June 21, 2023
Why yes, this is the EXACT day; enjoy the daylight – if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere! And get a good long night of sleep if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere…
I wore my linen long-sleeved shirt A TON on Father’s Day; we were in the forest, and I found that it was perfect protection from insects.
That got me thinking about the utility of a shirt like this in warm weather – protection from bugs, the sun, cool breezes, air conditioning…
They can provide a nice accent color…
Blue linen shirt – H&M; earrings – Talbots; white tee – J.Crew; belt – Kurt Geiger London; shorts – L.L.Bean; sneakers – SeaVees
Or you can bring a bit of pattern into a monochromatic outfit:
Striped linen shirt – H&M; earrings – Kate Spade New York; black tank top – J.Crew; bag – J.Crew; chinos – J.Crew; sandals – Madewell
If you’re traveling, having something that covers your shoulders can be important, if you want to visit churches or other places with a dress code…
Yes, you can layer 2 shirt collars!
Earrings – Soul Journey Jewelry; pink linen shirt – H&M; white sleeveless shirt – Lands’ End; pants – Boden; bag – Persaman New York; sandals – Dolce Vita
There is beauty in summer – no matter where you look!
When the sun sets and it starts to get cool, another layer might feel good over your shoulders…
Black linen shirt – H&M; leather earrings – Waiwai; ivory gauze top – J.Crew; leather bracelet – LA Rocks; pants – Xírena; sandals – Sanctuary
True, even if you’re just sitting on the porch…
Do you dare mix patterns? In the same colors, and the same scale, it seems almost foolproof:
earrings – Loft; necklace – Loft; white tank top – Lands’ End; striped linen shirt – H&M; floral pants – Mango; flip flops – Havaianas
Sunsets can always be dramatic and moving, no matter where you are…
Your linen shirt doesn’t need to match anything – so long as it’s in the same “mood” as your other clothes…
Earrings – Madewell; linen tunic – L.L.Bean; twilly scarf – Lost Pattern NYC; tee shirt – L.L.Bean; skirt – J.Crew; sandals – Franco Sarto
I’m still wearing linen shirts that I bought at least 10 years ago – I consider them among the best purchases I’ve ever made!
What do you have planned for the longest day of the year? I suspect that we will go for a walk through the neighborhood parks; the park nearest to us is PACKED with roses… sigh…
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, I spotted women wearing black with metallic accessories – that’s a timeless look!
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Beautiful post…. maybe I should get a linen shirt.
I woke up early to watch the sunrise and later we will have pizza and cupcakes for solstice because they are round foods which resemble the sun.
Round foods!! I never would have thought of that.
That’s brilliant!
xoxo,
Janice
I love it that you mixed patterns. Yes, I do that.
Oh gosh, as usual the photos are just absolutely amazing. I love the black and white outfits, although they aren’t what I would wear. It came to me yesterday the two coworkers I admire most in what they wear are night and day. One wears very classic neutral colored clothing, and the other is like a magpie always in bright prints. I can admire something and still know it’s not “me”. I fall somewhere in the middle. Anyway, what am I doing for solstice? WE have laptop roll in today at school so I will most likely becoming home and just collapsing with leftovers for dinner! 😂 Wonderful job Janice and such a great way to start the day. Again, I just always appreciate so much the photos you include with these posts. Just gorgeous.
I have dinner planned for me and Hubby and then I’m off to a committee meeting for our September county fair. It is the wine committee so not all bad. Since I don’t like night driving any more I am glad for the sunlight. And no I don’t drink/drive but the people are fun. Loved the look back!
This is what I do all summer, but I’ve really only got one well-worn, trusty old chambray shirt left after a recent closet cleanse. Looks like I’ll be hitting up H&M for every one of those linen shirts – they are ALL in my summer wardrobe palette. Those blue flowered pants look like they would work perfectly with the blue linen shirt. I also really love the light pants with the black floral print. What a refreshing change from vertical black and white stripes. I will be referring back to this post a lot this summer!
I love the season posts. And yes I do mix patterns. I love prints. The humidity in my area is over 80%. Temps often match and you need gills. Unfortunately I find that linen becomes a sponge and is just always damp and crumpled. Much better in a 50/50 mix with cotton. Thank you for this blog I am an avid reader and buyer!
