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Yes, you can wear a black dress on a hot day

Yes, you can wear a black dress on a hot day

There’s a myth that we shouldn’t wear black clothes in summer, that white clothes reflect the heat and black clothes make you hotter. But scientific research from 1980 shows that the amount of heat the skin is exposed to (from the clothes) is the same regardless.

The key to keeping cool is to opt for looser shapes in natural fabrics. No-one wants tight armholes in a heatwave. From a cotton buffet dress to a knee-length, linen shift ( oh, I wish I’d asked for a photo at the gallery); a simple, everyday t-shirt-style (Cos and Eileen Fisher are great for these) to a go-everywhere shirtdress. The carefree rather than clingy silhouette provides plenty of waft factor.

STYLE NOTES: The dress in this photo was a generous gift from Gather & See.