What is the weather like?
Delhi gets hot from April. May and June are the hottest months. Days often go above 40°C, and some days are much hotter. The air is dry, and a hot wind called the loo blows in the afternoon.
The rains usually come in late June or July. After that it is a little cooler, but sticky.
So until the rains, you are dressing for strong sun and dry heat.
The best fabrics
| Fabric | How it feels |
|---|---|
| Thin cotton (mulmul, voile, cambric) | The best. Soft, light and lets air pass. |
| Linen | Very cool. It wrinkles, and that is fine. |
| Khadi and handloom cotton | Cool and strong. Good for kurtas and shirts. |
| Chambray | Looks like denim but is much lighter. |
| Polyester and thick denim | Hot. Keep them for winter. |
Fit and color
- Wear loose clothes. Air needs room to move. Loose kurtas, wide pants and relaxed shirts feel much cooler than tight clothes.
- Wear light colors. White, cream, light blue and pastels take in less heat. Black gets hot fast in the sun.
- Cover your skin in strong sun. In dry heat, loose long sleeves in thin cotton can feel cooler than bare arms. They keep the sun off.
Sun cover
- A cotton scarf, stole or dupatta for your head and neck.
- A cap or a hat with a wide edge.
- Sunglasses.
- Sunscreen on any skin that shows.
- A water bottle. Drink often.
Shoes
Feet get hot too. Wear open sandals, kolhapuris or light canvas shoes. If you need closed shoes for work, wear thin cotton socks. Leather loafers are cooler than thick sneakers.
Outfits that work
For the office
A thin cotton shirt with light pants. Or a straight cotton kurta with slim pants. Offices are often cold inside, so keep a thin layer at your desk. Our guide to office wear in India has more.
For going out in the day
A loose cotton kurta or a linen shirt with wide pants. Add a cap and sunglasses. A cotton dress with a scarf also works.
For the evening
It stays warm at night. A linen shirt with chinos, or a cotton dress with flat sandals, is enough. See seven ways to wear a linen shirt.
Small things that help
- Change your clothes after a long time outside. Sweaty clothes feel hot.
- Wear a thin cotton undershirt under a work shirt. It keeps the shirt dry.
- Stay in the shade between noon and four if you can.
Let your phone choose
On a hot morning, nobody wants to stand and think at the wardrobe.
Ukti is our app. You take photos of your clothes. Every morning it picks one outfit from them and tells you why. It can read the weather where you are and pick the outfit for it. Sharing your location is optional.
You can also tell it about your day, by voice or by typing. For example: "I am outside all afternoon."
