What to wear in a hot office

Here are a few tips on how to dress, while staying smart, in a hot office…

Layer up

Unreliability is a defining feature of the British summer, so being adaptable is important.

This is where layers come into their own. You could be faced with a bright summer morning, then a sweaty tube ride, followed by a hot office with occasional blasts of air con.

With layers, you can add and take away when needed - a lightweight cardigan or jacket is perfect for such situations.

Breathable is best

Natural materials are your best friend in the summer as they help your body to breathe and reduce that sticky feeling.

Light cottons are great but wool can sometimes be even better. It might seem counter intuitive to choose wool in the summer, but shoe liners are great as they help keep the lower leg cooler.

Keep it smart

The temptation in the summer is to bring the beach look to work – but you need to remember that you’re still in an office environment and could have a client popping in at any time. This means you’ve got to keep your outfit on the smart side.

Smart t-shirts are fine, as long as they’re simple and well fitting. Avoid bold logos and images on your t-shirts – a single colour works best.

Loosen up

Circulating the air around your body helps you keep cool, so it’s time to ditch the skinny jeans and go for a more relaxed fit. The same goes for any tight-fitting tops and shorts.

Slim fitting is fine, but having the material pressing against your skin can cause it to heat up, and sweat patches become much more apparent.