A capsule wardrobe is simply clothes that suit you and work together, and there’s no magic number of pieces (my note on how to build a capsule wardrobe explains the approach). For a South Australian summer, two outside facts shape what goes in it: big swings between day and night temperatures, and strong sun.
What an SA summer asks of your clothes
The Bureau of Meteorology’s long-term averages show the range. At Nuriootpa, in the heart of the Barossa, January averages a maximum of 30.3°C and a minimum of 14.7°C: a swing of more than 15 degrees between the coolest part of the night and the warmest part of the day. February is similar (29.4°C and 14.4°C). In Adelaide (Kent Town), January averages 29.6°C and 17.3°C.
Rain is rare: Nuriootpa averages fewer than three days with 1 mm or more of rain in each of January and February. So summer clothes need to work across a wide daily temperature range, with little rain.
Dress for the sun as well as the heat
Cancer Council recommends sun protection whenever the UV is 3 and above, using all five SunSmart steps: clothing, SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen, a broad-brim hat, shade and sunglasses. For clothing, it suggests covering as much skin as possible:
- tops with collars, and sleeves of at least three-quarter to full length
- pants or skirts of at least three-quarter to full length.
Choosing fabric for heat and sun
Cancer Council’s guidance on fabric:
- The tighter the fabric structure, knitted or woven, the better the sun protection. Tightly woven, lightweight natural fabrics such as linen, cotton or hemp also help keep you cooler than synthetic equivalents.
- Darker colours of the same fabric absorb more UV than light pastel shades. If you choose a light colour, fabric structure matters more.
- Stretched fabric is less protective, and fabrics protect less when wet.
- Layering fabrics and garments increases protection.
- Garments rated UPF 50 or 50+ block 98% of UV radiation, although fabrics don’t need a UPF rating to protect you.
From spring into summer
Spring warms gradually in the valley. Nuriootpa’s average maximums climb from 21.5°C in October to 25.0°C in November and 27.6°C in December, with average minimums of 8.3°C in October and 10.7°C in November. The change of season is a natural moment to edit what you already own before you buy anything; my guide to how to declutter your wardrobe explains how The Wardrobe Edit works.
Make it yours
A capsule only works if every piece suits you and works with the others. The Wardrobe Edit works out what suits you, edits what you already own and finishes with a shopping list for the gaps, and The Personal Shop is a three-hour guided shop for when you’re ready to add pieces. I work in person across the Barossa, Gawler and Adelaide, and online wherever you are. Dressing for a summer occasion? See what to wear to a Barossa winery, what to wear to the races in South Australia and smart casual for women.