summer fashion lessons






hopefully this will be our last really hot weather week in southern california.
as my thoughts turn to fall and i begin to say adios to my summer clothing i thought it would be a good thing to record what really worked for me.    


the above outfit is one of my absolute favorites.  to think that i have had this dana buchman silk top for so many years and really never, ever wore it, just kinda blows my mind.
i love it with these black skinny jeans and now that summer is over i'll be scouring the gw for a pair of white jeans for next summer.
i'll be all palm beach then.








i  also got a lot of wear from these navy palazzo pants that i swapped with a friend.
they are now mine for good.  i'm looking forward to wearing them into the fall with warmer tops.










ok, you know i can't say enough about chambray, but this shirt and skirt together and separately were great all spring and summer long.
both pieces can be dressed up and down and i did both.
although you know my *up* isn't that high.:)




what did i ever do w/o this little black dress?
every time i wear it someone has something nice to say to me about it.
its got its own personality.







i am including this navy and white striped t shirt type skirt.
i wore it with just about every color of tank top there is, with chambray and white shirts and i always felt like i was in my pj's.
  










this j. peterman skirt and double rl white shirt got worn to death too.
together and separately.  much like the chambray pieces above, they seem to go with everything.
i'm a big fan of the white shirt with everything.

so there you go.  i think my summer essential list goes something like this...
a few skirts, tank tops, a white shirt, a chambray shirt, skinny jeans and a colorful top.

what about you?  what were your summer favorites?



47 comments

  1. You look beautiful, I wish I could pull of your hairstyle, it's such a classic elegant style. I hardly got to wear any summer clothes, it was a rubbish summer here.

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  2. thanks for the simple inspiration. classic. ok, am I being too nosy here...? how do you get your hair to look so great in the back? kinda froofed up a bit? ("froofed" excuse my use of that highly technical term.) your hair always looks so good and mine seems to be so flat.

    thanks, you style/fashion guru, you. donna

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    1. thank you donna. well i ask the guy that cuts my hair to "release" a few strands around the back crown of my head. i'm not exactly what release means but i've heard the hairdressers at work use the term. i'm pretty sure it means to go in and cut random pieces of hair so that you can tease that area and get volume. and i do tease that back area just a little ea morning.
      hopefully this helps.

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  3. Love your summer essentials and those full skirts are just the thing. I realized this summer that I don't care for shirt-dresses with straight skirts, so uncomfortable. I'm looking on ebay for linen dresses that have fuller skirts so I can move around!
    Thanks for sharing, I love your fashion posts. You are such an inspiration. xo!

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    Replies
    1. Dani, I too am now embracing fulll skirts, so feminine and so much more comfortable.

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  4. I love the LBD, so versatile and so chic. The maxiskirt with the tank is really cute too.

    My summer essential has the be the Lacoste polo dress. I have several and they are so easy to wear with sandals, heels or even runners. The cotton pique stays cool and crisp and the colors make me smile.

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  5. Just wanted to say that you are gorgeous!! If I passed by you on the street, I'd want to compliment you too.

    xoxo-Jennifer

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  6. You are such a lovely woman...
    just wanted to say it as I always feel it when I see and read your blog posts.

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  7. My fave thing to wear this summer was a t-shirt dress from H&M.
    It's white with thin black stripes, just a great fit and basic shape/color.
    Comfy as well as great looking :)

    LOVE your palazzo pants outfit and lbd the best :)

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  8. I love all of your outfits, I always admire your style and I agree, you need to wear that first top, it is sooo pretty. This first outfit would be also perfect in cooler weather if you add a blazer or a sweater. My favorites in the summer was anything white, I wore more white than ever and I loved it!

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  9. All great looks on you, Janet. I think my favorite would have to be #2 with the palazzo pants. Your arms are so taut!

    My favorite summer look this year was (or is, because it's still hot) a maxi skirt. I liked pairing the two I own the way you did, with a tank top.
    xo, A

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  10. Love each one! My favorite is the navy and white stripe maxi! Hope y'all cool down to fall soon!
    xxoj.

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  11. You look gorgeous in every single one of your outfits but if you had to twist my arm I'd plump for the palazzo pants ,the stripy maxi and the above-the-knee dress because of the "controversial" factor!!!
    I wish I'd had the chance to actually wear my summer clothes this year, I'm holding out for India! xxx

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  12. I like the maxi skirt the best and I think you can take it through the winter too. They're all classic styles that suit you to a T

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  13. I love all of these outfits, but have to say that the one with the LBD, striped maxi-skirt, and J. Peterman skirt are my favorites.

    My go-to pieces in the summer are maxi-dresses and sandals. I love how easy they are to just 'throw on' with some pretty accessories and go. I have to say at this point though, that I am more than ready to pack them away, and hope we get some colder weather here soon, so that I can stop wearing them for the year.

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  14. You always look so stylish Janet. The polka dot trousers is my favourite. It looks great on you!! I don't really have a summer favourite. There are so many dresses in my cupboard I love to wear :-)

    Wish you a happy new week!

    Madelief x

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  15. I love your silk top in the first picture (and the way it co-ordinates with the garden beyond).
    This summer I have tried to wear my white linen trousers as much as possible on the limited number of days that have been sunny here (the UK). Light colours white/cream/taupes are so fresh looking and summery.

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  16. Anything in navy is perfect for summer in my book. Also linen but in the UK we don't get much of an opportunity to wear proper summer clothes.
    I checked the weather for LA. Ouch! It's hot!

