Well, the heat and humidity has settled in for real here in Central Indiana. We have had lots of rain, too, as a result of Hurricane Beryl. I hope, if any of you are affected by her, you are on your way to recovery. It is just so miserable that not even Jack wants to be outside! Now that the weather report is over, we can get on with the post! Today is the third Thursday of July which means it’s time for an Ageless Style challenge. This month, Mireille selected whites with brights! Leslie chose alternatives to shorts last month. In the past we have done straw bags, stripes, jeans, layering, and many other ideas. If you’re curious, you can find some of my looks here, here, here, and here. Please do visit the other hostesses of the link party (oh, yes, there’s a link party) at their various sites! Today is also a Global Writing Challenge. I’ll have another post ready for that, and it’s all about blogging!
First…
Last month, I also told you how much I disliked summer. I still don’t like being hot, and I still don’t like to sweat. It has been raining here a lot so I’ve been mowing the yard several times a month. And, I am absolutely drenched by the time I’m done! I’ve been mowing later in the day so the houses to the west of us provide bits and bobs of shade. Then, I take another shower which is the perfect way to end a day, right?
White in the summer…
At first, I was a little stumped by how I was going to meet this particular challenge. I mean, there is nothing groundbreaking about wearing white in the summer, is there? It seems to me I had read this was going to be the summer of the LWD…little white dress. Or, was that last summer? Anyway, I haven’t been able to find a white skirt that screamed, “Take me home!” So, I was looking around for a white dress. I rarely buy new things for fashion challenges, but I figured a new white dress would fill a hole in my closet. Except, I discovered I didn’t have a hole in my closet! I suddenly remembered I had this beautiful white linen dress from J Jill. I think I bought it last summer. So, I now had my base for this challenge.
Other whites I’m wearing…
Old Navy had some gauze shorts earlier this year. I snapped up several pairs, including a white pair. I haven’t really climbed on board the gauze boat. I kinda find it clunky and thick. But, since I’m Icon level at Gap brands, I can order with free shipping. Luckily, the one and only Gap store in Indiana (can you believe that) is relatively close. But, I haven’t really found Gap very exciting for a few years. I hear Zac Posen is their new creative designer so maybe that will change. Anyhoo…back to the shorts. These shorts had a five inch inseam which is much shorter than I have worn since I was a teenager. They have been my go-to shorts this summer. They are amazingly comfortable.
More whites…
Of course, I’m wearing white tees at times. The problem with white tees is our water is just plain awful. We have a water softener, but the problem is the old infrastructure of the town. Anything white is sure to come out dingy if not just plain tan! So, I wear my white tees sparingly with something underneath it so I don’t have to wash them as often. I haven’t ever been a big fan of white jeans. I wonder if that springs from a funny memory from my childhood. I have no idea where we were, but Mom had bought a new pair of white pants. I’m pretty sure they were polyester pants with an elastic waist from Sears, but they were new. We were sitting in the restaurant, and my brother wanted ketchup for his fries. Yep…you know exactly where this is going, right? He turned the bottle upside down, gave the bottom a good thwack! And, Mom’s new white pants looked like something out of an episode of Dexter! She was not amused!
My white dress…
As I said, I am pretty sure I bought this last summer. It’s a beautiful lightweight linen, completely lined, and heavily embroidered on the bottom of the front of the dress. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have pockets. I told Nigel the embroidery doesn’t really show up when I look at the dress, but it does in these photos.
The colorful part…
I started combing through my scarves thinking I’d add a scarf. But, while I could find plenty of colorful scarves, none of them seemed to be what I was looking for. And, colorful is rather subjective, isn’t it? What I find colorful may not be colorful to someone else and vice versa. I decided to add several different pieces of my kantha jewelry from World Finds. Oh, and my shoes are definitely colorful, too!
About World Finds…
I don’t remember when I first discovered World Finds, but I do know it was on Instagram. The company was founded in 2001 by women and is still run by women. I have loved everything I’ve bought from the company. You may be able to find it in your local art museum gift shop or small boutiques as well as buying it online. You can read here about their sustainability and practice of fair trade.
“Through our commitment to ethical practices and expressive styles, we create products that transform the lives of our artisan partners and those who wear our designs. You’ll find our jewelry and accessories in over a thousand retail locations across the United States and beyond, from museum stores and clothing boutiques to gift shops and galleries. Our products have created work for over 1,000 artisans in communities across the globe. So, while our designs are always evolving, one thing never will: our mission to empower women through fair trade (source).”
The Lewk!
I wore these L’Artiste Quiteria wedges for our last Ageless Style challenge! They have a wonderfully padded piece at the back of the heel. How ’bout that? I also wore World Finds jewelry then. This time, I not only wore the long necklace, but I also added in the Intertwining Kantha necklace. I’ve worn these bracelets (here, here, here, here, and here) countless times on the blog and in real life. I love these huge hoops because it’s hard to miss them!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
White really is such a summery color, isn’t it? Sally, from Within a World of My Own, recently posted (here) about wearing dark colors in summer, but she also talks about the reasons for wearing white. And, she does a better job explaining it than I would! I remember when you didn’t wear white after Labor Day so winter white was born. Now, you can probably find white jeans all year long, but I don’t know that I’ve seen true white trousers later in the season. It’s a funny idea when you think about the fact that the US is the only country with Labor Day! So, can we talk? How do you feel about shorts of any length? Do you have a favorite white item to wear in the summer? How do you define colorful? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as possible.
