The sun has finally arrived! After battling through one of the coldest, wettest, most miserable winters we can remember, we are finally through to the other side and now find ourselves in the middle of a glorious heat wave! We all love a bit of sunshine – BBQ season is now well underway and we’ve taken to having regular ice cream breaks in the office to keep us all going, but of course when the summer creeps up on us all of a sudden after 6 months stuck in an overcast limbo, it can be difficult to adjust – and being pregnant just makes it that little bit more tricky.
There is a tendency here in the UK, to get over excited and abandon all common sense, not to mention fashion sense, and strip off to the bare minimum of clothing as soon as the sun makes an appearance. It’s almost as if a secret competition is launched to see who can wear the tiniest pair of shorts or the tightest little vest top. Now it may seem counterintuitive, but this kind of dressing is actually likely to make you feel hotter! Not to worry though, we have put together a list of our top five fail safe tips for staying cool and looking fabulous in the heat.
1. Loose fitting clothing
Always avoid tight fitting styles in the heat! Wearing long, flowing, loose fitting clothes allows air to pass through underneath. Creating air flow between the fabric and your skin keeps you well ventilated and cools you down. So embrace those feminine floaty tops and dresses when the sun comes out and you will look and feel fabulously cool and breezy! A good maxi dress is the ideal choice at this time of year – why not try this floral patterned maxi, worn by Jessica Alba to stay cool in the LA sun.
2. Natural fibres
Natural fibres such as cotton, muslin or silk will always keep you cooler than synthetic ones will. This is because they have the ability to ‘breath’ – that is, unlike many synthetic fibres which trap sweat and make you feel sticky, they wick the sweat away from your skin and release it into the air, keeping you feeling cool and fresh. Not only this, but they are environmentally friendly and kind on sensitive skin too – what’s not to like! Many of our maxi dresses, such as this patterned coral maxi are made of 100% cotton which is prefect for keeping you cool and dry in the heat. Or if you are after something for a special occasion, you will find plenty of silk options in our Luxe collection.
3. Avoid dark colours
Dark colours absorb heat from the sun and trap it, making you feel hot and uncomfortable – imagine, sabotaged by your own clothes! So always stick to light colours in the heat. Shades of white and cream reflect heat away from you to keep you feeling cool while all around you are getting hot and bothered. Why not try our white cotton maxi dress with a lace trim for a pretty option to combat the heat.
4. Patterned clothes
In heat like this it is often the case that no matter what you do, you will be sweating. It is a sad fact, but of course sweat is your body’s way of cooling you down, so it is a good thing really… even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time! For those days when sweat is inevitable, a nice busy pattern on your clothes not only looks great, but is much more forgiving than a solid colour when it comes to disguising those embarrassing wet patches. Our gorgeous blue patterned cotton maxi dress worn by Alyson Hannigan to stay cool in LA is a great option.
5. Flat shoes
Flat shoes are generally a good idea during pregnancy to avoid straining your back with the extra baby weight, but in this heat they are more important than ever! Your feet and ankles will naturally swell as your bump grows, but the heat will only exacerbate things, so make sure you invest in a comfortable pair of flat shoes to protect your legs and back from unnecessary strain. Our range of Shoetherapy ballerina pumps and loafers are medically proven to optimise posture, improve circulation and combat back pain and cellulite – and they look great too!
So with this in mind, grab the sun cream and get out there and enjoy the sun!