Do You Wear Linen in the Summer?
How do you stay cool in the summer? This past weekend, Brooklyn hit 90 degrees. Omg, I forgot how hot it is when it’s hot! This summer, for evening walks and park hangs with the boys, I’d love to channel Marianne (above) and pull on lightweight linen, which always feels comfy and breezy. Here are six pretty pieces…
1. Dinner in the garden of Frankies Spuntino. How cute are these mix-and-match options: tank, pants, and skirt? They come in red and polka dot, as well.
2. A stroll through the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. This 100% linen set (top + skirt) looks so pretty and comfortable. I’m also into this cutout shirt and pants.
3. Riding the Cyclone at Coney Island. I’ve never not sweated through an afternoon with the boys at Coney Island, so my strategy this year will be a light dress and huge thermos of ice water.
4. Swimming at a hotel in the south of France. This hotel is pure fantasy, but as long as we’re daydreaming, I’d read a murder mystery under an umbrella, sip an ice-cold Fanta, and wear a sardines shirt with pull-on shorts.
5. An afternoon at a museum. My brother and I went to the National Portrait Gallery together this spring, and the portraits of everyone from Henry VIII to Malala Yousafzai to Harry Styles were amazing. I was wearing a rain-soaked wool sweater (like the Brit I am), but next time I’ll feel better in a floaty shirt and white pants.
6. At the playground with kids. My most-worn summer outfit is a white tee with pull-on shorts, and this red gingham is cuuuute. Also into green stripes.
Thoughts? What would you wear? My friend in Copenhagen says everyone’s wearing white skirts; and isn’t this plaid dress beautiful?
P.S. Summer nail polish, and the random thing I get the most compliments on.
(Top photo of Daisy Edgar Jones in Normal People. This post is sponsored by Nordstrom, a retailer we’ve loved and worn for decades. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that help keep Cup of Jo running!)
Comments
140 commentsI keep an eye out for linen pieces at the Goodwill year round! (Same with wool). Over the last few years I’ve slowly been building up my summer wardrobe. I live in Kentucky and the humidity is deep! You can never get enough linen here!
Am I the only person that finds linen insufferably hot? 😔 I always try it and just end up a sweaty mess.
Me too! I like the look of linen though, and find that a 50-50 linen & cotton blend is perfect!
Based on this post I semi-spontaneously booked a table at Frankies Spuntino. What an absolutely charming garden! The gnocchi was middling, but the atmosphere was perfect- and right as we got there Cyndi Lauper was just leaving :)
The cavatelli is the best thing on the menu. We go frequently and mix up our app, salad, and dessert choices, but I never stray from the cavatelli (and an olio martini). Highly reco!
Umm, so tickled to see The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in this list! It’s near my house and such a special place. So many of our annual traditions are based on what’s going on/blooming at the Arb!
I made a linen dress almost 4 years ago and it still looks great. It was European linen from Core Fabrics, an online store, and I paid $60 plus shipping just for fabric. They sell sustainable Fabrics. I figured that if I bought a similar dress, it would be $200 for similar quality.
Thanks for the tip! I want to get back into sewing.
I think I’m the only person alive who doesn’t like linen. It wrinkles way too easily and then I look like a rumpled, sloppy, hot mess!
Not the only one! I am not even a super tidy person but linen is just too rumply for me to get on board with, no natter how lovely it seems!
Have you tried gauze? I really like it! I’m not sure that is the term but I think you will know what I’m talking about!
Same. Not a fan.
I am a firm “nope” on wearing linen. By the time I get out of the car after the morning commute I look like I’ve slept in that linen outfit.
Same, and I also sweat in linen more than I do in cotton (as a usually non-sweaty person!). Linen/cotton blends are better in terms of wrinkling, but overall, there are too many downsides. Love the look of it on others though!
I’ve found a hack that works pretty well to minimize linen wrinkles: when you iron it, use spray starch first! It helps keep the fibres a bit firmer and you can go longer between washes.
Best places to pick up clothes for the summer? -sift through your local thrift store focusing on finding linen and cotton pieces -search by material on thredup (online thrift site) -search on etsy- slow fashion, fewer better things. Have fun and remember- wear your sunglasses to protect your eyes, wear a hat to protect your face, and slow down, dip your toes in the water and enjoy summer- its a gift!
I wear so much linen. My recommendations — LinenFox has good pricing and quality. Sometimes Daydress Company has linen pieces. And I got a linen dress from J. Crew last year after not shopping with them for years. It was surprisingly good quality. (RIP Sugar Candy Mountain, my favorite place for linen dress. If you find one on a resale site, buy it! I still have several years later.) And a separate recommendations for linen sheets — I know this blog does a lot of promotion of Brooklinen. And because of that I tried their linen sheets, but the quality was awful. The fitted sheets both ripped within 6 months. The top sheets ripped within 18 months. And every time I washed them the shedding was soooo awful despite following instructions. I do still have the pillow cases, so I guess those are alright? But as they ripped, I started replacing them with Linoto pieces. The quality difference was night and day. Linoto pieces have so much more heft while still being soft. We’re over a year in with the fitted sheets, and they’re still looking excellent. Linoto is expensive (though Brooklinen wasn’t cheap). But I think I’ll have our Linoto sheets for a decade, whereas the Brooklinen ones didn’t even make it a full year.
I got quince linen sheets and I’m happy so far!
I also hated my Brooklinen linen sheets! They had the most gorgeous green color that suckered me in, but continually shed, felt flimsy and thin, and did not last.
In Arkansas you better wear linen and cotton year round or you’ll be sorry. My absolute go-tos….
Boden has the most dreamy linen collection out now and it’s all 25% off for the long weekend. I just bought 2 linen skirts I had been eyeing- telling myself I’ll have to choose and return one. This post (and that sale) had me pull the trigger. https://go.shopmy.us/p-59730898
Do I wear linen in the summer? Does a bear shit in the woods?! 😉 I am linen’s #1 fan. I love how cool it feels in the warmth, how I can wear it multiple times between washes, and how it’s naturally antimicrobial and does not hold smells strongly. Not only am I cool, I’m not smelly either? Amazing
Hahahaha, your comment made me cackle in the metro
^^^ What Kate said!
Heck yes, I wear linen in the summer. But I will not be wearing linen to ride the Cyclone at Coney Island. I hate roller coasters. There, I said it! In fact, the last time I rode a roller coaster was when I rode the Cyclone in… I think it might have been 1997. I have been on approximately 3 roller coasters in my life. After I rode the Cyclone, I said “I hope to never do that again.”
I love the linen- clothing and also sheets! – but I think if I wore that mini dress on the Cyclone I would absolutely flash the whole park climbing in and out of the ride!
I once worked with a very stylish lady from Georgia (the country, not the state.) and she said to me, “The beauty of linen is in the wrinkles.” Ever since then I’ve leaned into the wrinkles that inevitably form when I wear- and live life – in linen. And actually, writing that out, I’m seeing that those words can be true for so may other things in life.
Linen is great–you just have to embrace the wrinkles. I love a wrinkled linen look–nothing looks more effortless!
I’ve enjoyed my Quince linen pieces (got 4 pieces all in the same color – tank, button up t-shirt, vest, shorts, and pants), and I’ve enjoyed them tremendously. The only thing I don’t like is that the sizing is a little inconsistent – the pants run small! And wow, the prices on the linked pieces (and all clothing these days) is absolutely mind-boggling. $160 plus tax for a pair of linen pants?? That is robbery.
i work in the apparel industry so have to chime in! lots of linen comes from india, and was subject to incremental 20-35% tariffs throughout the past year. many brands have no choice but to pass this impact onto the customer. fully agree that prices are high, but this is a key driver!
It’s not robbery. It may seem that way in comparison, but Quince is fast fashion.
Hi Elle, Quality linen is actually extremely expensive. So when you see linen items listed at those prices, a significant portion of the cost goes toward materials alone. There are plenty of fast fashion, low costs lower quality linens and linen blends. But personally I would much rather purchase a high quality linen dress for $200 that lasts for well over a decade and came from a small sustainable business. Just wanted to show some love for the small business owners who are busting their butts and whose livelihoods are closing every day. It’s tragic out there!
I wear linen everywhere. It’s amazing fabric. Not sure why people have much anger toward it?
