The 15 Best Cooling Shirts You Need to Survive a Sweaty Summer

Summertime, and the livin’ is...a sweat fest. Ew. If only it were as easy as singing an Ella Fitzgerald song to transform sticky summers into something nice and breezy. Enter: cooling shirts. If you’re wondering what the heck that is, well, it’s just like it sounds. These shirts are made of fabrics that are known for their moisture-wicking, quick-drying abilities. (And, with some tech, also fight against odors.) That includes materials such as the classic linen and cotton, plus silk, hemp and seersucker, to name a few. And the best part is, the options are stylish and not always the frumpy, practical long-sleeve cover-up with UPF 50+. (Though we’re not knocking them.) These are shirts you can wear to the beach, the office, running errands, on a hike—basically, in every facet of your life during the sweltering summer months. Here, we’ve pulled 15 of the best cooling shirts, from our overall favorite, the versatile Lilly Pulitzer Briette Top ($98) to beach cover-ups, staple white tees and outdoor wear. Plus, textile experts break down the different types of cooling fabrics and what makes them so great.

• Best Overall: Lilly Pulitzer Briette Top ($98)
• Double Duty Cover Up: Rails Charli Button Up ($178)
• The Going Out Top: Quince Silk Cami ($40)
• The Work Shirt: J.Crew Linen Cottage Top ($98)
• Best with SPF: Outdoor Research Astroman Sun Shirt ($89)

• Julie Willoughby, PhD, is the chief scientific officer at Circ, a US-based mixed textile recycling innovator. Prior to joining Circ, Willoughby served as a professor in textile engineering and color science at NC State University and as a director of manufacturing innovation at Nike.
• Frej Lewenhaupt is a textile expert and the co-founder/CEO of Steamery, a Scandinavian clothing care brand whose product range includes steamers, fabric shavers, laundry products and clothing brushes. Lewenhaupt holds a degree in textile engineering from the University of Borås in Sweden.
• Laurie Fulford is the executive laundry pro at Poplin, an on-demand, nation-wide laundry service.

In order to choose the best cooling shirts, we evaluated editor favorites and buyer reviews of popular picks, assessing the following qualities:

• Material: is it made of the expert-recommended fabrics?
• Functionality: where can you wear it, and for what activities?
• Style: because we want to look cool and cute.
• Value: price versus quality of the product.

According to Lewenhaupt, the best fabrics for hot weather will have moisture-wicking fibers that encourage sweat to evaporate. The fibers in the fabric, plus the structure or weave, affects clothing’s ability to promote air flow and transport moisture. “[Good fabrics] will adjust your body temperature and help you stay cool in warm weather,” he adds. “Linen is a top choice for cool fabrics to wear in hot weather conditions. It is less absorbent than cotton, it dries quickly and it feels pleasantly airy to wear.”

“As a general rule, I recommend you stay away from synthetic fabrics like polyester, acrylic and nylon in hot and humid weather conditions since these materials tend to trap moisture and odors,” Lewenhaupt advises. “These synthetic materials are not very breathable and will trap heat and make you feel warm.” When shopping, keep these materials in mind instead:

Linen

“Linen fibers are naturally moisture wicking due to their inherent morphology,” Willoughby notes. Because of the rougher, porous shape, linen fibers have ridges, which facilitate the quick movement of moisture through the fabric. Additionally, linen is strengthened by moisture, which allows the fibers to swell. She also shares that linen has antimicrobial properties, thanks to the polymers lignin and hemicellulose.

“Due to the thermal regulation nature of linen, it would be an excellent choice in warmer temperatures,” she says. “The lignin component in linen serves as both an antibacterial and strengthening agent in clothing. These characteristics make linen clothing extremely durable, increasing the lifetime of linen garments versus cotton garments.”

Cotton

“Cotton staple yarn tends to have more stretch than linen, though linen is more durable,” Willoughby notes. Like linen, cotton is less susceptible to odor because its fibers are able to resist absorbing odorous molecules.  However, do note that cotton might not be the best exercise clothing, as it is more fragile than linen and excessive washing will weaken the fibers. Additionally, because cotton is good at retaining moisture, your next sweat sesh will be soggy if you opt for a cotton T-shirt.

Silk

Lewenhaupt recommends silk as another breezy summer fabric choice that won’t stick to your skin. However, it can be hard to hand wash, so be sure to pick up some washable silk or brush up on your handwashing skills.

Lyocell

Though Lewenhaupt warns against synthetic fabrics, he makes the exception for lyocell, which is made of wood cellulose. It shares many characteristics of cotton and silk, including breathability.

Seersucker

“Seersucker is a type of cotton produced through a unique weaving technique that results in a textured surface which helps promote enhanced airflow,” Lewenhaupt explains. Willoughby adds that the structure of the weaving creates air pockets in the fabric that promote natural ventilation.

Hemp

Hemp is another good cooling fabric that shares many properties with linen. "[It] is frequently combined with cotton to produce a more comfortable blended fabric,” Lewenhaupt says. “Similar to linen, hemp imparts a refreshing sensation upon contact, as it possesses the ability to breathe and absorb moisture without feeling damp.”

However, note that a good deal of sportswear is made from synthetic fabrics, which incorporate technology that allow them to share properties of the materials above—in addition to fighting against odors. So, it’s not all bad.

“The biggest rule of thumb you want to keep in mind when you are washing your moisture-wicking clothing, such as athletic wear, is that you want to protect the fibers of the clothing so that they continue to do their job,” Fulford explains. “Keep your clothes as dry as possible and dry quickly.”

Fulford advises adhering to the care instructions on your clothing. When washing, she separates moisture-wicking clothing from the pile and uses less detergent. Too much can damage the fibers, she says.

“If these loads of laundry are extra smelly, you can add a cup of white vinegar to the load, along with the small amount of detergent. This will help get your athletic wear smelling fresh and clean again,” she advises. “Always wash athletic wear and any moisture- wicking clothing in cold water only. If possible, hang dry these items. If this is not an option and you need to use your dryer, use the lowest heat setting available.”

Some things to avoid? Skip the fabric softener, which can ruin the moisture-wicking effect, and don’t procrastinate on laundry. Doing so will make it tougher to remove odors.

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