London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Oct 05, 2026

What to wear in a heatwave, according to a celebrity stylist

What to wear in a heatwave, according to a celebrity stylist

It’s hot, but you can still look cool

As the mercury creeps its way up towards record temperatures and we bulk buy fans and ice cold Fantas (ahem, rosé), the question of what to put on every morning becomes ever trickier.

Dealing with 40-degree heat is intense enough on a beach holiday, but finding workable ways to dress for the sweaty city is a whole different ball game.

What to wear to the office that’s demure but not faint-inducing? Which fabrics are best avoided? And which shoes to choose? It’s a 104-Fahrenheit fashion dilemma.

We spoke to celebrity stylist Aimee Croysdill, who’s responsible for Nicola Coughlan, Laura Haddock and Ellie Bamber’s best looks, to get her top tips and tricks...

Wear breathable fabrics


“Linen and cotton are simply the best,” says Croysdill. “There are some incredible oversized voluminous cotton dresses on the market at the moment, which will keep you cool whilst looking very on trend. “The key is to make sure it’s a loose cotton fabric with bare legs so you keep that breeze billowing on your skin.”

Flowy fabrics not your thing? “If you’re not a lover of loose fabrics, just make sure the tight fabrics you wear are a cotton jersey.”

Lean on light hues


Although colour doesn’t matter half as much as fabric type, it can still help.

Light colours, such as white and subtle pastel shades, are the best at resisting heat, not to mention, covering up sweat patches. However, sun UV rays can still easily penetrate light fabrics. So, if you are wearing bright whites, it’s a good idea to still be slathered in sun cream underneath.

What about those of us who literally live in all-black everything? Aimee says, “I still wear black because I love it! Just make sure I’m always walking on the shady side of the road.”

You can’t go wrong with a shirt and shorts co-ord this summer


“Cotton Poplin shirts and matching boxer style shorts are my favourite heat buster for days where you can dress casually. They’re lose and don’t cling whilst looking really cool and effortless,” says Croysdill.

“Wear a tiny tank top underneath and the shirt unbuttoned so you have the option to show skin your arms or cover up if you feel you need extra protection when you’ve been exposed to the sun all day. The Frankie Shop do my favourite co-ord shirt and short sets or Arket have a great selection in linen.”

Choose the right footwear


“I find the right shoes are key to staying cool and comfortable in this heat,” says Croysdill. “Pointy slip on sandals or a simple mule can still look smart enough for the office and are super chic, without feeling like you’re stuffing your swollen hot feet into a heeled court”.

“For more casual days, I’m really into a fisherman sandal. My favourites are by Penelope Chilvers as they look most traditional and are so comfy, Dear Frances or Hereu have some super chic summer footwear too.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
BT Accused of Pressuring Vulnerable Customers During Digital Landline Shift
British Carmakers Warn of Growing Pressure From EU-China Tariff Dispute
Green Party of England and Wales Adopts Motion Defining Zionism as Racism
Medical Charity Threatens NHS Legal Action Over Two-Year Autism and ADHD Assessment Waits
British Transport Police Report Record Rise in Violence on Railways
Glasgow Council Workers Face Pay Cuts Under Fire-and-Rehire Plan
British Medical Groups Press Prime Minister Andy Burnham to Cancel £330 Million Palantir NHS Contract
UK Faces Record Bluetongue Outbreak Across Livestock Farms
UK Schools Report Thousands of Child-on-Child Sexual Offences
High Court Overturns Ban Blocking Gaza Families From Reuniting With Relatives in UK
G7 Authorizes Emergency Fuel Release as UK Diesel Prices Hit £2 a Litre
France and Italy Draw 1-1 in Nations League Match
Pope Leo XIV and Prince Albert II of Monaco Meet in Metz
SNCF Expands Low-Cost Ouigo High-Speed Service Between Lyon and Bordeaux
Paris Expands Dedicated Cargo Bike Routes for Urban Deliveries
French Film Industry Pushes for Tighter Streaming Investment Rules
Marseille Court Hands Down Prison Terms in Public Procurement Corruption Case
LVMH and Kering Rely on US Demand as Chinese Luxury Spending Slows
Toulouse Aerospace Sector Launches €80 Million Modernization Fund
Javier Milei Courts French Investment in LNG and Lithium
Mistral AI Launches Sovereign Model for European Public Services
French Competition Authority Fines Retailers €40 Million Over Misleading Promotions
France Records Exceptional Electricity Exports as Nuclear Output Recovers
Dassault Aviation Expands Rafale Assembly Capacity at Mérignac
Sanofi Invests €1 Billion in New Biologics Production Hub Near Lyon
France Protests Germany’s Extension of Border Controls Into 2027
French Public-Sector and Transport Unions Threaten National Strike
France Deploys Riot Police After Violence in Lyon Suburbs
French Anti-Terrorism Prosecutors Investigate Radicalized Flydubai Co-Pilot
France’s Defense Budget Surpasses NATO’s 2% of GDP Target
French Government Faces No-Confidence Threat Over Budget
France and G7 Release 100 Million Barrels From Strategic Oil Reserves
France Convenes Emergency Defense Council Over Threats to Commercial Shipping
France and Germany Coordinate Military Response After Russian Strikes on Kyiv Infrastructure
UK Police Release Six Iranian Nationals on Bail After RAF Fairford Security Alert
UK Business Confidence Falls as Energy Costs and Tax Uncertainty Rise
Cornwall Insight Warns UK Energy Bills Could Rise 16% in January
UK Introduces Zero VAT on Household Electricity Bills
UK 30-Year Gilt Yield Hits 6% as Bond Market Pressures Intensify
UK Introduces Stricter Subcontractor Checks and Expanded Trade Union Access
Green Party Proposes Three-Year Emergency Freeze on Private Rent Increases
UK Treasury Committee Seeks Tax Clarification Over Manchester City Investigation
Royal Marines Deploy to Faroe Islands for Northern European Security Exercise
UK Business Confidence Weakens as High Costs Delay Investment
UK GDP Growth Revised Up to 0.5% in Second Quarter
Bank of England Warns of Financial Stability Risks From Autonomous AI
UK Expands Early Prisoner Release Scheme to Ease Overcrowding
UK Records Worst Bluetongue Outbreak on Record Across Livestock Farms
UK Government Faces Shrinking Fiscal Headroom Ahead of October 28 Budget
UK 30-Year Gilt Yield Reaches 6% as Energy Shock Drives Borrowing Costs Higher
×