Flowy, wide-legged linen pants are my wardrobe staple for late spring to early fall. I have been purchasing them from Old Navy for the past three years and have accumulated nearly a dozen different colors. Because they are inexpensive, I can have several pairs and not fret about them. I’m sure there are lots of higher quality brands out there, but for the price (and new colors that come out each year) they suit me just fine.
Im pregnant for the first time (omg!!! yes my days at work are spent rereading COJ motherhood posts) and will be mega preg come July / August. I just bought a gigantic leopard print linen dress that im sooo excited to wear (from Monoprix – France). It’s so big and comfortable.
Have never understood a linen dress (especially a shift) – all those big wrinkles across the middle from sitting! There is a difference between “rumpled linen” like with a button down and straight up wrinkled with big lines across the crotch in a dress or pants. Is it just me?
No, not just you, I get this, I asked a similar question. Linen is a wonderful fabric, and it’s super popular right now, but IMHO a good cotton fabric can be better. Cut and fit contribute a lot too. I bought a pair of loose, wide legged linen pants and I love them so much I want to wear them all the time. The wrinkles around the hips are not a problem because of the loose fit. I have similar opinions about cashmere, also really popular right now and delightful in many ways. But for sweaters I often prefer merino or cotton.
Nope – I live in DC, which really earns its swamp nickname during the super hot and humid summers, and even so, I just don’t get linen. Crisply ironed, it’s beautiful; five minutes outdoors and it’s the frumpiest, schlubbiest, saddest thing you’ve even seen. Giant wrinkles, baggy areas, sagging… I genuinely think it makes most people look like disheveled toddlers after a long morning at the park. The only less appealing fabric is that cotton double gauze that looks exactly like cloth diapers. Just wear cotton poplin! Similarly lightweight and breezy, way less schlubby, and MUCH better at protecting skin from the sun.
As a southern hemisphere, beachside suburb mum who is perimenopausal , my whole wardrobe is based around when I can possibly wear linen. All accept for a few short months when I wear merino. End of story.
I live in Quince linen pants all summer long. Bonus points for usable pockets & elastic waist!
I’ve curated a small capsule wardrobe for summer – all in black linen! We don’t get long and hot summer where I live (Scandinavia) so these pieces serve me for the hot days. I have two shorts, tank, short sleeve, long sleeve, dress and jumpsuit. I always feel chic in black in summer, it looks good and is so comfy. Done!
Hi Kristina, I’m in Stockholm and curious where you’ve collected your pieces from? Always happy to find a new source for good linen pieces…
Elizabeth Suzann makes the best linen clothing. Items are essentially made to order, so not a quick process. Everything is handmade. Another quicker option is Eileen Fisher. Most linen pieces I have order from there are high quality linen and have held up over the year. But ES is the gold star in linen. Every time someone says that they don’t like linen or it isn’t comfortable, I can only think they haven’t worn quality linen.
Mina, tbh I’ve just found them secondhand, at H&M, Cubus, Lindex, etc! Nothing fancy :)
Yes to Elizabeth Suzann linen! I’m wearing some right now and it is my favorite fabric. Heavyweight linen doesn’t wrinkle like lighter linen does.
Here’s a question… I love my clothes, but I hate getting stains, spills, food on them, so what do I wear when I don’t want to carefully eat, carefully cook, be a mom, run around etc? clothes I don’t care so much about? an apron? a bib? I’ve started buying doubles of things I love, and also things with lots of pattern so the stains don’t show… and I’ve also become good at getting stains out…. any advice is appreciated… anyone else feel this frustration about your clothes?
you can buy chains with clips where you can attach napkins. thinking of getting one myself. for now I keep a red shirt in my office for goulash/tomato sauce days when I inevitably show up in a white blouse (like today)
Absolutely! I buy cute things and then don’t want to wear them because we’re hanging out with kids, eating messy food, etc. At home I wear an “apron shirt” that goes over my clothes–like a long sleeved bib for adults! A cute cotton apron stuffed in my bag for restaurant times with kids has worked, too. My friend makes cute ones out of old men’s shirts!
I wear an apron to cook. I am a somewhat messy cook and decided years ago that putting on an apron is easier than dealing with the inevitable spatters on favorite clothes.
