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How The ELLE Editors Dress For Work In A Heatwave
An insider's guide to looking and staying cool during summer.
After years of complaining about some very disappointing British summers, it seems the weather gods have finally answered our prayers, and blessed us not only with some serious sun, but with a succession of heatwaves. Temperatures are continuing to soar beyond 30 degrees celsius in the UK this month, meaning it's time to swap the contingency umbrella for lighter layers.
The only downside? Dressing for work becomes a significantly more tricky (and sticky) affair. Not only is there the hot and hellish commute to contend with, but there's also the matter of ensuring you're dressed appropriately for a professional environment – despite the overwhelming desire to wear as little as humanly possible. After all, even the most laid-back offices might take issue with employees turning up in a kaftan...
So, how do stylish women dress for work during a heatwave? As a general guide, look to loose fits like pyjama trousers and elasticated waists, and natural fibres such as cotton or linen. Co-ords make it easy to create four outfits out of one set, while the revival of mesh ballet flats, fisherman sandals and kitten heel slingbacks offer plenty of wear-all-day footwear options if you can't get away with trainers. From oversized tailoring and Bermuda shorts to breezy light cotton dresses, these are the ELLE editors' summer work dressing formulas, so you too can navigate the heatwave with ease.
Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.
Esther Coombes is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing luxury shopping content across fashion, beauty, travel and homes. She graduated from London College of Fashion with a First Class BA in Fashion Journalism in 2010, and has since worked at Marie-Claire, Easy Living, GLAMOUR and Women’s Health.
She held positions as Senior Fashion and Beauty Executive, Senior Lifestyle Executive and Content Lead during her nine years at HELLO! and HELLO! Fashion, creating editorial and branded content across the lifestyle sector and interviewing talent and experts including Lisa Eldridge, Jo Malone and Katie Jane Hughes for print and digital features.
With exacting standards and a critical eye for editing new launches, she enjoys recommending readers best in class products and experiences, be that a glow-giving skin tint, a boutique hotel stay or the perfect slingback stiletto.
In her spare time you can find her at a spin or reformer class or streaming the latest zeitgeisty podcast or television drama.


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