Keep your cool in, from left to right, a cropped, wide-sleeve shirt from Italian fashion brand Baci, Cos’s white-is-right-for-summer matched linen set and a loose-fitting shirt from Lintico.
By Janet Kelly
“WHAT DO you wear when it’s 95 degrees outside?” Good question, glad you asked.
If you haven’t heard the conventional wisdom for coping with super-hot days, the advice is to wear natural fabrics, such as cotton and linen; cover up likely-to-get-sun-scorched body parts and stick to loose-fitting rather than tight and clingy clothing.
Jessica Glasscock, a fashion historian at Parsons School of Design, had this to say:
“All the perennial advice on dressing for the heat is accurate. Wear natural and breathable fabrics like linen and cotton. Wear light colors. But I might also add that you should never underestimate the power of aeration. Wear long, light skirts that will shield your body from the sun and promote airflow. Wear clothes with lace and mesh elements to give your skin even more ways to breathe. Consider dresses that plunge at the front or back to keep cool. Let your clothes and your body have space to let your natural cooling systems work.”
We’d love to hear your strategy for keeping cool (tell us in the comments!) In the meantime, here are my choices:
I’ll be thinking cool thoughts in this cotton voile pale blue blouse—with a boho chic vibe. It sells for $265 at Ba&Sh.
Steamy summer days make me want to wear loose-fitting clothing, like Banana Republic’s cotton poplin maxi dress with its roomy, caftan silhouette. Be mindful of too loose—caftans can overwhelm a small frame and bulk up a larger one. Too oversize? Size down. It sells for $160.
Ever since the Wall Street Journal ran a story on Aritizia’s Effortless Pant, pointing out how they look good on all body types, I’ve been tempted to try a pair. (The wide-leg trousers come in more than a dozen colors, six types of fabric and four different lengths.) The cropped, high-rise version of the pant in linen with Lyocell (wrinkle-resistant) checks my boxes for a summer trouser, and it’s reduced from $148 to $103.60 in this lilac hue.
Yup, boho’s back. This billowy, tunic-length top might swallow me up, but it looks so darn comfortable for swanning around in.
A more tailored caftan, this midi dress is a linen blend, which is less likely to wrinkle but still feels light and airy. It’s a wallet-friendly $72 at Banana Republic Factory.
I had never heard of Lintico before I stumbled across this loose-fit shirt in a linen-cotton blend. The refreshing plaid pattern adds to its appeal. It sells for $64.90.
Wear this oversize linen shirt and matching tailored linen pants to look crisp even on a scorching hot day. I’d hem the “legs that pool over your shoes.”
Just looking at this pleated midi dress makes my temperature go down. Wear for a pool party or a barbecue. Note that you might need assistance because it ties in the back. It sells for $139 at & Other Stories.
An alternative to linen, this Suzie gauze pant and matching Leo gauze shirt from Michael Stars looks polished and cool, too, in this lettuce-green hue.
If I had a swanky lunch date, I’d want to wear this swingy, yummy-colored textured skirt with just a smidgen of fringe at the hem. If you need incentive, the price has gone from $425 to $212.50.
I’ve shown this embroidered short-sleeve dress before, but I couldn’t resist a repeat look because of its breeze-friendly features—silky cotton fabric, dolman sleeves and flowy skirt with side slits. It sells for $395 at Ayr.
I have a version of this cotton cropped shirt (mine’s in white), and I have worn it so many times I’ve lost count. Unbuttoned over a tank top or by itself, its wide sleeves and hem are airflow-friendly. It sells (final sale) for $40 at Baci Fashion.
Hi Janet, I love My Little Bird. I remember the discussion in Alice’s kitchen. I would like to share the individual articles on my FB page. Is there a way to make these “sharable.” Thanks Sue. Went directly to the Baci Fashion!
Thank you so much, Sue!
As to your question, when I want to share something on FB, I copy, the url, e.g., https://mylittlebird.com/2024/07/dressing-for-a-heat-wave/ and post it on my Facebook page, along with a comment. Does that make sense?
Loving these heat wave style tips! Natural fabrics and loose fits are a must for me too
Seersucker is a good fabric in the heat, too. But nothing works in high humidity.