How to nail dressing for the office in a heatwave
Dressing for the office in a heatwave is one of the more unfortunate realities of British summer. One minute it’s grey skies and trench coats, the next London is hitting 30C and the Central line feels hotter than Burning Man. While getting dressed for weekends in the sun is easy enough, figuring out what to wear to work in a heatwave is an entirely different challenge.
Because despite the soaring temperatures, most office dress codes remain very much intact. And somehow, we’re all expected to look presentable after commuting across the city in humidity that feels better suited to southern Europe than a Tuesday morning in July.
The good news is that heatwave office dressing has become considerably chicer in recent years. This summer, the key pieces dominating office style are oversized cotton shirts, linen co-ords, sleeveless waistcoats, breezy white separates and floaty dresses that allow for actual air circulation during your commute. Tailored Bermuda shorts are perfect for replacing trousers, boat necklines are making sleeveless dresses feel more elevated, and linen suiting remains the easiest way to survive formal office dressing in 30-degree heat.
From relaxed tailoring to airy dresses and summer-ready workwear staples, these are the heatwave office outfits we'll be relying on this season.
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Breezy white outfit
There’s a scientific reason the fashion set default to white during a heatwave: lighter colours reflect sunlight, while darker shades absorb and retain heat. Helpful when you’re already battling a stuffy commute before 9am. This summer, breezy all-white outfits are everywhere, particularly loose cotton shirts paired with lightweight midi skirts or airy trousers.
The effect feels instantly cooler - both literally and aesthetically - and works especially well in breathable fabrics like poplin and cotton that won’t cling in humid weather.
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Tailored shorts and waistcoat
Tailored shorts and a matching waistcoat are essentially the summer version of a suit, minus the unbearable overheating. You still get the structure and smartness of traditional tailoring, but with significantly more ventilation and freedom of movement. Bermuda-length shorts keep things office-appropriate, while sleeveless waistcoats feel noticeably cooler than blazers in direct sunlight. Add simple sandals or sleek loafers and suddenly surviving a sweaty workday feels marginally more achievable.
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Oversized shirts
An oversized shirt is arguably the hardest-working item in any summer office wardrobe because it somehow manages to feel both breezy and professional at the same time. The looser fit allows airflow - crucial during a heatwave - while the structured collar keeps the overall look formal enough for meetings. Pair with tailored shorts, lightweight trousers or a slip skirt depending on how strict your office dress code is, and leave a few buttons undone for maximum ventilation.
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There’s something about a boat neckline that instantly makes a dress feel more sophisticated, regardless of how short, floaty or lightweight the actual silhouette is. Perhaps because it takes style notes from muse Audrey Hepburn, who turned the boat neckline into her signature style in the 1950s. Either way, it’s become one of the chicest solutions for office dressing during a heatwave because it offers polish without the suffocating feeling of a high neckline.
Linen
Every summer, we attempt to convince ourselves there’s a more exciting answer to heatwave dressing before inevitably returning to linen. Because unfortunately, it works. The natural fibres are breathable, lightweight and far better at allowing air circulation than heavier synthetic fabrics, making it ideal for long office days in rising temperatures. If you absolutely must wear tailoring during a heatwave, a loose linen suit is the closest thing you’ll get to acceptable air conditioning in outfit form.
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Denim dress
For anyone who can’t quite face wearing jeans in scorching weather but still wants the same ease and versatility, the denim dress is the obvious alternative. It gives the structure and casual feel of denim without the full-body commitment of actual jeans, while sleeveless or looser silhouettes make it significantly more wearable during a heatwave.
Styled with sandals, ballet flats or even simple trainers, it’s one of the easiest office outfits to throw on when your brain has stopped functioning in the heat.
