Capri Pants are Underrated

Emulate Brigitte Bardot with this classic and current trend

First popular in the 1950s and '60s, Capri pants add chic, vintage style to your wardrobe. Often referred to as pedal pushers, Capri pants tend to be tight fitting and sit above the ankle. For me, I associate them most strongly with 1950's images of Brigitte Bardot. Tight-fitting, figure revealing Capri pants were a staple of the French actress's style. At a time when the wearing of trousers by women was still in its early stages, Bardot chose to wear Capri pants that unapologetically embraced her feminine shape. This tied in with her bohemian reputation and artistic way of life. Other iconic women who wore Capri pants in the 1950s include Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.

Bardot showing off her simple, yet chic, French style with a striped top, red Capri pants and red ballet flats. Image via elegancepedia.com

Brigitte Bardot often wore a waist cinching belt to further emphasise her figure. Image via elegancepedia.com

Capri pants were also particularly in style in the 1990s and 2000s. During this period, 50's style Capri pants were in fashion, as well as looser, sporty/cargo styles. While all of these styles are available today, I still prefer the high waisted, classic 1950's look.

The classic look. A model on the catwalk wearing high-waisted, tight fitting Capri pants at the 2003 Balenciaga spring ready-to-wear show. Image via voguerunway.com

This summer, the tight fitting cropped trouser look has made a comeback with celebrities including Alexa Chung and Gigi Hadid sporting the trend.

Alexa Chung, in July 2023, wearing animal print Capri pants with a white shirt and black Miu Miu flats. Via vogue.co.uk

Below are a selection of my favourite high-waisted, tight fitting Capri pants, available right now, to help you channel Brigitte Bardot's classic 1950's style:

We The Free Unapologetic pedal pushers/ Capri pants, in faux leather, from Free People. £68. Click image for link.

Halima slim-fit, stretch-woven pedal pushers/ Capri trousers by House of CB. £69. Click image for link.

Ro Rox Capri pants in navy. Available in a wide variety of colours. £16.99. Click image of link.

Dusty pink cropped stretch trouser by Roman. Available in a range of colours. £24.99. Click image for link.

Let me know in the comments what you think of the style and who has worn them best. Thank you for reading, Gina.

Non-Linked Image Sources

http://www.elegancepedia.com/mode/elegant-style-icon-wardrobe-essentials-brigitte-bardot-in-capri-pants

https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2003-ready-to-wear/balenciaga/slideshow/collection#10

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/alexa-chung-capri-pants-ballet-pumps

Vibrant Beaded Necklaces to Uplift Your Look

My picks of the prettiest, high-quality beaded necklaces for a pop of summer colour

I've been searching through jewellery for the colourful bead necklaces that will boost your mood and elevate your look. Made with high quality materials, including semi-precious stones, gold plated brass, glass and freshwater pearls, these necklaces are sure to be treasured. These beaded creations look beautiful alone or combined with your go-to gold/silver pieces for an eclectic look.

An assortment of enchanting necklaces, including the multicoloured Treasure necklace in gold (£90), by Astrid & Miyu. Click image for link.

For calming colours and peaceful energy, Astrid & Miyu agate charm beaded necklace in gold. Made of 18k gold plated silver, pale blue lace agate, blue chalcedony for optimism, amethyst for grace and blue kyanite for truth. £90. Click image for link.

I love the dreamy and serene pastel colours of this option by Brinker & Eliza. Livia necklace in lavender opal. Made with 24k gold plated brass and lavender opal rondelle beads. £185.19. Click image for link.

The combination of green and orange give this necklace a really summery feel. Also available in turquoise and orange. Sonia mother of pearl and green bead necklace by Ottoman Hands. Made of 21k gold plated recycled brass beads, painted mother of pearl and green stone beads. £55. Click image for link. (Ottoman Hands also have a matching Sonia bracelet available)

This rainbow candy bead necklace by Gather Brooklyn is made with beautiful, vibrant semi-precious stone beads. £392. Click image for link.

The Stay Hydrated Necklace by Stay Salty. With petite multicolour seed beads, 18k gold plated brass and a natural freshwater pearl. £47. Click image for link.

The Serene Necklace by Cloud Haven. This quirky and charming necklace includes 14k gold, gemstones, glass and pearls. I particularly love the intricate animal beads. £178. Click image for link. Cloud Haven make a wide variety of unusual, colourful and creative bead necklaces including a 'No Cruelty' necklace.

