White has traditionally been a colour people wear in summer. It’s often said that it’s the best choice, as white reflects the sunlight and helps to keep your body cool.

Now scientists are saying that actually isn’t true, and white clothing doesn’t help keep the sun off any more than black clothing. However, as scientists seem to change their minds about such things every few years, it’s quite possible they will revert to the popular theory by 2018.

In any case, I’ve believed for so long that white is cooler, I feel cooler wearing white. Such is the power of the mind. There are also so many related, cooling images, like swans gliding around in a pond.

I love wearing white in summer. My favourite option is a dress that has some room in the skirt, like the one shown below. This allows for air circulation. I also like to wear a simple white shirt, or T shirt, with a colourful skirt. Finished with a white hat, it’s a perfect outfit for a summer afternoon.

Some women steer clear of white because they say it shows the dirt. That’s true, but if you stick with white cotton or silk, it’s also really easy to clean. You can spot-clean with soda water for those café spills, and soak in a good stain remover if you’ve really done some damage.

White is universally elegant, and a touch of black seems to make it more so. Think of Audrey Hepburn in the famous racing scene in My Fair Lady (see above). She is the epitome of elegance. Although I’m not sure I’d want to carry quite that much weight around on my head!