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  17. New to your blog and really enjoying it! I am heading to NYC in a few weeks and just loved your blog on packing---so helpful! I think you would not regret getting some white jeans off season, as you mentioned. They were my go to thing this summer; dressing up or down, they were so easy and felt really fresh with whatever I paired them with!

    Take care,
    Mary P.

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  18. You look so beautiful and chic!, luff it all J. Esp the colourful top.

    Meanwhile inspired by you I stir fried tofu yesterday (1st time ever that have bought and cooked it) with ginger basil chilli and onion. It was very disappointing. Maybe I did it wrong? It was almost tasteless?

    Garden is divine, well done with the sequinned top for your grand daughter xxx

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    1. yeah, you did something wrong with the tofu. wish i could pop over and make it for you.
      it's best if you can slice the tofu and marinate it just like you would meat. and then saute it in a really hot pan to get it crispy. then let it sit for a few before eating.

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    2. And if your tofu was packed in water you should put it between two plates with something heavy on top and leave for an hour or so to drain.

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  19. As I see you in your J. Peterman skirt, I am reminded of the most stylish woman I know, who dresses herself almost entirely from consignment shops with a few retail purchases thrown in. No one at work knew but me that she didn't spend a fortune of clothing. And there was rarely an outfit that wasn't perfect. Both of you are inspirations and, I agree, the Dana Buchman blouse is beautiful with the black skinny pants.

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  20. You look fabulously chic on all of these. I especially love the palazzo pants. When it's really hot, they are so comfy. Love the 'do!

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  21. Janet - you are a wonder! I am telling you - it is time to quit the whole yoga business and become a model! You look amazing!

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  22. Janet,
    I love all of your summer looks! You look amazing! I love how you sometimes wear your tanks in reverse for a higher neck...i never would have thought of that!
    xo
    annie

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  23. Love all of these...the only bag in the photos is your copy-kate.
    So many of these outfits can go past summer....all are so pretty.

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  24. You look terrific in your summer favorites. You have inspired me to be selective in what I bring into my closet. And to remove items that did not work out quite like I had hoped. I love wearing scarves. They are great for adding some interest to my, especially, fall and winter wardrobe. Does it get cool enough where you are to wear scarves? Or are they not your style?

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    Replies
    1. i do wear scarves in the cooler months. i bought two tissue thin type scarves from a ny street vendor. they were $10 for two so i couldn't pass them up!

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  25. you are so pretty and classy.........

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  26. Love your summer wardrobe, you look both classic AND comfortable. What did I wear?
    Black shift dresses, black knit maxi skirt, black jeans, white pants (a new revelation for me, btw), a few tanks, a few cardi's and a white linen jacket. That is it and it included what I wore to work. Didn't want to wear much of anything else (and still managed to get compliments). When I see the list of what I wore, it kind of makes me wonder why I continue to go to the stores. Oh yeah! I love clothes. Even if I am not buying, I love to be inspired by new ideas.
    -Missone

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  27. Dear Janet,
    You have been such a positive inspiration for me, from decluttering and decorating my home, giving up foundation and stop coloring my hair to eliminating chemicals in my family's life. Also, considering where our food is coming from and the ethics behind it. Thank you for your honesty and the great example that you are setting for so many women and men :)

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  28. If I had arms like yours I would wear a tank every day. You need to stock up on fitted tank maxi dresses next summer. That would be a killer look for you.

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  29. Love the second outfit - the navy blue one!

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  30. All great outfits. I have no favorite summer outfits as I'm not a fan of summer clothing. Big problem living in LA. I do hope this is our last hot weekend too. Looking forward to boots, sweater and layers. You do have amazing arms.

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  31. Your shoulders are fantastic! You were born to wear tank tops, which expose both those gorgeous shoulders and your collarbones. Consider yourself lucky -- not many of us can pull that off. The shell tops are OK, but if I were you I'd make the tank silhouette my signature.

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  32. I love all these outfits- and I agree, you look like a model- but I particularly love those palazzo pants. I forgot how much I love them and will be on the lookout for some for next summer. For me,this was my first summer with white jeans and I wore them lots, but I need to find more ways to wear them where I don't feel like... wow, look at all this white fabric I'm wearing! Never got completely comfortable with them.

    And I'd like to know if you have some go-to pieces for winter. I feel like my winter wardrobe is lacking, but can't decide where to upgrade.

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  33. White jeans, long skirts and blue & white striped boater tops.
    PS. Your hair is NEVER going to go grey!! WTH??
    xx

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  34. Um, it's a driveway, not a runway.

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  35. Hmm you look fabulously chic as ever Janet and love all your summer outfits - think my favs are the long striped skirt and the LBD but hard to pick they all look great. x

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  36. I wear white linen to death in summer... the looser the better... not so chic as you!! great looks you have pulled off, and agree you have great shoulders/collarbones!

    xoo

    Kit

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  37. There goes another "anonymous" reader with a snarky comment.

    This summer is was my white jeans and a long black Michael Kors skirt. (that my daughter wanted to steal from me) I'm lucky I scored a great deal on it because it's already piling since I wore it so much. :(

    You have great arms and wear the outfits so well!

    Linda
    xo

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  38. Can you believe this heat?

    I have a very similar striped maxi skirt and I've been loving it with a black tank just like you're wearing. So comfy and cute!

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  39. You look beautiful :) I LOVE that black dress - what brand is it?
    Oh yeah, and the tank top too... is it from Rosemunde?

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    Replies
    1. the black dress was a $4 thrift store find from the 1970's and the tank top is from target. xo

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