travel in style: warm climate wardrobe

Warm weather travel wardrobe
Ah, Venizia. Don’t forget your straw hat, and be sure to stop for a Spritz.

Clockwise, from left: Dress // Shirt // Hat // Tee // Bracelet // Pants // Sandals // Sandals

I’ve had a few requests to put together some warm weather travel wardrobe suggestions. For a variety of reasons, we’ve tended to travel during cooler seasons, but our trip to Italy in 2011 was during one of the warmest Springs on record, so I did get some practice at dressing for a non-resort vacation when temperatures were reaching into the 90’s(F) with some regularity.

The concepts of lightweight layers and building on a core of one or two neutrals still hold. While the fabrics for warm climates might be different, you still may be dealing with temperatures that fluctuate from day to night, or from outside to over-air-conditioned interiors. (Caveat: I run cold. While everyone else is sighing with relief under that blast of a/c, I’m the one reaching for my sweater and scarf.) Personally I find that being more covered, in lightweight pieces that fit slightly away from the body is most comfortable, especially under mid-day sun. A straw hat with a decent brim is indispensable.

There is one overriding suggestion I will offer: think linen.

Linen is lighter than cotton, will dry more quickly if wet, and breathes like nobody’s business. A big linen button front shirt is a fantastic warm weather jacket alternative. Roll up the sleeves and wear it open or tied over a sleeveless dress or top to keep the sun off your shoulders or for venues where more “modest” dress is required (like visiting the interior of churches and cathedrals). Yes, woven linen will wrinkle. If a casually rumpled look is more than you can bear, think about linen jersey. All of the benefits of linen, without the issue of wrinkles. Lighter colors of linen jersey may be less than opaque, so I’ll often add a featherweight tank or camisole underneath.

Other fabrics that can be lightweight and breathable include rayon (also listed as viscose and modal), tencel and even some modern microfiber polyesters which have wicking properties. I have a couple of tanks from Adea that are surprisingly cool in warm weather, totally non-bulky and layer beautifully under my linen knits. Silk jersey tanks from Eileen Fisher are another option if you prefer garments that fit less close to the body. Some people find silk to be too warm; this has not been a problem for me, especially with tanks.

When it comes to footwear, I’ve found that sandals with a nubuck, cork or wicking fabric insole are more comfortable in the heat. Arche, Mephisto, Birkenstock and Dansko all offer styles with this feature. Keep jewelry light and minimal.

Lighter colored fabrics are generally more comfortable under direct sun, but do have the problem of showing dirt more easily. Dust and dry dirt can often be minimized with a garment brush, otherwise you can carry some portable spot remover if doing laundry isn’t convenient.

What are your favorite wardrobe tips for traveling in warmer climates?

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19 Comments

  1. I immediately thought of my Karina dresses when I saw the title of your post. And I am a big fan of loose cotton shirts- just picked one up yesterday. They’re so versatile, although you do have to accept wrinkling as part of life. xo

  2. I find it difficult to pack for weather I’m not experiencing at the moment. Plus, what to wear to the airport? I keep my beach clothes in a special out of season box so I get that out. If it’s only slightly different than current temps I build on what is currently in rotation with appropriate layer weights.

  3. Thanks for this post, it’s informative and a pleasure to read as always. Couldn’t agree more about linen in hot weather, nothing else works for me, especially with the occasional flash still popping up. Believe it or not, in July and August Toronto can be very hot and humid and cotton just gets so sticky.

    One question – I clicked on the coral EF linen jersey top from Nordstrom in your round-about and it looks great. Out of curiosity I searched for the same thing on the EF site but what looks like the same top is a different price and colours. As an EF guru do you know if they supply product to other stores that they don’t sell themselves? Just wondering as we don’t really have the brand in Canada and I’m trying to figure out how it works so I can do a little comparison shopping.

    1. LauraH, there are two different versions of this top available right now…one with a scoop neck and long sleeves and the other with a bateau neck and (I think) 3/4 sleeves. They are priced differently. Yes, they often offer colors and styles to department stores that aren’t available in their own stores/website and visa versa. I find that Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus have the best selection of styles, colors and sizes of the department stores, but that the EF website often features more of the basic pieces and those you’ll see in the ads.

    2. There is an Eileen Fisher shop on South Granville in Vancouver BC. They have gorgeous items and the staff are so helpful. I think you could order online from them. Good luck. I have several EF pieces and they are worth the money, especially when you factor in how many times you wear them.

  4. Another great post – thank you for sharing your tips! I find that waistbands bother me the most in warm weather so I make sure trousers and skirts have enough give or even no waistband at all. Open toe footwear with leather linings are most comfortable and with a small heel for me. I also feel the cold especially with any a/c so I always have a camisole underlayer or light cardigan for a cover up. Living in UK, I’m invariable traveling from cold to warm so my outfit will be some softly tailored pants, covered flats, rayon tee and cardigan or knit jacket.

  5. We’ll be in southern Italy in late June, so this is a timely post! I will be looking for a couple of linen shift dresses to replace ones that are now too big for me. I’m currently debating whether I can bear to leave jeans home for a month, but really, they so quickly get too warm, and I may simply rely on chinos or the like. . . A few tank tops, a few t-shirts, and probably a long or midi skirt, if I can find the right one. . . Thanks for helping me move my packing thoughts a bit higher up the to-do list . . . 😉

  6. One thing I decided before our India/UAEtrip last year, was that you’re going to get hot and dusty no matter what you’re wearing, so my choice was hot and dusty in white, beige and bright jewel tones as accents. Dark colours REALLY show dust and wear, attract extra heat, bugs and just look inappropriate in such climes. And I LOVE black!!! But this wasn’t NYC or Paris!

