19 Literally Cool Items That Laugh in the Face of a Heat Wave

Hands up if you check the forecast religiously each morning and wish to see a half dozen sunshine symbols lined up on your Weather app promising back-to-back sunshine and balmy evenings. Now, hands up if after two days of your wish coming true (and after feeling like you’re going to melt by the time you’ve reached work), you yearn for the weather to go back to be being “normal”.

Well, you’re not alone. As a nation, we’re obsessed with “good” weather, but the reality is that our wardrobes often aren’t up to the job of ensuring that we’re cool, calm and collected for going about our normal lives. Unfortunately, Bardot-style dresses and flip-flops won’t cut it in semi-formal work environments and a penchant for polyester will leave you feeling sweaty in the park. So what you need are some heat wave saviours (and not short-lived skimpy flings).

Cue linen dresses that are cooling but chic, pure cotton shirtdresses that you can dress up or down and crisp culottes for day-to-night dressing. Throw in a couple of carefully considered tops and you’ll be heat wave-proof. Lucky for you, we’ve picked out the coolest gems below. Keep scrolling to get shopping.

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