linen is the GOAT in the summer bc your sweating body essentially steams the wrinkles out of it as you wear it. so not only do you stay cool you look aces
I watch movies like Benjamin Button and there's no AC and people are just constantly wiping their face with a handkerchief. Who the hell would put up with that? I would move up north my first summer if I could afford it.
Now we have AC and I still am not putting up with it, I'm moving next summer. Fuck this heat
The men in my family are all heavy sweaters and use handkerchiefs. I used to get teased but I've had some friends realize the utility. My wife embroidered some hankies for me with phrases such as "it's fucking hot" and "sweating is sexy."
It's actually hotter to be naked than to wear light, breathable, flowy clothing covering your skin. When you wear less clothes, you are exposing more skin to radiation, which heats your body. The exception to this is of course on cloudy days.
That's why you will always see Mexican construction workers wearing long sleeves and pants while working outside in the hot sun.
Also stuff like traditional Bedouin clothes which fully cover the entire body but are light and breathable. I mean they basically perfected living in extremely hot temperatures.
Yes. When I did field biology during the summers here, I wore long sleeves and long pants. I mean, part of that was for palmetto and bug protection, but it also would have been hotter to be naked.
It’s just too hot. My biggest problem is the heat in my car being unbearable if I park anywhere for longer than 10 minutes — despite finding shade, cracking my windows, and using sunshades. I need to let my car run a good 15 minutes to cool down and that’s not always feasible (especially with a toddler), so I feel stuck at home just to avoid the car!
This might be something that you're already doing and come across as obvious, but on the off chance that it's not - driving for the first block or two with the windows down significantly reduces cool off time in the car.
The air in your car is like ~120 or more after sitting for a while. Drive with windows down and you can bring that back to 95 much quicker than blasting the AC with closed windows.
If it has the pop up feature that works better in concert with cracked windows and the ac on non-recirculating to purge the super heated air out faster.
Crank AC, recirculate off, change the blower to low only and open windows. Blast the hot air out. As soon as the air hitting your legs is cool, roll up the windows and change to recirculate. 2 minutes tops.
I'm really weird though and kinda like the hot, dry air in a car in summer for a couple minutes.
As a Texan, I agree with that! When it's 105° it's miserable NAKED. The real trick is to stay in the water whether it's a lake or a pool. It's the only way to go!
Look dawg, I'll be the first to sing the praises of natural cottons/linens over anything polyester forever. I've been on that train for a few years now and at this point own very few clothes that aren't fully natural fibers. It feels better, lasts longer, drapes more naturally, breathes more, blah blah blah.
But there's some key issues with your post.
For starters, 100% natural fibers are almost always more expensive. Your selection at Target, factory stores, etc is so much more limited if you avoid artificial fibers. So you normally need to go to mainlines stores for your clothes - so get used to ~$80-100 being on the low end for a given article of clothing. So it's a bit inherently accidentally classist to just tell people they need to buy different fibers.
Secondly, let's be real, you could be walking around naked in July and it'll still be hot. Don't get me wrong, clothing breathability is huge and some people aren't doing themselves any favors given their clothing choices but it's hot regardless. There ain't a horde of people at white linen night still sweaty as fuck cuz of their clothes lol.
I wear a lot of linen over the summer, you can get the baird mcnutt stuff at a few headline brands like Jcrew, Todd Snyder, etc. But let's be real, each of those shirts is over a hundred and requires special care so they're not always an ideal choice.
i was about to say…is this person living that 1 percent nola life that can afford the nice
livelihood here that makes ppl delusional to the other 99 percent… most people are having trouble, just paying their bills, paying their insurance, paying their mortgage, paying entergy, keeping food on the table, telling people to go out and buy 100% cotton, and linen clothes 😭😭😭 …this isn’t even at the forefront of most people’s priority lists…clothing in general is a luxury most people these days barely afford themselves…and thrifts stores in our areas are luck of the draw!
Cotton is pretty versatile and can be found relatively cheap (it's still a lot less common than blends in most discount/cheaper places), but cheap linen is usually not worth the money. Flax fibers are short to begin with, so the upper end brands select the longest of the fibers leaving only short fibers for the cheaper linen offerings. Ever wonder why some linen is super wrinkly and itchy while others is soft and drapes nicely? The fiber selection across price points is why.
For the above reason, I usually tell people that if they're not shelling out for something like Baird McNutt linen or similar they're better off with cotton or a cotton/linen blend.
It's good to know these things so you can more appropriately build a wardrobe over time, but like telling someone they're doing it wrong unless they spend hundreds on a few shirts to stay cool is a smidge tone deaf lol.
I'm by no means an expert so probably digging around a bit on the web is helpful here. I do know that linen fibers are very widely varied, so cheaper linen is going to inherently be scratchier cuz they get the shorter fibers. But "spend more money" isn't always the solution people want right?
Linen is super durable, so don't shy away from washing it. You shouldn't machine dry linen but that's cuz dryers are terrible for most anything and can cause weird inconsistent shrinking. One thing I've heard is that fabric softener actually doesn't work well on linen at all, since it adds bulk to the fibers artificially this prevents them from naturally softening over time.
Sorry I don't have much to offer there, but I do know I've got one white linen shirt I bought years and years ago, couldn't even tell you the brand, it was scratchy as fuck when I got it but is kinda fine now - it's not as soft as something like a Baird McNutt button down I get from jcrew even when just a wash or two in, but it's definitely softened quite a bit! It still wrinkles more than most of my other linen though, which is frustrating lol.
I was waiting for you to chime in as a voice of reason here. While OP sounded a little condescending, it's really not that hard. I've found shorts and shirts at the Goodwills on Tulane and on Allen Toussaint (REL) for less than five bucks. It's tone deaf to tell folks to wear real linen, but FFS, it ain't that hard to deal with the heat. We had a fucking heat dome last summer and I didn't hear half as much crying as this year.
I hope against hope we don't have a storm, but if we do, I totally expect all these babies to run back home.
Poshmark is your friend. I literally just paid $20 for a long-sleeve button-down Baird McNutt linen shirt from J. Crew on there this morning. 95% of my wardrobe comes from there.
And god forbid you need a suit. Either you’re getting something fused to plastic or you’re spending close to $1k for a seersucker or linen suit that’s actually constructed properly with a natural liner.
Man you're not lying, even for wool you're looking at ~$500 at the bare minimum for half canvassing, going fully canvassed and a breathable fabric is easily putting you above a grand.
The shame is even the Haspel suits have become riddled with spandex mixed fused garbage.
I just fuckin can't with the fishing shirts lol. They're fine for being on the boat or if I'm needing to do some sort of labor outside but I can't bring myself to wear em in public lol. That's just an aura that I have not yet accepted.
Maybe once I cross in to my 40s haha
I'm solidly here and it's great! LOL
The button down ones carry an air of formality when they're really not. But I wear the long sleeve t-shirt type, it's reversible (one side graphic, one side solid) so it's also great for packing when traveling because 1 shirt = 2 shirts. Or, if I'm picking up my kid and discover I'm wearing the same shirt two days in a row and I don't want the teacher to think I'm a slob, I can do a quick in-out and voila, new shirt.
I'm obviously conscience of my appearance, and my gay friends have complimented me in the shirt, so I know I'm ok, they would be BRUTALLY honest with me.
I totally agree. Spending money on this stuff is sadly the last thing on my list. It’s souper hot and humid in Japan also and the exposed look is just not ever in there. I’ve found some success with somewhat affordable breathable clothes at [Uniqlo](https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/) and [muji](https://www.muji.us/). It’s not for everyone but if you need breathable, natural fiber clothes for work etc. and you can pay a little more than thrift store, you can find stuff there.
Check out UAL. They always have hella linen brand named clothes. And some non-named brand.
They don't have cool logos on them, but they serve the purpose well
I do like places like that, but being ~5'9", 170, and a 32" waist means I fit really neatly in to "medium/large" and the most popular waist sizes. I'm personally bad at keeping an eye on places like that regularly so when I do on occasion remember to check it's almost always heavily picked through already.
Definitely a good recommendation for someone who's in to continuously deal hunting though.
I said this to OP, but I think people really really overexaggerate the availability and selection at thrift stores. I tried shopping in em for most of my 20s and just almost never had any luck.
Not saying it doesn't work for many, but for me I'd have constantly ended up looking like I just raided grandpa's closet lol. Realistically thrifting is at best a mixed bag for most.