I’m a stay-at-home mom and when I don’t want to mess my clothes, I put on a nice apron. My kids get them for me as gifts when go on vacation and I have fun ones from the Wizarding World at Universal Studios (it is Honey Dukes themed) as well as Provence in France. When I inevitably do get a stain on my favorite outfits, Grandmothers Helper usually gets it out. However, I save my best clothes for going out and about- I’m not wearing fancy stuff at home.
Hey Erikka, I wear an apron every time I’m cooking – even chopping veggies – and also keep it on when I eat. I recommend it! I find that helps me stay mostly stain free. I’m more confident in moving about the kitchen with that layer of mess protection. If I’m on cleanup duty, I wear it while washing dishes. I also like the ritual of taking off the apron after the work is done. It’s something like hanging up your tools at the end of the day, turning down the lights, and feeling a sense of order, if only for a few moments. Also, when I worked in a waldorf daycare/preschool, we wore lovely soft aprons every day. Again, it felt like a helpful work uniform, with the bonus of a few pockets to hold all sorts of things while carrying babies/toddlers.
My grandmother was well endowed, which made for a… well, shelf-type situation. She would whip out this amazing gold lamé leopard print bib at restaurants, and I always admired her confidence. :)
I’m always in my apron when cooking etc. at home – my nephew knows aunty is making something good when I’ve got my apron on!
Ooph, i really want to like linen, but it is so stiff and itchy, and heavy! i have a few pieces i like from Dazed and Amazed, but those are it…bummed to not love it like everyone else.
I bought a navy 100% linen shirt on sale from COS last summer and was surprised by the quality of the fabric and construction. The linen is much thicker than some of my almost see-through shirts from Eileen Fisher and the shirt is finished beautifully inside and out, with a hidden button placket. It’s almost a little too thick for a hot climate, but perfect for SF summers and AC offices.
I live in linen all summer. I love these shirts for work https://www.muji.us/products/linen-shirt-bc2pv26s?variant=46010977616062
Gang…go have a look at all the linen pieces at Etsy. I’ve gotten so many great things from the different shops. Not linen, but hemp is a big fav of mine. The Toad & Co flowy hemp pants are fab!
Thanks for the Toad & Co hemp rec. I have a few of their pieces and have been curious about hemp – love sustainable fibers
I do like linen a lot, and wear it often. A light cotton fabric like cotton lawn, batiste, or those luscious Liberty fabrics is wonderful in hot weather as well. Question for other linen wearers: I have a few linen shirts in the same style as the delightful sardine number in the photo- buttons, collar, loose and long- and I wear it untucked. But here’s the deal. While I don’t mind wrinkles, sometimes when I stand up after sitting for a while the shirt stays in sit position so it looks like I am wearing an accordion around my waist. Are there tricks to avoid this? I don’t starch shirts, but they seem to have a mind of their own sometimes. I should probably not let it bother me.
LOL this happens to me, too! I have no suggestions but your “accordion” description was so surprisingly, hilariously relatable to me. Looking forward to seeing if there are any tips!
This isn’t very helpful to you now, but I’ve found I just don’t have tolerance for the crisp kind of linen that creases badly. It looks great when it’s fresh, or if you’re walking around, but it’s not “sitting linen,” and I don’t have a life where I’m walking around on city sidewalks wearing lovely linen as I do my errands and stop for coffee. I’m in a car, with a seatbelt, or at a desk. I’ve learned I need to buy the softer kind that’s more rumply. It still wrinkles (badly), but the wrinkles tend to fall out a bit more and the whole thing is rumpled, so they bother me less.
This is not about linen, but I would love some help! I’m invited to a fall wedding with a strict dress code: 1920s Peaky Blinders inspired, in blue or cognac tones. The problem is that everything I find either looks either impossibly chic or like a Halloween costume. What should I wear?
I would love to look “impossibly chic” at a wedding (or anywhere!) please choose the impossibly chic option, and then send us a photo :)
Frankly, I’d go in baggy trousers, collarless shirt, braces and a very big cap. I am not a fan of dress codes for weddings, according to the whim of the nuptial pair. I’d probably do some extreme swearing as well, just to set the scene. Maybe chuck around a chair or two.
