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

And silk PJs.... Ick

I love my silk PJs! They're brilliant for travelling, too.

Nope

Why is everything a humble bag to people in MN.

They do, but the body is a heat source so that is not quite how silk keeps you cool. I know OP put insulator and breathable in italics to make a point but it really does just come down to this. In winter you wear silk as a base layer and it traps the heat close to your skin but if you didn't wear something over the top of it you would still be cold as the wind goes straight through it and takes all the heat away. In the summer wearing a silk top will allow any movement or bit of breeze to take the heat away. It also dries quickly so helps with sweating which is the bodies way of cooling down.

@LivingDeadGirlUK so why do I am many others on here find silk impossible to tolerate in summer?
I find it traps body heat and I just feel like I'm going to die of overheating.

Silk in dresses/shirts is used for aesthetic purposes. And also because it can be expensive for luxury purposes too. It isn’t a cool fabric. It’s the warmest natural fibre after hair fibres.

I wear silk thermals as I’m allergic to wool.

I don't know, lots of people have preferences about all sorts of things, just look at the S&B board and all the natural fiber lovers, yet shops are full of polyester so someone must like it. I personally can't stand fleece but its one of the preferred technical fabrics for outdoor wear.

What material do you prefer for a really hot day?

I like (cotton) broiderie anglais. It has little eyelets in it to catch the breeze.

@LivingDeadGirlUK I prefer thin cotton and no sleeves. I can't wear long sleeves of any fabric when it's 30 degrees for example. I have to be in something like a sleeveless linen dress or a singlet and shorts.