I'm a fashion editor and these are the 6 wardrobe staples every woman needs to dress for a heatwave
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Your coolest move when the mercury rises? Swerve the polyester or wool-rich suit for a breezy linen co-ord, which looks just as put- together but will keep you cool. Reserve pure linen for off duty and opt for a linen blend – it will hold its shape better after you've been sitting at your desk and ensure you look sharp in meetings.
Woven-leather totes
Save your straw tote from sagging under the weight of your office paraphernalia and instead pack your laptop (and the kitchen sink) into an on-trend braided-leather iteration. The hit Belgian brand Dragon Diffusion started the trend with its handwoven buffalo-leather bags last summer and the style is now a staple among the fashion set. The designer version isn't cheap, but there are affordable takes everywhere – I have my eye on the one by Dune (bottom).
Bag, £179 and bag charm, £39, dunelondon.com.
Breezy circle skirts
When the humidity rises, give your satin slip skirt a day off – far too sticky – and say hi to the breezy circle skirt (BCS). Its A-line silhouette is universally flattering, the wide hem allows airflow and it's as smart with a white T-shirt as it is with a frothy blouse. Wyse London leads the BCS pack, but there are plenty of well-priced pieces around.
Blingy statement cuffs
Keep delicate jewellery for the beach and look to the noughties-inspired blingy gold cuff, which ruled the runways of Alaïa and Saint Laurent at Fashion Week. Perfect for ramping up the simplest of high-summer looks, pair yours with a block-colour co-ord or slot one over the sleeve of a white cotton shirt. It's a great way to add interest to your outfit – and it needn't cost you an arm and a leg.
Graphic floral midis
Still living in ditsy tea dresses? Then update your look while staying desk-ready. Thanks to the S/S 25 runway collections at Loewe and Etro, this season's go-to floral dresses feature bold, graphic prints with sharper, cleaner cuts. For inspo, look to hero midi-dress brands Nobody's Child and Jigsaw (below).
Chunky flat sandals
Flip-flops are too casual for most offices and I have yet to find a skinny sandal that's walkable. In fact, your hero shoe in the heat is the chunky strappy sandal. It's supportive enough for stomping through the city and, as long as your style has a substantial footbed, you'll still look formal enough. Even better, Fitflop is a comfort specialist, as is the Parisian shoe brand Bobbies (above). Just book in your pedi asap!
Sandals, £195, bobbies.com
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