What to wear in 70 °F weather
70 °F (21.1 °C) is comfortable T-shirt weather for most people. The figure is dressed for a dry 70 °F day; shuffle for more ideas, or lock a piece to build around it.
Drag to turn · tap a piece to change it · Space shuffles · L locks
Today’s look
Rust T-shirt, tan cargo trousers and white sandals, with a light denim jacket
Casual, right for 70 °F.
Why this works
- At 70 °F, the light denim jacket handles the time outside and comes off indoors, where the rust T-shirt keeps you comfortable.StandardSchiavon & Lee (2013)
- The rust T-shirt is the one colour; everything else is calm, so it stands out without competing.Less sure · ConventionSchloss & Palmer (2011)
- Light denim works like a neutral here, so it goes with almost anything.Less sure · ConventionStylist convention
Or try
Wearing this today?
Log it, and the picks rotate what you wear.
How this works: Method, 7 sources,
How this works
Method
With no wardrobe it builds a look from colour schemes; with yours it picks from what you own, leaving out pieces archived, in the wash or worn recently. A pick must suit the occasion and the weather, then it is scored on colour harmony (the Ou–Luo model and scheme rules, in OKLab), light against dark, warmth (garment insulation summed as in ISO 9920, against the UTCI clothing model), formality and rotation. The same day and wardrobe give the same pick until you shuffle.
Sources
- Ou, L.-C. & Luo, M. R., "A colour harmony model for two-colour combinations", Color Research & Application 31(3) (2006)
- Schloss, K. B. & Palmer, S. E., "Aesthetic response to color combinations", Attention, Perception & Psychophysics 73(2) (2011)
- Ottosson, B., "A perceptual color space for image processing" (OKLab) (2020)
- ISO 9920, Ergonomics of the thermal environment: estimation of thermal insulation of a clothing ensemble
- ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy (garment insulation table)
- Havenith, G. et al., "The UTCI-clothing model", International Journal of Biometeorology 56(3) (2012)
- MET Norway, Locationforecast 2.0 (weather data, CC BY 4.0)
Changes
- Added 21 pages: what colours go with navy, black, grey, beige, olive, burgundy, brown, white, denim and pink (each table from the engine), and what to wear from 40 to 80 °F and 5 to 25 °C.
- First published.
How warm the figure’s outfit is at 70 °F
The target. The UTCI clothing model gives the insulation people typically wear outdoors at an air temperature T in °C: 1.372 − 0.01866·T − 0.0004849·T² − 0.000009333·T³. At 70 °F (21.1 °C) that is 0.67 clo. One clo is a unit of clothing insulation.
The outfit. The figure’s garments, with their single-garment values: t-shirt 0.08 + cargo trousers 0.24 + denim jacket 0.30 + sandals 0.02 + underwear 0.04 = 0.68. ISO 9920 turns the sum into the outfit’s insulation: 0.161 + 0.835 × 0.68 = 0.73 clo, 0.05 above the target.
The tool counts an outfit as right for the weather when it is within about a third of a clo below or four tenths above the target. Values for coats and jackets are estimates; the rest come from the ASHRAE 55 garment table.
How much to wear around 70 °F
Clothing insulation in clo: outdoors from the UTCI clothing model, indoors from the office model (Schiavon & Lee), with a typical outfit near the outdoor figure.
| Temperature | Outdoors | Indoors | About this warm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 °F (13 °C) | 1.03 | 0.57 | Shirt, jeans and a leather jacket (1.04) |
| 60 °F (16 °C) | 0.93 | 0.54 | Shirt, jeans and a leather jacket (1.04) |
| 65 °F (18 °C) | 0.81 | 0.52 | T-shirt, jeans and a denim jacket (0.75) |
| 70 °F (21 °C) | 0.67 | 0.50 | Shirt, jeans and loafers (0.64) |
| 75 °F (24 °C) | 0.52 | 0.48 | T-shirt, chinos and sneakers (0.42) |
| 80 °F (27 °C) | 0.35 | 0.46 | T-shirt, shorts and sneakers (0.36) |
| 85 °F (29 °C) | 0.30 | 0.46 | Tank top, shorts and sandals (0.33) |
T-shirt weather, with a layer for later
The clothing model suggests about 0.67 clo outdoors at 70 °F: a T-shirt or short-sleeve shirt with trousers, and maybe a thin layer. The look above comes to 0.73 clo.
Evenings cool quickly, so a denim jacket, overshirt or cardigan is worth having with you. Indoors, air conditioning can make offices feel cooler than the street.
Fabric starts to matter
At 70 °F breathable fabrics such as cotton and linen feel better than synthetics, especially if you are walking. Looser cuts let air move, which carries heat away.
Jeans are still comfortable for most people at 70 °F; above about 80 °F, lighter trousers, skirts or shorts start to win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 70 degrees hot?
Not for most people; it is mild and comfortable. In full sun or with exercise it can feel warm.
Do I need a jacket at 70 °F?
Usually not during the day. Bring a light one if you will be out after sunset or in an air-conditioned building.
Are jeans OK at 70 degrees?
Yes. Jeans are comfortable for most people at 70 °F. Lighter washes and looser fits feel cooler than dark, tight ones.
What should I wear at 70 °F at night?
The same outfit plus a light layer, such as a denim jacket, cardigan or sweatshirt, because evenings usually feel cooler.