I Survived London’s Heatwave — Here’s What the Most Fashionable People Wore To Stay Cool

My last trip to London was during this summer’s record-breaking heatwave. I didn’t pack appropriately (the European city is known for its milder temperatures), but I did get inspiration while shopping thanks to the trendy Londoners who were embracing the heat with cool outfits.

I saw hundreds of women wearing sleeveless vests, linen pants, sleek mules and far-from-basic cotton tees and absolutely thriving during the heat wave. Taking notes from them, I completely revamped my summer wardrobe — and so can you. Shop the heatwave-approved pieces Londoners swear by, below.

I Visited London in a Heatwave — 4 Surprising Fashion Trends

Sleeveless Vests

1. Clean Cut: The silhouette of this classy and modern vest beautifully accentuates curves in all the right places thanks to the square cut neck and slight peplum waist.

2. Open Up: Londoners put their own unique spin on the tailored vest trend in the heat, opting to wear them open with a tank underneath — exactly how this waistcoat-inspired design is portrayed.

3. Keep Cool: Temperatures reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit in London, so it’s unsurprising many people opted for breezy linen vests, exactly like this polished halter style that offers plenty of breathability.

4. Peek-a-Boo: These vests aren’t just for office days. I saw many tie-front options, like this Abercrombie vest, that allowed the gals to show a little more skin and stay cool.

Linen Pants

5. Get to Work: Imagine — sleek work slacks but made from linen. Every professional woman was wearing this wide-legged style in Central London.

6. Beach Vibes: Even though London is nowhere near the coast, I saw plenty of people wearing beach-inspired linen pants to beat the heat.

7. Gingham Galore: Just like Americans, the Brits can’t get enough of Gingham. I noticed boundless gingham linen pants, just like this style that pairs wonderfully with a plain white tee.

8. Cool Girl Vibes: The edgy girls in Hackney were all wearing ultra low-rise linen pants. They even inspired me to rock the trend myself — turns out low-rise isn’t that scary!

Sleek Mules

9. On Point: Pointed-toe mules got a youthful refresh in London. I loved seeing styles like this relaxed buckled pair every time I looked down.

10. Metallic Dreams: Metallic mules glistened with every step in Londontown. This knotted design adds a subtle personality pop to any outfit.

11. Artfully Woven: Instead of suede or solid leather mules, I often saw women wearing something similar to this knitted leather style for more breathability.

12. Extra Support: Worried your mules will slip right off? This ballerina-inspired Kate Spade style features a dainty ankle wrap to keep the shoes securely in place.

Trusty Cotton Tees

13. Casually Cute: Cotton is one of the most breathable fabrics, so I’m not surprised I saw so many women wearing simple white tees that were a cross between form-fitting and boxy.

14. So Relaxed: The boxy-fit tee was so popular in Central London, I lost track of how many women were wearing one.

15. Go Graphic: Plain white tees weren’t the only top around town. People showcased their interests with fun graphic tees. I’m partial to this one and its summery flower image.

16. Perfect Fit: Few things look as good as a fitted white tee — this style from Quince feels like it was custom-made for you.

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