City heat is a different problem from beach heat and the wardrobe rules do not transfer. There is no swimming to break the day up, the ground radiates, and you are walking rather than lying down. Clothes have to cope with sweat, with shade and sun alternating every few minutes, and with going indoors into aggressive air conditioning.

That argues for loose, light and covering rather than minimal. Bare skin in a city means sunburn on one side of the body and goosebumps in every museum.

Linen is the obvious material and the eight pieces here run $150 to $395, all separates. The Anteros' Coen linen shorts at $150 and ELCE's Kai scalloped mini shorts at $160 are the shortest. Onia's knitted linen drawstring skirt is also $150. Deiji Studios' bubble striped top is $200 and Posse's Essie fringed top is $300. Third Form's Bound linen-blend midi skirt at $260 is the longest piece. SIMKHAI's embroidered shorts are $345 and Sea's Gardener cotton-linen mini shorts are $395.

A loose top is doing something specific in a city, which is holding fabric away from skin so air can move between the two. A fitted top in the same fabric is measurably hotter for that reason alone, regardless of how light it is.

The other consideration is what shows. Walking produces sweat at the lower back and under the arms, and a loose cut in a mid-tone or a pattern hides it in a way that a fitted pale top cannot.

The eight here run $90 to $298. Flore Flore's May cotton cami at $90 and Baobab's Lorena at $125 are the lightest. MAJESTIC FILATURES' soft touch boatneck is $135 and rag & bone's slub striped tee is $138. Eileen Fisher's puckery raglan-sleeve top at $148 is the loosest cut in the grid. STAUD's Bellaria asymmetric is $195 and Veronica Beard's Mylie metallic mock-neck tank is $198. Johnny Was' Vacanza pintuck silk blouse at $298 is the dressiest and the only silk piece here.

A tote in a city is carrying more than a beach bag does. Water, a layer for the air conditioning, sunglasses, a charger and whatever gets bought during the day. That argues for a bag with structure, because a soft tote with five loose things in it becomes a sack by the afternoon.

Straps are the detail that decides comfort. A shoulder strap that sits close to the neck digs in under weight. A longer strap that clears the shoulder joint does not.

The eight here run $250 to $695. STAUD's Christos mini mesh at $250 and Marlies Grace's Leah lace tote at $295 are the lightest. Bembien's Gabrielle woven leather is $450 and St. Agni's Taxi beaded wooden tote is $500. Tory Burch's Romy pebbled leather and Zimmermann's Goldentime fringed tote are both $595. Toteme's organic cotton canvas beach tote at $690 is the largest and the easiest to wash, and Lemaire's small belted tote at $695 is the most structured thing in the grid.