Coping with oppressive summer heat is no small task. Wearing the best summer fabrics designed for hot, humid weather can help you enjoy the great outdoors on the warmest summer days.
If you choose the right clothing and fabrics, you can help yourself feel cooler when it's hot outside. It's easy to find summer dresses, tops and bottoms made from cool, lightweight materials that prioritize your comfort. Here's what we recommend:
1.Cotton – Cotton is one of the best fabrics for summer and hot weather. Not only is it cheap and plentiful, but it's also great for heat. Cotton is a lightweight, breathable fabric that helps keep you cool by absorbing moisture and allowing air to flow freely.
However, cotton does have some disadvantages. Cotton tends to absorb moisture if you sweat a lot, so it can get heavy and damp, and it can also show wet spots on your underarms or neckline if you wear light-colored clothing.
2. Linen – Linen is a lightweight fabric that is highly absorbent and breathable, making it ideal for hot, humid days. On top of that, linen clothing is plentiful. A natural fiber, linen has a wonderfully light weave that enhances airflow. Many times, you'll find linen and cotton blends that combine the best of both popular fabrics.
3. Rayon – Rayon is a semi-synthetic fabric that is lightweight and highly breathable, making it great for keeping you cool in the summer heat.
4. Polyester – Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is lightweight and breathable, making it great for keeping cool in the summer months. Polyester has the ability to wick sweat compared to other fabrics like cotton. This makes polyester the go-to choice for bodybuilders and the perfect summer fabric for playing in the sun, plus it dries quickly when wet.
While polyester is a great fabric for keeping you cool in the heat, its plastic threads are made through a petroleum-based mixture, which can be irritating to sensitive skin.
5. Silk – Silk is a lightweight fabric that is naturally breathable and absorbs moisture, making it the perfect fabric for keeping cool in the summer months. Not only do they look elegant and stunning, but silk sometimes even has moisture-wicking properties. Silk also helps regulate your body temperature and can be a great addition to your wardrobe.
6. Merino wool – Merino wool isn't the first material that comes to mind when considering the best fabrics for hot, humid weather, but its absorbent fibers help regulate body temperature, keeping you cool. It can actually be one of the best materials for hot weather, especially on those summer evenings when the sun goes down and the temperature drops.
Merino wool is unique because it's one of the only fabrics that traps pockets of air to keep you insulated, yet regulates temperature to keep you comfortable in the heat. This makes it a great fabric for summer outdoor activities, such as hiking, where rising temperatures can cause your body temperature to increase throughout the day. Merino wool is durable and doesn't cause body odor, making it a great choice for hikers. It's more expensive than some alternatives, but it's a great addition to your summer wardrobe.
7. Denim/Cyan – Denim is made from a very tight weave of cotton, so it is a breathable material that absorbs sweat just like cotton. However, denim tends to be a heavier fabric, which is why some people prefer Cyan for summer clothing. Cyan is often described as imitation denim, so it has all the same benefits as denim, but at a much lighter weight.