Heat Wave Dressing in the City

We’ve had another heat wave in London this week, which is sartorial hell for me.  Trousers are out of the question.  Even SLEEVES are out of the question!  A dress is the coolest option… But, the dress has to be something I can sweat on and wash, not some delicate wafty silk number that I have to be precious about.  Cotton is compulsory. Here’s my other non-negotiable; I only wear dresses that don’t show bra straps.  I know I sound like an old lady, but I hate seeing bra straps sticking out.  Did Grace Kelly wear dresses with bra straps showing?  No.  If I am ever in a sartorial quandary, I think ‘WWGKD?’ (What Would Grace Kelly Do?).  If she would do it, I’m in.  If it would have given Grace pause, then perhaps it should give me pause as well. And I know she wouldn’t have worn a dress with bra straps sticking out.

My go-to, sweaty-weather, no-bra-showing dress is this cotton jersey blue and purple Pucci maxi dress  from several years ago.  The last Pucci dress I wore on the blog got mixed reviews on Instagram, and this one probably will too. I figured out why when I looked through the photos of this dress. In person it is very flattering on. The movement is good, and it clings just a little, but not too much. It is an easy dress; the waist is loose which is welcome on a hot day!  But because of the graphic print, from some angles it looks ok in a photo, and from others it doesn’t.  So I do kind of get why some people think Pucci is ‘unflattering’ on me.  You know what though?  I’m actually too sweaty and hot to care AT ALL.  I just want to get through the week until heatwave number 2, summer 2017 breaks.

On this particular swelteringly hot humid day in London, I took Pippa (my Whippet) to Chiswick House in search of some shade by the water.  Just have a look at this verdant scene on the grounds below.  One of the many reasons I adore London is that despite being urban, you can really feel like you’re in the middle of the countryside sometimes.  It makes up for the fact that nowhere has proper air-conditioning!

I’ve found a handful of heatwave-appropriate dresses that meet my criteria–  cotton, comfortable, and don’t show bra straps.  Admittedly two of them I’d have to wear a strapless bra with, but still.  I even shopped my own post and bought the Rainbow Ikat dress from ASOS, and I’m wearing it right this minute!  🙂

Next week I’ll be posting from the Austrian Alps, so I’ll escape the city heat for a bit.  Being in a very rustic environment has its own sartorial challenges, but I’ll take those over sweat any day!  Have a lovely week, all xx

linking to: notdeadyetstyle, notdressedaslamb, stylesplash,