1.Keep your clothes loose. The looser, the better. The less fabric you have actually touching your body, the cooler you will be. Believe it or not, a loose and and flowing maxi dress will keep you cooler than a pair of shorts and a skintight tank.
2. Skip the padded bra in favor of a soft, unlined bralette. Three inches of foam padding + a hot summer day = major boob sweat.
3. Avoid flimsy fabrics if you don't want your clothes to stick to your body. Lightweight fabrics are great for hot weather, but they need to have a little structure so that they don't just cling to your body the second you start to sweat.
4. Layer with open-weave knits. That way you will be able to feel every glorious, cooling breeze.
5. Choose clothes in natural fabrics. Cotton, for instance, is much more breathable than polyester or rayon. It's also better at absorbing sweat and dries faster, which means you won't feel sweaty as long as you would if your clothes were made of synthetic fabric.
6. Take a nice, hot shower to lower your body temperature, and wash off any dirt and dead skin cells that could be making you hotter. A cold shower might feel more satisfying in the moment, but your body will react by actually raising your internal temperature. You'll find yourself sweating again before you've even left the house.
7. Make sure your clothes are as fresh and clean as you are. Rewearing your clothes between washes is a great way to avoid doing laundry, but even light wear leaves dirt, sweat, skin cells, and cosmetics trapped in the fibers of your clothes, which makes them less breathable and you hotter.
8. Avoid embellishments — particularly heavy embellishments like beading or anything made of metal. Embellishments weigh your clothes down so they are closer to your skin, trapping body heat. They're also just another layer between your skin and the next cooling breeze.
9. Bring shade with you wherever you go by wearing a wide-brimmed hat or carrying a lightweight, woven scarf in your bag. Drape the scarf over your shoulders or head whenever you feel like you are getting a bit too much sun. It's so lightweight that you'll barely feel it.
10. Only wear unlined jackets, skirts, and dresses. Not only is a lining one more layer between your skin and the air, it's often synthetic, which mean it won't breathe well and will leave you feeling like you are walking around inside your own private sauna.
11. Stick to light colors. Dark colors absorb light and make you that much hotter while light colors reflect light and help keep you cool.
12. Wear as little jewelry as possible. Earrings are fine because they don't really touch much of your skin, but necklaces, bracelets, and rings can often be more trouble than they're worth once temperatures start to rise. Lightweight chains stick to your skin, heavy necklaces trap your shirt against your chest, metals get hot, and bracelets cover your wrists, which are a major cooling point on your body.
