July 21, 2025
I will take a closer look at my travel capsule wardrobe soon, but the most important thing that I learned was that when someone (outside the US Weather Service) issues a heat warning, they’re NOT JOKING! Yes, the temperatures were only 80F, but it was sticky and stifling in a way that I’ve not experienced before – even in Chicago.
St. Stephen’s Green July 2025
My hotel – the delightful Staunton’s on the Green – is directly across the street from this park. Amazing, beautiful park, which was FULL of people during the brief heatwave we experienced. Literally hundreds of people – class groups in deep discussion, friends in deep pizza, lots of couples and small family groups just crashed out on the grass, even some people swing dancing!
One of those urban experiences that I will never forget. This is what you do when the weather is warm – who needs air conditioning? (well…)
My room faced the park, which meant that I was in a “curtain-free” environment – nobody could see into my room from anywhere, any angle, at any time. So I kept my windows open, and was very comfortable. (my room faced north, which I think was important)
Like a nincompoop, I repacked the day before I left. But I was ditching a sweater, and I had the exceptional good sense to toss in FOUR of these tops (two black, two white):
Two days into my vacation, I was buying linen shorts at Benetton, but I was in a good place for tops!
I bought two pairs – black and beige…
These sleeveless shells, or tank tops, or (as we called them when I was a kid) muscle shirts could be worn alone, under my button-front shirts, or under my cardigan… Here are a few ideas of how these babies can pick up a ton of travel capsule wardrobe slack:
White top – L.L.Bean; earrings – Talbots; gold bag – Talbots; shorts – Eileen Fisher; sandals – Talbots
cardigan – Alex Mill; carnelian earrings – The Met Store; top – L.L.Bean; scarf – The Met Store; black chinos – L.L.Bean; loafers – Naturalizer
Sleeveless top – L.L.Bean; earrings – Anthropologie; scarf – Artifact.; dusty fatigue linen pants – J.Crew; sandals – Birkenstock
Earrings – The Jewelz; sleeveless top – L.L.Bean; tote bag – Lands’ End; denim shorts – Lands’ End; sandals – Dr. Scholl’s
sleeveless top – L.L.Bean; earrings – Jardin; champagne cardigan – Lands’ End; phone case – Hyer Goods; sneakers – Josef Seibel; cotton knit pants – Lands’ End
Earrings – The Met Store; sleeveless top – L.L.Bean; scarf – The Met Store; alpaca cardigan – Caslon; boots – L.L.Bean; thyme pants – L.L.Bean
Sleeveless top – L.L.Bean; silk scarf – Artifact.; nylon bag – Marhen j.; linen pants – Alex Mill; sandals – Cordani
Sleeveless top – L.L.Bean; garnet earrings – Charlotte’s Web Jewellery; cotton sweater – L.L.Bean; corduroy pants – L.L.Bean; wool scarf – Elizabetta; loafers – G.H.Bass
Sleeveless top – L.L.Bean; azure beads – Anthropologie; white tunic top – Lands’ End; shorts – Alex Mill; crossbody bag – The Sac; slides – Bos. & Co.
The last necklace is pretty inexpensive, and comes in 25 colors. Just in case…
I’m realizing that there are a few garments that I probably should always pack, no matter where I’m going. I had my excellent black sweatshirt in my carry-on bag, which came in handy when the plane was bitterly cold.
There are other things… let me think about it!
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, our very successful heroine was inspired by Alfons Mucha when she was packing…
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A British summer – stiflingly hot, humid as an indoor swimming pool and if you want air con go to a large supermarket! We were experiencing the third heatwave of the summer when you arrived. Thankfully, we have had had rain in recent days so the temperature is now in the high 60’s/low 70’s and the air is fresher.
My tees have to have cap sleeves at least as I don’t suit sleeveless garments – narrow shoulders and I don’t like my upper arms. I do have three sleeveless high waisted dresses which I can wear without extra support (at least in the house).
I’m so glad you’re home safely and I truly hope you had an absolutely fabulous time!
These sleeveless tops are a staple in my wardrobe. Despite living in Maine, summers have been getting warmer and warmer each year. When I was a little girl (and we just came up to summer here as a family, when people still did such a thing) we never needed sleeveless tops or air conditioning. The temps rarely went over 80 degrees F. Now? That’s the base daytime temp, even on the coast. I used to be nervous to show my arms, even when I was a size 2. Now, at a size 8-10, I could care less if people care that I don’t look like Heidi Klum. The ones I buy are typical from J Crew Factory or Talbots, despite LL Bean being down the street. The Bean ones are excellent, but a bit too thick for me.
