For the first 25 years of my life I cursed my pale skin, envying dark-skinned, tanned gals who always looked healthy and fabulous in Summer clothes. In the 70’s and 80’s, living close to the beach in a tropical climate would do that to you. Back then it just wasn’t fab to be un-tanned.

So in my early twenties I lay on a few sun beds and slathered blotchy self tanning lotions on my body in an effort to look sun-kissed and fresh. I thought it would increase my style quotient.

In my late twenties everything changed. I became paranoid about what the sun and tanning beds can do your skin. I started to loath the idea of rubbing self-tanning lotion on any part of my body. My deliberate sun tanning and self tanning days came to an end.

These days I am extremely mindful about protecting my skin from the sun. I use SPF 40 on my face and hands every day. On sunny days I use it all over. I am never tanned and stay my pale, fair-skinned self all year round.

My natural skin colour is what it is and I’m relieved now that I can embrace this fact. My legs are super white, but I wear dresses and skirts all the time. Dark-skinned, tanned gals still look healthy and fabulous in Summer clothes, but I have learned to love my milky complexion.

Over to you, pale skinned lasses. Do you find the need to tan or self tan? Do you feel better with a bit of colour? Or do you leave it au natural like me.

Make an outfit instantly look and feel more Summery by adding white. It freshens things up, especially when contrasted with a bright or dark colour like black, navy, chocolate brown or grey. The effect is often eye-catching, which is why white acts like a bright, even though it’s a neutral.

Think of incorporating the following white items into ensembles as temperatures rise:

• White tops: They often need a camisole to make them look whiter and less see-through which is not ideal in sweltering weather, but it’s worth it if you’re in air conditioning. A white top accessorized with texture and contrast is flop proof.
• White bottoms: I’m a huge fan of white jeans, clamdiggers, pants and skirts. They are the perfect bridging piece as they make existing wardrobe items (like black tops) feel seasonally right. White bottoms do not make you look fat if the fit and fabric is fab.
• White camisoles: Where you would have opted for a black camisole, try using a white one instead. You’ll be surprised at how this one change can make a big difference.
• White outer layer: Consider white lightweight jackets, denim jackets or cardigans if you need a second layer. In order to prevent “the lab coat” effect, choose jackets with a contrasting button in black or a metal.
• White handbags and shoes: If you don’t like to wear white clothing, sport the colour through handbags and shoes instead. It packs instant punch.
• White accessories: Think white chunky beads, pendant, bracelet, watch, belt, earrings, specs and sunglasses when you’re adding Summer accessories to your look.

If you don’t like to wear optical white, choose a variation like off-white or cream. They work just as well. Also, you don’t need to be tanned to wear white next to your skin. I’m pale skinned and somehow wear white well. If you’re still not convinced, use it as a layering vehicle instead.

I’ve adored all things white and cream since I was little. There is something magically clean, crisp, sophisticated and cool about this neutral, which is why it holds a special place in my heart. Most of the time white is my black. I do lots of laundry because of my impractical obsession with white things, but it’s worth it.

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It’s one thing to sit by a shady pool drinking iced tea all day when temperatures soar, but it’s quite another to look polished, professional and pulled together in hot weather conditions. Believe it or not, it’s possible to be cool, calm and collected instead of a sweltering, sticky mess in extreme heat. I learned how to dress for these conditions while living in Asia and Africa for a large part of my life.

Here are some suggestions as we in the Northern Hemisphere head into summer:

• Fabrications: Look for items made of lightweight natural fibers like cotton, linen, muslin and silk. Fabric blends with a high content of natural fiber are just as good. To my surprise, I’ve found that super thin, man-made, gauzy, mesh-like fabrics work well too.
• Colours: Shades of white are great for reflecting heat, but dark colours and patterned items are ideal for camouflaging perspiration spots. Your choice may depend on whether your day is like Cape Town’s dry, windy summer, or Singapore’s unbelievable, year-round tropical humidity.
• Sleeveless: Some people find it cooler to cover up from the sun in lightweight fabrics, while others prefer to wear garments with less coverage. I’ve found that as long as I use sunblock, going sleeveless is hands down the coolest solution.
• Breezy dresses: A sleeveless, flowing, knee-length, knit or woven, A-line dress that’s fitted on top and flared at the bottom is very ventilating. Nothing too tight or clingy, just tailored in the right places and super airy.
• A-line skirts: A knee-length skirt that floats away from the body is cooler than a pencil skirt. Add a sleeveless top and its built-in air conditioning.
• Walk shorts: Shorts that end around the knee, or a little shorter, are not nearly as cool as skirts and dresses but at a push they’ll work too.
• Voluminous tops: You might not like the sound of this but trapeze tops, empire cuts and banded tops in both knits and wovens are brilliant in the heat. Forget about defining your waist when you’re desperate and stick to a strong shoulder line instead. Add a short streamlined bottom and you’re in business.
• Single layer: Find items that look good worn on their own, sans a cami, cardi or second layer. If the neckline gapes, have it altered so that you’re happy with the amount of cleavage exposed.
• Sandals: Open shoes like thong sandals and gladiators with fewer straps are ideal.
• Practical hairstyle: Opt for a do that works in heat and humidity. Keeping it shorter is the obvious answer, but tying back longer hair in flattening ways is another solution.
• Frequent showers: It really helps to come home and start again. Cleaning up and popping on a fresh set of clothes works wonders.
• Slower pace: Instead of rushing around, take your time and don’t be desperate to hurry everything along. It sounds ridiculous and I was dubious about this suggestion at first, but it makes a huge difference.

I do pretty well in the heat if I dress accordingly, take multiple showers and keep my hair super short. My main challenge is combating frosty air conditioned interiors when I’m dressed for the 90 degrees plus outside. Layering flimsy clothing with cardigans, lightweight jackets and scarves is not sufficient when it’s 68 degrees indoors. My exposed feet freeze which makes me instantly cold. What I usually end up doing is dressing for cooler temperatures when I’m going to spend time in AC and taking my sweaty chances when I venture outdoors. I guess I’d rather feel too warm than too cold.

Over to you. What have I left out? How do you manage your style and wardrobe in extreme heat?