Dressing for Hot Flushes: Layers and Fabrics That Make Life Easier

If you are working out what to wear for hot flushes, the answer is less about one perfect outfit and more about clothes that let you cool down quickly and warm up again without fuss. Here is how to dress for days when your temperature has a mind of its own.

What to wear for hot flushes: start with layers

Layers are your best friend. One heavy jumper leaves you two options: boil or freeze. Two or three light layers let you take one off in seconds, wherever you are, and put it back on when the chill comes.

A simple formula:

1. A light base that looks finished on its own: a sleeveless or short-sleeved top, so you are never stuck in a jumper with nothing presentable underneath.
2. An easy middle layer that opens all the way: a button cardigan, an open kimono-style layer or a light shirt worn loose.
3. An outer layer that unzips or unbuttons fully, so you can open it on a warm bus without taking it off.

The middle layer is the one you will take on and off most, so choose something that is easy to slip off and does not crease when it is folded into a bag. A crew neck button cardigan in a fine knit or a patchwork print kimono cardigan with an open front both come off in a moment. Browse our cardigans for light, open layers.

Cardigans to start with

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Crew Neck Button Cardigan in a Fine KnitPatchwork Print Kimono Cardigan, Open FrontSoft Knit Stand Collar Button Cardigan

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Fabrics that feel cooler

Fabric makes a real difference to how warm you feel. Many people find these feel cooler next to the skin, though everyone is different:

• Cotton, especially in a light weave such as poplin or voile.
• Linen, which is breathable and does not cling, if you can forgive the creases.
• Viscose, a fibre made from wood pulp, which drapes softly and feels light.
• Open or loose knits, rather than dense, chunky ones, for cooler days.

Tightly woven synthetics can feel warmer and less breathable for some people. Always check the label and the product description for the fabric, and notice which pieces you feel most comfortable in over a whole day. Your own wardrobe is the best guide.

It helps to lay out tomorrow's clothes the night before, with the coolest piece as the base. Mornings are often when you have the least patience for a jumper that turns out to be too warm. If you know the day ahead involves a heated office, a long journey or a busy kitchen, plan for the warmest part of it and add layers for the rest, rather than the other way round. You will spend far less of the day wishing you had worn something else.

Necklines, sleeves and fit

The shape of your clothes matters as much as the fabric.

• Open necklines. A V-neck, a notch neck or an open collar lets air in at the neck and chest. A notch neck blouse with petal sleeves is a pretty example. A high, tight roll neck is the hardest thing to cool down in.
• Loose, not baggy. Fabric that skims rather than clings lets air move. Shirts worn open over a top, and dresses that drape, feel much easier than anything fitted.
• Sleeves you can push up. Three-quarter or roll-up sleeves let you cool your arms quickly.
• A soft waistband. A tight waist adds to the feeling of being too warm. Elasticated or drawstring waists are kinder.

An easy shirt such as a stand collar shirt with knot button fastening works buttoned up on cool mornings and open over a vest top later in the day. See our tops and shirts and blouses for light, easy shapes.

What to wear for hot flushes, from desk to evening

A few practical habits help across the day:

• At work. Keep a spare light top and a cardigan in your drawer. Choose a base layer you would be happy to sit in at a meeting.
• Travelling. Trains and buses swing from icy to stuffy. A top, an open layer and a coat you can undo are the safest combination.
• Evenings out. A sleeveless dress with a wrap or a light jacket over it gives you an easy way to cool down without looking undressed.
• In your bag. A small fan, a bottle of water and a lightweight scarf you can add or remove.

For more on dressing in layers, our guide on how to layer for British weather covers the outer layers, and our guide to natural and synthetic fibres explains the fabrics in more detail.

Finally, clothes can make a day more comfortable, but they are only part of the picture. If hot flushes are frequent, intense or disturbing your sleep, talk to your GP or a pharmacist. They can talk you through what might help.

Next, from our tops & shirts

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Stand Collar Shirt with Knot Button FasteningFine-Knit V-Neck Top with Painterly StripesNotch Neck Blouse with Petal Sleeves

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