How to Wear a Suit in Hot Weather

Choosing the right fabric

There are so many fabrics available for your bespoke suit. However, not all fabrics are best for when the temperatures rise. Linen, cotton, and lightweight wool materials provide great natural options for a cool and breathable fabric that works well for hot days.

Linen suits are ideal for the hot summer months, as they are extremely thin and breathable. A natural fabric, linen suits are very comfortable to wear. Although cotton suits are a bit thicker than their linen cousins, cotton is also a natural material that’s not as prone to wrinkling as linen. Another warm weather fabric, wool is ideal for higher temperatures. Naturally absorbent and breathable, it’s ideal for events that may start during the warmer part of the day but last into the cooler nights.

Wool

• – Exceptionally soft and gentle on your skin due to it’s thin fine strands of fabric
• – Extremely lightweight, wool weighs less than other fabrics
• – Highly versatile for changes in temperature
• – Excellent for a variety of solid-coloured and patterned suits alike

Linen

• – Ideal for hot climates, linen is extremely breathable and the low thread count makes it cooler for warm months
• – One of the strongest natural fibers
• – Lightweight and comfortable, the hollow fibers allow more airflow compared to other materials
• – Perfect for informal and warm-weather events

Cotton

• – Highly versatile for casual occasions and different body types
• – Comfortably soft, moves, and breathes well but are more prone to creasing than wool
• – Flexible material makes cotton ideal for all body types
• – Excellent for solid-coloured and patterned suits alike

There are also many blended summer fabrics available. Suits made from a combination of linen and wool, cotton and woot, or cotton and lined are extremely breathable and comfortable. These versatile natural fabrics are ideal for summer weather and warmer climates.

Selecting the right colours

Not only is it essential to select the right colour to accentuate your look, it’s also important to choose the right colour for the temperature. The rule is pretty straightforward: the darker the colour of the suit, the hotter you will feel. The darker the colour of the fabric, the more heat it will absorb. For hotter temperatures, choose lighter colours (such as off white, tan, light blue, light grey).

Depending on the type of event, you can even choose bold colours to make a statement (such as salmon, light yellow, or mint green). However, for black tie and other formal events you may be limited in your colour choice (as black and navy blues are the general requirement). In this case, be sure to defer to fabric choice for warmer temperatures.

Wear the right shirt

As with your suit, the right material is essential for your suit shirt. Long sleeved suit shirts crafted from linen and 100% cotton will breathe easily, which will make you feel more comfortable during your event. Even though both cotton and linen wrinkle, your suit jacket will keep most of the wrinkles from becoming visible.

Add layers

Wait? Layering in the summer months? We must be crazy! The fact is, regardless of when you wear your suit, you’re going to sweat. In the summer months, you’re going to sweat a lot. We suggest layering a quality, short sleeved undershirt beneath your long sleeved suit shirt. A quality undershirt will absorb your sweat and help you feel more comfortable in your suit when the temperatures rise.

Pay attention to your shoes