- Sunet Vermaak
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
From Dubai to London, this summer's temperatures aren't playing around. Here's how to stay stylish, put-together, and comfortable — without melting.
Between the UAE's relentless summer sun and Europe's back-to-back heatwaves, this season has forced a rethink of the summer wardrobe. The good news: staying stylish in extreme heat isn't about sacrifice, it's about strategy. Here's our breakdown of clothing, makeup, and hair for hot-weather dressing that actually holds up.
1. Clothing: Fabric First, Fit Second
The single biggest lever you have is fabric choice. Linen is the gold standard. Textile experts consistently rank it the best fabric for hot, humid conditions — its loose weave and moisture-wicking structure pull sweat away from the skin and let it evaporate quickly, rather than clinging. For dry desert heat like the UAE's, linen and lightweight cotton layers are your best friends. In muggier European climates, look to cotton voile, muslin, and bamboo rayon, which stay airy even at high humidity.
Color and cut matter almost as much as fiber. Dark shades absorb heat, so lean into whites, sands, pastels, and soft neutrals. Choose loose, flowing silhouettes over anything fitted — airflow is doing half the cooling work for you.
The edit
Oversized linen shirt, worn open over a simple tank
Wide-leg linen or cotton voile trousers
A lightweight silk or cotton scarf, doubling as sun protection and an accessory
Breathable espadrilles or leather sandals over anything synthetic
2. Makeup: Less Product, Smarter Prep
In extreme heat, heavy coverage works against you. The consensus among makeup artists is clear: keep it light, prep the skin properly, and let a few key products do the heavy lifting.
Prime strategically — apply it as a buffer between skin and makeup, focusing on high-sweat zones like the forehead, nose, and chin.
Choose a long-wear, transfer-resistant base, or skip full coverage in favor of spot-concealing only where you need it.
Powder over cream on the eyes — powder eyeshadows in light, natural tones are the most sweat-resistant option.
Waterproof or tubing mascara — tubing formulas wrap each lash and remove cleanly with warm water, without the flaking waterproof formulas can leave behind.
Set with a UV-protective setting spray, so you're refreshing rather than reapplying layers throughout the day.
3. Hair: Off the Neck, Sleek, and Protected
Frizz isn't a hair type — it's a moisture imbalance. Humid air penetrates the hair shaft and swells the cuticle, which is exactly what creates that unmanageable texture.
Contained styles — buns, braids, low ponytails — outperform loose curls or waves in both heat and humidity, and they get hair off your neck, which helps you feel cooler too.
If you're wearing hair down, slick the front pieces back to prevent face-framing frizz and camouflage sweaty strands.
A silk scarf or a well-placed claw clip is an easy, elevated save on a bad-hair heat day.
The Takeaway
Dressing for extreme heat is less about giving up on style and more about editing smartly: natural, breathable fabrics; light colors; minimal, strategic makeup; and hair worn up and off the neck. Master these fundamentals and heatwave season becomes just another season to dress well in.
