Summer Skirts and Shorts

Last month, I showed you how I wear a basic uniform during the week, changing things up a little with accessories and blouses.  Now that it’s officially summer at our house and the temperature is creeping close to triple digits, I’m reaching for skirts and shorts to stay cool.  To be honest, I’ve never felt confident wearing shorts in public, and I’ve always worn them privately at home.  But chasing after two little boys makes me sweat, and since I’m already wearing them to the park, it seems okay to venture other places in shorts, too, as long as I feel dressed up otherwise.  So I’m slowly adding one pair to my outfits, and I feel inspired by this post on shorts by Wardrobe Oxygen.  I’ll never rock Daisy Dukes at the grocery store, but a structured pair of bermuda shorts in a dark wash is basically the same look as a denim skirt.

Here’s what I wore last week while going about my days.  As with the last set of outfits I featured, all of these photos were taken with my phone, right before I walked out the door.  But I now have a longer mirror, and I got a little creative propping it up on a book basket.  You’ll also notice repeats of previously worn blouses, because I wear my things over and over again, especially if I feel comfortable in them.

(On my way to renew my driver’s license.)

I’ll admit to putting some thought into this outfit, since I knew I was having my picture taken for my license, and I wanted to wear a top that was simple, but fun.  The lady who helped me at the DPS office loved horses, so she loved this top from Anthropologie, previously worn here.  I paired it with a black broomstick skirt from Anthropologie, which I wore to Alt last winter, and I just threw on my favorite ivory flats.  I feel very casual-chic in this outfit, and it’s comfortable, too.

(Celebrating the first day of summer at our house.)

Last Thursday marked the boys’ first official day off from school, and it rained off and on throughout the day.  We celebrated summer by making a trip to Walgreen’s and then eating lunch at their favorite place, Dairy Queen.  Where else?  I wore a comfy striped shirt featured in the uniform post, and a new denim skirt from Old Navy.  I love simple denim skirts, and I’ve been on the hunt for one recently.  (In my research into fair trade and ethical clothing practices, I’ve discovered that Gap, Inc., which owns Old Navy, is working to improve their relationship with clothing manufacturers overseas, and they are consistently rated among the world’s most ethical companies.  That’s a start, and though I rarely shop the Gap brands, I feel a little better about it than I did years ago.)  I also added my favorite recycled beads and my trusty ivory flats, again.

(On my way to the boys’ gymnastics playtime.)

I’ve signed James and Rhys up for a summer gymnastics program, and Friday morning, we headed out for an hour of free play.  I have to chase the boys around a large gym while we are barefoot, so I felt really comfortable wearing a pair of dark denim shorts and a comfortable top, also worn in the uniform post.  Normally, I’d accessorize with a chunky necklace or bracelet, but I kept it simple for our hour of playtime.  And the ivory flats are perfect for slipping off and on before and after class.  As you can see, there’s not much difference in the silhouette between the denim skirt and shorts, and I think the modest length makes me feel comfortable wearing shorts in public.

(Going to an accessories swap.)

Saturday, I attended an accessories swap hosted by my blogger friend, Miss Donna, and it was incredibly hot that afternoon.  I dressed things up a little with a lace print skirt, bought at a small boutique in San Antonio last year, and a very old black top that pairs well with so many things.  I believe the blouse is from Kohl’s, and though it’s hard to tell in the picture, it has a row of rivets beaded across the scoop neck, which gives it a bit of edginess.  I felt cool and comfortable in this outfit, and my trusty old ivory flats work well with the skirt, too.

(Heading out to Marble Falls.)

Sunday, we took a drive out to Marble Falls, Texas, to eat at Dairy Queen and enjoy the local park.  I anticipated a long car ride and the heat, so I chose shorts for the trip.  I was feeling a bit vintage-y that day, so I wore another version of the Anthropologie tee, also from the uniform post, and pinned my hair back to stay cool.  I also wore a pair of very old bronze wedges that are incredibly comfortable and give me a bit of height.  Ryan said I looked like a Bomb Girl, so I guess my vintage style was successful.  The weather was actually very mild after an early-morning storm, and I felt cool and comfortable all day long.  Even though I wore shorts, I felt dressy with my vintage style, and I think I’ll wear this look a lot this summer.

You can tell that I still favor a uniform, and I really just swap out basic pieces for others, depending on the occasion.  I tend to wear the same shoes all the time, until I find a new favorite, so I’m shopping my closet and adding other pairs for interest.  These are some of my basics for summer, and I hope to share more variations with you soon.