Breaking out the mock turtle necks

I ordered multiple long sleeved rash guard shirts from Landsend a couple years ago. Multiple colors and prints.

I wore one every day all this past summer. A uniform of sorts.

I wore them with knit black or gray solid shorts or capris (Walmart).

Yes, it was a hot summer. No, the long sleeves did not bother me.

The shirts allowed me to be outside and only use sunscreen on my face. They protected my arms, shoulders, chest.

I have a solid navy one I wear as a swim suit with navy swim shorts. I wear a sports bra under it. The shorts have two layers, longer with a brief bottom built under it. Also LandsEnd.

I buy rash guards and swim shorts on clearance from Landsend. I buy enough for free shipping. I think I have 9-10. I wash them in warm water on gentle, only with each other. I line dry.

The temperature dropped here on Friday night. And very interestingly the Rash guard shirts do not keep me warm, at all. (So there must be something about them that kept me cool all summer.)

So I am now in my fall/winter uniform.

A cotton mock turtleneck (LandsEnd) in gray or black over black knit pants (Walmart). The neck keeps me warm. I can layer many things over them.

I also bought these on clearance, last spring. I see they are on sale. I am ordering more, now that I know they really work.

Swimming suit update

When last we spoke, on this topic, I had ordered swimming suits from Lands End and from Kohl's. 


The Lands End suits won. In fact it was no competition.

The Lands End package arrived first, I opened it and started wearing them.

I never opened/tried the Kohl's suits. I returned them.

The Lands End long sleeves satisfy a sensory thing that I did not even know I had, in addition to blocking the sun and keeping me warm. And the two piece aspect makes getting in and out of them (including potty) so much easier.

FYI - Middle has been telling me she TOLD me all this several years ago and I did not hear her.

She was right. Long sleeve, shorts type bottom with bikini bottom built into them, two piece is IT.

When I was relaying all this to a close friend, she encouraged me to get on Lands End's site and order myself more tops before they were gone. Like jeans and bras, swimming suit styles come and go.

So I ordered these tops (below). Five. They averaged $26 each. And I am very pleased with that. I wear these kayaking, in the pool, and sometimes walking the dog. I only wear a sports bra under them.

I am not a "long" but I ordered longs in any where that was an option. It gives me longer length and longer sleeves.

In general - fyi - If you are in doubt about sizes, order several sizes to try. Order enough to qualify for free shipping. Return what does not fit to Sears (to avoid shipping).

And if you are interested in these, order quickly because they were getting really picked over.

Not sure any of them will work, but ordered these to try.

The first two are from Landsend.
And I would wear a sports bra under the shirt.

The last two are from Kohl's.
And I might wear a sports bra under those too.

I have been looking for something to help keep me warmer.
I was originally looking for more of a pool wet suit,
but every one I found, there were issues.
None seemed to be the right thing, to even order to try sizes.

I ordered 2-3 sizes of each (below).
That is my normal routine,
order the size I think I am, the size up and the size down.

I had enough to have free shipping.
Returns can be made locally so no return shipping.

Dresses - I have to try on multiple sizes, every time.

I had a year where I lived in 3/4 sleeve blouses. Then I didn't wear them for a several years, and almost got rid of them. But this year, I wore them all spring. Beloved again.

The summer of the boot (2012), I lived in the four skorts that now live at Brenda's. Lived in them. But then wanted them gone because they were confinement related.

Last summer I had several dresses I wore and wore and wore. This summer, I can't even remember which ones those were.

I am not sure how I found the dresses (below). I don't read Women's Day or Women's World, so it wasn't there.

I have not been able to wear wrap dresses in the past. Just never worked right with my chest.

These dresses work great. I don't know if it the dresses or the fact that I had my chest 'fixed', but either way, these dresses work super well for me, now. But I had to reorder to make them work.

I always order things in two or three sizes, to try.

This time I only ordered (the first two dresses below) in medium. I wore them several times each.

