I’m pretty sure I’ve said this on the blog before… what’s brighter and happier than pink and yellow together?
This pink maxi dress is the same as the grey one that was so popular in my favourite summer outfits post from last week – I bought them both last year for the hot summer that we (unusually for the UK) experienced in 2018… I don’t think I featured the pink one on the blog in the end. But both dresses had plenty of outings last year, and they’re proving to have been a great investment because they’re getting plenty of wear now that we have warmer weather this year too.
The reason I love them so much is the special cooling fabric they’re made from: it means they’re perfect for perimenopausal and menopausal women. Any woman over 40 or 50 will know that the words “cooling fabric” are like catnip. Although I LOVE the summer and warm temperatures, I can’t say I’m a fan of being a hot sweaty mess (who is?!) so these magic Hotsquash dresses are a gift in the summer.
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SHOP THE LOOK:
I wore my pink maxi this weekend with a yellow kimono/duster jackety thing… I have no idea what to call it, it was actually described as a dress(!) online. I bought it in the sales at the end of last summer and only wore it a couple of times – it makes such a good cover-up for when you don’t want to burn your shoulders while wearing something sleeveless, or to keep you a bit warmer once the sun’s gone down. (Scroll down for some pretty alternatives I found.)
If you look closely you can see that it has an empire line and there are small holes at the waist where a ribbon can be threaded through and tied (a bit like a dirndl or corset), but here I wanted it left open like a long duster. It’s my summer equivalent of the longline blazer I’m such a fan of in cooler weather.
Another reason I love this outfit is its colour combination: yellow and pink together is happiness personified, but the outfit needed lifting with some more colours (of course).
There’s white, courtesy of the white fedora, my latest hat collection addition, the M&S white hobo bag and white camisole. (The hat is actually from the menswear section – it’s a good place to get classic hats that’ll never date. Go for the smallest size and they should fit you fine… I have a small head and this one in Small was perfect.)
The brights of the yellow and pink needed toning down (I’m laughing in my head at the mere notion that I’ve done that in the slightest…) with something dark so I went for navy with platform sandals – my fave style this year – plus the stripe on the hat and the flowers in the kimono pattern.
Finally I added a splodge of red in the belt and what SHOULD have been red sunglasses, but instead I wore my much-seen brown Mango sunnies. I couldn’t find my red Oliver Bonas sunglasses before leaving the house, but luckily the brown ones gave a warm, reddish glow in the sunlight.
Finally: Milk Tooth London earrings. Navy, pink and gold and totally fabulous – and more than a little Art Deco.
Now to search the house for those red sunnies…
Have you tried the HotSquash cooling fabric dresses before – what did you think of them? And any other fans of throw-it-over kimono jackets and dusters out there? Comment below!
P.S. Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my bi-monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!
Dress: HotSquash (more sizes here)
Kimono jacket: New Look (love this one)
Sandals: Hobbs (love these)
Hat: Debenhams
Bag: Marks & Spencer
Earrings: Milk Tooth
Sunglasses: Mango (similar)
OTHER HOTSQUASH DRESSES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
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OTHER KIMONO COVER UPS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
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So gorgeous! Love those colors on you.
Author
Thanks so much Sherry xxx
You look beautiful in this dress – like a queen!
Author
Thank you Anjali! x
What a great combo! Sometimes the unexpected just works!
Author
Thanks Mireille… yes I think it does!!
Oh yes pink and yellow is great together. You look amazing!
XO Tina
Author
Thank you, Tina…! x
A great match, sounds like my kind of dress (sitting feeling hot atm indoors!!!) Thanks for hosting. Jacqui Mummabstylish
Author
Thank you Jacqui – yes this fabric is a godsend!!
Those colours look lovely together! I like the sound of cooling fabric!
Emma xxx
Author
Thanks Emma – your kinda colours too I think…! 😉
Yellow and pink is happiness personified! That is the perfect description of this color combination. I am smiling so big at this gorgeous summer outfit! And even better that it is a cooling fabric! And those sandals are so great. I am wanting a pair like that. Must go searching now!
Shelbee
Author
Thanks Shelbee… I’d sort of forgotten about these sandals, I think I love them more now than I did when I got them two years ago!!
I love how this outfit came together, Catherine. All the colours just work really well, and the hat and sunglasses were the perfect accessories. I wouldn’t have thought to wear such dark sandals but they look great!
Suzy xx
Author
Thank you lovely Suzy! Yes I didn’t go for these sandals straight away, but when I noticed the blue flowers in the print of the kimono it made me have a “navy sandals” lightbulb moment…!
Lovely summery combo! Though a paler yellow and pink, my all-time fabric love is LA’s Emma Bloomsbury in Straw.
Hugs, Mary x.
thepoutingpensioner.blogspot.com
Author
Thanks Mary! Pink and yellow (and pink and orange, like my logo) are sooooo pretty together, aren’t they?
I love pink and yellow together—such a happy combination!
Cheryl Shops
Author
It might be the happiest, Cheryl…! x
The colours of a beautiful sunset – pinks and golds. Gorgeous, Catherine. You can’t go wrong. I’m very experienced at the sweaty mess. Heh. Thanks for the linkup!
Author
Hehe well if you are, then you pull off the sweaty mess look very well, Melanie!! 😉 Thank you sweetie x
You look amazing So colourful & chic. Pinks & yellows are naturally gorgeous on you.
Now I have to check out Hotsquash . Louisiana lends itself to “sultry” dressing.
Author
Beverly thank you! Good job that they suit me as I’m so drawn to them…!
I love the Grey and now I love the pink too! You look amazing Catherine xx
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Thanks so much lovely Laurie x
Those colors look great on you. Really pretty look.
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aww thanks so much Julie x
What lovely photos, Catherine – the light was perfect for those colors. I love your reference to how we women of a certain age find the phrase cooling fabric like catnip – bwahaha!
Author
I think “cooling anything” is our catnip, Mary Katherine! 😉 Thanks hon x
Beautiful combination of colours! <3
Author
Thank you Marko…!
Is that the same one as the grey one? What colors can do! They look totally different. Great fabric!
Author
Yep definitely the same one, Nancy! Thank you x
I’m going to be living in fabric like this when we move to AZ!! As long as it’s colorful, I’m all about it.
XOXO
Jodie
Author
It’s SO good for the hot weather, Jodie x