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I live in Texas, so I’m used to having days where the temperature is over 100 degrees, but it’s insane how hot it’s been this summer. Even in May, it already felt like summer, and that was just the preheat. People could barely survive June. How are they supposed to survive July? My one recommendation is to stay inside for the rest of summer, but for those of you that have upcoming barbecues, weddings, and other outdoor social events, here are my tips and tricks for staying cool this summer.
1. Carry a Fan with You
I love a good fan. I use it after putting setting spray on my face, after a sweaty practice, and especially while I’m in the heat. Fans are cheap, small, and convenient. You’re at an outdoor wedding. Instead of relying on the wedding program as a makeshift fan, you can just use the fan you brought from home. Whether it’s a manual or electric fan, you’ll cool down right away. My favorite is the manual type because they create a huge gust of cool wind. From now on start carrying a fan with you this summer. You’ll stay cool and your fanless friends will too.
Folding Hand Held Fan with Fabric Sleeve
2. Invest in Sweat Protection Products
Invest in products that can prevent sweat from destroying your clothes. You could literally be having the best time, and then you look in the mirror and see your worst fear. Sweat stains. They always ruin the moment. This is why you should buy some underarm sweat pads. I know some people use panty liners, but pull the trigger and buy the sweat pads. They fit in your clothes and are affordable.
3. Stick to Lightweight Breathable Fabrics
One of my favorite fabrics for summer is linen. It’s breathable, casual, and light, It can feel like you’re wearing nothing on sometimes. The only con about linen is that it can wrinkle quite easily which is why I reserve it for casual everyday outings rather than the office or a formal event. I love linen pants or shorts for a day out.
If you don’t want to spend money on a whole new wardrobe in the summer, cotton is another great fabric for summer. It’s one of the most versatile fabrics as it’s great for every season. Throw on a cotton T-shirt, some jeans shorts, and a little gold or silver earring. Boom. You’ve got yourself an outfit.
Another breathable fabric is Chambray. Chambray is similar to cotton except it has a finer thread count, so even more breathability.
4. Go for Looser-Fitting Clothes
If you’re going to wear a dress this summer outdoors, I would go for an a-line or wrap skirt style. It’s a lot flowier and lets your legs breathe. If you want to wear a bodycon dress, go for one that has a slit. It’s a lot less restricting and more breathable.
If you’re going to wear a suit, I would go for a linen if you don’t mind some wrinkles. If you do, I would drop the vest and the tie on your normal suit. They’ll just weigh you down and/or make you sweat, especially the tie. Even though a tie doesn’t weigh much, it restricts your neck and doesn’t let you breathe, hence you get all hot and sweaty.
Don’t wear tight sleeves. They make you uncomfortable and sweat more. Trust me. I know from experience.
5. Wear Whites, Yellows, Grays, and Reds
Some colors that I would stick with this summer are whites, yellows, grays, and reds. These colors don’t attract heat especially white. White reflects white light which is a combination of all the colors. In turn, a white piece of clothing will reflect the light, so the light will not turn into heat.
6. Wear Fewer Body Products
Body products like oils and heavy body creams can feel very heavy on the skin especially when you’re in the heat. They can make you drip in sweat if you’re out for too long. If you’re going to use a body product, I would concentrate it on your elbows, hands, knees, and hands.
That was a lot, but I promise you that these tips have helped me stay cool in this treacherous Texas heat. Also, while you’re out this summer, make sure you’re wearing sunscreen. Check out last week’s post for some recommendations. Thank you for reading and subscribe for notifications weekly. Stay sharp 😉