When it comes to dressing for sunshine and hot weather, many people’s plan appear to be wearing as little as they can get away with. Shorts and tank tops become ubiquitous when the temperature starts getting up.
However, there are actually many fabrics that are almost as cool and comfy as not having your skin covered at all. A miniscule amount of extra heat seems like a small price to pay for many more ways to look stylish in the summer.
Here are the fabrics you should know and the qualities that make them so great in the heat:
- Cotton: Everyone’s go-to fabric because it’s just so comfy. It’s light and breathable, making it great for the summer as allowing air to circulate will keep you cool. Not to mention it’s soft and it lasts.
However, it absorbs sweat instead of wicking it away. If you tend to sweat a lot in the summer, cotton may not be the most comfortable or hygienic choice.
- Linen: Like cotton, linen also absorbs moisture, but it absorbs less and has antifungal and antimicrobial properties that prevent it from smelling. It is as good as cotton for airflow too, and perhaps even better.
In fact, some people love wearing linen so much that there are exclusively linen brands, such as Cedar & VIne. It is also a popular fabric for bedding. You can discover Cedar & Vine’s unique range on their website.
Linen does have a couple of drawbacks, the main one being that it creases easily.
- Silk: Silk is harder to take care of than cotton or linen, but is renowned for its luxurious feel and cooling properties. After all, it was once so sought after that it lent its name to history’s most famous trading route, which stretches through some of the world’s hottest regions.
- Rayon: This is a semi-synthetic fibre that is fairly breathable and dries very quickly. However, it absorbs sweat rather than wicks it away.
However, rayon can come in another form. Called modal, it is made from the wood of beech trees and has better wicking abilities. Modal also tends not to get sticky and is good at keeping people cool, so a lot of brands have started using it over cotton in summer ranges.
Generally, natural fibres are favoured in the summer because although synthetics like polyester and nylon can be moisture-wicking, they tend to absorb smells and allow bacteria to grow.
Once you’ve got the fabric down, some other tips for staying cool are to choose light colours, and go for a textured knit or looser fit so that less fabric is in contact with your body.
