January 27, 2025
She swims EVERY DAY. Everybody who lives in her very large building has seen her in the elevators, in her swimsuit and robe. She’s long past the point of feeling self-conscious!
But she’s realizing that she needs new swimwear. And new summer clothes. The whole exercising, eating right, avoiding junk food project seems to have worked!
In the summer, she swims every day, outdoors. Hours by the pool. Swim wear is what she’s wearing most often, so she realizes that she might want to start there to re-build a summer wardrobe:
She’s pretty methodical about this – her first choice is a dress that will certainly be considered a “cover-up” in her life! A navy tank and shorts seem logical, with a striped shirt to wear over the navy pieces if the weather cools. And the only shoes she’s grabbing right now are these nifty waterproof ones!
Dress – Lands’ End; tank top – Lands’ End; striped shirt – Lands’ End; shorts – Lands’ End; waterproof espadrilles – Lands’ End
Next up, she doesn’t want full-on denim for hot weather, but chambray seems obvious! And a couple of white tops that can go with her swim wear or be worn on their own:
Enough of the basics! A couple of print tops add some zing to things, and a pretty light blue tee shirt is irresistible. White gauze pants can go over swimwear, or with any top she owns…
Striped tee shirt – Lands’ End; plaid top – L.L.Bean; lake blue tee – L.L.Bean; white gauze pants – L.L.Bean
A white dress/tunic/coverup? Heck yes! And a warm cardigan – it will get cool once in a while.
Her chambray skirt has a matching top – how could she have missed this? And navy linen pants, to wear with her navy cardigan and any of her tops, when she needs to be seen in public and look like an adult:
White cotton/linen tunic – J.Crew; navy cotton cardigan – Lands’ End; ruffled top – Lands’ End; navy linen pants – L.L.Bean
She put all of her new clothes ideas into the 4×4 template, and rearranged things over and over (although the clothes stay the same, their positions move – not that it matters where on the grid things fall!).
It doesn’t take a personal stylish to get you dressed from this wardrobe – it’s not quite foolproof, but pretty doggone close!
One thing she really should consider – more swimwear! The long-sleeved tops and pants are invaluable on blindingly sunny days, or on days when the wind is blowing and it feels like airborne sandpaper… And extra pieces come in handy when your primary swimsuit is in the laundry:
Swim top – Lands’ End; rash guard top – Lands’ End; swim leggings – Lands’ End; rash guard striped jacket – Lands’ End
Wouldn’t it be nice to plan a new wardrobe strictly for the beach, or the lake, or the river?
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, our paintings was by Gustave Moreau – one of my favorite artists!
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Clever, pleasant, convenient !
Thank you very much, Janice !
Blue and white is both classic and fresh, all at once. I especially love the white linen cover up. As someone who goes to the beach 2-3 times per week, all summer long, I could see this becoming a staple for me. While I cannot imagine wearing full leggings to the beach, I can imagine these would be invaluable for a serious swimmer in cold northern water.
Love it! In the process of planning my summer wardrobe for weekends fishing and swimming at the lake, in navy. I would add a tote bag and sun hat.
My summer wardrobe colors! This is a lovely and practical and realistic collection. Thank you!
I’m not a swimmer but I could do with some summer gym/exercise clothes. However, I hate lycra so I’m on the look-out for relaxed trousers and a new hoodie. I wouldn’t plan the rest of my wardrobe around gym/exercise clothes. The classes I go to are weekday and term time. Even if I went to a hotel with spa and gym facilities, I wouldn’t use them.
How funny! I got rid of all of my (Lands’ End, navy and white) swimwear when I purged my closet in November. I realized I hadn’t worn them since April 2016 (and only once or twice on that vacation). But our heroine today could be one of my sisters. She joined a gym years ago just so she could swim every day, and she rarely misses.
What a tonic for a cold rainy morning! Love the color palette. Curious about accessories…
I think accessories will appear on Wednesday!
hugs,
Janice
Oh yes please!!!
I have the Lands End swim leggings and love them. You might be surprised by how comfortable they are for swimming and lounging. For me they are confidence builders–the legs aren’t what they used to be. Planning ahead for summer (thank you, Janice) I want to work mine into casual outfits with tunic tops ala today’s post. Also, I can vouch for Lands End water shoes. Very comfy.and versatile.
