DC is entering the sticky summer months. Here are 4 tips to ensure your wardrobe keeps you cool – NBC4 Washington

It’s only early May, but the high temperatures around DC this week were a good reminder of how hot and sticky you can get walking from the subway to your workplace in 10 minutes.

Heat exhaustion is no joke, and you may already know all the classic tips: drink plenty of water, limit your time outside, pace yourself during outdoor activities, etc. But one aspect of staying cool you may not have thought about is your wardrobe. Just because your outfit could Look summer doesn’t mean it will actually help you stay cool.

Your clothes can make a big difference in how well your body regulates its temperature when the weather gets warm. And if you choose your wires carefully, you might just help yourself and your budget And the environment at once.

Here are four tips to consider when planning your summer wardrobe.

1. Look for natural fibers and avoid synthetic fibers

Natural fibers like cotton, linen and silk are great for summer in more ways than one, according to Carmen Lopez, the owner and founder of Current Boutique.

Her store, located on 14th Street NW in DC and in Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood, buys and sells used designer clothing. But it’s not just the name on the label that they look at when stocking the store.

“We specifically ask our customers and consignors to bring us cotton, linen (and) silk,” Lopez told us. “Natural fibers because they are more breathable, last longer, are durable, and people want those fabrics, especially for the summer when it starts to get warm.”

Lopez says you may have even noticed the difference between those natural fibers and synthetic fabrics, like polyester, without even realizing it.

“You might be wondering, ‘Why am I sweating so much in this outfit?’ That’s because it’s polyester and it retains heat,” Lopez said.

Synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon and acrylic are made of plastic. They can be great for wicking moisture and sweat straight from your skin, but those same fabrics don’t actually allow air to pass through to your skin, meaning you may sweat more and cool down less.

“I think poly-spandex is very attractive because it doesn’t wrinkle, but this just retains heat,” Lopez said, holding up a brightly colored dress. “Just know that it won’t feel the best on your skin.”

Since the reason you sweat is so it can evaporate from your skin and cool you down, clothing made from natural fibers can help by keeping the air moving. And natural fabrics such as cotton can also absorb moisture when you sweat. If there’s a breeze (and it’s not too humid), the fabric will absorb sweat, allowing more water to evaporate against your skin without leaving you feeling sticky, and cooling you down even more.

But some experts add a caveat to wearing natural fibers in humid weather: If it’s extremely humid, there’s nowhere for that moisture to evaporate, and the longer you sweat outside, the greater your risk of wearing a damp shirt.

Ultimately, you may have to choose your poison based on the humidity in DC, and whether sweat or heat bothers you more. (We know this is a terrible choice.)

Fashion expert and designer Suzanne Vinnik explained for NBC’s TODAY how some common fabric options fare in the heat, which you can read here.

2. Check labels to make sure you know what you are buying

It can be difficult to determine what some clothing items are made of just by looking at them, or even by touching them. Some polyester feels like… well, like it’s made of plastic. But some high-performance poly blends feel almost silky soft, and it’s not until you walk outside in 85-degree weather that you start to wonder why you’re so warm.

According to Lopez, it is also becoming increasingly difficult to avoid polyester in clothing.

“Even the high-end designers use some synthetics just because it is cost-effective and everyone is aware of the price right now,” Lopez explains.

Polyester is cheaper to produce than natural fibres, making it cheaper to use in clothing and cheaper to buy – meaning more people can afford it, encouraging designers and manufacturers to continue using it.

The New York Times reported in June 2022 that “production of polyester and other materials has tripled since 2000 to nearly 60 million tons per year, according to the Textile Exchange, an industry group.”

So don’t forget to check the labels before purchasing.

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Nearly all products that use textiles come with a fabric composition label due to federal labeling requirements imposed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). On these labels you can see which fibers are used in the clothing you are looking at, and how much of each fiber is used in the fabric.

You may have to look around inside the garment as different manufacturers sew the label in different places, but it will be there somewhere.

And if you shop online, that information is usually still available on the retailer’s website when you look at individual garments. Look under the drop-down menu labeled “details,” “fabric and care,” or “materials” to find it.

3. Consider shopping second hand

As more and more manufacturers use polyester and polyester blends, it can be difficult to avoid them. You may have better luck shopping at thrift stores, thrift stores, and consignment stores, specifically looking for older clothing items.

“A lot of designers 10, 20 years ago the fabrics were a lot better,” Lopez said. “I think that’s why people prefer second-hand clothes, because the fabrics are so much better. They’re thicker, last longer and are more durable.”

It is a phenomenon that is receiving increasing attention.

The Atlantic, in an October article, discussed the change in clothing quality over the past few decades, specifically regarding sweaters, saying, “Knits made with synthetic fibers are cheaper to produce… But by virtually every measure, synthetics are far inferior .They pill quickly, sometimes look fake, release microplastics and don’t perform as well as wool when worn.”

The observations go hand in hand with conversations about the fast fashion industry and its effects on the environment.

“As the sheer volume of clothing available to the average American has grown over the past few decades, everything feels at least a little weaker than it used to,” the Atlantic article summarizes.

If you look at high-end designers, you’re more likely to find high-quality fabrics, and there are a few brands that are committed to sustainability in the form of clothing that will last, but that often comes with a hefty price tag. One of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to find sturdy clothes made from beautiful fabrics is to shop secondhand.

“When you shop secondhand, you get access to those designer labels at a better price,” Lopez said.

Buying a garment that was made years or even decades ago also limits the amount of new clothing being produced, which is also good for the planet.

4. Style wisely: choose loose layers in light colors

There are also some ways you can stay cool by styling the clothes you already own.

Dressing in removable layers allows you to take off a cardigan or blazer while outside and freshen up before putting your outfit back together at the office. Lighter colors and looser fits also reflect heat and allow more air to circulate, Lopez said, keeping you cooler.

“I would suggest wearing beige, white and light blue in the summer, and staying away from the darker colors and black,” Lopez said. “I know it’s very difficult, but those colors attract the heat.”

For those who dress femininely, skirts and flowy pants keep you light and breezy. For those who wear masculine clothes, Lopez recommends classic khakis.