Ah, August. That glorious, sweltering, slightly ridiculous month where you either melt into a puddle of your own sweat or start imagining yourself as some sort of sun-god goddess who is impervious to heat and can walk through the streets of your town like a fashion icon. Spoiler alert: I am not that goddess. More like… an awkward, over-heated human in flip-flops who still managed to look, on occasion, mildly presentable.
This August was a whirlwind of beach days, city strolls, and the inevitable home days, the ones where you’re too lazy to leave the sofa but still want to feel like you might have a life. Honestly, that’s where most of my wardrobe went, comforting, breathable, stretchy, and occasionally mildly flattering. Let’s break it down.
Beach Days: Sun, Sand, and Minimal Effort
Let’s start with the obvious, the beach. If you know me, you know I have a complicated relationship with swimsuits. Mostly because my brain thinks “fun, relaxing, ocean breeze” while my body thinks “why is there sand everywhere and also SPF?”
This month, I stuck to a few essentials:
- The trusty one-piece, black, simple, no frills. Practical because it hides my midsection on bad hair days (read: every day) and doubles as a bodysuit if I need to run for ice cream.
- Cover-ups, usually a long, floaty kaftan or oversized shirt. If I’m honest, these mostly served to hide the fact that I hadn’t shaved my legs in three days and I was definitely pale enough to blind a small child.
- Flip-flops, because heels on sand are a crime and I refuse to commit crimes this close to SPF 50.
Highlight outfit moments:
- “The one-piece that doubles as a swimsuit and a mild life saver when sand attacks.”
- “Cover-up level: can hide three days of leg neglect. Check.”
- “Flip-flops: because high heels on sand are criminal.”
The outfit formula was simple, swimsuit plus cover-up plus hat plus SPF, mostly applied in a rushed, half-blind fashion. Bonus points if I remembered sunglasses. I did forget once, and let’s just say my eyeballs are still angry about it.
And let me tell you, the beach outfits that worked were the ones that didn’t make me feel like I was trying too hard. Comfort wins every time. Nothing fancy. Nothing overthought. Just me, melted a little by the sun, with a huge straw hat that could double as a tent.
City Strolls: Pretending to Be an Adult
Then there were the city strolls. These are the moments when I convince myself I’m cultured, that I might know something about fashion, and that my oversized sunglasses and big earrings make me look vaguely mysterious rather than like someone who’s just hiding the fact that I forgot to brush my hair.
The outfits here had to balance two things, heat and the illusion of competence. Here’s what made the cut:
- Lightweight dresses, cotton, linen, anything that flapped in the breeze so I could avoid instant sweat patches. Bonus if it had pockets because phones are heavy.
- Sandals or trainers, depending on whether I was planning to walk 500 steps or 5,000. Comfort over style. Always.
- Minimal accessories beyond the earrings, basically sunglasses, maybe a hat, and a tote bag large enough to hold snacks, water, and emergency SPF.
I tried a few “cute” outfits this month, mostly for myself and maybe a friend or two to see. Honestly, half the time I spent adjusting my dress so it didn’t cling in unflattering ways. The other half was spent scanning the pavement for stray dog poo. Real life.
Some highlights: a floaty midi dress paired with white trainers. Comfortable, light, and slightly chic if you squint. Another, a linen jumpsuit, loose, airy, perfect for pretending I had my life together. Spoiler, I did not.
Even though I didn’t post these looks anywhere, there’s something satisfying about just wearing them, walking around feeling fancy in my head, and knowing the only witness was the local ice cream vendor.
Highlight outfit moments:
- “Floaty dress, white trainers, big earrings… walking like I might know what I’m doing.”
- “Linen jumpsuit: loose, airy, perfect for pretending I have life together (spoiler: I do not).”
- “Sunglasses and statement earrings, because mystery is mandatory, even if no one notices.”
Home Days: Pyjamas as Fashion
Ah, the home days. Those blessed, lazy, lounge-in-my-underwear days. Honestly, if August had an official uniform, it would be pyjamas and messy hair at 3 PM while holding a cold drink. But since I like to pretend I am sometimes a functioning adult, I tried a few “home outfits” that were both comfy and not terrifying.
- Soft knee length shorts plus oversized tee, the holy grail of home comfort. Breathable, loose, and allows for spontaneous fridge raids.
- Casual dresses, for those moments when I suddenly remember I might have to open the door to the postman or a neighbour. Comfort plus a hint of “I made an effort, okay?”
- Slippers, because carpet burns are real and I will defend my right to padded feet.
