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Monday, July 6, 2009

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Beat the heat with cool summer fabrics I was watching the new television show "The Fashion Show" this weekend and one of the challenges for aspiring designers was to decipher higher quality designer pieces from lower quality bargain brands where both items looked very similar to the naked eye. On the show, the designers were able to recognize the higher end pieces, which for the common man isn't usually case. But one thing to always remember is that aside from construction and the details — the easiest way to tell a well-made, high-end garment from a lesser priced one is in the choice of fabric. Considering the fabric your piece is constructed of is very important when choosing a garment. Not only does the type of fabric used affect the visual quality and longevity of the garment, it also affects your comfort level while wearing it. This week is all about choosing the best fabrics to beat the heat this summer. Lightweight and light-colored are the two golden rules when it comes to choosing fabrics to stay cool during our sweltering summer months. Have you ever seen someone wearing a long-sleeved sweater in the summer heat and it looked so uncomfortable it made you hot? Well, lightweight fabrics allow cool air to pass freely through the garment to your body, and light-colored fabrics help to reflect sunlight and heat which also helps to keep the body cool. Natural fibers such as cotton, linen and rayon are best for hot, humid weather because they are breathable and absorb sweat. This absorption quality keeps perspiration away from your body and in turn keeps you dry and comfortable. Here's the rundown on these three super fabrics fit for the summer. Cotton Cotton truly is the fabric of our lives. For many Bahamians, if they open their closet they will find that the majority of their clothing is made either of 100 percent cotton or a cotton blend. Cotton is lightweight and absorbs sweat. It's also breathable which allows heat to easily escape from the body which helps to keep you cool. But you should remember cotton does wrinkle a little. To offset this problem, opt for a cotton polyester blend, and one that has a larger percentage of cotton and a small percentage of polyester which will give you all the benefits of cotton with limited wrinkles since polyester does not require ironing. Linen Linen is a natural vegetable fiber made from the flax plant, and a great conductor of heat and a crisp, cool fabric for the summer. It is two to three times stronger than cotton which makes it long lasting and durable. In addition to being cool, linen attracts little to no lint. However, it has very little elasticity which makes it wrinkle very easily. To tackle the wrinkles — opt to hang linen garments out to dry instead of tumble drying and iron them while they are slightly damp which is the easiest method to remove wrinkles in this fabric. You can also opt for a cotton linen blend which will wrinkle substantially less than a pure linen garment. Linen is very absorbent and can quickly remove perspiration from the body without readily feeling damp. Rayon Rayon is widely considered a semi-natural fiber because it is derived from regenerated cellulose, however it requires extensive processing to become rayon. It is actually more absorbent that cotton and linen which makes it ideal for tropical climates like ours. Rayon drapes well and has good elasticity which makes it easy to care for and very forgiving on the body. These characteristics also make it perfect for summer maternity wear as well. Its softness and comfort is desirable for warm weather climates. You don't have to give up style for comfort this summer season. Choosing natural fabrics that are durable, breathable and comfortable will help to keep you cool and chic all summer long. Tuesday June 9, 2009