In New York, summer dressing isn’t just about beating the heat — it’s about out-dressing it. While the rest of the world reaches for denim cutoffs, Manhattanites treat sidewalk humidity like a runway challenge. Yes, it’s 90 degrees and the subway feels like a human furnace, but that won’t stop a city girl from layering a sheer dress over tailored shorts, cinching it with a belt you didn’t even know you needed. Because in this town, sweat is inevitable, and style non-negotiable.

Working at Vogue brings forth a particular summer dressing challenge—I need to look good for the office, which is often an arctic tundra. However, I also need to stay post-work event-ready. There could be two dinners, a cocktail hour, or previews at any point during the week. For me, the particular challenge lies in staying cool, while looking hot, all while being pregnant. Maternity clothes be damned—I refuse to sacrifice my personal style ethos for a lesser version of myself, even during July.

The city’s dress code? Impossibly effortless with a side of “Where did she get that?” I’m talking semi-sheer linen sets from Róhe and basket totes (just big enough for my laptop). Artfully draped blouses with an expected skirt—which, yes, is white and probably skimming the city’s used-up sidewalks. Ignore the grime for the sake of polish! The results were for me, of course, quite monochrome. But, let’s be real. Wearing black and white in New York isn’t a trend; it’s the city’s unofficial uniform, a sartorial secret handshake that says, “I belong here.”

Here’s what I, as a pregnant Vogue writer, wore for three different occasions in the city, and shop my summer-ready looks below.

The Monochrome Power Pairing

Wearing black and white isn’t just a styling choice—it’s a survival strategy for hectic days, one that never fails. In this, I was able to sit comfortably at my desk (in an office that often boasts subarctic temperatures in mid-summer), attend a working meeting over lunch at Sant Ambroeus, and glide in and out of the subways without breaking into a panic sweat.

The Semi-Sheer Matching Set

The best matching sets hold an unfussy ease—the pieces fit together like a puzzle but also work seamlessly on their own. They’re a reliable way to appear composed, prepared, and stylized, and those are notes that any city-dweller requires. On this day, the humidity almost took me out. A New York heat wave is a special kind of torture—one that requires lightweight, airy fabrics that don’t stick to your skin to survive the day. Róhe’s organza shirt and midi skirt did just the trick: I showed up to my post-work event blissfully unfazed by the stifling air. An oversized woven tote and pared-back flip-flop completed my look.

The Cool-Girl Separates

What makes a cool girl? In my eyes, it’s that effortless mix of high, low, vintage (or vintage-inspired), and just-off-the-runway that says, “Oh, this old thing?” Going over the top isn’t necessary. Instead, an off-the-shoulder, shrugged top from Dries Van Noten, paired with Kallmeyer’s polished yet un-precious everyday trousers, join forces to achieve this delicate balance. For an additional summer-ready edge that’s anything but basic, I swapped the classic raffia bag in favor of Jacquemus’s square silhouette.

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