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've had some long wafty cool dresses from Muthahood which work for most things and have pockets.
M&S also do long loose cotton dresses,

21.5 deg is actually on the cool side for an office. Usual best practice is 21 - 24 deg in summer. In all likelihood, the floor’s ventilation isn’t balanced or the layout doesn’t reflect the original fit out which can affect air flow.

If you want to wear natural fibres then you’ve got silk, cotton and linen to work with. Structured cotton blouses are possibly your best bet if you don’t like linen or anything oversized.

https://apacheshops.com/products/bora-bora-tunic-dress

https://apacheshops.com/products/gardinia-linen-dress

https://apacheshops.com/products/silk-carousel-top

https://apacheshops.com/products/copy-of-parrot-paradise-dress

some cotton, silk and linen. I find Italian linen not as uncomfortable as others.

Maybe not the usual go to company but I’ve ordered bits from them and they was well, are good quality and not super expensive for work wear.

I would also put a thermometer on your desk to check the temperature there as it may be warmer than the overall setting.

If you are going to Uniqlo soon I can recommend the linen skipper shirts https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E475649-000/00?colorDisplayCode=56&sizeDisplayCode=003. They're incredibly flattering if you're slightly larger - I'm somewhere between 16/18 and wear them a lot. They're also selling linen t-shirts which I really like for a more slouchy look. https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E465761-000/01?colorDisplayCode=69&sizeDisplayCode=003

You need broderie anglaise style tops and dresses for ventilation. Massimo Dutti do a lot of blouses that as re perforated cotton, which is very nice and cool in hot weather. It's the only thing I can wear in our offices

That’s crazy temperature!! The air conditioning should be on not the heating - can you open windows etc? It has been boiling hot in the UK recently - the heating should be switched off surely?

I'm the same height as you and need to work in a warm stuffy office. I wear things like below.

Loose linen dresses & square heeled sandals, or loose linen or cotton blouses, wide legged cotton or linen trousers and ballet flats.

I avoid viscose, which I find quite sweaty.

One Hundred Stars Pleat dresses are very cool to wear, fine fabric and floaty.
https://onehundredstars.co.uk/collections/dresses?filter.p.m.custom.dress_shape=Pinch+Pleat+Dress&filter.p.m.custom.dress_shape=Pleat+Dress

Sea salt is probably going to be your friend.

Mid 50s women is probably one of their main target audiences so lost of natural fabrics and comfortable for varying temperatures.

They do a nice crinkle blouse which is incredibly thin fabric but strong colours most seasons so not see through.

Are these non iron?

Also look for batiste or organdy cotton.

It's incredibly thin cotton. I have a polka dot shirt from Boden that is like tissue paper.

The coolest skirt I have is a cotton M&S and Seasalt collaboration so I'm thinking Seasalt is a good bet.

Stick to cotton. Synthetics make you sweat. Our office is ridiculous - must be about 24 degrees so I look like a beetroot most of the time. I usually wear cotton t-shirts, shirts and light but smart cotton joggers - I got some from boden in sale (not really a boden fan but their joggers are nice).
Ive also bought a neck fan which is good https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CWL7QFSF/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A12L4833WH3KXF&th=1
or try a desk fan ?

I had a longish walk into the office in a previous job and I would put on a strappy cotton top fiirst thing and then change into a cotton blouse when I got into the office.

Light cotton, short sleeved shirt dresses are my go to. Worn with sandals or ankle boots and a matching belt. I stick to plain fabric rather than patterned for a slightly smarter look.

I have 5 of these cheesecloth blouses and I wear them, on rotation, in our very hot and sticky office. Lightweight, sort of floaty ( if you buy a bigger size) and best of all, don’t need ironing. Ignore the price. La Redoute always have a code. This month it’s 40% off with “may”. True to size. Look lovely with jeans, wide leg line trousers or city shorts ( remember those)

https://www.laredoute.co.uk/ppdp/prod-350307418.aspx#productRating_350307418

I have several Seasalt tops which are quite thin and airy. I have the wrong figure but they also do lots of tunics or kaftan style items.

If it's really warm then I do wear a simple T-shirt during the commute (I also have a laptop backpack) and fresh up and change in the office. Feels so much nicer.

One of my colleagues wears maxi dresses with wide skirts all the time.

But definitely talk to your building management, we had the opposite recently and were freezing until we complained and they realised that one panel was not working correctly.

Edit: Seersucker, NOT cheesecloth.

The ‘Rae’ top from White Stuff is very light and airy. https://www.whitestuff.com/p/5751/Rae-V-Neck-Organic-Cotton-Top/PINK_PR?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17434335532&gbraid=0AAAAACZTmvbGwDM2uklhZ5HhlEtTtpYBV&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkaKEs5aljQMVnIFQBh0jWjtvEAQYAyABEgKHOvD_BwE
Basically a vest, which I realise you said you didn’t want, but with flattering cap sleeves. Honesty the coolest top I’ve ever found. Some of the colours/patterns are not great but if you hunt around on Vinted you will find lots of options. I wear these a lot with the H&M viscose cropped wide leg pull on trousers for £14.99.

Wow thanks - some really good suggestions. And solidatiry to all the fellow peri sweaters/furnaces.

I have a desk fan, hand held fan and a neck fan too - happy to use on transport and occasionally in the office but does rather draw attention which I'd rather not.

The suggestion to wear one top in and get changed is brilliant, I change my shoes when I get in so no idea why I didn't think of changing my clothes too. Though my new locker is the size of a pea.

And overall I think it is just me, I'm currently sleeping under a 4 tog duvet and still getting hot, until I hit late 40s DH and I used to have different duvets as I ran so cold, it's so weird how it all completely changed as I hit peri.

Also off to see if can justify that One Hundred Stars dress too, it's so gorgeous

In addition to Uniqlo - can you get to a Muji? They have a lot of very lightweight clothes, and not quite so ubiquitous.
This combination is very cool
https://uk.muji.eu/products/womens-cotton-voile-full-maxi-skirt-20243 and https://uk.muji.eu/products/womens-cotton-voile-sleeveless-blouse-20237

If too flowy for you - these types of combinations may work. The tops here but they have corresponding bottoms
https://uk.muji.eu/products/womens-linen-and-silk-sleeveless-blouse-19978
or https://uk.muji.eu/products/womens-hemp-blend-twill-denim-cropped-shirt-20081

Ooh I'll look, office is Shepherds Bush so there might be a Muji nearby

I think silk and cotton mix and silk and linen mix are both lovely, and cooler than either linen or cotton on their own. I've bought several tops from eBay made of that and they are my go-tos in hot weather, along with unstructured cotton dresses.

The one in Kensington High Street is the nearest to Shepherd's Bush AFAIK.

Me too regarding the tog thing. I've got an average of 3 different togs on the go at any one time. I'm on the 4.5 at the mo but I have to keep a 10.5 handy just in case it gets chilly in the middle of the night and then I wake up roasting. 😂😅