By Kara Brownlee
Toronto Wardrobe Consultant & Personal Shopper
KARABROWNLEE.COM
It’s time to trade our cozy cashmere, suede and leather for sublime silk and luxurious linen. Consider it a bonus when living in a season city.
“A man should never wear shorts in the city. Flip-flops and shorts in the city are never appropriate. Shorts should only be worn on the tennis court or on the beach.” –Tom Ford
Here are two of my favorite summer must-haves:
Oversized linen button-down shirt
Why? Linen keeps you cool and gets softer with wear.
Style: Classic American style. Pair an oversized linen blouse with denim (shorts, skirt or pants). Linen’s chameleon adaptability can be swapped out for your silk or cotton worktops or sported as a bathing suit cover.
Did you know: Linen is an extraordinary textile with discreetly numerous benefits. Two of my favourite linen facts include linen’s natural UV protection (minimal at best), a natural bug-repelling quality (bye, bye mosquitoes!). Most importantly, linen is biodegradable and doesn’t require much energy or water to produce the fabric (sustainable superhero!).
Caution: Linen will shrink if machine dried.
Tip: If stained or shrunk, cut into pieces and use as a dishcloth.
Rule: Oversized tops can overwhelm petite frames. Roll the sleeves ¾ up the arm to help create balance.
Silk patterned wide-leg pants
Why? Silk is cool to the touch. As a natural fibre, it helps dispel the body’s heat and is biodegradable. Being covered and not naked in the city helps!
Style: Undeniably sophisticated for evening out, the office, beach or weekend wear. An easy piece to pair with sneakers for the day. Buy a silk garment in summer’s bold colour trend, pink, orange, electric green or bright blue. Or take a tip from designer Bill Blass, “When in doubt wear red.”
Did you Know: Silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm. Silkworms only feed on Mulberry tree leaves. Mulberry trees are sensitive to climates and grow naturally in a few regions around the world.
Caution: 100% silk is expensive. If you’ve never ventured to a silk farm, go or add it to your bucket list. Quickly you will understand why silk is a worthwhile INVESTMENT.
RULE: Don’t buy a poly blend because It’s $20 cheaper. No, invest in quality, not quantity. Faux silk with a poly blend is counterproductive in the summer. It will encourage beads of sweat to run down your face and body (defeats the purpose and it’s no longer biodegradable!).
Tip: Purchase a silk detergent for hand or delicate washing. A hung steamed silk garment will also encourage the dispelling of odour.
SIDE NOTE: Have you ever been to a silk farm? #Bucketlist #trustme
