June 17, 2022
If you’re not living through record heat where you are, just be patient…
I recently heard from a friend who is just back from a long trip to Italy, and she talked at length about how the heat affected everything on her trip!
And I was once in Paris – relatively early in the spring – and was completely caught off-guard by some unseasonably warm temperatures; I had to scramble and make a couple of purchases!
It can happen anywhere on the planet, I’m afraid…
So what to do?
At a minimum, I think I will probably always pack at least a couple of sleeveless tops for almost any trip; they make great bottom layers when the weather is cold (almost like long underwear!), but of course might save you if the heat cranks up!
Earrings – Kendra Scott; tee shirt – L.L.Bean; Button-front shirt – L.L.Bean; scarf – Patchouli; cropped pants – Caslon; sandals – Vionic
It might seem silly to pack a scarf for hot weather, but you may need it for cold, overly air-conditioned places, or for modesty when you go into a church or other place of dignity and respect…
Whatever you do, DON’T bring a synthetic scarf with you – it would be more comfortable to wrap yourself up in a plastic bag… Normal rules don’t apply when the temperature is over 90 degree Fahrenheit.
Comfortable sandals are always important, although I understand that Italy was much like Paris in that wearing gym shoes with almost anything is now acceptable. Still, the right pair of sandals will be cooler… just make sure that you can walk in them for a long LONG time!
French blue camp shirt – J.Crew; flower earrings – Shashi; cotton-linen scarf – Peserico; white tank top – Lands’ End; blue patchwork skirt – J.Crew; sandals – Söfft
I didn’t include bags in these ensembles, but it’s worth mentioning that you’re going to want a reasonably large, easy to carry bag for these kinds of days. At a minimum, your scarf will be in the bag! But you also want to be able to put your “shirt with sleeves” in your bag, as well as the essentials of ID and money. AND SUNSCREEN…
AND SUNGLASSES!!!
Earrings – Panacea; linen shirt – J.Crew; scarf – Free People; shelf-bra tank top – J.Crew; sandals – Toms; tan linen skirt – Treasure & Bond
Normally I wear relatively tiny earrings, but for some reason I feel like wearing big earrings in hot weather. I can’t explain…
Earrings – Style & Co.; tank top – Lands’ End; camp shirt – Caslon; Scarf – Masai Copenhagen; linen skirt – Caslon; sandals – Mephisto
Don’t be afraid to mix patterns in your hot weather gear; stripes and dots always go together!
Tank top – Lands’ End; earrings – A Blonde and Her Bag; scarf – Banana Republic; navy shirt – Caslon; skirt – J.Crew; sandals – Munro
Why yes, you’ve seen this scarf a few times before! I think the colors in this are lovely, and would serve as the perfect inspiration for an entire summer of bright accents with chambray…
Pearl & sodalite earrings – By Alona; tank top – Lands’ End; scarf – Kate Spade; camp shirt – Caslon; skirt – Caslon; sandals – Børn
I have had vacation days that were spent entirely indoors – I believe that’s why the Louvre was built! But even then, you have to get to and from a full-day destination, and you’re probably going to have to find a meal somewhere…
If you pack a “heat wave cluster,” and a “sudden cold-front cluster,” you’re halfway to being done with your packing!
love,
Janice
p.s. Seven years ago, I was pondering the implications of packing six garments, and wondering just HOW versatile a 9-piece wardrobe could be…
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This is what summer for us all the time is like
This is wonderful advice as I rather sit in nature than struggle to find clothes while on vacation in the USA. If I were on vacation in London or Paris, I definitely would not mind shopping. That’s why when I used to travel there I’d put bubble wrap in 1/4 my suitcase just so I’d have room for my purchases.
I get caught out every single year even with ‘normal’ high summer temperatures, and never seem to be able to prepare for next time! Even worse this year, as where I live we have had the highest temperatures on record for May and June so far. I have all these ideas in my head that never get translated into action (I make most of my own clothes). Perhaps a pen and notebook are the answer and sewing summer clothing the previous winter rather than waiting until late spring! Off topic, but oh how all the accessories in The Vivienne Files get my heart racing. In fact, everything is so inspirational, thank you.