Thank you!
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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
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Bo ~ Bo’s Bodacious Blog
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Joanne ~ My Slice of Life
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie ~ Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After
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Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
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Rosemary ~ Distinctly Southern Style
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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!
Your dress is so pretty with the embroidery detail! Love how you added color with your accessories! They really pop against the white!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thank you, Jill! I was a little worried about the informal nature of the jewelry with the more formal look of the dress. But, the overall look really delighted me!
Funny enough I am the exact opposite; I have not found a summer white dress BUT I have 2 white skirts and nearly bought a 3rd (but quickly realized there would be no need for me to ever have 3 white skirts!). I love your bright shoes and accessories.
That is funny! I do have a couple of white skirts, but they don’t fit right now. I had a really nice gauzy one from a few years ago and donated it when I lost all that weight. Thanks for the compliments!
That dress looks so flattering on you! My daughter lives near you and she got so much rain in her yard they had a river flowing through it. The kids loved playing in it!
Thanks, Amy! We got quite a bit of rain for a couple of days so our next door neighbor had a bit of a pond. We sit a little higher than her so we don’t get any fun puddles! I do think Zionsville got more rain than us. I know Fishers had lots of wind with tree branches scattered everywhere.
Hi Marsha and that dress is lovely with a delightful fresh look. I haven’t worn any dresses yet as our summer has been so dire, but we are currently having 3 hot days. Unfortunately I have a virus caught from our little grandchild so am not going out and about during those days! White isn’t really a colour that I see around a lot – I think it’s both our weather and the fear of getting it dirty. But I do have a lovely white skirt which I shall wear on my cruise next month and of course, white t-shirts are worn a lot here.
We don’t have a Labor day but we do have a 1st May ‘Bank’ holiday as they’re called here. A lot of European countries celebrate that date and some recognise this as International Workers Day, We’re more conservative (with a small c) about this and consider this day heralding the start of summer.
There are a couple of viruses making the rounds here. I do hope you feel much better soon. I also hope you’re able to start wearing some of your beautiful dresses…especially that yellow one! It’s funny you say that about not wanting to get white dirty because, for some reason, I never really think about that…except for jeans which is why I rarely wear white jeans. Our beginning summer holiday is Memorial Day which is also known as Decoration Day. Your International Workers Day sounds a lot like our Labor Day which is the first Monday in September which is also when we’re supposed to stop wearing white! But, with global warming, I think many, even if they stick to that goofy white rule, will continue to wear their linen!
Thanks so much, Penny, and I hope you’re soon better!
Such a beautiful dress and perfect for those hot summer days! The kantha jewelry really pops against the white; I love that set every time you wear it, and this is such a great combination with the white. It’s funny, even though white is a neutral non-color, I think that the brightness means it can have as much impact as an accent/rainbow color. One thing I noticed right away in these photos is that the white really brings out the beautiful complexity of your hair color. I’m glad you rediscovered this dress because I think you could style it 100 different ways.
Thanks, Sally! I love the kantha jewelry with the white. Ahhh, thanks for the compliment on my hair. It is so funny to me because I have never gotten compliments on my hair until I let it go silver. When I was doing my blogging post, I discovered I had worn this dress another time with a scarf!
Holes in your closet…just that idea is quite amusing, right?
A white dress is a basic I think. Much more so than a black one. It’s bright and fun and can be worn many ways.
I love your look and the embroidery is a cool detail.
XOXO
Jodie
Hahaha! Why did I know you’d pick up on that one? I don’t have very many holes, but there are a few. Luckily, I can wear black and not be washed out by it. I love to accessorize black and make it more interesting. I was so surprised at how well the embroidery stood out in the photos because it’s very subtle IRL.
Thanks, Jodie!
The LWD is a staple for me through spring and summer. Honestly, I just love it so much and it never goes out of style, especially a linen one like yours. Sometimes just keeping all neutral is the way I like to go, but adding a pop of color with your beaded necklace really makes a splash and dresses the outfit up. I am sorry it’s the hot season, I get that but also love it, especially when I am at the lake and can just walk into the lake for a dip several times a day. The lazy days of summer I call them.
bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
Thanks, Bo! I felt a little differently about summer when I was still teaching though I did dread the hot building when we went back in August. Luckily, we did get air conditioning a few years before I retired.
I do like to wear white as long as I don’t have to wash it. Our water is just atrocious and will ruin anything. So, I either dry clean it or take it to my daughter’s house!
A perfect dress for Summer, Marsha. I wear white all the time but then Australia doesn’t seem to have that fashion rule of not wearing white before Labor Day. x
Thanks, Sue! I think we may be the only country that has that silly rule. It’s supposedly grounded in the rich putting away their whites at a specific time. Now, I don’t know that anyone much adheres to it.
I love how you chose the colorful necklaces instead of a scarf! I love their different lengths. I just bought a new white dress which I haven’t worn yet, I was looking for a maxi to replace my old one but ended up with something knee length. I still would love to find a white skirt but so far, nothing!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille! I was looking through my photos from old posts, and I did wear this dress one other time (probably Ageless Style) with a scarf. I much prefer the jewelry. It’s funny how we get our hearts set on something and then can’t find it. You will find it when you’re least expecting it!