The Edit · Summer 2026
What to wear in a UK heatwave
Lighter fabrics, easier silhouettes, and the preloved designer pieces that make 30°C in the UK feel almost intentional.
Because while the idea of "summer dressing" sounds effortless, the reality is usually standing in front of your wardrobe wondering why every outfit suddenly feels too tight, too heavy, or wildly impractical for 30°C weather.
The good news? Looking polished in a heatwave doesn't actually require an entirely new wardrobe. It's about lighter fabrics, easier silhouettes and investing in pieces you'll genuinely wear on repeat all summer long.
At Reliked, we're leaning into relaxed luxury this season — oversized linen shirts, breathable co-ords, easy slip dresses, raffia bags and those designer staples that somehow make even the simplest outfit look intentional. All preloved, all from wardrobes you already follow.
Here's what we're actually reaching for during the heatwave.
Linen is non-negotiable
If there's one fabric worth building your summer wardrobe around, it's linen. Breathable, lightweight and effortlessly elevated, linen instantly makes you look more put together — even when it's too hot to function properly.
Think oversized white shirts, relaxed tailoring, neutral co-ords, loose trousers, easy shirt dresses. The best part? Slightly creased linen somehow still looks chic, which feels like the energy we all need right now.
The linen pieces we're loving right now
Eileen Fisher Blue Stripe Linen Shirt
£59
aexae White High-rise Linen Trousers
£45
Zimmermann Lovestruck Eyelet Linen Shorts
£125
Faithfull 100% Linen Long Waistcoat
£75
Brora White Washed Linen Top
£36
The "throw on and go" dress is your best friend
When temperatures hit the high twenties, decision fatigue becomes very real. This is where the easy summer dress earns its place.
Slip dresses, cotton poplin midis and relaxed silhouettes are doing all the heavy lifting this summer — especially styles you can wear from coffee runs to dinner reservations with just a sandal change.
The five we'd buy this week
RIXO Anika Floral Crêpe Maxi Dress
£145
Rat & Boa Black Selma Mini Dress
£95
Faithfull Lera Cotton-Poplin Mini Dress
£35
Zimmermann White Broderie Day Dress
£215
Galvan London Satin Strappy Slip Dress
£290
Accessories should do the heavy lifting
When it's too hot for layering, accessories become the outfit. Oversized sunglasses, gold jewellery, woven bags and simple sandals instantly elevate even the most minimal look.
The three we're reaching for on repeat
Anya Hindmarch Nude Woven Raffia Clutch
£125
Holzweiler Brown Lucas Frame Sunglasses
£99
Aquazzura Brown Woven Raffia Sandal
£110
But wait — don't panic-buy for summer
The thing about heatwaves is they always arrive suddenly, which is exactly why people end up panic-buying fast fashion pieces they wear once and forget about by September.
Instead, focus on versatile pieces you'll actually re-wear: neutral dresses, oversized shirts, elevated basics, lightweight tailoring, designer accessories.
Preloved makes far more sense for trend-led summer dressing too. Some pieces only come out for a few months of the year — so finding them already loved feels smarter, far more affordable, and infinitely better for the planet. Extending the life of a garment by just nine months meaningfully cuts its environmental footprint, and a minimum of 5% of every sale at Reliked goes to charity.
It's summer dressing, the way it should have been all along.
— Reliked
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