Best Fabrics to Wear in the Summer (and 5 of the Worst)
It’s nearing triple digits, our makeup is practically melting off, and we’re sweating through every pore in our bodies. Keep cool by choosing breathable fabrics and avoid materials that make you sit in your own sweat.
Best Fabrics to Wear in the Summer
Stay cool. Wear these fabrics in hot weather.
1. Cotton
Yep, you probably knew this one. Here are some reasons why you should wear cotton:
Breathable. Cotton allows air circulation, which helps cool you down.
Moisture-control. It wicks moisture away from your skin and body. And it absorbs moisture so that you stay comfortable longer.
Lightweight. No one wants to wear tweed or flannel in the summer — even if its a tank top. My clothes need to be as light as possible since I already feel like a 300 lb. sweating gorilla.
A few other possible names for cotton include:
Seersucker. Boating. Hamptons. Beach house. New York 1920s. The gentlemen’s suit of the South. Seersucker has this unique crinkle look that gives it a relaxed, yet polished, vibe.
Chambray. Usually has a higher thread count, which makes it more breathable and lightweight, while giving you that denim look.
Lace and eyelet. Because who wouldn’t want extra holes for more air circulation — just make sure it’s made of cotton and doesn’t have a sneaky polyester lining.
Quick Note: Cotton generally conjures up images of your favorite, worn-in T-shirt. But some pieces of cotton have a paper-like feel — like a crunchy shirt. This is generally because of the type of cotton, such as how long the cotton fiber is and how fine the thread is, as well as the thread count and the weave. But product descriptions only tell you what it’s made of (ie. 100%), not how it feels.
2. Linen
Linen always gives us beachy vibes. It’s soft (though not as soft as nice cotton) and is cool to the touch.
Here are some fantastic features of linen:
Breathable. Its natural fiber with loose, open weaves keeps you cool.
Moisture-control. Absorbs moisture (aka your sweat, making it ideal for humid climates.
Crisp and lightweight. Linen has more structure, which makes it great for summer suits and dressy pants and shorts. And since it holds its shape, it doesn’t cling to your body.
Durable. Linen is more durable and stronger than cotton. And it softens over time.
Linen wrinkles easily, but in a good way. Its crisp structure combined with the lived-in wrinkles produces a sophisticated, casual look. It’s best to steam your linen pieces or in a pinch, hang it in the bathroom when you’re in the shower so the steam can soften the creases. And you can always opt for a cotton-linen blend to help minimize wrinkles.
Here’s our favorite $40 100% organic cropped linen pants and a gorgeous $50 100% organic linen dress. For more color options and fun designs, consider the following linen options from a few other brands:
3. Silk
Glorious, luxurious silk. The Cadillac of fabrics. Unfortunately, silk is a tricky fabric because you need to be mindful of sweat stains on really hot days. It’s the balance of wearing airy fabrics and staying cool enough so that you’re not dripping in sweat.
Here’s why you should wear silk:
Lightweight. Silk is one of the airiest fabrics. It’s cool to the touch and just glides on the skin.
Regulates body temperature. Keeps you cool. That’s also why they make excellent bed sheets.
Breathable. Allows air to flow through.
This gorgeous fabric has a few challenges:
Sweat stains. Silk doesn’t absorb moisture well and tends to repel water. So when you sweat, the fabric puckers and you might see a ripple pattern and, unfortunately, sweat stains.
Fades in the sun. UV rays will fade silk garments.
Usually dry clean only. Silk is usually high-maintenance. But there’s also washable silk that you can just handwash and skip the expensive dry cleaning bill.
While organza is generally made of silk — think Zara’s tulle look-alike, it can also be made of synthetic fabric. If you can find silk organza, you’re golden. It’s got a gorgeous crisp finish that makes an evening outfit look really refined.
For all-over silk, we recommend this $70 100% washable silk slip dress. And for tops, we live by this $40 silk cami that doubles as a carefree top in the summer and a layering piece in the winter, or this $50 silk sleeveless blouse. Here are a few other silk styles that have caught our eye:
4. Honorable Mention: Cashmere
Cashmere is better known as a winter garment. But it’s got some great warm temperature benefits:
Regulates body temperature. This breathable fabric lets air pass through so you’re not wearing a shirt that simply converts body heat to moisture.
Moisture-wicking. Absorbs perspiration and expels it in the form of vapor.
Odor-resistant. Its natural antibacterial properties help keep bacteria at bay, which prevents odors.
Cashmere is an honorable mention because it is a woven fabric. While it’s lighter than wool, it’s still not as nice as linen in the summer. But, a lightweight cashmere T-shirt is incredibly nice on a warm day and transitions well to an air-conditioned room — just don’t wear it when you’re going to be outside for most of the day.
Worst Fabrics to Wear in the Summer
Let us preface this that we do own some of these materials. But if you’re planning on being out all day, we recommend steering clear of these pieces. So don’t cut out all of these fabrics. Just wear them sparingly and when the occasion arises.
1. Polyester
Polyester is a sly dog. Many sheer tops are made from polyester. They give the illusion that you’re wearing something lightweight in the summer, but you’re really sitting in a plastic shirt that doesn’t breathe.
Don’t get us wrong. Some of our favorite pieces are polyester. But you’re not going to stay cool in the summer. While it’s stain-resistant, durable, and easy to take care of, you’ll likely be sweaty and overheated too. Avoid when you’re outside!
Here are a few pieces that we don’t mind wearing in an air-conditioned room:
2. Rayon (including Viscose, Lyocell, Modal)
Rayon is a natural cellulose, such as wood, that has been processed. It can be a hodge-podge of different materials, such as wood or bamboo pulp, that is manufactured with chemicals, including sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide. So while it may not technically be a purely synthetic material, it’s definitely man-made.
Viscose, lyocell (brand name TENCEL), and modal are both types of rayon but each have a slightly different manufacturing process.
But most importantly, rayon generally repels water. That means it usually leaves you feeling damp. It’s best to opt for linen-rayon blends instead, which are most cost-effective.
3. Denim
While denim is technically made of cotton, this material tends to be thicker, heavier and doesn’t stretch — not ideal for summer, which explains why we always feel trapped in my jeans in the summer.
If you want the denim look, think chambray.
4. Nylon
You think its silk, but its not. Nylon is usually used in stockings, pantyhose, and slips to prevent static. It’s low absorbency just leaves you feeling sweaty. Opt for silk instead.
Alternatively, depending on how the weave or knit, nylon can feel more stiff, such as what you’ll find in tulle. Although it appears breathable because of it’s loose weave, the actual fabric will sit heavily on your skin like a net.
5. Satin
A long time ago, satin was made of silk. But now, it’s mostly polyester and rayon, neither of which are breathable. So even though satin feels cool to the touch, it’s not a good fabric for summer.
There are a number of other obvious fabrics that you wouldn’t wear in the summer. For example, you wouldn’t touch wool in hot weather or it’s synthetic cousin acrylic. But not all fabrics perform well in heat and humidity.
For details about fabrics to fill your closet with, check out our guide to best fabrics to wear in the winter and six tips on how to transition your closet between seasons.