Style No Substance

Style No Substance

Surviving the heatwave(s)

A sartorial challenge like no other, it got me thinking...

Yana McKillop's avatar
Yana McKillop
Jul 01, 2026
∙ Paid

These past couple of weeks have been no joke. By the time I leave the house, I already feel as though I'm wearing too many clothes. Every shirt sticks to my back, every pair of trousers feels like a duvet and, by dinner, even silk has turned against me. I keep wondering whether I'm simply terrible at dressing for this weather. Then I look around and realise everyone else looks equally defeated.

Heatwaves expose every weakness in a wardrobe. Suddenly, all those clever jackets, beautiful knitwear and tailored trousers you've spent years collecting become irrelevant, and you're left relying on the handful of pieces that actually allow you to function. It makes you realise how small your true wardrobe really is.

The heroes of these agonising days have been the Prada drawstring shirt, as it lets a bit of air in at the front, the Prada linen skirt from AW23 (a very good alt Posse), the Rika Studios oversized shirt, the Arket x Laila Gohar shorts and the Guest In Residence shorts. What they all desperately need now is a trip to the dry cleaners.

It also feels rather cruel to subject these beautiful pieces to such harsh conditions, so it got me thinking whether I should upgrade my wardrobe for the next heatwave with a few more affordable pieces in natural fabrics that can be hand-washed without being ruined.

Here’s what I have on my radar…

Khaite - £1670, Gabriela Hearst - €2290 €1890, Rohe - £570, Matteau - £425, Toteme - £390, Khaite - £1670, La Ligne - £375, Studio Nicholson - £495
Mango - €70, Massimo Dutti - £100, Massimo Dutti - £129, Soeur - £290 £203, Mango - €70, COS - £139, COS - £95
Matteau - £250, SIR - €340, Lido - £225, Faithful - £260, Massimo Dutti - £129, Soeur - £240 £168, Reformation - £148, Stella McCartney - £690
COS - £65, Leset - £270, Studio Nicholson - £350, Toteme - £360, Auralee - £430, Uniqlo - £35
Reformation - £128, Phoebe Philo - €550, Acne Studios - £360, Rohe - £470 £282, Rika Studios - €300, Rohe - £390 £234, Staud - £225, Toteme - £260, COS - £45, Jacquemus - £450
CO - £590, Loulou De Saison - £340, Massimo Dutti - £90, Toteme - £510 £306, Le Kasha - £505, Prada - £1930, Studio Nicholson - £415, COS - £85, Matteau - £285, Toteme - £320, Khaite - £1420, Toteme - £430, Mango - €40 €23
Chloe - £580, Ossou - £195, Loewe - £595, Lemlem - £325, COS - £45, Soeur - £240 £168, Prada - £870, Suzie Kondi - £220, St. Agni - £305, Stella McCartney - £325 :) , Versace (wear with a bandeau bra) - £420

I am very serious about this whole heatwave business, and in the process of writing this newsletter, I have acquired the COS trousers, the LESET trousers, cami and cardigan (why the cardigan in this weather? Don't ask), the Versace dress that’s open in places a dress probably shouldn't, The Row dress from Natasha Goldenberg’s wishlist, and I am currently hovering over the checkout button on the Toteme dress and top. And I am definitely getting this Prada cami!

I also have this dress sitting in my basket in a completely contradictory turn of events, because I’m clearly sick in the head and delusional and clearly soend too much time poring over Lotta Volkova’s looks.


LOOKS

Prada shirt, Bottega Veneta trousers, Neous shoes (size 40,5 with 70% off anyone?)
Phoebe Philo hug dress (I know why it’s called hug - it hugs you so well, your body just shrinks inside!)
Prada shirt, Carven skirt (nice alt from Rohe on sale), Phoebe Philo bag, Le Monde Beryl shoes
Tory Burch bag filled with iPads, fans and water bottles

You are reading the free version of the newsletter, and I hope you’re enjoying it. For 8€ a month, you can get access to the full version, which includes my weekly curated wishlist, access to chat where I am sharing more immediate finds to shop, including resale and vintage, and where you can ask me questions on styling ot suggest a theme for a newsletter. You will also gain access to a monthly issue available only to paid subscribers.


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