After battling the heat in Phoenix all summer, Jill Schildhouse, a 44-year-old freelance journalist, made a decision to give up on nearly all of her nice dresses and almost every garment made from fabrics that weren’t breathable. To the back of the closet went the polyester, the rayon and the denim. They were replaced by activewear with spandex. “I am less concerned about getting one of those outfits all sweaty, versus a nice dress or other garment made from less breathable fabrics,” Schildhouse says.

As temperatures around the world climb and lots of offices are staying closed due to the ongoing pandemic, cooler dressing has become more popular. Clothes that don’t make you break out in a sweat are quickly becoming an important part of daily uniforms. Designers are meeting that demand, creating everything from dresses to blouses with sweat-wicking in mind.

In a three-month period over this spring and summer, there’s been a 19 percent year-over-year increase in new sweat-wicking activewear arriving at fast-fashion brands’ online sites, according to Edited, a retail market intelligence platform. Shorts had the highest sell-through rate in the bottoms category in the U.S. this spring and summer, and cycling shorts continue to be a coveted item for sports and leisure, says Kayla Marci, a Melbourne-based market analyst for Edited. 

Aday, the New York City- and L.A.-based company known for its capsule wardrobe collections, has also seen the trend. “We focused on a problem that’s universal and no secret: Summer gets hot,” Nina Faulhaber, the co-CEO and co-founder of Aday says. The company’s site emphasizes that their clothing is wrinkle-resistant, durable and breathable.

The brand’s summer-inspired clothing is made from cool weave (a lightweight fabric made from more than 50 percent recycled materials) intended to keep you cooler than other performance fabrics. The clothing is also sweat-wicking and quick-drying and offers UV protection. 

ADAY shirt, $145, thisisaday.com.

Photo: Courtesy of ADAY

Aday’s top-selling products have historically been the Something Borrowed Shirt  ($145) and the Easy Days Pants ($155), both of which use technical fabrics including elastane and polyester. In July, Aday says it saw record revenues due to two temperature-informed decisions. It launched its Soft Serve Capsule, a five-piece collection that promises to dry off quickly and keep you cool. Its best-selling Something Borrowed Shirt also got revamped into a loose-fitting shirtdress.

Like those at Aday, the dresses from HVN are courting customers who want to dress up and not melt down. HVN’s line focuses primarily on dresses, and it’s known for its 100 percent silk dresses ($595). Recently, the company says it’s had a big uptick in sales of its breathable stretch cotton dresses ($495).

“The great thing about these cotton dresses is that you can run around in them all day with sandals or sneakers, no matter the weather—but they can be elevated in the evening with a block sandal or heel,” says Harley Viera-Newton, the owner and creative director of the Los Angeles-based line HVN. 

HVN dress, $395, hvnlabel.com.

Photo: Courtesy of HVN

While outerwear may be snagging most of the attention, underwear has also undergone a transition. Performance underwear has shifted over the past few years into comfort first, with companies using fabrics that are sweat-wicking and hypoallergenic. 

Live The Process, a fashion brand that launched eight years ago, has attempted to marry the need for lightweight clothing and stylish design. “How can you create a collection that is both functional, meaning ‘meant to work out in and sweat-wicking,’ but chic enough to wear on the streets?” asked Robyn Berkley, the co-founder of the New York City company. 

She helped create an activewear collection that’s designed to be layered so consumers can go to the gym and then continue on to their day without changing. The Orion Bra ($88) and Orion Short ($128) are among the company’s bestsellers. They are made from Supplex and Lycra, have four-way stretch and sweat wicking. Live The Process recently added knitwear to its collections to accent the activewear. 

Berkley suggests wearing shorts or pants over a bodysuit plus a cardigan to create the ideal outfit for any place or temperature.

Marguerite Wade, the founder and designer of Full Court Sport, an athletic-apparel company in New York City, says consumers have become more interested in what fabrics can do and not just how they look. She mentions moisture wicking and sun blocking as two of those chief concerns. “What was once limited to a very niche market has become available from high fashion to mass market, and people are here for it,” Wade says.

Companies are now making underwear that incorporates natural fibers like bamboo, which pulls sweat away from your body. Many consumers think of athletic wear when they hear the term sweat-wicking, but it’s become more common for every type of fabric and every style of clothing, says Mary Young, the CEO and designer of Mary Young, based in Toronto.

“We no longer make excuses for wearing uncomfortable clothing because it’s stylish or because we can’t find alternative options,” Young says.

A Chiller Wardrobe

A selection of fashionable wardrobe additions to make sure you keep things cool in the warmer months ahead.

Valentino top, $1,250, mytheresa.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Valentino

Tory Burch skirt, $158, toryburch.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Tory Burch

Merlette pants, $420, merlettenyc.com

Photo: Courtesy of Merlette

Mary Young underwear, $45, maryyoung.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Mary Young

Live The Process shorts, $128, livetheprocess.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Live The Process

Fil De Vie dress, $853, matchesfashion.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Fil De Vie

Louis Vuitton polo bodysuit, $2,170, louisvuitton.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Attersee top, $345, shopattersee.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Attersee