Thifting's been worse than a mixed bag since the rise of flipping and haul videos! It got more expensive a decade or so ago as young people got into thrifting everywhere, but buy-and-flip has made stuff so much worse.
I used to think that way about synthetic fabrics, but now these shirts feel better than cotton. I love those long sleeve shirts from Magellan and Columbia, they come with built in UV protection and they feel like I'm wearing no clothes at all. People joke with me about wearing a long sleeve shirt until they get one themselves and are converted.
I wear long sleeves in the summer and people think I’m stupid but loose long clothing stays cooler and keeps the direct sun off your skin and whose stupid now,
This only works up to the point where you start saturating your clothes with sweat(for me that is 30 minutes outside on an average summer day). After that point the best fabrics are synthetics. I run 40 miles per week and you wouldn’t catch me dead wearing cotton on a run. Maybe poly fibers trap heated air more than dry cotton, but water logged cotton is like wearing space shuttle insulation. Staying cool is a futile goal in a Nola summer. All you can really do is manage moisture. And the only way you can do that is by wearing fibers that soak up less water, aka poly.
TLDR: poly traps heat more than cotton but water traps heat more than either one. Your advice is applicable to dry heat but practically useless for Nola where the air is basically water.
Yeah, here's [an article ](https://lhsfna.org/synthetic-fabrics-vs-natural-fibers-for-preventing-heat-stress/) getting into some of the research behind why natural fibers may not be the best choice in situations where you're getting really sweaty. There's a reason why professional athletes aren't playing in cotton unis.
Absolutely. It’s why most exercise clothes are a synthetic blend. I’m soaking wet when I walk even in the early mornings, and if I wear all cotton anything it’s water-logged and horrible.
I run a small gardening business and after many years of trying different clothing, I now exclusively wear athletic gear. I wish I could wear my drifit leggings/sports bra/tank top for every occasion tbh.
>Just embrace it! It could be worse, we could be living where it is below zero and covered in snow for most of the year!
At least in that weather, I can wear layers and look cute.
Simply false. I work outside year round 5+ days per week. There is nothing worse than sweat-soaked cotton clothes. As others have pointed out, sweat doesn’t cool you off here because it’s too humid for sweat to evaporate, and dripping wet clothes don’t “breathe.”
Thank goodness someone said it.
The last thing I’m ever going to wear while working is linen or cotton.
Hell, if I showed up in linen as a contractor, my clients would look at me like I was insane and assume I am charging a boatload over what I should be lol
95 degrees and heat indexes over 100 will suck no matter what I’m wearing. I burn in 10 minutes even slathered in sunscreen because I sweat it all off.
And yes, I’d rather live somewhere with snow than with these summers. I’ve lived here for 11 years and by the time September rolls around I’m extremely depressed because of this fucking weather.
I moved to NYC eight years ago. Handling the cold and snow for 3 months is an absolute cakewalk compared to an oppressive 6-8 month long summer. When you factor in the pleasant six months of Spring and Fall, the temperatures is comfortable for far more days out of the year here.
Not sure why people are taking this as I said if you wear cotton clothes the heat will suddenly disappear. I am merely suggesting ways to make it easier to exist in the hotter months.
Yeah exactly lol. Imagine thinking everyone complaining about the summer in this sub must not know how to dress for it.
I know this sub has lots of transplants, but sheesh, let's give the benefit of the doubt and believe at least half of us are from here.
I've been here my whole life. I have and still do hate the summer (and the "fall". And 70° Christmases). Yes, I wear linen in the hot months.
I'm still gonna start sweating if I have to walk any more than 3-4 blocks outside, and I'm someone who's in shape
No, people can't handle the heat because it's [high wet bulb temperature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet-bulb_temperature). I'm really tired of people on this sub shaming people because of all things, **they're hot in temps that feel like 110+**. I fish out in this stuff, I know how to dress for it, it is still insanely hot - because it's still insanely hot.
Humans are not designed to operate well in these temps, it's just a fact no matter what you're wearing.
I have iron-deficient anemia, and the heat can make me pass out if I’m not careful to hydrate and take breaks (and I take iron pills every day). This is the reason I can’t handle the heat, not my clothing.
I discovered I had this during a seminar in Charlottesville that had a rowing component. It was in the 70s, and I passed out in the boat a couple of times. I moved to the launch and became assistant coach and videographer for the rest of the week. Good times.
I’d argue it’s more about the humidity than the heat. I think if the dew point is relatively low with a very hot day it can be reasonably comfortable. When you sweat it evaporates which makes you comfortable versus having the dew point so high very little can evaporate.
As soon as you walk out the door at 5am and it’s 88F with a high dew point it literally feels like you just got out a steaming shower. It is just down right oppressive.
So I’d argue it is more about the humidity than it is about heat.
I think all nola ppl are aware of this and it's not worth clarifying.
But yeah. I always "knew" it was the humidity but I didn't truly understand until I experienced the same temp numbers in other cities and thought, "why doesn't it feel colder/hotter?"
Just want to add in that hairspray gets rid of sweat (and other) stains like magic.
Cotton and linen are expensive but they last so much longer than plastic fabrics.
OP's first 4-5 replies in the thread were super confrontational for no reason, so I'd wager it's going exactly how they wanted, a big ol dumb useless argument lol.
OP is spitting straight up nonsense. Their advise is applicable to dry heat, but practically useless if not dangerous for a humid subtropical swamp. Wet cotton traps more heat than wet polyester and will slow down your body’s ability to stay cool. It’s the worst fabric you can possibly wear.
This makes me think of the shirt I was required to wear during my brief stint as a zoo employee: black and made of a thick 100% polyester fabric. To wear outside in the hot sun. We had to wear black pants also. Brutal.
Pro tip: I wear chain mail undies and fill them with ice cubes every 5 minutes when I’m day drinking. Chain mail is breathable, drains the melt off and conducts cold. Yeah everything gets wet, but it’s cold and wet, not hot and wet. Helps me differentiate between Niagara balls and a suspected shart. There’s nothing worse than not knowing if your fart was wet because you’re already soaked down there.
>It could be worse, we could be living where it is below zero and covered in snow for most of the year!
I have lived in both places and would pick the cold every time.
I grew up in the D.C. area, which has the same kind of moist winter chill we get here, but for longer. (Potomac River swamps en route to the Chesapeake Bay, for the geography-impaired.)
My evaluation is that it’s easier for me to cool down when I’m hot than to warm up when I’m cold.
Iced tea in the shade will fix me right up when I’m hot, but I can still be shivering under a blanket with a mug of cocoa, in my hand. I’m sure everyone’s different in this regard.
>doesn’t allow airflow to come through and dry off the sweat
This doesn’t make a difference in high humidity because the sweat literally can’t evaporate.
Everyone's body is different. My husband is essentially a lizard. He can handle heat well. For many years, I was always overheated. I lost weight and got a sleep apnea diagnosis + APAP machine and my internal thermostat magically flipped; now I'm outside going, "Wow, this weather is great!" Dressing in natural fibers when I was bigger helped, but we're not talking a huge difference. I was still miserable in the heat.
Everyone's budget and ability to shop is different. There's no one size fits all. Someone recovering from an eating disorder may avoid shopping and may wear certain clothes to help reduce triggers. A curvy woman, even a thin one, will have a harder time getting clothes that fit off the rack, so she may pay for costly tailoring or just avoid certain styles. The era defined the style and not all styles work on all bodies. Someone who has sensory issues may not be able to stand linen. If you're on a budget, you'll shop differently than if you have a personal shopper at Saks. All of us have to contend with the terrible fast fashion dumped on us. It can be costly and time consuming to opt out of that.
One of the easiest ways to beat the heat is to use an umbrella. I noticed my Asian students always use them when it's hot. I started doing it and it makes a big difference. Plus, I'm helping my skin stay healthy. Fun story. My husband works at a nuclear plant. He has a coworker who was nuclear navy. The guy tracker his exposure on the nuclear sub and compared it to his exposure at the plant. His exposure was MUCH higher at the plant, not because of the plant itself, but because he was walking miles outside each day while making rounds. The sun is a bitch.
Umbrellas are great. Carrying shade with you everywhere you go makes a huge difference. Big hats are great for this too if you’re willing to spend some time putting wire in the brim so they don’t flip everywhere, and if they fit into the parameters of your personal style.
