We got home yesterday afternoon, had a Daughter, Son-in-Law, a Five and a Three for dinner (seemed a good idea when we texted the idea from Paris; felt a bit too much yesterday evening, but hey, Grandkid Cuddles!), and today has been all about trips to the barber and the grocery store and the bank. Roses have been dead-headed; laundry washed and hung out in the sunshine (yes! we brought sunshine home with us!). my sourdough starter is being resurrected; mail has been opened and bills paid; a “Held” book has been picked up from the laundry; and several cups of tea have been drunk, made in my china teapot with loose-leaf Ceylon Select and drunk from a favourite fine bone china mug.
And as quickly as I cross items off the list, I think of new ones that need to be added. I book appointments, send emails, and tell my tummy that it’s not dinnertime yet in Pacific Daylight Time. . . Pacific Daylight Transition Time for me. . . Crossing nine time zones and being away from home for almost six weeks demands some transition time, for me at least, these days, and I won’t be back to full blogging strength for another few days.
While I adjust, though, I thought I’d share another set of photos snapped quickly and stealthily on the Zagreb streets last week (just added to list: Sort through hundreds of digital photos and winnow at least a quarter)
Interestingly, Alyson Walsh just posted on Summer Dresses over on That’s Not My Age — to me, Zagreb women seemed to exemplify the virtues of a simple dress for looking chic in 30-degree (Celsius) heat. While my photos here and in the earlier post on Zagreb Style included a few skirt-and-top or pants-and-top outfits, by far the majority of women I saw rocked either dress or jumpsuit–and looked fresh and polished, even cool, in those garments.
I love the silhouettes above and below — so relaxed, yet elegant (yes, even with a simple thong sandal).
One evening, we were charmed to watch the excitement build as a puppet show was being set up and small children waited on benches for the curtains to open in an Old City hilltop park.
I was delighted to see the anticipation of these little ones, of course, amused by the silent patience of some and the mischievous antics of others — one bold Six popped the “Donations Suggested” hat over her braids and sashayed ’round in it almost immediately after the Puppeteer set it in front of the stage. She’d scarcely replaced it before a slightly older child asserted his claim to “class clown.” His playmates egged him on for a bit, but his Papa was quick to shut down that show and to give his son a lesson about proper audience comportment.
As much as I was amused by the little ones, their Mamas also drew my eye (Dottoressa, what do the little ones call their Moms in Croatian?). At 7:30 on a weeknight, these young women displayed impeccable, easy style. Un-fussy, clean, contemporary-but-not-trendy, functional Style.
As for me, I’ve long been convinced of the value of a dress for easy dressing year-round, but particularly in summer. A quick recap of my travel wardrobe is on the way, but I can tell you now that the two linen dresses and my linen jumpsuit were the stars of the show, earning top scores for keeping me comfortable for even more warm days than anticipated.
I didn’t miss my jeans at all, and I may even have picked up another easy summer dress while in Paris. Probably should have worn it in today’s sunshine (weather forecast suggests that might not last), but my white jeans were calling. . . They’d missed me.
Back to the list-making and crossing-off, now, but I’ve taken that out to the garden with a cup of tea. Garden report coming soon. How’s yours doing? And what have you been finding easy to wear and feel good in these summer days? Any of the Zagreb looks above appeal to you or look like an outfit you wear? Are you a fan of the summer dress? The mic’s all yours. . .
I just love these photos.
And I can only imagine how much you wanted to see the grandkids and then how, on arrival, you just wanted to curl inward!
You got it! Curling inward still in progress 😉
Welcome back I really enjoyed your travel posts and your gorgeous illustrated journal.
Linen is a wonderful fabric for the hot summer. I have several linen dresses and I love wearing them…all are loose and airy.
My garden is full of rose blooms and I am trying hard to keep up with the dead heading and hand watering.
Hope your jet lag is brief.
Thanks L! I miss my former garden with all its roses, but I'll admit I don't really miss the constant dead-heading. You maintain your beautiful garden so well.
