Silk is not a summer fabric

[wompwomp]

I keep hearing and reading that silk is this wonder fabric as it 'keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer'

It apparently keeps you warm in winter because silk is a thermal insulator. In other words it helps retain your body temperature when it's cold outside. Thus it is used in outdoor gear like hiking.

Then it is mysteriously able to forgo this attribute and be cool in summer because it 'breathes'

Breathes my arse. Currently sitting her with a silk scarf around my neck. My body is comfortable but my heck is dripping.

It can't be an insulator trapping body heat in winter but but in summer.

The only time I could see it keeping anyone cool in summer is if you are in a country where the ambient temperature is above body temperature as it will keep that temperature out

YANBU. It's good on a silk/linen mix, but on its own it's sweaty.

So why did it get this reputation for being good in summer do you think?

A lot depends on the weave and so on. Thin silk satin is fine only until you sweat in it, then it's just cold.

I agree, looks lovely flowing and drapes beautifully ON DRY SKIN! Once you’re sweating it clings. It’s not easy to wash either.

I have a silk Jersey dress which is good though. And I used to have a lovely silk/linen mix shirt, till it fell apart.

It’s not easy to wash either.

Yes it is, just goes in the washing machine. I have silk bedding, and I know from accidental experiment that it will even survive a 90° wash, though I don't recommend doing that (I hadn't intended to.)

Silk is breathable, but if you are hot you don’t want anything tied round your neck.
Has is been washed with fabric conditioner because that will stop anything breathing.

I don't know about scarves but I love a silk shirt in summer. Yes I still sweat but it dries pretty much instantly whereas cotton and linen can go clammy and a bit stinky.

I agree they're a pain to wash and iron though.

To me wearing a silk shirt feels like wearing a plastic bag. I get SO hot and sweaty.

I'm not hot. I'm slightly cold but my neck is sweaty

That seems so strange to me - it's my favourite fabric in summer! But it has to be loose fitting and barely touching the skin, so I can see why a scarf round your neck would be uncomfortable.

Sorry OP I totally disagree, a few years ago I got some Hobbs silk tops off of Vinted and my god the difference they make in summer compared to a cotton tshirt. So cool, dries super quick if you get sweaty (I walk everywhere so its a risk), the tops I got are machine washable too.

I just wish it didn't crease so easily!

I live in a hot country. I prefer a cotton/silk mix.

If you sweat easily, get one of these to wear underneath https://www.sweatshieldundershirt.co.uk/

It makes all the difference and the I wont be worrying whether you be got sweaty patches under your armpits

Can I ask if your neck is sweaty to this extent why don’t you take the scarf off?

A thin silk skirt in summer is lovely and cool. Agree the problem is how it clings to/shows up sweat.

Cutting right to the heart of the matter 👍🏻

Possibly stupid question, but are you sure this shirt is silk and not just polyester pretending to be silk? Polyester satin definitely feels like wearing a plastic bag in the heat.

I totally agree with you OP.

I wouldn’t be wearing a scarf if hot! I sweat if it’s hot regardless of whether I’m in swimwear or naked !

Yes is this actual silk?

I have several silk dresses for summer. They're fab, very light, loose and breathable. They don't feel sweaty at all to me.

You've been had. If you're experiencing roast in the bag chicken vibes, you're in polyester satin!

Is it to do with how tightly the fibres are packed? I have a silk t-shirt that is quite a dense weave, so I do get a bit sweaty on very hot days, but not as stinky as I would be in synthetic equivalents. My silk scarves and dress are in less dense weaves and are much cooler. I wear the scarves to stop my collar bone burning on sunny days, and wrapped tightly to stop cold breezes on normal summer days (I live on the North Sea coast) 🥶

I tend to wash silk things in a laundry bag. Silk dries really quickly and weighs next to nothing, so great for taking on holiday.

All natural fabrics breath. Traditionally Aussie and NZ sheepshearers wore merino wool vests in the summer as it was cooler next to skin than other fabrics and is naturally sweat wicking.