Clothes for very hot weather - suggestions?

[lanouvelleheloise]

I'm going to Portugal in July. For work, and said work involves going outside into the city and walking to a few places and generally being mentally switched on. It does not, however, involve being terribly formal - I can wear fairly casual clothes.

Am slightly concerned that I'm going to pass out in 40 degree + heat! I don't really have much experience of managing in those kinds of temperatures. Those who do: what clothes should I buy to cope? I am very pale, so I think anything too skimpy may actually create problems.

In very hot weather usually go for loose trousers and a vest top (with thick enough straps to cover bra straps), plus a very lightweight cotton shirt if I need to cover up from the sun
H&M have loads of good loose trousers, e.g. www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0489838001.html#Leopard print (wearing these ones today with a bright yellow vest top)
They are very comfy.
These also look good www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0487192001.html#Black
Lightweight cotton shirt www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0463285015.html#Light pink
If you want smarter than a vest top this sleeveless blouse is nice and light www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0389535008.html#Pink

I went to Lisbon in 2002 and mostly wore linen cropped trousers. It gets very warm but the closeness to water tempers it a bit.

Take a hat.

Natural fibres, no polyester!

Natural fibres, no polyester!

I'm very fair and like to cover my shoulders and neck in hot weather. I find trousers or t

My work appropriate hot weather outfit is:

Cotton tailored trousers - not loose linen, it just looks crap and frumpy after a few hours. Massimo Dutti and GAP are good for cotton blend trousers. I also have a few cotton blend pencil skirts - J Crew and Jigsaw are good.

Linen/cotton blend tailored shirt with short sleeves or arms rolled up, tucked in or loose depending on the bottoms. Mine all come from Jaeger which is less helpful.

Belt if appropriate, necklace if appropriate.

Either smart pumps or today I'm wearing a chunky tan heeled sandal as my office has firmly gone into summer mode.

Loose styles but fitted, not too baggy.

Natural fabrics.

No garish patterns, like most of the UK high street right now. Remember it's office wear not beach wear.

I like simple cotton/linen dresses for this, tk Maxx have some and h&m have some cotton ones but might be a bit casual for this