Clothing has been essential to human life for nearly as long as the species itself, evolving from furs and pelts being a necessity for survival into a medium for expressing culture and identity. But for many students today, fashion is less about protection from the elements and more about self-presentation. This is not inherently a problem, until the photogenic appeal of an outfit suddenly becomes less important in the middle of scorching Philippine summers.
The body has no interest in trends. Heat is not a background condition in this country—it is almost a constant, and the body has its limits. Clothing remains an overlooked factor in how well the body withstands the heat. Therefore, what sits between the skin and the sun carries more significance than most realize.
The body beneath the fabric
The body has an optimal temperature range of around 37 degrees Celsius, within which biological functions operate ideally. When hot, as is often the case in the Philippines, the body cools itself by dilating blood vessels near the skin to radiate warmth outward and activating the sweat glands. Perspiration evaporating from skin is carried off by wind, drawing heat away from the body.
The inability to properly thermoregulate raises body temperature beyond optimal conditions, causing symptoms such as nausea and headaches, and may indicate heat exhaustion and potential dehydration.
This concern is not exclusive to athletes or outdoor workers. From delivery workers to commuting students, anyone caught in the wrong fabric for long enough is at risk. Our clothes can mediate every step of this process, but the wrong choices may hinder it just as much as the right ones help.
The fabric in question
At its core, clothing sits between our skin and the environment. Although garments provide some protection against heat from sunlight, the rest is absorbed. In a statement to The LaSallian, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) notes that “heavy, non-breathable, or excessive protective clothing can trap heat and prevent the body from cooling properly through sweat evaporation,” with the same logic applying to anyone layering for the sake of style.
Clothes introduce a layer of insulation that interferes with heat loss. Heat becomes trapped in the air gaps between the skin and clothing, as well as within a fabric’s weave, making some garments less breathable than others. Even the weave of a material affects how well it breathes.
Ultimately, heat dissipation depends on the thickness and color of the fabric, as well as how tightly it sits against the skin. Some types of clothing fare poorly in hot weather. Personal stylist and slow fashion advocate Miss Kayce names lace that “tends to be itchy when it’s hot and when you’re perspiring” and silk “because it absorbs your sweat very easily and so you can already see if your chest is sweating profusely.” For men’s clothing, she notes knitted polos as “pretty hot and heavy to wear.”
Instead, she recommends lightweight, light-colored fabrics, as darker colors absorb more heat. Linen and cotton are “the friendliest to our body and to our skin” and “suit the climate or the weather here in our country.” She adds that clothes themselves should not be “tight fitting or hugging the body or the skin.” When temperatures soar, the right clothing can be the simplest tools to stay cool.
Dressing with intention
Across fields, the guidance converges on one principle: function precedes aesthetics. According to DOLE, many employers focus on temperature and hydration while overlooking how clothing itself contributes to heat risk. Miss Kayce puts it plainly: “It is the function that will align to the kind of lifestyle that you have,” she says. “Once these are aligned, you will not have a problem wearing [clothes].”
Comfort and personal style are not mutually exclusive. Rather than getting caught up in trends or overthinking every aspect of an outfit, Miss Kayce encourages people to prioritize what works for them. “Use your senses, and most of all, common sense,” she says, pointing out that comfort is often the best indicator whether a garment is truly suitable for the weather.
She encourages a personal “style formula” for dressing with intention rather than impulse. “Go for a monochromatic outfit,” she advises, as simplifying color choices makes styling more intuitive. Layering can be adapted across climates and is not limited to jackets and outerwear, but also to garments worn underneath other pieces. As she explains, “anything that’s adding a layer to it, is also adding depth to your outfit.”
The final touch is to accessorize “because those are the things that keep your outfits more you. It gives it more personality.” Whether it is a favorite pair of glasses, statement shoes, a well-loved bag, or a beloved piece of jewelry, these adornments make an outfit truly yours.
But the stakes extend beyond personal style. Clothing, it turns out, is rarely ever just clothing. DOLE flags it as “an underestimated factor in heat-related illness,” too often overshadowed by concerns about hydration and temperature alone.
For students navigating long commutes and hours under the Philippine sun, the cost of poor fabric choice is felt in the body before it shows in the mirror. Every hour outdoors in the wrong outfit is a negotiation between looking good and staying well. The heat does not negotiate, and neither should your wardrobe.