This week in Philadelphia, we have had the lovely pleasure of experiencing a sweltering heat wave — not to mention, the welcomed humidity that comes with it…

Sorry for the slight sarcasm, but phew, has it been one of those weeks where you literally don’t want to wear anything.

Now, don’t get me wrong: being from the UK — with its constant rain and grey clouds — it felt like I hit the jackpot when I first experienced an American summer. But, in the spirit of embracing the heat, I started to think of ways to go as bare as possible. (Let’s face it: your birthday suit is not quite appropriate for city living.) Low and behold, while frantically digging through my drawers, I came across some light and airy scarves.

It was like the heavens opened up!

I immediately started to experiment with how I could wear my scarves as a piece of clothing (and accessory as well). Turns out: there are plenty of ways to wear them.

Now, who’s ready to beat the heat with me?

Simply fold your scarf in half diagonally to make a triangle. Wrap it around your front and tie a knot at your back. Voila! Your shoulders and back can breathe. I love wearing this with denim shorts or loose-fitting wide leg pants. Add some fun accessories (like layered necklaces!) and you’re good to go.

Simply fold the fabric diagonally until the points meet. Then turn the fabric over until you have a rectangle wide enough to make a tube across your chest and tie at the back. I like to leave the tip out and fold it over for added visual interest. I’d wear this with high-waisted bottoms and skirts, so you’re just showing a bit of your midriff. Also good under an unbuttoned shirt.

This one I’m obsessed with! Furoshiki is an ancient Japanese art of wrapping cloth, using only one thing: the cloth and nothing else. These types of bags are commonly used in Japan to carry lunch boxes or to go to the grocery store. It’s also a nice way to be conscious towards waste and protect the environment.

For this one, you will need two scarves that are the same size in different prints. Fold one of the scarves in half to make a triangle. Take the folded edge and wrap it under your arm, loosely tie into a knot at your shoulder. Do the same to the other scarf. Then tie the front layers of both scarves at the front and tie the other ends in the back.

For those hot summer nights… For this one, you don’t need to fold the scarf into a triangle: just take two of the ends, cross them over at the front of your neck and tie into a knot at the back. With the rest of the scarf hanging down, spread it out a little so it’s covering your front, then tuck the excess into your waistband. Yep, this look will definitely turn heads.

Want even more ideas? Watch the video below for endless inspiration: