Easy, Breezy Outfits for Hot, Humid Days

If you have ever wondered what it is like to live in New York City, imagine being in a horrible relationship with a person who treats you like dirt and sponges all of your money, who never appreciates you and sucks all your time. Oh and you live together in a closet. Okay, it's not that bad, but, with all the challenges that come with being a resident of the greatest city on earth, it does make everyone wonder how anyone could live here, even those of us who actually do. Plus, we have weather issues, terrible weather issues. We get about two months a year when it is actually nice out. Spring and Autumn lasts about a week and the rest of the time it's either freezing or sweltering hot. Talk about a love/hate relationship. Despite all its challenges I wouldn't live anywhere else.

We're now entering the hot time of the year when the humidity spikes and everyone is crankier than usual, not to mention sweatier (and sometimes smellier) on the subways. Sure, there are plenty of hotter parts of the country, but how many of them are almost exclusively concrete? Walking on the shady side of the street can make a huge difference. It's ironic that I used to practice Bikram yoga (yoga practiced in 105 degree heat) almost every day a few years ago and I really hate being hot.

If your summers are to be as hot as mine will be, check out these easy, breezy outfits for hot, humid days. It can be so hard to look good, or even have the desire to bother, when it is sweltering outside, but these outfit suggestions might make it easier.

Easy, Breezy Outfits for Hot, Humid Days

To stay cool, look for clothes that are breathable and sit away from your body. This is not the time for spandex, clingy polyester or heavy fabrics. A breezy maxi dress, like this one from Rebecca Taylor, just flows while being stylish. When it's hot you probably don't want too many necklaces around your sweaty neck, so a pair of earrings, like this statement pair from Bloomingdales, will add some finish to your look without burdensome layers. The outfit is complete with these Sam Edelman wedge sandals, cognac bag from MICHAEL Michael Kors and pink Ray Ban sunglasses.
Outfit #2
There is a reason why you see people in deserts wearing long sleeves and layers, they can often be cooler. Of course, not all layers are the same. You want to choose gauzy, lightweight and light colored fabrics. This top from Theory is a perfect example of this. It's sheer, breathable and white.

The next thing to consider when dressing in easy, breezy clothing is to pair it with structure to avoid looking like a pile of laundry. Here, the top is styled with a pair of denim shorts from J. Crew. Finishing the look, I added a pair of flat sandals from Dolce Vita, printed tote from Brighton, earrings from Modcloth.

Outfit #3
In this outfit, I chose these easy shorts in Tencel from Lucky Brand that have some structure but are still easy and breathable. With it, I added a coral tank from J. Crew, and finished the look with white slides from Anthropologie, a striped crossbody bag from Kate Spade, white bracelet from Banana Republic and blue earrings from JC Penney. To make outfits interesting when it is hot, try playing with fun color combinations to make them stylish with less effort.
Outfit #4
In the summer, I like having easy cotton dresses that can be dressed up or down. A dress that I can wear with flip flops to run errands or work from home can also be jazzed up with the right accessories. This also gives you more options to get more with less. In this look, I used this easy Boden dress in coral that I elevated in look with a pair of floral wedges from Modcloth, turquoise bag from Longchamp and statement necklace from Max & Chloe.
Outfit #5
On a blistering hot summer day last year, I saw a woman wearing a pair of lightweight joggers, like these from White House|Black Market. They were easy and casual and kept her cool. In this outfit, I added a novelty top from Lucky Brand because the embellishment works like a t-shirt but won't look like you are wearing your pajamas outdoors. To finish this ensemble, I added a pair of flip flops from TKEES, sporty graphic bag from LeSportsac and colorful earrings from Jones New York.

Keep it cool this summer and keep yourself protected from the sun. Every May, in honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we bring you the hottest products to keep you stylishly protected. Be sure to check out the archives for all the posts.