Five ways to avoid sweating through your clothes this summer - ABC Everyday (2024)

Summer in Australia is a time of heat rash, soggy make-up and sweat. So. Much. Sweat.

It can be tempting to go full-body commando all summer, but then there's the sunburn, insect bites and being arrested for public nudity.

So what can you wear in Australia's oven-season, when it feels like the whole country is being baked at 200 degrees Celsius, to reduce the sweat just a little bit?

1. Forget the brands, but check the label

The most important thing to look for when choosing a summer outfit is what it is made from, says Sydney-based lifestyle blogger Quoc Phan and Sam, a plus-sized lifestyle influencer in Brisbane.

Quoc and Sam say they go for natural fibres over synthetics for summer outfits.

Rachel Lamarche, a PhD student in fashion and textiles at RMIT, says there are three main types of fabrics used in clothing — natural fibres, regenerated cellulose and synthetic.

"What you're looking for when you're talking about fabrics that are good for warmer weather and for humidity is usually moisture wicking properties," Rachel says.

She says natural fibres, such as linen, cotton, silk and hemp, are all absorbent and so will soak the sweat up off your skin and they let air through, which cools you down.

Regenerated cellulose fabrics such as viscose (also called rayon), Modal, bamboo, Tencel and cupro fabrics, also tend to be absorbent and breathable.

Synthetics, such as polyester, acrylic and nylon, are a bit more complicated.

"Polyester and most synthetics are considered hydrophobic, so they're water repellent," Ms Lamarche says.

When a hydrophobic fabric like polyester or nylon is tightly woven, like the shiny lining of a dress, it traps the sweat and can make you hotter.

However, if it is in a knitted jersey type of fabric, it can help pull the sweat away from you and out through the clothing — this is why synthetics can be used in activewear effectively.

Sam says one of her favourite summer fabrics is silk for it's flowy, quick-drying properties.

Both Sam and Quoc are fans of linen, as it's lightweight, breathable and quick-drying.

But linen can crease very quickly, so Quoc recommends opting for a linen-cotton blend rather than pure linen.

"It gives the garment a greater shape and structure," he says.

• Look for: Natural fibres and regenerated cellulose fabrics or anything with a knitted, jersey fabric that lets the air through.
• Avoid: Anything acrylic and any woven synthetic fabrics.

2. Let loose (literally) with your styling

Summer is about relaxing — and you can do this both in life and your clothing.

"I'll go for a more relaxed fit or an oversized fit, because it's more comfortable," Quoc says.

"It lets your body breathe. Because the tighter your clothes are, the hotter you're going to feel."

Sam likes to go for a loose T-shirt and flowing skirt combo in the heat, as it gives the option of tying a knot in the shirt to get some air flow on your midriff.

Chaffing can be a right pain in all areas that rub, so stretchy cotton shorts under a dress or skirt are a must for some.

Sam also recommends checking out barrier creams in the chemist for any areas that get chaffing in the heat.

• Look for: Looser fits that allow the breeze to get through are best for summer.
• Avoid: Give the tight-fitting bodycon outfits and skinny jeans a rest so you don't roast like a jacket potato in the heat.

3. Tips for the beach and formal events

A tip from Sam if you are heading to the beach: "I wear swimwear as an outfit and just pop a skirt over the top."

She says doing that avoids the annoying process of getting changed at the beach.

Quoc says if you're invited to a formal event like a wedding in the middle of summer, check just how formal you have to be and do what you can to avoid wearing a tie or three-piece suit.

"Only wear a blazer when you have to — when you can take it off, take it off," he says.

If you do love a good suit, Quoc says seersucker (a type of cotton fabric) is the perfect summer option.

"It's very lightweight and it's got quite a puckered-texture to the fabric, so it's a little bit different and gives more character," he says.

"It doesn't really need to be ironed."

If you're on the sweatier-side, you might want to wear an undershirt in a moisture-wicking fabric (something with stretch in a jersey knit), so it catches the sweat before you're visibly soaked.

• Look for: Ways to use swimwear as part of your outfit and lightweight alternatives to traditional formal wear.
• Avoid: Say no to ties and waistcoats and give the tight fitting bodycon outfits a rest so you don't roast like a jacket potato in the heat.

4. Be bold and bright

Certain colours and patterns can help if you don't want your sweat to show up.

Quoc says spring and summer are great times to experiment with a bit of colour, so if you usually stick to "safe" colours like black, navy and white, dip your toes in and try a light blue, lilac or very pale pink.

And Quoc says it's best to avoid greys if you sweat a lot and don't want it to show.

"No matter what grey you're wearing, even charcoal, I would avoid that," Quoc says.

Sam is also a fan of dressing as a rainbow.

"As a plus-sized woman, I don't wear black, because we only ever get black and leopard print offered to us," she says.

• Look for: Light colours for a breezy, summer vibe and ones that don't look very different when wet to avoid pit-stains or back sweat patterns.
• Avoid: Grey is not your friend if you don't like looking sweaty. Black attracts the heat, so best avoided unless you plan on never going outdoors (hello, goths).

5. Wear socks, for everyone's sake

Sweaty feet are no-one's friend, but thongs don't give enough support to be every-day-all-day-wear (sorry, Queenslanders).

Sam recommends looking for some solid, structured sandals or open-toed shoes, for example a "Jesus sandal" that ties or straps on, can be a good option.

Quoc says he avoids black leather shoes as much as possible in summer, opting for a mesh, stretchy-type sneaker that lets the air in.

"I know a lot of people get tempted to go for a sockless look in summer … I would say no, don't do that, make sure you wear socks with all your shoes," Quoc says.

"Your feet are going to sweat … and you don't want any funky smells coming from your shoes.

"If you want to go for the sockless look, there are things called invisible socks that you can buy in pretty much every fashion store."

• Look for: Sandals that give support and open-toed shoes, sneakers with mesh and thin-breathable socks.
• Avoid: Synthetic leather (vinyl, pleather, "vegan leather" they're mostly plastics that don't breathe), real leather does breathe a bit, but it still gets hot in the sun. Don't go sockless with shoes unless you like to get funky (in the bad way).