What to wear when it’s really hot outside

When temperatures rise, many people take off their clothes. But when you’re dressing for a hot day, wearing as little as possible isn’t the only factor to consider.

In hot temperatures, your body sweats to cool down. When sweat evaporates, it takes some of your body heat with it, helping to keep you comfortable. So when you’re getting dressed during a heat wave, it’s best to choose clothing that makes the evaporation process as easy as possible, says Guowen Song, who directs the Heat and Thermal Protection Research Laboratory at Iowa State University.

“We humans really need to balance heat and humidity to feel good,” says Song. “That’s why in different seasons we use different things. Clothing mediates the amount of heat that dissipates into the environment.”

See what to wear to stay comfortable on a hot day.

Loose or sweat-wicking clothing

Avoid tight clothing, as such clothing will keep sweat trapped on your skin, says Kimberly McMahon, who leads the National Weather Service’s Public Weather Services Program. “If the sweat is just on you, then it’s not evaporating and therefore never leaves the surface of your body and it’s harder for it to stay cool,” explains McMahon. Loose, flowing clothing is often a better choice on sweltering days.

The exception: Technical fabrics, like those used in sports, are often designed specifically to wick sweat, says Song. Even tighter-fitting clothing using these synthetic materials, such as polyester and nylon, can help keep you cool and dry. Look for terms like “sweat-wicking,” “moisture-wicking,” or “quick-drying” on the label.

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And, contrary to what one might imagine, wearing as little clothing as possible is not always the best strategy. Clothing that offers some coverage prevents the sun from directly hitting your bare skin, says Margaret Frey, professor of fiber science and apparel design at Cornell University. “We can look to traditional costumes from very hot climates for inspiration,” says Frey. “In many of them, they wear things that cover most of the body, but they are not tight.” People from desert climates, for example, often wear clothing that covers the entire body.

Breathable fabrics

For everyday summer wear, look for lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen, suggests Frey. These fibers will not only allow natural breezes to pass through clothes and cool the skin, but they will also allow sweat to escape and evaporate. If you’re not sure if your clothing is breathable, there’s an easy way to find out: Just stick your hand inside a piece of clothing, blow on it, and see if you can feel your breath on your hand, suggests Frey.

However, if you’re going to be exercising or sweating a lot, Song says you can opt for a moisture-wicking synthetic fabric. Natural fibers like cotton and linen absorb sweat, while engineered textiles “dry quickly and transport moisture outward,” he says.

Bright colors

There’s a reason why white clothes are popular in the summer. Clothes in dark colors like black, navy and forest green absorb more UV radiation from the sun than light-colored clothes. Researchers in Japan carried out experiments in which several polo shirts – identical except for the colors – are left outside on sunny days. Dark shirts stay significantly warmer than light shirts even after a relatively short time outside, they report. For this reason, Song, McMahon, and Frey recommend light-colored clothing during the summer.

But some researchers argue that it’s not that simple. Remember the robes worn in desert climates? Those worn by Bedouins in North Africa and the Middle East are traditionally black – a choice that some scientists argue It’s smart, because although the cloak itself absorbs more heat than a white one, that heat doesn’t necessarily reach the skin.

see more information: How to cool off when it’s really hot outside

And there’s a downside to wearing light clothing, adds Frey. Light-colored clothing isn’t as effective at protecting your skin from the sun as dark clothing, which means you may be more susceptible to sunburn and skin damage if you’re dressed in sheer white cotton. Compensate by wearing plenty of sunscreen — and by washing your clothes regularly, since many commercial detergents include bleaching agents that can also increase UV protection, says Frey.

Functional accessories

Think strategically about what you wear from head to toe. A wide-brimmed hat can provide extra shade on a sunny day, says McMahon, while open-toed shoes can help with ventilation, says Song.

Last but not least, says Song, choose underwear made from sweat-wicking materials. “They’re in contact with your skin,” he says, so choosing the right ones can make a big difference in comfort.