summer

Summer means one thing if you’re from somewhere like Sydney, HEAT. The weather has been a little funny this year, but when we get a hot day, it is HOT. The only real way to remain cool and looking fresh is to find somewhere with air conditioning and stay there, but let’s be honest, that’s not really an option. Here are my rules to live by this summer for looking as fabulous as possible in the heat:

1/ Less is not always best

Sometimes, even though when it’s hot you just want to strip off, wearing something cotton and flowy is actually cooler, because there air is able to circulate more.

2/ The Workplace

One of my problems is my air conditioned office can be freezing (my boss, much to my dislike, ensures that). The moment you step outside however you melt. To get around this I dress for a hot day and have a cardigan and pair of socks at work. I have to admit I am guilty of keeping only the ugliest things I own at work (i.e. unwanted Christmas presents from Nan) rather than leaving my nice things that I might want to use on the weekends. A more stylish option than this is to buy something cheap, but still cute. The other work related problem is the heat if you work outdoors or in a kitchen. If this is the case, keeping hydrated, splashing your face with water during bathroom breaks and snacking on ice blocks is your best bet at staying cool.

3/ Sun Smart

Wear sunscreen! And a hat! And sunglasses! I am ultra pale and burn easily, so this is a big one for me. No one looks good with a sun burn, so avoid it by covering up properly.

4/ Hair

Although my hair is usually reasonably manageable, the minute it gets wet it goes frizzy and awful. I find I look silly in hats most of the time because my head is unusually small and they never seem to fit. Instead I wrap a scarf around my hair after I’ve been swimming, which paired with big sunglasses achieves a resort feel, while really just flattening my hair until I get home to wash it properly.

5/Colour

Unfortunately black really holds on to the heat of the sun, which is terribly annoying because it’s all I tend to wear. If you’re cleverer than md you’ll remember to wear lighter colours to reflect the sun’s rays.

If you’re reading this from somewhere that is a little colder, invoke a little summer by sipping tropical cocktails and watching re-runs of The OC and/or Baywatch.