Work Wear Wednesday: How to dress in a heat wave

Summers in Toronto are always a surprise, you’re wearing a trench coat one day and a bikini the next. Dressing for work can be a challenge when it’s sub-zero with AC indoors but blazing hot when you step out for lunch, so here are my tips on how to dress in a heat wave.

When it gets hot out, definitely opt for a dress. The breezier the better! I love shirt dresses because they have a more formal silhouette for the office but are also super light and don’t cling to your body. As for fabric, natural fabrics like cotton and linen are great, but personally, I like polyester chiffon. I love the way a chiffon shirt dress is low-maintenance and can be thrown in the wash. I also like that they don’t wrinkle and are super lightweight. Look for a chiffon dress with ultra-light construction but an opaque print, like the one I’m wearing.

As for my outfit, my dress is from the Peter Pilotto for Target collection (similar dress here), my flat sandals are c/o Iris Sandals (similar gladiator sandals here), purple purse by Kate Spade, jewelry c.o Pandora and I’m wearing folding Wayfarer sunglasses from Ray-Ban.

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When it’s hot out, definitely opt for a sandal as well. I love leather sandals because they are dressy but still comfortable. Suede also works well because they mould to your feet and are less likely to cause blisters. This pair from Iris Sandals is a more sophisticated take on the gladiator sandal trend. As you know, gladiator sandals are one of the hottest fashion trends of 2015, but can be challenging to wear in a corporate environment. Look for a sandal with a more elegant shape or pretty beaded details like this Anemone style.

I love wearing an outfit like this when it’s hot out because it’s so simple. I also love that this shirt dress has lace cut outs that act like ventilation! Looking back on this day, it was so hot that after work, I decided to go down to the water just to catch a breeze, and was happy I wasn’t wearing a tight-fitting dress or high heels! I hope this post gave you some tips on how to dress for the office in a summer heat wave, you can check out more of my Work Wear Wednesday posts here!