I’m a fashion expert

Nov 20, 2023

AS the mercury looks set to hit a tropical 30 degrees this weekend, Clemmie Fieldsend solves your 15 biggest summer style woes.

YELLOW PITS

NO matter how many times you wash your go-to white T-shirt or vest, sometimes detergent can't shift those unsightly yellow stains.

But the remedy lies in your kitchen cupboards.

Rub lemon juice mixed with bicarbonate of soda into the stains and leave to soak in overnight.

Then wash as normal for brighter, yellow-free whites.

FREE YOUR BOOBS

UNDERWEAR is the foundation of every outfit, so you need to get it right during summer.

When you want to stay as cool as you can it's vital to eliminate any excess weight, so ditch your padded bra which is likely to make you extra sweaty.

Opt for lightweight, cotton and pad-free styles, like this bra from Next which is available in sizes 30D to 40DD.

TAPE YOUR SHORTS

SHORTS are a summer staple, but can often ride up when you walk or when you sit down. Avoid this by taping them into place on your upper thighs.

Specialist tape comes in a pocket-size tin and is pre-cut into strips that won't budge or damage skin.

STRAP IN

SANDALS are synonymous with summer but should be worn with caution.

Not only can they get slippy and dangerous when you sweat but they can also rub.

To prevent this, put plasters on the strapping. They can be cut to the correct size and always go for fabric ones as they’re most durable in the heat.

GREASY GARMS

IF you accidentally slop the grease from a BBQ burger down your front ­­— or have sun cream stains on your clothes — fear not.

Use white wine vinegar as a pretreatment for the stains to draw out the oils.

Soak the item in diluted vinegar for one hour before washing as normal and your stains will be lifted.

STATIC STRESS

AVOID your skirt or dress sticking to your body with static by keeping dryer sheets handy.

Rub the dryer sheet all over whatever item has static to solve problems in seconds.

If dryer sheets are too big for your bag, you can also rub a safety pin over your outfit to discharge static.

BEAT CHUB RUB

CHAFING is one of the most irritating consequences of summer weather, whatever your shape or size.

But you can keep the painful rash at bay by using Megababe Thigh Rescue, which is applied like roll-on deodorant and creates a barrier between your legs.

And it's palm-sized, so you can carry it with you day or night in a small bag.

PAD IT OUT

ABSORB any underboob sweat that might occur on a balmy day by adding a panty liner to your bra.

Thin, lightweight and absorbent, the liner won't bother you and will mean you won't have to be checking for sweat all day.

The key is to make sure yours are unscented.

CREASELESS LINEN

IF you love linen but always find it creases as soon as you put it on, all you need is some starch spray.

Give your outfit a thorough iron the night before you are due to wear it, or a good hour before you put it on.

This allows the fabric to cool in the way you want it, then douse it in starch spray, which acts like hairspray for your clothes and stops it moving out of place.

SMOOTH BOOB TUBE

ABOLISH the constant pulling up of your boob-tube by getting some stick on Velcro to secure it in place.

All you need to do is cut one piece small enough to stick on your strapless bra and the other side to your top to stop the slipping.

You don't need to get a needle and thread out to apply the Velcro and if you get it in the wrong place you can adjust as you like.

SHAKE UP MAKE-UP

SHIFT unwanted make-up marks on your collar and deodorant marks on tops with make-up remover.

Never rub, just dab as many times as needed to lift the stain.

There's no need to lug a giant bottle around, you can buy a travel size one or pre-soak cotton pads in the solution and keep in a small Tupperware box.

COMMON SCENTS

FABRICS such as polyester tend to cling on to smells more than other fabrics because they are water-repelling.

This means if sweat hits a synthetic fabric it dries fast and sits on top.Banish the smell and the discolouration it can create by pre-soaking the garment in cold water and a quarter cup of baking soda for ten minutes.

Rinse with clean water, wring out the item and wash as normal.

WONDERBRA

IF you have big boobs, you know all too well the conundrum of trying to find a supportive bra that you can wear with strappy tops — without the thick bra straps showing.

You need to go strapless and you need the Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless Bra.

Available in sizes 30D to 40E, it has silicone dots along the inside that grip the skin, without being uncomfortable.

RUB THE PUFF AWAY

WHEN your feet or ankles swell up from being in the heat, you need to massage them to reduce puffiness.

The last thing you may want to do is rub your already hot skin, but firm massaging strokes towards the heart can help move any fluid out of your feet or ankles and reduce swelling.

If that doesn't do the trick, you can get cooling foot spray to help the swelling too.

EYE TRICKS

PREVENT your sunglasses from taking off the make-up on your nose by applying eye primer to the contact points on your face.

It is water-resistant, which means sweat won't remove them like some make-up products.

Put on for 15 minutes before wearing sunglasses.