Miss Meadowsweet

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In my hometown of Sarasota, Florida, there are basically two seasons: summer, and “was that a breeze?” (Obviously, this is a joke, but the summer heat and humidity definitely aren’t). It’s true that our little sub-tropical city only gets into the 90s at the peak of the summer season, but when it’s 80-90% humidity…well, let’s just say the air sweats for you. So it’s even more important to know how to dress for such weather.

I’m a big believer that the fabric you wear makes all the difference. Here’s some of my favorite fabrics (besides cotton) to wear when outside feels like a sauna:

1. Linen–Seriously, one of the best ways to stay cool and comfortable. My husband has a linen sweater that he adores, and he tells me it’s like wearing nothing. I have a linen-blend romper from Target (similar to this one) that has saved me on Disney trips. The one downfall is that linen can be a little see-through, so choose your undergarments carefully.
   

   Meeting with Mickey. I’ve worn this linen jumper multiple times to Disney, and it’s kept me from sweating like crazy.

2. Rayon–If I lived in a dryer climate, this would be my go-to fabric. It’s perfect in those border months (September to April) when the heat is high but the humidity is not. My favorite rayon dress is this one from Trashy Diva, which I wore for my first Dapper Day in Spring 2017.
   

   Me and my bestie at Spring Dapper Day 2017. Don’t you just love her 1920’s Walt look?!

3. Chambray–Think of this as denim’s lighter, cooler cousin. One of my favorite Chambray dresses comes from eShakti, and when the weather is so hot that you sweat the moment you step outside, it’s my go-to.
   

   I wore this chambray dress for a 5 hour walking tour of Epcot not too long ago, and it kept me very cool. I highly recommend this fabric (as well as the backstage tours at Disney!)

There’s some major mistakes I’ve made in my life when trying to stay cool and dry. Most of these mistakes I made as a kid or teen, so there’s not a lot of photographic evidence. But trust me when I say, I’ve learned my lesson!

1. Not wearing sunscreen. When you grow up in Florida and have working parents, it’s typical to go to summer camp where they throw you outside for inordinate amounts of time. Despite how pale I look now, I was VERY TAN as a kid. I loathed wearing sunscreen too, because I hated the way it made my skin feel and believed it made me sweaty (not true). Now I am much more adamant about wearing sunscreen. Thankfully, there’s great brands that don’t give me that icky, slippery feeling, and are better for my skin than the traditional chemical sunscreens. I really love Bare Republic‘s mineral sunscreen, and they make a convenient stick version that I can throw in my bag.
2. Wearing a bathing suit under my clothes. Depending on what your bathing suit is made out of, wearing it under your clothes all day (I see this at theme parks a lot) can really add to the problem. Most bathing suit material isn’t breathable, so there’s no quicker way to get what we’ll lovingly refer to as “swamp butt”. Unless you’re going directly to the pool, I recommend packing that swimsuit and bringing a change of clothes.
3. Not wearing enough clothing. It’s counter-intuitive, but wearing spaghetti strap tanks (thank you, 90’s Limited Too ads) are a dumb idea when it’s sweltering. Direct sunlight on the skin raises your overall body temperature, so it’s far better to opt for lightweight, lightly-colored tops with sleeves than skimpier straps.
4. Wearing too-tight clothing. Air circulation is your friend. Even if you’re wearing moisture-wicking material, being out in the Florida sun is going to make that fabric your enemy. I’ve totally walked out of the house in yoga pants thinking they’ll keep me cool. It only takes that 5 minutes of getting into a hot car before I’m ready to throw those yoga pants in the garbage.

BONUS TIP: Though I’m pretty good about picking out cool and comfy fabrics, my mom taught me a tip for seeing if a material is too hot to wear in the summer. Place your hand inside a garment and breathe a hot breath through the fabric. If it feels hotter than if you breathed on your bare hand, it’s not great to wear in the summer time.

What do you do to stay cool and dry in the summer time?

Love,