months

July 1, 2025

July??? I’m sort of amazed. You would think that I would adjust to the passage of time, after a few years…

Remember – there will be posts every weekday this week, and on both Monday and Tuesday next week. Because these posts for the paintings aren’t very big, I give you lots of them all in a row!

Let’s jump into this perfectly perfect summer painting:

So many of us have been living with ridiculously hot weather for a while, so it was easy to get into the mood to get this heroine some true summer clothes!

I cheated just a bit on the Weekly Timeless Wardrobe; I’m calling the striped tee shirt “sleeveless” when of course it isn’t! But our heroine already has all of her tee shirts, and I felt pretty comfortable that finding another print sleeveless top was going to be DIFFICULT… So I cheated!

There are no referees at The Vivienne Files…

I really love the colors of this wardrobe. Navy and beige are so uncomplicated and classic, but the green and blue clothes brighten up everything:

And her accessories are both fun and practical:

Obviously, our heroine has plenty of options for how to wear her new garments. As always, if you don’t have ideas, you don’t want to buy something.

I particularly like to remember that a tank top can be a perfect thing to wear under a cardigan on those days when the weather is going to be somewhere between nippy in the morning and sweaty in the afternoon!

It’s difficult to find a good way to wear shorts in the colder weather, but it’s nice to see that most of what you buy for summer can also carry into much of the rest of the year. No reason to pack things away if you still wear them, right?

love,

Janice

Earlier installments of these articles, which will include links to all of the clothes and accessories, can be found here: Christmas Day Preview, January, February, March, April, May, June

p.s. Ten years ago, our painting was by Augustus John, with stunning turquoise, camel and gold…

July 2025 Six Paintings - 12 Months #1 Sun, Water Maine by Georgia O'Keeffe

Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest!

On a recent trip to Milan, the pull-on-and-go top came in quite handy. For daytime dressing when you want to look stylish but not too try-hard, a simple silhouette with a little ‘extra’ is the solution. Think delicate print, just the right amount of ruffle, or cutwork embroidery. The pull-on-and-go top will perk up a pair of barrel-leg pants or midi skirt, with ease. Perfect when you’re travelling, or WFH and nipping out for a meeting. More relaxed than a button-down, more dressed up than a T-shirt – but just as cool.

Now, I have never really thought of myself as a frilly person – even though I did have a Teenage New Romantic phase – but there’s something inherently rakish and 1970s about this shirt that I find appealing. It’s the Suzie Frill Shirt a generous gift from NRBY (also available in white but that feels a bit Austin Powers, to me). And should you prefer a ruffle that’s reduced in size, there’s the Stevie top in a beautiful shade of blue.

Laura Miles from WOVEN clothing

At a small sustainable fair recently I met Laura Miles from WOVEN clothing, she was wearing a great pull-on-and-go top from her collection and (after a little persuasion) allowed me to take a photograph. The organic handloom cotton shirt has a frilled neckline made from a striped selvedge left un-hemmed. So it’s elegant but not too neat. My favourite combination (back to not wanting to look try-hard, again). Laura has worked in woven textiles for over 20 years, designing fabrics and acting as a consultant for fashion houses and textile mills around the world.

‘I love the ease of a blouse,’ says Laura, ‘ I like to look feminine but also need to be practical, on most days I’m on my bike, walking the dog, sorting out my kids and then designing in the studio. I live in my jeans and blouses, they work all year round.’

The pull-on-and-go top might already be in your wardrobe – like the Toast boxy shirt, above ( mine is a few years old but the current collection has this poplin top in a similar colourway). It’s a lovely shade of Prussian blue with contrasting white buttons and it goes with the trousers du jour. Mostly, I’m into plain tops with a little decorative touch, nothing too boho – not too much faffage. Choose cotton poplin or a lighter-weight natural fabrics only. No synthetics. Keep it chic in the heat.

Here’s a plethora of pull-on-and-go summer tops:

That’s Not My Age is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

WOVEN supports women-led collectives in India; and if you live in London, Laura has a shop at 400 Caledonian Road, N1 1DN.

This post was published on
thatsnotmyage.com
on June 18, 2025 and written by Alyson Walsh.

July 2025 Six Paintings – 12 Months #1: Sun, Water Maine by Georgia O’Keeffe

The cotton pull-on-and-go top is great for the summer months ( and sightseeing!) — That’s Not My Age