What one wears when it's 42C

Outfit details

Hair flowers: Assorted sources
Dark plastic tortoise shell sunglasses: DKNY
Black and clear rhinestone earrings: Save On Foods (Sadly, later in the day I discovered I'd lost one of these beautiful, vintage looking earrings. We went to the store where I'd bought them a few months ago in case they were still in stock, but unfortunately they weren't. At least I'll always have the photos from this day to remember them by.)  1930s glass bead necklace: Maejean Vintage
Fitted red top: Urban Planet (I think - bought it years ago now)
Black quadruple buckle stretch belt: Forever 21
1950s style leopard print circle skirt: Big Beautiful Barbara Brown
Black plastic rose bead stretch bracelet: Thrifted (Value Village)
Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: MK Retro  Black sling back bow flats: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano

(Car thermostat photo taken by me with my phone)

{Let's just ignore the multi-chins that this harsh July sunlight and the shadows from the trees in front of me are creating in this photo - and most of the other snaps here - shall we! Thanks! :) }

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Sunglasses, for starters!!!

Beyond that, when the temperature soars to 42C/108F, most other items of clothing become seriously negotiable. For those of though who aren't keen on, or don't believe in, as the personal case may be, baring nearly all no matter the weather though, options like itty-bitty bikinis and Daisy Duke worthy denim shorts are out. In their place, I prefer to reach for, counterintuitive as it may sound, a lovely long skirt.

It doesn't have to be heavy, and I frequently skip a crinoline in such sweltering heat, but the airiness that is created when the breeze whips up and rustles through its folds is so immensely refreshing.

On this day, I partnered my beloved 1950s leopard print circle skirt (from UK reproduction seller Big Barbara Brown, who, and please don't quote me here as I can't say for certain, may have shut down, as their online shop is gone and their Facebook page hasn't been updated in a few months) with a thin, breathable red cotton stretch top, my favourite belt I've ever owned (by a long shot), which looks decidedly mid-century, but is in fact a budget-friendly Forever 21 piece bought several years ago in Toronto, sling back black flats, a few fun hair flowers, and lightweight jewelry. That's it, folks.

The Okanagan Valley, where we live, routinely gets some of, if not "the", warmest temperatures in Canada each year and though I do madly love the heat (draining, admittedly, as it can be at times), I'm not going to suit up in suit, if you will, or five layers when the mercury is making a beeline for the nearest deep freeze to try and cool off. No, weather like this, which poofs/swells your skin something fierce (or so it does to me at least), calls for simple, light, classic pieces that weigh little and don't take themselves too terribly seriously.

In addition to breezy skirts, capris, peddle pushers, halter tops, playsuits, sundresses, wide brimmed straw hats, feather weight shoes, and simple, unfussy accessories are, take it from someone with many years of experience with wildly warm summers, the way to go when the days feel as hot as the surface of the sun.

On this particular recent Sunday afternoon, Tony and I made our way to the shade bedecked shores of Shannon Lake, a relatively small (for the area at least) body of water on the outskirts of West Kelowna. A favourite local fishing hole of many, my angler husband very much included, it was - shockingly - virtually empty that day. Clearly the masses had flocked to the bigger lakes, such as Okanagan, and the sandy beaches there.

We weren't getting in the water, so Shannon Lake served us perfectly well and was as gloriously tranquil local retreat as one could ever hope for. And as we'd not yet taken snaps at this particular lake, naturally the camera came out for a spell, before we both sank in a heat induced stupor onto the verdant, slopping hills and took a moment to, once again, reflect on just how blessed we are to live in this stunning, lake strewn part of the world.