Most of my home outfits weren’t noteworthy, except for one particularly memorable day when I paired a leopard-print pyjama top with bright pink shorts. I looked fabulous in the sense that a raccoon who wandered into a neon carnival might look fabulous. Even if no one else saw it, I felt like a queen.
Highlight outfit moments:
- “Leopard-print pyjama top plus pink shorts: raccoon chic meets neon carnival.”
- “Oversized tee plus soft shorts, aka fridge raid approved.”
- “Casual dress: for the one time the postman shows up and I need to pretend I’m adulting.”
Accessories, Because Let’s Be Honest
August in the UK is unpredictable, sunny, rainy, sweaty, or somewhere in between. So accessories had to pull double duty, practical and slightly stylish. My favourites this month:
- Hats, straw for the beach, floppy for city walks. Must cover face; optional covering of messy hair.
- Sunglasses, essential for hiding tired eyes, judgmental looks, and sunburnt expressions.
- Big earrings, because why not add a little drama while sweating?
- Bags, tote bags ruled this month. Big enough for snacks, sunscreen, a book, and the random purchases that always happen when you say “I’ll just pop into one shop.”
I kept other jewellery minimal. Honestly, sweating while wearing gold hoops plus another statement necklace is a recipe for regret. Stick to your statement earrings and a delicate necklace if you want to survive August without sticking to everything you own.
Highlight outfit moments:
- “Big earrings: drama levels up, sweat levels irrelevant.”
- “Hats that hide messy hair and sunburned expressions, multi-purpose, clearly.”
- “Tote bags that could also double as mini backpacks for snacks, books, and sunscreen emergencies.”
Colour Palette: Accidental Coordination
This month, I discovered that my wardrobe seems to naturally drift towards the same colours: neutral, black, white, and the occasional burst of colour when I remember it exists.
- Black, practical, slimming, hides sweat.
- White screams “summer” until you spill tea on it.
- Beige/tan, blends with sand. Accidental camouflage, apparently.
- Pops of colour, usually in a bag or shoes, because I can’t commit to full-colour outfits without panicking about clashing tones.
Honestly, August’s wardrobe could be summed up as neutral chaos with small bursts of colour. Functional, mostly. Attractive? Debatable. But heat-friendly, always.
Highlight outfit moment:
- “Neutral chaos with tiny bursts of colour. Functional, mostly.”
What Worked
After a month of trial, error, and general meltdown, here’s what actually worked:
- One-piece swimsuits with cover-ups, for beach days and casual dips in rivers or lakes. They’re easy, forgiving, and SPF-friendly.
- Lightweight dresses, city walks, brunches, or moments when I just wanted to feel fancy for myself. Cool, airy, and requires zero planning beyond “put it on and go.”
- Comfy shorts and oversized tees, home days. Survival gear, basically.
- Practical accessories, hats, sunglasses, big earrings, and bags that can hold snacks. Also, reusable water bottles because dehydration is not cute.
- Footwear that doesn’t murder your feet, flip-flops for sand, sandals/trainers for streets, slippers for home. Never underestimate the power of padded soles.
What Didn’t Work
Because let’s not sugarcoat it, some things were absolute disasters:
- Any outfit that involved layers. Sweat and fabric do not mix in August.
- Anything tight around the waist. I am not about to fight my stomach for 50 minutes.
- Jewellery, mostly. Anything more than large hoops plus heat plus sweat equals regret.
- Shoes that were cute but painful. Pain is a vibe killer.
Lessons Learned
- Comfort trumps everything; it’s August. Heat wins. Always.
- Neutral chaos is a valid aesthetic; if all your clothes are vaguely earth-toned, it’s fine. People will assume it’s intentional.
- Minimal effort can still look good, a breezy dress, minimal accessories, and a confident “I don’t care, but maybe I do” energy goes a long way.
- Home outfits deserve attention too; comfort is underrated; you will spend more time in your sofa clothes than fancy outings, probably.
Final Thoughts
August’s wardrobe was a lesson in surviving heat, avoiding fashion disasters, and occasionally looking like I might have some semblance of style. From beaches to city streets to home hideouts, the outfits that worked were mostly simple, breathable, and forgiving. Bonus points for pockets. Extra bonus points if they hid a snack.
So, that’s what I wore this month. Nothing fancy, nothing overthought, just me, melted a little by the sun, stumbling through life in comfort, sunscreen, big earrings, and occasional style. Real life, real outfits, and zero apologies for the chaos.
Here’s to September, slightly less heat, hopefully. And maybe slightly more coherent outfits. But probably not.
If you’ve enjoyed reading about someone navigating heat, chaos, and big earrings, come join me over on Facebook – Mylifeandstyleover40
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Take care, stay safe.
Becks Xo
My life and style over 40 