” How are you dressing tonight? I wear black », sings Yelle, even in summer. Yes, if common sense dictates that we wear light colors when it’s hot, some diehards of dark clothes don’t give up on black!
Why are black clothes hotter than white ones?
From a physical point of view, this stylistic choice has some disadvantages: where white reflects light, black absorbs it and transforms this energy into heat. In other words, the dark keeps you warm, but it can also help block some UV rays (however, it does not in any way give up sun protection worthy of the name on the parts of the body exposed to the sun).
Should we then give up all hope of wearing our favorite color of clothes in the summer? On the contrary!
Often cited as an example, the Bedouins (Arab peoples who live off ruminant breeding in the deserts of Arabia, Syria, Sinai and the Sahara) know how to wear sometimes dark clothes without dying of heat.
An Israeli study cited by the magazine says so For sciencethese nomads cleverly layer colors to create a form of automatic ventilation by thermal convection effect: a light garment next to the skin, topped by a much looser dark garment. From the inside, the former repels body heat against the latter, which absorbs it, as well as blocking UV rays from outside.
These physical questions are joined by those of the materials and cuts to choose from carefully so as not to die of heat when you wear black in the summer.
What materials should be preferred for black summer dresses?
With polyester and viscose, which do not absorb humidity (therefore they leave to soak in sweat which can then cause bad smells, as well as halos), it is better to favor cotton, linen, silkor a blend of these natural materials.
Cotton has the advantage of being inexpensive, easy to find and absorbing moisture, preventing bad smells.
More expensive (and therefore often mixed with polyester or viscose to bring the price down), lLinen is also lighter and dries faster than cotton., making it the ideal material for summer. If it can immediately show a crumpled and rustic look, this is fully part of its charm, which connoisseurs will recognize as a guarantee of quality, and not negligence! It should also be noted that it is a particularly ecological material, produced locally in Europe (and often also in France, the world’s leading producer).
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even more expensive, silk is naturally thermoregulatory and therefore offers a feeling of perpetual freshness. It’s best to choose parts from this expensive material that don’t wear out too quickly! For a silk-like appearance, lyocell (also called tencel) is a man-made material that makes a great alternative, greener and less smelly than viscose.
More surprisingly, wool also works wonders in the summer, since it is also thermoregulator, as well as being naturally antibacterial and therefore anti-odour. So opting for a light merino wool t-shirt for the summer may be wise.
What cuts of black dresses to adopt in summer to feel cool?
In terms of cuts, wearing black in the summer is more bearable straight, preferably loose, rather than tight-fitting clothes — precisely to prevent the heat absorbed by the dark-colored fabric from keeping you too warm.
In summary, of coursein summer you can wear black, provided it is not too tight-fitting clothing, and even less synthetic materials such as polyester. And long live black dresses, loose, opaque or not, in natural materials such as cotton, linen, lyocell, silk or even wool!
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For a total black look that does not lack vivacity, consider varying the effects of materials and textures, to bring relief, for example by betting on an airy linen top, tucked into a straighter cotton skirt or boxy leather shorts, and canvas sneakers, espadrilles or sandals. Summer just has to hold on.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
