The ONE Item Your Summer Wardrobe Needs

Greetings Spendthrifts,

Writing to you from the white hot centre of yet another London heatwave - which to be clear, is not a complaint, I am simply observing. I hope you’re all holding up okay. I am subsisting off endless bowls of cereal and salads because I simply cannot bear to turn my cooker on (plus ça change).

I’ve split this month’s newsletter into two parts as it was getting pretty chunky, so the second half - a culture digest featuring a new analogue hobby I’ve been trying out, as well as ten of the most compulsively readable books I can think of - will be going out next week. Today’s issue is free to read, and dedicated to the item of clothing that seems to be dominating all of our wardrobes this summer.

First up though, a quick recap of everything I’ve been up to since I last wrote to you.

CULTURE DEBRIEF

For my Grazia column I wrote about why everyone’s suddenly obsessed with “taste” (especially, it has to be said, here on Substack), as well as Katie Price’s ‘candid and unfiltered’ new documentary series, which I found to be both entertaining and somewhat contrived.

My thoughts on ‘the Pricey’ (as she likes to call herself) have evolved a bit since that column, which was written on the basis of the two episodes that had been made available to me as screeners. Having now watched the remaining two episodes… well, it’s abundantly clear that Price is a deeply damaged person (and not without reason), one who seems just pathologically incapable of making good choices. The impact her lifestyle has had on her family is also made far more evident in those latter episodes - watching two of her children recount the impact her drug addiction had on them during their adolescence is genuinely quite heartbreaking. I finished the series wondering if it wasn’t in fact the fame and tabloid scrutiny that have been her kryptonite (the explanation we instinctively jump to when it comes to beleaguered female celebrities), but rather if the roots of her self-destruction ran much deeper and would have proved just as catastrophic even if she’d never become ‘Jordan’. Either way, it’s all just rather sad.

YAY, SPORTS!

I’ve also spent a huge amount of time watching tennis the last few weeks - first at the Hurlingham Club for the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic, and then at Wimbledon where I hosted Vogue’s tennis coverage (a dream gig for this longtime tennis fan!)

Won’t spam you guys with all the interviews I did (though they’re up on British Vogue’s Instagram/TikTok if you want to check ‘em out), but I did especially enjoy my conversation with Emma Corrin just before the annual Vogue x Ralph Lauren Wimbledon lunch - which was every bit as luxe and glamorous as I expected it to be.

WHAT I WORE

Ralph Lauren throughout Wimbledon of course (they’re the official outfitters so it was sort of a no-brainer). My fave pieces were these impeccably well-tailored cream Bacall trousers, presumably named for the actress (more colourways and fabric options here - I like the camel), and this striped linen dress which honestly fit me like a glove and is one of those no-fuss summer dresses you just know you’ll return to year after year - I like the navy version too.

At Hurlingham I opted for tennis whites (groundbreaking), which meant the (now sold out) Mango skirt I’ve linked to in my past few newsletters, an old Eudon Choi top, an absolutely ancient tan leather Topshop bag my mum gave me for my 16th birthday that’s STILL going strong (I really do miss old Topshop with all my heart - Philip Green if I see you, it’s on sight), and these old Tory Burch flower corsage heels:

I’m really feeling flower corsage mules or kitten heels for summer - very Noughties, very Carrie, and just fun, y’know? This sunshine-y pair of Manolos caught my eye when I was perusing the Net A Porter sale recently (they’re currently 30% off - only a few sizes left though!) and would look so good with classic blue jeans. I have a feeling this is an occasion where scouring eBay et al for vintage styles might also reap dividends (the key to stopping shoes like these from looking cheap is to keep ‘em low - so go for a 7cm heel max).

And a few weeks ago Puck’s Lauren Sherman (one of the best fashion journalists in the biz FYI) hosted a lovely little dinner at Cafe Deco, one of my favourite spots in London. Knowing I’d be amongst some of London’s most stylish I put my best foot forward, which meant wearing this H&M satin bandeau (it’s really SUCH a good top, I implore you to buy it), these Amanu sandals (the black/silver colourway are 50% off here), an Issey Miyake Pleats Please bag (now sold out but this is a very similar shape - also LOVE it in blush pink), and a pair of wool suit trousers from H&M Studio’s AW25 collection (which were actually quite well-ventilated due to slits at the back).

And finally, a PSA that the Rohé dress I’m wearing below (which has gotten a lot of love whenever I’ve worn it out) is now on sale here in cream, and here in brown and black.

