The Best Clothes to Stay Cool This Summer
During the summer, the sun shines high in the sky. Children on vacation play and laugh in the streets, and the golden sands and foamy blue waves of beaches welcome visitors.
Summer brings with it picnics and sunshine. But when warm weather becomes too much of a good thing, smart choices can help, The Guardian reports. By choosing your wardrobe wisely, you can stay more comfortable and lower the risk of heat rash as temperatures rise.
Choosing the Right Materials
Linen is “one of the coolest fabrics for summer,” Saetbyul Park, an assistant professor of apparel and textile design at Michigan State University, tells The Guardian. The material is lightweight, breathable, and able to absorb moisture. Its stiff structure also helps prevent damp fabric from sticking to the skin. Although cotton is another breathable option, it can become heavy when soaked with sweat. Thicker varieties such as denim may also retain heat.
Clothes made from synthetic materials such as polyester or nylon are often designed to wick moisture away from the skin. However, these fabrics tend to be less breathable and may contribute to heat rash. Polyester can also attract odor-causing bacteria, making it smell stronger after sweating than cotton.
Still, Rhett Allain, an associate professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University, tells the BBC that some sports-based materials can help keep wearers cool. “In terms of clothes, it’s better to have a material that allows water vapour to pass through so that it doesn’t block the sweat evaporation,” Allain shares. “Some of the newer sports-based materials do this. Cotton does not do so great with this.”
One example developed by MIT researchers uses extremely thin nylon and polyester fibers woven into yarn. The material reflects sunlight and allows heat from the body to escape instead of becoming trapped beneath the clothing.
The Impact of Color
It’s common knowledge that white reflects sunlight, while black absorbs it, so it may seem obvious that light-colored clothing is cooler. However, it’s not as simple as that. That’s because the body itself also produces heat. White fabric can also reflect heat from the body back toward the wearer.
A 1980 study published in Nature explored how white and black robes affected heat gain among Bedouins in the Sinai desert. The researchers found that the wearer gained the same amount of heat whether they wore a black or white robe.
Although the black robe absorbed more heat, that additional warmth was lost before it reached the wearer’s skin. The Guardian adds that black clothing can provide more protection from harmful UV rays than white clothing, while darker colors and bold patterns may make sweat marks less visible.
Tips for Staying Dry
While it makes sense to opt for dark or patterned clothing that can hide sweat on hot, sunny days, dermatologist Doris Day cautions that trying to avoid sweat altogether is unhealthy. “Sweating is a healthy process and should not be entirely eliminated,” says Day.
If you find yourself sweating heavily during a heat wave, consider carrying a spare shirt in your bag. Staying in sweaty clothes can lead to heat rash, acne, or fungal acne. By changing out of wet clothing sooner rather than later, you can protect yourself from these uncomfortable conditions.
From breezy linen shirts to loose, lightweight layers, your wardrobe can be one of your best tools for staying comfortable. Dress smart, stay cool, and make the most of every sunny summer day.
