What to wear in 'summer'

Link to video: How to dress: cool summer pastels

Climate chaos brings us a?whole new fashion problem. (Whoa there,?with the sarky email. I?do realise this is?not the most significant of the problems it poses, thanks all the same. Why not write to your MP instead?)

Now, where was I? Right, the "summer"?wardrobe… Have you?noticed how summer is becoming one of those words that gets used with that little speech-mark hand sign, as if it were a?hypothetical concept? Anyway, now that we're in the second year?running in which months we think of as summer have had long spells of chilly, wet weather, people have started talking?about "summer" in the same?knowing, yeah-right tone they?use for the tooth fairy, or for Jose Mourinho's newfound humility.

We have got used to weeks of nice?weather (if we're lucky) interspersed with weeks that are?calendrically summery but?empirically closer to mid-November.?So what do we wear??Because, although the meteorological evidence may no?longer support the?existence of?summer, most of us remain emotionally invested in the concept.?If it's June or July or August, we want to feel that it's?summer, whatever the weather – and that means dressing in a way that looks summery, but keeps us warm.

I think colour is the answer. You?need to plot your outfit like an?Agatha Christie novel. Make a?big?song and dance about a red herring of a clue, and no one will notice the real villain. Pale pastel shades give such a sense of lightness, of sunniness, that hardly anyone will notice if the sleeves are?long and the fabric is heavy.

Here?I am wearing a long-sleeved shirt with a camisole, and a lined brocade knee-length skirt. I am adequately wrapped up for October, or thereabouts.?But because I am wearing a?summer-sky blue and a?fluffy-cloud white, the effect is?summery. The pale pastels are the?red herring, in this scenario. Personally, I hope "summer" is but a?passing trend; I?much preferred summer, myself.

‧ Jess wears sheer shirt, ￡205, by DKNY, from harrods.com. Flared skirt, ￡170, by Stills, from harveynichols.com. Courts, ￡58, by office.co.uk.

Hair and makeup: Tonee Roberio using Mac Cosmetics.

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