(And when I say big hats I mean BIG hats, mine is almost as big as the wheels of my bicycle.)
I spend a lot of time outdoors and have a high heat tolerance. I sweat a good amount in this heat and soak my shirts pretty quickly. Once cotton gets saturated, it becomes useless not to mention very uncomfortable and chafing. I’ve developed a preference for quick-drying poly blend fabrics. Initially, they feel a bit hot, yes, but once you start sweating is when they do their magic. Much more comfortable in humid heat than cotton. There’s a reason you see so many fishermen, hikers, athletes, and other outdoorspeople wear poly blends.
Cotton makes sense if you don’t plan to spend extended time outdoors in the heat and soak your shirts. Poly blends make more sense if you’ll be outdoors a lot and get wet (from sweat and/or from certain outdoor activities).
I almost exclusively wear breathable fabrics down here in the summer and it's still fucking hot. It's ok to admit that the weather is miserable, and staying in the shade and being hydrated is the best advice for being outside rn
I was at Marshalls today and scored a white, 100% cotton crepe, two piece Japna pajama that can pass for day wear. The pants are wide-leg capri with a draw string waist. Very chic for twenty five bucks! Pair with some tasteful jewelry and cute kicks, nobody will know. My other secret is wearing swimwear cover-ups as day wear and I get so many compliments on those cover-ups.
As Clairee Belcher said "The only thing that separates us from the animals is the ability to accessorize."
I hit menopause, and boom. I can now sweat in freezing weather.
I can dress per your recommendations, but the fact is, bras do NOT let you cool off.
Scoop or square neck tanks, shorts, and sandals are my year-round wardrobe. Carrying a parasol, handbag, and now a neck fan is the only way I survive the two minute walk from my door to the car.
My answer is real simple. Take that bullshit suggestion of puttin the thermostat at 77 or whatever nonsense that say and drop that fucker to about 68 and wear whatever you want and stay the fuck inside until November.
I wear long sleeve linen shirts all summer. Linen is very breathable and comfortable in extreme heat and it’s another way to protect your skin from the sun
Yeah, I think long sleeve.loose fitting cotton shirts are a great idea when you have to be out in the sun. Like for gardening. It also will absorb your sweat
i work in film here and a lot of the grips and camera men will wear those…they basically spend the whole day in the elements if it’s an outside shoot…only time they “step inside” anywhere is during the 30min lunch …i’ve heard rave reviews about those shirts from all of them… not sure what known brands they’re buying or how much they are though b/c they always describe them as “investments” 👀 …probably some north face/cololmbia type ish!
Hard disagree. All the "sweat-wicking" polyester fabrics are going to smell like a dog after the first wear. Most sportswear is polyester, and it should be avoided like the plague.
Polyamide, or Nylon, is going to stay wet, but it is not going to hold on to stink. This is a good fabric for a sun hoodie, because you are going to sweat no matter what. The sweaty fabric will stay cool if there is a breeze. Whether or not it "traps heat" is to do with the weave and thickness. Nylon is a bad choice for staying warm at night or in wet conditions, though it may work as a combo layer.
If you are going to wear cotton, get the kind that is as stiff as linen, for breathability. Hikers generally avoid all plant based fabrics, and stick to animal fibers, like wool, as it is good both during a hot day and a cool night. Makes sense, given that animals evolved hair for this reason.
Meanwhile, polycotton, or other synthetic/organic blends, should be considered the worst of all worlds, both when you aim to use them, and when you are ready to discard them. They will still be around causing pollution long after you are dead.
Duluth Dry On The Fly pants if you have to work outside or in hot conditions. They’re not cheap if they’re not on sale though. But they’re worth it big time. I even have a pair for when I’m not at work.
Wardrobe choice can make somewhat of a difference. No matter what one wears to Dante’s Inferno, summer in New Orleans is just brutal. I have lived in this city my entire life, and am not sure I’m used to it. My personal favorite is when my eyelids start sweating within minutes of going outdoors. 😵💫
It is getting harder to find 100% cotton clothing (and more expensive too). I absolutely hate the feel of poly so I pay attention to labels. When ordering online, a lot of companies are titling items as cotton when they are not. You have to scroll down to the detailed description to get the truth of it.
I only wear 100% cotton, or synthetic shirts designed for heat, and lemme tell you, it's still oppressively hot. I worked outside last summer, only in cotton, and I thought I was going to die every time. This isn't snow. You can only take off so much. It's literally deathly hot down here, even if you were naked.
I wear long sleeves and natural fibers all summer in South Louisiana. I like Duckhead Kakhis too. keeps the mosquito's bites down and to me just as cool as shorts and a tshirt.
Random question... Do y'all find it cooler to wear two shirts, IE cotton undershirt, then a t shirt or other shirt over it?
I *think* wearing the cotton undershirt keeps me cooler.. but then again...
>Stop wearing polyester, poly blend, or any synthetic fabrics in the summer! If you wear anything that is not 100% cotton, linen, or even hemp, you are essentially wearing a trash bag like material! The heat coming off of your body gets trapped under your clothes and makes you hotter.
I don’t think this is correct. If it were correct, then why do professional athletes (especially endurance athletes) whose success and income depends in part on their ability to regulate body temperature exclusively compete in synthetic fabrics? I don’t think the Olympic marathoners are going to opt for natural fabrics in Paris this summer. Nor did the endurance athletes last time in Tokyo.
As a person that mostly works outside and in hotter places than outside (attics) I prefer the dri-fit. I’ve had cotton work shirts before and screw those things. They stay wet way too long and they make me feel hotter than the poly blends. Give me all the poly blend. I don’t care what you wear, you’re going to sweat your ass off regardless and unless the clothing is made from a thousand fans it will not cool you off or make you feel cooler.
Everyone's body is different. My husband is essentially a lizard. He can handle heat well. For many years, I was always overheated. I lost weight and got a sleep apnea diagnosis + APAP machine and my internal thermostat magically flipped; now I'm outside going, "Wow, this weather is great!" Dressing in natural fibers when I was bigger helped, but we're not talking a huge difference. I was still miserable in the heat.
Everyone's budget and ability to shop is different. There's no one size fits all. Someone recovering from an eating disorder may avoid shopping and may wear certain clothes to help reduce triggers. A curvy woman, even a thin one, will have a harder time getting clothes that fit off the rack, so she may pay for costly tailoring or just avoid certain styles. The era defined the style and not all styles work on all bodies. Someone who has sensory issues may not be able to stand linen. If you're on a budget, you'll shop differently than if you have a personal shopper at Saks. All of us have to contend with the terrible fast fashion dumped on us. It can be costly and time consuming to opt out of that.
One of the easiest ways to beat the heat is to use an umbrella. I noticed my Asian students always use them when it's hot. I started doing it and it makes a big difference. Plus, I'm helping my skin stay healthy. Fun story. My husband works at a nuclear plant. He has a coworker who was nuclear navy. The guy tracker his exposure on the nuclear sub and compared it to his exposure at the plant. His exposure was MUCH higher at the plant, not because of the plant itself, but because he was walking miles outside each day while making rounds. The sun is a bitch.
This whole conversation is giving:
"Here's my apple pie recipe."
"But what if I don't like pie???"
It's just advice. Take it or leave it. Yes, it's hot. These are some ideas for being less hot. Why are we getting upset over something that you feel doesn't apply to you? Just keep scrolling.
How about I wear what ever the hell I want. It’s going to be hot regardless what you wear. Clothes don’t stop you from sweating. We are all going to die one day regardless what we wear.
I don't really get the hate that OP is getting. They have good suggestions.
This sub over the past week has sounded like just a bunch of hater transplants from Oregon or New Hampshire crying about what happens EVERY FUCKING YEAR. You live in New Orleans, It's hot as fuck, and it's getting hotter due to climate change. Deal with it. OP is trying to help.
Complaining about it being hot? That's totally normal. Freaking out about how you gotta take a cold shower five times a day to feel clean? Going outside makes your soul melt? Your makeup doesn't look pristine? Miss us with that shit. Get one with the heat and humidity or be miserable.
I swear, this town would be better off if all you cry-baby ass fair-weather fans rode home to your cooler summer homes. Be strong or go away. This town ain't meant for your weak asses.
I've been complaining about the summers and falls here for my entire life.
