British weather is temperamental at the best of times, fluctuating between rainy days and sweltering dessert summers, without a thought to what would become of our ‘poor wardrobes’. Is it any wonder therefore that we are uncertainly dressed half of the time, not sure whether to come fully decked out in as many jumpers as possible in the middle of summer or to go out looking like you are off to the beach in December, because the weather can’t quite make up its mind just yet. But I’m certainly not complaining about how glorious the weather has been recently with the summer heat plunging me headfirst into its rose tinted world, where the reality of everyday life and all its banal responsibilities fades into nothingness in the summer heatwave of 2018. And while the rain has come to battle against the sun once more this weekend, I can’t help but think that the summer heat will be here to stay, at least until the kids go back to school. But knowing how to beat the summer heat in style can often be a tricky skill to master; after all being able to out-manoveur the weather in somewhere as unsure about the weather as the UK is near impossible, unless you want a carry a suitcase with you everywhere you go with everything from a bikini to a winter coat. Nope that just isn’t practical Deidre.
Speaking of Deidre- aka my imaginary fairy of wisdom- there’s no ifs and buts about it ‘summer is here’ and its not going anywhere just yet, so if I hear one more person complain about the heat, I will lovingly, with a cheeky glint in my eye show them videos of them ‘complaining’ when the weather is cold and raining, in the hope that they will quit cursing the summer heat and offending the sun god themselves. Please sun come back and bathe us in your wondrous golden glory. As for the rain you can- I then refrain from inserting a certain four letter swear word, followed by the word ‘off’. Yep, no rain and cold for me, I’m a summer Queen don’t ya know? So if you are looking for ways to beat the summer heat in style then fear not, Deidre has consulted with her stylist ‘Alan’ to make sure that you look fabulous in the heat, without feeling the need to jump into the sea every five seconds. Because even part time mermaids like myself, need to spend some time on land once in a while.
Beat The Summer Heat By… Wearing Natural Fibers Like Cotton And Linen
Even though Deidre likes reveling in the sun, at the same time as a vegetarian she would rather not turn into crispy bacon and the very thought makes her shudder. Which is why she told me in confidence that the best way to beat the summer heat is to wear natural breathable fabrics like cotton and light linen, which allows ‘air to pass’ through the fabrics, giving ventilation to the body and thus staying cool. So even if you don’t have air conditioning or a fan to make sure you don’t turn into an ice cream puddle, stray away from dark materials and heavy fabrics like sequins, brocade or pleather and faux suede, because these materials trap heat and can make you feel like you have become trapped in your own body.
Lets Go Meet The Stripey Dipey Monster In Our Summer Trends Approved Dress
Lighter fabrics like the striped linen midi dress above however is not only incredible stylish but in its simplicity makes an ideal ‘outfit’ for not only beating the summer heat at the beach, but also at the shops, parties and any other social occasion that you have coming up on your ‘social calendar’. And don’t worry, you don’t need to wear a dress to feel less like frazzled bacon either; cotton tank tops and linen maxi skirts or shorts are all made of natural fibers to make sure that your clothing does not restrict you from having fun in the sun. And speaking of fabrics one of the best ways of beating heat this summer is by opting for woven fabrics like tartan, gingham and flannel. Not only are woven fabrics both practical and stylish materials that are no stranger to gracing the S/S catwalks, but they are also suitable all year round. Of course some woven fabrics like velvet and brocade are more suited to autumn and winter fashion, but fabrics like damask, terrycloth and chiffon are all beautiful summer heat proof fabrics that will allow you to feel cool even under the blaze of the summer sun.
But remember, always be safe in the sun, which leads me to my next point…
Beat The Summer Heat By… Using The Shade To Protect Yourself From The Blazing Sun
The Floral Halterneck Swimsuit Is Ideal For Walking Around Shoreditch As A Part Time Mermaid And Pretending That You Are At The Beach
It goes without saying that style transcends beyond just what you wear to beat the summer heat, but also how you protect yourself from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Taking steps to stay in the shade between 11-3, whether that be abroad or in the UK can be the difference between heat exhaustion and a subtle tan, while it is advisable to wear a large floppy brimmed hat, sunglasses and lather on sunscreen on both yourself and loved ones, ensuring that young children and babies are covered in factor 50+ because their skin is even more sensitive to the summer heat than adults. And don’t think that sunscreen is just reserved to the beach either, ensure that you try and keep in the shade and wear sunscreen even if you are walking to the shops, so that you can enjoy the sun in a safe capacity.
