What Is the Best Clothing to Keep You Cool?

夏天穿什么衣服最涼快？

As the world will continue to grapple with extreme heatwaves， which are becoming ever more regular thanks to climate change， the clothing we wear is a vital component in how we stay cool. Researchers have found that by wearing appropriate clothes， it is possible to turn the air-conditioning up by 2℃， which over the long term would save considerable energy， both saving money and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

全球已經(jīng)并將繼續(xù)與極端熱浪作斗爭，而且受氣候變化影響這種極端天氣變得越來越頻繁，因此我們穿什么顏色、質(zhì)地的衣服對于保持涼爽十分關(guān)鍵。研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)，如果穿對衣服，空調(diào)可以調(diào)高2攝氏度，長期來看可以節(jié)省不少電，既能省錢，還能減少溫室氣體排放。

So what should you wear to stay cool?

那么穿什么衣服才會涼快呢？

Color and design

顏色和設(shè)計

When it comes to color， most people wear white in summer—because white reflects the sun’s rays， rather than absorbing the light like black does.

However， heat doesn’t just come from the sun—it comes from our bodies too. When that heat from our bodies hits the white clothing， it is reflected back at us.

Black colored fabrics absorb heat coming from the body—so this can also play a role in cooling your body down. The Bedouin’s secret is wearing loose-fitting black clothing， especially if it’s windy. The loose black clothes heat up the space between the fabric and the skin， promoting an upward air current， and providing cooling relief.

說到衣服顏色，大多數(shù)人在夏天穿白色衣服，因為白色能反射太陽光線，而不像黑色會吸收光線。

然而，不僅太陽會釋放熱量，我們的身體也會散發(fā)熱量。來自身體的熱量遇到白色衣服，就會反射回身體。

黑色面料吸收了身體散發(fā)的熱量，因此黑色衣服有助于給身體降溫。貝都因人的秘訣在于他們穿寬松的黑色衣服，尤其在有風(fēng)的日子里。寬松的黑色衣服讓面料和皮膚之間的空間升溫，從而形成向上的氣流，以此讓身體涼爽下來。

So the fit of the clothing is actually more important than the color. However， if you are going to be wearing tight-fitting clothing， then stick with white. Fabrics with texture—such as seersucker or pique， a fabric often used in sports polo shirts—also help to lift clothing off your skin.

所以衣服的松緊其實比顏色更重要。不過，如果你要穿緊身衣服，那就穿白色的。有紋理的面料，比如泡泡紗或翻領(lǐng)運動衫常用的珠地網(wǎng)眼面料，也有助于讓衣服不緊貼在皮膚上。

Material matters

面料很重要

“In terms of clothes， it’s better to have a material that allows water vapour to pass through so that it doesn’t block the sweat evaporation，” says Rhett Allain， associate professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University in the US. “Some of the newer sports-based materials do this. Cotton does not do so great with this.”

Uncoated cotton， linen， nylon and polyester are all classed as breathable fabrics to some degree—meaning they allow sweat and heat to escape through the material.

美國東南路易斯安那大學(xué)的物理學(xué)副教授瑞特·阿蘭說：“衣服要涼快，最好是采用能讓水蒸氣通過的面料，這樣才不會阻止汗液蒸發(fā)。有些新型運動面料能做到這點。棉布的透濕性則要差一些。”

沒有涂層的棉布、亞麻、尼龍和滌綸都有一定的透氣性，這意味著汗液和熱氣都能穿透這些面料。

Cotton absorbs moisture but it doesn’t dry quickly， so if you’re sweating a lot your clothes will stay wet， making them less comfortable. Linen is widely worn as it has excellent breathability due to its large fibres， but like cotton it is slow to dry. Merino wool has been a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts as it’s breathable and wicks moisture without retaining odor.

Nylon and polyester are used in most activewear as they wick moisture and dry quickly—but they retain odor. Research has also shown that nylon has a higher moisture absorption and better wicking capabilities than polyester， but is slower to dry. Synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester can feel uncomfortable when they get wet though， and one study suggested wearing clothing made of bamboo， which is a low conductor of heat， and doesn’t compromise on comfort.

So it turns out that picking an outfit to stay cool is a little more complex than simply throwing on a white T-shirt. But the right fabric and appropriate fit when possible should help you keep your temperature down when the mercury heats up—and save on air-conditioning too.

棉布吸濕卻不能速干，所以如果你流很多汗，衣服就會濕濕的，穿起來不舒服。很多人愛穿亞麻衣服，因為亞麻的粗纖維賦予它極佳的透氣性，但是和棉布一樣，亞麻干得慢。美利奴羊毛既透氣又吸濕排汗而且不會留下汗味，因此受到戶外運動愛好者的歡迎。

尼龍和滌綸吸濕排汗又速干，因此被應(yīng)用在多數(shù)運動裝中，但是這兩種面料會留下汗味。研究表明，尼龍的吸濕排汗能力比滌綸強，但是比滌綸干得慢。不過，尼龍和滌綸這樣的化纖面料濕掉后會讓穿著者感到不舒服。一項研究建議人們穿竹子制成的衣服，因為其導(dǎo)熱性低，而且舒適度高。

可見，穿什么衣服才能涼快是個有點復(fù)雜的問題，不是一件大白T恤就能解決的。但是，合適的面料和剪裁在大熱天能幫你降溫，也能節(jié)省空調(diào)電費。

Word Bank

grapple with 努力應(yīng)對

The new government has yet to grapple with the problem of air pollution.

odor /'??d?(r)/ n. （尤指難聞的）氣味；臭味