Whether you're treating yourself to a tropical holiday abroad or simply taking a spin out to the coast for a 99, our time outside during the summer is precious. So, the last thing you want is to waste a second of it feeling uncomfortable or self-conscious.
To help us feel confident during the hotter months, Claire Bryne sought out sustainable style tips from Stylist Corina Gaffey and Arran Murphy, the Programme Manager of Rediscover Fashion - a social enterprise based in the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun.
"Summer is a very difficult season to dress for," says Corina. "We're not really used to the warm, especially humid, weather, so we're very much used to layering up in coats and jumpers."
To cool off in summer, the stylist insists that there's no need to bare all if that's going to leave you feeling uncomfortable. Instead, she suggests investing in natural fabrics that will keep you cool in a heatwave such as cotton, linen, and silk.
She also suggests finding pieces that can be worn across a multitude of events throughout the summer. For example, a good quality linen shirt could be worn with wide-leg cotton trousers in the office or to lunch before being used as a swimsuit cover-up at the beach.
If you're worried about losing your silhouette with looser clothes, Gaffey recommends using belts or tucking in your top to create shape. She also notes that items with pleating will add "a little bit of volume" to your look while keeping the material from sticking to your skin.
If you want to invest in one key piece for summer, Corina suggests a midi silk dress with flowy sleeves - ideally in a lighter shade or with a fun summer pattern. This could be worn to a wedding, to work, or to a nice family BBQ depending on how you style it.
A shirt dress will also be handy in multiple scenarios as you can adjust the sleeves depending on the style you like.
Arran Murphy, Programme Manager of Rediscover Fashion added that listeners should shop their own wardrobes before hitting the high street.
If you pull out all your clothes from your many shelves and hangers, you're bound to find a few items that have been long forgotten or that could be good as new with a little altering.
"Trying them on in different ways and styling them in different ways can be really fruitful," she explains. "It's cost-saving and also really good for the environment because the most sustainable clothes we have are the ones we already own."
Although you may be tempted to leave any alterations to the professionals, Murphy encouraged listeners to get find a needle and thread - and a good YouTube tutorial - and give it a go.
As well as adding poppers in between buttons of gaping shirts and letting out the side seam of a tight top, Murphy suggests adding a cape sleeve to plain tops or turning your old dress into a fabulous new skirt.
For more sustainable styling tips for summer, listen back to the full interview on RTÉ Radio 1 above.
