With summer speeding by at a seemingly rapid pace, and the seasonal sun shining as bright as ever, keeping cool and looking stylish under the pressure can become a tricky affair...until now.
Look on the racks at most of your upscale, downtown or urban retail fashion chains and you will see florals, stripes, loud colors, muted hues; all designed to entice you into a sale that may look cool and refreshing, but wind up being uncomfortably hot and frustratingly hard to care for.
After the fuchsia petals and turquoise tribal prints have lured you to touch, pull out the content label and find out what you are really working with. If it is not a cotton, linen, rayon, bamboo or mesh, you might want to search a little harder.
It's not to say that some denims or silks are not apropos for the summer heat, it is just that the ones mentioned above offer little more of a guarantee from sweat stained tops and sticky bottoms that make you want to strip down right where you are standing. When you are out and about in the summer, why not look fashionable while feeling cool and carefree.
1. Cotton: From
cotton seersucker to cotton gauze to just plain old cotton, the fibers of this plant are probably the most popular for not only the warm summer months, but year round. A lightweight cotton with absorbent fibers whisks away moisture from the body while at the same time offering a breathable protective barrier between the sun and your body. Available in several different weaves, natural cotton material is also durable and easy to care for.
2. Linen: Another natural plant fiber, linen can be heavyweight or light, loose weave or tight, worn in summer or winter in style. For the summer months try a lightweight linen for a fashionable look and feel that never seems to loose its popularity. Though sometimes temperamental when it comes to wrinkles, a blended material of 55% linen / 45% cotton offers more wearing ease and can be laundered as well, saving time and money from expensive dry cleaning.
3. Polyester: Wrinkle resistant, cool, easy to dry and available in an assortment of prints and weaves, polyester has revamped itself over the years and is now more popular than ever for summer wear as well as year round. From polyester seersucker to 100% polyester, you can easily find just the right look and feel for those hot humid days and cool summer nights with this transitional fabric. 4. Bamboo: Like
kona cotton, hemp, and
seacell fabrics, bamboo is a natural fiber. Breathable and cool due to it porous fibers,
bamboo fabrics absorb nearly three times more moisture than cotton leaving you cool and carefree even as your body temperature rises. Resistant to odor retention, this naturally anti-bacterial fabric is also ideal for long days in the hot summer sun. When you are looking for a fabric that is attractive and practical, look no further than bamboo.
5. Mesh: Usually made from polyester or
nylon, mesh fabric looks like netting but with more durability. Most popularly used for sport jerseys, active wear, and swimwear cover ups, mesh is about as open aired as you can get when it comes to material. While it wont fully protect your body from the rays of the sun, it will offer somewhat of a breathable barrier, especially while at the shore. Mesh is easy to care for and will last for some time.
Posts by J&O
Fabrics StoreLabels: bamboo-fabric, cotton-fabric, linen-fabric, mesh-material, organic-fabric, polyester-fabric, seersucker, summer-fabric, summer-fashion
If you are looking for a natural, versitile fabric available in an array of colors, wieghts, and blends...why not try Linen. Linen is a natural fabric made from the fibers of the
Flax plant. Once milled, it can be used to create beautiful garments, drapery & upholserty for your home decor.
Below is a list of the linens I have used and some of the characteristics of each:
Raw Linens- If you are looking to create a garment with a textured look & feel to it, this rough & piled material is perfect. While it requires special cleaning to prevent shrinkage, you'll appreciate the uniqueness of its rough yet flexible weaves.
Linen Solids- For those of us who prefer a more refined fabric against our body, linen solids are a wonderful option. Historically worn by the wealthy because of its price & prestige, it is now available to the majority in not only dress, but casual wear as well. While some opt to dry-clean, many linen solids can be washed and air-dried to prevent shrinkage.
Linen-Blends- Out of all the Linens, this one is my prefered choice. It has the desired look & feel of a linen solid, without the hassle of wrinkles and shrinkage. With its breathable fibers and various wieghts, it is great for creating garments that can be worn year round. If you are planning a vacation or going on holiday, and are looking for pieces to pack in your little suitcase that are versitile and ready to wear, look for clothing made from this material. Available in combinations of rayon, polyester or cotton, linen blends are a great solution.
Poly-Lin- Holiday season is coming up and what better fabric to showcase your dinner spread than this blend of polyester and linen. With a look & feel of a medium weight linen, this fabric also provides you with a durability perfect for the wear & tear of hungry hands. Poly-Lin is wrinkle free to allow for convenient wash and lay on that busy day.
Labels: fabric-description, Linen, linen-blends, linen-fabric, linen-solids, poly-lin, raw-linen