Buzz
Tom Wolfe is known for his iconic white suits, but does his choice of light clothing actually help him stay cooler during the summer?
David Corio/Redferns/Getty ImagesSummary
- Light-colored clothing is often believed to reflect solar heat, keeping you cooler in the heat, unlike darker fabrics that tend to absorb more warmth.
- However, research indicates that the color of the clothing might not have a major impact on the heat felt; instead, the fit and ventilation provided by the fabric are more important factors for staying cool.
- White clothes might reflect some of the heat your body radiates, potentially making you feel warmer—though this theory, which has been observed in birds with white feathers, has not been tested on humans.
Question: What do astronauts, brides, and Tom Wolfe all have in common? They all wear white to keep cool. (Aside from this, there's probably not much they share, but who knows?) The idea behind this is that airy, light fabrics in pale hues help reflect solar heat away from the skin, making us feel cooler.
The common belief is that dark fabrics trap heat, causing you to sweat and feel uncomfortable in your clothes. But white clothing is thought to reflect the heat, keeping you more comfortable on a hot day. And this is why Tom Wolfe always looks so cool. End of story.
Not quite. While that idea sounds good in theory, other factors could be working against the notion of light clothing. In fact, there's some compelling evidence — backed by a real scientific study — suggesting it may not matter as much. Let's start with an academic study from 1980 published in the journal 'Nature,' titled 'Why do Bedouins wear black robes in hot deserts?' [source: Shkolnik et al].
As you might guess, the researchers were just as puzzled as we are by the fact that people in the blazing heat of the Sinai desert wear loose-fitting black robes rather than lighter colors like white (or perhaps a soft lavender). When they compared the temperature of white robes versus black, they found little difference. The black clothing did absorb more heat, but by the time it reached the skin, the heat had dissipated [source: Abrahams]. What truly helps keep the wearer cool? The loose, flowing design of the robes that allows for air circulation.
Another theory suggests the 'light clothing' idea misses one important factor: the person wearing the clothes. Specifically, the heat your body radiates might actually be reflected by white clothing, causing some of that heat to bounce back and keep you warmer. Though it’s a plausible theory, it has yet to be tested on humans. The only research on this has been conducted on birds with white plumage, with mixed results [source: Walsberg et al.].
In the end, it doesn’t really make much of a difference whether you're wearing black or white when it's hot outside. As long as your clothes are loose and breathable, you'll probably feel just as cool or uncomfortable as the next person standing next to you.