    My uniform was white, cream or beige slim bottoms and longish tunic shirts (these fulfill the modesty requirements of asian/arab cultures) in tonal or jewel tones, teal, amethyst and coral. I wore nubuck soled Naot sandals, super comfy, although if one is visiting temples etc in Asia, keep in mind you will be removing footwear, so an easy off/on style is recommended, if your feet permit. Balance that with your requirements for walking safely and securely. I did envy women slipping in and out of their mules at mosques while i struggled with double skinny Velcro fasteners on each foot!

    Susan, I am intrigued with the Adea tops. Have you ever worn these on their own, sized up as they recommend? Do they have enough substance by themselves? Am on the hunt for layering pieces for our Scandinavian spring trip, but want to know that should the need arise the bottom piece can stand on its own.

    1. This thread is so helpful. I am heading to Thailand in December and am having a hard time figuring out what to wear that is both appropriate and comfortable. It’s almost impossible to find warm weather clothes on line this time of year, especially in XS/petite. Where do people who live in Florida or Arizona buy their clothes in the winter??? (I live in NY) Naot sandals and Dansko clog sandals are my only foot attire in the spring/summer and hoping this will work in Asia. Question about visiting temples: when you take your shoes off, are you barefoot?

      1. Hi Susannah, my experience in Thailand was that you had to remove your shoes prior to entering a temple, so yes, you’d be barefoot inside. I wore my Eileen Fisher stretch crepe ankle pants almost daily there, with cotton or linen tunics over the top.

  7. I am a big fan of knit cotton skirts, simple A-line or circle skirts for hot weather. The ones from Lands End have worked for me when I travel. They pack well and I wear them whenever I might have worn shorts at home, allowing me to pair them with tees and tanks for very casual to appropriate-for-dinner-out with the right shoes, bag, and top. I actually grab these just as much at home when it is warm. When it is windy, I actually add a slip to keep from clinging to my legs. A slip works very well with the Traveler skirts from Chico’s, too. I know it seems like an added layer would be warm, but it keeps things in place and is easy to pack, and I have found they don’t make much difference in comfort related to heat. I keep a couple of black skirts on hand, but also will branch out to gray or tan for life on the wild side. 😉

  8. My summer dilemma is the colors. I look too washed out in pale colors and white. It’s hard to find summer fabrics in rich muted colors like teal, navy and brown. I’m with you on the A/C; my family doesn’t understand my need for a cardigan year round. Theresa

  9. Thank you so much this. All are fabulous suggestions. I wear linen quite a bit in summer and I’m so glad to learn there is a kind of linen that doesn’t wrinkle as much. We live mostly in a warm climate year around and I find dresses to be the coolest thing you can wear when it’s really hot and humid. You also made a very good point about keeping jewelry light. Some jewelry, especially necklaces, can make me hot and often they even feel too heavy.

    You’ve outlined a perfect wardrobe for Europe in the summer, which can be surprisingly warm. I really enjoyed reading the other’s comments. I learned so much from their suggestions too. Again, merci beaucoup.
    Sam

  10. One of those “rules” that I have thrown out is that linen must remain crisply ironed…maybe the first time you wear it, fresh from the factory, with all the sizing in it, but after that, I machine wash, drip dry and wear it “natural”…life’s too short for ironing!! Though I do love the smell of “magic sizing” every once in a while!! Memories of a day gone by!!

  11. Seconding the love for linen and what Amelie said. Dark anything, even linen, does not work in ultraintense sunlight. I wore only linen and the occasional thin cotton tied as a sarong skirt in India, hung to dry as Thea does. Just smoothing damp linen with the hand “irons” all you need. Also, in India and many other countries women should cover their legs and arms to respect religious and cultural norms. Around a hotel pool a tank top may be OK but not in a market or temple.

  12. as I live in a hot summer climate (australia) I find this type of packing the easiest ! although I always find that cool cotton/linen pants are actually cooler than dresses, which can cause thighs to rub in extreme heat (or is that just me) !, cant beat cool cotton/linen loose shirts and I also love Naot sandals for walking all day, they really keep feet cool, a couple of summer gauzy scarves add a bit of panache.

  13. I live in a place that is very hot in the summertime (Texas). My basic uniform is sleeveless dresses and sunscreen. If I am going to a restaurant, I take a wrap. Other than that, I try to stay cool. No long sleeves for me unless they are very loosely woven.

  14. I wore a bright pink linen blouse with crystal buttons as an open jacket for dinner on a river cruise. It worked perfectly for layering in the cool dining room as well on the upper deck after dinner. I have not, however, found 100% linen to be a ‘cooling’ fabric for me in the midday heat. I still get too hot. A combination linen-cotton works well, as do cotton knits or 100% cotton. Flowy knit pants worked for dressy warm evenings, too. During the day I was comfortable in cotton tops and bottoms, the latter in the form of capris. I would have loved a comfortable cotton dress to wear during the day, but never found one before the trip. Another nice evening option was a pashmina over a sleeveless blouse.