hot…I need the light! I can’t wait to find the right yarn and make a couple more of these sweaters. I think they will be easy enough to do. I don’t mind the creasing…it matches my face…hahaha!!! Have a fabulous rest of the week!
The other day I went to the doctor. My head was exploding from the heat – it was not even one of the worst days – and the nurse told me something about how “WE” like the sun – I said “no, I don’t” – and “WE” like to wear cute dresses – “no, I don’t” – and “WE” like to wear sandals – “no, I definitely don’t because I can’t walk in open shoes”. She’s a nice person, but why do some people always like to convince you sun and heat are wonderful if you are obviously feeling differently about it? (And of course that dreaded medical “WE” that I hate so much …)
We got a bit of rain yesterday, but not enough by far 🙁
Those dresses are very cute! I never heard of Quince, I guess we don’t have them here, but it sounds interesting.
https://catswire.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Cat! Oh, that would make me so angry! I hate being talked down to, especially at a doctor’s office. I don’t get too much of the WE stuff. Don’t people get how patronizing that is? I hope your head is better now despite the dumb advice. We have had lots of rain, but the ground is still dry. It’s just been so dry for so long, and then you add in the heat. The other night, we were going somewhere, and it started raining quite a bit. The heat from the road and the rain created all this steam so you could barely see.
Quince is relatively new, I think. I wonder if it won’t soon spread to Europe.
Marsha, I had to look up docent training and WOW! That’s so cool. Good for you and even better that your partner is encouraging and supportive of you wanting to do that. Amazing! I love that for you. On to the linen, LOVE. I get that it wrinkles but it’s such a great staple and so good for the exact kind of heat you described you have. The dress looks amazing on you. I am also loving that cute b & w crochet top. I’ve been wanting to find one but nothing this year, I was so busy in the spring I actually did no shopping for summer clothes. Oh well, money saved and spent on other things, LOL.
bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
Thank you, Bo! I have really loved learning something completely new and can’t wait to do my first tour, hopefully, of many! I love linen and wear it often. And, I figure why iron it when it’s just going to be wrinkled after I sit down! I am trying to find the just right yarn to make a couple more of these tops. I think it will be easy to do…says the woman who never finishes anything! Good for you spending that money on other things! Life is too short, right?
I have lots and lots of linen too and I don’t iron any of it either; the wrinkles don’t bother me a bit. I figure it is part of the charm of linen. You got some really great new pieces. I love that crochet-like tank too and am glad you didn’t end up returning it.
Thanks, Joanne! I can’t wait to find the right yarn and make some more of these tops in other colors. I iron my linen once or twice…when I first get it and after washing it. I just don’t worry about the wrinkles.
I haven’t tried Quince, but I have to admit I love my ON pants…both linen and cotton ones.
I would have kept the crochet square sweater too…right now I’m trying to crochet some squares and they are all wonky…I wish that I crocheted as well as I knit, but I know it’s just practice.
OXOX
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I’ve really liked everything I’ve bought from Quince, but the ON linen pants are just right as far as weight. I think, in a business casual setting, the Quince pair might be a titch better. I haven’t found the right yarn yet to make more of these sweaters. But, once I figure out gauge and such, it should be relatively simple to make.
I am in love with both of these chic looks! That linen dress is perfect for hot weather. I would love a dress like that
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks, Kathrine! I think you would be cute as a bug in one of them. They do seem to sell out rather quickly. I am hoping for some jewel tones next year. I wore the blue striped one today and felt so good in it.
I’m a huge fan of Quince and have several sweaters and linen tops (I’m going to be featuring multiple ways to wear soon). These dresses look so comfortable and breezy! I’ve never tried ON linen pants and will need to check them out. The crochet vest with those pants is such a cute combo!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill! I felt guilty about buying the crochet sweater because I fully intended to return it after studying it. But, Mike really liked it, and he rarely says anything. I will definitely be buying more Quince. I love the quality and the price points. I’m looking forward to your post. The ON linen pants are so good!
I love that floaty linen dress – lovely and cool!
Thank you, Lydia! I wore the blue striped one today and was cool as a cucumber all day! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and week ahead!
Hi, Marsha – I really like your crochet top and linen pants outfit idea! When it’s too hot, I like to wear a dress or caftan and have been doing that a lot in this heat wave. This could have been a post about wearing linen in summer. Thanks for the inspiration – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thanks, Angie! I have been wearing lots of dresses this summer, too. It’s just so hot! I love linen but especially when it’s hot!
All three outfits are so polished for the summer heat. I really like the little sweater and linen pants. Bought some linen pants from Old Navy last summer and never wore them. I just felt like they weren’t me. But you look amazing in yours. The linen dresses look even cooler to me. And your accessories are always just perfect.
We have a spot in our backyard where the pool builder dumped everything – we guess. Grass absolutely will not grow there. We may have to dig it up this fall. The rest of that area has really greened up nicely this year now that PC agrees we can give everything more water. And our front yard has never looked better. We had to put up a very large, obnoxious – PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG sign but it has worked.
Thanks, Leslie! I love the ON linen pants. Maybe, you just need to experiment with different tops. I have thought, “Oh, this will look great with these” only to flop big time! The linen dresses really are the best! I hope they bring them back next year with some brighter colors.
At our last house, we had places where nothing would grow. We’d dig down a little bit and find a plastic bottle or even a chunk of concrete. They really don’t care about the yard. They just want to get things done. Luckily, the only dog who has to be cleaned up in our yard is Jack! That is really rude, though. Even when I take Jack out for his constitutional, I take a plastic bag and a scoop. But, I see lots of little piles from people who don’t. And, they’re our neighbors. I just don’t understand it!
I am loving linen more and more over the years. It’s so much cooler! That crochet top is really cute. I hope you have a chance to make a top like that! It would be even better!
Thanks, Laura! The trick is finding the right yarn. I want a cotton, but I don’t want the kind you make dishcloths from. So, I really need to go to a yarn store. I don’t remember when I first started wearing linen.
Love these looks! They look nice and breezy – very much reminiscent of the ocean-side.
Thanks, Edi! I would love to be at the ocean right now!
I love that dress, though I would choose it in black, navy or dark brown (once a goth, always a goth, I suppose!). We’ve got cooler weather now after some boiling times – British houses aren’t built for heat and I’m just fortunate my study looks out onto a north-facing, shady area so stays relatively cool.
I thought seriously about getting it in black. I still may do that as I have a store credit. I am too old to have been a goth though I like to think I would have been! I read many blogs from UK bloggers who have been writing about the heat and how the homes are built for that. I’m just afraid we will continue to get hotter and hotter as the years go by. I never remember hitting the 90s (about 32C) when I was a kid. Our house is all brick so it does stay cooler than some, but the AC is on way more than I’d like.
Thanks, Liz!
Pingback:The Beauty and Style Spotlight Team! - Marsha in the Middle
Pingback:Summer Style & Beauty Hacks You’ll Actually Use—No Bleach, No Bugs, No Sweat - Lush Balance
Pingback:Summer Style & Beauty Hacks You’ll Actually Use—No Bleach, No Bugs, No Sweat – 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒓, 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝒀𝒐𝒖