If you are on the beach though opt for a parasol to shade your face and body from the sun, while amping up the sunscreen to save the skin from burning in the summer heat. And don’t worry you can still be stylish in the shade; wear a sarong tied around your waist- or kimono as Exhibit B shows above, with sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays.
Beat the Summer Heat By…Using long strap bags
It might seem strange for my dear friend Deidre to suggest that bags with longer straps are more summer heat friendly, given that it is ‘just a bag’ but then again she is the voice of reason.She says that bags that have short straps will trap heat in the summer so, try using longer strap bags like cross body or saddle bags which will help you feel less like an egg in a frying pan and more like an ice creaming chilling in the freezer, except without the fear of being frozen of course. Not to mention that if you are like me and need countless rubbish in your bags to help comfort you at all times, cross body bags can help you feel connected to those random shopping receipts from 5 years ago more so than a rucksack ever could. Now how is that for bonding?
Oh and if you are like me and are constantly worried about losing your phone, mainly because you are clumsy and have a habit of misplacing things then fear not. According to Deidre, she knows the perfect app to ensure that her Nokia-which still has that retro snake game- doesn’t go running off with another owner, and its called mspy cell phone track . Oh and even better; if you are a parent who wants to keep track of your child’s smartphone activities, MSPY allows you to ensure that your kid is staying safe in the summer heat.
Beat The Summer Heat By… Wearing Light Colors
It is a proven scientific fact that dark colors absorb heat and lighter colors dispel heat rather than absorbing it. In fact a dear friend told me that when she is back home in Delhi, it is physically impossible for her to wear dark colours like black because it traps the heat and makes her feel ‘rather claustrophobic’ as well as feeling exhausted in the sun. Which makes perfect sense, given that retailers tend to ‘promote lighter colours in the summer’ because they are more ‘summer heat efficient’. So wearing lighter colors like creams, pastels, baby pink are not only beautiful colours juxtaposed against a summer tan but will also allow you to look ‘cool as a cucumber’ in this burning heat.
So whether you choose to covet a monochromatic all white assemble to look chic in the summer or fancy yourself as being somewhat of a colour chameleon like myself and would much rather be bold and bright, AKA as extra as possible, your summer wardrobe will benefit from lighter colours to keep you looking fly in the summer heat.
Beat The Summer Heat By …Saying Hello To Boyfriend Jeans
For some wearing natural fibers like cotton and linen is just not an option and they are more content to walk around in blue clad legs, wearing their favourite denim jeans. And it’s ok I totally get it; not only are you minimizing the risk of flashing your underwear to every poor person that walks past you but you are also feeling ludicrously comfortable and ready to attempt to do the splits, albeit regretting it when your scuggy underwear now has a full frontal show. Which is why if you can’t bear to be without your favourite ‘denim jeans’ steer away from skinny jeans, which as flattering as they are, trap heat and instead opt for loose styles like ‘Mom Jeans’, ‘Boyfriend Jeans’ and wide legged jeans, which would be more comfortable in the sweltering summer heat.
If like me you are a skinny jean fan and don’t like anything that is too wide legged (unless they are floral trousers in which case bring them on) then rolling up ‘Mom Jeans’ and adding shape with a well picked out belt, might be your best bet, although instead of boots, opt for sandals and a crop top for a more summer friendly look. So you see Deidre is not so square after all is she?
Beat The Summer Heat By…Using SPF to protect your skin
In Britain we tend to get over-excited by the fact it is not raining and go all out when the sun makes a much welcome appearance. Gone are the over-cautious thick jumpers and ankle boots with tights and in its place we go by the mantra of summer becoming the perfect time to wear short clothes and show some skin. We fling out the sensible cardis and in its place are shorts, dresses, off the shoulder tops and one piece swimsuits and bikinis designed to help us get as tanned as possible, which while fabulous looking, shouldn’t stop us from remembering as to how important it is to use SPF to protect our skin and prevent against getting sun burn.
After all we tend to get complacent in the sun, reveling in the sun which had been denied to us the other 30 days in the year so it’s easy to see why we get so excited. But even when you put on a high factor sunscreen, ensure that you keep reapplying throughout the day because SPF only ‘slows the damage down’ , it does not prevent your skin against burning. Oh and top tip? According to GP Hawthorne, adults should use seven teaspoons of sunscreen including but not limited to ‘one for each arm and leg, one for your front, one for your back, one for your face and neck and If you’re bald, you might need an extra teaspoon’.
The heat wave has gone for this year in Denmark too it seems and some rain has coe in along some clouds but still a nice degree that do not feel cold. Still a cool way to handle styling in UK.
Thanks for sharing!