When the temperatures won't let up, the wardrobe comes down to a question of survival: what to wear so you don't melt, yet still look like you made an effort. The answer more and more women are looking for this summer is the halter-neck blouse - the cut that leaves the shoulders bare and hangs from the neck. A simple idea, as old as fashion, but with a reason it comes back every summer.

The secret is not only the coolness. The halter neckline visually lengthens the neck and the collarbone, and leads the eye upward - which gives the body a slimmer line. That is what stylists have long known: you don't have to change the body, it's enough to shift the gaze. Vertical lines and lengthwise pleats reinforce the same effect, so the piece works aesthetically too, not just to keep you cooler.

The other reason for its popularity is that it is incredibly adaptable. The same blouse goes with Bermudas and jeans for a relaxed daytime look, but also with a more elegant skirt or trousers for the evening. Asymmetric hems and soft, draped fabrics add a note of refinement without taking away your comfort - and that is a combination worth its weight in gold in summer.

Aesthetically, the halter has survived several fashion eras and fits into all of them. Those who love a clean, minimalist line in the style of the nineties will find their cut, just like those who love boho-chic with a bit more volume and texture. That is exactly why it is not a passing hit - it is a piece that knows how to transform according to whoever wears it.

This season's offering ranges from very affordable to somewhat pricier models - from striped versions with ties, through white ones with frills and satin ones in a green shade, to the classic blacks that go with everything. In other words, it doesn't take much to catch the trend. And that is the beauty of summer fashion when it's well thought out: sometimes the most comfortable piece is also the one that looks best.