Big recommend for the versatility of a dress-as-duster-jacket btw - here it is worn over a mini skirt:

(FYI, now’s a good time to ransack Rohé - lots of their pieces are 40-50% off on their website and on Net A Porter. I’m incredibly tempted to go buck wild).

THE SHOPPIES

Summer of sports? More like summer of shorts, amirite? Though perhaps those two things are not unrelated.

With tennis, football, and basketball (if you’re a New Yorker) all dominating the zeitgeist this summer, it was perhaps inevitable that sportswear would start influencing our sartorial decisions - and right now, it feels like shorts are e v e r y w h e r e.

All of which suits me just fine - I generally gravitate towards trousers and jeans over skirts and dresses anyway, so shorts are the obvious warm-weather alternative. They’re also more versatile than one might think - you can easily dress up a tailored pair with a pair of kitten heels or mules.

For casual occasions all you really need is a good t-shirt (this neon yellow Sade one from Andre 3000’s merch shop is on my wishlist, as are all of ’s baby tees) and some flip flops - on which note, I sort of can’t believe these extremely The Row/Phoebe Philo-coded Sleepers flip flops haven’t already gone TikTok viral and sold out.

The good news is that shorts are something high street and mid-range brands do extremely well, so there’s no need to spend loads on a pair (although don’t let me stop you from splurging on these Saint Laurent ones if that’s what your heart desires).

Below, a tight edit of shorts I think would be useful additions to your summer wardrobe, categorised by style.

BERMUDAS

Bermuda shorts have finally overcome their reputational problem and been embraced by the fashion set. As mentioned in a previous newsletter, I’ve been getting a lot of use out of these Gap denim bermudas this summer - these Arket ones are very similar, and also available in more colours.

Bermudas can actually look pretty smart depending on how you style them too - I wore my denim pair to meet a friend for a nice lunch at Impala (10/10 would recommend) with these Tibi flip flops, a navy blazer (I cannot BELIEVE the discount on this fantastic navy Jacquemus one - would 100% buy if I didn’t already own an abundance of navy blazers), this Missoma necklace layered with this one, and my trusty old Loewe balloon bag (lots of well-priced secondhand ones on eBay - here’s the exact one I have).

These TWP sweatshorts (basketball shorts?) have been on constant rotation since they were sent to me as a gift - here’s a more affordable (and actually now on-sale) Arket pair available in beige and navy.

And I’ve had my eye on these Reformation shorts for months now - one comment underneath this post and I’ll buy them !!

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TRACK SHORTS

These are everywhere at the moment and sure, you could buy the same Adidas pair that every newly-converted football fan in Dalston seems to be wearing - or you could go for something a bit more original.

I mentioned Made Some in this newsletter a couple of summers ago and since then they’ve only gone from strength to strength. I love their vintage sportswear vibe - it’s athletic without being too on the nose. Also their Instagram makes me want to go on holiday:

For that authentic vintage running short look though, the best thing to do is actually go vintage - the image below came up on my Pinterest the other day, and I immediately hyperfixated on the shorts.

A quick Google Lens image search turned up Nike Tempo Dri-Fit Women’s running shorts, and even though Nike seem to have discontinued the best colourways, fortunately there’s loads of pairs knocking around on eBay for next to nothing (here’s a couple to get you started).

TAILORED

I still need to add a pair of tailored Bermuada shorts to my wardrobe - there’ve already been several occasions this summer where I wanted to wear a pair of smart shorts to an event (e.g. Wimbledon) - but for some reason I’m yet to pull the trigger! Here are the pairs I’m currently considering.

This cream Toteme pair and this Rohé pair are the current frontrunners (I just need to CHOOSE) - although the Frankie Shop also has lots of great tailored Bermudas in stock right now (and shorts in general actually) - their Altea style might actually have to go on the shortlist too.

If white feels too high maintenance for you (fair) then these navy blue Massimo Dutti shorts are a great alt - I’m into the slim cut on this taupe pair as well.

BOXER SHORTS

At the opposite end of the spectrum, shorts that look like you just rolled out of bed. Comme Si’s version arguably kicked off the boxer shorts trend (I’m partial to the various striped colourways), though these seersucker Gap shorts might give them a run for their money. I’d get this Acne pair if I felt like treating myself.

WILDCARD

I.e. everything else. I love how effortless these Arket denim shorts look styled with a relaxed long-sleeve tee, and this crepe Tibi skort is the chicest of chic.

And literally everyone will be asking you where you got these incredible swishy shorts from (they’re by emerging independent brand Margene - I am transfixed).

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Alright, that’s all for today. Back in your inboxes next week.

Until then,

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