People who live in very hot countries have heatwave dressing down to a fine art. Why? Because they live in an almost permanent heatwave. They're not chasing the sun, they're trying to protect themselves from it, and stay cool.
Which got me thinking about their style tricks.
One of the first things that sprang to mind was the Bedouin tribe. Not because I'm suggesting you wander around dressed for the Sahara, but because there's a lesson in it, one I remember from my schooldays. Their robes are long, loose and made from light fabrics, and they cover themselves from head-to-toe.
The abundance of material doesn't make them hotter, in fact it encourages airflow and generates a cooling breeze with every movement.
That's exactly why this M&S linen-blend maxi dress caught my eye today.
It's long, loose and beautifully billowy, made from a light linen and viscose blend that allows air to circulate while protecting much of the body from direct sun, and it comes in sizes from 6 to 24, and in a warm shade of brown M&S call 'Brandy'.
At the same time, the sleeveless cut with pretty tie-detailing at the shoulder acknowledges we are not in the desert, and this heatwave will pass, after which you can wear this dress on holiday, or for other warm summer days.
Most importantly, it will not cling. When temperatures creep above 30, or even 35, degrees, anything tight becomes a total no-no.
This dress skims, floats and moves with you. The effect is chic and stylish and it gives you some built ion air-con too.
Add some easy slider sandals, a summer hat, Accessorize currently has some great ones, a pair of protective sunglasses, Uniqlo have excellent and stylish pairs at just £20 each, and slather on the factor 50, and you will be perfectly attired for this hot spell, and will look as good as you feel.
Successful heatwave dressing isn't about showing more skin. It's about creating space between your body and your clothes because that's where the cooling magic happens.
Few dresses do that more elegantly than this one.
