Woman in a straw hat and blue shirt on a terrace above the bay

Packing for a heatwave

July was the hottest month I can remember, and it taught me what actually works in the heat. Most of it is common sense. The rest is a very good hat.

What I wore on repeat

Loose linen shirts in pale colours, one pair of wide cotton trousers, leather sandals that do not rub, and a straw hat wide enough to shade my shoulders. That was almost all of it.

I left synthetic fabrics and anything tight in the cupboard. They are fine in September. In July, they are a punishment.

Woman holding up sunglasses against the city skyline

The sunglasses I actually wear

I have a drawer full of sunglasses. Most of them were bought in a shop with soft lighting and have never left the house since. Three pairs do all the work.

A big black cat-eye pair for the city, which makes me feel like I am in a film. A small round pair that fit under a hat. And a cheap sporty pair that I do not mind losing at the beach.

Try sunglasses on outside, at noon, facing the sun. Everything looks good under shop lights.