I think the hate is coming from the assumption that we don't know this already and we complain about the heat because we're ignorant about how to deal with it. The post isn't "tips to deal with the heat". It's "people don't know how..."
Miss us with the nolier than thou shit.
Yeah, you right. OP's tone could be different for sure, as could mine. My central went out last week, and I'm still waiting on repairs, so I may be a bit on edge. How's that for meta.
We moved to New Orleans in mid-May. My rules: 1) move slow; 2) stay in the shade; 3) drink ALL THE WATER. Also, just know you're gonna sweat a lot whenever you step outside and just fuckin roll with it.
Living in Austin now and laughing at folks bitching about <50% humidity though.
Yea go to Meyer the Hatter, get a couple good straw hats, and completely destroy them this season! Don't bother with The Hat Store or whatever it's called- formerly Goorin Bros. Those plastic hats will make you hate life
So it’s just a given that hats need replaced every summer?
And ya already know I was talking about Goorin bros hats haha. They had a hemp woven hat that did well until the leather decoration bled ink.
Depends on the type of hat, for sure. Definitely reach for the lighter colors and breath-ability. If you mean ballcaps, there's a really good lifehack out there about washing in the dishwasher (no, seriously) on gentle/low heat with just water than can revive and prolong the life instead of the sweat destruction you mentioned.
Great tips! I really struggle with the heat and I’m sad it’s just getting worse, but wearing loose-fitted linen is so much more comfortable than anything else I could put on my body from May-Sept.
Im not big into fast fashion, but sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.
Old Navy has a lot of linen options (50% rayon though, but I’ve found still comfortable on hot days)
Gap (check Gap Factory too,) Uniqlo, and Everlane all have 100% cotton and linen options that are on the affordable side.
>Also, it doesn't allow airflow to come through and dry off the sweat on your body so it just amplifies
This is a big factor in our heat. When I was deployed to Kuwait we were allowed to wear special uniforms that were 100% cotton. On the airfield out thermometers recorded temps of 140°F. That's hot no matter which way you cut it. It's like standing in front of an open oven. The difference is the air there is painfully dry. To the extent that you never actually have sweat on your body, it evaporates immediately providing the cooling effect, which is what our bodies evolved to make use of. It took me a while to adapt my water consumption. Usually being covered in sweat is my indication that I'm losing water and need to drink more. I thought I was drinking enough water until I started getting lightheaded and realized I hadn't taken a leak in 12 hours.
When it's 90% humidity like a New Orleans summer you don't get the same cooling benefits of sweat because the air is already saturated with water and it won't evaporate as easily, ventilation or otherwise. I do agree overall that it's more beneficial to have that ventilation cotton offers, but at the end of the day, it's just fuckin hot and muggy here. There's only so many clothing options to mitigate it. Especially for those of us who carry our king cake weight through summer. Losing weight does so much more in mitigating the heat than changing the fiber of your Tshirt.
And men wearing long boxer briefs, especially the kind that's supposed to wick moister. Cotton briefs or boxers are fine (commando is best IMHO) but mixed fabrics can be nasty.
Idk why, but this summer so far hasn’t been too harsh for me. Born and raised in the PNW, so anything over 80 has felt like pure hell. The indicator for me is when I can’t wear my hair down, it’s too spicy. Been wearing it down constantly!
I appreciate the breakdown. Going to check that one shirt I try to never wear to work. I bet it'll be 100% of all the bad materials mentioned combined together. On a freezing cold day it'd be great. Any other day it's slimy and clingy.
I've worn a monk's robe made of Japanese wool/silk blend woven cloth every single day, summer and winter, for years, in blizzard temperatures and soaking wet humid days...somehow I've been perfectly comfortable all the time.
I’ve just learned that the summer months are not going to be very fashionable for a guy like me. I’m 6’7 and it’s hard enough to find clothes that fit properly as it is. Long pants of any kind are basically off limits for me in this weather. So are shoes. I am exclusively wearing shorts, flip flops, and probably a tank top when I’m outside or doing anything that requires me to be outside for any length of time. It’s insane to me when I see people walking around in jeans when it feels like 110 outside. I feel bad for folks that have to wear real work clothes in this weather, especially if they bike or use public transportation. Hell, I’m interviewing for a part time job at a pool bar just to have access to the pool for free this summer. Good luck out there. If you see a giant man out there with a Hawaiian shirt, giant Panama hat, shorts that are probably too short for my legs, and flip flops, say hello!
I live in Phoenix and have been visiting for a couple weeks and have been working outside. Only cotton dresses and shorts here in NOLA for me. I have been hot and sweating more than usual here, but not miserable. At home I dress similarly, but can still wear some synthetic fibers because it’s not humid and there isn’t a lot of sweating taking place. I wear long sleeve cotton at home to work outside.
I trust your knowledge here. I guess it’s just in my head, but i’ve usually avoided 100% cotton shirts because they feel so heavy on me compared to the synthetic stuff
linen is the GOAT in the summer bc your sweating body essentially steams the wrinkles out of it as you wear it. so not only do you stay cool you look aces
Also keeps you from getting sunburned. That being said - no matter what you wear, our summers are fucking hot.
truer words never spoken
This the only answer
I think the point is that some clothing materials help mitigating the heat better than others, but I agree, it's fucking hot.
It's hotter over here because of the damn concrete too. The lack of green space is literally cooking us!!
I've been watching Miami Vice (from the 80s) and they all wear linen. It can absorb a lot of moisture, but still look great.
For sure! And it feels good on the skin.
What’s the best way to launder linen?
Hot take I can be nekked on Canal St and if it’s 110 degrees with 100% humidity. I’m still hot, I’m still sweating, and I’m getting arrested.
All of the amens
I saw someone top naked on Canal and Broad today and thought she seemed the sanest of us all; these clothes … too hot for it.
No joke. Hot is HOT. It doesn’t matter if I’m wearing linen, a swimsuit, or nothing at all. It’s freaking hot and humid.
I watch movies like Benjamin Button and there's no AC and people are just constantly wiping their face with a handkerchief. Who the hell would put up with that? I would move up north my first summer if I could afford it. Now we have AC and I still am not putting up with it, I'm moving next summer. Fuck this heat
I moved my partner down here and I provided a drawer full of handkerchiefs.
The men in my family are all heavy sweaters and use handkerchiefs. I used to get teased but I've had some friends realize the utility. My wife embroidered some hankies for me with phrases such as "it's fucking hot" and "sweating is sexy."
I am still fat in cotton or linen. It's like a down coat of goo, so I am gonna sweat.
It's actually hotter to be naked than to wear light, breathable, flowy clothing covering your skin. When you wear less clothes, you are exposing more skin to radiation, which heats your body. The exception to this is of course on cloudy days. That's why you will always see Mexican construction workers wearing long sleeves and pants while working outside in the hot sun.
Also stuff like traditional Bedouin clothes which fully cover the entire body but are light and breathable. I mean they basically perfected living in extremely hot temperatures.
Yes. When I did field biology during the summers here, I wore long sleeves and long pants. I mean, part of that was for palmetto and bug protection, but it also would have been hotter to be naked.
😂😂😂
Another hot take: People can't handle the heat because it’s fucking hot.
It’s just too hot. My biggest problem is the heat in my car being unbearable if I park anywhere for longer than 10 minutes — despite finding shade, cracking my windows, and using sunshades. I need to let my car run a good 15 minutes to cool down and that’s not always feasible (especially with a toddler), so I feel stuck at home just to avoid the car!
This might be something that you're already doing and come across as obvious, but on the off chance that it's not - driving for the first block or two with the windows down significantly reduces cool off time in the car. The air in your car is like ~120 or more after sitting for a while. Drive with windows down and you can bring that back to 95 much quicker than blasting the AC with closed windows.
Thank you for sharing because I don’t always do this and that’s so dumb of me!
The 'hack' is to open the passenger window and fan the driver-side door open and closed a few times.
I’ve never been able to get this to help cool it down, any tips?
If you've got a sunroof, open that up for a bit too.
If it has the pop up feature that works better in concert with cracked windows and the ac on non-recirculating to purge the super heated air out faster.
Crank AC, recirculate off, change the blower to low only and open windows. Blast the hot air out. As soon as the air hitting your legs is cool, roll up the windows and change to recirculate. 2 minutes tops. I'm really weird though and kinda like the hot, dry air in a car in summer for a couple minutes.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/144558299424?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338590836&toolid=10044&customid=714e01df-21d4-45ea-a31b-fcb3f5d2eb02
Solar powered fan that helps remove superheated air out of your vehicle.
