What to Wear in 100-degree Weather
As a life-long Idahoan (with a short stint in Utah), I am no stranger to the summer heat and especially 100-degree weather! It’s common for Boise to reach or exceed 100°F a few times every summer, but the summer of 2024 has been especially brutal so far (much like 2022)—we’ve had 18 days at or above 100°F and 10 of those days were at or above 105°F (including today). For reference, the all-time record high in Boise is 111°F! 🥵
Luckily for us, even though we do get these insanely hot temperatures (and they are no joke!), we don’t have the humidity to go along with it. Humidity can make any heat a million times worse! I’ve never sweat as much as I did in Key West back in 2017 when the high temperature was 91°F and the heat index (which takes into account the 77°F dew point) was 105°F!!!
If you’ve ever struggled with what to wear in 100-degree weather, this post is for you! Below, I rounded up the best items to wear in triple digit heat as well as 12 hot weather outfit ideas to inspire you, including a couple you could wear to work.
READ NEXT: What to Wear for Summer in Idaho
What to Wear in 100-degree Weather
Clothing Made From Natural Fibers
Linen is natural and breathable and is the best fabric to wear in summer heat. Cotton is another great natural fabric. Natural fibers are the most breathable and will help keep you cool in the heat. Be sure to AVOID polyester and other man-made materials, as they will trap heat, moisture (sweat), and odor.
You might be wary of linen because it wrinkles very easily. I found that it’s just something you have to embrace. It’s a feature, not a bug! If you’re not keen on wrinkles, look for garments made from a linen blend (like linen blended with cotton or another natural fiber) that will help cut down on the wrinkles.
Loose, Lightweight Clothing
Now that you know to look for clothes made of breathable, natural materials, also keep an eye out for loose, lightweight clothing. You want as little fabric touching your body as possible so you have good airflow! I love swingy tops, boxy tee and tanks, shift dresses (or anything non-waisted), A-line or flare skirts, straight or wide leg pants, loose shorts, etc.
Loose and lightweight long shirts and pants (made from a natural fiber) will do wonders to keep you cool, even though it doesn’t seem they would. Long sleeves and pants will prevent the sun from reaching your skin; that’s why you see so many folks who work outdoors, like gardeners and construction workers, wear long garments!
Light-colored Clothing
We’re adding a third element to your clothes: light colors! Opt for lightweight clothes in lighter colors; dark colors like navy and black will absorb more heat and make you feel hotter. It’s the albedo effect (something we learn about in meteorology classes!): more light reflects off of light colors (like snow) than dark (like dirt), and that is true of your clothes, too.
The trifecta of natural fiber + loose, lightweight + light color is what you want in your clothes to keep you cool and comfortable in 100-degree heat. Of course, as you’ll see in the outfits below, I don’t always wear items that fit this exact description, but these recommendations are a good starting point if you live somewhere hot and humid and/or you’re adding new pieces to your wardrobe.
Sandals
My feet need to BREATHE when it’s 100°F outside! While I can tolerate wearing flats or sneakers in short stints, sandals are truly my hot weather shoe staple. I own quite a variety of sandals. I love a pair of flat leather sandals for work (I own my favorite Everlane Day Crossover Sandal in five colors), and my platform clog sandals are another option I like to pair with loose pants.
I also recommend sandals that can pull double duty and work for everyday as well as playing in/around water! Fisherman sandals are excellent for this purpose; I bring my Salt Water sandals on almost every beach trip. My Birkenstock Arizona EVA sandals in white are recent favorites that are getting a ton of wear (and starting to show it, ha).
Hats and Sunglasses
Keep the sun off of your face (and neck) with a hat. Wide-brimmed hats like canvas or straw sun hats are the best for protecting more of your body, but a baseball cap is always a great option in a pinch to at least protect part of your face from the sun. They’ll also help keep you cool.
Protect your eyes from a bright and hot summer sun with sunglasses! Your eyes will thank you! I wear mine-year round (even if it’s cloudy). My favorite pair of sunglasses is the Le Specs Air Heart oversized cateye sunglasses, which offer UV protection (a must).