I wear linen all summer with cotton!! They are the only fabrics that keep me cool enough in our 110 degree weather we experience in the desert during our summers!!! Plus, I love them!!
I’ve heard so much about linen shirts on this blog I decided to give them a try. Purchased two, a marled navy and a bright goldenrod yellow. Wore them a lot during the spring but now that it’s June, it is just too hot for a 2nd layer of any kind. Perhaps in the evenings in October….or maybe November.
During my purple phase I had a linen shirt (light purple) that I wore constantly during summer, including a trip to Hawaii. Since I ditched most of the purple, I now make do with a chambray shirt. But I did use the linen one A LOT.
I would be happy to find any and all of these linen shirts in my closet! I especially love the blue of the first shirt; switch the beige shorts out for almost anything else and I’d be thrilled with that outfit (the matching sneakers get me every time), and even with the beige shorts, I’d make do ;)
I added two print long-sleeved linen button up shirts to my wardrobe for this summer and I’m enjoying them a lot as a shirt on their own or as a topper layer. The solid colors are very lovely and practical, but I also like how a multi-colored print makes it so easy to put together an interesting outfit without a lot of individual pieces…the shirt is the statement piece that carries the look. For me, rolling the sleeves of the shirts up to the elbow (fold in half, then fold in half again) is key both stylistically and comfort-wise to wearing a long-sleeved shirt in summer (though for cooler temps and/or bugs, your mileage may vary).
A great job as always Janice, you have an amazing talent for colour. I have a question for you and the readers. I recently scored a thrift store haul when I found a pair of Ferragamo bow flats for $20. They are in brand new condition. My problem is that they are white. I don’t want to look like a little old lady wearing her requisite white shoes in summer (okay I am a little old lady but refuse to look like one). Should I dye them or leave them white?
Dye them!
Dyed they will be. Thank you Janice
I JUST stumbled on something that assured me that it’s white shoe time – it was on the Minnetonka Moccasins site! Maybe rethink – you have received some excellent suggestions for how to wear them! I think a lot depends on where you live; white shoes in Chicago are hard to picture, but if you live somewhere that isn’t quite so incessantly DARK (at least for clothes!), white might be just right…
We’re no help at all, are we?
xoxo,
J
Gina, I’d leave them. Don’t risk ruining your Ferragamos! Cindylou’s suggstions are spot-on. Carry a handbag in a different color so you don’t look too matched, and you’ll be fine.
Thank you. I was concerned about ruining them and everyone’s suggestions to leave them white make good sense.
Leave them white and wear them casually with ankle pants, wide leg linen pants, white denim, and casual simple dresses. If your hair is silver they will match your hair.
Well I woke up about 4am just as dawn was breaking. I thought that it would be lovely to go and watch the sun rise over our lake. However, I went back to bed instead. Next thing I knew it was 9am! 😂 Oh well, there’s always next year… I’ll watch the sunset instead. Happy Midsummer Solstice, everyone.
Dear Vivienne,
I want to buy your color planning pdf (over 100 pages) but PayPal would not process the payment. I went to the recommended website and it no longer exists. What steps do I need to take to purchase your color planning?
Thank you for your help.
We’ve just had the shortest day of the year here in the southern hemisphere. After a week of frosty, sunny weather (gorgeous!), we’re embarking on a week of rain (knitting weather!). I like linen all year round here – shorts, skirts, long pants, dresses and shirts in summer – shirts as a layer under jumpers in winter.
BTW, I love to hear about good thrift shop purchases, so it’s great to hear about Gina’s shoes. Having looked them up online, I now realise that’s an excellent score, Gina!
Thank you, I was pretty excited when I found them! I knew they were pricey but when I looked them up my jaw hit the floor.
Hello Gina, my vote is to leave the shoes white and pair with white, sand-stone or indigo bottoms. Use white tops and 2nd layers. Use a medium rattan bag and let your accent colours be jewelry and scarves. Easy, classic neutral summer dressing that isn’t dated so it will last for years.
Great advice Kari. I’m going to leave well enough alone and they’ll stay white. Thank you for the great advice, it almost feels daring to wear white shoes when we’ve been conditioned for so long that they were frumpy.