Keep your cool:
the science of summer dressing

Whether you’re heading abroad or facing a heatwave at home, your wardrobe (and a good layer of SPF) is your best defence against the sun. To help you stay comfortable, we’ve rounded up the essential fabrics, fits and colours designed to keep you feeling cool and looking sharp as the mercury rises.

When the temperatures rise, cotton is your best friend. This natural wonder is a true champion for hot weather thanks to its incredible breathability and lightweight feel. It allows air to circulate freely, helping your skin stay cool and preventing that sticky feeling. Additionally, as a natural fibre, it’s gentle on your skin, making it the ideal choice for all-day comfort in the sun. Tops like our printed tunics are ideal for this; pair them with our bestselling pull-on cotton trousers for the ultimate breezy ensemble.

When the weather heats up, linen is your sartorial ally. This incredible natural fabric is renowned for its exceptional breathability and lightweight feel, making it the ultimate choice for staying cool and comfortable. Linen fibres are naturally structured to allow maximum airflow, helping your skin breathe and wicking away moisture to keep you feeling fresh, not sticky. It’s also surprisingly durable and only gets softer with every wash, proving that natural elegance can be convenient for those long, hot days. Shop our linen dresses, shirts and trousers for a timeless, summer look.

Viscose is your hot weather saviour! Made from wood pulp, it’s super lightweight, breathable and feels great, helping you stay cool when the temperature climbs. It drapes beautifully, skimming the body rather than clinging, allowing for excellent air circulation. Shop our viscose tops and trousers for a mix and match look that lasts.

When you want that easy-going summer look without the constant upkeep, linen-blends are your best friend. These clever fabrics take everything you love about linen (its airy feel and natural coolness) and mix it with softer fibres like cotton or viscose for a much more laid-back vibe. You still get that great airflow and lightweight texture, but with a lot less of the stubborn wrinkling that comes with pure flax. It’s the perfect middle ground: you stay fresh and comfortable all day long, but with a soft, lived-in feel that looks just as good at a Sunday brunch as it does on the beach. Luckily, we have tops, dresses and trousers galore to keep you cool all summer long.

If you’re looking to beat the heat with a bit of character, seersucker is the way to go. This iconic puckered fabric isn’t just about the classic textured look; those signature crinkles actually hold the material away from your skin, creating natural air pockets that keep you incredibly cool. It’s light, breathable, and pretty much always on trend. Because the texture is built right in, you never have to worry about ironing tops or shirts. It’s the ultimate straight-out-the-door choice for humid days, giving you a relaxed, breezy style that feels as light as it looks.

When things get sweaty, moisture-wicking gear is a total lifesaver. Instead of holding onto dampness, these clever fabrics pull moisture away from your skin so it can evaporate fast, keeping you dry rather than sticky (even in long sleeves). It’s all about your shorts staying light and fresh, making it the perfect choice for active days when you want to keep your cool without feeling weighed down.

Not to be confused with denim, chambray is the perfect pick when you want that denim-trouser look without the heavy feel. It’s a super lightweight, plain-weave fabric that lets your skin breathe, making it a much cooler alternative for short-wearing sunny days. It’s got a great relaxed texture that’s soft from the first wear and only gets better over time. Whether you’re grabbing a coffee or heading to the coast, it’s an easy, low-maintenance way to keep your style on point and your outfit feeling light.

When the temperature climbs, giving your clothes a bit of breathing room is the smartest move you can make. There’s nothing worse than the struggle of peeling off tight leggings or skinny jeans on a humid day, so swapping them for a wider leg or a more spacious cut is a total relief. These looser silhouettes allow air to circulate freely around your skin, stopping that clingy, trapped-heat feeling in its tracks. It’s an easy, relaxed way to stay breezy and comfortable, ensuring you look chilled out even when the sun is at its peak.

Choosing the right colour palette is just as important as the fabric when the sun is out. We’ve all made the mistake of heading out for a day of sight-seeing in an all-black outfit, only to feel like a walking radiator by midday. Darker colours soak up the sun’s rays and trap heat against your skin, whereas lighter shades like white, sand or pale blue actually reflect that energy away. Swapping those heavy tones for a brighter palette is a simple way to stay noticeably cooler, keeping you refreshed and comfortable while you’re out exploring.

Cotton: It acts like a natural sponge, soaking up sweat and pulling heat away from your body to keep you comfortable.
Linen: The thick, tough fibres stay slightly apart, creating a loose weave that lets fresh air flow straight through to your skin.
Linen Blends: Mixing linen with softer threads makes the fabric less stiff, so it doesn’t bunch up and trap hot air in deep wrinkles.
Seersucker: The bumpy, “puckered” texture keeps the fabric from sticking to you, creating tiny air gaps that act like built-in ventilation.
Moisture-Wicking: These fabrics are engineered to push sweat to the outside of the cloth so it can dry off instantly instead of staying damp.
Chambray & Viscose Blends: These use very fine, silky threads that feel icy-cool against the skin and allow moisture to evaporate quickly.