Then I thought - wonder if I should have gotten these in smalls?

So, I hemmed and hawed for a few days and reordered in smalls. When they came, I realized, yes, I did need the smalls.

I could have returned the mediums, because at LandsEnd you can return at any time, for any reason. But I did not feel right about doing that (it was my own mistake, I had worn them several times each). So, I passed them on to a friend.

Moral of the story - must try everything in at least two sizes and sometimes three. Something will seem as if it fits, but unless I have comparison, I don't really know which is the best fit.

This dress is very fitted all the way around the bodice. Very fitted, which I love. The way the top is cut and hugs, it makes me think of ballet or yoga clothing. Really love it. And the wrap, lays perfectly. No tugging, no awkwardness.

The cut of this dress reminds me of Marilyn Monroe era dresses. Not as full, but that same sort of style (in my mind anyway). This dress looks like a million bucks. I am a sucker for blue and white floral print, really like it. Chest works perfectly fine on me. In the past, it would not have.

I ordered the same blue print in orange. Looks great with my denim jacket. Love the combination of orange and denim. 

This is a great green with blue dots. Same cut as the aqua one above. Love this one even more. 

Actually returned this one (to Sears). It looks great in the picture (same as aqua and green dresses above). But in person did not like the pink dots. Too something for me.

skorts for riding my bike

Brenda will remember this, because she now has them.

When I was in my boot for the whole, very hot, summer of 2012, I wore several skorts from LandsEnd.

LandsEnd has generous cuts. They were size 6 and very roomy. So I could get them on and off over the boot, they were loose and cool in the heat, I could put my foot up and not flash the world.

At the end of the summer, they were boxed and sent to Brenda because they were darling, someone should get wear out of them, but I was totally sick of them.

I still can't look at the chair I sat in for middle's pregnancy (she is now 20). So, this is a trend for me. Some things are beloved and worn until they wear out, but if it is a confinement thing, when the situation is over, I want them g-o-n-e.

I am a skirts and dresses girl almost all the time. I go to the grocery store in a dress. I run errands in a dress. I clean out the dishwasher in a dress.

The first time I got on my bike to ride to the pool, I was wearing a dress. I pulled the front part of it sort of through my legs and sat on it. And I almost fell over trying to maneuver because the dress got hung up on the seat. Middle saw this and my husband saw this and said - that is not going to work.

I just am not so much of a shorts girl unless it is absolutely necessary (zip lining for example).

I did not want my same type skorts again (still sick of even the general idea of them) so I looked for other options.

I found solid KNIT skorts from LandsEnd that are shorter and fuller. Not obscenely short, but shorter, which actually looks very cute and is great for being out of the way on a bike. And while they were skorts, they do not look at all like the ones from the summer of the boot. Totally different vibe.

I had never really understood the appeal of running skirts until I tried these skorts. I realize they are not the same thing. But the look is similar. Now, I totally get it.

Both of the skorts pictured below are a full skirt with a full short under it. It is NOT a skirt in the front and shorts in the back like some skorts are made.

When I was looking online, this is the style I thought I would love. I ordered it in a 6 and an 8. When it came, the fullness around the middle bothered me. I definitely needed the 6 (actually wondered if I needed the 4). I had to try the 6 on, several days in a row, to decide if this was a keeper. And jury is still out, I get to edge of returning them, and then can't decide and wait for the next day to try again. 

This skort is perfect example of why I have to TRY different garments in different sizes. Looking at this style in the online catalog, I did not think I would like it. But since there were only two knit, plain skorts, I ordered both styles in two sizes each. This one ended up being the one I LOVED. I needed the size 6 in this one also. 

I immediately ordered this same style in gray (size 6). And ordered two more in navy. When I am home from my bike ride, I can do lawn work in these skorts or do my abs/arms work. I know from experience if I LOVE something, get more, because next week or next year, they might not be available. And these are so basic that they go with anything. Very generic bottom.

I am not a khaki color girl. But this skort does come in that color.