Sunscreen
The number one thing you CANNOT forget to wear in triple digit heat is suncreen! As part of my makeup routine, I use BareMinerals Complexion Rescue tinted moisturizer on my face, which has SPF. If I don’t put makeup on, I use Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen on my face. If I’m going to be outside for longer than just walking to/from my car, I put sunscreen on the parts of my body that are exposed.
That high summer sun angle will get you, especially the farther south you are. And wear sunscreen ESPECIALLY if you’re playing in the mountains—you’ll burn faster at higher elevations! (Trust me on this one.) Please reapply frequently, too! I feel like my mom right now (as an esthetician, she always reminds us to wear sunscreen) but it really is SO important to protect your skin in 100-degree weather!
100-degree Weather Outfits
Linen Tee + A-line Skirt
This is very similar to the outfit I wore in Key West when I thought I was going to die of heat stroke because the heat index was 105° with the humidity! This striped linen tee hides sweat surprisingly well, and an A-line skirt is perfect because it flares away from the body.
Linen Shell + Gauze Shorts
Like I mentioned earlier, linen is THE best fabric to wear in summer heat (in my personal scientific opinion). I truly don’t know how I survived summers without it! A slim but not quite fitted linen shell is great for work or weekend, and gauze shorts like these are perfect for the heat.
Textured Baseball Cap + Tank
When it’s 100°F outside, the last I want to do is wear layers, but layers (or third pieces) are how outfits feel complete. A trick I like to use to make my “boring” outfits feel polished is to swap a basic tee for a textured tank and pair that with a textured baseball cap. They add interest without a layer!
Loose Tee Dress
I love a loose tee (or kaftan) dress when it’s hot out! Honestly, the worst part of this outfit is the bra underneath because that’s usually the place I sweat, ha. This is an example of an outfit I’d wear on the weekends to the farmers market (the straw tote bag is one of my favorite summer purses).
Light Colors
Not only should you wear loose clothing when it’s hot out, I also recommend wearing light colors in 100-degree weather. The lighter the color, the higher the albedo, which means the more sunlight that’s reflected away from you. This keeps you cooler! (#weathernerd)
Linen Pants for Work
Sometimes, you have to go into the office when it’s forecast to be 100°F outside. Even though it may not be that hot when you go to work or as you’re sitting at your desk (hopefully), those hot days are when I pull out the linen or linen-blend pants. They’re work-appropriate and easy to style!
Loose Top + Shorts
A loose, swingy linen top is what hot weather dreams are made of! These tops are perfect in hot and humid weather too because there is little fabric actually touching your body. Pair it with a pair of comfy cotton gauze, linen, or denim shorts and you’re ready for the heat just about anywhere.
Paperbag Shorts + Sun Hat
Here is another light-colored hot weather outfit! I love a “stick of butter” monochrome moment. Paperbag shorts are a fun option, and I love them because they’re loose (sensing a trend?). Choose light clothing in a similar color to pair with the shorts, including a coordinating sun hat.
Linen Top + Striped Shorts
Did I include enough top + shorts outfit combinations in this post? Ha! In this outfit, I tucked my linen top into the shorts, but sometimes tucking and adding that extra bit of fabric might be too much in the heat. If so, try tying your top at the waist if it’s long or wearing a cropped top.
Linen Shift Dress
Like I said, when it’s hot, I like wearing outfits with as little fabric touching my skin as possible! A shift dress is the perfect hot weather silhouette: it’s fitted around the bust and flares out from there. (It’s great if you’re self-conscious about your tummy.) Bonus points if you find a linen shift dress!
Sun Hat + Denim Shorts
You may not think denim when you think of 100-degree outfits, but they’re a classic, and the thicker fabric hides sweat pretty well (especially if you’re wearing a dark or black wash). Ask me how I know—my butt is always one of the first places to sweat! LOL. And a sun hat is a must if you’ll be outside.
Head-to-toe Linen
Here’s another 100-degree outfit to wear to work! Linen pants will be your best (and most-worn) friend. Pair them with a swingy linen top like this for a cool and comfortable head-to-toe linen look! If the air conditioning is blasting, toss a lightweight cardigan in your work tote.