This weather is has been all over the place. This day last week we were basking in the sunshine; the windows were all open in the office, we were eating Loop-the-Loops and wearing shorts and flip flops. But of course, in true Irish tradition, it's raining. Again. Summer is over (*throws self on floor in despair).
But the thing is, it's not cold. Oh no, it's beyond warm. Worse, than warm. It's HUMID. I hate this word. I know it's definitely humid, as my hair is currently at 200% increased volume and frizz. And not in a glossy, styled, attractive way. Nope. Monica from Friends has nothing on the Weightman gene for humid hair.
And then there's the dressing aspect. It's warm, wet, sticky and bizarrely uncomfortable. How on this wet and warm planet can we dress for this?
We quite love how Alex Jones and Amanda Holden have been rocking their fashion in the heat!First, it's all about fabric choice. Cotton is the hardest working fabric. It keeps you cool and it keeps you warm. It basically is a natural power that helps keep your body temperature in check. And this might sound icky, but it does remove sweat from your body so you don't melt into your clothes and not the other way around. Get yourself to H&M or Dunnes who do some really good quality cotton basics which you can wear under a synthetic fabric to keep you comfy.
Black top with cut out shoulders, €99; Vest, €35; both from CosThe bottom half is tricky. I like wearing skirts when it's warm, but when it's both wet and warm, it simply fails me. Then there's the thing about linen, which in theory is supposed to be another cooling natural fabric but I don't find it so. I think it can feel a bit rough against your skin when it gets wet. Avoid denim if you can; when it gets damp, even from humidity it can become like a glue.
I do love the summer trend of printed trousers and most of these have a high cotton or nylon percentage which can draw moisture away. There are plenty to choose from in the sales so see what you can find!
Advertised
Trousers, €39, Iclothing
Lilac trousers, from the new collection at Miss SelfridgeThe other thing is footwear. Our feet expand in the heat which is why we find shoes a bit tighter at this time of year. Footwear for summer is worth the investment and if it's casuals you want then opt for a chic runner that has a breathable fabric. I love Skechers for this particular reason. Some of their styles have memory foam to mould with your foot which helps when it gets warm, and the lightness of the shoes makes them a great choice for summer holidays.
Other good ones are Nike Free Run which are technically a training shoe, but a great one for humid days to mind your toes. Avoid wearing shoes that are essentially plastic or a variation of; you'll find they'll rub your feet as they are worn and your feet become overheated leading to blisters.
Nike Run, €85, from a selection at Lifestyle Sports
River Island, €30 (they are made of lace!)Advertised
Humidity ain't that attractive but we can prepare ourselves just a bit to make it more bearable. So as I sit in my over heated office, melting slowly from the condensation on the windows, how do you survive this sticky days?
