Fashion
What to Wear on a Hot Day: The Heatwave Guide
16 September 2026
What to Wear on a Hot Day: Your Aussie Heatwave Guide
What to wear on a hot day comes down to three things: a loose fit, a breathable natural fabric, and a colour that reflects the sun instead of befriending it. BOM is tipping a warmer-than-average summer with a strong El Niño, which is code for sorting your heatwave clothing before you are stood at the wardrobe at 42 degrees, melting. Here is what actually keeps you cool when AC’s just not enough…
What to Wear in a Heatwave: The Short Answer
The short version is a loose shape, in a natural fabric, in a pale colour, and nothing synthetic or tight. Linen or linen-blend is the top choice, since its open weave lets air move and wicks moisture, so let the creasing happen rather than fighting it all day. A loose maxi or midi that skims instead of clinging lets air circulate against your skin, while that same fabric in a fitted cut loses the cooling trick entirely. Pale and white tones reflect heat instead of absorbing it the way darker shades do, just check the fabric is not see-through in strong sun. Cotton and viscose are solid breathable back-ups, though viscose creases and loses shape faster than linen over a long day, and synthetics like polyester are the one real mistake, because they trap heat and moisture against your skin.
What Is the Best Fabric to Wear in Hot Weather?
The best fabric for hot weather is linen (hands down) because its loose, open weave lets air flow and pulls moisture off your skin. Cotton and viscose are close seconds, both breathable and far kinder in the heat than anything synthetic. Broderie and eyelet cotton are also everywhere for 2026, and the little punched holes that make them pretty are exactly what lets them breathe, so they are one trend that genuinely helps in the heat. Polyester and nylon are the ones to skip, since they trap warmth and sweat right against you. A linen dress is the single easiest heatwave buy there is, if we’re allowed to be biased!
What Are the Best Silhouettes for Staying Cool?
To stay cool in summer, go loose: a relaxed maxi or midi that skims the body lets air move instead of trapping it against your skin. Wide-leg and A-line shapes beat anything fitted or structured, which trap heat, and a tiered dress has built-in airflow between the layers. A maxi dress is the most heat-practical shape going, and it is an everyday staple rather than an occasion-only piece, so it earns its place right through summer. For sun coverage without the sweat, our long-sleeve maxi edit leans on lightweight linen and sheer textures.
Should You Wear Light or Dark Colours in a Heatwave?
Light, every time! Pale and white tones reflect the sun's heat, while dark colours absorb it and hold it against you, which you will feel fast on a 40-degree day. White, cream and soft pastels are your coolest picks, and butter yellow, one of the biggest colours of 2026, doubles as a heat-smart pale tone. Just hold the fabric up to the light and check it is not sheer before you head out. The white dresses edit is a good place to start.
Cool Summer Dresses to Shop
For cool summer dresses beyond maxis, a linen sundress or a floaty midi covers most hot days without much thought. A sundress in light cotton or linen is the grab-and-go option that takes you from the shops to a backyard lunch. A halterneck or square-neck style, both big for summer 2026, keeps things open and cool up top, and flat sandals with a woven basket bag are the easy 2026 finish. Browse the sundresses, beach dresses and day dresses edits, plus the summer outfits edit, for the full warm-weather range in sizes 4 to 24.
What to Avoid on a Hot Day
The biggest hot weather outfit mistakes all come back to trapping heat, so skip synthetic fabrics like polyester, tight or structured fits, and dark colours sitting in direct sun. Anything lined or clingy works against you, and heavy fabric holds warmth exactly where you do not want it. When it is genuinely dangerous outside, what you wear is only one part of it, so check BOM warnings and official health advice for staying safe in extreme heat.