That sounds really hard. Unfortunately I have no advice, but wanted to wish you good luck.
Try a simple, silky, bias-cut dress in the tones they’re asking. Then you can accessorize with a stole, warp, or bolero, which would add the vintage flair. You also don’t HAVE to but new shoes, but if you really want to go all-out, check out dancer shoes – they often have vintage cuts are incredibly comfy and made for moving.
Maybe expand the search terms and look for something more “Downton Abbey,” same country and era but a bit more elegant (this can mean more simple). You could also get a simple silk slip dress and add an embellished topper or an embroidered shawl if you’re taking more of a Romani inspiration. Have fun with it! Still be you! Although themed weddings can turn into a trial, it’s usually not the intention and I’m sure the couple wants you to feel good on their special day.
Babeyond has gorgeous 20’s inspired clothes. I purchased a teller and beaded capelet to wear over a sheath dress for a wedding.
I don’t think you should avoid costume. This is a costume themed party.
Oh man this is A Vibe. I’d go with a clingy velvet dress in a rich sapphire blue, some art deco-y gold jewelry, finger waves hairstyle, and some kind of vintage haircomb. Bonus is that the dress and jewelry could definitely be re-used separately for future events, but put all together it should fit the theme perfectly!
This silk dress from Reformation is gorgeous and gives me 20s vibes with the drop waist: https://www.thereformation.com/products/jillian-silk-dress/1318344PZZ.html Quince’s washable silk dresses could be a more affordable option (and the Celestial color in the midi length spaghetti strap one is very similar to a color Grace Shelby wore in the show). You could add a jeweled/beaded collar (I see a lot of options on Etsy) or faux fur shrug make it more 20s-ish.
Thank you so much for all your ideas! I’ll send you a photo :)
LOL! what in the world? Peaky Blinders? Because nothing says love and happiness like despair, hedonism, violence, and criminal gangs. Will there be toy machine guns and knives as party favors? I’m with Annie on both the outfit and attitude. have fun!
Oh this sounds fun! I love a very specific dress code. I would wear a cognac drop waist dress, silk pumps with an ankle strap, and some kind of demure hat situation. Dang, I want to go just thinking about the clothes. It will be fun to see what others wear. Hope you have fun.
I have a number of shirts from this company – fitted shirt and mid arm lengths. Look tailored and heavy linen that keeps it’s shape but still cool. https://notperfectlinen.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19039780727&gbraid=0AAAAADFMlvaGpJWoTBsJeBNLcnvh4d0oD&gclid=CjwKCAjwt7XQBhBkEiwAtStppzq4Kb9ZqXFsIWfh7Su9gufhIIrK0asBSjs6mGUHz2yeSDDkudIsrhoC0AkQAvD_BwE
Does their clothing run true to size?
Hey Lucy, their clothes do run big, but if you include your measurements, they’ll make your piece to fit them! Their customer service is very responsive!
Linen is the best – and if you buy good quality it never dies. I have been wearing on continual wash dresses I bought when I was pregnant 17 years ago! I live in Australia so it is never cold, summer is all year clothing, just add a cardigan. I also bought a linen nightdress from 1780s and it is still wearable…
It most certainly is cold in Australia. It’s a very big place. I’m sitting by the fire with a blanket on, here in Australia!
I’m still figuring out what to wear with the loose linen pants I’ve gotten recently. My tops are also mostly loose which doesn’t seem to work, unless it’s a really casual vibe. Any advice?
Jess, I am in the same boat! I got a pair of linen pants last year that are so comfy but I worry that they look like pajama pants if I wear them to the office.
Loose flowy bottom calls for a snug top. I swear by the racerback tanks from Target or Old Navy for this purpose! I wear them with my (thrifted) Tanya Taylor linen pants and feel like a million bucks!
Fitted boatneck top with elbow or 3/4 length sleeves 🤌🏻
I totally agree with megan! A tight tank or tight shirt looks really good. I think putting on some cute earrings and nice sandals makes it look like you’re put together but still relaxed.
