What To wear to work in hot weather
When the temperature starts to rise, so do the challenges of dressing in the right work clothes.
Whether your team is working out in the sunshine or trying to stay cool in an office, knowing what to wear to work in hot weather and still maintain a smart and professional image can make all the difference.
We want our teams to enjoy working out in the sunshine or embrace having the windows open all day in the office.
But the reality of working in hot weather conditions, especially in the UK where we are not equipped for rising temperatures, is not all sunshine and rainbows.
In this blog we will take a look at the common issues we may experience as employees when wearing the wrong type of uniform in hot weather. We will look at fabrics and styles you can utilise to ensure comfort throughout the warmer working days.
We will also give you some inspiration on how your summer workwear wardrobe can look and offer you some advice on how to adapt your workwear for the warmer weather, tailored to your industry.
To finish off, as workwear experts, we’ll show you some of our favourite garments suited to the warmer weather, so that you can start enhancing your team’s workwear wardrobe today.
Let’s jump straight in.
Common workwear problems we face in the warmer weather
Whether you are based in an office with fans blasting more warm air at you or you’re working out in the sun with little to no shade, sweating and trying to stay hydrated – it can be a nightmare.
There’s nothing worse than feeling suffocated in your bulky workwear that is more suited to the winter months,or taking off layers only to realise you have got a non branded t-shirt underneath on a hot day and you end up feeling like there is no way to cool down.
From a team leader’s standpoint, this level of distraction and discomfort your team is going through will only lead to a lack of productivity and a decrease in morale.
None of which are good for your business or the happiness of your team.
Some of the common workwear struggles we face in the warmer weather include:
- Overheating: This can not only lead to extreme discomfort, but can cause low energy and morale.
- Excess Sweating: Again, adding to your discomfort throughout your working day. But additionally, sweat can be distracting, it can make you feel unhygienic and stuffy.
- Thick/Unbreathable Fabrics: This is a common cause that can so easily be avoided, but we’ll talk more on that later in the blog.
From a more serious standpoint, knowing what to wear to work in hot weather can help you avoid the causes of overheating, which can lead you and your team to potential heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
It’s important as workers to understand how you can reduce your body temperature when overheating at work, to avoid any unnecessary medical issues.
Created by Medical News Today, here are 6 key steps you can take to reduce body heat:
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- Drink cool liquids
- Go somewhere with cooler air
- Get in cool water (like a bath or apply cool water to the body)
- Apply cold therapy to key points of the body (like ice to the neck, wrists, chest and temples)
- Move less
- Wear lighter, more breathable clothing
Step 6 is where we come in.
Since 1976, we have been supplying businesses with high-quality workwear tailored to their needs.
So, we are no strangers to knowing how you can invest in the right workwear to keep your team comfortable, productive and safe no matter the weather or temperature.
But if you are also in need of a beautifully branded water bottle to ensure your team are staying hydrated throughout the warmer weather, we can also help you.
Our Quadra Water Bottle and Holder can be printed with your design, brand or logo. They not only make a fantastic gift to your team, but a brilliant promotional tool!
The best fabrics for workwear in warmer weather
When choosing your team’s new workwear to suit the warmer weather, it’s important for you to know the type of fabrics you should be looking for.
Here are some of our favourites that you can use as inspiration for your new workwear:
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Cotton
Cotton is one of the most common fabrics in the workwear game for a reason. It is a breathable, light yet durable fabric that makes a fantastic base for the majority of workwear garments. Usually, it is mixed with polyester, which is also durable, however, polyester works as a great insulator. So we recommend leaning towards garments with a higher percentage of cotton for your summer workwear.
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Linen
Suited more for corporate wear, linen is an extremely lightweight material that has natural wicking properties and gives a polished and fashionable look to any workwear ensemble.
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Moisture Wicking Synthetics
Moisture Wicking is a key term you will need to look out for when choosing your new garments. Moisture Wicking fabrics were created to draw sweat away from the skin and into the fibres of the garment. Whilst materials like linen and cotton have moisture wicking features, their fabric can become weighed down with moisture absorbed. However, moisture wicking fabrics utilise a process called ‘capillary action’, where the fibres keep the sweat on the surface to move the sweat to the outer layer of the garment. Leaving you feeling dry and cool instead of hot and sweaty. These are a must for teams outdoors for long periods of time or teams who need to be active in the hot weather.
Here are some fabrics we recommend avoiding in the hot weather:
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Polyester & Nylon
Unless the polyester is a specific ‘moisture wicking blend’, we don’t recommend wearing polyester and nylon garments throughout the summer, if you can avoid it. Whilst they are durable materials, they tend to hold heat against the body and can trap in moisture, which can lead to discomfort and overheating.
What styles and fits you should be wearing in hot weather
After fabric comes the importance of the style and fit of your workwear. You can have the best moisture wicking garment, but if it’s ill-fitting and uncomfortable to wear, it will not perform how it’s supposed to.
Depending on the industry your business falls within, you may have restrictions on the types of styles your team are allowed to wear, for example, not all construction sites allow workers to wear shorts, or your office may have a strict professional dress code.
However, here are some of our recommendations that you can adopt into any type of workwear that you can consider when choosing your new staff uniforms:
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Relaxed fits
The looser the fabric is against your skin, the more comfortable it will be to wear in warmer weather. When the temperature starts to heat up, one of the most uncomfortable feelings is when a material is too close or even sticking to your skin. So looking at relaxed fit shirts or trousers that still look professional, but are looser against the body can create more room for your skin to breathe.
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Shorter sleeves
Relaxing your uniforms dress code to allow your team to wear shorter sleeves in the summer is a must. Unless they are required for safety or protection against hazards, long sleeves are mainly utilised for warmth. Which we are trying to avoid throughout the warmer weather. So embracing shirts with short sleeves, t-shirts or polo shirts can really be a game changer for your spring/summer workwear wardrobe.
