Many parts of the United States are currently experiencing hotter summers than ever before. Places like Baltimore and Dulles, Va broke decades long temperature records. 

These heat waves are not only uncomfortable, they are dangerous. In 2023, over 2300 deaths were attributed to high temperatures. So learning to stay safe from the heat, especially when you are outside, is a life or death matter. 

In this post, we focus specifically on how to dress for a heat wave. Combined with other measures like adequate hydration and staying out of the sun, dressing properly for high temperatures will keep you cool and comfortable.  

Importance of Proper Dressing During a Heat Wave 

The best clothing for a heat wave depends exactly on the weather conditions. Dry heat requires a different style compared to humid heat. No matter the kind of heat, here’s why it’s important to dress properly. 

• The right clothes help your body stay cool by ensuring heat can easily escape away from your body. 
• The right clothes allow sweat to evaporate from your skin. Sweat evaporation is one of the main ways your body regulates its temperature. 
• You can also wear clothes made from fabrics like cotton or wool that wick sweat away from your skin, making you cooler and more comfortable. 

With that in mind, here are the best tips for dressing when there’s a heat wave. These tips also apply during hot summer days. 

Choose The Right Fabric

The most important decision when it comes to dressing for a heat wave is the kind of fabric you choose. It determines a great deal of your comfort and safety. Let’s run down through different fabrics and how they respond to heat and sweat. 

Cotton

Cotton has good breathability, so it does a great job keeping you cool. It allows heat to escape away from your body. It also wicks sweat from your skin to keep you dry. However, cotton doesn't dry quickly, so it stays damp if you sweat a lot. 

While a damp cotton tee can actually help you stay cool in hot weather, it’s also uncomfortable and can leave you smelling sweaty. This is particularly problematic in hot and humid weather. 

High humidity slows down evaporation, so a cotton t-shirt will stay damp for longer and doesn't help you get cooler since there’s less evaporation taking place. 

Cotton clothing is best for dry heat. The low humidity allows cotton to dry faster while also cooling you. Just make sure it is lightweight cotton with a loose weave. 

Synthetics 

Synthetic clothes include those made with fabrics like polyester, nylon, spandex or a mixture of these materials. 

Synthetics are not very good at absorbing moisture. Instead, they allow air to pass through to your skin to evaporate away sweat, which helps you get cool. This is why gym clothes and activewear is usually made from synthetics. 

The best thing about synthetics is that they can be woven with large pores or even a mesh structure that maximizes breathability.  

The disadvantage of synthetics is that they take on your sweaty odor and hold onto it. So after several hours of sweating, you may not be smelling so fresh. 

Tip: Our range of self-cleaning clothes including the HercShirt is perfect for hot weather. It’s breathable, sweat-wicking and its anti-bacterial treatment prevents any odors. You’ll still be smelling fresh at the end of the day.

Wool, Linen and Other Natural Fabrics

Natural and semi-natural fabrics like wool, linen, bamboo and Tencel are excellent for any kind of hot weather, dry or humid. 

Wool is particularly good thanks to its temperature regulation properties. It also does a great job wicking away sweat. Linen, bamboo, Tencel and other natural fabrics are also breathable and moisture-wicking. They also dry quickly and don't stink easily.  

Wear Light and Loose Clothing

Whichever fabric you choose, make sure your clothes are lightweight and loose fitting. 

You can have the most breathable fabric, but if it's too thick, it won’t keep you cool. Lightweight clothes allow sweat to evaporate easily from your skin. They also ensure you don't have excess heat getting trapped under your clothes. 

Loose fitting clothes further boost ventilation by providing space between your skin and clothes to allow sweat to escape. Clothes don't have to be baggy, but they shouldn’t feel tight.  

Color Doesn't Matter, Sorta 

You may have heard people say you should wear white when it’s hot since it reflects heat. But a lot of desert tribes wear dark colors in scorching heat. What’s that about? 

In reality, the amount of heat you experience is about the same whether you wear black or white. Black clothing absorbs more heat, but remember it’s also absorbing heat from your skin. 

What matters more is that the clothes you wear are loose, regardless of color. This has a bigger cooling impact than the color of your clothes.