Many of us are baking in the relentless heat that has a grip on the country.  (If this is July, what can we expect in August?)  From coast to coast, it’s just hot, hot, hot!  Unfortunately, we can’t hide in our air-conditioned caves forever.  We still have lives to lead, jobs to do and people to see.  So how about some tips for staying cool and looking your best despite the heat and humidity. 

Dresses for comfort – And what could be more comfortable when the mercury hits 100 than your favorite summer dress?  Yes, you know how easy it is to slip on a dress and be done with it.  Dresses are cool, especially in a great breathable cotton knit and they always make for a put together look.  You can cinch them with a belt or let them flow free.  When a breeze happens along (if a breeze happens along) or a well placed subway vent, you’re ready to enjoy maximum benefit when you have on a comfy well ventilated dress.

Hot/cold, hot/cold, hot/cold !!! – Moving in and out of the  heat to air conditioning and back again can be a major problem for lots of us. From grocery stores, to movie theaters to the office, inside temperatures can be a real shock in this weather.   My best advice is to always carry a cotton pashmina, a little shrug or a jacket that you can slip into a bag and pull out for those situations when you feel like you’re in an icebox.  Find something in neutral that will go with any outfit and keep it on hand so it’s there when you need it.

Shoes –  can be a big problem in the summer.  Bare feet inside tight shoes – a miserable situation on a hot day when your feet are swelling and you can’t get relief.  Best to stick to comfortable sandals with flat or low heels and good arch support or maybe a little wedge that will give you a stylish look with the stability that will keep you on your feet.  Don’t sacrifice your comfort or sanity by squeezing your swollen feet into a cute little fashion statement of a shoe that you’ll be cursing  by day’s end.

Hats – There is no excuse to be out on these sunny days without a hat.  The stores are still full of  great styles and colors.  There is truly a hat for every look and every body.  Besides the risk of skin cancer, the reality is that wearing a hat will really keep you much cooler.  And what better way to show your keep cool attitude than to top off your outfit with a great hat?  Whether you’re wearing a dress, a suit, shorts or loose linen trousers, there is a hat to go with every outfit.

If you have more fashion tips about looking your best and staying cool, please share.

It won’t be over for a while so keep cool and make fashion work for you this summer!

First of all, let me say that this wayward blogger has found her way back to the blog.  My apologies for being AWOL for so long.  Life has been a little too full lately.

Happily I’m back and glad to report the discover of a great line of cool and comfortable clothes for summer.  I discovered these at a music festival, and unlike most everything else that was way overpriced, this line was reasonable and fit like a glove.  Check out the Synergy website for a fun line of dresses, skirts, tops and bottoms.  Everything is made from organic cotton which is oh, so breatheable and comfortable.  Perfect for summer.  And this beautiful cotton is very drapey and soft.  It fits well but doesn’t cling – shows off the positive and minimizes the less than positive.  Many of the pieces have hand-cut and hand-sewn appliques on them that are really fun and make these items truly unique.

The other thing I like about Synergy is that they are committed to sustainability.  Not only do they use organic cotton, but also low impact fabric dyes.  Their clothing is hand made in Nepal according to fair trade practices.  They are constantly looking for ways to minimize their footprint in clothing production and daily operations.  They make clothes that look good and that you can feel good about wearing.

I bought two of the summer dresses, and I’m practically living in them.  You might like them too.  Check it out.