There's a particular kind of frustration that comes with getting dressed for work on a hot day. You want to look professional, put-together and confident but you also don't want to arrive at your desk already uncomfortable before the day has even started.

The good news? Dressing well for work in the heat is absolutely achievable, it just requires thinking a little differently about the pieces you reach for and here's how.

Natural fabrics are non-negotiable

If there's one thing to take away from this entire post, it's this. Linen, cotton and natural blends are your best friends in warm weather! They breathe, they move and they allow air to circulate against your skin in a way that synthetic fabrics simply can't.

Polyester might look polished on the hanger but it traps heat and moisture which means by mid-morning you're uncomfortable and by lunch you're miserable. Investing in natural fabric workwear is one of the best things you can do for your summer wardrobe.

Our entire Kōr range is made from either a breathable linen and cotton blend or organic cotton, specifically for this reason. Once you make the switch, you won't go back.

Linen and cotton is the ultimate hot weather fabric blend

If natural fabrics are the rule, then a linen and cotton blend is the gold standard for warm weather dressing.

Linen is one of the most breathable fabrics in existence. It's made from flax fibres which are naturally hollow, meaning air circulates through the fabric rather than getting trapped against your skin. It also absorbs moisture and releases it quickly, so even on the warmest days you stay feeling fresh rather than clammy. The more you wear and wash linen, the softer it becomes, it's genuinely a fabric that gets better with time.

Cotton brings its own strengths to the blend. It's incredibly soft against the skin, gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types, and has natural moisture-wicking properties that complement linen's breathability perfectly. Together, the two fabrics balance each other out, linen provides the structure and airflow and cotton provides the softness and comfort.

A 50/50 linen and cotton blend, like the one used throughout our Kōr range, gives you the best of both. It drapes beautifully, holds its shape through a long work day, and crucially, it breathes. You won't find yourself counting down the hours until you can get home and change. 

Keep your colour palette neutral and light

Darker colours absorb heat, lighter colours reflect it, so building your hot weather work wardrobe around creams, whites, soft taupes and warm neutrals will genuinely keep you cooler. It also means everything tends to mix and match effortlessly, which is exactly what you want when you're getting dressed in a hurry on a warm morning.

A shirt dress is your greatest ally

Honestly, a well-made shirt dress might be the single most useful piece you own for hot weather working. It's one item, it requires minimal styling, it looks intentional and put-together and in a natural fabric it will keep you cool from your morning commute to your last meeting of the day.

The Kōr Shirt Dress in Terracotta and the Kōr Shirt Dress in Cream are made from a 50% linen, 50% cotton blend and are our most-reached-for work pieces. 

Dress in layers you can actually remove

A fine linen blazer or a cotton cardigan that can be added or removed without dismantling your whole outfit goes a long way! Choose layers that work as standalone pieces so nothing feels like an afterthought. Anyone who works in an office with unpredictable air conditioning will know the challenge...boiling outside, freezing inside. A cardigan on hand always helps and when it's made from organic cotton, even better!