Please let me know, in the comments, which bead necklace is your favourite and why. Also, are there any other brands that you would recommend for beaded jewellery? Thank you for reading, Gina.

A Pale Girl's Summer Survival Guide; Sun Protection for Pale Skin

Bring out the big hats and SPF 50 with style

Temperatures have been soaring globally this summer. News headlines about the impact of global warming on our climate are alarming. Raising temperatures are a concerning and multifaceted issue, but I want to focus this post on one area of concern: skin protection. As someone with extremely pale skin and light eyes, the need to protect myself against the sun is an issue I can't ignore. I even had to have a section of skin removed from my leg (a mole and the surrounding area) as a teenager due to precancerous tissue. Yes, it's not a pleasant story, but protection against the sun really is very important.

An early modelling shot of Marilyn Monroe on a beach. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis. Getty Images via remindmagazine.com

Luckily, there are a plethora of high SPF products, many of which are cruelty-free and vegan, available today. Knowledge of sun damage has increased amongst society. Gone are the days of 1980's tanning oil ads. Whilst this is the case, there are always more sun protection tips to learn and incorporate into your routine. Also, it's important to note that while these sun protecting products are an essential for pale skin care, considering sun protection for all skin types is important. Below: I've chosen standout sun protection products to help you enjoy those hot and humid days.

A sun hat with a wide brim makes a world of difference on a sunny day. It protects you from UV rays, keeps you feeling cool and goes towards protecting you from heat stroke. This one by Free People is stylish, packable and comes in a range of colours. Shady Character wide brimmed hat in blush. £68. Click image for link.

Ultra Violette Sheen Screen hydrating SPF 50 lip balm in Rose. Available in several colours. £16. Click image for link.

Daily defence oil-free SPF 50 sunscreen, for all skin types, by cruelty-free brand Skin & Me. With niacinamide and vitamin E. £19.99 plus shipping. Click image for link.

UV rays also damage and dry your hair. Aussie SOS supercharged moisture hair mask. £12 for 450ml. I always love the gorgeous scent of Aussie products. Click image for link.

A more affordable, but still high SPF, cruelty-free lip product. Solait 30 SPF moisturising, water resistant lip protection balm. £2.79. Click image for link.

A highly rated product to protect your whole body against UV rays, by a cruelty-free brand. Bondi Sands SPF 50 fragrance-free sunscreen lotion 500ml pump pack. Reduced to £15.19 from £18.99. Click image for link.

A cruelty-free, high SPF product that can be worn under makeup. Bondi Sands facial sunscreen lotion SPF 50+ 75ml. Reduced to £3.49 from £6.99. Click image for link.

When choosing clothing for skin coverage on a hot day, there are a number of factors to consider. Certain colours and materials are more resistant to UV rays. Dark and bright colours offer better sun protection than light colours. This is because dark and bright colours absorb UV rays instead of allowing them to penetrate your skin. However, wearing black clothing on a hot day can be extremely uncomfortable. In my own experience, I wore a black t-shirt to a concert last summer, and I bought a light-coloured tee from a merchandise stall just to cool down. In terms of materials that are better at reflecting UV rays, according to skincancer.org, you may want to choose synthetic fibres, silks, denim, canvas and unbleached cotton.

Another valuable piece of advice, offered by skincancer.org, is to hold material up to the light. The more transparent it looks when doing this, the less UV protection it is likely to offer. Ultimately, choosing your clothing in the summer comes down to considering your own needs and preferences while balancing protection with comfort. As someone with pale skin, I prefer to wear a midi or maxi dress for greater coverage:

Frankie organic cotton midi dress in Gumdrop Green by Aspiga. Available in 5 different colours (I also really like the pink). £100. Click image for link.

Superdry vintage long halter cami dress in cream. Made of 37% cotton, 59% viscose and 4% linen. Also available in pink and in black. Reduced to £45.49 from £64.99. Click image for link.

Please let me know in the comments of any products/pieces of advice that keep you feeling comfortable and safe on sunny days. I am by no means an expert in sun protection, but I hope that these products will be a helpful addition to your routine. Make sure to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water! Thank you for reading, love Gina.

Writing Sources

https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sun-protective-clothing/

Non-Linked Image Sources

https://www.remindmagazine.com/article/3581/old-hollywood-stars-in-swimsuits-photos/