How To Handle The Heat
Unlike Britain, some countries do actually get a summer [ed: ironically, we are now in the middle of a UK heat wave]. Some overseas readers might even get too much of a summer for our liking (I’m looking at you, western United States). We British are a perennially miserable lot that like to moan about the weather at every opportunity and then lose our heads as soon as the sun finally decides to show its face and the temperature rises to an almost stifling 15 degrees. Summer here consists of one or two days a month when all the men deem it acceptable to remove their t-shirts and walk around in public; women start wearing clothes that are almost always less than flattering; and everybody gets so comprehensively burnt they turn blue. But just because we don’t experience anything like hot weather, it doesn’t mean that FashionBeans can ignore those that do. As a response to comments on a previous article highlighting the need for a piece devoted solely to those of you lucky enough to experience an actual summer or, at the very least, temperatures that regularly top 25 degrees, it’s time for a guide to handling the heat.
Key Piece: Shorts
If you are fortunate enough to be in a situation in which you need to fight proper heat, the ‘less is more’ mantra certainly rings true. If the temperature is high enough to make walking bare foot painful, then unless you’re completely acclimatised to the heat, jeans and even most trousers are a no go. Shorts will therefore be the obvious choice. Your choices are pretty much endless, but I would certainly suggest you avoid denim styles – many of which tend to be close fitting and heavy. Chino shorts, on the other hand, are a great lightweight basic to have in your wardrobe, especially in neutrals like stone or navy. To push things a little further try pastel shades of pink, yellow, purple or green, all of which are extremely versatile and will inject a bit of life into any outfit. Make sure you also take note of Alex’s great article on patterned and embroidered shorts, which will help separate your look from the masses. For the smarter dressers among you, tailored shorts are a solid option. Often cut slightly straighter and available in lighter materials such as linen or seersucker, they can be a refined way of keeping cool. Neutral colours will again provide maximum versatility, but you could certainly look out for examples in stripes or checks (think madras) for something a little different. We must briefly reference swim shorts here, which were covered comprehensively by Ben Jones recently in a two part series. Find the right pair and you can effortlessly glide from beach to bar without the hassle of changing your clothes.
- Allsaints Mitre Deck Shorts
- River Island Red Skinny Stretch Turn Up Shorts
- Orlebar Brown Setter Short-length Swim Shorts
- River Island Blue Shorts
- Marc By Marc Jacobs Harvey Cotton-twill Shorts
- Nike Air Pegasus 83 Og
