Beat the heat in style

Tricia Gosengtian has a point. It’s difficult for most Filipinos to stay at the forefront of fashion when the oppressive summer heat makes it unbearable to wear anything more than shorts and flip-flops. Now that the temperature is rising, even I am finding it difficult to get creative with what I wear. Lately, all I want is to stay cool, comfortable, and not die from a heatstroke.

However, dressing for Philippine weather doesn’t have to be boring and uncreative as Tricia makes it out to be, either. Sure, it’s a lot easier to dress sloppily, but there are also many ways to stay comfortable and stylish in the heat. In fact, I mentioned that summer is the best time to experiment with your personal style. I completely understand why most people would rather stomp around in flip-flops, but for those who want to add life into their summer ensembles, here are a few ways to stay comfy and stylish in the heat.

Slip into a sundress

The easiest way to look and feel good in the summer is to wear a colorful sundress. Its lightweight fabric and breezy design keeps you relatively sweat-free, but what I like most about a good sundress is that it can make you look pretty and put-together, even if you only had five minutes to get dressed.  Sundresses are available at almost every store and at various price points. If dresses are your style, there really is no excuse to not have a pretty sundress in your closet.  

Pile on the accessories

A statement necklace or a noisy stack of bangles adds interest into the simplest of summer outfits. Look for accessories with colorful beads, wood detail or feathers – these details are very trendy this season.

Photo courtesy of Papermag

Cover your head

Sunscreen isn’t the only way to protect your face from the sun’s UV rays. Why not hit two birds with one stone by accessorizing with a straw hat? Floppy beach hats are a trendy complement to delicate sundresses, as are cowboy hats and Panama hats.

Another hot accessory this summer is the turband, the love child of last year’s hippie headband and turban trends. Turbands are made of stretchy fabric and come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, which make them a little less versatile than straw hats. But don’t let that discourage you from trying out this trend! When worn with a simple sundress or a graphic shirt, a turband adds a carefree, bohemian vibe to your look.

Go sheer

Sheer fabric was a hot trend in 2010 and continues to be popular in 2011. But sheer clothing for summer isn’t about tight see-through tops or dresses that demand attention. Rather, this season’s sheer is used in a variety of ways – from delicate summer layers to an edgy take on neutrals. When shopping for a sheer piece, look for a garment that is unstructured and loose. Make sure that your undergarments are in great shape; sheer white tops should be worn with a nude bra underneath, while sheer maxiskirts should have opaque bike shorts underneath. Remember, the sheer trend is not about revealing everything; it’s about creating a seamless, sexy illusion between the garment and your body.