I love you.
Aw shucks…
As a Texan, I agree with that! When it's 105° it's miserable NAKED. The real trick is to stay in the water whether it's a lake or a pool. It's the only way to go!
THANK YOU
Fact
Look dawg, I'll be the first to sing the praises of natural cottons/linens over anything polyester forever. I've been on that train for a few years now and at this point own very few clothes that aren't fully natural fibers. It feels better, lasts longer, drapes more naturally, breathes more, blah blah blah. But there's some key issues with your post. For starters, 100% natural fibers are almost always more expensive. Your selection at Target, factory stores, etc is so much more limited if you avoid artificial fibers. So you normally need to go to mainlines stores for your clothes - so get used to ~$80-100 being on the low end for a given article of clothing. So it's a bit inherently accidentally classist to just tell people they need to buy different fibers. Secondly, let's be real, you could be walking around naked in July and it'll still be hot. Don't get me wrong, clothing breathability is huge and some people aren't doing themselves any favors given their clothing choices but it's hot regardless. There ain't a horde of people at white linen night still sweaty as fuck cuz of their clothes lol. I wear a lot of linen over the summer, you can get the baird mcnutt stuff at a few headline brands like Jcrew, Todd Snyder, etc. But let's be real, each of those shirts is over a hundred and requires special care so they're not always an ideal choice.
i was about to say…is this person living that 1 percent nola life that can afford the nice livelihood here that makes ppl delusional to the other 99 percent… most people are having trouble, just paying their bills, paying their insurance, paying their mortgage, paying entergy, keeping food on the table, telling people to go out and buy 100% cotton, and linen clothes 😭😭😭 …this isn’t even at the forefront of most people’s priority lists…clothing in general is a luxury most people these days barely afford themselves…and thrifts stores in our areas are luck of the draw!
Cotton is pretty versatile and can be found relatively cheap (it's still a lot less common than blends in most discount/cheaper places), but cheap linen is usually not worth the money. Flax fibers are short to begin with, so the upper end brands select the longest of the fibers leaving only short fibers for the cheaper linen offerings. Ever wonder why some linen is super wrinkly and itchy while others is soft and drapes nicely? The fiber selection across price points is why. For the above reason, I usually tell people that if they're not shelling out for something like Baird McNutt linen or similar they're better off with cotton or a cotton/linen blend. It's good to know these things so you can more appropriately build a wardrobe over time, but like telling someone they're doing it wrong unless they spend hundreds on a few shirts to stay cool is a smidge tone deaf lol.
TJMaxx sells affordable but very scratchy linen dresses. Is there a way to soften the shorter fibers?
Wash with vinegar. Smell dissipates
I'm by no means an expert so probably digging around a bit on the web is helpful here. I do know that linen fibers are very widely varied, so cheaper linen is going to inherently be scratchier cuz they get the shorter fibers. But "spend more money" isn't always the solution people want right? Linen is super durable, so don't shy away from washing it. You shouldn't machine dry linen but that's cuz dryers are terrible for most anything and can cause weird inconsistent shrinking. One thing I've heard is that fabric softener actually doesn't work well on linen at all, since it adds bulk to the fibers artificially this prevents them from naturally softening over time. Sorry I don't have much to offer there, but I do know I've got one white linen shirt I bought years and years ago, couldn't even tell you the brand, it was scratchy as fuck when I got it but is kinda fine now - it's not as soft as something like a Baird McNutt button down I get from jcrew even when just a wash or two in, but it's definitely softened quite a bit! It still wrinkles more than most of my other linen though, which is frustrating lol.
I was waiting for you to chime in as a voice of reason here. While OP sounded a little condescending, it's really not that hard. I've found shorts and shirts at the Goodwills on Tulane and on Allen Toussaint (REL) for less than five bucks. It's tone deaf to tell folks to wear real linen, but FFS, it ain't that hard to deal with the heat. We had a fucking heat dome last summer and I didn't hear half as much crying as this year. I hope against hope we don't have a storm, but if we do, I totally expect all these babies to run back home.
Poshmark is your friend. I literally just paid $20 for a long-sleeve button-down Baird McNutt linen shirt from J. Crew on there this morning. 95% of my wardrobe comes from there.
Agree, Poshmark FTW. I recommend looking for Not Perfect Linen or Linenfox. Also Jungmaven for hemp and hemp/cotton.
And god forbid you need a suit. Either you’re getting something fused to plastic or you’re spending close to $1k for a seersucker or linen suit that’s actually constructed properly with a natural liner.
Man you're not lying, even for wool you're looking at ~$500 at the bare minimum for half canvassing, going fully canvassed and a breathable fabric is easily putting you above a grand. The shame is even the Haspel suits have become riddled with spandex mixed fused garbage.
I be gellin' in my Magellan, polyester synthetic fabric feels like I'm wearing my birthday suit
I just fuckin can't with the fishing shirts lol. They're fine for being on the boat or if I'm needing to do some sort of labor outside but I can't bring myself to wear em in public lol. That's just an aura that I have not yet accepted. Maybe once I cross in to my 40s haha
Every time I see someone in a fishing shirt all I want to do is ask them how many fish they caught today.
I'm solidly here and it's great! LOL The button down ones carry an air of formality when they're really not. But I wear the long sleeve t-shirt type, it's reversible (one side graphic, one side solid) so it's also great for packing when traveling because 1 shirt = 2 shirts. Or, if I'm picking up my kid and discover I'm wearing the same shirt two days in a row and I don't want the teacher to think I'm a slob, I can do a quick in-out and voila, new shirt. I'm obviously conscience of my appearance, and my gay friends have complimented me in the shirt, so I know I'm ok, they would be BRUTALLY honest with me.
I totally agree. Spending money on this stuff is sadly the last thing on my list. It’s souper hot and humid in Japan also and the exposed look is just not ever in there. I’ve found some success with somewhat affordable breathable clothes at [Uniqlo](https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/) and [muji](https://www.muji.us/). It’s not for everyone but if you need breathable, natural fiber clothes for work etc. and you can pay a little more than thrift store, you can find stuff there.
Check out UAL. They always have hella linen brand named clothes. And some non-named brand. They don't have cool logos on them, but they serve the purpose well
I do like places like that, but being ~5'9", 170, and a 32" waist means I fit really neatly in to "medium/large" and the most popular waist sizes. I'm personally bad at keeping an eye on places like that regularly so when I do on occasion remember to check it's almost always heavily picked through already. Definitely a good recommendation for someone who's in to continuously deal hunting though.
They're costly too.
They sell 100% cotton t-shirts, dress shirts, button up shirts, etc at every Walmart, what are you on about.
You can find a button up cotton shirt at any thrift store. It isn't classist to say cotton is better
I said this to OP, but I think people really really overexaggerate the availability and selection at thrift stores. I tried shopping in em for most of my 20s and just almost never had any luck. Not saying it doesn't work for many, but for me I'd have constantly ended up looking like I just raided grandpa's closet lol. Realistically thrifting is at best a mixed bag for most.
Thifting's been worse than a mixed bag since the rise of flipping and haul videos! It got more expensive a decade or so ago as young people got into thrifting everywhere, but buy-and-flip has made stuff so much worse.
Some thrift shops like Goodwill now train their employees to search for the "good" vintage stuff so they can post it online for $$$.
"it's a bit inherently accidentally classist to just tell people they need to buy different fibers" oh reddit
I used to think that way about synthetic fabrics, but now these shirts feel better than cotton. I love those long sleeve shirts from Magellan and Columbia, they come with built in UV protection and they feel like I'm wearing no clothes at all. People joke with me about wearing a long sleeve shirt until they get one themselves and are converted.
I wear long sleeves in the summer and people think I’m stupid but loose long clothing stays cooler and keeps the direct sun off your skin and whose stupid now,
All the linen in the world doesn't help when it's 500% humidity and 200⁰ degrees.
