My Summer Staples

(Apologies in advance for the messy fonts. I'm rubbish at HTML, and can't seem to figure out how to handle the sizing today!)

There was a popular song that began..."The temperature is rising"

And that's perfectly appropriate for our weather right now. Wherever in India you live, we're feeling the scorch of the heatwave we call summer. If you live in the interiors of the country, you're probably swiching between feeling overheated as the temps rise to 40+ in the day, and wondering if you need a blanket when they drop to 20-something at night. If you live near the sea - oh, aren't we Mumbaikars lucky? - you're changing your clothes every time you bathe. Which, btw, is a minimum of three times a day. Is it any wonder why we always have a water shortage during the summer in Mumbai? The minute you step out of the house, you're dripping with sweat! What on earth does one wear on those days when, frankly, you wish clothes were optional?

I don't have all the answers. But I'll show you the items of clothing that are staples in my summer wardrobe. I think that if you have a decent collection of these pieces, you'll survive until the monsoon breaks.

Trousers: These are always a great summer alternative to jeans. What usually happens however, is that the stores make them in super-thin fabrics. Thus rendering them essentially unwearable - unless flashing your underwear is something you like to do. I would also suggest avoiding the regulation white ones like the plague. Unless they're made with extremely thick fabric (and who wants to wear thick fabrics in summer?) you'll be that girl everyone turns to look at cos they can see your knickers. In my opinion, very tacky. 

A darker fabric, like these I've raved about earlier, from Zara, means you can wear shorter tops without any concerns. Don't forget to make sure that they're wide-legged. A palazzo or flare-leg is perfect for keeping your cool no matter the temps outside.

Dresses: I love a good dress for the summer. As long as you steer clear of bodycons, almost anything goes. I'm currently loving this off-the-shoulder dress from Forever 21.

It's got the perfect boho vibe that this season is all about. If you don't mind untying oodles of laces, gladiator sandals, a top-knot and large hoops will make this your dress of the season. Fortunately for us lazier souls, it looks just as good with slides! It is quite translucent. So I would suggest that you wear cycling shorts or Spanx underneath.

Should you prefer something more formal, you can choose a 50's style. The full skirt is ver appropriate for our weather, and the contrast with its more fitted top is very flattering on curvier figures. If you're in your teens, just make sure that the skirt is on the shorter side. Boom, you're immediately in skater dress territory.

I also love babydoll dresses. But I wouldn't advise them if you're self-conscious about your body. Cut wrongly , they can make a size zero supermodel look pregnant. Imagine what they can do to us mere mortals! Never buy one of these without trying them on.

Skirts: Skirts are to summer what backpacks are to schoolkids - essential wearing requirements. There's nothing like a floaty skirt to put you in a holiday mood. For some reason those asymmetric hemlines are back this season. So I'm thankful that I didn't chuck this Zara skirt. 

It's an old one, but the print, the colour and the hemline are very current. All I need now is a boy with a library, and my summer dating scene are sorted. Lol. That said, anything short and/or made with a light, floaty fabric must be worn with either a slip or some cycling shorts underneath. All it takes is one gust of wind to reveal all to the world. And unless your name happens to be Marilyn Monroe, there's no way to pull it off.

Tops, Tees & Blouses: Thank goodness for the oversized sleeves of the summer. They've really solved the problem of covering up your arms (so they don't burn), while not dying of heat. I am absolutely in love with the Zara top I raved about a few posts ago. 

It's the perfect length, style and colour for the summer. As the weather gets hotter, I find myself reaching for it more and more.

This Only tie-back top is another one I love. It's more or less a backless tee, but in such a pretty way. Wear something like this with a black bralette underneath. You look casual and summery and altogether perfect.

This top from Massimo Dutti is going to be my white blouse this season. Nothing says summer like a white top. This one is lined, has an intricate back and is sleeveless. If you've been put off by the expensive vibe this store give off, fear not. Their prices are more or less along the lines of Zara. (Not the TRF section, but Zara woman) So it's not really out of your league if you're in your twenties or older. 

If you'd like to see how I style these - and all the other pieces I own - do follow me on Instagram. My handle is @maryannecp.

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl