Best Fabrics To Wear This Summer
It’s a Hot Girl Summer and Miami natives know what to do. Finding the right breathable fabrics are vital to not just surviving this heat but also staying fashionable doing so. Whether you’re choosing fabric to have your insta-worthy vacation outfits packed and ready to go or figuring out what to wear to the 99th baby shower/gender reveal/hipster wedding this summer — here is a list of easy, breezy fabrics to keep you cool in more ways than one.
1. Cotton:
Cotton is soft, moisture-absorbing, breathable and ranges from semi-sheer to opaque. Cotton knits are made by interlocking thread that help create airy loops. Eyelet variety allows even more air to come through and is great to construct blouses, shorts and dresses. It is a natural fiber perfect in any condition and is hypoallergenic. It is easy to wash, durable and great for both men and women. Just remember, cotton can shrink in the dryer! In the summer, take the extra minute to hang dry your cotton garments – the heat outside will help anyway.
2. Linen:
Linen has been a longtime favorite for hot weather. It is cool to the touch and extremely gentle on the skin. Ideal for summer wedding dresses, cute brunch tops, or even elegant pants for an outdoor, daytime meeting. Linen has a lower thread count than cotton. This means that there are fewer fibers making it extremely durable for both dry and humid heat. They work double duty, absorbing moisture and improving with every wash. Linen can soak up about one-fifth of its weight in water – making it a dream for those sweaty Happy Hours at the Wharf.
2. Chambray:
Because this is also basically cotton, it too will keep you cool in dry heat & humidity. It’s a finer weave and a more breathable fabric, due to its higher thread count. But the best thing about Chambray is its similarity to denim – so you can get the look without the weight.
3. Rayon:
Rayon is best in dry heat. And yes, although Miami has a special brand of hellish humidity, we’d be remiss not to mention this very forgiving option. Despite it not being a natural fiber, therefore unable to wick away moisture as well as cotton does, it is a thinner thread. This means that it’s ideal for delicate, lightweight clothing (think: sundresses, crop tops, etc.). Just be sure to stick to light-colored garments (think: white, cream, or pastels) that don’t absorb sunlight like dark colors do—wear them to stay cool. Although the dark ones do better at hiding any potential sweat stains, so it’s your choice really!
As a bonus, there’s always blended fabrics to the rescue! They resist heat well, so you can wash and dry garments without worrying about damage or dreaded shrinkage. Machine washable = smaller dry-cleaning bill! Thankfully you have a few options for those warm summer nights. Just keep in mind that, when deciding on breathable fabrics for hot weather, you’re sure to stay away from the following synthetic polyester fabrics listed below:
Satin
Nylon
Polyester
Acrylic
