The ridiculous heat lately is making it hard to do everything lately. I basically want to lay down in a room with sub-zero temperatures and get frostbite. It's so hot and humid that when I'm outside, it feels like I'm breathing through a wet blanket. It's gross. As I'm sure most everyone everywhere is thinking since the entire country appears to be having a heat wave of epic proportions.
And holy crap, wearing a business suit in this weather is terrible and cruel. Suit fabrics, especially in northern states, aren't exactly lightweight and breathable. And the lining! Double layers in a suit jacket! Lining is never a breathable fabric! Ugh, it's like being wrapped in Saran Wrap all day. I'm hot and sweaty and uncomfortable all day when it's this hot. I wish that there was a "too hot" exception to the suit jacket requirement. Even with the air conditioner on, it's still really hard to cool down after being outside and then having to wear a heat-trapping jacket.
I wonder if the dress code for court is more relaxed in states that are consistently hot year round. Like can you get away with a lightweight cardigan as as "jacket" in Hawaii or Arizona? Or a cute short sleeved jacket? Or no jacket at all as long as you're otherwise in business attire? How do people do it in southern states? Could a woman wear dressy capris? A sundress?
If I'm ever a judge, suit jackets will totally be optional if the temp hits 80° or more. If the heat index hits 100+ and I were a judge, there would be a good chance I wouldn't even be wearing pants under my robe. I mean, the robe is kind of like a big sack dress anyway, right?
And holy crap, wearing a business suit in this weather is terrible and cruel. Suit fabrics, especially in northern states, aren't exactly lightweight and breathable. And the lining! Double layers in a suit jacket! Lining is never a breathable fabric! Ugh, it's like being wrapped in Saran Wrap all day. I'm hot and sweaty and uncomfortable all day when it's this hot. I wish that there was a "too hot" exception to the suit jacket requirement. Even with the air conditioner on, it's still really hard to cool down after being outside and then having to wear a heat-trapping jacket.
I wonder if the dress code for court is more relaxed in states that are consistently hot year round. Like can you get away with a lightweight cardigan as as "jacket" in Hawaii or Arizona? Or a cute short sleeved jacket? Or no jacket at all as long as you're otherwise in business attire? How do people do it in southern states? Could a woman wear dressy capris? A sundress?
If I'm ever a judge, suit jackets will totally be optional if the temp hits 80° or more. If the heat index hits 100+ and I were a judge, there would be a good chance I wouldn't even be wearing pants under my robe. I mean, the robe is kind of like a big sack dress anyway, right?
There's a fabric called tropical wool (I hadn't heard of it until law school) that is supposed to be less heavy than regular wool suits. I have a couple of pieces but honestly, when it's a million degrees out, it doesn't really matter much.
ReplyDeleteMaybe make sure you're wearing as much cotton as possible (breathable)? Also, maybe you could find a few exercise tops that are sweat-wicking but happen to actually look like work tops. Golf apparel almost always has a collar.
We've had judges taking off their robes and telling us to take off our jackets. IT IS SO DAMN HOT, even in the Northeastern parts.
ReplyDeleteActually, in Hawaii, we only wear suits to Court (no where else). But I only wear the jacket when necessary and carry it around otherwise. However, all buildings like to refrigerate employees so you want to put it on after a while. I remember. I siting Wall Street and just staring in disbelief at all the poor souls in three-piece suits on an unairconditioned subway. It was insane. So it seems how often they are truly necessary is dependent on culture... unless you are in Court.
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