So nice to hear that you are home,reunited with your grandchildren,your family,your garden and your home (and favourite tea!)
I could completely understand that the wish to see your dearest at once has won over tiredness and the need to retreat for a while,to regenerate yourself and be fresh and ready after that-I feel the same
I'm always so grateful to be home again
We call our mothers "Mama" 🙂 of course
It is fascinating to me how you always capture some normal life moments (but also,on the other side, something special and unique,as well-a rare wall or door or detail, or moment)-all of the women in the photos are in their everyday clothes,not "made up" for the work or going out ,just "living life"
As I've said before,I didn't wear dresses till my fifties (it was cotton or linen skirts or pants, with tops),but now, they are my choice for hot summer days-the only condition is the natural material. And after monochromatic winter,I sometimes prefer colours
Take it easy
Dottoressa
Mama — it seems to be almost universal, doesn't it?!
You're right — I was most interested in those outfits that seemed to be (elegant and simple) everyday. . . More interesting to me than the dressed-up or staged.
I love these photos! You did such a good job, too–I always seem to lose "targets" in the crowd by the time I get my camera turned on.
The abundance of color is so nice. The woman in the long red dress (with red shoes!) and hat looks worth of a magazine spread. And at the bottom–an otherwise basic black-and-white outfit gets jazzed up with floral espadrilles.
Thanks! I usually lose the subjects as well, but the streets weren't so busy, and with the phone camera, it's easier to be discreet.
Yes! I thought the same thing about the woman in the long red dress, and it's the small grace notes in an otherwise basic outfit that impress me as well (her backpack was pretty cool as well — metallic gold but not flashy).
Always struggled with dresses…even my wedding dress was a skirt and a separate top…and summer dressing is nearly always trousers and shirts although I do have one universally useful black dress – lightweight, just below the knee, short sleeves that I can wear happily. Part of me really wishes I could embrace frocks but I fear not. My daughter has bought a truly perfect summer dress this year – sheer, black, mid-calf and comes with a black slip to go underneath. She always looks cool (in both senses), pulled together but relaxed at the same time. Height; she has it, I envy her it. Thank the Maker for her father's genes in the mix. My legs come out on a need-to-know basis in the summer and not till I have quietly and privately tanned them in the garden.
I know many women who just don't feel comfortable in dresses — I think I like them so much because I'm so short-waisted. . .
I love dresses – they are my hot weather essential in France, and on rare hot days here. Every time I go to France I buy another dress, always a simple shift style. The absence of a waistband is so refreshing! Skirts on the other hand cut me in two, even tho I'm slim and reasonably tall. Every year I look at the one skirt in my wardrobe and think I should move it on, but it's a bold navy and white print by a Finnish label and I love the pattern. It could be made into a couple of cushions I suppose…
Garden report? It's been dry and warm here for over a month now, and it's disconcerting. Watering is never usually needed, so I don't have a feel for it and find I'm under-watering some things and over-watering others (e.g. rotted shallots). Hoping for a wee bit of rain soon.
You make me realize that i'm more likely to find easy dresses in France as well —
I have the same issue with skirts but somehow I keep trying. . .
I'm always anxious — disconcerted, to use your word — when we have a drought here in an otherwise rainy climate, so I sympathize (although we almost always have 3-4 dry weeks in late summer — last year's set records, and as much as I love the sunshine, I hope for a reasonable rainfall this year. Hope you get a splash soon.
I have a frock , it’s a straight , calf length shirt dress with side splits & short sleeves . Navy of course but I’ve not worn it in this country till now . We are having a heatwave – 30 degrees every afternoon at the back of the house . We gardeners are rarely satisfied though . The roses are better than I can ever remember them being but they soon go crunchy . The lawn is rather crunchy too , despite the sprinkler . Our water supply is from the river in York so never any water restrictions for us . I’m not complaining though , as it is such a novelty to have a serious summer .
