Unlock the Secret to Staying Cool and Stylish All Summer with These 9 Game-Changing Lightweight Shirts

Ever wonder why, at some point in every blazing summer, fashion takes a backseat to pure comfort? Yeah, me too. When the heat waves hit hard, it’s less about the look and more about feeling like you’re wrapped in a breezy secret to survival. I’m talking about those airy, open-weave shirts that let the wind flirt with your skin while still shading you from the sun’s relentless stare. It’s funny how we all go from caring about contours and colors to craving anything that whispers “cool” with each step under the unforgiving sun. So, if you’re ready to say goodbye to those clingy, sweat-soaked tees and hello to fabrics that feel like a gentle breeze on a scorching day, keep reading. Let’s find that perfect shirt that’s as easy on the eyes as it is on your skin. LEARN MORE

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There comes a point in the depths of the seasons when it does not and cannot matter to me how my clothes look as much as it matters how they feel. In the freezing winter, I’m going as puffy as I can with little to no regard for how much room that puff is taking up on the sidewalk. And in the midst of a heat wave, I’m trying to wear clothes that stay as far away from my skin as they can while still shielding me from the sun.

For that reason among many, we’re suckers for airy, open-weave shirts. We’re going for open-collar linens and cottons, maybe a loose crochet or a nice seersucker. Of course, lighter colors will double down on the airiness, while darker colors absorb more heat.

Here, find your next work, weekend, or resort shirt that looks as good as it feels to wear outside in the heat, unencumbered by another sweat-stained T-shirt.

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Alex Mill’s camp shirts are really the perfect shirt for hot days. They are made with a soft, worn-in linen and they fit loose enough for airflow, but not so loose that they look sloppy.

Banana Republic’s linen-cotton polo has a big open collar and a big open knit. It’s exactly the kind of skin-to-wind we want on hot days. This one makes for a very good vacation shirt, too.

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Buck Mason does seersucker in a way that doesn’t feel stuffy or overly preppy. We love how this shirt has a slightly cropped, boxy fit. It looks great buttoned and layered over a tank.

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Resort shirt lovers ride for a print and Todd Snyder’s white embroidered roses on a thin voile fabric is cool as hell. It’s super light but doesn’t feel too casual. Dress it up with more tailored pants and loafers.

We love a basket weave for its airflow capabilities, which are especially good and dispersing and preventing sweat stains. This Faherty shirt was born for your next backyard BBQ.

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Kardo’s convertible collar, embroidered cotton patchwork shirt is just about the coolest shirt we’ve ever seen. It is boxy and lightweight and scratch whatever we said about not caring how your shirt looks when it’s hot as all hell out.

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Les Deux’s short sleeve cotton shirt is a solid choice to have on hand because it can feel casual worn open over a tee and with shorts, or you can make it feel more professional buttoned up with some trousers.

Onia is best known for its very good swimwear and you can see that seaside expertise in all types of clothes. This airy linen is boxy and light and as close to wearing nothing as a shirt can get.

That is, unless, you have a loose crochet shirt. Marine Layer—another beach-friendly brand—makes this short sleeve button-front shirt that is excellent for hot days. That open crochet is essentially sheer and perhaps NSFW but it’s also as airy as it gets.