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As someone who works from home and dresses mostly for the weekend or the odd evening out, boring outfits are simply not an option. The recent heatwaves have made finding something to wear somewhat challenging, but sleeveless styles and loose-fitting styles have been my saviours this month.
I’m finally getting the hang of Indyx, too. I’ve uploaded almost all of my clothes to the app and found building my outfits in advantage totally revolutionary. It really takes the stress out of putting outfits together. Especially since I could think of nothing worse than spending an hour getting hot and sweaty in the dressing room trying outfits on my physical body most days.
Here’s everything I wore this July, including a pyjama set way to nice to wear to bed, a £6 Vinted dress and the Dr Marten sandals that have very quickly earned their keep in my footwear rotation.
1.
I’ve admired Omnes from afar for a while, and when this Suri Dress went on sale for under £40, I decided to give the brand a go. It’s made from a linen blend so was great for a full day in Manchester from PR meetings to events, while the sleeveless design is one I regularly opt for in warm weather to avoid pesky sweat marks.
I love the square neckline and corset-inspired bodice, but I do find that the straps pinch ever so slightly, which may put me off reaching for it as often as I’d like. Styling wise, I paired it with my pointed red ballet flats and a red M&S baguette bag. I’d actually put it in my Vinted pile before my mum claimed it for herself, which I must admit I’m quite glad about, now. I perhaps wasn’t quite ready to let it go after all.
2.
I think this outfit divided opinion a little bit, but it’s actually one of my favourites all year. Not only is it interesting by colour, it also pattern clashes and plays with proportions for a look that feels playful and perfect for summer.
I did initially worry I had worn the Damson Madder Summer Joy blouse the wrong way round with the buttons at the back – but as it goes, it’s actually reversible, so it almost feels like getting two tops in one. I wore it with butter yellow Adidas shorts with maroon stripes, which match my Adidas SL72s perfectly (my most-worn shoe by a country mile). I’d planned to wear a blue, maroon and yellow geometric bag but it felt too matchy, while the leopard print felt more intentional – also, peep my new Specsavers frames, which I am obsessed with.
3.
There’s so much to love about this little Primark mini. The postcard print feels perfect for summer and is a trend that recurs annually. Because the dress is quite bold, it requires very little styling beyond a bag and shoes. I added my red mesh shopper and matching red jelly shoes. This £20 pair from M&S have been so comfortable and go with more than I first thought they would. Another great thing about the mini dress is how many colours there are in the pattern. This means next time I could pull out the blue or the green for a different overall vibe.
4.
The cost-per-wear on this pink striped satin skirt has got to be pennies by now. Over the last 18 months, I’ve styled it so many times and I still manage to find fresh ways to wear it. This time it was paired with my Spicy Marg graphic T-shirt. This has so many colours in it so it pairs well with a lot and meant I could opt for a green bag.
Another purchase that I’ve barely taken off is my brown Dr. Marten wrenlie sandals. I picked them up earlier this year as I was looking for a staple pair of brown fisherman sandals and these fit the bill perfectly. Comfortable enough for all-day wear, chunky enough to toughen up an outfit.
5.
I’m convinced that this Sainsbury’s co-ord being marketed as pyjamas was a mistake. I spied them in the sleepwear section on one of the hottest days of the year and knew the 100% cotton fabric, light airy design and sleeveless silhouette would be a dream in the heatwave.
I adore the red embroidery detailing. It reminds me of Damson Madder on a budget, with the set coming in at £24. I stuck to my trusty red bag, red shoe formula with some £1 Primark flip-flops and my red ruffle strap bag. I also think the top and trousers can be styled just as easily as separates, too – that’s on my to-do list for August.
6.
One thing I’ve started doing in a bid to be a little bit more sustainable and save some money is searching Vinted for things I’ve spotted on the high street. I saw a lovely leopard print denim shirt dress in Next recently and found this similar, George at ASDA number, on Vinted for £6. Bargain.
It’s a really easy throw-on piece with a really lovely shape to it. Much like the Primark dress, it didn’t need much styling beyond my yellow shoulder bag and trusty brown Dr. Martens sandals.
7.
This is the outfit that earned me the most compliments in July. I picked up this TBCo tie-detail striped top as part of a set, but styled it as separates for a cooler day. I really love the shape of this blouse and plan to attempt to recreate something similar on my sewing machine soon.
I teamed the top with my ASOS purple horseshoe jeans – another Vinted find – plus my Adidas SL72 trainers and yellow ruffle strap bag. I’m not usually a fan of jeans and don’t wear them very often but the shade of these make them so fun to style.
