Fashion Womenswear

Keep Your Cool in these Hot Weather Outfits

You asked so we answered. Here's how to heatwave-proof your wardrobe for when our unpredictable summer temperatures venture into double digits

By: George Elliot

Keep Your Cool in these Hot Weather Outfits

You asked so we answered. Here's how to heatwave-proof your wardrobe for when our unpredictable summer temperatures venture into double digits

By: George Elliot

Image by Carly Dame

Maintaining a feeling of freshness when temperatures climb is virtually impossible, but only if you haven't a capsule of hot weather outfits ready on standby. Granted, you could keep throwing together shorts and t-shirt combos all season long, but let's face it: you have top level standards, so even if a heatwave strikes, only clothes that both suit your style and dial down your body temperature will make the grade. Here's all you'll need to beat the heat...

Read more: What to Wear Over Dresses for Indecisive Weather

Fresh Fabrics

Muggy climes can leave you quite literally hot under the collar so turn to heatwave-proof fabrics. Almost weightless and with ventilating weaves, linens, paper-thin cottons and silks will encourage heat to escape from the body, so will see you through summer in a breeze. To maximise on that breeziness, avoid multi-layer outfits and instead opt for dresses and ready-to-wear co-ords whenever possible. It's just as important to know what not to wear, too, so during double digit temperatures, consider anything made from leather, nylon, dense denim and polyester out of bounds.

Read more: the Best Summer Dresses

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S Max Mara

Ribes Dress

£550.00

Size: 6 8 10

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FARM Rio

Off-White Peppers Maxi-Skirt

£185.00

Size:

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RIXO

Kendall Shirred Gingham Print Midi-Dress

£165.00 £95.00

Size: 6 8 10 12 14 16 View all

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Saloni

Blanca Linen Dress

£550.00 £325.00

Size: 8 10 14 16

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Kori

Peacock Embroidered Belted Midi-Dress

£230.00 £125.00

Size:

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Liberty

Lemon Blossom Silk Satin Resort Short Set

£350.00 £115.00

Size:

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SZ Blockprints

Kitty Poppy Print Dress

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Spacious Silhouettes

Your overarching objective is to invest in a rotation of summer dresses, shirts and separates that'll help you feel like you're wearing very little without having to bear all. This is where loose-fitting, oversized silhouettes come in. Hanging away from the body rather than clinging to it, they'll invite in welcome streams of cool air to flow over your skin, stopping you from breaking a sweat. Dramatic, sculptural and currently high up the fashion agenda, these large scale shapes also prove that dressing for comfort needn't jeopardise your dress sense either.

Read more: the Oversize Dresses Trend

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Stine Goya

Mia Green Poplin Stripes Shirt

£210.00 £95.00

Size: L

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Fortela

Golnar Mini-Dress

£750.00 £375.00

Size: 6 8

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Stine Goya

Fatuna Fiery Red Trousers

£250.00 £150.00

Size:

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Totême

Dart Neck Cotton Top

£260.00

Size:

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Maria de la Orden

Cora Pink Stripes Dress

£225.00 £95.00

Size: S M L

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Sleeper

Atlanta Linen Dress

£280.00 £175.00

Size: XS S L

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Fortela

Amira Kaftan Dress

£550.00 £325.00

Size: 8 10 12

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Opt for Cropped

Less is more when it comes to getting heatwave-ready, so look for pieces that come cropped, with mini-length hemlines and preferably without sleeves altogether. For further guidance on which items specifically should make their way into your summer wardrobe, look to those you can wear on repeat and tick-off some season’s biggest trends. In other words, 90s-style vests, loose-fitting shorts and larger-than-life florals.

Read more: Mini Versus Maxi Style: Which is Best?

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Aligne

Hauti Drawstring Shorts

£70.00 £40.00

Size:

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Pleats Please Issey Miyake

Pleated FLOAT Vest

£230.00

Size:

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FARM Rio

Cross-Stitch Toucan Embroidered Romper

£290.00

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Sleeper

Safari Flower Print Crop Shirt

£165.00 £95.00

Size:

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Paige

Akari Linen-Blend Floral Jumpsuit

£335.00

Size: 12 14

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Ganni

Crochet Racerback Top

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FARM Rio

Off-White Tailored Shorts

£150.00

Size: XS

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Considered Colours

Despite what you might think, wearing black in summer can be effortless, but if you’ve yet to brush up on the dos and don'ts then you might want to keep your outfits on the lighter side for the time being. Think: crisp shades of white, cream and sandy beige, as while dark colours absorb light, making you feel warmer, bright colours reflect sunlight, increasing your chances of staying chilled. Neutral tones like these can be mixed and matched into an almost limitless lineup of looks, so expect them to banish that Fashion paralysis, too.

Read more: Wearing Black in Summer: Too Hot to Handle?

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YMC

Vegas Broderie Anglaise Shirt

£150.00

Size:

Buy now

Citizens of Humanity

Ayla Printed Jeans

£330.00

Size: 25 26 28 View all

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Liberty

Daisy Scatter Hemp Resort Short Set

£245.00 £55.00

Size:

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Kori

Feathers Embroidered Midi-Tunic

£160.00 £95.00

Size:

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Liberty

Rachel Tana Lawn™ Cotton Poet Midi Dress

£265.00 £125.00

Size: XS S M L XL

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Acne Studios

Stripe Button-Up Shirt

£270.00

More colours available +

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Citizens of Humanity

Gaucho Trousers

£380.00

Size: 26 27 29

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Soothing Sleepwear

Finding the sweet spot between looking and feeling good during daylight hours can be hard enough, but after sunset a whole new task arises: getting an uninterrupted eight hours. The all too familiar frustration of spending sweltering night after night tossing and turning is enough to make you dread going to bed altogether, but that needn't be the case if you plan ahead. Consider putting your pillow in the freezer a few hours before lights out, arrange a strategic layout of fans to boost air flow and most importantly, slip into some pyjamas that are comforting, practically featherweight and breathable enough to help regulate your body temperature.

Read more: Best Pyjamas for Sleep-Seekers

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