I am fed up with cotton dress shirts in the London summer

[jellofountain]

Hello. I used to be a Charles Tyrwhitt man through and through before I developed an interest in menswear. They were always too hot in the summer so I graduated to better quality need-to-iron shirts made from higher quality cotton fabrics. The problem I seem to have is no matter what weave or how high the quality of cotton, I am still soaked with sweat after getting off the tube. I purchased some, linen, linen/cotton and tencel/cotton blend shirts and all of these seem to perform better in the humidity and don't cling to my skin. What material combination do you like best and what is empirically the most breathable?

 

[Bankers_Stripes]

Well I never wear them (though I probably should given I live in Florida) but 100% linen shirts are empirically always the most breathable. Definitely better than cotton.

 

[barutanseijin]

Linen all the way.

 

[wegimental]

I experienced London in August 2003, visiting for most of that month. It rivaled Atlanta and Charleston in the USA as far as actual heat and humidity. That year London held the UK record for heat until recently. I now live in the Washington DC area which is also - shall we say -less than comfortable. I vote, with the boldest stroke possible, for linen. It is worth every moment or money spent getting it pressed and yes one wearing and you need another but still worth it. I wear linen with my seersucker suit and Spectators and remain as comfortable as one can.

 

[rjc149]

Being uncomfortable and sweating while wearing dress clothes in hot weather is just something I've accepted as part of wearing dress clothes. If it's hot out, you're going to sweat. No weave or fabric is going to prevent that.

I wear Charles Tyrwhitt dress shirts in the NYC subway, and not to tit-for-tat, but we're talking 120 degrees F in the summer on those platforms. Hot enough to be a public health hazard. I just accept that it's going to be highly unpleasant for a brief spell and will be immediately relieved once I step into an air-conditioned subway car.

 

[Concordia]

Cotton can be a problem-- and the better the quality, the worse it gets. The last thing you want in heat and humidity is a silky-smooth 200s fabric trapping moisture. You will get soaked in no time, and quite miserable. London's humidity is surprisingly toxic, as it will ruin your clothes at almost anything over 72 degrees Fahrenheit. The thermometer says one thing, but the heat index will tell another story.

If you do cotton, look for more porous and less sheer varieties. 3-ply is one option, and seersucker can be surprisingly good. Some books use "zephir" as part of their name.

Otherwise, linen is the key. Blends with linen and cotton can offer either the best of both fibers or the worst. See what you think. Beyond that, Irish linen will make you happiest, if you like the look.

 

[wegimental]

It is also documented that the Guards of King George the III in London, when asked for any volunteers to go to the American colonies in June 1776, filled the levy overnight. The primary reason according to letters and diaries was to escape London's summer. Imagine the treat they got when they arrived in New York in August 1776! But maybe not so bad for as long as they stayed near the harbor.

 

[Concordia]

Skyscrapers and asphalt were less of a problem in those days. It would be interesting to see what temperatures got recorded then.

 

[notdos]

I live in the Southeastern US where heat and high humidity are the rule. I’ve found that wearing a cotton undershirt really helps to wick moisture which helps with evaporational cooling.

Phillip

 

[grippybananas]

In Singapore here, I prefer sticking to cotton. I don't really like wrinkling of linen.

To avoid sweat stains on my back, Ive an airism undershirt from uniqlo