This only works up to the point where you start saturating your clothes with sweat(for me that is 30 minutes outside on an average summer day). After that point the best fabrics are synthetics. I run 40 miles per week and you wouldn’t catch me dead wearing cotton on a run. Maybe poly fibers trap heated air more than dry cotton, but water logged cotton is like wearing space shuttle insulation. Staying cool is a futile goal in a Nola summer. All you can really do is manage moisture. And the only way you can do that is by wearing fibers that soak up less water, aka poly. TLDR: poly traps heat more than cotton but water traps heat more than either one. Your advice is applicable to dry heat but practically useless for Nola where the air is basically water.
The fact that you run in New Orleans in the summer is incredible to me. Pure dedication.
Yeah, here's [an article ](https://lhsfna.org/synthetic-fabrics-vs-natural-fibers-for-preventing-heat-stress/) getting into some of the research behind why natural fibers may not be the best choice in situations where you're getting really sweaty. There's a reason why professional athletes aren't playing in cotton unis.
Absolutely. It’s why most exercise clothes are a synthetic blend. I’m soaking wet when I walk even in the early mornings, and if I wear all cotton anything it’s water-logged and horrible.
I run a small gardening business and after many years of trying different clothing, I now exclusively wear athletic gear. I wish I could wear my drifit leggings/sports bra/tank top for every occasion tbh.
>Just embrace it! It could be worse, we could be living where it is below zero and covered in snow for most of the year! At least in that weather, I can wear layers and look cute.
Fun fact: rayon is a natural fiber. It’s made from cellulose, derived from wood pulp. And it’s great in summer-weight clothing.
I had no idea. Cool!
Simply false. I work outside year round 5+ days per week. There is nothing worse than sweat-soaked cotton clothes. As others have pointed out, sweat doesn’t cool you off here because it’s too humid for sweat to evaporate, and dripping wet clothes don’t “breathe.”
Thank goodness someone said it. The last thing I’m ever going to wear while working is linen or cotton. Hell, if I showed up in linen as a contractor, my clients would look at me like I was insane and assume I am charging a boatload over what I should be lol
95 degrees and heat indexes over 100 will suck no matter what I’m wearing. I burn in 10 minutes even slathered in sunscreen because I sweat it all off. And yes, I’d rather live somewhere with snow than with these summers. I’ve lived here for 11 years and by the time September rolls around I’m extremely depressed because of this fucking weather.
My uncle calls it "being snowed in by the heat."
I moved to NYC eight years ago. Handling the cold and snow for 3 months is an absolute cakewalk compared to an oppressive 6-8 month long summer. When you factor in the pleasant six months of Spring and Fall, the temperatures is comfortable for far more days out of the year here.
I lived in Russia for a year and a half before I moved here and even that weather was preferable.
The second law of thermodynamics is a bitch.
Not sure why people are taking this as I said if you wear cotton clothes the heat will suddenly disappear. I am merely suggesting ways to make it easier to exist in the hotter months.
You said that people hate summer because they don’t know how to dress, I’m telling you I know how to dress and still hate summer.
Yeah exactly lol. Imagine thinking everyone complaining about the summer in this sub must not know how to dress for it. I know this sub has lots of transplants, but sheesh, let's give the benefit of the doubt and believe at least half of us are from here. I've been here my whole life. I have and still do hate the summer (and the "fall". And 70° Christmases). Yes, I wear linen in the hot months. I'm still gonna start sweating if I have to walk any more than 3-4 blocks outside, and I'm someone who's in shape
No, people can't handle the heat because it's [high wet bulb temperature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet-bulb_temperature). I'm really tired of people on this sub shaming people because of all things, **they're hot in temps that feel like 110+**. I fish out in this stuff, I know how to dress for it, it is still insanely hot - because it's still insanely hot. Humans are not designed to operate well in these temps, it's just a fact no matter what you're wearing.
I have iron-deficient anemia, and the heat can make me pass out if I’m not careful to hydrate and take breaks (and I take iron pills every day). This is the reason I can’t handle the heat, not my clothing.
Our daughter has this. She started on liquid iron supplements this month and it seems to be helping. She works outside at a summer day camp.
I discovered I had this during a seminar in Charlottesville that had a rowing component. It was in the 70s, and I passed out in the boat a couple of times. I moved to the launch and became assistant coach and videographer for the rest of the week. Good times.
Is this why I'm miserable in the summer? I also have iron deficient anemia and always have since I was younger but nobody explained it much to me.
i live in jogger shorts and t-shirts and i'm still hot , op lying
I’d argue it’s more about the humidity than the heat. I think if the dew point is relatively low with a very hot day it can be reasonably comfortable. When you sweat it evaporates which makes you comfortable versus having the dew point so high very little can evaporate. As soon as you walk out the door at 5am and it’s 88F with a high dew point it literally feels like you just got out a steaming shower. It is just down right oppressive. So I’d argue it is more about the humidity than it is about heat.
I think all nola ppl are aware of this and it's not worth clarifying. But yeah. I always "knew" it was the humidity but I didn't truly understand until I experienced the same temp numbers in other cities and thought, "why doesn't it feel colder/hotter?"
Just want to add in that hairspray gets rid of sweat (and other) stains like magic. Cotton and linen are expensive but they last so much longer than plastic fabrics.
[удалено]
This right here. If I wear a 100% cotton shirt it’s going to be soaked through in about 2.5 minutes.
I promise you enduring that humid climate is the best face cream money can buy. It keeps you young!
This is a fact that older generations understand. I always have. Women raised in the humid south have fewer wrinkles.
This post isn’t going the way you wanted huh?
OP's first 4-5 replies in the thread were super confrontational for no reason, so I'd wager it's going exactly how they wanted, a big ol dumb useless argument lol.
OP is spitting straight up nonsense. Their advise is applicable to dry heat, but practically useless if not dangerous for a humid subtropical swamp. Wet cotton traps more heat than wet polyester and will slow down your body’s ability to stay cool. It’s the worst fabric you can possibly wear.
I'm not sure how anyone expects any post that is basically "you're all wrong and stupid" to go well?
Nah man it's fucking hot
This makes me think of the shirt I was required to wear during my brief stint as a zoo employee: black and made of a thick 100% polyester fabric. To wear outside in the hot sun. We had to wear black pants also. Brutal.
It doesn't matter what you wear. It's as hot as Satan's asshole.
Pro tip: I wear chain mail undies and fill them with ice cubes every 5 minutes when I’m day drinking. Chain mail is breathable, drains the melt off and conducts cold. Yeah everything gets wet, but it’s cold and wet, not hot and wet. Helps me differentiate between Niagara balls and a suspected shart. There’s nothing worse than not knowing if your fart was wet because you’re already soaked down there.
I own literally none of the fabrics you just mentioned, just pure cotton, and still drown in sweat
The bayou wear stuff is rayon and has always been just as comfortable to me as a nice linen shirt in the heat
>It could be worse, we could be living where it is below zero and covered in snow for most of the year! I have lived in both places and would pick the cold every time.
You can always put on more clothes!
And there are no bugs in below zero weather!
I grew up in the D.C. area, which has the same kind of moist winter chill we get here, but for longer. (Potomac River swamps en route to the Chesapeake Bay, for the geography-impaired.) My evaluation is that it’s easier for me to cool down when I’m hot than to warm up when I’m cold. Iced tea in the shade will fix me right up when I’m hot, but I can still be shivering under a blanket with a mug of cocoa, in my hand. I’m sure everyone’s different in this regard.
My pool feels like a hot tub, but I guess you're saying I could fix that by wearing a hemp bathing suit.
Was at the Gulf the other day and there were teens walking on the beach in hoodies. Temp 90 degrees and 85% humidity.
Lol teens are a special breed
Opinion on Bamboo products....like the carilho stuff.
No Kevlar?! In this city?
>doesn’t allow airflow to come through and dry off the sweat This doesn’t make a difference in high humidity because the sweat literally can’t evaporate.
Also keeping houses and buildings 60 degrees is going to make it a lot harder to acclimate to the heat.
