In warm weather, fabric labels are your friend, says Lara Pyne, co-founder of Chelsea Peers, which has a cult following for its ultra-soft and lightweight summer loungewear. ‘Check the labels for breathable textiles like linen or linen-blends that give the feeling of freedom and lightness.’
Cotton, hemp and silk will all serve you well in the heat. Several brands have dedicated garment ranges for hot weather, or for those who generally tend to feel the heat, such as Everlane’s Air collection and Uniqlo’s Airism.
Choose synthetic fabrics wisely. The average polyester dress will only make you feel hotter (and is best avoided), but plenty of synthetic blends are engineered to keep you cool and wick sweat away from the body, such as those used in activewear. I’m not suggesting you spend the summer in your gym kit, but brands including Varley and Vuori have done a great job segueing into items that wouldn’t look out of place in the office, including trousers and dresses. These pieces tend to survive washing machines well too.
The most powerful hot weather accessory, though? A bottle of chilled water. Nope, not a fashion item, but it’ll make you cooler in every sense of the word.