I also think loose pants look very cute with a structured, cropped, roughly-hip-length shell tank (like this shape: https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=882932012&vid=1#pdp-page-content). Even though it’s also a somewhat wider silhouette, the length and shape keep it from looking sloppy with wide or flowy pants, and the overall silhouette is very current. More delicate shoes and jewelry would dress it up even further.
This is the style!
Loose on loose is in right now! I pair my linen pants with a crisp but oversized classic white button down. depending on where I’m going, I might style with sneakers and a cap or with a strappy sandal and gold jewelry. Accessories pull loose-on-loose looks together, IMO!
I love linen and there are years where you can’t find it anywhere. The last few years it’s been more and more prevalent and I feel like this year is some kind of peak, like they’re going to stop making it next year LOL, so trying to resist YET ANOTHER linen shirt/dress/pair of wide legged pants…..
Or maybe you should buy more now so you have reserves when they stop making it next year!
A love letter to my local women-owned clothing company, LEKA. https://lekadesign.com/ which has the most beautiful, soft linen clothing. They make most of their stock when you order it (yay no waste!), and WILL CHANGE IT TO FIT YOU for usually a very teeny fee. I’ve added length to pant legs, added pockets, shortened sleeves and get a basically custom garment. *hearts*
I’ve had luck with Seams Friendly, if anyone is in the market for sustainable, made-to-order linen pieces with fair trade practices. The delivery is a little slow, but the clothes are beautifully made.
I love linen in the summer and also linen/cotton blends, but more than once I’ve been tricked by a linen dress or jacket that is lined in polyester. Why??
I was influenced by Cupofjo famous black normal people/Odette Williams H&M dress (IYKYK) (also: just me??), and it had a polyester lining! I just cut it off :) https://cupofjo.com/2023/07/25/odette-williams-week-of-outfits/
Love linen! The gingham shorts speak summer, so cute.
I love linen, so comfy. I did notice that the linen options at GAP are only a percentage linen and the rest polyester, which seems to defeat the purpose.
Hi, Rachel – Do you mean rayon? The link furnished by Kat to the gap top shows a linen/rayon blend. Rayon is a plant-based fiber. Polyester is petroleum-based. I haven’t found any polyester in Gap/ON/BR linen. Also, I learned from Patrick, the laundry guy, that the process of making linen into fabric is very drying. He recommends that you soak a new linen garment in water for an hour before washing, and it will rehydrate and last much longer. Worth a shot? And of course, wash with care! :)
I wear linen all the time in the summer – it’s the best way to keep cool! I like to iron and usually do press things before I wear them because I love how crisp it can be. But I also think linen looks good wrinkled. Just feels like wrinkles are part of the appeal.
I once bought some linen pants and the label read: “100th per cent linen. Will wrinkle beautifully.” And isn’t that a perfect mantra for women as they mature and grow even more beautiful?
Theresa, so well said!!
Ohhh, I would love help from this community. I LOVE linen and yet I never know where to buy it. I see outfits I love on other women, but I can’t seem to figure out where they shop. I’m thinking “chic with a little crunch”.
Have you browsed Quince or Uniqlo? They have a decent selection of 100% linen pieces. The 100% linen options aren’t cheap, but I think those two are on the more reasonable side! Old Navy has more affordable options, but those tend to be more of a blend.
I’m in the heat wave in Philly and wearing a linen dress right now! Depends on your budget… Garnet Hill, EF, EF from GH, LinenFox, Magic Linen, are some of my top choices. Honestly I’ve also gotten several linen tops from Amazon (Amazyihu is the specific brand) that have been excellent. If you treat your linen well, it lasts for years and years. Ideally, wash cool and hang to dry for a smooth finish that will crease as you wear it; or tumble dry low for a softer, rumply look.
I second Uniqlo and am curious about Quince. Also love Muji – also very reasonably priced.
Can you buy Country Road in the States online? Holy grail of linen in Australia.
Eileen Fisher is, to me, THE standard for chic linen pieces, and the good news is they’re abundant and inexpensive on resale sites like eBay and Poshmark.
Sorry not to repeat myself in the comment section but THE standard is Elizabeth Suzann. No question. Woman owned. Handmade to order. https://elizabethsuzann.com/ I own Eileen Fisher pieces and they are nice but don’t hold a candle to ES. I love this brand and everything Liz stands for.
love Elizabeth Suzann!
