Polyester elastane fabric properties

Sweaty people of the world, it is, once again, time to unite, on our quest for the best fabrics for sweating. In most parts of the country, we are leaving behind the warm breezes of springtime for the hellish temperatures of the American summer and, if you're really lucky, smothering humidity. Truly, for those of us with overactive sweat glands, this only means one thing — embarrassing amounts of salt water exiting through our pores at all times.

However, excessive perspiration and awkwardly positioned sweat marks can be combatted if we curate our summer wardrobes wisely, focusing on warm weather friendly fabrics and leaving any and all sweat inducing materials behind.

Sure, everybody sweats, but not everybody has to like it and when the heat index rises, it can feel like clothing that is not a bathing suit and is comfortable does not exist. An event as simple as a summertime BBQ can quickly make the turn into perspiration station and I have yet to meet anyone who has been super stoked about mingling with visible under-boob sweat. Don't even get me started on trying to sit down and stand back up — the swamp ass struggle is real.

Yet, it is actually possible to enjoy the summer months in all their outdoor activity glory, even as a sweaty person. We must stand in solidarity and choose our wardrobes wisely! In the spirit of increased temperatures, but decreased excessive public sweating, let's break down the do's and don'ts of summertime fabric and avoid the stress of warm weather dressing.

Cotton Versus Polyester

As all sweaty girls know, there is no such thing as glowing, especially when you are straight up sweating in a garment that has no breathability. To avoid trapping your perspiration and intensifying the issue, opt for clothing that is made of a lightweight cotton fabric, whether it's a dress or top. It really is the fabric of our (sweaty girl) lives.

DO: Wear cotton whenever possible. A good quality, lightweight cotton is one of the most breathable fabrics around so it will allow a little airflow for drying out the dampness. Also, cotton is a natural fiber, so it absorbs moisture, rather than repelling it. Just try to steer clear of bold colors if you don't want the underarms of your bright pink shirt absorbing your pit sweat for all the world to see.

DON'T: Choose clothes with a polyester base fabric. While it is one of the most commonly used manmade fabrics thanks to its durability, in the summertime, durability equals water resistant, which means zero absorption of perspiration. Lots of sweat with nowhere to go could cause irritation and overall discomfort.

Linen Versus Rayon

Amen, Charlotte. Amen. If you want to avoid sweating like a Louisiana princess wearing a ball gown in the dead of a Southern summer, be sure to, once again, focus on natural fibers instead of synthetic ones, even those that are commonly said to keep you cool.

DO: Choose pants, dresses and shorts in a lightweight linen. Like our other fabric friend cotton, linen is created from natural fibers so it is super absorbent with a fast drying time — perfect for when your clothes do come in contact with your sweaty self. Also, it tends to be relaxed, so it won't cling to your body. Linen does often get a bad rep for its tendency to easily wrinkle, so if this is a concern, choose a linen blend for both excellent absorption and anti-wrinkle.

DON'T: Be tricked into wearing rayon. Rayon is widely marketed as an easy-breezy fabric that will keep you cool when the temperatures rise. While this fabric won't trap the heat and is usually lightweight, it is not a persistently sweaty person's friend. Because it is made out of synthetic fibers, just like polyester, it too repels rather than absorbs water, which — in the realest terms — means your sweat will be pooling up in all the wrong places.