Summer is here and in many parts of the country temperatures are already climbing into the 90s or even higher. Though the warm weather is a welcome respite from winter’s bitter grip, the heat does come with a price—namely, too much heat. When the temps climb, it’s sometimes hard to arrive at your destination looking fresh, collected and ready for whatever the evening has in store for you.
You can beat the heat by choosing the right styles, and more importantly, the right apparel fabrics to suit the weather. Knit apparel fabric and cotton apparel fabric comes in many different weights designed to help you keep your cool throughout the summer months.
For casual wear, consider a comfortable denim blend fabric, something with a high cotton and low synthetic count. These blends work to wick away perspiration and allow plenty of air to flow through the fabric. For jeans, a blend with about 98 percent cotton and 2 percent Lycra works well. Another acceptable blend is 96 percent cotton to 4 percent Lycra. Most major stores offer at least one of these blends in both fabric and finished products.
Tee shirts are another great choice for warm summer days by the pool, riding bicycle, or just lounging around the yard. Most people choose 100 percent cotton for Tee shirts, though it’s always a good idea to get either pre-shrunk cotton or plan for the eventual shrinkage the first time the fabric is washed. Cotton blends, in which the cotton is blended with polyester, will generally retain their shape longer than 100 percent cotton and have the additional benefit of being shrink-resistant.
A choice many people don’t consider is Rayon. Not only does Rayon keep its shape, it “breathes” easily and drapes well, even after being sprayed with a hose or an “accidental” slip into the pool.
Once evening rolls around and it’s time for a night on the town, you’ll want to ditch the jeans and hunt around for some silk. Noting says elegance like 100 percent silk, one of nature’s most breathable natural fabrics. Granted, 100 percent silk does require some special care in order to maintain its structural integrity, but that care pays off in a fabric that wears well, lasts a long time and looks and feels great.
Many silk blend fabrics also are available, such as Chiffon, a blend of nylon and silk that holds up to extended wear and tends to be more wrinkle-resistant than pure silk.
For summertime exercise, very few fabrics can beat Spandex, a polyester blend that allows for plenty of flexibility and is excellent at wicking moisture away for the skin, thereby giving you a more comfortable—and cooler—workout. This blend is often found in bicycle clothing, basketball shirts and other fabrics where cooling properties and flexibility are paramount.
Given the myriad fabric choices available, there’s no excuse for not keeping your cool this summer!
