Imagine this scenario. It’s a warm and sunny day—the perfect day for a fresh, summer get-up. You dress up in your favorite clothes, you feel cute, you feel great. Then one hour later, you feel the sweat patches forming on your back, your armpits, and your legs. You no longer feel as cute.
Sweat stains can ruin a good mood, and you’re not in this alone. While sweat in itself is not dangerous, it can greatly impact the way you feel about yourself and in more serious conditions, even the quality of your life.
There are very few things you can do to alter the way your body sweats, but you can change your approach to handling it. Being choosy with fabric is the easiest method. Whether you’re shopping for cotton leggings online or picking through clothes in a vintage store, you always need to check which material/s they are made of.
But before anything else, let’s take a quick look at people’s complicated relationship with sweat and why it’s important to keep it under control.
Sweat and Health
Let’s get one thing straight: sweating isn’t bad. It’s a natural part of life and an important way the body regulates its temperature. However, as mentioned earlier, sweating can affect your quality of life, specifically your relationship with clothes. After all, while it’s fun to dress up, it’s difficult to feel fabulous when you feel like a sweaty mess.
Additionally, too much sweating can also become a health concern. Wearing clothes on top of moist skin can result in irritation, which, if uncontrolled, can lead to an active skin infection. Hence, you need to be picky with what you wear, especially on hot, humid days.
Fabric Dos and Don’ts
Since sweating is natural, there’s very little that you can do to change it. Fortunately, there are many clothing and fabric options available to you, some of which are more sweat-friendly than others. When choosing clothes on a sunny day, opt for materials that are airy and breathable, which allows sweat to dissipate more quickly.
To get you started, here is a quick list of which materials you should wear and avoid on the inevitable summer days.
Which Materials to Wear
Look for clothes made of the following fabrics when shopping for summer outfits.
Do #1 — Cotton
Cotton is one of the top dogs in the hierarchy of breathable materials. Made from natural fiber, this particular fabric offers the airiness and lightweight feeling you want in a summer outfit. Moreover, cotton is great at absorbing moisture, which helps the body cool down quickly.
However, like any other material, cotton isn’t perfect. It does crease easily and since it’s so good at absorbing moisture, it can get heavy and allow sweat patches to show through. Don’t worry though because there are ways you can counter this. Opt for light-colored clothes (e.g. white, pastel colors) rather than those with dark, saturated tones. If you can’t avoid them, choose clothes with a lot of design or prints, which can hide your sweat stains in plain sight.
Do #2 — Linen
Linen is another top fabric on this list. This loosely woven material allows great ventilation and also has the same moisture-absorbing abilities as cotton. If there’s any downside to linen, it’s that it’s not as soft or flexible as cotton, especially during the first times you wear it. That said, linen does become softer over repeated use, so take full advantage of your linen clothes during the warmer days.
Do #3 — Jersey
Jersey materials are a favorite when it comes to summer clothes. This fabric is not only comfortable but also stretchable—perfect for people who want to wear something fitted but also breathable. If you wish to wear something that hugs your figure, go take a look at bodycon dresses made of jersey. They may just become your new favorite sweat-friendly clothes.
Do #4 — Chambray
Chambray is the lighter and more humid-friendly alternative to denim. It affords you the classic blue and white look of denim but with better ventilation and sweat absorption. This is due to its finer weave, which makes it more breathable than its heavier counterpart. While denim is great for cooler weather, having a ready stack of chambray clothes will come in handy on hot days.
Which Materials to Avoid
Each fabric has its perks and downsides. In the case of humid weather, the following are some of the materials you should avoid wearing.
Don’t #1 — Polyester
Polyester made waves as a highly durable material when it was first introduced. It’s resistant to stains, wrinkles, and damage. Unfortunately, it’s also resistant to water, which means that it’s not effective at absorbing moisture.
That said, polyester is found everywhere nowadays, so it may be difficult to avoid it entirely during the warmer season. If so, look for polyester blends with a moisture-wicking weave. This particular style will keep the sweat away from the skin, which can make you feel more comfortable in warmer weather.
Don’t #2 — Denim
Denim is another material that can be difficult to let go of, especially when it comes to jeans and jackets. However, denim is not stretchable nor breathable, which means that it can trap hot air in humid weather. Wearing it can result in chafing (particularly between the thighs) and increased sweating, which is not a good combination. Save yourself the stress and opt for chambray alternatives instead.
Don’t #3 — Nylon
Nylon is made to be water-resistant, which is useful in many clothes. Windbreakers, sportswear, lingerie, and raincoats work well with nylon. However, it’s this very feature that makes it incompatible for wearing in warmer weather. After all, the last thing you want is to sit in your own sweat under your nylon clothes.
Don’t #4 — Leather
Like nylon, leather clothes work best in specific environments, particularly cold ones. They provide great insulation, which is not the feature you’re looking for in summer apparel. That said, leather has the unique ability to elevate a look, so it can be difficult to completely let go of even during hot days. As such, opt for leather accessories instead, like sandals, belts, and bags to provide your outfit that leather touch while keeping your body fresh and airy at the same time.
Handy Tips on Hot Days
Now that you know some of the materials you need to watch out for, here are some practical tips that you can use to combat sweat stains.
Opt for Loose Clothes
Loose clothes are not only comfortable to wear, but they also keep sweat patches at bay. This roomy style coupled with lightweight fabric helps ensure proper ventilation and keeps you feeling refreshed throughout the day.
Wear an Undershirt
If you prefer wearing fitted tops, consider wearing an absorbent undershirt. The undershirt will take care of your sweat patches while keeping your top layer stain-free. That said, dressing up in layers can make you feel hotter, so choose clothes with thin, loosely woven fabrics for maximum breathability.
Bring Extra Clothes
The handiest tip that people often overlook: if you sweat a lot, bring extra clothes. You don’t need to wear the same top throughout the day. If your shirt feels heavy or a bit sticky, you can choose to change to a new one. In this manner, you can feel refreshed and not have to worry about dark sweat patches. Yes, it will increase your laundry, but it will make you feel more at ease.
In the end, sweating happens, and it’s not going to stop. One practical course of action is to wear clothes that fit the weather, which, on warm days, translates to light, breathable, and absorbent apparel. Make the most of the list above and keep an eye out for which fabrics to avoid to make the most of your summer wardrobe while staying cool.