The coolest hot-girl accessory this summer is... a portable fan

You’re out for brunch with your girls at a cutesy cafe, digging into a hearty and very Instagrammable smoothie bowl and avocado toast, sipping on a cranberry cold brew to beat the heat. It’s all giggles and wholesome vibes, until you step outside. The summer sun is out to melt you, drenching you in sweat almost instantly. But not fashion girls. They are out and about with the coolest, quite literally, accessory this summer: portable fans.

From fashion week front rows and Coachella to Wimbledon stands, electronic and folding fans have made their fashionably-functional presence felt.

In India too, these fans are now a summer must-have. You can spot them at weddings and IPL stands.

Looking distressed is uncool, but tackling summer woes with a mini fan in hand (keeping sweat and those dreadful “ooohs and aaahs” plus “I should have stayed home” moments at bay) definitely isn’t.

You can easily find a plethora of electric portable fans in a variety of colours and designs online, with prices starting at Rs 300. In many cities, these handheld fans are just a Blinkit delivery away. Key specifications to look for include speed settings, the number of modes, and battery life. Most of them come with a USB charging cable, and a fully charged fan is likely to keep you sorted for up to three hours (or more, depending upon the model).

You can find them at electronic stores, e-commerce websites, instant delivery platforms as well as local markets such as Delhi’s Sarojini and Lajpat Nagar.

Be it a grocery run, techno party, a brunch, sangeet night or an office lunch, the portable fan has become an accessory to carry anywhere and everywhere. This is what Divya Arora, a Delhi-based content professional, does.

“I tend to sweat easily and can’t tolerate heat, so I’ve taken my portable fan everywhere: wedding functions (danced till wee hours only because she had a fan in hand), techno parties, and even office lunches when they’re outdoors,” Arora says.

“The one I currently use is from China (subtle green, with five speed levels). The speed range is really impressive, plus it has a strap, so I often carry it like a crossbody sling as well,” she tells us.

She is now planning to buy a hot-pink one for day outings. It would add a nice pop of colour.

She is not the only one. This growing preference for staying at ease and composed during the summer months, with the help of portable fans, is fast becoming a voguish statement. Even celebrities like Naomi Campbell swear by them. The fashion icon was spotted carrying one at a Louis Vuitton show a few summers ago.

Electric fans are not the only ones keeping people fashionably cool. Folded fans are also making summers fashionable . Not like they left anyway, but they are now entering the millennial and Gen Z wardrobes too.

Luxury fashion houses have them, and so do fast fashion giants like HnM. You can find them in a variety of colours and prints, so as to complement your variety of summer looks.

Gucci has a bevy of signature floral print fans, while Dior’s comes with its logo or signature toile print. H&M sells its hand fans in India for Rs 799, Mango’s range is somewhere around Rs 1,500. Dating back centuries and believed to have originated in Japan, these fans carry an old-world charm that never goes out of vogue. For admirers of Bridgerton, they also offer a playful nod to Regency-era elegance.

While many tuck these fans into their oversized tote bags, clipping them on as bag charms is also a chic, hands-free way to carry them.

Whether electronic or foldable, this hot-girl accessory is your ultimate summer cool-down essential.