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Fashion

Summer workwear: What to wear to the office in a heatwave

By Rebecca Gonsalves on 23/7/2019

Summer work outfits sorted: keep your cool during a heatwave with these high street hits

Photo Credit: Tyler Joe
Photo Credit: Tyler Joe
Dressing for work in the summer months can prove particularly tricky. First there's the range of temperatures you'll navigate throughout your day, from tropical climes on the tube to Arctic air-conditioning.


Not to mention maintaining a professional polish isn't easy when you feel like you're melting. And your carefully curated holiday wardrobe isn't much help - cut-offs and caftans aren't exactly corporate wear.


Happily, you don't need to break your budget in order to look well-dressed for work this summer. Read on for the best high street buys we've found to cope with a long hot summer in the city.




Know your fabrics


From left to right: Linen jumpsuit £130, Toast; Cotton dress £109, People Tree; Silk dress £190, Arket


Natural fibres are your friend, namely linen, cotton, chambray denim and silk. Because they're breathable they won't create your own personal heat wave in the way man-made fabrics can. Ensure you've chosen light versions - heavy silks can get surprisingly warm.



Mix and match



Clockwise from left: Denim culottes £40, Warehouse; Linen top £25, Marks & Spencer; Linen vest £9.99, H&M; Linen skirt £45, Monsoon; Raffia sandals £60, Dune; Woven mules £36, Wallis; Woven pumps £25, Dorothy Perkins


While we love a good dress, when it comes to building a versatile work wardrobe separates can be more hard working. Buying pieces that can be easily mixed and matched not only means that you have more choice (crucial when something's in the wash or at the dry cleaners) but can layer up as the temperature changes.




Rethink tailoring


Model wears: Linen jacket £199, and trousers £140, both Jigsaw

If your dress code calls for tailoring, there's only so far that you can push it. Perhaps a city short suit isn't actually appropriate for your job in the city, but a linen trouser suit in a bright colour is certainly more summery than black or navy wool.


Colour-blocking can make quite a statement, so keep the rest of your outfit fairly neutral - a navy silk T-shirt and simple gold earrings would work well.


Best foot forward



Clockwise from top left Espadrilles £29, Miss Selfridge; Strappy sandals £65, Dune; Flat sandals £99, Hobbs; Toe-post mules £72, Office


No matter how casual your office beach flip-flops are a distinct no-no. But that's not to say feet need to be fully clad in the summer months. Toe-post or strappy sandals, leather sliders, mules, sandals and espadrilles are just a few of the key footwear trends this summer.


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