Blog Post – You Know Its Nearly Summer When…..
There are lots of little things that happen gradually marking the move from Spring to Summer, so much so that sometimes (if the weather has been good) the lines between Spring and Summer are blurred and all of a sudden Summer is here having crept up on us when we didn’t really notice!
Here in Cornwall Summer officially starts on 1st May with the fabulous Obby Oss Festival in Padstow where the whole of the towns people are out on the streets celebrating with music and parades wearing all white apart from a sash or token item in red or blue depending on which “Oss” they support. The town is decorated with hazel branches and wild flowers attached to the buildings and it always looks fantastic!
People come from far and wide to join in the celebrations that last for a full 24 hours from midnight to midnight with a fairground on the quayside too – its great fun!
Perfect pieces to wear when joining in the fun are our Jane Flared Jeans in Ecru. Available in sizes UK4 to UK20 with a 29.5cm inside leg they have a pretty plaiting at the waistband to give the illusion that you are wearing a belt – great if you like to avoid the faff of trying to quickly undo a belt if you are bursting for the loo!!
Alternatively our Mid Length Denim Skirt in Ecru could be just the thing! Featuring a row of buttons at the front plus 2 large patch pockets and then 2 rear pockets it’s a denim skirt with a stylish twist! This fitted midi skirt is as chic as it is practical crafted from predominantly cotton with a little elastane for comfort for sizes UK4 to UK18.
For properly sunny days our NEW Cotton Shorts are available in White as well as blue denim options in sizes UK4 to UK18. They are classic and elegant with a straight cut and faux welt pockets at the rear. There is a metal buckle belt fastening just above the zip which helps you dress these fab shorts up for a smarter occasion or dress down when enjoying the sunshine too!
Its not just the arrival of festival season that gently brings us to Summer. Have you noticed that items created from linen are now starting to appear in the shops? I don’t think that anything shouts “Summer” more than linen garments!
The beauty of linen is that it’s a breathable and sustainable fabric just perfect for warmer sunny days, but you do need to look after it properly to make sure that you retain the colour and shape that keeps your garments at their best.
Opting for saffron yellow shades of linen can give a real lift to your mood on a grey day. Not just the hues of Easter it will take you gently from Spring through to Summer and back to the Autumn golden shades too.
Many a time have we bought a gorgeous top or beautiful linen trousers, worn once, hung up for another day only to find it full of creases! Or maybe you have popped it in the wash, dried on a sunny day on the washing line for that little bit too long only to find that your beautiful item now has laundry liquid “stripes” and is as stiff as a board making it a nuisance to iron so you leave it in the ironing pile ….. and never get round to wearing it!!! Sound familiar??
When it comes to washing, we suggest using a laundry bag for your linen garment and always use a cold wash on a delicate cycle with a short spin. Never tumble dry as this could cause shrinkage to your linen item – instead we recommend line drying in the shade to avoid sun fading of your garment …. unless a washed out colour is the look that you want.
Definitely hang your linen pieces in your wardrobe as no matter how good you are at folding there will inevitably be creases to deal with which can be stubborn! Ideally use a padded hanger for linen tops/jackets to avoid getting the hanger line across the shoulders and if you do have to fold then make sure you put your folded piece on the top of a pile of folded pieces to avoid compression creases – even better avoid the folding altogether and roll up your item instead, this is especially important if you are packing it into a suitcase. Unpack and hang up your linen items as soon as possible so that any creases gained from travelling have a chance to drop out. If you do find creases are being stubborn, then hang your item in the bathroom so that the steam from your shower or bath can help relax the material and encourage the creases to drop in their own time.
Ideally don’t iron your linen garments as the heat and pressure from the iron can crush your linen fabrics if your iron is too hot. Steaming is a much better option but if you really need to iron your garment then use a water spray mister first or iron whilst your garment is damp and not fully dry.
If you spill something on your linen it is always best to deal with it straight away – don’t wait for the stain to dry or it will be harder to remove as the linen will have absorbed the stain into the fabric. Most of the time a wipe with a damp cloth and a little detergent can do the trick but make sure you rinse off and pop on a wash cycle as soon as possible to avoid a paler patch appearing in your linen garment where the stain once was. If a stain is stubborn you can use a baking soda paste made from baking soda and water to tackle your stain but make sure you test your paste on an inside seam first to check there is no colour fading before washing again and definitely don’t iron over where your stain was as this will draw more attention to the area that you really want to conceal instead.
Remember that your linen item will mould to you as you wear it and just as you can’t stop the tide coming and going from the shore you can’t totally stop those creases – they are going to pop up one way or another somewhere!
Linen clothing is not just for relaxed holiday dressing it can be a great option for a smarter look too! It looks fab when you pair it with fab wedge sandals and a raffia bucket bag! Alternatively, add heels and a fascinator and you are ready for more formal occasions like a wedding outfit or for Ladies Day at the races.
This beautiful printed shirt dress is a classic example of dress up/dress down chic. Available in yellow or paprika, it features a shirt collar embroidered with pearls and metallic buttons, the dress has side splits and ¾ sleeves. Available in sizes UK6 to UK24 (T0-T5) it’s a piece that looks great on all body shapes. Its up to you whether you wear as is or add your own belt for definition at the waistline.
If you can’t stand the faff or the inevitable creasing from a 100% linen garment, look for pieces that have a linen mix and may be less prone to creasing. Linen/Viscose mix fabrics are a good option as they are still breathable and sustainable too as Viscose is also a plant based material.
These gorgeous linen blend wide leg trousers with zip and metal hook fastening are available in sizes UK6 to UK22 (sadly the size 24 has already sold out). The ooze comfort as well as style with eyelets at the waist belt and pleats to the front of the trousers which are worn fitted style at the waist.
The sleeveless jacket ‘waistcoat style’ is crafted from 55% linen with 45% viscose to help with wearability whilst keeping you cool. Available in sizes UK6 to UK18. The jacket and trousers are both available in a paprika colourway too!
You can view our Linen Capsule Collection from the drop down bar in our online shop at Tortue.uk Alternatively enter the word ‘linen’ in the search bar for a short cut way to seeing all items that contain linen in their composition whether that is 100% or a linen mix. Remember that if you see a little turtle or green leaf logo in our pictures/content it means that the garment is part of our Planet Tortue sustainability range and you can be sure that the piece is created from eco-friendly materials too.
Contact your local Tortue Stylist to see and try your favourite pieces. We love helping you with friendly sizing and colour advice along with which pieces will suit your body shape too!
Enjoy the sunshine (and your Easter Eggs)!
Happy Easter!
Angela
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