Warming Up to Summer Fashions

(ARA) - During the steamy summer months, it seems to defy logic that wearing more clothing can actually help keep you cool. But stylish innovations in fabrics, and a few common sense tips, can help you beat the heat without feeling the burn.

Fabrics that help disperse perspiration are great to beat the heat. You don't want clothing that will stay wet. Breathable fabrics that pull moisture from your body and evaporate quickly are best. Cotton is a fiber that naturally helps absorb sweat to keep you cool. Advances in textiles allow for synthetic lightweight, wickable fabrics which move moisture from the skin to the outside of clothing and encourage evaporation.

It isn't a coincidence that summer fashions are usually lighter colors. Dark colors absorb heat, making you warmer than you need to be. Light colors reflect the sun and help to keep you cooler. While color choices will regulate your temperature, it isn't always as helpful in protecting you from the sun's UV radiation. The more translucent or see-through the fabric is, the less sun protection the fabric provides.

The apparel industry now offers a wide range of sun protective clothing. These lines list an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value that tells you how much protection the garment gives you, much like sunscreen. Find a balance between coverage with clothing and sunscreen. Loose, lightweight garments and hats during peak sun hours and shorts, skirts, and dresses once the overhead sun has gone down are good choices.

Hot weather style is for everyone these days. Shorts come in all styles from cut-offs to Bermudas. Choose a style that works with your shape and not only will you stay cool, you will look fabulous. The same can be said of swimsuits. Flattering styles, such as the tankini, are made for every body type. Padding for smaller busts or shelf bras for the ample put curves in all the right places. With styles like boy shorts, ruffled bottoms, high cut and string bikinis, the list is "bottomless".

According to Aleta Campbell, Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing and Management academic director for California Design College, "If the climate is hot and dry, consider the activity one will be participating in. If sporting activities are on the agenda, think synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon and polypropylene. Today these fibers when designed for active wear dry faster and can be lighter in weight (due to wicking characteristics)."

More serious engagements like a job interview or business presentation require a cool, calm exterior persona despite the temperature. Fabrics that resist wrinkles and moisture and put forth a more polished appearance help to make a great first impression. Robert Lindquist, professor of business at Argosy University, Orange County campus says it is better to over dress than under dress. A light wool suit with a starched cotton short sleeved shirt can be dressed up or down as the occasion and climate dictates. "When in doubt, dress to the nines. You can always take off a layer as needed, but you can not fix being under dressed," Lindquist says.

Add an extra element of style by choosing natural fibers such as cotton and flax (linen) as they are often used in upscale spectator sports wear and can be very comfortable. Natural fibers absorb moisture and cool the body as the fabric dries.

Before resigning yourself to an air conditioned summer surrounded by walls, consider your options. Make some realistic, practical fashion purchases and enjoy your summer under the sun in the great outdoors.

To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz. To learn more about Argosy University and its 18 campus locations, visit www.argosy.edu.

Courtesy of ARAcontent