cool style for hot flushes - the bullet points + pictures version

A hotties guide to winter dressing. By Layer. Phase 1.

You can read the long version here if you have a cup of tea and 10 minutes x

Layer 1.

Rib Tanks.

high neckline: these ones from Friends with Frank

low neckline: try these from Toteme 

Non-underwear-like Camisoles.

layer these under jackets for dinner's out and dressy-ish days. Non-underwear-like is key here. 

Cool and practical:

this Raey one is a good option

and these from Reformation are available in lots of different colours

Cool and impractical, but so good:

this in organic cashmere

Plain Tees.

high neckline: the classic as your first layer.

low neckline: the Deep V.  

 

Layer 2.

Cardigans and shirts.

Call me vain but taking a jumper on and off 500 times in a day is not good for maintaining tidy, un-frizzed, not messed up hair. 

And it's hard to pull a jumper over your head in a subtle way.  I'm not talking about hiding your flush or hiding menopause, it's about making sure the de-robing doesn't unnecessarily move the focus away from the conversation or activity at hand.

Also - sell your chic, cosy turtle neck's.  I would self combust with all that wool around my neck. Ripping it off for a flush would also be very not-elegant and would majorly mess up your hair and make up and detract from the conversation or activity at hand. Bye turtle necks.
 

Wool cardy 

slightly oversized + cropped:

French brand sezanne have a really good selection - along with good eco and ethical credentials - and major parisian vibes. 

I also have this in my cart from loulou studio. 

longer length:

try local brand Country Road for this knee length one, or this hip length one which you can also half tuck into a highwaist

or this cute one from Morrison 

giant investment: 

I Love Mr Mittens which is the gold standard in cool cardy's.  A legit investment but if you can, do it!  I swear you'll be 80 and still wearing it.  

Chunky cotton cardy

I'm on the waitlist for this perfect cotton one from Everlane, great for when it's too hot for wool.

Shirt

Super simple linen:

I love sir linen shirts.  Initially their linen is a bit scratchy and not very soft, but it softens up so beautifully after a few washes and they're my go-to for linen.

Cool cotton:

The Fabienne, Benny and Selma shirts from Blanca are the most user friendly, versatile options you'll ever come across. 

And this one, the Haven Boyfriend shirt from Superette, with a single front pocket is a gem.  You'll be able to wear it dressed up and down everywhere.  

Layer 3.

I've always loved a good jacket.  I think jackets really make an outfit, they have transformative power, and a few good jackets to slide on and off 500 times a day are even more essential now. 

a version of these three types of jackets will cover all of your bases.

Trench 

A forever investment - go as expensive as you can afford here, it's a multi-season - life!, investment.  

APC is a great choice. 

As is Wardrobe NYC - available in a range of colours. 

Blazer 

Blazers tend to have more seasonal variations in terms of fit type - it's all quite oversized at the moment. 

chameleon like ability to work year in year out regardless of where a blazer is currently trending:

 Anine Bing Madeline Blazer 

good everyday version:

 Country Road 

Can't ever go wrong: 

Camilla and Marc.

Puffer (or a cute Faux Fur bomber if you prefer)

A boxy cropped puffer that's not too shiny, or too himalayas trekky will take you so many places.  Remember this rule:

Not shiny and nylon-y. Bags slip off your shoulder constantly with a slippery fabric, highly annoying, not what you need when you're already menopause level pissed off.   Plus it looks like you should be at or participating in a serious sporting event.

matte, non slippery, un-shiny fabric, the main element which elevates a puffer from sport to street, options:

Boxy, cropped:

Zara do a really good one.  They're definitely making an effort on the sustainability front but there's a long way to go and I can't find anything which actually says their polyester is recycled even though they allude to it. 

Hip length: 

This one from PE nation is also good, and 100% made from 100% recycled polyester.  It's sporty, but not shiney, and cool enough to be totally wearable in a non-sporty way.   

long line puffer: 

this one made from 100% recycled polyester from country road is a really lovely option.  

the one exception to the above rule:

this Balenciaga one, obviously very shiny but strangely works.  Potentially irrelevant because it's $3,500 and hot pink so not entirely practical unless you have a very large clothing budget. in which case, buy it and use your YSL top handled handbag that day - or this one from bottega veneta.   

 

Layer 4 - Not technically a layer, but for the purpose of this,  bottoms are layer 4.

Leggings 

Black, full length leggings: 

bon 

or a pair which are more like a trouser: 

these amazing ones from super chic kiwi doing good things for the planet brand maggie marilyn.  

Jeans 

classic blue from reformation, or these perfect ones from raey

white also from raey

aged black from Outland - I like the Abigail style. 

I think a high waist, fitted through the hips with a bit of space from the thigh through to the ankle is a great formula for pretty much any body shape. 

Lightweight woven wool pant

Wear everywhere black pants:

These ones from acne are genuinely cool and also have an elasticised waistband - a detail i would usually run a mile from, but acne have managed to make it look chic and cool and my menopausal nauseous, sometimes bloated tummy is gonna love these this winter.  

Skirt

Skirts with character:

this kitten one from Matches. The drape, the asymmetric hemline, the cats.  F&%k it, we're going through menopause. We can totally wear a kitten skirt.

or this one from camilla and marc made with 100% recycled fabric floaty and will fan nicely when we're flushing and works so well with a chunky knit (cardy, obvs) and boots. 

 

Layer 5.  Shoes. Also technically not a layer, but what's an outfit without Shoes?

Menopause hasn't changed my footwear requirements, but you can't have a style guide without a mention of outfit grounding shoes. 

classic white trainers:

veja

colourful off-duty pair:

from nike, who always have a great selection of really cool options with a good use of colour that I can handle. 

A low heeled or flat black ankle boot: 

I like my ankle boots to come a bit higher up my calf.  these la tribe ones are great. 

Layer 6.  Underwear + Accessories.

Accessories:

I'm keeping my wardrobe pared back and minimal - for ease and because I'm not sure what's next on this menopausal journey.  so I'm amping up my accessories  this winter with a bit of chunk, varied textures and bright colours, layered up with basic silver, gold, or both.

we all deserve a bit of an accessories treat, don't you think?

the best, most colourful, happiest, bright and chunky pieces:

venessa arizaga is my absolute favourite!

good value, delicately pretty yet cool pieces:

Locally arms of eve and linda tahija 

Underwear:

100% knickey, which is 100% organic cotton.  When it comes to hot flushes, the nearer your body, especially your really important bits, the more natural the fibre. 

 

I tried my hardest to make that just bullet points and pictures but couldn't help myself and had to write a few sentences - context is queen right?!?! 

Its infinitely shorter than the long version here though, and a nice little reference for your winter style for keeping your cool in extreme flushy heat.

Tell me in comments below your fave winter style find for flushes, and as winter rolls on we'll keep adding fave finds. 

Thanks for reading, happy shopping and a  good day to you Hotties. Linda xxx