How To Look Fresh And Clean This Summer

Don’t Look Like A Hot Mess This Summer

Posted by: Ali Jawin Filed in: style
10:00AM, Sunday July 5th 2009

As the humidity and temperature spike, so do our chances of heat-induced fashion problems. Every time I step onto a bus or subway or slide into a steaming car, my body sticks to the plastic on the seat and my clothes cling to my legs, delivering me to my destination stinky, clammy and busted-looking. But, no more! Here are a few ways to stay fresh and sweat-stain free.

Beware of Silk and Satin: These fabrics will betray you even faster than your high school nemesis. One tiny bead of sweat and the game is over. Cotton is your new best friend, because it absorbs sweat (and liquid spills if you are clumsy). If you are a heavy perspirer, go with darker colors that help masquerade stains. Plus, cotton jersey is totally wrinkle-free so you can still look poised after long commutes. [$79, Anne Taylor Loft]
Avoid Super Skinny Jeans and Other Forms of Tight Denim: I love my skinny jeans just as much as the next girl, but there is nothing worse than trying to peel yourself out of sweat-drenched denim…or the sweat stains that look like you peed your pants…either way, I have been there and it is not pretty. Save your skinny jeans ‘til the sun sets and things cool off. The airy silhouette of these harem pants make them perfect for summer. [$99, Cerulean, Intermix]
Carry Oil-Absorbing Blotting Paper: There is no way to actually avoid getting sweaty, but you can sure as hell hide the evidence. Oil-blotting papers take away all traces of grime without removing makeup and sunscreen (which I assume you are already wearing…) [$10, Boscia, Sephora]
Let Your Hair Do Its Thing: A small comb in your handbag lets you make a valiant attempt at redoing what the humidity has done to your hair. But let’s face it, your pin straight hair has other ideas. Admit defeat when the humidity is over 60 percent and let your hair curl, wave, or do its own funky thing. A drop or two of our new fave hair oil (Calista Tools Reclaim Styling Serum with Argan Oil) leaves you with sexy wave rather than bride-of-Frankenstein-frizz. [$35, Calista Tools,QVC]

comments

Emi
wrote on July 5 2009 @ 10:41 am: [report]

During the worst days of summer in Florida I typically try to stay inside as much as possible. I hate when it’s so humid it feels difficult to breath. Nice tips though!

juliePS
wrote on July 6 2009 @ 05:41 am: [report]

my other tip: layers! I commute on foot to work (about 3 miles round trip every day) and I sweat a LOT, but I’ve found that wearing multiple layers helps a lot. I use a sweat-wicking shirt (the kind of thing you’d wear to the gym) as a bottom layer and then a cotton shirt on top. The bottom layer absorbs all the sweat but doesn’t transfer it, so when I get to work, I take off the bottom layer and my top shirt is still cool and dry!

It sounds counterintuitive to wear MORE clothes when it’s hot, but to me at least it doesn’t feel any warmer or anything, plus added layers = more sun protection!

averardoll
wrote on July 6 2009 @ 06:00 am: [report]

The harem pants you showed we not too bad, but I see them as an unfortunate fad. Some styles are superbaggy and make you look like you have on a dirty diaper or old man butt.

retro chic
wrote on July 6 2009 @ 07:02 am: [report]

#1. LA extreme heat (I’m a weather wimp) gets cottony, accommodating lightweight knits for blotting and cooling, ie, t-shirts, tanks, etc. That includes longer skirts. I feel more air-conditioned flouncing around without looking burqa-like. This esp helps out on the desert (Palm Springs in 115°-118° heat) when visiting my father. That 25’ trek from the car to the house is a beech.

#3. Btw, if you can’t get your hands on the face-blotters, Target or such has minipacks of toilet seat liners that do the exact same thing in a pinch, are sanitary, and much cheaper, like $1 – cut or tear.

@juliePS: layers make total sense, as you said, for suncreening and cooling!