SUMMER 2026
The Australian Women's JournalEveryday stories, personal style & a little inspiration.
FASHION & STYLE · SUMMER DRESSING
Too Warm for a Cardigan, Too Bare Without One?
Every summer, many of us face the same small dilemma: we'd like our arms and middle covered, but the cardigan is far too warm by eleven o'clock. Here's the easygoing layer that solves it.
By Louise Hartley
Fashion & Lifestyle Contributor
It usually happens around half past ten in the morning.
You left the house in a light cardigan because it was still a little cool, and because, if we're honest, you'd rather not have your upper arms on show all day.
By the time you've parked the car and walked to the café, the sun is out properly. The cardigan is starting to feel like a blanket.
So you take it off and drape it over your handbag. And then you spend the rest of the morning feeling a little more exposed than you'd like, or carrying a cardigan around that you're not even wearing.
Then you walk into the shopping centre, the air conditioning hits you, and you wish you had it back on again.
Sound familiar?
If it does, you're in very good company. Wanting a bit of coverage over the arms is one of the most common summer frustrations among women over fifty, and it doesn't go away just because the thermometer climbs past thirty.
The problem isn't you. It's that most of the usual solutions were never designed for a warm summer's day.
THE SUMMER DILEMMAWhy the usual cover-ups never quite work
Most of us have tried them all at some point.
The cardigan. Lovely in spring, but most are knitted to keep you warm. Close-fitting sleeves trap heat exactly where you feel it most.
The scarf or wrap. It works for about ten minutes, until it slips off one shoulder and you spend the afternoon rearranging it.
The long-sleeved blouse. Covered, yes. But buttoned cuffs and a fitted body can feel close and sticky by midday.
The oversized shirt. Comfortable, but it can easily look like you've borrowed it from your husband.
And going sleeveless? Some women love it, and good on them. But plenty of us simply feel more ourselves with a little more covered.
What we actually want is something in between. A layer that covers the arms, skims over the tummy and hips, and still lets the air move.
"Being covered doesn't have to mean being hot. The secret is a layer that is open, long and loose."
The Australian Women's Journal · Style Notes
THE THIRD LAYERThe long, open layer that changes everything
Stylists have a name for it: the third layer. It's the piece you wear over a simple top and trousers that pulls an outfit together.
In winter, that's a coat or a cardigan. In summer, it needs to work differently.
The best summer third layer has three things in common.
It's open at the front. Nothing to button, nothing to pull tight. Air can circulate freely, so it never feels closed in.
It's long. A layer that falls well past the hips draws the eye downwards in one long line. It's naturally flattering, and it covers the tummy and hips without any effort.
Its sleeves are loose. Wide, elbow-length sleeves cover the upper arm completely but leave room for the breeze. They also give some cover from the sun on shoulders and arms, which matters under a strong summer sun.
Pair it with a light top and soft, wide trousers in the same easy fabric, and you have an outfit that looks put together, but feels like you could wear it all day in the garden.
Which is exactly what the Giulia set was designed to do.
THE GIULIA SETThree pieces, and more outfits than you'd think
The Giulia is a three-piece set: a long open tunic, a printed top and a pair of wide-leg trousers.
Worn together, the soft layers move with you as you walk. It's relaxed, a little bohemian, and it looks like you made an effort without anyone being able to tell how little effort it took.
But the real value is that each piece works on its own, too.
All three together for lunch with friends, a day out or a family get-together. Add flat sandals and a natural bag and you're done.
Just the tunic over a white top and the trousers you already own. It turns an everyday outfit into something that feels finished, and it's the piece you'll reach for on every warm morning.
The top and trousers on their own for the hottest days at home or in the garden, with the tunic close by for when you head out or the air conditioning gets chilly.
That's why the set is worth more than its price tag suggests. At $119.95 for three pieces, you're paying around $40 per piece, for something you can wear at least three different ways all summer long.
PACKING LIGHTMade for cruises, caravan trips and visits to the grandchildren
If you have a trip coming up this summer, this is where the Giulia really earns its place.
Three pieces that mix and match means fewer things in the suitcase and more outfits once you arrive. The tunic doubles as a cover-up by the pool, a light layer on a breezy deck in the evening and a sun layer during day trips.
The relaxed shape is made for long days of sitting and walking. Nothing pinches when you sit for hours on a coach, a plane or in the car on the way to see the family.
And because the fabric is soft and fluid, it's designed to look relaxed rather than crisp. A light crease is part of the look, so you're not hunting for an iron the moment you unpack.
"The best summer outfits are the ones you don't have to think about. You put them on, and you get on with your day."
The Australian Women's Journal · Style Notes
FIT & SIZINGA relaxed fit that doesn't cling
The Giulia is cut to skim over the body, not hug it. The trousers are wide through the leg, the top sits easily, and the tunic falls loosely from the shoulders.
It comes in sizes S to 2XL, which is roughly a size 8 to 18 in Australia and New Zealand.
As always, we'd suggest comparing the size chart on the product page with a similar outfit you already own. If you're between two sizes, sizing up usually gives the most comfortable, flowing fit.
And if it isn't quite right, Beaumont Melbourne offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, with free shipping on every order.
Summer dressing doesn't have to be a daily compromise between staying cool and feeling covered.
Sometimes all it takes is one long, open layer that lets you have both.
Leave the cardigan at home this summer. You won't miss it.