Soft Colours

casual chic over 50

The sun is shining and it’s getting hot…

And I need some sun protection. No, not sunblock. I can’t stand it: it makes me feel sticky all over. And it smells funny. Besides, my moisturiser has SPF 30, and I wear it not just on my face and neck but also on my arms and legs… So, in a way, I’m wearing sunblock, I suppose…

But my favourite, tried-and-tested sun protection method is wearing something that covers my arms and legs. Or staying out of the sun. And as I’m not a fan of hot weather, that sort comes naturally…

casual summer

Soft Colours 1300 x 1000

The Golden hour on an island

Anyway… Warmer weather always makes me want to cool off by the sea. So, instead of having yet another walk in our own neighbourhood, Professor M and I decided to go to the seafront and see if any of our favourite summer restaurants would be open.

In case you’re wondering what a summer restaurant is, here’s a brief explanation: it is a restaurant which is only open in summer, usually because it is situated on an island, and can only be accessed by boat (in this case, about 2 minutes by a shuttle boat).

And all of these photos were taken just before 10 pm, about an hour before sunset, on our after-dinner walk around the island. Yes, sunset is very late here now, just before 11 pm. And sunrise is before 4 am, which means that it doesn’t really cool down at night…

summer vibes 1300 x 800

summer vibes 1300 x 800

‘Fake Neutrals’

This outfit is a good example of what I wear when I feel like wearing something in neutral colours. As you know, I never wear neutrals (i.e. light, earthy tones, such as beige, sand or grey). They wash me out completely. For the same reason, I hardly ever wear white or soft pastels. And when I do wear pastels, I prefer blueish tones because they provide more contrast with my skin tone.

This is what I call fake neutrals: light blue with navy and white. It’s a colour combo that suits my natural colouring better but has the same effect as neutral colours: very understated and calm.

casual maxi dress over 50

Soft Colours 1300 x 1000

Outfit details:
linen shirt: Marks and Spencer (old) / dress: Pelle P / bag: Coccinelle /
shoes: Vagabond / sunglasses: Nina Ricci (old)
location: Liuskasaari, Helsinki

Tiina

How are you coping with the hot weather?

Linking up with:

Elegantly Dressed and StylishHigh Latitude StyleA Labour of LifeCurly Crafty Mom, Doused in Pink,  Not Dressed As LambLiving on Cloud NineElegance and Mommyhood, Nancy’s Fashion StyleShelbee on the EdgeA Pocketful of Polka Dots Style SplashAway from the BlueMummabstylish Mutton Years Style and I, Confessions of a Montreal Styling DivaIndependent Fashion Bloggers

21 Comments

  1. debwlv
    22 June 2020 / 12:51 am

    I LOVE this outfit and WILL be copying it, so thank you very much! I live in the Los Angeles area and our warmest days are way ahead of us—-I have begun to associate the hot days of September and October (and the wildfires that seem to automatically come with the Santa Ana winds that blow then) with the hottest part of our year lately. The last rainfall in this area is generally in April and won’t start again until possibly November so those hot days in the fall with zero humidity and everything as dry as kindling are the days I am starting to dread! After 26 years out here, it may be time to reassess the situation—the annual evacuation from wildfires is getting old quickly! Now, if I could afford a little place in Malibu on the beach where I could hop in my boat and ride out the fires, maybe i might reconsider!

    • Tiina
      Author
      23 June 2020 / 11:24 am

      Thanks!
      Wow, wildfires and evacuations, that sounds scary. And it seems to be more or less an annual thing, at least from what I remember hearing on the news…
      Our summers are probably milder, but we’ve had our share of the global warming these past few years, too. It seems we have a few weeks of very intense, hot weather every summer, but it usually turns into thunderstorms at some point.

  2. 22 June 2020 / 2:08 am

    I am not a fan of neutrals either, so very much like your “fake neutrals.” There is something very calm about blue.

    What temperature is considered hot where you are? We were 106 F (41 C) yesterday, but our hot temperatures (Las Vegas, Nevada) are pretty extreme compared to a lot of places. It will be worse in July. We usually stay inside under the air conditioner in the day time, and try to get things done in the morning.

    Michelle
    https://mybijoulifeonline.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      23 June 2020 / 11:30 am

      Yes, blue is a good colour as a ‘fake neutral’, it goes with anything and looks very calming.
      We consider anything above +25 °C (about 77 °F) hot. It can get up to 30 °C (about 86 °F), though. The problem is, it doesn’t really cool down at night because we’re so far north it doesn’t really get dark at night until August. So, we keep the air conditioner running all day and night…

      • 27 June 2020 / 2:59 am

        Oh! I hadn’t considered how your short to non-existent night would be factored into it all. Yikes! Even though we are cooling only to 77 F degrees at night, that’s a 28 degree temperature drop and so you do get the feeling of relief from the heat over night – at least psychologically.