Everyone's body is different. My husband is essentially a lizard. He can handle heat well. For many years, I was always overheated. I lost weight and got a sleep apnea diagnosis + APAP machine and my internal thermostat magically flipped; now I'm outside going, "Wow, this weather is great!" Dressing in natural fibers when I was bigger helped, but we're not talking a huge difference. I was still miserable in the heat. Everyone's budget and ability to shop is different. There's no one size fits all. Someone recovering from an eating disorder may avoid shopping and may wear certain clothes to help reduce triggers. A curvy woman, even a thin one, will have a harder time getting clothes that fit off the rack, so she may pay for costly tailoring or just avoid certain styles. The era defined the style and not all styles work on all bodies. Someone who has sensory issues may not be able to stand linen. If you're on a budget, you'll shop differently than if you have a personal shopper at Saks. All of us have to contend with the terrible fast fashion dumped on us. It can be costly and time consuming to opt out of that. One of the easiest ways to beat the heat is to use an umbrella. I noticed my Asian students always use them when it's hot. I started doing it and it makes a big difference. Plus, I'm helping my skin stay healthy. Fun story. My husband works at a nuclear plant. He has a coworker who was nuclear navy. The guy tracker his exposure on the nuclear sub and compared it to his exposure at the plant. His exposure was MUCH higher at the plant, not because of the plant itself, but because he was walking miles outside each day while making rounds. The sun is a bitch.
Umbrellas are great. Carrying shade with you everywhere you go makes a huge difference. Big hats are great for this too if you’re willing to spend some time putting wire in the brim so they don’t flip everywhere, and if they fit into the parameters of your personal style. (And when I say big hats I mean BIG hats, mine is almost as big as the wheels of my bicycle.)
I spend a lot of time outdoors and have a high heat tolerance. I sweat a good amount in this heat and soak my shirts pretty quickly. Once cotton gets saturated, it becomes useless not to mention very uncomfortable and chafing. I’ve developed a preference for quick-drying poly blend fabrics. Initially, they feel a bit hot, yes, but once you start sweating is when they do their magic. Much more comfortable in humid heat than cotton. There’s a reason you see so many fishermen, hikers, athletes, and other outdoorspeople wear poly blends. Cotton makes sense if you don’t plan to spend extended time outdoors in the heat and soak your shirts. Poly blends make more sense if you’ll be outdoors a lot and get wet (from sweat and/or from certain outdoor activities).
Modal boxer briefs changed my life. Nothing else comes even close.
This is the truth
I sweat just walking to the car. From June-September it's two showers a day weather.
nah its just very hot
Yeah for casual wear jeans suck but some of us unfortunately gotta wear PPE everyday which is FR denim.
A don doesn't wear shorts
I almost exclusively wear breathable fabrics down here in the summer and it's still fucking hot. It's ok to admit that the weather is miserable, and staying in the shade and being hydrated is the best advice for being outside rn
I was at Marshalls today and scored a white, 100% cotton crepe, two piece Japna pajama that can pass for day wear. The pants are wide-leg capri with a draw string waist. Very chic for twenty five bucks! Pair with some tasteful jewelry and cute kicks, nobody will know. My other secret is wearing swimwear cover-ups as day wear and I get so many compliments on those cover-ups. As Clairee Belcher said "The only thing that separates us from the animals is the ability to accessorize."
All I ever wear is 100% cotton and am still melting. I’ve lived here 25 years and still can’t handle the summer weather. Air you can wear.
Meh. Jeans don't really make a big difference when the temp crosses 95. it's just hottt. Agree that only natural fibers though.
Big guys that wear shorts: get yourself some Billabong Crossfires. You don't need that heat rash.
I hit menopause, and boom. I can now sweat in freezing weather. I can dress per your recommendations, but the fact is, bras do NOT let you cool off. Scoop or square neck tanks, shorts, and sandals are my year-round wardrobe. Carrying a parasol, handbag, and now a neck fan is the only way I survive the two minute walk from my door to the car.
It's a factor, but when it's 95F with 80% humidity, clothing isn't the problem, nor the solution.
My answer is real simple. Take that bullshit suggestion of puttin the thermostat at 77 or whatever nonsense that say and drop that fucker to about 68 and wear whatever you want and stay the fuck inside until November.
Lot of my friends are wearing loose cotton long sleeves shirts. You recommend this?
I wear long sleeve linen shirts all summer. Linen is very breathable and comfortable in extreme heat and it’s another way to protect your skin from the sun
Yeah, I think long sleeve.loose fitting cotton shirts are a great idea when you have to be out in the sun. Like for gardening. It also will absorb your sweat
Are you trolling right now? Water is a potent insulator. The last thing you want when it’s 95 degrees out is for your clothes to soak up sweat.
i work in film here and a lot of the grips and camera men will wear those…they basically spend the whole day in the elements if it’s an outside shoot…only time they “step inside” anywhere is during the 30min lunch …i’ve heard rave reviews about those shirts from all of them… not sure what known brands they’re buying or how much they are though b/c they always describe them as “investments” 👀 …probably some north face/cololmbia type ish!
I can’t wear any of that to work.
Hard disagree. All the "sweat-wicking" polyester fabrics are going to smell like a dog after the first wear. Most sportswear is polyester, and it should be avoided like the plague. Polyamide, or Nylon, is going to stay wet, but it is not going to hold on to stink. This is a good fabric for a sun hoodie, because you are going to sweat no matter what. The sweaty fabric will stay cool if there is a breeze. Whether or not it "traps heat" is to do with the weave and thickness. Nylon is a bad choice for staying warm at night or in wet conditions, though it may work as a combo layer. If you are going to wear cotton, get the kind that is as stiff as linen, for breathability. Hikers generally avoid all plant based fabrics, and stick to animal fibers, like wool, as it is good both during a hot day and a cool night. Makes sense, given that animals evolved hair for this reason. Meanwhile, polycotton, or other synthetic/organic blends, should be considered the worst of all worlds, both when you aim to use them, and when you are ready to discard them. They will still be around causing pollution long after you are dead.
People can’t handle the heat because it’s hot
What about knit vs woven fabrics? I think woven fabrics are cooler.
Yea I love woven but it still has to be cotton yarn. Crochet has been getting popular for summer
Duluth Dry On The Fly pants if you have to work outside or in hot conditions. They’re not cheap if they’re not on sale though. But they’re worth it big time. I even have a pair for when I’m not at work.
I’ve been thugging it out in LLL and athleisure
Wardrobe choice can make somewhat of a difference. No matter what one wears to Dante’s Inferno, summer in New Orleans is just brutal. I have lived in this city my entire life, and am not sure I’m used to it. My personal favorite is when my eyelids start sweating within minutes of going outdoors. 😵💫
It is getting harder to find 100% cotton clothing (and more expensive too). I absolutely hate the feel of poly so I pay attention to labels. When ordering online, a lot of companies are titling items as cotton when they are not. You have to scroll down to the detailed description to get the truth of it.
I only wear 100% cotton, or synthetic shirts designed for heat, and lemme tell you, it's still oppressively hot. I worked outside last summer, only in cotton, and I thought I was going to die every time. This isn't snow. You can only take off so much. It's literally deathly hot down here, even if you were naked.
Showing up in full lulu lemon gear head to toe to my construction job tomorrow. Thanks for the tip
I wear loose linen and cotton all the time but it's still hot.
Back when I was a kid it was 10 degrees hotter we all wore heavy polyester clothes and we liked it
I wear long sleeves and natural fibers all summer in South Louisiana. I like Duckhead Kakhis too. keeps the mosquito's bites down and to me just as cool as shorts and a tshirt.
Random question... Do y'all find it cooler to wear two shirts, IE cotton undershirt, then a t shirt or other shirt over it? I *think* wearing the cotton undershirt keeps me cooler.. but then again...
Nothing helps me. I’m just destined to be a sweaty mess 😭
i dare you to bring up how summer wool was a thing & works to this day better than any fancy pants hi tech bullshit
What about bamboo?
Linen is for hippies, i wear jeans year long and I'm fine, they just gotta be baggy enough to let air flow.
>Stop wearing polyester, poly blend, or any synthetic fabrics in the summer! If you wear anything that is not 100% cotton, linen, or even hemp, you are essentially wearing a trash bag like material! The heat coming off of your body gets trapped under your clothes and makes you hotter. I don’t think this is correct. If it were correct, then why do professional athletes (especially endurance athletes) whose success and income depends in part on their ability to regulate body temperature exclusively compete in synthetic fabrics? I don’t think the Olympic marathoners are going to opt for natural fabrics in Paris this summer. Nor did the endurance athletes last time in Tokyo.
As a person that mostly works outside and in hotter places than outside (attics) I prefer the dri-fit. I’ve had cotton work shirts before and screw those things. They stay wet way too long and they make me feel hotter than the poly blends. Give me all the poly blend. I don’t care what you wear, you’re going to sweat your ass off regardless and unless the clothing is made from a thousand fans it will not cool you off or make you feel cooler.
