What to Wear in 80-degree Weather
What do you consider to be the perfect temperature? For me, if it was 80 degrees Fahrenheit (~26 degrees Celsius) all summer long… that would be the dream. Okay, I’ll tolerate a few days in the 90s. But those temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees are some of the best, and it seems like they don’t happen as frequently in Boise as I wish they did.
Depending on where you live in the world, 80 degrees may happen frequently in the summer, or 80 degrees might be the hottest it ever gets. (On the flip side, 80 degrees may be the coolest it ever gets in the summer and tends to happen more frequently in the spring or fall!)
If you’ve ever seen 80 degrees in the forecast and aren’t sure what to wear because you haven’t it seen it that warm or cool in a while, this blog post is for you! I rounded up 12 outfits that you can wear in 80-degree weather, including some that you could wear to a smart casual office.
READ NEXT: What to Wear in 100-degree Weather
What to Wear in 80-degree Weather
Read on to find out what 80 degrees feels like (and how it can feel different depending on where you live!) and a list of 12 outfits to wear in 80-degree weather. I included a variety of outfits, including a few options that you can wear to work if you also work in a smart casual office environment. These outfits are from my archives and might have some “outdated” elements; use these as inspiration for your own outfits and make tweaks as necessary!
What Does 80 Degrees Feel Like?
80-degree weather is interesting… it feels different to someone who is used to a cool climate vs a hot climate. For people who live in generally cooler climates, 80 degrees feels HOT! If you’re used to extreme heat, 80 degrees can feel like a dream.
If you live somewhere like Boise that gets all four seasons, 80 degrees feels different depending on the season. In the late summer/early fall, 80 degrees feels like a breath of fresh air after days in the 90s to 100s or more. In the spring, 80 degrees feels HOT! It feels different because your body is used to the heat after the summer months and not used to the heat after the winter months.
When it comes to dressing for high temperatures around 80 degrees (I consider that to be anywhere between 75°-85°F), start with one of these basic outfit combinations: jeans with a sleeveless or short-sleeved top OR shorts with a long-sleeved tee or lightweight sweater! The latter is one of my favorite outfit combinations, and it only works for a short period of time every year.
I have a difficult time dressing for a new temperature when I’m used to either the heat or the cold. Can you relate? 😅 I hope these outfit ideas help you out; I’m sure I’ll be referencing this post myself!
80-degree Weather Outfit Ideas
Monochrome Stick of Butter
If you know me, you know that I love a monochrome “stick of butter” moment! (I shared a similar outfit in my 100-degree outfits roundup.) This one is especially fun because it features one of my favorite outfit combinations that I wish I could wear more: a sweater and shorts!
Linen Tee + Suede Skirt
Mixing textures is a great way to make your outfits look and feel more interesting, especially when it’s warm outside. If it’s hot out but not too hot, pair a linen tee with a suede skirt! A lightweight suede like this is a bit much to wear when it’s hotter than 80 degrees.
Striped Tee + Dark Wash Jeans
Pair your favorite dark wash jeans (in whichever silhouette; I used to exclusively wear skinny jeans!) with a striped short-sleeve tee for an easy, breezy 80 degree weather outfit. This would be a great outfit to wear to happy hour, weekend brunch, or a backyard BBQ!
Blue Silk + Linen-cotton Stripes
Silk is a tough fabric to wear in my experience. I love the feel of it, and since it’s natural, it’s breathable and good to wear when it’s warm out. On the other hand, it shows sweat easily! Opt for washable silk if you can (I love that so many retailers offer it now) and pair it with linen-cotton for cooling.
Long-sleeved Nautical Stripes
Take full advantage of the cooler late summer temperatures and wear nautical stripes with your creamy white shorts! (Wear white after Labor Day, who cares?!) Keep your outfit light and bright by finishing the look with metallic gold sandals (or another light color). One of my favorite looks!
White Jeans with a Loose Top
White jeans are a classic in the warmer months. The light color has a high albedo, which keeps you cool! Pair your jeans with a loose top for when it’s around 80 degrees outside. Love juxtapositions? Throw on a floppy felt hat and finish the look with a pair of flats.
Lightweight Sweater + Denim Shorts
Yet another sweater and shorts outfit! When I tell you I love this outfit combo, I mean it. You should definitely try it if you haven’t. Make sure to pick a lightweight sweater for the 80-degree weather; this one is an airy cotton-linen blend that works perfectly for warmer temperatures.
Shirt Jacket Layered Over Shorts
Start with a base outfit of a tank top and shorts and layer a shirt jacket over top. This is a great outfit to wear if it happens to be around 80 degrees and breezy and/or cloudy, so it feels cooler than 80. There’s no need to save your fall layers; this is a fun way to wear it in the summer months.
Chambray Wide Leg Pants for Work
Because I work in an air conditioned office, I dress the same for work when it’s 100 degrees out as I do when it’s 80 degrees out. Loose wide leg pants like these are a summer work wardrobe staple (the less fabric touching your skin, the better). Add a blazer or cardigan if your office is too cold!
Bright Midi Skirt
Midi skirts are great to wear in a variety of temperatures, but I tend to save them for when it’s not quite so hot out, and 80s isn’t too hot for me (because I’m used to it hitting 100°F multiple times during the summer, ha). Opt for a sleeveless top if 80°F feels warm or a long-sleeved top if it feels cool!
Linen Stripes + Denim Shorts
Linen makes an appearance in many of these outfits, and for good reason! Linen is one of the best summer fabrics. It will keep you cool in the summer heat. I’m honestly not sure how I survived summers without it, because I didn’t discover the wonders of linen until I was a grad student.
White and Grey Neutrals for Work
Here’s one more 80-degree office outfit for good measure! You might be shocked to see that I picked an outfit with a blazer, and it might be too warm to wear this look if you are planning to spend much time outside, but it works when you’re in the office. Just ditch the blazer for post-work HH!