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Layering
You might be thinking, isn’t layering something we do when we’re cold? Yes, but throughout hot weather it’s still important to think about layering smartly. For example, if your team needs to wear hi-vis garments at work, think of how you can reduce the layers they have to wear without inhibiting their safety and visibility. A great way to do this is with a hi-vis t-shirt, like the Regatta High Visibility Hi-Vis Pro Contract T-Shirt. Or even in hot weather, we can still have rain, so utilising jackets like the Regatta Classic Waterproof 3-in-1 Jacket where you can remove the fleece lining, you can wear the waterproof outer layer as protection against the rain without having to wear a bulky coat.
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Bamboo
Whilst bamboo may not be the typical choice of fabric for your workwear, it is a fantastic, natural material choice that is lightweight and breathable. A brilliant example of this is the Regatta High Visibility Hi-Vis X-Pro T-shirt, which has a blend of bamboo and polyester to utilise the bamboo’s breathable qualities as well as the durability you get from polyester.
Another important feature of fabrics is the GSM.
GSM stands for ‘grams per square meter’ and is the metric used to measure the weight of fabric. When shopping for your new workwear, it’s always a good idea to check the GSM of the garment. We recommend looking for materials around 100-150gsm for lightweight garments that won’t trap in too much heat throughout the warmer weather.
How you can adapt your current workwear
When initially choosing your workwear wardrobe it’s important to ensure that it is adaptable to the different seasons, so that you can ensure your team looks uniform, professional and branded no matter the temperature or weather.
So, when we are talking about what to wear to work in hot weather, it’s important to think about how this can be done without negatively affecting your uniform from its style and the representative of your business to potentially no longer adhering to the workwear specifications of your working environment.
Here are some of our top tips and recommendations that you can use to adapt your current workwear to suit hotter weather.
Corporate wear
Traditional wear to an office has consisted of a tailored pair of trousers or a skirt with a button down shirt or blouse. Whilst this has relaxed over the years, we are seeing a spike in the trend of wearing a very professional workwear look to the office again.
But, there are ways of achieving this look whilst still being fashionable, professional and most importantly keeping cool.
Here are two of our favourite looks for corporate wear. You can style a Stanley/Stella Stella Oxford shirt with a pair of loose fit trousers to create this stylish yet relaxed look.
Or you can pair the Henbury Short Sleeve Wicking Shirt with a pair of chino shorts, for a professional uniform that would keep your team comfortable and cool throughout hot weather.
Construction
When looking to adapt your construction uniform, it can be more challenging due to site restrictions and safety requirements that need to be met daily by each member of your team. So it is always important to check the restrictions of your site before changing your workwear look entirely.
However, some of our favourite ways to enhance a construction workers uniform for the warmer weather is with a hi-visibility t-shirt, just like this Regatta High Visibility Hi-Vis X-Pro T-shirt. This is a great way of avoiding adding additional layers, whilst choosing a garment that has features like UPF 40+ protection against sun rays with a blend of bamboo and polyester.
Hospitality
Staying cool when working in hospitality is a must. Your team will always be up on their feet whilst having to look polished and professional, so it’s imperative for them to be able to adapt their workwear to suit the hotter weather.
A great way to achieve this is by adding a short sleeve shirt, like the Premier Womens Supreme Oxford short sleeve shirt, or a polo shirt, like the Premier Stud Piqué Polo Shirt, to their workwear wardrobe.
This will allow your team to choose a short sleeve option on hotter days to ensure they won’t be uncomfortable throughout their long days at work.
Agriculture
For teams working in the agricultural sector, it’s important to look for workwear that will not only keep your team cool, but is durable enough to withstand the job.
You can pair with the Regatta Pro Cargo Holster Trousers with a t-shirt or a Pro RTX Ladies Pro Piqu Polo Shirt for a cooling workwear look that will still protect you from the dirt and grime on the farm.
Top Garment Recommendations
Now that you have an idea of the type of workwear you should be looking for to kit your team out properly in the warmer weather, you can take a look at some of our favourite garments broken down into categories so you can start choosing your new workwear look!
Moisture Wicking Polo Shirts
Lightweight T-Shirts
Workers Shorts
Accessories for the hot weather
It’s time to enhance your workwear wardrobe!
Now you know what to wear to work in hot weather!
Here at MyWorkwear, we pride ourselves on being a one stop shop for all of your workwear needs and with nearly 50 years in the business, we know what we’re talking about.
We can not only help you choose the best garments for you and your team, but we can customise your workwear with our expert embroidery and professional printing services.
If you are looking to elevate your entire team’s workwear, we also offer bulk order discounts!
Partner with us so that you can feel confident in the workwear decisions you are making for your team.
You can take your next steps to better workwear by taking a look at our spring workwear range, adding your chosen garments to your basket on our website.
Or if you would like some workwear advice tailored to your business, give our friendly team a call on 01952 585881 or drop us an email to sales@myworkwear.co.uk.
It’s time to enjoy both your workwear and the sunny weather!
Here at MyWorkwear, we have been proud suppliers of personalised workwear since 1976.
Start equipping your team for the warmer weather by knowing what to wear to work in hot weather! Add your chosen garments to your basket, add your branding and check out!
Grace Halcrow-Currier is the Marketing Executive at MyWorkwear, where she combines creativity with strategy to help businesses elevate their brand identity through personalised workwear. Passionate about all things branding, she loves crafting insightful content that inspires companies to make a lasting impression. Whether it’s trade event attire or company uniforms, Grace is all about style with purpose. Check out her latest insights on the MyWorkwear blog.
