A chef's capsule wardrobe for the summer heat

 A kitchen is a hot place in most circumstances. Summer is the time when that heat can break a person, so when I was faced with a requirement to dress myself for it I harked back to when I lived in the tropics and worked in no AC for hours on end.

I usually only do one or two items, like these...

self-drafted original raglan v-neck, based on a hoodie pattern, with pocket and snaps instead of the usual can-fall-off-into-the-mixture buttons.

Muna&Broad Schulthorpe pants in chambray and catstooth print -- added a drawstring and raised the pockets

(sadly, both of which I can't use for this), but this time I've gone in with a new sense of maximizing the me-madeness of it all. So far: 

pattern from above, with a collar added

Merchant&Mills Heroine jeans in 10 oz denim

5oo4 pants (a T&t for me) in black cotton knit, with a patch pocket

hacked Apostrophe Patterns for both: V-neck raglan (drafted the collar, adjusted for overlap front, vented/split hem, 3/4 sleeves, added chest pocket) and khaki stretch joggers

another version of the Apostrophe-hacked pattern, and the jeans; tried embroidery on the right this time so it doesn't get obscured when I put pens in the pocket.

All the tops are cotton-polyester broadcloth, the black one is stretch while the 3 white ones are not. Closing out the summer capsule: a few bras for under the white tops, and black versions of the Apostrophe pattern now that I know I like it.

In between writing this and posting it, I've fallen back on another tried-and-true option for "dress code" that I can move in, which is yoga or athletic pants in the regulation khaki or black. They never seem to have pockets though, so when I cut off the hems (short people know) those cut-off parts become a patch pocket.

On the other side of the seasons meantime, I have hacked a few worn-out pairs of leggings/cotton lycra lounge pants (wear and tear due to thigh rub is real!) into a second layer to warm my calves that aren't covered by my knee-length coat. 

This year, summer work sewing will probably cover some knit pants, but more of my small amount of crafting time will likely be replacing cold-weather clothes that my daughter will take from my closet to bring with her to college...