Summer Survival: Austin Edition

Welcome to central Texas: the one place where you actually want to head inside once the summer hits its stride. Northerners think we’re insane, but you and I both know that sometimes we’d rather spend a sunny day in the [cold] movie theater than outside “enjoying” the 110°+ heat. Unless you’re floating the Guadalupe River, lounging at [or rather: in] the pool, or enjoying some other aquatic activity, if you’re outside, you’re hot. And it’s not an enjoyable hot: it’s an I’m-melting-like-the-Wicked-Witch-of-the-West hot.

So, what to do?

First off, invest in some waterproof makeup. My sister swears by Urban Decay Makeup Setting Spray – when she uses it, her makeup remains flawless…even after a shower! Spray that on your face, stow some hair ties in your bag for when the heat makes your hair droop unattractively, and make sure you have sunscreen on at all times. That last one is very important – don’t forget to reapply! As always, remember to hydrate.

Second, fill your weekends with the aforementioned aquatic activities. It is summer, after all! A classic Texan summer activity is to go float the Guadalupe River in an innertube, or there’s always the option of going boating out one of Austin’s lakes – but both of those activities require planning and forethought. For those who just can’t get away, there are plenty of places to cool off in downtown Austin. The newly christened Rio, for example, is located on West 6^th Street (where Katz’s used to be) and is host to a restaurant, a bar, and a rooftop pool! If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can wander over to Lady Bird Lake (please excuse me if I mess that up in subsequent posts – I’ll always refer to it as “Town Lake”) and rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard and try out your balancing skills while taking in the sights of the downtown Austin skyline. Yet another option is to go set up camp at Barton Springs in Zilker Park: the natural spring is a nippy 68° year-round, which is perfect for when you get overheated in the middle of summer and just need to immerse yourself in seemingly freezing water. Fun fact: rumor has it that Robert Redford learned to swim at Barton Springs during his time in Austin as a child.

Finally, the summer heat is not an excuse to skimp on the work clothes. Austin is a very casual city, but most employers would probably raise an eyebrow (or two) if you show up to work in a bathing suit cover-up and six-inch wedges. My tip? If any item contains “mini-” or “crop-”, leave it for the weekends. That means no mini-skirts, mini-dresses, or crop-tops; cutouts, if done tastefully, can be work-appropriate. Invest in a few breezy blouses to be worn with jeans or long shorts, strappy sandals and wedges that aren’t appallingly tall, and short-sleeved dresses. My rule used to be “if you would feel completely comfortable having lunch with your grandmother in the outfit, it works,” but then I realized that some of us are related to some wild-child grandmothers; therefore, my rule has changed: if you would feel comfortable having a casual picnic with the President of the United States in the outfit, it works.”

Enjoy the summer heat!

By Amanda Kushner