Stylish in the Summer

Summertime, is an opportunity to play with colour and lighter weight fabrics, and also it’s a time for Hats! They continue to be a beautiful way to accessorise an outfit. Aswell as keeping you safe, they offer the most comprehensive way to protect oneself from the rays of the sun. From Panama’s, Straw to Cotton Caps. Chose the style to enhance your Summer look. Hats are so versatile and with a little imagination you can change the look simply by adding a colourful bandana/band around it. One size does not necessarily fit all especially on the head and many recognise this by incorporating exclusive design features such as a drawstring or velcro adjustment to ensure the perfect fit for every head.

It is that time to peel off the top layers, and adorn less clothing. This bring us to the basic summer well loved item, we have come to know as the “T-shirt”. It first surfaced in the US when they were given out by the U.S. Navy, it is said to have been around the time of the Spanish American War in 1898. Crew-necks and short sleeves were meant to be worn simply as underwear beneath their uniform,  it was then adopted by the Army given to recruits as regular issue. The iconic name came from its T shape, hence T Shirt. The lightweight fabric worked well in hotter weather conditions mainly by blue-collar workers. This inexpensive easy care cotton quickly became really popular and by the 1920’s the “T-shirt” became an official American-English word in the Dictionary.

The popularity of the T-shirt reached greater heights when Marlon Brando wore one in the film A Streetcar Named Desire. It became uber cool to wear as an outer garment. The 60’s and 70’s gave rise to messages and images featured on them, such as; the iconic happy face, “my mate went to ______ (a name of the place), and all I got was this lousy T-shirt!” and more The humble T Shirt, comes with a variety of colours, styles, and ways to decorate it, giving its own identity and therefore showing your personality.

Its time to get those legs out in the fresh air. Shorts are worn by men and women, boys and girls the world over. They begin at the waist ending at or above the knee. Shorts are simply a shortened version of long trousers (or pants as they are referred to in the US) and in Australia they are called “stubbies”. Shorts are just the perfect outfit for lower limbs  in warmer weather.

However during the 19th and early 20th centuries shorts were generally worn as outerwear by young boys until they reached a certain maturity or height. When boys got older, typically, they would be given their first pair of long trousers. Shorts were so associated with young boys that to avoid embarrassment men didn’t wear them for many years.

Back in the 1890s, ‘knee pants’ were the norm for American boys. This manifested into knickerbockers, while short trousers became popular in Europe. In the 1930s, shorts started to embraced for outdoor and sporting activities by both men and women. Although at this time it was unacceptable to wear shorts outside for day-to-day activities. By the late 20th century it became common for men to wear shorts in summer for the more casual look that is now so popular today.

Other key items for the stylish summer includes fabrics such as Chino Cottons, Gingham and Linen with these trousers that can come in an array of colours, bringing a great deal of choice. Jackets,  like the daring Seersucker are really popular in the warmer months. It gets it’s name due to the fabric, it is made by slack-tension weave. The threads are wound onto the two warp beams in groups of 10 to 16 within a narrow stripe. The stripes are always in the warp direction and on grain. Because of the complex weaving process, it tends to be expensive but available in expressive stripes, plaids and checks.

Descending to Footwear, whether it’s your flip flops, espadrilles or any other lighter weight shoe you have chosen, you should certainly make sure your feet look good. You could even try the garra rufa fish pedicure if you are feeling brave….

These fish are part of the Cypriniformes family, hailing from Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. It is believed that inhabitants of Turkey have known of the healing and beauty properties of garra rufa fish since before scientists had given the fish a name. People from outlying areas began to visit popular springs containing the fish in the early 1800s. It wasn’t long before crude pools were constructed in order to benefit from the healing fish.

In the 50s and 60s several resorts were built, touting close proximity to the fish, as well as the healing spring water they came from. While locals had long since known of the beautifying effect that garra rufa fish have on the skin, sufferers of psoriasis have had the most dramatic results from the treatment. People from all over the world have visited Turkey specifically to treat their psoriasis with a garra rufa exposure.

Asian countries were the first to export the fish for use in spas and salons. Eastern cultures and their affinity for natural solutions to health and beauty were a natural fit for garra rufa pedicure. Spas offering this service continue to grow in popularity throughout Asia and Europe. I, for one, am incredibly ticklish that means I haven’t dipped my toe in yet so to speak!!

Enjoy your Summer, Stylishly!