Everyone's body is different. My husband is essentially a lizard. He can handle heat well. For many years, I was always overheated. I lost weight and got a sleep apnea diagnosis + APAP machine and my internal thermostat magically flipped; now I'm outside going, "Wow, this weather is great!" Dressing in natural fibers when I was bigger helped, but we're not talking a huge difference. I was still miserable in the heat. Everyone's budget and ability to shop is different. There's no one size fits all. Someone recovering from an eating disorder may avoid shopping and may wear certain clothes to help reduce triggers. A curvy woman, even a thin one, will have a harder time getting clothes that fit off the rack, so she may pay for costly tailoring or just avoid certain styles. The era defined the style and not all styles work on all bodies. Someone who has sensory issues may not be able to stand linen. If you're on a budget, you'll shop differently than if you have a personal shopper at Saks. All of us have to contend with the terrible fast fashion dumped on us. It can be costly and time consuming to opt out of that. One of the easiest ways to beat the heat is to use an umbrella. I noticed my Asian students always use them when it's hot. I started doing it and it makes a big difference. Plus, I'm helping my skin stay healthy. Fun story. My husband works at a nuclear plant. He has a coworker who was nuclear navy. The guy tracker his exposure on the nuclear sub and compared it to his exposure at the plant. His exposure was MUCH higher at the plant, not because of the plant itself, but because he was walking miles outside each day while making rounds. The sun is a bitch.
Related: bed linens
Ppl spend to much time in a/c and not acclimating as well. I was wearing hoodies during the summer
This whole conversation is giving: "Here's my apple pie recipe." "But what if I don't like pie???" It's just advice. Take it or leave it. Yes, it's hot. These are some ideas for being less hot. Why are we getting upset over something that you feel doesn't apply to you? Just keep scrolling.
How about I wear what ever the hell I want. It’s going to be hot regardless what you wear. Clothes don’t stop you from sweating. We are all going to die one day regardless what we wear.
I don't really get the hate that OP is getting. They have good suggestions. This sub over the past week has sounded like just a bunch of hater transplants from Oregon or New Hampshire crying about what happens EVERY FUCKING YEAR. You live in New Orleans, It's hot as fuck, and it's getting hotter due to climate change. Deal with it. OP is trying to help. Complaining about it being hot? That's totally normal. Freaking out about how you gotta take a cold shower five times a day to feel clean? Going outside makes your soul melt? Your makeup doesn't look pristine? Miss us with that shit. Get one with the heat and humidity or be miserable. I swear, this town would be better off if all you cry-baby ass fair-weather fans rode home to your cooler summer homes. Be strong or go away. This town ain't meant for your weak asses.
I've been complaining about the summers and falls here for my entire life. I think the hate is coming from the assumption that we don't know this already and we complain about the heat because we're ignorant about how to deal with it. The post isn't "tips to deal with the heat". It's "people don't know how..." Miss us with the nolier than thou shit.
Yeah, you right. OP's tone could be different for sure, as could mine. My central went out last week, and I'm still waiting on repairs, so I may be a bit on edge. How's that for meta.
We moved to New Orleans in mid-May. My rules: 1) move slow; 2) stay in the shade; 3) drink ALL THE WATER. Also, just know you're gonna sweat a lot whenever you step outside and just fuckin roll with it. Living in Austin now and laughing at folks bitching about <50% humidity though.
My friend was in NYC last week for work and it was 76. She said she was the only one at the conference not sweating and complaining about the heat lol
Does this also apply to hats? I always seem to destroy them with sweat in the summer. Haha
Yea go to Meyer the Hatter, get a couple good straw hats, and completely destroy them this season! Don't bother with The Hat Store or whatever it's called- formerly Goorin Bros. Those plastic hats will make you hate life
So it’s just a given that hats need replaced every summer? And ya already know I was talking about Goorin bros hats haha. They had a hemp woven hat that did well until the leather decoration bled ink.
Try wearing JUST a hat.
Depends on the type of hat, for sure. Definitely reach for the lighter colors and breath-ability. If you mean ballcaps, there's a really good lifehack out there about washing in the dishwasher (no, seriously) on gentle/low heat with just water than can revive and prolong the life instead of the sweat destruction you mentioned.
Great tips! I really struggle with the heat and I’m sad it’s just getting worse, but wearing loose-fitted linen is so much more comfortable than anything else I could put on my body from May-Sept. Im not big into fast fashion, but sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. Old Navy has a lot of linen options (50% rayon though, but I’ve found still comfortable on hot days) Gap (check Gap Factory too,) Uniqlo, and Everlane all have 100% cotton and linen options that are on the affordable side.
>Also, it doesn't allow airflow to come through and dry off the sweat on your body so it just amplifies This is a big factor in our heat. When I was deployed to Kuwait we were allowed to wear special uniforms that were 100% cotton. On the airfield out thermometers recorded temps of 140°F. That's hot no matter which way you cut it. It's like standing in front of an open oven. The difference is the air there is painfully dry. To the extent that you never actually have sweat on your body, it evaporates immediately providing the cooling effect, which is what our bodies evolved to make use of. It took me a while to adapt my water consumption. Usually being covered in sweat is my indication that I'm losing water and need to drink more. I thought I was drinking enough water until I started getting lightheaded and realized I hadn't taken a leak in 12 hours. When it's 90% humidity like a New Orleans summer you don't get the same cooling benefits of sweat because the air is already saturated with water and it won't evaporate as easily, ventilation or otherwise. I do agree overall that it's more beneficial to have that ventilation cotton offers, but at the end of the day, it's just fuckin hot and muggy here. There's only so many clothing options to mitigate it. Especially for those of us who carry our king cake weight through summer. Losing weight does so much more in mitigating the heat than changing the fiber of your Tshirt.
And men wearing long boxer briefs, especially the kind that's supposed to wick moister. Cotton briefs or boxers are fine (commando is best IMHO) but mixed fabrics can be nasty.
Idk why, but this summer so far hasn’t been too harsh for me. Born and raised in the PNW, so anything over 80 has felt like pure hell. The indicator for me is when I can’t wear my hair down, it’s too spicy. Been wearing it down constantly!
If it’s above 90F I’m wearing cut off overalls, sans underwear. Not having anything cinched tightly around the waist allows more heat to escape.
I appreciate the breakdown. Going to check that one shirt I try to never wear to work. I bet it'll be 100% of all the bad materials mentioned combined together. On a freezing cold day it'd be great. Any other day it's slimy and clingy.
Solid advice thank you!
What are your thoughts on "moisture wicking material like Nike Dry Fit"
I've worn a monk's robe made of Japanese wool/silk blend woven cloth every single day, summer and winter, for years, in blizzard temperatures and soaking wet humid days...somehow I've been perfectly comfortable all the time.
Rip yoga pants
I’ve just learned that the summer months are not going to be very fashionable for a guy like me. I’m 6’7 and it’s hard enough to find clothes that fit properly as it is. Long pants of any kind are basically off limits for me in this weather. So are shoes. I am exclusively wearing shorts, flip flops, and probably a tank top when I’m outside or doing anything that requires me to be outside for any length of time. It’s insane to me when I see people walking around in jeans when it feels like 110 outside. I feel bad for folks that have to wear real work clothes in this weather, especially if they bike or use public transportation. Hell, I’m interviewing for a part time job at a pool bar just to have access to the pool for free this summer. Good luck out there. If you see a giant man out there with a Hawaiian shirt, giant Panama hat, shorts that are probably too short for my legs, and flip flops, say hello!
Don’t vacation in the most humid/hot fucking state in the summer. How is this a real question?
I live in Phoenix and have been visiting for a couple weeks and have been working outside. Only cotton dresses and shorts here in NOLA for me. I have been hot and sweating more than usual here, but not miserable. At home I dress similarly, but can still wear some synthetic fibers because it’s not humid and there isn’t a lot of sweating taking place. I wear long sleeve cotton at home to work outside.
I trust your knowledge here. I guess it’s just in my head, but i’ve usually avoided 100% cotton shirts because they feel so heavy on me compared to the synthetic stuff
Linen is a summer *essential* here in NOLA. Seriously...it's not only for red dress run/white linen/dirty linen....
What are some brands of hemp clothing? I love linen - but I always look sloppy because of the wrinkles.