What to Wear to Beat the Heat Wave
When wearing nothing isn't an option (as sustainable a choice as it may be), here's what you wear instead: a study in survival from your Stylist BFF.
July brought triple digit temperatures to my neighborhood in the high desert of New Mexico. We’re breaking global records, but for all the wrong reasons. The hottest global day in history was broken four times — in a row. Heat is a public health crisis.
Fashion may seem frivolous to some, though in the heat of the summer, getting dressed is straight up survival.
Clothing first and foremost is a boundary and personal protection to your body. While we are under siege by hot days, the clothing you choose can support your wellbeing and protect you from heat stroke, heat wave, and sunburns.
Take it from your Stylist BFF (yours truly). When wearing nothing at all isn’t an option, here are things to wear to beat the heat:
Sunscreen to protect your skin
Wear as high an SPF as you can and reapply after perspiring or taking a dip in a pool. With strong UVA/UVB rays, try to avoid sun exposure between 10am and 2pm.
I’m living in Paula’s Choice Healthy Glow Invisible Sunscreen Oil which absorbs quickly and leaves my skin looking glowy, not greasy.
For your body, try Supergoop, the feel good sunscreen that has refillable bottles so you prevent landfill waste. It’s light and invisible!
And don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your hands when driving!
Hats
Keep the sun out of your eyes with a wide-brim hat that bring both fashion and function. You can even purchase SPF hats that serve double purpose.
Arrow woven packable hat Free People | Seagrass Men’s straw hat
Peppermint essential oil
Putting a drop of peppermint essential oil on the back of your neck will have a cooling effect on your body temperature. I’ve been using this peppermint oil by doTERRA which smells divine.
Pro tip: As a 70-year-old friend shared, this happens to be a great way to manage hot flashes (or power surges, as Regena Thomashauer likes to call them).
Face and body spray
Get a botanical spray to spritz yourself with, like this soothing aloe vera spray Chill Out from K’Pure, a Canadian company. It’s a treat for your skin after sun exposure!
If you’re a DIY-er, get crafty and fill a spray bottle with cool distilled water and refrigerate it. You can even make it feel like a spa by adding a slice of cucumber.
Loose-fitting clothes made of natural fibers
When we overheat, our bodies sweat to help bring down our temperature. Wearing natural fibers like cotton and linen will dry quickly when we perspire. Light colors are ideal for staying cool. It should go without saying — avoid polyester!
A loose fit will help with the air circulation, so save your fitted pieces for fall.
Linen jumpsuit from Reformation | Linen shirt from Banana Republic
Swimsuits
Whenever possible, wear as little as possible and take a dip in the ocean or a pool! Since every human gets self conscious from time to time, find a coverup that you can throw on top of your swimsuit to feel more comfortable.
After outgrowing modesty and Mormonism, I relish wearing two-piece swimsuits! It was a dream to sit poolside in Costa Rica after a tantric sex retreat!
Public pools are slowly becoming a thing of the past, so if you don’t have access to a pool, try this: Swimply is basically Airbnb for private pools! You can rent a pool for the hour to cool off.
Word to the wise, change out of your wet swimsuits quickly to avoid thrush, ie: a yeast infection.
Want help with your summer wardrobe? Schedule an e-Styling virtual styling session with me, your Personal Stylist! I’ve been styling bodies of all shapes and sizes since 2009 and would love to dress you. Snag a 30-minute e-Styling session for $44 (normally $65), or 2 x 30-minute sessions for $88! Schedule your style session today!
That sunscreen oil sounds like the answer to my sunscreen dreams!