With summer fashion season in full swing, so many of us are looking for ways to expand our wardrobe with light and airy clothes that we can show off until the beginning of fall when the autumn trends start to kick in. While it’s easy to assume that all summer clothes would be suitable for wearing in hot weather, unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. 

Plus, there are just summer days when absolutely no article of clothing feels comfortable on your body because you have the sole desire to wear your birthday suit. Then there are also situational factors that contribute to how you’re able to dress for each occasion. If you’re going to the beach or for a bike ride, there’s no harm in wearing the most minimal bikini or swim shorts you can find, but you probably don’t have the luxury of wearing such clothing to your job or school. 

Staying cool during the summertime isn’t just about your own comfort, it can also affect the way others perceive you. You don’t want to be that person who sweats out their shirt or stinks up the place with body odor because of your inability to stay cool. 

So, what can you do to stay cool while still staying appropriately and fashionably dressed throughout the spring and into summer? Start with the following five tips and you should find yourself facing a lower threat of sweat, embarrassment, and discomfort during the hotter days of summer. 

• 1. Bring a Change of Clothes

Regardless of which initial outfit you choose, things can always go wrong unexpectedly, and certain days can become unmercifully hot within hours of a chilly morning. I found this one out the hard way while checking out a few Carlsbad attractions. 

I had a list of what to do in Carlsbad, courtesy of a good friend. In case you’re wondering, there are lots of things to do in Carlsbad, so it wound up being a long, adventurous day followed by an evening dinner. Let’s just say I didn’t bring a change of clothes for dinner and I wasn’t happy about it at all because I was so uncomfortable and worried that people noticed how badly sweated out my clothes were. Luckily, this didn’t detract too much from my vacation and I was able to explore all the things to do in Carlsbad, CA without too much discomfort in the end. 

• 2. The Breeze is Your Friend

Wearing articles of clothing that allow the breeze to contact your skin is the best way to stay cool during the summer. However, too much direct skin contact with the sun’s rays can lead to sunburns and a heightened chance of skin cancer, so shade is also your friend. Too much coverage during summer is a classic no-no that should never be violated unless you’re prepared to change your clothes on the spot. Science has proven that the cooling mechanism of sweating is magnified exponentially when the breeze hits the sweat drops. Let the breeze do what’s it’s supposed to do – keep you cool.

• 3. Portable Fans Can Be a Difference Maker

If you live in an area with particularly hot summers, there are inevitably days when there’s no breeze to cool you down and it’s as hot enough to cook an egg on the pavement outside. During those scorch fests, it’s easy to rely solely on your vehicle’s air conditioning with the reasoning that you should be able to get into whatever you’re building you’re commuting to without your body overheating on you. The point is, life is unpredictable and you never know when you’re going to need a portable fan or two to keep yourself fashionably un-sweaty. 

• 4. Hats are Hit or Miss

It seems like a simple equation – hats provide shade for your face and keep you from squinting due to direct exposure, so you should always wear them in the summer, right? Well, sometimes wearing a hat on a hot day can do more harm than good in terms of raising your body heat. The hat might seem light and doable when you’re indoors, but because your body actually vents heat from the head and through your ears, any hats that are covering your ears or keeping the heat from rising off the top of your head will have a counter-cooling effect. In general, visors or weaved hats with plenty of breathability are your best bet. 

• 5. Do Not Cover Your Toes or Lower Legs

If you paid attention at all in science class then you know that heat rises, which means that any heat being generated in the lower part of your body will eventually rise and influence your overall body heat. If your toes and legs are hot and sweaty, your whole body will start sweating. In a situation where you have zero tolerance for sweating out your clothes, it’s best to wear elegant sandals and shorts, skirts, or medium dresses instead of pants. You might think that you’ll be okay with a pair of airy slacks, but you’d be much more comfortable in something that doesn’t cover up the lower half of your legs at all. And definitely leave the sneakers at home, even if they are cute!

• 6. Do Carry a Hygiene & Beauty Kit

Let’s face it, accidents happen, and you’re usually not prepared for them, which is precisely why they’re called mishaps. Luckily, you don’t have to be able to predict the future to know that carrying an emergency hygiene and beauty kit could come in handy during the summer. Breaking a sweat is highly difficult to avoid on a hot day, so you need a backup plan that can bring you back to presentability at times when you’re unable to stay out of the dreaded sweat zone. This might include wipes, paper towels, deodorant, body spray, make-up, and anything else you might need to restore your look. 

Planning Ahead Will Certainly Help

If you aren’t already checking the weather forecast before picking your outfit for the day, taking that steps alone will help you avoid choosing the wrong clothes for hot weather. If you dress as if it’s going to be extremely hot on a daily basis, you’re bound to find days when you’re a bit chilly. So, as a bonus tip, be sure to bring a fleece for the rarer times when you need to warm up on cool summer mornings or evenings.