What to wear with warm weather

HOT HOT HOT... You have probably noticed: it is summer. An unadulterated Dutch summer, as whimsical as a Dutch summer can be. Especially in recent years we have seen, this global warming isn't subtle about its presence with insanely hot outliers. If you thought you had your summer wardrobe in order, it really turns out not to be enough to survive this weather after all. And thus it is time for a little bit of research; what we can do (or don't do) dress-wise to bravely face the summer heat while smelling fresh and looking dignified.

 

THE HEAT IS ON  

Our body is actually always busy keeping it's temperature constant. The "normal temperature" of our built-in thermostat is set at 37 ° degrees, with that temperature the body functions at its best. When the ambient temperature is lower, the boiler turns on and the temperature is automatically adepted to keep it level on the inside. You don't notice much of that and you don't have to do much for it either; other than now and then put in a little fuel(food) or put on an extra layer of clothing for insulation, and everything should work like a charm.

When the outside temperature is somewhere around 20 * to 25 ° degrees, that layer of clothing is actually superfluous; the body's boiler and the thermostat can regulate everything just fine together. The fact that you wear clothes when the ambient temperature exceeds the 20-25 ° degree limit is therefore mainly dictated by social rules. And: it offers protection against the sun. Well, the sun's radiation to be exact. In terms of heat experience wearing those clothes usually works counterproductive. But ehh.. we are socially responsible creatures and prefer not to horse around naked ;-).

But how then do we keep standing while also looking stylish in the heat? There are plenty of tips & tricks on the internet. We filtered out the most relevant and practically applicable ones for you, and will supplement them with our own wisdom.

 

WATER MANAGEMENT

No matter how thin the garment you put on, it is wasted effort if you choose the wrong fabric. Most natural materials regulate moisture much better than (some, not all) synthetic ones. Anyone who has ever hysterically tried to dab a splash of wine off the couch with the nearest fleece blanket knows what we are talking about. And moisture is abundant during a heat wave: sweating is a trick of your body to cool you down more quickly. A trick that you - fully clothed and fragrant - are not all that happy to entertain. So get rid of that moisture, and fast please.

Substances that absorb moisture and remove it (in the opposite direction of your body) are therefore the best option. Cotton, viscose, silk, linen, and even wool are true champions when it comes to doing just that. But also the new-gen synthetics such as "quick dry" work wonders; special membranes in the artificially spun "fibers" absorb and transport moisture quickly and effectively.

 

LOOSE AND AIRY 

Suppose; it is tropically warm and you are wearing a cotton shirt. Heat and moisture regulating fabric; check. Chance favors the prepared. But.. why do you still feel like you are trapped in a sweltering cocoon? And why can you still see the less-than-charming sweat patches in your stylish, body tight... Ah. Got it. Tight clothes are a no-go when the sun scorches down on you.

Wearing moisture-absorbing fabric is step one, creating the opportunity for moisture to evaporate again is the second. Moisture vaporizes the fastest when you ventilate, and for effective ventilation you need space between your body and your clothes. Easy. You don't have to dress in baggy oversized tops, but a roomier cut is very effective. If your clothing is also made of a lightweight fabric, which is also woven / knitted from a yarn with an open fiber structure, then you are definitely good to go. Point taken?

Small footnote; color is of secondary importance. Popular belief says that black absorbs heat while white reflects heat. The advantages and disadvantages of this have now been undermined by science; temperature measurements under the clothing of Bedouins in the Sahara show little or no temperature difference between light-colored and dark-colored clothing. Summerdarks are therefore possible. (Ilse; yeeeey!)

 

THE NAKED TRUTH

Anyone familiar with the "wrong side" of British dress habits will certainly recognize this; as soon as the temperature in the UK rises slightly towards 10, the summer dress takes off and the skirt length rises. Well, the poor gals are so used to bad weather that they already experience a milder winter day as bloody hot, but the need to show some skin sometimes goes hilariously far. And yes, the Dutch are also sometimes guilty of this; on a moderately hot day you have to regularly parcour around the beer belly / grubby camisole / bath slippers in the supermarket with your trolley. But there is a reason people still dress like that; bare arms and legs stay pleasantly cool.

