When the weather is hot and humid, choosing the right clothing to keep you cool is a must. Dresses are a very popular type of garment for summer because they are light and airy, less constraining than pants and available in a wide variety of styles and lengths. While the length and style of a dress can play a role in how comfortable it is, the fabric it is made of truly determines how much you will enjoy wearing it. These are some of the best fabrics for easy-to-wear, cool and comfortable summer dresses.

Cotton 

Cotton is one of the most popular fabrics for summer and is used for many types of garments. It is ideal for summer dresses because it is breathable and absorbs moisture very well. This helps keep the skin feeling cool and dry even on the hottest days. Cotton feels soft against the skin and is available in a variety of different weights.

Cotton fabric is durable and can be machine-washed regularly. It is also very affordable, which makes it easy to find different styles of cotton summer dresses that will keep you feeling cool and comfortable all season long. Eyelet, poplin and Swiss dotted cotton fabrics are often used for summer dresses.

Linen 

Linen is another fabric that is perfect for summer dresses. Linen is soft to the touch and often has different textures that make it even more suitable for summer dresses. This fabric also absorbs moisture and dries quickly so that perspiration is barely noticeable. 

Linen fabrics allow air to pass through them easily, which makes it a wonderful choice for an airy, flowing summer dress. Some linens are more delicate to wrinkling and should be hand washed and air dried. However, in recent years, some linen fabrics have been developed that can be machine dried on a low setting with little to no creasing.

Rayon 

Rayon is also a favorite fabric choice for cool, summer dresses. Dresses made of rayon are light, flowing and very comfortable. However, rayon is a more delicate fabric than both cotton and linen. It is best to have it dry cleaned to avoid damaging the fibers.

When choosing the best fabric for your summer dresses, give some thought to where and how frequently you will be wearing them. If you expect to wear casual dresses on a daily basis and may need to wash them often, cotton and linen are the best choices. However, for those special occasions when you want to look more dressy while remaining cool and comfortable, rayon will meet your needs perfectly.