A knitted waistcoat or vest is a perfect piece of clothing for this time of year. They’re also an ideal piece for adding interest to a t-shirt and trousers. The trick is to find the right t-shirt to fit under your particular sleeveless knit. You need the arm hole of the t-shirt to be slightly smaller than the vest so that there is no bunching or creasing. This would also be a consideration for a short or long sleeved shirt.

The under layer doesn’t need to be a white. Stripes with this particular outfit would look great as would plain complimentary colours like this one. As an aside, Le Bon Shoppe t-shirts are amazing. I own this particular style and the cut is so flattering and the quality is excellent.

If there is a lot of volume to your trousers, it can be flattering to keep the top half snug. That way you create a lovely fluted silhouette. If your stomach is the area that you feel least comfortable with then I would suggest flipping the colour combination by choosing a darker hue for your top half and pairing it with a statement colour on the bottom. Wearing a dark jacket as mum has here, is a flattering option too.

This denim jacket by TOAST is one that mum has had for a while but is a style that the brand offer every season. Mum finds it extremely useful to throw on over most outfits. Dark denim is one of those fabrics which goes with almost everything. This is a particularly good version as the style is relatively tailored lending a smartness to it but the denim keeps it casual, meaning that it can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

N.B. it’s worth noting that these trousers are long. Mum is just under 5.8” so that should provide an indication of the length. They would be an easy style to have taken up though. In an ideal world, mum could have done with 1/2 inch off the bottom.

I’m always on the look out for the perfect white shirt and it has to be said, TOAST strikes again! This is their oxford over-sized long shirt and it is my idea of perfection. It’s thick enough to not be transparent (a problem with a lot of poplin ones) but it’s light enough not be too hot. The shape is roomy but not ridiculously so. It would wash and iron well too! This is a shirt I would wear all summer long and if, like me, you love a pull on trouser, maybe in linen, then this may be the perfect top for you too.

The linen trousers are by a lovely small independent brand called Nadinoo. The shop is in the market town of Oakham, Rutland. I have worn them in a previous post (here) which demonstrates a similar formula of dressing but for a cooler context. I always want to get the most out of my clothing and it turns out - ah hah! - that layering is the key.

Nadia of Nadinoo is not stocking this particular colour-way at the moment but I know that she sometimes offers a made-to-order service so it would be worth enquiring. Otherwise I have offered an alternate pair below which are fab and would work equally well.

One last comment from me and then I will be off. I have mentioned before that I believe that the way to achieve an effortlessly chic look is for the outfit to always have an element of practicality to it. If you wear a jumper or cardigan around your shoulders, make sure that if the weather was to turn and you needed to wear it, it would work with the outfit. That way, nothing ever looks too contrived…..!

The red cardigan looks good around my shoulders as a pop of colour but it also work well worn over the shirt and under the jacket.