Whether you're headed to a backyard barbecue, luau, or outdoor wedding, we've got the looks you'll love. Feel cool and look hot in these summer fabrics!
In the US, the hottest temperatures ever recorded was 134 degrees in Death Valley. While summertime in your local area probably doesn't get quite as scorching, it can still feel like you're boiling while you're outdoors. Therefore, soaring temperatures call for wiser choices in clothing.
But just because it's sweltering doesn't mean you can't remain fashionable while staying cool. Here are some summer fabrics that are chic and won't heat you up.
Cotton
Cotton is the best type of material to have in your closet, hands down. You can wear cotton all year long, whether it's hot or cold outside.
Since it's made out of natural fibers, your garments all air to pass through and circulate. This means that if you're sweating, any moisture will evaporate quickly, keeping you dry and cool.
Not only is cotton good for circulating air, but it's also lightweight. If you use cotton all throughout your outfit, you won't feel weighed down by each individual piece.
The best thing about cotton is that it comes in a variety of colors, patterns, and styles. Whatever your personal tastes are, you're sure to find at least a few cotton pieces to add to your wardrobe.
Some Tips
Cotton will absorb any moisture off fo you, which is great for keeping yourself dry. However, if you pick light colors for your clothing, any sweat that's absorbed will show up. For people who tend to sweat a lot, we recommend that you pick darker colors so sweat stains won't be so obvious.
Also, cotton is a material that creases easily. When you're packing for a trip, your cotton garments will not look its best once you get to your destination and unpack. Either iron your clothes when you check into your hotel or choose a cotton polyester blend, which will wrinkle less.
Many people already know this, but it's worth reiterating: cotton pieces will shrink if you put them in the dryer. To avoid this, you can buy a size larger, look for prewashed/dried clothing, or air-dry your laundry.
Chambray
Chambray is technically a type of cotton, but it's a bit different. It has a higher thread count than regular cotton, which makes it look finer.
If you're a fan of denim but find it too stifling for summertime, you're in for a treat. Chambray has a very similar look to denim, as well as gingham, which means you can still achieve the look you're going for in your head, but without having to suffer as much through the heat.
This fabric is lightweight and if you wear darker shades, it won't be noticeable when you sweat and it absorbs all the moisture.
Tropical Lightweight Wool
When you think of wool, you typically think of it as a winter material, not a summer one. But tropical lightweight wool is a fabric you can wear all year long.
This textile is very breathable and absorbs moisture like cotton does. However, its major advantage is it's much quicker at drying wetness, which means you won't get sweat stains like with cotton.
As with all things that sound too good to be true, there's a caveat to buying tropical lightweight wool: it's pretty pricey. With its hefty price tag, you may not feel like dropping that much money all at once. But with that being said, it's definitely a worthwhile investment.
Linen
Linen is the creme de la creme when it comes to summer fabrics. It's probably the first thing people think of when you ask them to think of what to wear during hot seasons.
This is also a natural fiber that is super breathable, meaning when you sweat, it'll quickly dissipate. Linen is resistant to stretching, so all your garments will keep their shape for years to come. Whether you're wearing linen tops or bottoms, it can be a very simple yet stylish accent to your outfit.
Some Tips
While linen is resistant to stretching, it'll easily wrinkle. If you're going on a trip and packing away linen clothes, they might become crinkled. To avoid this, you can either pick a linen blend or spritz some water over the garment and smooth out the wrinkles by hand.
Materials to Avoid
Now that you know some fabrics that are good for the heat, here are some you should avoid at all costs.
Denim
As you may know from the jeans you wear, denim is a textile that's very heavyweight. Not only that, but it's not very stretchy or breathable either. This means that when you sweat, there's not much room for comfort.
Again, if you adore the denim look, opt for chambray instead. This alternative fabric will let you feel unstifled during hot weather.
Polyester and Rayon
Polyester and rayon are man-made materials (rayon has some natural fibers), which means they're water-resistant. This can be good in some cases; however, when buckets of sweat are coming off of you, it traps all of that moisture in with your skin, making you feel uncomfortable.
While both are cheaper fabrics, it's something you should keep out of your summer repertoire.
Fleece
Yes, fleece is so comfortable, but it's a winter fabric. We guarantee you'll practically die outside in the full strength of the sun if you dare to wear this material.
Fleece is made out of polyester, and as we said above, it's a synthetic material that traps moisture. You'll be drowning in your own sweat.
Wear These Summer Fabrics and Keep Cool
By choosing the right summer fabrics, you'll be able to keep your sense of style without breaking a sweat. Now that you know which textiles facilitate airflow and which ones trap it, you'll pick better articles of clothing to ward off those beads of sweat.
If you're looking to expand your wardrobe, then please take a look at our Capsule collection for some timeless pieces.
