How to dress for an English summer (come rain or shine)

My favourite – actually practical – tips for what to wear when the great British weather is at its unpredictable best

What I would quite like to be doing all summer long, please (Image Credit: Pinterest)

If you’re in the UK, you will no doubt be sick to the back teeth of people talking about how hot it is – so I’ll spare you the more in-depth story of our industrial air-con unit, bought from a second-hand police auction (don’t ask) and its unfortunate leak. But anyway. Times are desperate, are they not?!

Earlier this week, I settled down to read

India Knight

’s peerless Substack, Home – to which, if you are not already subscribed, I strongly suggest you do so ASAP. It’s a glorious mish-mash of shopping recommendations, recipes, gardening tips, paintings, interiors, books… basically, all the really good stuff. I genuinely save her posts to read in bed/the bath/the garden with a cup of tea and a biscuit, as they are such a highlight of my week.

In one recent missive, India identified the very real need for a guide to summer dressing that is both aspirational and practical for English weather:

I would like a realistic guide to dressing in summer in the UK. All the ones I’ve seen - and they are excellently put together and full of great things, it’s not that - assume either that everyone spends August broiling by the pool in Puglia, or have really misplaced faith in the reliability of the British weather.

It’s a throwback to the heyday of women’s magazines, whose job was to make everything seem madly glamorous. I appreciate that it’s nice to imagine one is the sort of person who summers abroad and has many cocktail parties to attend straight from the beach club, but come on.

So I feel that along with the white sundresses, giant straw hats and tiny sandals that would make your feet black with grime if you ever took the Tube, we could all do with being pointed to bits to throw on when the clouds come out or it starts drizzling - bits that don’t immediately ruin the outfit or make it look like you’re going camping after dinner. Please could someone write this?

So here I am, taking up the mantle! Of course, sundresses and tiny sandals feel about right when the mercury is topping 30°C but, as we know, weather can be (and normally is) temperamental – so here’s my advice for getting dressed for the summer months in Britain, whatever problems the clouds/vicious office air-con may present.

Espadrille sandals by Naguisa, £201 from Wolf & Badger

I find that the hardest thing to get right in the summer is footwear: either you’re dashing around in flimsy little sandals that don’t support your arches and leave your soles horrifyingly manky after a day in the city; or you’re wedging yourself into trainers or loafers, destined for a day of sweaty toes.

Naguisa, a Spanish brand, is as good at crafting hot weather flats as you’d expect. The espadrille styles have an ever-so-slight lift to the heel and are wonderfully padded, while remaining blissfully breathable. Most styles have a rubber sole, too, so should you get caught in an unexpected shower you won’t be left with soggy feet. I love the pair above (which is somewhere between an espadrille and a fisherman’s sandal) but these Mary-Janes would also be extremely wearable.

Other flat, versatile-yet-nice-to-look-at shoes I like are:

• Soeur’s charcoal grey slingback ballet pumps, which feel like the summery equivalent of black loafers.

• These Fracap sandals from Toast. A friend of mine has them and I am constantly jealous; they’re super soft and look great with straight leg jeans, but aren’t too flimsy for city life.

Finally, a note on the mesh and woven shoes which are everywhere at the moment: personally, I’d avoid these, simply because they are uncomfortable in the heat and impractical, for obvious reasons, when it rains. An example of a trend that does not lend itself to real life!

Silky Zara bomber jacket, £79.99

I’m quite judicious about what I buy from Zara and only go for pieces that a) I know I’ll wear a lot, b) look and feel highly quality and c) genuinely fill a gap in my wardrobe. This silky, blouson-style bomber ticks all three boxes and I now could not be without it. It’s brilliant over pretty much anything, from a linen dress to a tee shirt, and expertly solves the problem of chilly shoulders in the evening without looking too structured or utilitarian. It’s basically a satin-y shirt with a zip – who knew how useful that would be? Strongly recommend.

Other lovely, summer-appropriate jackets that would look good layered over dresses/tees/whatever you like when the weather isn’t playing ball include:

• This boxy, hemp and cotton canvas one from Toast, that goes in the washing machine.

• A tie-waist, padded number from Ba&sh, with fun (and airy!) sleeves.

• Rails’ utility style, which has a drawstring to pull in the waist (handy if you find these sorts of jackets are usually a bit shapeless).

• This waisted cardigan from Aligne, which isn’t a jacket per-se, but will look smart with almost anything and keep you warm if there’s a nip in the air.

Cream wool paisley scarf from Paul Smith, £130

Even when the weather is sweltering, if I am going to be out all day I couldn’t countenance not taking some kind of summer scarf or wrap with me. From offices with freezing air-con to chilly winds that pick up towards the end of the day, you don’t know what you might be faced with – a light shawl is so comforting, and takes up no space in your bag. I’ve built up quite a collection over the years, but I am lusting after this Paul Smith one. I also love this embroidered style from Pink Maharani (which comes in three, great colours) and this super-light, cotton one from Gerard Darel.

Tallin maxi dress in black linen from Asceno, £345

Before you say anything, I know that £345 feels like an awful lot to spend on a dress, which isn’t even a particularly ‘dressy’ dress at that – but this Asceno linen shift is so beautifully cut, and made from the most perfect linen that you could run through the wash a million times without it looking the slightest bit bobbly or misshapen.

I wear it with a shirt over the top and Birkenstocks for the day, with kitten heels and a long, gold necklace for the evening, and with a leather jacket if the weather isn’t playing ball. Black is also infinitely practical, but the fabric makes it feel deeply summery. I’ve yet to try it with the Zara bomber, but they would, I’m sure, be excellent bedfellows…

If this feels just too punchy price-wise, this from John Lewis looks like a lovely alternative. I personally find that summer dresses in block colours are the easiest to layer, and therefore the most versatile. I get mine from Massimo Dutti, Arket, Soeur, Leset and Mondo Corsini.

Linen palazzo trousers from With Nothing Underneath, £120

Sticking with the linen theme here, but it’s honestly my favourite fabric in the summer months and feels practical in most temperatures as it’s so easily layered. I could yap on for hours about how much I adore With Nothing Underneath, and I have so many brilliant shirts from this brand that I wear day in, day out, whatever the weather or season. It took me far too long to try these loosely cut, linen trousers, but I’m so glad I did: in this denim blue, they are an excellent stand-in for jeans, and they have an 👏 elasticated 👏 waistband (such joy!)

Obviously, these are great with a billowy white shirt on really warm days, but I also like them with a crisp, white tee and a navy jumper layered over the top, so that you get a flash of white collar. I like this Navygrey cotton one immensely, but good old M&S do a lovely, breathable merino one that I also give the thumbs up. Of course, you could also take the jumper off if the sun comes out, and drape it over your shoulders in the style of an elderly European gentleman (an excellent look).

Other easy trousers I am eyeing up right now are:

• These creamy, knitted ones from Toteme, which are cleverly luxe enough not to be classed as tracksuit bottoms.

• Whistles’ light, drawstring waist jeans, for when a dress feels too summery but normal denim is too thick.

• Cotton poplin trousers from Reformation, also with a drawstring waist, if linen isn’t your bag.

One final thing I would add to this list is a good, waterproof hat that you can roll up and stuff in your bag, like this waxed cotton one from Toast. No one wants to be carting an umbrella around at this time of year, but a flash shower ruins everyone’s mood. If you are armed with a hat (and potentially one of the jackets above) you will feel so smug if rain clouds appear, trust me.

What do you reach for when the weather looks unpredictable? Is there anything you’d recommend? As always, meet me in the comments! x