After a wonderful break to a remote location in Massachusetts this past weekend [no I won’t tell you where I was as that might compromise my anonymity], my return to Boston was bittersweet. This is because I forgot how HUMID this city can really be. I know, I know, I’ve lived in Boston since 2005, yadda yadda yadda, however, I always forgot how bi-polar Mother Nature really can be when it comes to the Hub.
The worst part of it all [I’m guilty as charged in this one] is what this heat and humidity is doing to Boston fashion. Just when this city was starting to become dry again [après monsoon season], and the sun started to peek out behind the clouds, I would walk down Newbury and actually be impressed with some fellow Bostonista outfits. That all changed when the weather peeked past 86 degrees. Yum, right?
Summer always presents a huge challenge for me as it seems my body temperature is always 10 degrees warmer than everyone around me. As much as I want to throw on some Nike tempo track shorts and a beater, it’s important to continue and remember [no matter how superficial it seems] that humans are primarily visual. Random passerby’s and potential dopple gangers will give a stare down or the stink eye if they aren’t impressed.
So just a couple words to the wise: to beat the heat in style always consider the following when getting dressed in the AM:
* Cotton breathes a lot easier than other materials. As cute as my BCBG print dress is, that synthetic material is not going to feel good against my body within the first 5 minutes as I walk down Mass Ave. Lightweight brands that I swear by include C&C California, Splendid, and James Perse. Linen is also a tried and true alternative.
*Stick with neutral colors, aka black and white. Heaven forbid your “glow” is on the brink of becoming “sweat”, these hues will make it less obvious to those around you.
*Keep it minimalist. This goes across the board from fabrics to layers. Less is better. If you feel the need to step up, a safe way to up the glam factor is through accessories. Pile on the necklaces or bracelets [never both!]. Summer is also a great excuse to pull that mane back and also show off the new headband or feather clip you just acquired. Plus, in this economy, accessories are a great way to frugally spend money, while also updating your wardrobe.