Feeling the summer slump? You’re not alone.
There’s a certain point in the season where the heat waves and humidity can feel endless, especially when there seems to be no shade or cool breezes in sight.
While bracing for the dog days of summer can feel tiring, we don’t want you to skip plans to hang out with the air conditioner all day. In a few months, the temperatures will drop drastically and it will be tougher to enjoy outdoor activities, like hitting the golf course or going fishing.
This means for the next few weeks, you’ll need gear that gives you relief. So, what fabric keeps you cool? Let’s talk about how to choose your wardrobe wisely.
First and foremost, experts suggest sticking to light colors to deflect sun rays. For instance, dark shades like black and navy tend to absorb the heat.
Now, here are some of the most summer-friendly fabrics:
Breathable Cotton
Reliable and comfortable, cotton is one of the best clothing materials for humid weather. Soft and simple, and non-irritating for those with sensitive skin, you’ll see that this popular fabric is found in many styles. And with its airy structure, you’ll be able to feel the breeze with ease when a gust of wind passes by.
Mighty Moisture-wicking Polyester
Often used in activewear, polyester is water-repellent, meaning it has the incredible power to swipe sweat away from skin. While you will remain cool during rigorous activities, this fabric will hold odors, so just be sure to wear an extra dab of deodorant.
Lightweight Linen
Crafted from a stalk flax plant, linen is truly one of the coolest materials on the market. It has a high-moisture absorbency, meaning it will dry easily despite pesky sweat. Additionally, linen is naturally anti-fungal and anti-microbal, meaning it keeps smell away too. The only downside is that it can wrinkle easily, so be sure to keep your iron handy.
While every fabric has an upside and a downside, the secret is combining them to harness their best attributes. That’s why our design team consistently and carefully tests new fabric combinations to ensure all-day comfort throughout any season.
To beat the heat, we rounded up our cool fabrics for hot weather in our best summer styles below.
Effortlessly Breathable Summer Clothing Styles For Men and Women
Premier Polyester Polos
Cutter & Buck Virtue Eco Pique Recycled Mens Big and Tall Polo
Packing in the moisture-wicking powers of polyester, this lightweight and smooth men’s big and tall polo is an all-season staple. While it looks like your classic and clean polo on the surface, it contains the athletic agility required for any activity, like swinging a tennis racket or playing in a competitive golf tournament. And for maximum shield on sunny days, this features a coating of our UPF 25+ sun protection, which is found in the majority of our breathable men’s big and tall polos.
Polo Features:
- Made with breathable 95% Recycled Polyester, 5% Spandex Pique
- UPF 25+ UV Sun Protection for sunny days
- Moisture-wicking power to stay cool during high-intensity activities
- Machine washable
Price: $50.00
Shop the Virtue Eco Pique Recycled Mens Big and Tall Polo
Cutter & Buck Coastline Epic Comfort Eco Recycled Womens Polo
We’ve talked a ton about fabrics today, and one of our newest design creations will be a fast favorite. This exceptionally soft light blue women’s polo feels weightless to the touch, meaning you will feel a consistent cool breeze as you move throughout your day, from the last meeting of the day to the pickleball court. And with our signature stretchy spandex found in most comfortable women’s polos, you get an everlasting extra range of motion.
Polo Features:
- Made from breathable 96% Recycled Polyester, 4% Spandex Double Peached Stretch Jersey
- Coated with UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection for hot summer days
- Moisture-wicking power to stay cool during high-intensity activities
- Machine washable
Price: $40.00
Shop the Coastline Epic Comfort Eco Recycled Womens Polo
Simple Summer Cotton Shirts
Cutter & Buck Epic Easy Care Nailshead Mens Short Sleeve Dress Shirt
As noted above, combining two breathable materials is the secret to staying cool all day long. This breathable blue men’s short sleeve dress shirt has the best of both worlds with a balanced mix of cotton and polyester. For a bonus bit of storage, it comes with a handy chest pocket, similar to most of our simple men’s dress shirts. To make this shirt pop for summer outings, we recommend pairing this look with white classic men’s shorts.
Shirt Features:
- Made with a breathable blend of 60% cotton, 40% polyester
- Wrinkle-resistant fabric to keep crisp all day
- Chest pocket for convenient storage
- Machine washable
Price: $80.00
Shop the Epic Easy Care Nailshead Mens Short Sleeve Dress Shirt
Cutter & Buck Stretch Oxford Stripe Womens Long Sleeve Dress Shirt
As you push through your work day, comfort is key. This sophisticated and striped women’s dress shirt will keep you calm, cool, and collected, as it features the breathable properties of cotton and polyester, coupled with the mighty stretch of spandex. And so creases are the last thing on your mind, we integrated a smooth, wrinkle-free fabric finish for extra security, which is integrated in the majority of our polished women’s dress shirts.
Shirt Features:
- Made with breathable 64% cotton, 34% polyester, 2% spandex
- Crafted with soft textured cotton blend stretch fabric for extra agility
- Mercerized and wrinkle-free fabric finish for a long-lasting polished fit
- Machine washable
Price: $100.00
Shop the Stretch Oxford Stripe Womens Long Sleeve Dress Shirt
More Airy Summer Styles Await
With a better understanding of the breathable materials to keep an eye out for, we have no doubts that you will find the right fabrics that will make any humid day seem less daunting. While we showed you a few samples, we have plenty of styles blended with cotton and polyester for all-day comfort, particularly in our polished men’s polos and stylish women’s polos.
Aside from wearing cool fabrics while outdoors, stay safe by drinking enough water, taking shade or indoor breaks when possible, and taking it easy on runs or walks. Have a great rest of your summer!