So strange – in Seattle this year, May was the wettest since Truman was President and also 20 degrees colder. I don’t know if our cold/wet is a direct cause of the Yellowstone floods, but I think they’re related because my nieces were skiing at Mt. Baker last week. I am actually craving hot temps as 60 degrees in June is so annoying to me. It’s 54 and raining at noon on Friday.
I’m currently on a quest to make my perfect linen tank top. Once I figure it out, I’m making at least three! If I’m going to the trouble of making mockups, I’m going to get the most out of it.
Also, it helps if the fabric is already in my stash. For summer clothes, I’m loving the linen from Fabric-Store.com, which is both great quality and surprisingly affordable!
Thanks for the great advice ! I liked the comment the bubble wrap idea as I LOVE to shop in Europe ! 😀
I haven’t even brought out summer things this year – barely even into spring. A La Nina spring/summer here in the PNW means colder temps than normal and very rainy. That being said, all these collections are just lovely. I would be quite happy with any of them. Have a good weekend everyone!
Here in Lacey -Olympia, I am STILL wearing lightweight pullover sweaters! This is the most rain in my memory and temps overnight in the 40s. Sun comes out at dinner time, ha.
Love the outfits here and hoping to wear similar sometime this summer!
I am north of you… last night my daughter graduated in Bellingham in the rain. Oh, well there was a little spot undercover and our family was in it. It’s supposed to be sunny this afternoon for her grad party so I’m hopeful. This is the longest we’ve had cold and rain that I can remember.
This is a great (and timely!) post as our heat index is expected to be 107 in North Carolina today. All the skirt ideas are lovely.
Is there some downside to shorter skirts that I’m not considering, or are long skirts suggested as a personal preference? I generally find long skirts unflattering and uncomfortable on me (too much attention needed to avoid tripping or the hem touching the ground), but now I’m wondering if they have some magical property I’m overlooking :)
I find that having my skin covered in a light fabric (i.e. long skirt, long cool pants) makes me cooler. Having lots of skin exposed to the sun doesn’t actually help keep me that cool.
A bonus to long’ish skirts on hot days is that the fabric protects the backs of legs from getting scorched on hot chairs, benches, etc.
This makes a lot of sense, thank you!
Alice, I’m the same. I like the IDEA of a long skirt, but in reality I prefer one just below the knee. I spend a lot of time hemming!
i live in Central Texas. The heat index has been over 100 for the last two weeks. You need a shade hat. Doesn’t have to be a giant cartwheel hat, but even a cute bucket hat or a fedora will make a world of difference!
Thank you for this article Janice – very timely! The outfits are beautiful. I have been caught in heat waves several times in Europe and it is very miserable. All your suggestions are perfect. I would add a hat – the sun can be unbearable and you can use it as a fan too! Also, a lot of the hotels are older and do not have air conditioning. It’s important to think about your night clothes too as it can be quite hot all night too!!
Years ago my parents were in Paris during a heatwave, and a completely different year my husband was in Monterey during a heat wave. Every time any of them remarked that there were no fans or air conditioners, natives looked at them blankly and said “it’s NEVER hot here!” ha ha ha ha
We had the same experience in Warsaw three years ago. It was 37 C/98 F and we nearly melted. We had difficulty falling asleep in the desperate heat. The ad for our travel apartment said there was A/C but their “A/C” turned out to be an oscillating fan.
I agree with wearing larger earrings in hot weather…usually my hair is worn up during those months so the earrings are more visible. Plus, for some reason the feel of a necklace on a hot day (maybe it’s the warm metal on my skin?) makes me feel claustrophobic, so the larger earrings complete the look nicely.