I’m curious about your long holiday , was six weeks perfect ? Did you get pangs for home or could you have kept going ?
Wendy in York
Crunchy — what a good descriptor for drought-struck plants. Lucky you to draw water from the river.. .
As for your question, I think I might write a post to answer that. It's a very good question, and the answer's a bit complicated. Overall, very good, and we're thinking right now whether we'll go as long another time.
Hi Frances, I've really enjoyed all your travel posts 🙂 and totally agree with all the comments about the stylish woman in Zagreb. It's not at all easy to look … and feel, good in high temps and humidity. I particularly, like the blue striped dress with embroidered flowers. So bright and fresh looking! Plus it's in my favourite colours for Summer.
We've been travelling for a few weeks now and I knew when planning, that the temps and humidity would be high … I also know that I don't cope well with these conditions! 🙂 Like you I decided "loose linen" was the way to go … tops and dresses. I was lucky enough to actually find 3 dresses and a couple of tops that have worked really well and I've enjoyed wearing 🙂 I was thrilled to find ones that I liked that had a loose sleeve as opposed to sleeveless, which I don't feel comfortable in. Classic styles that won't date and I'm sure I'll wear a lot both at home and when we travel … All boxes ticked! 🙂 I also didn't pack any jeans and apart from a few evenings in air conditioned restaurants, I haven't worn any of the cotton or linen trousers I packed. Honestly, it's been too warm and humid to sit outside, even in the evenings plus there's the bug situation and all the many bites I've accumulated … while my husband and son have only been bitten once!
Not much to report re our garden at home, my daughter said, although she cut the lawn it hardly needed doing as we hadn't had any rain … mini heat wave at home as well 🙂
Enjoy settling back into home and usual routines Frances, hope it all goes smoothly.
Rosie
You've looked great in all your IG photos — I find that combination of heat and humidity very difficult — and I'm also the one the bugs prefer! In fact, the one change I might make to my wardrobe in similar circumstances in the future would be to include a long skirt — still cooler than pants, I think, but would keep more of the bugs off my legs. . .
Thanks Frances. I’ve wondered about bringing a long skirt , I brought some wide leg, ankle length linen trousers which work quite well if it’s not too hot … if it wasn’t for the heat I’d be wearing skinnies with socks over lol 🙂 to keep out the bugs!! Saying that, short of trying a hazmat suit, if I cover one area they just find another! 🙂 I’ve worn trainers and socks today for the first time as my feet have bites on them but I’m missing the coolness of sandals 🙂 Not meaning to sound as though I’m moaning … I’m fine!
Rosie
You have my complete understanding and sympathy!
Thanks Frances! There’s a few of us out there isn’t there? Sue included…
Thank you for more pix of women in Zagreb who aren't trying too hard, but trying exactly the right amount. 🙂
I definitely need more shift-style dresses for summer in light-weight linen or other wafty natural fabrics.
Saturday I head for Venice and then for a float around the Adriatic. I regret more and more that my itinerary doesn't include Zagreb. In fact, I'm remembering now that 50+ years ago dear friends who went there came back raving about the city. Obviously, they were right. 🙂
Ann in Missouri
Have a lovely trip — Buon Viaggio!
I don't think you'd regret adding Zagreb to your list for future travel. . .
I find dresses so very comfortable, and cool when it's hot, which it's not just now! I've enjoyed your traveling posts, although there hasn't been much time for pondering and commenting. Hopefully, now that summer break is here and the grads have tossed their caps, I'll have a little more time for myself. For today, I'm moving rather slowly and enjoying a lot of musing time while looking out the window.
No, it's not at all hot right now, is it?! A relief to us after more than a month of temps in high 20's, low 30s, but I don't think we need too much relief!
Still, a cool-ish day with a few sprinkles makes for a good time to enjoy your newfound quiet and you'll still be able to putter in the garden in between bouts of reading curled up in your favourite chair — enjoy!