But there are also drawbacks to those uncovered arms. You get sunburn faster, and insects have free reign. If you are in the Tropics, covering clothing is a sensible option, partly for that reason. Because in spite of malaria pills and Deet; to prevent is better than to cure. But if you are in the Netherlands and a single sleepy wasp is your biggest risk factor, then you can safely dress a little more "naked".

Are your pants sticking to your legs due to the heat? Choose a skirt, then it will stay ventilated a bit more down there. However, there is one "but"; Sticky tights business. (Ladies with a "thigh-gap"; take a short break and read something else). There is a solution; the underpants with legs, or ladies boxershorts. And no, not that seamless synthetic in this case, but a fresh cotton one. Don't have it in your closet, and don't want to spend your hard-earned money on them? Invest in a pair of cycling shorts (short leggings) and you'll immediately tap into one of the trends of this season. Okay, you might sweat more than with bare thighs, but you sweat in style and you avoid rashes.

The best skirt tip for Dutch cyclists; Clip a tablecloth weight to the center front of your skirt seam and your skirt will not blow up. But watch out; if the wind is too strong you risk a bump on your forehead :-).


Are you a fan of a halter top (hello sun-tanned shoulders) but are you bothered by visible bra straps and don't have a special halter bra in your closet? You can easily change a bra with detachable straps; hook the left strap into the right loop and vice versa. Tadaaa; crossed back straps in halter style.


Croptops. Difficult. Yes, because you show off your naked belly = nice and light, right? And no, because messing with your perspiration management and loose-fit gives a chance of an unwanted peek underneath your shirt(hello nip-slip). But still, croptops looks beautiful with pants with a high waist. And let it just be that this is just starting to return to the season's fashion scene. In short; we are not quite that unanimous about them yet, but croptops are a very good option.

If you want to keep your head cool: wear a hat. And no, not that 4-button peasant handkerchief that your mother made you wear when you were too young for an opinion of your own (Mom, you're the sweetest, but What, Where. You. Thinking ...). A fashionable straw hat with a wide band is always a scpre. Would you like to try something different? Then choose a turban. Quite the style of today and with a wonderful glamorous old-school Riviera vibe. Secretly making it wet before wrapping it around your head is a smart idea. Hiding a frozen chicken breast in the drapery is . . . right yes, a bad idea.

Loose-fit dresses; Yes!!! Totally on-trend and the perfect garment for warm weather because there is little skin contact. Stick-proof and failsafe, what else could you want?

 

AN AIRY LITTLE LIST

No self-respecting blog post is complete without a list, so we will summarize the above information point by point for your convenience.


1. Wear clothes made of good moisture absorbing fabrics such as cotton, linen, viscose, wool, silk and some specially developed synthetics.

2. Choose items with a looser fit so that moisture can evaporate. Preferably also made of a lightweight fabric, and with a loose fiber yarn knit for extra credit.

3. Color is not decisive, both light and dark are suitable, provided that the rules described above regarding composition and weight are used.

4. Bare skin is fine, dosing is the trick. A long sleeve that falls wide works just as well as a short sleeve - and also protects against insects and harmful radiation from the sun.

5. And always apply sunscreen. . .

        

 

We wish you a wonderfully cool summer, see you next time!

Nicole & Ilse

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Looking to read more?

> WHAT IS AN INFLUENCER??

> THE PLEIN PUBLIQUE VACATION CHECKLIST

> THE POWER OF THE WHITE BLOUSE

 

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Bloggers duo Nicole and Ilse. They became colleagues and sisters in crime in their previous jobs and still often work together; they share an unbridled love for/knowledge of fashion & lifestyle. Opposites as they are - dark versus blonde, classic beauty versus rock chick. Momboss Nicole, mother of three kids versus freelance copywriter Ilse where even a pet is not even negotiable. It's that duality (they're not a duo but a dua :) that brings out the best in each other. Nicole is the proud owner of PLEIN PUBLIQUE and makes stunning collections, Ilse writes as mrsalwayswrite.nl as a freelance copywriter for (fashion) brands and webshops. Together they 'knit' together a monthly blog about fashion and trends. That's what they enjoy. And hopefully you too.

What to wear when the weather is warm?