Please don’t think that I want you to cover your arms. In fact, it’s on the contrary. I believe that everyone can wear the right sleeveless tops and dresses and look perfectly appropriate and fab. The point here is that some of us just aren’t comfortable exposing our arms, and I wholeheartedly respect that decision too. I have a handful of clients who feel this way and we are constantly on the look out for attractive ways to stay covered while combating the heat.
Peasant blouses and pointelle knitwear are great ways to cover your arms in breezy ways. And so is a gauzy cardigan that’s made of mesh, crocheted yarn or something of the like. These loosely stitched cover ups are see-through, full of ventilating holes, drapey and extremely lightweight. They provide zero insulation, yet do the covering trick.
Look for versions that blend both natural fibres like cotton, silk or linen with manmade fibres. Although natural fibres are fabulously breathable in hot weather, they can be unstable and loose their shape and lustre after one laundry cycle. Fabric blends are often the best way to go because they are more durable.
This type of cover up comes in all shapes, from cropped boleros and shrugs, to tunic styles and classic V-neck silhouettes, as seen in the examples shown here. Wear them over sleeveless tops and dresses and you are set. Cool, calm, collected – and covered.