My upper arms are way too jiggly to wear tanks. And my legs are way too veiny to wear shorts. Of course, I know I *could* wear both, but I guess I’m too vain. Anyone else?
Mine are too but I’m trying to not let that stop me from wearing what I want. It’s a journey but I’ve made progress :)
Tana I can relate to this feeling but I just KNOW you would look so lovely in a tank and shorts!
Tana, I also have pretty veiny legs, but when it’s hot out… I just cannot care about that! I always think to myself, when I’m at the end of my life, what will I remember? The things about my body I didn’t like? Or the way the breeze felt on my bare legs? I promise you you’re thinking about your own body more than other people are – they’re too busy thinking about theirs, probably! Let’s all stop thinking about how our bodies look and think about how they *feel*, what brings them joy. It’s hard, I’m not saying it isn’t. But I believe in you – I believe in us! <3
Same! I wear a lot of capri length pants and t-shirts or super breathable long sleeves rolled up!
Oof that feeling can be so big. I bet you are a stone cold fox and future you will wish you had worn the damn shorts.
I would love to wear tanks but I burn SO quickly, that I just don’t. And I wear pants and longer skirts for the same reason. Maybe make sun protection your reason!
The writer Anne Lamott refers to her thighs as her aunties and speaks to them kindly and offers them a lot of refreshments like ice tea and cake on warm days…. I love the idea of seeing parts of yourself that you might struggle with as a dear relation who you are kind to- You would never say to your bestie that they look awful in those shorts and how did they even consider leaving the privacy of their own bedroom let alone their house? Would you ever say to a toddler that their jiggly arms are anything but a delight and you want anything but giant hugs from those arms? words matter and kindness matters and btw, you matter too!
I have found that a little sunless tanner makes my veins much less visible and I’ve turned into a shorts wearer!! Children literally ask me if I have maps on my legs if I don’t have tanner on, lol bless their hearts, but with it they just don’t stand out so intensely. Highly recommend. And honestly helps how I feel about my fuller arms, too. I get so hot that I kind of have to wear tank tops, and throwing on some sunless tanner and freeing my legs has been amazing. Life’s too short to be too hot!
Tana, while I second the other commenters who say go for it, I also know that sometimes you just want to wear the thing that won’t make you think about the things you don’t like about your body, even if rational you knows that no one else notices even a tenth as much as you do. I have terrible spider veins on my legs, and also don’t love shorts for that reason. May I suggest trying Uniqlo’s nylon culottes? I know that sounds kinda crazy, but they are SO lightweight and quick dry but can be styled like you would a fuller skirt. I’ve worn them out to a nice dinner and canoeing/wading in a silty river – they really can be dressed up or down. Bonus, drawstring/elastic waist.
Same! I like tapered or wide leg linen trousers with a 3/4 sleeve loose shirt or top in case that helps?
I went a *little* overboard and ordered a bunch of linen pieces from Quince yesterday! Excited.
I’m so close to doing this myself in preparation for my summer business trip to Europe!! Would love to have you (or other readers) report back!
I bought the Quince European linen pants and 2 swing dresses secondhand. Loved both!
I love linen and will snatch up any secondhand pieces I find. I did finally splurge on a dress from Not Perfect Linen. They do made-to-order dresses, and you can do up to three alterations of a design (replace buttons for snaps, bring hemlines/necklines/sleeves up or down, make nursing-friendly – the review sections are chock full of ideas). It’s now my go-to dress on hot days.
oh this sounds so lovely.
I was just going to come here and suggest Not Perfect Linen as they are reliable and make lovely garments. I have two pieces from them that I bought in 2018 that I wear all summer long (a skirt and a dress). And I’m looking to add a third/fourth piece from Not Perfect Linen this summer, likely a top or two this time. The quality is excellent and I love that if you have specific measurements they’ll alter the garment for you so its more bespoke. Also, I’m the same as your Betsy, any time I find decent secondhand linen at the thrift it goes into my shopping cart! Nothing beats wearing linen on a sweltering hot day.
