While England is on nationwide alert, suffering from a 33 degree heat, we have to dress smart by keeping the sweat at bay. Tropically inclined, 33 degree weather is a cake-walk for us, but we still find that humidity factor to be the biggest pain in the butt. The truth is we can’t always stay within air-conditioned rooms. We have to get up and be adults about things. And we hope you’re keeping the AC use at a minimum. Global warming and all, stay green. Here are ways to stay as cool as possible in your office wear.
Common sense
This shouldn’t be confusing at all, completely ditch the undershirt. No matter how light or cool the fabric maybe, taking that extra layer off before you put on your dress shirt or jacket is the number rule. It doesn’t take an aerospace engineer to figure out that the undershirt simply traps the heat underneath, making it quite uncomfortable with every step you take. But if you absolutely must wear an undershirt, try finding something that has moisture-wicking. That doesn’t come cheap either.
Jacket priming
This may be a little out of the way and time consuming. Even though you’ll have to take a few extra steps in this procedure it will help you in the long run. Sweating in a suit is the worst. Most tailors can insert extra padding in the arm holes of your jacket to create a sweat barrier. This step is really your last line of defense.
Wool it, no kidding
Absurd! Wearing a wool suit during the summer months? Are you insane? Well, crazy as it sounds, wearing very light wool suits can actually make your life a little easier. The misconception is that wool is only for the autumn and winter. Incredibly light wool can be very breathable and it won’t wrinkle either. You really think you can walk into a boardroom meeting with a linen suit? Well, maybe your place of business is a bit forward, but in most cases you want to dress as sharp as possible. Let’s not forget to mention it does pretty darn well in the rain too.
Tie comes last
Your job may not require you to wear a tie in the first place, but it’s always a good idea to reach for the tie at the end. Tying your tie last will help you avoid the unnecessary feeling of suffocation. In fact, hold out from tying until you’ve reached your destination if you can. Leave the top buttons on your shirt open and let yourself breathe before you head into work mode.
Down below
The same can go for your socks. Even you can go sockless, great. If not, just like the tie, keep them off until you actually have to clock-in. And a slight alteration on your hems can help too. Longer pant legs will only trap more heat so without looking completely hipster, try to cut the hem as high as possible. What about letting the family jewells breathe? The best kind of underwear is to opt for boxer-briefs. Avoid boxers of any kind, it get really uncomfortable after a while. Boxer-briefs have the perfect balance between comfort and holding up your priceless possessions. It’s the perfect fit for any suited day.
Right smell
You might feel that you need a spray or two of cologne to complete the entire look, but deodorant is a more practical choice. Your fragrance isn’t as important with what you got under those pits. Obviously, you’ll be reaching for that deodorant, but make sure that it’s aluminum free. That aluminum is what causes those yellow stains from your armpits.