Hands up if you check the forecast religiously each morning and wish to see a half dozen sunshine symbols lined up on your Weather app promising back-to-back sunshine and balmy evenings. Now, hands up if after two days of your wish coming true (and after feeling like you’re going to melt by the time you’ve reached work), you yearn for the weather to go back to be being “normal”.
Well, you’re not alone. As a nation, we’re obsessed with “good” weather, but the reality is that our wardrobes often aren’t up to the job of ensuring that we’re cool, calm and collected for going about our normal lives. Unfortunately, Bardot-style dresses and flip-flops won’t cut it in semi-formal work environments and a penchant for polyester will leave you feeling sweaty in the park. So what you need are some heat wave saviours (and not short-lived skimpy flings).
Cue linen dresses that are cooling but chic, pure cotton shirtdresses that you can dress up or down and crisp culottes for day-to-night dressing. Throw in a couple of carefully considered tops and you’ll be heat wave-proof. Lucky for you, we’ve picked out the coolest gems below. Keep scrolling to get shopping.
Didn’t think chic shorts existed? Think again.
No swollen feet here.
Topshop answers our onesie dreams with this linen miracle.
Even this beautiful dress’s name sounds like a refreshing drink.
Related: These 21 Affordable Wedding Dresses Look as Good as Designer Ones
Coloured, narrow frames are still where it’s at.
Dress smugly in this wear-forever shirtdress. Roll the sleeves up, pop on some slides and you’re good to go.
Your feet will thank you for slipping into these beauties.
The ultimate elevated summer dress.
The jaunty ribbon on this artisanal hat will make your outfit utterly Instagrammable.
If you can’t tear yourself away from black, this investment skirt is the one.
Made for wafting around in the sun-soaked countryside.
Because “ugly” isn’t in Prada’s footwear vocabulary.
Related: 36 Iconic 1980s Fashion Moments We Never Want to Forget
A super-chic (but not super-short) LWD.
Need to look the part? This directional dress won’t have you melting.
Espadrilles that are smart enough for work.
This season’s must-have colour.
Wear with a crisp white tee.
A fashion-forward shirtdress unlike any other.
Only Zimmermann could make culottes this chic.Now time to tackle that other summer sartorial conundrum: What to wear to a wedding.Opening Image: @ericadavies
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