City travel in summer can be a nightmare, with temperatures already at heatwave heights rising to practically inhumane levels, especially for Londoners travelling on the Tube. How best to navigate a journey that will have you melting into a pool of sweat, when the destination is an office with arctic air conditioning?
The usual way to work is to put a cardigan or shawl on your desk chair to put on as soon as you arrive at an icy office. You can also secretly fight with your colleagues every day to get the temperature up. But surely there is a more chic way?
While it may seem counterintuitive to cover up in warm weather, smaller garments can make you feel clingier and warmer. Crop tops and mini shorts are definitely not work-friendly for (most) jobs, so leave them to Gen Z to wear at the beach. Instead, step away from the style of French fashion icon Inès de la Fressange, who chooses oversized men’s shirts in light blue cotton poplin as her summer staple. The fabric can cool you off, and the appeal of a sleek button-down shirt also fits with the perceived professionalism of tailored pieces.
Dress shirts are a workwear essential for good reason. Leave anything clingy at home. Looser garments allow air to circulate between your skin and body, keeping you cool when it’s warm but also providing insulation when it’s cold. If you want to add a touch of science to your style, Uniqlo’s Airism technology promises “comfort conditioning” that adapts to any weather (or any temperature on public transit).
Choosing pieces that do double duty is also a smart way to plan an outfit that needs to bridge the temperatures. “Look for pieces that have functionality, whether that’s a dress with a zipper that you can leave open more when you’re warm and zip up when you’re cold,” advises Virginia Seymour, managing director of Aligne.
Seymour is also a fan of shirts. “I love a great shirt as an alternative to the office vest. You can wear it open, buttoned up, sleeves down, sleeves rolled up… A shirt offers endless styling possibilities and is the perfect layering piece on a hot day.” Try it open as a shacket, worn over a cotton tank tucked into a pair of baggy linen pants for a figurative and literal way to stay cool on your commute but not shiver in the office.
The fabrics you choose are also essential to successfully styling your summer outfits. Thandi Maqubela, a legal executive known for her fashion-forward style choices, warns to “avoid silk because it just sticks to your body.” As luxurious as it is, silk’s insulating properties aren’t the best on a scorching day. It’s no coincidence that silk long johns are a staple in rural homes in the dead of winter. Polyester, a plastic-based fiber, also makes you sweat. Instead, opt for cotton, bamboo, or linen, all natural fibers that help regulate your body temperature and keep you cool.
Online designer destination Net-a-Porter has seen a 350 percent increase in searches for linen blazers in the past three months. The flax-based fiber is often grown more sustainably than conventional cotton and is an enduring summer favorite, despite its tendency to wrinkle. “Tod’s linen blazer borrows from traditional tailoring but has a summery edge,” says Libby Page, the company’s market director. “I’ll be pairing it with Loulou Studio’s pin-tucked cotton-silk midi skirt for an airy yet effortlessly elegant look that doesn’t feel too girly.”
Another key look to consider is a shorts suit. “A linen shorts suit with a light jacket is great,” suggests Page. “The fabric is breathable and you can throw it over a simple tank top for when you’re on the go.” If your office dress code prohibits you from showing your shoulders, cleavage, waist, or toes, the trend for longer shorts could be your savior. Page shares that “we’ve seen a 103 percent increase in searches for Bermuda shorts in the last three months.” More elegant—and realistic—than the tiny sports shorts trend started by Miu Miu, the new shorts offer modest coverage, while the wider leg silhouette lets in any available breeze to cool sticky thighs.
To judge how far you can push a draconian dress code in the summer, a little bit of reflection is needed. Maqubela believes that “the clothes we wear are valid tools for self-expression, especially in the professional context. [Dress codes] have become a bit more relaxed over the years, so perhaps people are more open to a less “boring” way of dressing in the office, which can only be a good thing. Ultimately, you need to get a feel for the office environment you’re in – a tech company might do things differently than a magic circle law firm.”
Workwear often comes in sleek, tailored shapes, and Aligne has turned tailored staples into viral hits over the past few seasons by pairing updated silhouettes with unexpected pops of color. While their long cardigans can be seen on all the coolest influencers, they also make a brilliant foundation for a versatile workwear look that’s fit for a boiling commute and a freezing office.
Seymour suggests a classic styling tip for balancing different temperatures. “With the English weather being what it is … it’s always about the third piece. Summer is no different.” The third piece is a styling trick that can transform a basic outfit with one additional piece.
“The waistcoat trend works really well for this,” Seymour continues. “You can pair a waistcoat with a skirt or trousers for your commute and add the matching blazer at the office.” The long poplin skirt and waistcoat combo in particular is all the rage. “The waistcoat trend is here to stay and takes you into fall, while skirts are light, airy and easy for warmer days but still look put together.” Isn’t that everyone’s ultimate goal, regardless of the temperature of the office air conditioning?
Get the look
Long cardigan, £119, Align; Linen skirt, £95, Rise and fall
Tod’s linen blazer, £1,320, Net-a-Porter; Loulou Studio cotton and silk blend skirt, £297, Net-a-Porter
Linen blouse, £160, Ma+Lin; Tailored shorts, £175, I+EM