dappled leaves

I'm living in Southeast Asia so honestly, it's always summer here. But I still want to retain some semblance of living in a four-season climate, if only for the sake of nostalgia. After all, part of why living in such places was so enjoyable for me was the marked change of the season throughout the year, as opposed to feeling like you're living through only three 'seasons' - hot, hotter, and hottest.

Because I do intend on introducing at least some of these items into my wardrobe over the next month or so, these are all items of clothing that are feasible, hopefully both stylistically as well as practically, for wearing in warm weather.

1. Pinafore
The younger sister of the slip dress, the pinafore gives a very schoolgirl vibe and reminds me a little of my boarding school's winter uniform, but that's exactly why it's so charming. I've been lusting over one for ages - I saw some corduroy pinafores in Oasis back when I was living in London, and managed to put them out of my mind until I met up with a friend who was wearing the emerald green one I wanted and she looked so good. But by that time, they were, of course, sold out.

I've thought about being adventurous and dabbling with colours - sage green, for example, or blush pink, or burgundy - but I think I'll end up adding a black one to my wardrobe. This look from Sézane may or may not have been the deciding factor.



I realise that the whole French-girl-effortless-chic thing does not actually exist and is just a marketing schtick, but damn if I don't buy into it. And really, look at how softly sophisticated, nonchalantly elegant this whole outfit is.

This exact one is no longer in stock, but this one from Olive, although it looks a lot more loose-fitting, should do the trick. I'm still tempted by the sage green one though.

2. Light-coloured oversized blazer
I bought my first grey checked blazer from Zara over two years ago, before the look really took off and started taking over Instagram. Now that I'm living in a hot country, I'm craving something lighter, both in colour and material. Something that will keep the chill of those perpetually-running air conditioners off my body, but will look casual enough and not out of place in the tropical climate outside.

This beige one from Olive looks perfect. I'm in love with the oversized dropped shoulders, and those elbow patches! Heart-eyes all round. I'm drawn to the vintagey style of this trench too, but let's be real - I'm never gonna get to wear that here.

Before someone calls me a shill for Olive, let me just preface (postface?) this by saying I've bought exactly one top from there and I didn't like it. But there's something about that clean, slightly vintage English countryside aesthetic that really draws me in, and that might be enough for me to try my luck there again.

3. High-waisted, menswear-inspired trousers
If this sounds somewhat specific, that's probably because it is. I'm on r/femalefashionadvice quite a lot, and u/coffee_for_dinner (whose style I love!) posts some outfits in WAYWT wearing these incredible trousers with amazing pleats. Turns out they're part of Topshop's 'Mensy' range, and there are some amazing colours and patterns and materials in that range. I've already ordered these beautiful check ones (although they look more like gingham to me), which I'm thinking will go great will a black mockneck sleeveless top and some oxfords.



4. Loose linen trousers
Preferably paperbag style. I've recently bought these wide-legged muted pink trousers from Zara and, not to exaggerate, but they've been a bit life-changing. Prior to last month, the widest-leg I've gone for has been mom jeans. I've seen the rise of culottes over the past couple of years but have never gone for it myself, more comfortable in my skinny jeans and a skinny-bottom silhouette. But these really just look so good, so casual yet sophisticated, and are so easy to wear. I'm now in the market for some linen ones to really get that beachy, flowy summer vibes.

Zara has some new wide-leg ones in, but the length is a bit too long for me and the waist perhaps too sleek. I'm really liking the look of these off-white pinstripe ones from Uniqlo, and also this mustard coloured one. The legs of these boyfriend ones from notPERFECTLINEN are a little more tapered, but that paperbag, high-waisted style is to die for. And that forest green colour? Those pleats at the top? The ethos of the store? This might be the one for me.



5. Raffia bag
This is, as they say, the other Birkin, bag. That exact style is probably a little too inconvenient for everyday, though that's probably the vibe a straw bag is meant to give - you live a life of such luxury and leisure that what would be inconvenient to others mean nothing to you. This one from UO is so so cute, and Sézane has some cute lemon-embroidered ones that are now sold out. This basket one from Zara is adorably quaint and would look just as good on a desk as it would being used as a bag to be honest. Everyone has probably already seen this, but I'm just gonna link this amazing cage bag here. I also saw this envelope-style bag in store and fell in love.

Regardless of all these cute bags online, if I do get this, I'm probably not going to buy it from a major retailer - seeing as I do live in a country that has traditionally made and used these bags, I might drag myself off my laptop, head to a local market, and go pick one up from there instead.