Summer in Bermuda is beautiful. Turquoise ocean, pink sand, blue skies and colourful homes. Nothing beats being out and about, enjoying it all, except maybe when those dreaded sweat beads start rolling down your back, your outfit clings uncomfortably, or your feet swell to what feels like double the size they were that morning.
Local fashion icons Perri Furbert and Lorraine Shailer are not only ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest looks, but they also understand the consequences of putting trend before comfort in July and August.
Ms Furbert is founder and CEO of Gold The Label, and Ms Shailer is director of retail for The Shops at the Hamilton Princess. They gave us their insight into how to dress for Bermuda’s warmest months, and shared what styles and brands will help us look and feel fabulous in the heat.
Lightweight Fabrics
“Weights of fabrics are important, particularly in Bermuda,” said Ms Shailer. “We try to do more breathable fabrics in the summer because it’s so hot and humid here. Linen and cotton are the main ones.”
Her own approach is to “keep it as simple as possible and then add on finishing touches to spruce yourself up.” These finishing touches could include a belt, jewellery or detailed shoe because these are “things that aren’t going to affect you in the heat.”
Ms Furbert agreed: “I go for comfort. The older I get, the more I need less fuss in my clothes. Everything just has to be comfortable, breathable things. I’m leaning more to linens. I’m learning a lot more about fabrics and sustainability and that’s really important to me now.”
Quality therefore, she continued, is becoming more of a priority over quantity: “Sustainability is really important. If you have a more sustainable option, it can last generations, versus fast fashion that is filled with chemicals, not really good for us and is a quick turnover.”
Ms Shailer also pointed out that having “good quality basics” such as t-shirts and sandals will help you look “more polished and put together.” For t-shirts, she recommended American Vintage because, “they are amazing at the cottons that they use in their fabrics and they have really good colour as well.”
A good quality, basic t-shirt she added will also look great with “wonderful maxi skirts in great prints and great colours.” And, in terms of the fit, she recommended more flowy and less restrictive styles.
Accessorize
When outfitting herself for work, Ms Shailer likes a dress because “it’s simple, it’s one piece, I don’t have to think about adding on lots of different pieces.” But, she continued, “make your jewellery interesting, make your belt interesting, make your shoes interesting. Those added details just make you look pulled together.”
Ms Furbert also loves accessories – Gold The Label’s tagline is “for the maximalists” – and she firmly believes that the right ones can transform your look: “I think a straw hat is pretty timeless. Either a boater or a wide brim. That’s definitely an essential. The right bag, which can transition from day to night, is also a good summer must have. I love our mini bucket bags for that.”
When she isn’t wearing a hat, she loves to wear sunglasses, and her own frames, which all have biblical names such as Zion, Exodus and Calvary, come in a variety of styles and colours. She is also planning a new silhouette for this summer.
While she is a “gold” and “dangly earring girl” herself, jewellery, she added, is personal and you should go with what feels best for you. As a general rule however, she advised: “if your outfit is busy, then you need minimal jewellery. If the outfit is more understated, then you can play around more”.
Colours and Prints
In spite of enjoying comfort and simplicity in their day-to-day summer dressing, both Ms Furbert and Ms Shailer still love prints and colours, and there’s lots of vibrant fashion available to choose from:
“I’m brown skinned, so oranges look great on me, yellow looks great on me. I think a shade of green and blue look good on me,” said Ms Furbert, who added: “For lighter skin, reds are great, corals are great, then, depending on the blue, browner skins look better with a pale blue and then lighter skin looks better in brighter blues.”
Ms Shailer’s own personal style is for “pops of colour” mixed with neutrals, but, she added: “We live in a place that has a beautiful back drop and if you want to go all out with colour, head to toe, go for it.”
She also admitted that she loves an “over the top summer dress” as long as it’s in a fabric that works for the summer, and that many European, especially Mediterranean, brands excel at lightweight, colourful summer pieces that come in styles which transition from day to evening, are comfortable in the heat, and stylish on the beach. These include Essential Antwerp, Lolly’s Laundry and Devotion Twins. She also loves African brand, Lemlem.
Fancy Footwear
Sandals and espadrilles reign when it comes to summer footwear. For the daytime, Ms Furbert loves a flat espadrille, but switches to strappy sandal heels for a more elevated evening look.
“If you have sandals, make that the piece you’re showing off for the summer,” added Ms Shailer, “whether it’s bejewelled or an interesting colour, or interesting detail on it.”
At the end of day, however, fashion is deeply personal: “Wear what you feel comfortable in and what works for you,” continued Ms Shailer. “For some people that is very vibrant palettes, but for other people it’s more calm. That doesn’t mean anyone’s wrong or right. If you can work it and you can rock it and you feel comfortable, then go for it!”
For more information about Gold The Label, visit goldthelabel.com or follow the brand on Instagram @goldthelabel.
For more information about The Shops at Hamilton Princess, visit hamiltonprincessshops.com or follow them on Instagram @shopsattheprincess.