This is lovely. We swim a lot on vacation, at both beaches and pools so I have quite a variety of swimwear, coverups and sun protection gear. This wardrobe is so lovely and classic for the summer. It also reminds me of the time when I was in grad school and lived in a big apartment complex and swam every day at the apartment pool. So convenient and satisfying.
I especially enjoyed this post today. It was so much fun to start with swimwear, which I confess is usually an afterthought for me.
As a swimmer who really must get back into the water again, I think your ideas are excellent. The only thing for me is the palette…I used to wear blues with white with silver a few years ago once moving to this Canadian PNW coastal town … until I realized the white washed me out and those colours were better for those who wore a summer palette well. I am a warm autumn, so I switched to cream with warmer colours and accessorized with gold …and it suits me.
I foolishly announced in a Christmas letter to friends that the following summer , 2020, I was prepared to join in the mile swim in July to mark turning 70. Well, I was off the hook as it , along with so many other summer activities were cancelled. Now I am going to be 75 this July , and if the vertigo I deal with will let me, I will participate …but wisely announce to no one!
I checked out the Gustavo Moreau painting…lovely palette! Definitely for me. Your concept of creating clothing palettes from paintings is inspiring, Janice. . You also educate us regarding wonderful art at the same time.
I just bought a swimsuit and those navy swim shorts from Lands End! I am headed to Mexico next month and there is a pool where we are staying. I have been wanting a good swimsuit and shorts for ages and these do not disappoint. I got one of their tugless suits, appropriately for this post in navy and blue shades!
Just as well I am not a swimmer as the North Sea where I live is rarely warm enough to swim in. And would you believe we have one (if not the only one) unheated lido in the country.
I love this. I live by the sea and can usually swim from late April or May until early November, depending on weather. I need some new swimwear and love blue and white.
The navy dress with the notched neckline is a triple threat – beach coverup, dress and nightgown. I have several of those sleeveless Lands’ End coverups with pockets and mostly wear them as my summer nightgowns.
Groan, bathing suits. I’m leaving on a cruise this weekend but all three of my barely worn, not cheap, one-piece suits are too small due to extra weight around the belly. Their “shaping” features just feel like I’m wrapped in compression hose. I ordered two separates one size up from L.L. Bean, arriving today, fingers crossed they fit okay. Bathing suits are so expensive with a high cost per wear unless you swim frequently. Any recommendations on flattering, comfortable suits for us older ladies much appreciated.
I have two pairs of the LE swim leggings ( navy and a wild pattern) as well as two ‘swim T’s’ with 3/4 sleeves ( not rash guards) that go with both pairs of leggings. I swim in colder North Atlantic waters and the leggings keeps my legs protected from sun ( I had a melanoma on my leg ) The T’s also provide sun protection. Also great for paddle boarding and kayaking and they dry fast! The only issues is the T’s have no bust support so I just wear a pull on sports bra. Not the greatest support but it’s better than nothing. I am thinking of buying the slightly longer swim short for really warm days. I wouldn’t be caught dead in a swim skirt but ok for the retro vibe. Unless they’re long they defeat the purpose of modesty and if they are long who wants all that material around your hips and knees. That’s actually a danger for a swimmer especially in deep water. Although I have navy leggings my tops are really bright, again not wise to wear full on navy/black if swimming in darker water.
This would be a fabulous wardrobe for caravan holidays. Easy wear for the drive. Stylish for touristy days and easy care. Love the navy and white. I’d probably have patterned ts as white washes me out and marks easily.
Can’t wait for the accessories!
I love those lands end rash guards. I was in a restaurant a few years ago near Rocky Mountain national park and found myself admiring a stylish, sporty ensemble a diner was wearing at a nearby table. After a couple of minutes I realized her floral top was likely a lands end rash guard, presumably as sun protection even though there is no beach near by.
I ordered one as soon as I got home and wore it all summer when I needed to be out in the hot/bright sun even though I never swim.
They maybe be sold as swim wear but they easily flex to street wear!