cool clothes for hot open plan office and commute

[Phunkychicken]

Just moved to a new office and it's boiling. The set temp is 21.5 degrees, which is far too hot.

I don't want to wear vests, am 50 and quite overweight and have to walk 2+ miles plus 45 minute train so needs to be practical.

I already have to wear natural fibres due to sweats, and often find linen too hot and scratchy.

What kind of tops/dresses are loose and wafty but not too revealing. We're quite casual so doesn't need to be corporate smart.

5ft 8, 14 stone (size 18)

I really don't like linen either, I don't don't it cool at all. Not suggestions but following the thread.

If wear summer floaty skirt and a t shirt or a dress or cropped wide legged trousers and a t shirt.

I am also in a very hot workplace and walk to work!
I have a few tops like this in different colours that I wear with wide leg trousers (sometimes a skirt) and either sandals, clogs or trainers. https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc145482389

I also have some cotton barrel leg trousers, t-shirt dresses and jumpsuits (some sleeveless) from Cos that I find good for being on my feet all day and not overheating. I've not tried them myself but I've heard good things about Uniqlo airism t-shirts - they could then be worn with trousers/skirt or whatever.

I’ve started wearing oversized shirts in hot weather with the sleeves rolled up. Some type of slimmer leg trouser to balance out the shape on the bottom.

Comfortable and cool.

That would be awful for me, so much fabric I'd completely overheat. I'm wearing wide legged culottes today which are ok but the cotton half sleeve top is way too hot.

Is viscose hot or cool? Just thinking of other fabrics to try

Uniqlo blouse

Totally relate. I am regularly in client offices where the temperature, even in summer, is set to 22+. I have found these blouses to be a godsend. Don't be put off by the fact they are made from rayon - I have found them cool and comfortable and wear them both loose and tucked in depending on what I'm wearing.

I've felt the airism and that would make me sweat like a pig!

Any other suggestions, at least of fabric to aim for?

Many thanks

It’s bloody freezing in my office. I’m a sweaty Betty on my way into work, and then an hour later, i have to put my fleece on.

I saw someone on the tube yesterday wearing a blue striped oversized shirt tucked into a white flowing skirt and she looked so put together. I was sat opposite and felt like such a frump in comparison. DD2 is a year old now and so my aim for this summer is to rediscover my style!

I think it would be worth having a word about the temperature in the office. Surely that can be adjusted. I often start talking to people if I think I like what they wear. I first found out about Vinted from a lady on a bus and she showed me the website on her phone. This was before they advertised on the telly.

What I linked to isn't in the airism range though.

These linen-blend sleeveless blouses are great for officewear - lots similar in other stores.

Try kit and kaboodal, a lot of those clothes are cotton.

Sorry yes I'm going to go to Uniqlo next week when I'm in the office (there's not one where I live) so will look them up and try one on. I'm annoyingly between L andXL

https://www.next.co.uk/style/st797775/n05105?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=9256171658&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pDBBhBMEiwAmY02Nomzsoatnp0YvPH7AOXp7Tck1xRymsJewzfn2_Je9GBv_HI-9NdA2BoC9a0QAvD_BwE#N05105

I've got a couple of pairs of these for casual/smart office wear in the summer. I was dubious about the fabric, but they are actually nice and cool to wear. Also incredibly comfortable. For work I wear with a plain nice white t shirt. They look smart on too.

Sorry, just reread and seen you are specifically after tops. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I've got a couple of these from H&M that are airy and cool, but still with long sleeves. I know people on here are very sniffy about viscose, but I don't find it hot/sweaty at all (and these are 50% cotton too). https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1281672003.html

Also shirt dresses might work? https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1217576017.html

@Phunkychicken I rely on 100% cotton separates from places like Gap which are already looking purposefully crumpled and sort of cheesecloth like. They can look smart if you stick with all white, or all green top and bottom. I've seen these shirts / shirt dresses / trousers, skirts from lots of different clothing companies and they're not particularly expensive either.

Puff sleeve t-shirt:

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc145379357?

https://www.mandco.com/mco-green-cotton-broderie-puff-sleeve-t-shirt-p?

https://www.matalan.co.uk/clothing/et-vous-white-puff-sleeve-t-shirt/15072274.html

I have two cotton dresses (not jersey) from sea salt I wear a lot , loose style and not revealing

I'm the same as you, everywhere I've worked it has been too hot for me. I'm 60, male 5 ft 10, and am really far too heavy probably 20 stone these days. Even when I was younger and far slimmer I always felt hot. What I found helped me was a desk fan, which I used even in winter. I usually have it on the floor under the desk blowing up at me. I have also got a neck fan, which works surprisingly well.

This is something your employer should address isn't it? By law, they have to provide a temperature that is a comfortable level. What's the minimum temp. your colleagues would be comfortable at?

Problem is there's 500 of us on the floor. I'll start asking others if they're uncomfortable too. I was the only one visibly sweating though

I find that if I change my top when I get to work, I cope better with the sweltering heat. Something about staying in a sweaty top makes you feel sweatier.
So I do random t-shirt for travel, put on fresh deodorant and change into something cotton, then put cold water on my neck, wrists and forehead. Ill change trainers to sandals.
Bot of extra prep but only thing that works

The coolest fabric I've ever found is a silk/linen mix. M & S used to do some tops but I don't know whether they still do. You could try https://patra.com/.