Staying Cool, Comfortable, & Confident
During the summer months, shedding clothes in favor of showing skin is widely encouraged. While comfort in the heat is key, there seems to be an unhealthy amount of attention directed to physical appearance rather than physical, emotional, and mental health. For women especially, this pressure to dress wearing less is immense. This in turn puts a focus on our external traits rather than our internal selves. Dieting for purely aesthetic reasons is detrimental and is a set up for failure, yet is often assumed as an unspoken requirement in this day and age.
Rather than succumbing to these pressures, women should feel freedom to relax in being themselves. While a triangle bikini may be a source of pride for one woman, it may put an unhealthy strain on another. Modesty can provide a kind of freedom, empowering women by showcasing who they are rather than how they look.
There’s nothing quite like the versatility of a black one-piece swimsuit. A low-back number is still fun and flirty.
Clothes should never be something to hide in or to hide from. They should be an expression of you than enables you to do what you love and enjoy. Oftentimes dressing becomes an act of looking left and right for direction, sacrificing comfort for conformity. Rather than trading one’s sense of self for a sense of belonging, choose your outfits based on what makes you feel best. Here are a couple of my go-to’s. They make me feel beautiful since they enable me to live life to the fullest.
One-piece swimsuits:
There’s nothing quite like the versatility of a black one-piece swimsuit. A low-back number is still fun and flirty. If you are looking to swim laps or spend an active day on the beach, a full-piece suit allows you to fully embrace the day without worrying about tying ties or repositioning tops. Plus it transitions well to a complete outfit; throw on shorts and an oversized cardigan and you are set to grab a bite to eat after a day by the pool.
Casual dresses:
Dresses keep you cool in the heat, and this style can easily transition from work to a night out with friends.
A t-shirt dress is a great pick long day in warm temperatures. Easily switched up for any occasion, they bridge the gap between dressed up and dressed down. Pick the style that suits you best, then pair it with tennis shoes and a jean jacket for the day or change into heels and a statement necklace for night. There’s an endless number of ways to make this look your own. Dresses keep you cool in the heat, and this style can easily transition from work to a night out with friends.
Blouses:
As temperatures rise, work appropriate outfits become harder to find. You don’t have to swelter for the sake of style. Pair thin blouses over a typical tank to stay covered up, but cool. If that’s too warm, try a loose, patterned blouse with short sleeves. I’m sure every woman has tried on at least one blouse, so this may seem intuitive, but they have been a game changer for me, especially in the summer months.
Lipstick:
Regular Lipstick may be too thick for warm temperatures, liquid shades often have just as much color pay-off and lasting power.
Though traditional lipstick may be too thick for warm temperatures, liquid shades often have just as much color pay-off and lasting power. Check out versions from ColourPop, L’Oreal, and Revlon; all continue to look polished for the majority of the day and are fairly inexpensive. A nice lip color is a simple addition, yet it always seems to boost my spirits.
Dressing for others will leave you feeling uncomfortable, irritated, tired, ashamed, or frustrated, and can even cause you to devalue yourself. When getting dressed think about what pieces make you smile, what flexibility they afford you, what colors make you feel most beautiful, and what cuts enable you to look your best. Don’t feel pressure based on how others are dressing around you; instead be confident in your sense of self and the clothes you wear as an expression of that.
Beauty Editor | Equal Time
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