Can we wear sleeveless dresses in the heat? I am sure that this post will create some interesting debates in the comments box. All opinions welcome provided they are polite.
Last year I was ill-prepared for our long-lasting heatwave. I did not have enough cool dresses to wear and by the time I got round to buying one all the best ones were sold out. So this year I decided to add at least one new cool cotton dress to my wardrobe and I am very glad that I did. The sleeveless maxi dress I am wearing above is from Cos. They have a very good selection of cotton and linen dresses both with and without sleeves.
One thing I can’t stand is synthetic fabrics in the heat, Way too clingy and sweaty. I only wear either cotton or linen. Personally, I like maxi dresses as I prefer to cover my legs however if you are petite a knee-length version would probably work better.
I have one of our cotton shawls draped around my shoulders. The Lobster print scarf is from Chicatanyage. For some unknown reason lobster motifs were very popular this year in the South of France.
I am wearing our blue cotton coral scarf. I have tied a row of knots along the length of the scarf to create a necklace effect. This is a great way to draw attention towards the face and away from other areas of the body, in this case the upper arms
This Summer we were in France till late June. During the last few weeks temperatures were in the late 30s centigrade and for the last couple of days 40 degrees centigrade. One of my favourite pass times, especially when I am in France, is people watching. I noticed that many chic French women of a certain age in our village were wearing sleeveless tops and dresses, both maxi and knee-length with confidence. They did not seem to have any issues with their arms being on display.
Just in case I want to cover my upper arms I bought this matching jacket again from Cos. Mine is very asymmetrical with a wide collar. It seems to have sold out online however this one would work well as a cover-up. My blue necklace is from Grimaud Market, available from a selection online at LesbijouxdeNatasha. I may be able to get necklaces similar to the one I am wearing for the shop. Let me know in the comments box if you would be interested.
My gorgeously comfortable sandals are the Heda style from Fitflop. They also have an excellent collection of sandals in their sale including the snake print ones I featured here.
Another alternative to cover your arms which I use all the time is to throw a scarf or shawl over your shoulders. The colourful tasselled shawl I am wearing above is the embroidered tropical leaf scarf available from a selection at Shop at Chicatanyage.
Over to you. Do you ever wear sleeveless tops or dresses when the weather is very hot?
If you are not a fan of sleeveless dresses I have chosen a selection of dresses both with sleeves and without. Dresses continue to be popular for Autumn and some of the dresses below would transition well into the new season.
The photographs were taken by Laura Hines. Follow her on Instagram
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That is a lovely dress, Josephine. I'd never heard of COS until I was in London in 2017. I love their clothes. What I don't love is the look of my upper arms in a sleeveless dress, but I've been wearing the one I have more and more this year. Really, nothing like a cool, wafty dress in the heat. Maybe next year I'll plan ahead, like you, and buy myself another one.
Hi Sue
I find that Cos do some great dresses for the summer. They mostly use cotton and their clothes are nice and loose and never constricting
My kind of dress but I would prefer sleeves . You look great though .
Great look, both with and without, the jacket! You look lovely. Cool and sophisticated.
I always try to wear sleeves, but in the stifling heat there is nothing better than a sleeveless long dress in a natural fabric.
I also wore a long sleeveless dress to a function at the City of London Mansion House in the heatwave (had a wrap with me just in case) but so many of the ladies were wearing sleeveless too I didn't bother.
I do not love my upper arms, despite regular exercise they are very flabby especially since I have lost weight, however I do wear sleeveless tops and dresses when it is hot. I even wore a sleeveless dress to my daughter's wedding recently, with a jacket initially, but without as the evening wore on! Love the Cos dress btw, Jan
Love the Lobster print scarf, just had to order the pale one!
In the heat, comfort tops ideas that older women should not reveal their arms, so I am with you, Josephine, and I think the Cos dress looks great. Sometimes I struggle with Cos’s online photos as they seem to aim for the least flattering pose possible, so I appreciated seeing you in these photos. You look so much better than their model; gawky schoolgirl is not a style that many of us want to emulate; why do they do this??
In terms of sleeveless dresses, surely we can combine comfort with style? Isn’t that in part what being older helps us with? I will wear sleeveless if heat dictates, nature and weather being more important factors than outmoded ideas of “suitable” clothing for the older female!
Hi Sara
I so agree we should wear what we like and definitely be comfortable. I think hot, sweaty and uncomfortable is a worse look than showing a little upper arm. You are right the Cos photos do not show their garments in the most flattering light. It is the one shop that I like to visit so that I can check out the shape and hang of the clothes.
Hate my arms but if it’s really hot I do not care...as long as I don’t look in a mirror As my friend said to me .. who really cares.... everyone is so busy thinking about them selves they are not really looking. I’m saying this as I now live in USA but when I go back home to England I have a slightly different perspective as generally women are more fashion conscience . I certainly miss the stylish clothes in Europe! It’s so hot and humid here in Atlanta
Hi Sharon
You are right people are much more concerned about themselves than others. However I do admire a well dressed woman when I see one.
Oh, me too x
Ps . You look lovely in your dress!
I'm sad to say that European heat waves are probably the New Normal. I'm in Northern California, and the number of scorching days each year is steadily increasing. We'd better get used to seeing our upper arms, or we'll all roast to death.
I haven't worn sleeveless since I noticed the look of my upper arms in my thirties. I think older women with a very strong tan can get away with it, and I am guessing that the chic French women in the South of France are all beautifully tanned!
I am not sure that they are all beautifully tanned. Our next-door neighbour isn't and she definitely wears sleeveless dresses and tops. However, some would definitely have light tans. Except for some really mahogany women on the beach sun tanning seems to have gone out of fashion.