Don’t sweat it. The art of dressing in extreme heat.
We know that at some stage it’s going to get sweaty. We usually know a few days in advance, because everyone’s talking about the forecast (teenagers, I’ve realised, talk about the sunshine in UV terms, not actual heat) - and yet, it seemingly takes us by surprise and all of a sudden we have no idea what to wear. Has it ever been this hot before? We are dumbstruck. Were we all walking around naked? The answer is yes, and no. Since it’s officially too hot to ‘just throw something on’, here are my five golden rules for dressing in extreme heat without overheating, overthinking or giving up on style altogether.
Spaghetti straps, or none. Your armpits need to breathe. Even the lightest, gauziest shirt is too much covering once the thermometer hits 30. Bra-less is best, if you can (one less garment, one less layer of insulation) but I can already hear the shrieking…so if you need to wear a bra, know that you can, under a strappy top or dress - the trick is to choose a coloured bra, so that you’re wearing it with intention. We do not want to see an old, thick, beige bra strap under a pretty top or dress. A completely strapless dress is excellent if you want to tan and is a complete outfit when paired with some statement earrings and flat sandals. Speaking of sandals…
Free the feet. Don’t worry if it’s been six months since your last pedicure - even one coat of hot pink or bright red nail polish on the toenails, painted in haste, will disguise the state of your feet enough that you can slip on a pair of sandals. Just as keeping your extremities warm in winter can help your entire body to retain heat, it works conversely too. Keeping your feet as cool as possible will lower your overall body temperature. If your feet haven’t been exposed for a while, rub in a little Perfect Leg Skin Miracle by ‘This Works’ onto the top of the foot for a pretty bronze hue (this goes for legs too).
One piece is better than two. I’m talking about clothes here, not swimwear. One floaty dress is going to keep you much cooler than a separate top and bottom and gives you a built-in breeze. Go for something loose but be careful of smock styles as they can look like maternity wear. A couple of really good dresses that you can wear on rotation are going to be an excellent investment. A dress is only one thing to think about which removes the decision-making involved in trying to work out which top goes with which bottom. Need to get dressed in under a minute? No problem.
Light shades, cooler days. Ever felt like you were melting in a black t-shirt? It’s not in your head. It’s science. Geeky stats, courtesy of environmental scientists who tested different shirt colours in direct summer sunlight, show that wearing darker colours not only increases body temp but also heart rate and perspiration. After just 5 minutes of exposure to bright sunlight, white and yellow shirts stayed at 30 degrees while the black and dark green ones spiked to over 50, resulting in a massive 20 degree difference in heat and an extra 104g of perspiration. Ew.
Composition is crucial. Wear breathable fabrics - and this goes for underwear, too. Stay away from anything flammable (needs no explanation). Polyester and nylon fibres act like a greenhouse, trapping heat and humidity close to your skin. Natural fibres allow air circulation and help your body to regulate temperature more efficiently. Linen is the reigning champion of heatwave dressing, largely because it can absorb a lot of moisture before it starts to feel damp.
Some of my favourite brands for breezy summer dressing are Asceno, Toteme, James Perse, Ères, Ancient Greek Sandals and Aspiga (whose snake sandals I buy on repeat), but don’t worry about the brands too much - I’ve seen clients with great summer dresses they’ve bought in the supermarket while doing the grocery shopping. Remember, the best dressed people in temperatures like these are usually just the one suffering the least.