on repeat | 004
what to wear in the summer, from a girl who hates shorts, skirts & dresses
hi, I’m Michelle! welcome to my corner of the internet - featuring weekly inspirational updates for everyone from vintage lovers to small business owners. I chat about everything from my current obsessions to small business tips, what’s on my mind lately, new vintage arrivals in the shop, and deep dives into my vintage business.
Summer is here! And with the warmer temps comes the need to dress in a way to stay cool while also looking cute and put together. It’s no secret that fall & winter are my favorite seasons - I love sweaters, layering and being cozy. It’s just harder to dress in the summer when I’m not a huge fan of shorts, skirts or dresses ( on me ). Lol.
I think I was conditioned ( and adapted ) to wearing pants year-round from my up-bringing in the horse world. We literally wore breeches and wool coats to compete in 100 degree weather in July. In the High Desert. Needless to say my legs never really saw the light of day much. I just like pants!
I’ve also desperately tried to be a skirt / dress girl - and on occasion I do pull one out - but for the most part they just don’t feel very “me”. I’d rather have a fun pair of statement pants, swishy oversized trousers, or a vintage pair of denim any day. I also have a theory that pants keep you cooler than a skirt ( no thigh chafing or trapped heat ) but that’s just me.
Anyway. Here’s what I’ve been wearing on repeat as we ramp up for summer;
Wide Leg Linen -
I have been living in these wide leg linen pants from LA Relaxed - I wear my normal size and they are just slouchy, low-rise enough and still look cute with a wedge or platform sneaker. I have washed mine plenty, and they look and feel amazing.
While I was in Chicago I stopped by the Rawson pop-up at The Center of Order and Experimentation and snagged one of her overdyed vintage tanks in this beautiful sage green. It was the only piece of clothing/item I bought while I was in Chicago and I have been wearing it almost every other day. I wish I had grabbed the light blue one while I was there too - but she has some similar styles and colors available online if you aren’t local to Chicago.
I pair this look with my daily hoops from Valerie Madison and my sardine charm from Rebekah J Designs. To me, a classic every day look is layered gold jewelry - which will elevate anything you throw on, and help you feel and look put together even if you are just running to the grocery store. I dare you to throw on big gold hoops and toss your hair in a bun the next time you run an errand without makeup and in your sweats to see how it changes the way you feel :)
And while I don’t own these shoes - they have been on my wish-list and I think would make this outfit look SO CHIC. For now I wear my green adidas slides, or platform sneakers and this has been one of my easiest and most worn outfits so far this summer.
Wide Leg Linen Pants from LA Relaxed
Overdyed Vintage Tank from Rawson
14k Hoops by Valerie Madison
Sardine Charm by Rebekah J Designs
Platform Fisherman Sandals by Either/Or ( 20% off right now! )
the Arc Pant by LBS -
One of my closet staples at the moment is the Le Bon Shoppe Arc Pant ( I have them in Milk and Black ) - plus we will be re-stocking them in the shop this fall, don’t worry! I wear the white all the time ( don’t be afraid of white clothes, they are actually much easier to clean because you can bleach or oxiclean your way out of just about anything )
When I’m not at work ( aka the restaurant ) I will wear these pants with my favorite paper-thin vintage tee and a colorful bra. Pansy Co just re-vamped their Full Bra - making the straps a bit thicker and lots of wireless support even for larger cup sizes.
And because I care about the little details, I always find a way to tie in color coordinating accessories, whether it’s a touch of red in my necklace, or red socks with my pink adidas.
the Arc Pant by Le Bon Shoppe ( find these locally at MILLIE to try on )
Vintage Paper-thin Tee by blaksands
Full Bra in Red by Pansy Co
Pattern Play Necklace by Playdate Vintage
Cotton Gauze -
This third outfit was my go-to for 93 degree heat in Chicago last month - when at around midnight I was still in these pants and tank without any cover-up. The pieces I personally own are from years past, so I have put together items ( from the same brands ) in their current offerings - re-creating a very similar vibe to what I am actually wearing. Trust me, cotton gauze and silk noil are your friends in the heat, and are excellent pieces you will reach for year after year ( as I have been doing )
Gauzy cotton pants are the best for summer - and can easily be dressed up or down. I am such a sneaker girlie at the moment, and my favorite are the Adidas Gazelle ( my pro-tip is to shop the Men’s colors for even more options since most Adidas are Unisex anyway! )
One of my favorite tops ever is the Vivien top by Ozma in Silk Noil - I wish they still made it - but sometimes you can luck out and find one secondhand via Posh or Noihsaf. Silk Noil is incredibly durable, and breathable and has a thicker texture than smooth silk and will keep you cool in the heat. This cotton poplin top is a great alternative to the Vivien top.
As always - I stack up all my favorite gold jewelry, throw on some hoops and I’m good to go!
Cha Pant by Bahgoose ( I own the Lana Pant from 2020 )
Karu Top by Ozma of California ( I own the Vivien Top in Silk Noil from 2019 )
Adidas Gazelle sneakers from Nordstrom.com
Pasture Amulet by Molly Debiak
14k Hoops by Valerie Madison
Thanks for reading and checking out some of my favorite things!
Feel free to add your thoughts to the discussion below - or tell me how you would style any of these looks from your closet. I love hearing from you and am always here to discuss deeper.
xx M
Michelle Moore is a Seattle-based creative, vintage curator, photographer, writer and educator. You can catch her at an up-coming pop-up, swing by on a night she’s hosting at the restaurant in Ballard, order one of her hand-knit Beanies, or hire her to host & plan your next event.
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