How to Layer in Warm Weather

We’ve been blessed with some glorious weather in the UK over the past week. Temps in the low 20s, blue skies and sunshine, and an overall good mood that radiates off everyone once we get a bit of warm weather.

But like any sudden temperature shift, there’s that moment of: “how do I dress for this?” And if you’re anything like me and thrive in cooler climates where you can layer to your heart’s content, dressing once the thermometer rises can be tricky.

I’m normally quite decisive when I get dressed. Either I plan my outfit the night before, or I have a strong feeling of what to put on in the morning. I’m not usually trying on multiple pieces or versions of a look. But this past weekend, I’ll admit it took me longer to decide. It was hot (for the UK), and I was spending the afternoon outside, but I wasn’t ready to go full-on summer mode. I couldn’t bring myself to dig the shorts out just yet.

I also wasn’t ready to ditch layers. Wearing multiple pieces in different shapes, colours, textures and lengths is one of my favourite ways to dress, and that doesn’t disappear once hot weather rolls around.

This is the look I eventually landed on: trusty fisherman sandals that have accompanied me most days over the past two summers, navy linen barrel-leg trousers, a short-sleeved cupro shirt with a lace trim (with a vest underneath because it’s a bit gappy), a light cotton jacket (or as aptly calls them, an indoor/outdoor jacket), and a raffia bag.

The fabrics are all light and breezy, so they work well in warmer temperatures. The jacket is light enough (and my bag is big enough) that I could pop it into my bag when I got too hot (which, inevitably, I did). And the shirt is ‘special’ enough that it can stand on its own once the jacket comes off.

I posted a quick snap to Notes, and a reader responded that they’d like a post on the outfit (hey, Lizzie!), so here we are. It prompted a further thought process about how I like to dress in warmer weather, how I still want to feel like me, and how we can still layer even when we want to wear as little as possible.

Tips for layering in warm weather

• Choose light fabrics. Linen and light cotton are your friends.

• Long and short-sleeved shirts are good to have to hand. Wear them under jackets, over dresses, or around the waist for a layered effect. I wrote about my favourite shirt brands here.

• Choose pieces with different lengths. A shirt that’s slightly longer than a jacket (like the outfit above) adds another dimension to a look.

• Choose pieces with different volumes. Similarly, a loose boxy jacket over a slim-fitting dress creates an interesting silhouette without having to wear too many pieces.

• I love wearing dresses over trousers. It adds something to an outfit's silhouette, and if you wear light fabrics, it won’t be too hot/bulky.

• If in doubt, accessories. A silk scarf tied around the waist can add an extra layer without making you feel like you’re wearing too much. I also love the idea of necklaces around the waist, as seen in this excellent post by and .

More outfits in action

I wore this look while on honeymoon in Sicily last summer. I wore these two dresses separately throughout the holiday, but it was only when I had to double-up items on a hanger in our hotel (why are there never enough??), that I realised I like the look of them together just as much.

The slip dress (old Raey, RIP) is made from jersey and is slim-fitting, while the mini dress has a looser fit, so it slotted over the top easily (if it was too tight, it would bunch up). Together, they create a new shape than when worn individually, and help breathe new life into summer pieces.

For a similar look, WNU just released a couple of new 100% linen styles for summer. This one has a round neck, and this one has a V-neck (10% off with ANGHARAD10), and Klayd does form-fitting very well (I have a couple of the tanks). I like the racer back of this dress.

This is quite a simple example of layering — just a jacket over a dress — but sometimes the best thing to do is not overthink it. The interest here lies in the shapes of the two pieces. The jacket is loose, swingy and short, a sharp contrast to the long, slim-fitting dress (the same one that I’m wearing in the outfit above).

For more swingy jackets, here’s a relaxed shape and Japanese cotton denim from TOAST, the brand that does these types of jackets very well. Or there’s this boxy, denim jacket from Beyond Nine, in a goes-with-everything olive shade.

I wore this look a lot last summer on hot days when I didn’t want to wear very much, but I still wanted to feel as though I’d made an effort. A touch of a silk scarf adds more colour, texture and shape to the linen vest and trousers. Plus, the shades of the scarf (white, navy, brown) complement the whole look very satisfyingly, without trying too hard.

This is another ‘don’t overthink it’ approach to layering: a short-sleeved shirt with a lace trim (the same as the one in the first outfit above), just showing underneath a slouchy cotton jumper. It breaks up the two blues, it adds texture, and it looks just as good without a layer on top, should it warm up, and you want to take the jumper off.

A dress-and-trousers look will always be one of my favourite ways to layer, and in warm weather, opting for light linen will keep it breezy, rather than hot and bulky. I’ve gone for tonal pieces to keep each layer cohesive, and, like the other outfits, the dress and trousers work well together as a look without the jacket.

Like the dress-over-dress look, it’s better to go for a dress that’s slightly loose-fitting here, as you’ll want enough room for the trousers. As for the trousers, go for a waistband that isn’t overly complicated, so it doesn’t stick out.

Any items marked with * have been gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.

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