  3. mireilleftm
    22 June 2020 / 4:43 pm

    Wow, that is one late sunset! I can imagine it does not cool off much at night. Thankfully it has not been crazy hot here yet. I have been wearing my hat when I sit outsdie watching the boys. I often forget sunscreen but I always remember my hat!
    http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      23 June 2020 / 11:35 am

      Yes, here in the south, sunset is just before 11 pm at the moment (and sunrise is before 4 am). So, it doesn’t really get dark (or cool) at night. But it could be worse: in the north of the country the next sunset will be in late July…

  4. Arlene Gomes
    23 June 2020 / 1:26 am

    It reached 90F here today. I don’t like 90 degree weather. Does it get that hot in summer where you are? I love summer but never like it when it gets so humid and hot. I never wear neutrals either. I don’t like the way I look in them. Love the blue color of your shirt and it goes well with the navy and white striped dress. Arlene from NJ

    • Tiina
      Author
      23 June 2020 / 11:39 am

      It doesn’t get quite that hot, no. But for me, 25 °C (about 77 °F) is too hot already. Especially when it’s hot all day and night (it doesn’t get dark, or really cool down much at night). And lately, the air-conditioning has been running overtime…

  5. 23 June 2020 / 9:58 am

    Your neutrals are just right for your colouring , we all know what really works don’t we. Your Summer restaurant spot looks just wonderful . It is Winter down here , so cool and rainy not a lot of sun at present. I know you aren’t a fan of hot weather Tiina but enjoy Summer sunshine.

    • Tiina
      Author
      23 June 2020 / 11:44 am

      Thanks, Jill.
      This summer restaurant is a sailing club, and a marina, on a small island just off the coast (like, literally, a stone’s throw away…), with just a few buildings and lots of rocks. It’s a lovely spot for photos, though.
      Summer is wonderful, but at times it gets a bit too warm. And with 19 hours of daylight at the moment it means the nights can be a bit too hot and sticky…

  6. 25 June 2020 / 11:23 pm

    Love your ‘fake neutrals’, and I think that white and blue stripes work nicely as a neutral and add a summery seaside vibe. Lovely outfit and lovely style.
    Totally agree that the best sun protection is staying out of the sun, I’m a huge fan of this!. Anyway, I apply SPF50 sunscreen on my face everyday, but I always use a gel or fluid texture (water based) because I dislike sticky creams. I even use a sunblock lipstick. These are the joys of the sunny spanish lifestyle!
    besos

    • Tiina
      Author
      29 June 2020 / 12:22 pm

      Thank you!
      Sun protection is so important, and I wish there were more of these non-sticky fragrance-free alternatives available. Recently I’ve spent the hottest part of the day out of the sun (but in a hot flat) and only ventured out in the evening. It makes little difference as far as temperature is concerned (still quite hot at 10 pm), but apparently the angle of the sun is different in the evening and there’s less risk of sunburn. But just to be sure, I also carry a sun umbrella…

    • Tiina
      Author
      29 June 2020 / 12:23 pm

      Thank you, Celyn!

  7. 29 June 2020 / 8:55 am

    Love your striped maxi dress and I’m jealous it stays sunny for so long in winter! It gets dark quite early here in Brisbane, you have to go further north in Queensland if you want longer summer days! It does get sunny quite early though to make up for it! 🙂 this is such a nice layered outfit, I hope it kept you cool 🙂

    Thanks so much for joining the #WeekdayWearLinkup! Hope you had a great weekend! 🙂

    • Tiina
      Author
      29 June 2020 / 12:27 pm

      Thanks, Mica!
      Well, we have about 19 hours of daylight here at the moment. Of course, come December, we’ll be living in darkness most of the day… On the other hand, who needs daylight in winter when it’s cold and the weather is awful anyway. So, it’s sort of like saving all the daylight for summer, when the weather is better, that’s how I like to see it…

  8. thestylesplash
    1 July 2020 / 11:18 am

    I love this cool neutral colour palette. Such a pretty location…and so light for 10pm! This is my favourite time of year, I could live in a permanent Summer! Thanks for linking up!

    Emma xxx
    http://www.style-splash.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      1 July 2020 / 11:26 am

      Thanks, Emma.
      Yes, this is the ‘white nights’ season: it never really gets dark. The sun sets before 11 pm and rises before 4 am, but it doesn’t really get dark, and you can’t see the stars until late July.
      I love summer, too, although I’m not a fan of hot weather.

  9. mummabstylish
    2 July 2020 / 12:36 am

    Love the subtle shades. Thanks for sharing on #Chicandstylish. Jacqui

    • Tiina
      Author
      3 July 2020 / 12:46 pm

      Thanks, Jacqui!

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