I have a massive linen habit, mostly Everlane (RIP with the sale to SHEIN) and the classic Banana Republic. I also love to wear very thin merino tanks! The breeze just goes right through and they don’t smell when I sweat through them. Top recommendation for my peri sisters!
oh that’s a great tip, thank you!! “peri sisters” made me lol. I have been going through TWO PAJAMA SETS per night, gahhh
Everlane got sold to Shein???? We really are in the bad place
Sophie just a heads up – Banana Republic is just as bad as SHEIN! It’s just fast fashion under a nicer brand.
Great timing! I just bought a few linen pieces secondhand and am waiting for the weather and mail deliveries to align, so I am excited for this inspiration!
Super random Jo, but wondering if you’d be open to doing a post about beauty procedures and poll different women, including the COJ team? I feel like everyone I know is doing *some* form of plastic surgery, even if its minor, and just curious to hear about the vibes in NY and to hear from real women, not just influencers.
ooh this could be so interesting! I’ll chat with the team xoxo
I second this request! I’m in my mid-forties and have been considering some light work. I have some friends who get a few things done and others who don’t. One of my questions is who to go to? Or what kind of practice?
Yes! Not to mention elective GLP-1s…it feels even more challenging to be a woman aging without interventions…
Haley Nahman wrote an interesting piece sort of about this in her substack, Maybe Baby. I feel so wildly torn and pressured between doing something vs not, what counts as doing something that truly changes me and what counts as semi “natural”, and what kind of example I want to set for my five year old daughter. I saw another comment above about someone not wanting to wear clothes that show parts of her body because of insecurity. I just remember so so clearly my mom saying she had ugly knees (among so many other things, thanks a lot weight watchers) and now that Im in my mid thirties I look at my knees and wonder if I should think mine are ugly – they look just like hers. I never, ever want my daughter to look at herself and see things I want to change. She and I practice looking at ourselves in the mirror and saying “I look beautiful! “ – sometimes I believe it about myself, sometimes I don’t and I’ll wish I didn’t have the new wrinkles showing up – but then I wonder if I get something done, will she feel like she has to one day too? Oof sorry I have had a DAY and I guess I had to just express my thoughts!! Ha
the WHY of it is such an interesting part of the discussion – career longevity, self esteem, relationship/family pressure, and on and on. I’m thinking of drawing a line between ‘because I feel bad’ and ‘because i don’t look like me’. I started using retinol because the pinchy lines around my mouth made me look cranky, and I’m notoriously smiley. But the lines on my forehead can suck it.
Re: GLP-1s. My husbands doctor recommended he take them. I assumed it was for weight. He declined. I recently learned that they help with addiction. I’ve been reading up on it and I know it has helped a friend. My husband is an alcoholic. For a while, he’d have a few good days then slip. That last couple months, it has been nearly all bad days. I’m struggling with deciding to stay or leave because I don’t want this for the rest of my life. Anyway, we talked about it while he was sober and he’s considering GLP-1s now, per my request. I want my husband back.
Yes to this! I need to know what everyone is doing and why. Please be transparent in your writing as it helps us all xx
I’d love to be interviewed for this, Joanna, if y’all do it.
I’d be so interested in hearing about what people were doing, including and especially GLP-1s. I got my cholesterol tested earlier this year and it’s high for the first time. My doctor, with no other guidance, told me to eliminate saturated fat and lose weight. I am a healthy weight and this advice basically sent me into a spiral. So many people I know are on GLP-1s and they say it’s like magic. Sure, I eat more cookies than I should I could afford to lose ten pounds and still be in a healthy range, but should I? It seems like you have to commit to being on that drug forever–is that a good idea? I have also always hated my arms, even when they were much thinner than they are now. Maybe I could do something about them, but should I? Are they objectively really awful or am I distorted in my thinking? What kind of message is that sending to my daughter? Ugh. I am a very fit, active person and I want to not have to think about all this. But I do.
It would also be important to hear from people who don’t have the financial means to keep up with the crowd in terms of “procedures” and therefore might feel left behind (if they actually would want work done.) I find it to be very stressful to think about and have been trying to stay away from the topic of cosmetic procedures, but it pops up everywhere in my feeds. Might be a sign that it’s time for me to take a social media break!