I also love the outfits you created, which will be perfect for the transition to Autumn, with cool morning and warm afternoons.
The Anthropologie bead necklace is expensive and it’s sold out on the UK website. I often find inexpensive bead necklaces/bracelets in charity shops, antique fairs and small craft fairs. Perhaps I should make my own, then I can choose the colours.
I love the Alphonse Mucha lookback – one of my favourite paintings. I have yet to add brown as a neutral; taupe is the darkest that I go. Rose Brown is supposed to be my brown but I have yet to find it.
Last year I had three sleeveless tops. I wore them to death. This year I have nine… Mine are not strictly “tanks” but a little more A-line and “flowy” The upside to that is I do layer them – sometimes wearing a short sleeve or even long sleeve top underneath which increases their usefulness as I can wear them in fall and spring as well as warm summer weather. Six of them are prints, so I can wear them with almost any of my solid tops. Glad to see you back safe and sound, and hope you had a great time.
solid tees or shells or these tanks in a variety of colors are easy to pack, wash, and store and they go with anything! Linen pants? yes. cute skirt? yes. long skirt, jeans, or pants? yes. Under a jacket/sweater/buttonup? yes! After reading your blog I find myself buying better quality tees. They look so much more substantial and less see-through.
How nice to have you home again.
Where I live (when it gets hot) it gets so humid that there’s usually a thunderstorm.
The outfits are all beautiful.
I have sleeveless tops, but I prefer T-shirts in the summer.
Beth T, I’ve also bought some unique jewelry from thrift stores or craft fairs.
I hope you all have a great week.
It did storm a couple of nights when I was there; not thunder, but plenty of rain. It wouldn’t be Ireland without rain!
love,
Janice
I would wear every one of these outfits!! :) I do like a short sleeve though. Then I can transition them into fall or wear them in spring. And honestly because we heat with a wood stove, my house is pretty warm in the winter and I wear them then as well. So I’m off to buy some knit in pretty colors for my birthday to make a few new tees to wear like this! :)
I have several of those tops and I love them.
The first picture, with the whole color range, is labeled as J. Crew, though the link goes to Bean, and the other pictures are correctly labeled.
Jet leg, no doubt.
Or just plain silliness on my part! I have my moments…
love,
Janice
I’m so glad you had a good time! I’m packing right now for a week at the beach and everything in my closet wants to come along! I’m using your just previous post as a template to keep down the chatter. Navy and gray in place of
your black; denim and some beachy tee shirts; with a linen shirt and some hoodies. Whew. Thanks so much for your guidance. It has helped on several trips since I started following TVF about 25 years ago.
My husband and I landed in Dublin on July 4, 2013, for a week and a half dream trip. It was the beginning of a heat wave. We are from Arkansas, where our summer temperatures regularly hit over 100 degrees and it is very humid. We were looking forward to the cooler Irish days with some rain and rainbows on the Emerald Isle. We did notice the heat but it still was close to what we see in late June and early July. Unfortunately our car rental was switched at the airport for an “upgrade” with a trunk. What they didn’t tell us was that the car we specifically requested with an air conditioner had been given to someone else. We spent the first three days driving (on the “other side of the road and the other side of the car”) with no air. We realized what they had pulled and called our travel agent who arranged for us a swap at the Shannon airport. With the new car we enjoyed the drive but kept noticing an odd sound. We hit a detour where we were told they were having to reasphalt the roads because the formula they used there was not made for the extreme temperatures. We kept hearing a weird sound and the asphalt was sticking to the tires. At the end of our trip we toured Kilkenny Castle. It was beautiful but when we walked outside to tour the green, tons of people were laying out in the sun. Soaking up the warmth. I’m very fair skinned (Irish and Scandinavian ancestry ) and I felt so bad for all of these people who were already as red as a lobster. I knew the pain they were going to be in the next few days from that. It was a wonderful trip but next time I definitely want to go when it is much cooler!
I sometimes switch off the air con and just open the windows. I remember the days when roads melted in the heat! Now we just have potholes because of poor road maintenance.
You read my mind again! It’s hot here and I’m wearing a tank/shell from Christopher & Banks. Sensible wide straps and 100 percent cotton, but my tanks could use a refresh. I’ll have to check out Bean. I don’t see actual lengths mentioned on the site. If there’s anything I hate, it is the cropped tops everywhere, currently.
I wear the petite tops, which are shorter than their normal shirts, and I never have problems. Give them a call…
love,
Janice