Dressing modestly in the heat of summer can be a challenge – the extra fabric on your skin begins to feel like a burden when all you want is to be cool and get a tan. 

Over the years, we’ve experimented with how to make summer modest clothing effortless and enjoyable and there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when building a modest wardrobe full of easy summer modest essentials.

The first tip to keep in mind is the 3 Fs: fabric, fit and feel.

Perhaps the most critical make or break factor in how comfortable you’ll feel in your summer modest clothing is the fabric your clothing is comprised of. The two most comfortable, airy and breathable fabrics to look for are cotton and linen. 

It can be difficult knowing what top to pair with skirts in the summer – you don’t want to be too hot in long sleeves or look like you’re dressed for winter, which is why we  love pairing 100% cotton boxy tshirts back to skirts. Boxy tees hit below your elbow and the cotton material is breathable so no heat is trapped in potentially sweaty areas like under your arms. 

Another great modest summer top and skirt pairing (backlink to tops shopping guide) is a 100% linen button down – we love wearing sleeveless dresses or shirts with a linen button down layered over top for extra arm coverage. The linen material is light and airy so it feels like you’re just wearing a sleeveless top when in reality you’re still fully covered. 

The second F to keep top of mind is fit: we mentioned how linen shirts are so light and airy and that’s because the fit is loose and roomy. If you’re going to opt for a tighter fitting summer top or dress, then it’s critical you look for cotton or linen materials to allow air to circulate through your clothes. If you’re going for a looser/airy fit, then that’s when the fabric becomes less crucial (although we can’t stress how much of a difference light breathable fabric makes in your summer modest comfort levels). 

The third F to keep in mind is feel: overall, ask yourself when you try on clothes for summer, “How do I feel in this? Can I sweat in it and still be comfortable?” Because the reality is, whether you dress modestly or not, we all sweat in the heat! Uncomfortable summer modest clothing options are usually silk based tops or dresses and anything very tight and tailored. 

Outside of the 3 Fs, we ask ourselves the following questions before purchasing any modest clothing for summer:

Does it need to be dry cleaned? If it needs to be dry cleaned, think twice before buying. The easiest modest summer essentials should be washer/dryer friendly because you’ll inevitably sweat and want to wash your clothes frequently. 

Does it require layering? Unless it’s a sleeveless dress or top that you’re prepared to pair with a linen or cotton button down or blazer, think twice before buying a dress that requires extra layering. No one wants to wear tshirts under dresses in the summer – one and done dresses (backlink to one and done dress shopping edit) are preferred. 

Do I care if I get dirty in it? The reality is, summer is an outdoor, active season where you’ll either sweat, sit on grass, get sandy or dirty in some way or another. The path to ultimate comfort in your clothes is not caring if they get a little dirty.  

Now that we’ve covered what to keep in mind before purchasing any modest summer clothing, we rounded up the 16 pieces we live in all summer long. After years of testing different products, these are the ones we find ourselves grabbing for the most in our summer modest wardrobes. They are all very versatile and can be worn a million different ways, are heat-resistant, chic and comfortable. 

As essential as water, we wear slip skirts day and night, dressed up and dressed down and pretty much with any top, sweater, jacket and blouse combo.

As essential as water, we wear slip skirts day and night, dressed up and dressed down and pretty much with any top, sweater, jacket and blouse combo.

As essential as water, we wear slip skirts day and night, dressed up and dressed down and pretty much with any top, sweater, jacket and blouse combo.

Dressing modestly in the heat of summer can be a challenge – the extra fabric on your skin begins to feel like a burden when all you want is to be cool and get a tan. 

Over the years, we’ve experimented with how to make summer modest clothing effortless and enjoyable and there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when building a modest wardrobe full of easy summer modest essentials.

The first tip to keep in mind is the 3 Fs: fabric, fit and feel.

Perhaps the most critical make or break factor in how comfortable you’ll feel in your summer modest clothing is the fabric your clothing is comprised of. The two most comfortable, airy and breathable fabrics to look for are cotton and linen. 

It can be difficult knowing what top to pair with skirts in the summer – you don’t want to be too hot in long sleeves or look like you’re dressed for winter, which is why we  love pairing 100% cotton boxy tshirts back to skirts. Boxy tees hit below your elbow and the cotton material is breathable so no heat is trapped in potentially sweaty areas like under your arms. 

Another great modest summer top and skirt pairing (backlink to tops shopping guide) is a 100% linen button down – we love wearing sleeveless dresses or shirts with a linen button down layered over top for extra arm coverage. The linen material is light and airy so it feels like you’re just wearing a sleeveless top when in reality you’re still fully covered. 

The second F to keep top of mind is fit: we mentioned how linen shirts are so light and airy and that’s because the fit is loose and roomy. If you’re going to opt for a tighter fitting summer top or dress, then it’s critical you look for cotton or linen materials to allow air to circulate through your clothes. If you’re going for a looser/airy fit, then that’s when the fabric becomes less crucial (although we can’t stress how much of a difference light breathable fabric makes in your summer modest comfort levels). 

The third F to keep in mind is feel: overall, ask yourself when you try on clothes for summer, “How do I feel in this? Can I sweat in it and still be comfortable?” Because the reality is, whether you dress modestly or not, we all sweat in the heat! Uncomfortable summer modest clothing options are usually silk based tops or dresses and anything very tight and tailored. 

Outside of the 3 Fs, we ask ourselves the following questions before purchasing any modest clothing for summer:

Does it need to be dry cleaned? If it needs to be dry cleaned, think twice before buying. The easiest modest summer essentials should be washer/dryer friendly because you’ll inevitably sweat and want to wash your clothes frequently. 

Does it require layering? Unless it’s a sleeveless dress or top that you’re prepared to pair with a linen or cotton button down or blazer, think twice before buying a dress that requires extra layering. No one wants to wear tshirts under dresses in the summer – one and done dresses (backlink to one and done dress shopping edit) are preferred. 

Do I care if I get dirty in it? The reality is, summer is an outdoor, active season where you’ll either sweat, sit on grass, get sandy or dirty in some way or another. The path to ultimate comfort in your clothes is not caring if they get a little dirty.  

Now that we’ve covered what to keep in mind before purchasing any modest summer clothing, we rounded up the 16 pieces we live in all summer long. After years of testing different products, these are the ones we find ourselves grabbing for the most in our summer modest wardrobes. They are all very versatile and can be worn a million different ways, are heat-resistant, chic and comfortable.