The problem: two kinds of weather
From about April to October, most of India is hot. For part of that time it is also very humid. So offices keep the air conditioning very cold.
That means your trip to work needs light clothes. But your desk needs a layer. The trick is simple. Dress for the trip. Carry the layer.
Start with the fabric
| Fabric | In heat | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Good | Lets air pass. Thin cotton is cooler than thick cotton. Sweat shows on light gray and light blue. |
| Linen | Very good | The coolest choice. It wrinkles, and most offices now accept that. |
| Light wool | Good | Thin wool pants are cooler than they sound and stay neat. |
| Viscose and modal | Okay | Feels cool, but can stick to you when damp. |
| Polyester | Bad | Keeps heat in and holds smell. A little in a mix is fine. |
Fit matters too. Slightly loose clothes let air move. Tight clothes are hot in any fabric.
The layer you carry
Keep one of these at your desk or in your bag. Put it on when you sit down.
- A cotton or linen blazer with no lining inside.
- A thin cardigan or light sweater.
- A stole or shawl. This also works with Indian clothes.
- A Nehru jacket over a shirt or kurta.
"No lining" is the key. A blazer with lining feels like wearing two shirts.
Outfits that work
Western clothes
- A cotton shirt, light pants and loafers. Roll up the sleeves for the trip.
- A linen shirt worn out over chinos, if your office is relaxed.
- A short-sleeved top with wide pants. Keep a blazer at your desk.
- A cotton dress with a cardigan.
Indian clothes
- A straight cotton kurta with pants.
- A cotton or linen saree with a simple blouse.
- A kurta set in soft thin cotton, with a stole for the AC.
- A short kurta over pants, with a Nehru jacket for meetings.
Colors and sweat
White, navy, black and busy prints hide sweat best. Light gray, light blue and plain pastels show it most.
A thin undershirt sounds like more heat. But it keeps your shirt dry.
Changes for the monsoon
- Wear dark colors below the knee.
- Wear pants that end at the ankle, or that you can roll up.
- Wear shoes that can get wet. Keep a dry pair at the office.
- Keep a spare top in your desk.
- Do not wear suede or silk. Water leaves marks on them.
Read more in our guides to the Mumbai monsoon and the Delhi summer.
Do not choose on a hot morning
A hot morning is a bad time to stand at your wardrobe. Choose the night before. Or let something else choose.
Ukti is our app. It picks one outfit a day from your own clothes. It can read the weather where you are and pick the outfit for it. Sharing your location is optional.
For a client meeting, open your closet in Ukti and pick "big meeting" as the occasion. Ukti builds three outfits from your own clothes.
Do you have an interview soon? See what to wear to a job interview.