I second the importance of a hat to keep the sun off, and I carry a sun umbrella (like a parasol, but looks like a normal umbrella in a silver colour) in less crowded areas so I can shade myself. Also, at least where I live ‘misting stations’ have become more common and you can walk through them and have cold water misted on you – so clothes that dry quickly are good if you want to use those.
We are having a heatwave in the UK. Temperatures predicted 33 or higher. I’ve just checked our local.weather station is saying 32-33, so I wouldn’t be surprised if somewhere it hits 35C. Fortunately, a cold front will descend overnight bringing temperatures down to the low 20’s. When it’s hot I wear wide leg line trousers or a maxi skirt with a loose top or tee. Best of all a dress.
I’m not traveling anywhere but the heat has hit Minnesota too so all these linen-based outfits are singing my song. It’s hard to pick a favorite but I think in the end the navy + white print mix wins the day (though I am looking HARD at the green + soft indigo + plaid scarf combo too). I love that Caslon camp shirt…the short airy sleeves would make a nice layer over or alternative to a sleeveless top.
“Normal rules don’t apply when the temperature is over 90 degree Fahrenheit.” I had to chuckle. This is typical weather at least 3 months of the year for me.
Just returned from a combo trip to Switzerland and northern Italy. I can confirm that it was very hot where we were in Italy (Milan/Stresa). I packed well for Switzerland but not Italy. A skirt and tank top would have been good.
We were so happy to leave the oppressive heat wave in Florence for London. The joke is on us, as the heat came with us and it’s much more difficult to get cool here. With global warming, heat waves seem to strike more in normally cooler months. Thank goodness for linen!
If you’re still in the UK, Noelle, I hope you were feeling cooler today, though there was rain too. Heat and humidity rarely last long in the UK.
Hmm…super timely for the Midwest. The heat has been hideous. My solution…extra wide leg linen pants in white or rattan beige-brown paired with a cotton voile sleeveless top or a full cut cotton long skirt and sleeveless top. Alice, I hear you on the worry about long not working, but have found a calf-length works great. For reference, I’m only 5’2 and many ankle or maxi length skirts and dresses make me quite dumpy and frumpy as they do not hit visually where they ought. The movement like Janice points out helps create a bit of personal air flow to cool the skin, so this is a huge plus when a short skirt merely exposes skin, but can’t help with cooling. A full skirt will give more movement than a pencil cut too. Thanks Janice for a timely tip. I have worn every linen piece I own this past week.
Janice,
Such a timely post ! I always look ahead at the forecasted temps before packing, but even then it doesn’t always work out . I am here in New Jersey for the weekend. It was 90 yesterday and in the low 70’s and rather breezy today . And I am one of those “ always cold” people ! I brought along a fleece jacket, thankfully !
Just back from 2 weeks in Greece with group of students– hot brutal sun (95 plus) and climbing to the top of the Acropolis or Delphi or Monastaries at Meteoron and the ruins of Knossos demand a sun hat, 50+ sun block, sun glasses and lots of loose linen — wide legged pants, tops, shirts, ( for the monastaries women have to wear skirts and cover shoulders/arms) good walking sandals (merrels) and lots of bottled water. Shorts & sleeveless tops were on call for the islands.
What a great idea for a post, and so timely! I’m in western Canada and am hoping we don’t have the same heat waves all summer that we did last year.
I came here to suggest a hat as well. I find that keeping the sun off my head makes me feel much cooler, and it’s an extra layer of “sunscreen” for my face. There are some packable straw hats, and if you have something like a Tilley hat, it doubles as rain protection as well. I have a very thin, almost sheer linen cardigan (Eileen Fisher or Tahari) that is perfect in the summer for air conditioned interiors. Also, I like skirts but nothing beats a looser, light cotton or linen dress (preferably with pockets) when it’s really hot, something like a shift with cap sleeves. I like *not* having a waistband — one less place for sweat to pool lol.
Hi Janice and Everyone: Great post Janice, and good comments all. I like tank/sleeveless tops from Lands End as you can find necklines that are not so scoopy.